SWANS, SWANS AND MORE SWANS AT RONDEAU

We hoped the weatherman was right as it was stated Sunny with a high of 4C.
Never trust a weatherman Rondeau was over cast and never got warmer than -2C.
Rondeau Bay still has a good amount  of ice but it is breaking up. There was 1200 swans when we first got there this morning and they just kept coming so by the end of the day Rondeau Bay was just full of white dots all over it.



TUNDRA SWANS AT RONDEAU BAY



TUNDRA SWANS

Other waterfowl in great numbers where American Widgeon,Pintails,American Coot,Bufflehead,Canvasback,Redhead,Ring Neck Duck and a few Ruddy Ducks swimming in amongst the rest.


AMERICAN WIDGEON

There was a great amount of gulls that all took to the air when an Immature Bald Eagle
flew over the bay. It was hard to keep track of the eagle because the sky was full of gulls.
However we did manage to count 4 Black Backed Gulls.


IMMATURE BALD EAGLE

We of course stopped at the Visitor Centre and found 2 Song Sparrows around the feeders along with the usual Cardinals,Dark Eyed Juncos,Black Capped Chickadee,White Breasted Nuthatch,Downy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers.



SONG SPARROW AT VISITOR CENTRE

Tulip Trail was especially nice as you were out of the wind we frightened 2 White tailed deer and watched them boot threw the forest with their white tails in the air.



TULIP TRAIL AT RONDEAU

Hopefully in May the Prothonatary Warbler will come and nest here this year
A Tufted Titmouse was very focal about us distrubing it other than that a pretty quiet hike.

One never misses going to Erieau when down at Rondeau. There was Ring Neck Ducks, American Coots and a pair of Ruddy Ducks. Gulls where everywhere and we were starting to id them when a fishing troller started his engines and pulled out of the dock which ended our day as all waterfowl and gulls took to the air and left!



RUDDY DUCKS ESCAPING FROM THE FISHING TROLLER AT ERIEAU

 There was no swans I think they were all over on the Rondeau side.
Drove to the end of Brock Street in Shrewsbury where we found a muskrat sitting on the ice eating plants .
Finally on the way home the sun was out and the hawks where up flying saw 3 Redtail Hawks and 3 American Kestrels. Two of the Red Tails where chasing each other and it was fun to watch them.
Even with it being cold we saw 42 species so not bad for the day!