Lunch(es) at Cabot Head

After dipping on a Townsend's Solitaire observed at the BPBO this a.m., I headed over to the nearby Cabot Head light to eat my lunch (salmon salad on a bagel). What a relaxing scene. No people, scores of Turkey Vultures kettled overhead and the gorgeous blues and greens of Georgian Bay spread out beyond.

As noted in my last post, lingering winter weather on the Bruce Peninsula has made life tough for migrants. Today, the lighthouse attracted swarms of sluggish cluster flies which in turn attracted insectivorous birds including a Brown Creeper, four Eastern Phoebes and five (!) first-of-season-for-me Pine Warblers.

Bring on the warblers!

Snowed birds.

A lean week for some early migrants.

Change is coming...

Farewell ye Snowies

There's been an uptick of Snowy Owl numbers on the Bruce in the last few weeks. On most days, with little effort, one can easily spot several on the Ferndale Flats between Wiarton and Tobermory - easier since fields turned brown.

There has been a steady turnover of birds since the solstice, presumably a result of migrating northbound birds.

 March 17, Pike Bay Road.

March 17, Little Pike Bay Road.

April 1, Little Pike Bay Road.

More on spring movements of Snowy Owls, as revealed through satellite telemetry, from Project Snowstorm.