The first week in March I went for a ramble at the LaSalle Marina in Burlington. While I was there, I heard that there were several Red-throated Loons in the bay. Although I had some binoculars with me I doubted I would be able to spot them so instead I ambled along the shore looking at the easy-to-spot species.
A Horned Grebe was diving in the pond-like inlet beside the wharf. I wondered if the red between its eye and bill was an injury or a natural colouring. Luckily, it’s normal which I confirmed by looking at various photos on the internet. This bird is in its winter or non-breeding plumage. The “horns” which are yellow-orange tufts of feathers will grow in on the face behind the eyes before this summer. As you can see from the beads of water on its back, this bird was busily diving for food.
The alders along the paths were getting ready to bloom. I didn’t see any Siskins or Redpolls enjoying the seeds from their cones this past winter. Maybe next year!
Lots of lazy gulls were perched along the edges of the wharf. This Ring-billed Gull wouldn’t even budge as I walked close by.
Scoters and Skunks at LaSalle Marina Park
Quite a few White-winged Scoter were diving along the shore on the side that is private property. There were in varying states of plumage and frankly many of them, like this next one, didn’t look all that attractive to a human.
If I’m reading my field guides properly, this may be a female but I’m not sure. I’d need a guide with more info on the stages between young and mature, breeding and non-breeding season plumages.
Just off the board walk, there were Skunk Cabbage leaves pushing up through the mud. A few days ago the same area was under several inches of hard ice.
Swans, Seeds and Ruddy Ducks Hang Out in the Sunshine
The Trumpeter Swans were performing their usual yoga and t’ai chi poses.
They are quite interesting birds to look at as they will let you walk, if you are calm and quiet, to within a few metres and just watch. It isn’t a good idea to stay close too long as it may stress them but they are used to people coming and going all winter long, including the ones who bring them grain to eat, so they tolerate closer proximity better than most waterfowl.
There were lots of flocks of Canada Geese milling around, taking off, landing and generally acting badly.
This Wild Cucumber dried seed pod caught my eye. It looks like something out of the ocean but it was dancing on the end of a branch like a stray Christmas ornament.
I spent an enjoyable five minutes watching two Ruddy Ducks diving quite close to shore. The lighting was terrible but unlike the camera the human eye compensates quite well for that.
Later on, these ducks will show more of the rusty red on the back down both sides.
Spot the “Loonies” at LaSalle
I also tried to get a photo of the loons far out in the bay. This, believe it or not, is my best photo. There were 3 birds in the one group that I was watching.
According to other birders at the park, they were Red-throated Loons in winter plumage. The colouring is acceptable for that identification but I personally could not claim to know what type they were. I believe Common Loons would have a darker neck but I’m certainly no expert!
An Eagle Sees Me Off
As I was walking back to the car, I started chatting with some other nature lovers. While we talked, a raptor flew right over our heads and I tried to take some photos while not being too rude to the person I was listening to. At home, I decided this was a not-fully-mature Bald Eagle. I had thought it was smaller than that but the colouring doesn’t suit any other local birds and there are quite a few Eagles around LaSalle this year.
Related Reading
- Wintering Trumpeter Swans Bugle and Brighten LaSalle Park Marina in Burlington
- Two Wrens Successfully Survive Winter at Lasalle Marina
- Snowy Owl Springs Up in LaSalle Park
Join In
Do you find it calming to walk along the shore, even on a cold winter afternoon? Please share your views with a comment.