Today around 3:30 pm Lea Haist and I spotted a pair of King Eider, among the hundreds of Longtails, and many White-winged Scoters, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, Scaup, etc. The male was a first spring bird with orange bill but the head was still black and there was a white patch by the rump but no white side/wing marking. We also saw a Saw-whet owl in a pine near the south east corner of the Conservation Area grounds. Look for all the footprints.
Directions: Take QEW to Fifty Rd. exit, go north and then right on Service Rd. Follow sign to Fifty Rd. Conservation Area but continue to the next rd. past that and turn left to end of rd. Park on side of road and walk along fence down to the beach. Look out to the right - in front of the Artillery range. The Eider pair were fairly close in - ie. in front of the masses of birds further out. We could only see them clearly with a scope. To find the owl, go north up the beach a little then walk south up along the trees on the east side of the conservation area.Try not to get too close - his eyes open very wide and he starts to get quite agitated if you stay too long or try to too close. We noticed someone had broken branches off some other pines in the area, possibly while looking for other owls. I'm sure Conservation area officers are going to get more vigilant if they start seeing trees damaged by birders visiting the area. Jeanne Halet Syms Burlington, ON
