This afternoon Daniel Riley and I counted 51 Red-throated Loons off of the end of the Port Weller east pier, in St. Catharines, Niagara Region. Due to the calm weather the viewing conditions were quite good, making it much easier to count waterbirds than how it has been recently. Many of the loons were relatively close (less than 300 m off shore), though some were quite distant; it would be interesting to know the true number present. Most of the loons were straight out off of the end of the pier, from the entrance to the canal east to the lighthouse off of the eastern tip, and beyond to the east - none were west of the canal entrance. I have been visiting Port Weller at least weekly and so far this year my highest count of Red-throated Loons had been 3, presumably all wintering birds. Most likely these 51 birds today were early spring migrants. Interestingly, not a single Common Loon was present. While high numbers of Red-throated Loons are often seen in western Lake Ontario during autumn migration (generally mid-late November), in the spring large numbers are rarely reported. It was certainly the most I have ever seen on the water at one time in Ontario, and it was a pretty spectacular sight.
Birds of Hamilton by Bob Curry mentions several high counts of Red-throated Loons in western Lake Ontario during the spring, including 103 migrating past Woodland Cemetery, Hamilton on 10 April 1994 (Bob Curry, Rob Dobos et al.) and 68 migrating past Woodland Cemetery on 11 April 2000 (John Olmsted). He also mentions that the high count on Lake Ontario during the spring is only 11 birds on 3 June 1984 along the Burlington lakeshore (Mark Jennings, Paul Martin, Ian Richards). To get to the Port Weller east pier, take the Niagara Street/Regional Road 48 exit from the QEW in St Catharines, and drive north towards Lake Ontario. Stay on Niagara Street for 5 km, then turn right onto Lakeshore Road. Drive over the Welland Canal and take your second left onto Seaway Haulage Road, approx 500 m after crossing over the canal. Follow Seaway Haulage road north towards the lake. it will turn into Broadway, follow Broadway to the end and park in the little parking lot at the terminus of Broadway at Lake Ontario. Follow the path towards the end of the pier. Good birding, Josh Vandermeulen joshvandermeulen.blogspot.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
