It was a very cold and strange start of spring here in the Timmins area. After a few arrivals in the last week of March and the first few days of April, migration came to an almost complete stop during the first 2 weeks of April. The temperatures remained significantly below average every day until April 21st. A few days of south wind and warm weather from April 21 to April 26 brought us an important number of new arrivals and a larger number of previously arrived migrants.
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Common Grackle during a snow fall
16 April 2018 |
As of today, our lakes are still 99% ice covered (with a few inches open in some areas near shore). Thankfully, we have a few rivers that offered a bit of open water to the migrating waterfowl. Here are a few of our arrivals:
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First Yellow-rumped Warbler of spring
South Porcupine (23 April 2018) |
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First Rusty Blackbird of spring
South Porcupine - (26 April 2018) |
With a very limited number of open water areas, we get to see a good congregation of waterfowl at Porcupine Lake where the Porcupine River starts (near Bannerman Park). Yesterday, I saw my first Pied-billed Grebe of spring (as well as our first American Coot) along with many species of ducks.
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Pied-billed Grebe / Grebe à bec bigarré
Porcupine Lake @ Porcupine River (25 April 2018) |
At the same location, we observed a Trumpeter Swan. It had been found earlier that day by someone in my neighbourhood and I was glad it was still there at 5pm. They are uncommon in our area so it was a big surprise. It was a new species for Porcupine Lake (species #165) and a new species for me in our district. I had only seen them in Southern Ontario and in BC.
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Trumpeter Swan / Cygne trompette
Porcupine Lake (25 April 2018) |
Further on the south side of Porcupine Lake, a small open area contained 2 Tundra Swans.
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Tundra Swans / Cygne siffleur
Porcupine Lake (25 April 2018) |
I will try to continue to update my
Spring Arrival Page with every new arrival.
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Mink watching us as we were looking at birds
Porcupine Lake (25 April 2018) |
