The 41st Christmas Bird Count at SCNWA

 In what has become a tradition, the St. Clair National Wildlife Area Christmas Bird Count was yesterday, January 1. While we used to pick that date as waterfowl hunting had ceased by January and would make access to the several private hunt clubs more likely, in recent years the hunting season has been extended. As a result, some of these private marshes are no longer accessible, but it varies from year to year. This year we had a little better access than some years.

This count began in 1981, organized by the regional wildlife biologist of the Canadian Wildlife Service of the day. Beginning in 1988 I became the coordinator/compiler of the count. Since I live within the count circle, it made sense and works quite well.

On January 1, 2021, about 16 (mostly) regular participants started out early in the day. Some were out well before daylight, trying to document screech owls during the relative quiet hours before the storm. The day started off not too badly: cloudy and just below freezing, with a light east wind. By shortly after day break, the wind had picked up, still from the east, but increasing to around 18-30 km/hr. And then it went downhill from there. By early afternoon, it was 30-50 km/h, still from the east, and with a bit of rain, mixed with ice pellets and freezing rain. Several folks, especially those who had traveled a bit of distance to be here, decided it was time to call it a day. Smart move, as the conditions did not improve much, if any.

A frequent winter sight at SCNWA

The main part of my territory included some of the most productive area of the NWA. Even in the coldest weather, there are a couple of spots that never seem to freeze, and there is always quite literally a ton of birds. I decided to carry my camera and telephoto lens, along with my 'scope and binoculars, as even with the very poor weather conditions for photography, one never knows when it will come in handy. I'm glad I did, in spite of the extra weight.

 This first photo shows a very small segment of the concentration of waterfowl. The Tundra Swans are obvious, but there are also Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Mallards and American Black Ducks.

 Overall in this extensive open patch of water, I counted/estimated over 550 Tundra Swans, 12 Mute Swans, 1250 Canada Geese, 7 Snow Geese, 2300 Mallards and 300 Am Black Ducks. There were also 4 Cackling Geese, 5 Greater White-fronted Geese, 5 Northern Pintail, an American Wigeon, 3 Green-winged Teal, 27 Northern Shoveler, a Redhead, 17 Ruddy Ducks and a single Hooded Merganser, plus a Pied-billed Grebe and an American Coot. At least those are what I saw, but with so many ducks being obscured by the larger geese and swans, who knows what else might be there? I spent at least an hour slowly scoping back and forth as more and more birds became noticeable.

A more spread out group of mostly swans

A cluster of the Northern Shovelers

It was quite awhile before I noticed the Greater White-fronted Geese, as they were hidden behind the swans most of the time. Even at an equivalent of almost 90 power, the birds are not all that clear, but you can see the small brown geese with the orangey bill and white patch at the base, three of which are shown next.

As is often the case, Snow Geese hang out here, mixed in with the other geese. This next photo shows the seven birds: 5 white ones and on the far right, two of the 'blue' colour phase.

There is always a steady stream of birds coming and going for various reasons. While I was in this part of the NWA, I had no less than 4 Bald Eagles flying about, and that got the attention of the waterfowl. On a couple of occasions, an immature eagle flew right overhead and not that high up. This next photo was hardly cropped at all. It isn't a great shot, but that is what happens when shooting a predominantly dark bird against a very white/gray sky.

Here is the group of Snow Geese that got up and left at one point due in part to the eagles.

As I was nearing the westernmost end of the dyke trail, I was startled by a noise around the bend. It was a White-tailed Deer, that instead of turning around and heading back the way it came, decided to try and cross the partially frozen canal beside the berm. As it hit the ice, it skidded across to the other side, with feet flailing in every direction. Once it got to the other side, it quickly scrambled up the bank and disappeared. Meanwhile, the other two that were with it made a smarter decision with, I'm sure, less risk. They retreated and paused briefly a couple of hundred metres down the trail, to consider the threat.

Upon returning to the parking lot, I decided where to go next. On the way out the lane way of the NWA, a Great Blue Heron decided to fly along beside, and then in front, of me. This first photo is through the front window of the truck.

Another rear view of the heron.

I normally have 2-3 smaller areas away from the NWA to check out, but there was nothing of note at any of them. I drove along the north side of the river, as birds, and especially waterfowl, are on the move there as well. The most common species was Common Merganser.

Male Common Mergs

Female Common Mergs

On the other side of the river, presumably watching for some erring waterfowl, or a dead fish to float by, was this immature Bald Eagle.

Snowy Owls are always a highlight at any time, and I wanted to make sure that there were a few reported. I went to the part of the count circle where I knew there had been several, and was not disappointed. I saw 8 altogether, but all well out in a field. This first one hardly ever had its eyes open, as it rested in a worked up field of corn stubble.

This one was sitting in about the only patch of snow left in the field.

In spite of the less than ideal weather, the count tallied 89 species, with one group yet to report in. The only new species for the count was Trumpeter Swan, perhaps a bit overdue. Our highest ever was 93 species, and we have only exceeded 89 species four times in 41 years, so I think everyone is overall pleased with the results in spite of the weather. 

One more count to go, for this season.