Winter Birding

Birding in the winter can be a challenge, though it is not without its rewards. In my area one great place to find winter birds is on the various hotspots along the Detroit River in what roughly corresponds to east Windsor, Ontario.

Yesterday, with the weather a bit on the warmer side and no rain or snow, I decided to venture out over my lunch break. Rather than spend all my time at one spot, I decided to rather sample an array of locations.

Driving east on Riverside Drive from Walker Road, I hit St. Rose's Beach, Lakeside Marina, Sand Point Beach, and Ganatchio Trail. Then, on the way back, I stopped at Alexander Park.

I didn't stay at any one location long, but the results were encouraging. I found 7 species at St. Rose's, 10 species at Lakeview Marina, 6 species at Sand Point Beach, 6 species at Ganatchio Trail, and 5 species at Alexander Park. In total, I found 21 distinct species, including 9 species that were "first for this year" and three lifers (Tundra Swan, Hooded Merganser, and Redhead)! It turns out that a Tundra Swan was one of my 2017 goals and it is already checked off! Besides the lifers, my favorite sightings were probably a Bald Eagle and a Great Blue Heron.

I get the feeling that if I stayed longer at any one individual location and not gone to so many places, I probably would have observed less species, though one never knows!

Posted on January 12, 2017 05:12 PM by marknenadov marknenadov

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:13 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:13 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:14 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:13 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:13 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:22 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:22 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Typical Mergansers (Genus Mergus)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:25 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:26 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:37 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:37 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:58 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:34 PM EST

Description

Merganser?

Photos / Sounds

What

American Herring Gull (Larus argentatus ssp. smithsonianus)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 02:19 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:20 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:21 PM EST

Photos / Sounds

What

Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Observer

marknenadov

Date

January 11, 2017 01:14 PM EST

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