With Christmas festivities being complete and the grandchildren off school for another two weeks, we thought about what we do to help keep them occupied during that period. We invited our two grandkids from Hamilton to come to Niagara-on-the-Lake for a sleepover, and they were joined the next morning by one of their cousins from St. Davids. Considering the amount of time they spend on their iPads these days, Grandma wanted to ensure they had some time outdoors for fresh air and exercise. With this thought in mind I offered to take the kids birding along the town waterfront.
This activity can be especially interesting during the winter months. A number of species of migratory waterfowl make the mouth of the Niagara River either their winter home or a temporary stopping-off spot before they head further south. Many of these winter visitors can be seen offshore either singly, in pairs, or rafting together in larger groups. Prior to the latest big storm last week, the numbers had been quite low. The high winds and colder temperatures during that three-day storm event, however, seemed to have a significant effect. Thus I was quite pleased to see a number of different species had finally arrived and I had been able to scope out where they might be seen from various vantage points along our Old Town waterfront.
The day was sunny and considerably warmer, so it was a good day to get the kids out and about. We started at the small park at the far end of the golf course where the cairn commemorates the Battle of Fort George. Walking down the path to the left, below the row of benches, allowed us to see our first series of diving bufflehead ducks. These are a smaller species and the white and black markings of the male are quite distinctive from a distance.
There were about a dozen, male and female, spread out and taking turns diving for food. The binoculars we brought helped the kids see them from a distance.
Next, we drove to the parking lot at Queen’s Royal Park. Climbing the steps to the hill overlooking Lake Ontario, I was disappointed to see only large numbers of Canada geese along the shore line.
Elise expressed a concern about being attacked by the Canada geese. We assured her they were too far away to be a problem. I had to chuckle when Bella commented that yes, they can be quite vicious, but you’re not really a Canadian unless you’ve been chased by a Canada goose.
Next, we decided to walk down Delatre Street to the path leading to Balls Beach. There we walked out on the rock groyne, a breakwater built to reduce erosion, and sat down overlooking the water. The kids noticed the water was very brown, and I explained that it was due to the high winds that had stirred up Lake Erie during the storm and that the stirred-up water was now flowing down-river to Lake Ontario.
As we sat, we noticed, farther out in the river, a raft of about two dozen long-tailed ducks. This is one species that overwinter each year. Their call is quite distinctive and can often be heard in the night and early morning. As we watched, the entire group dove together. I suggested that we time how long they stay underwater and it turned out to be just under a minute — 52 to 53 seconds.
Lastly, we continued walking along River Beach Drive to the dock at the foot of Lockhart Street. There, I was able to point out a lone merganser heading out further into the river. This particular one seems to have been in the area for quite some time and will also, most likely, overwinter here.
By that time, they were getting a bit tired and hungry so we walked back to the car left at Queen’s Royal Park and headed home. A good outing on a pleasant winter day.
