On rare occasions over the decades, there has been an interesting phenomenon at Point Pelee where very early spring ducks appear here when there is a surge of warm air associated with strong south winds.
There is now a continuum of such events (with gaps) from the earliest (December 31) through January and into early February. Typically such events are characterized by a sudden rise in temperature, in association with strong south winds originating from the Gulf Coast of the U.S. The current event started in the afternoon of January 22, when south winds were blowing directly to southern Ontario from Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and the Panhandle of western Florida. That evening and through to the following morning (January 23) the temperature was rising at Leamington, reaching a high of 10 C. (50 F.) at 12 Noon. There were multiple tornadoes in the south, especially in Alabama. I anticipated this event, so went to the Tip early the morning on January 23, where it did not take long for me to see the first spring migrants --- two separate flocks of Northern Pintail heading south (= retreating). So far the following have been seen at Point Pelee: NORTHERN PINTAIL January 23: 20, at Tip (6+14) -- pure flocks January 23: 3, SE Hillman Marsh January 25: 140 !!!, fields south of Hillman Marsh -- a pure flock GREEN-WINGED TEAL January 24-25: 9, SE Hillman Marsh GADWALL January 23: two (pair), SE Hillman Marsh January 24: three, NW Hillman Marsh January 25: 6, SE Hillman Marsh AMERICAN WIGEON January 23: one male, SE Hillman Marsh January 24: two (pair), SE Hillman Marsh January 25: 6, SE Hillman Marsh RING-NECKED DUCK January 25: two (immaculate males), SE Hillman to Girardin Pond (Pelee Marsh) Excluding Lake Erie, all bodies of water here are frozen with the exception of an opening at SE Hillman Marsh, and a tiny opening at Girardin Pond (the rest of Pelee Marsh is frozen). I call all of these spring migrants. Others disagree, but they have yet to provide a satisfactory, alternative explanation for these influxes. We need to keep in mind that many of these ducks may have been in the southern United States since October (three months ago), so they are healthy, probably fat, and are very eager to migrate north with the first warm weather and strong south winds. Premature maybe, but so be it. Northern Shoveler and Greater White-fronted Goose are two other species that are often associated with these early movements, but so far none have been seen. Thanks to Marianne Reid for providing her January 25 observations. Alan Wormington, Leamington ____________________________________________________________ 53 Year Old Mom Looks 33 The Stunning Results of Her Wrinkle Trick Has Botox Doctors Worried http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4f2091946a2731fb21m02duc _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
