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| Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris |
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| Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolour |
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus |
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| Snow Goose Chen caerulescens |
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| Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula (left foreground) |
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| Horned Lark habitat |
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| Waterfowl spot |
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| Being blasted by living winds atop a slippery garbage heap overlooking a sewage plant? Birder's delight. |
March 19, 2023, Rang de la Barbotte, Lacolle
Headed down towards the US border with George and the gang, a bit further south of last year's Tufted Twitch. Was quite cold and blustery out – winter’s last breath. The day wasn’t super conducive to photography, with dull light for most of the day. We found a line of tripod dudes along the small road outside of Lacolle, across from where hundreds of waterfowl drifted in the river. The star attractions were a Tufted Duck, as well as an apparent Tufted X Scaup hybrid.
Tens of thousands of Snow Geese clouded the horizon through the trees, after several shotgun blasts were heard. Is it even hunting season yet? Oh well, I almost never argue with guys brandishing shotguns.
Cruising around wind-tormented farm fields in search of the ‘field three,’ we found plenty of Horned Larks, but no sign of the Lapland Longspurs or Snow Buntings folks were seeing in the area. Horned Larks are lovely birds - they look chunky in flight, probably because of their relatively large wings.
Spring will soon be upon us! Warblers, old world and new, are winging north at this very moment. I'm hoping to be confused by both this spring. Should be fun.
