Snowy on the Spit

Right then, I'll keep it real short as today was action packed full of Nearctic waterfowl and really enjoyable northern birding. Karen was once again brilliant on these 'non-birding' holidays and, while I got my fill of yankage, she filled her boots in a shoe museum amongst other things.

Today was the Toronto CBC (Christmas Bird Count) and it was good to meet Jean Iron, who has continually been most helpful in providing me with info prior to and during this visit, amongst others while I was out and about on 'the spit' at Tommy Thompson State Park. Pride of place went to a totally majestic, immense 1st-winter female Snowy Owl, part of the latest movement of this species due to food shortages further north.

I also saw 1000s of waterfowl - well up on usual numbers due to the mild winter over here - and this included a real array of Nearctic beauties including Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, 2 species of Scaup, 3 species of Merganser, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Black Duck, Mallard, Gadwall, Trumpeter Swan, Mute Swan and Canada Goose.  More on these some other time.

Aythya action Canadian style

Other decent stuff of course included a load of gulls, as well as an American Coot, a Great Northern Diver, a Great Horned Owl, Black-capped Chickadees, American Tree Sparrows and a single Song Sparrow.

ATS - Corvo next?