The First Full Day of Spring

Tundra swans spend the winter at Chesapeake Bay in the State of Delaware. They migrate to their breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic, a journey of over 6000 km. Thousands of them fly over southern Ontario in March, many of them resting for days or a couple of weeks at the Alymer Wildlife Management Area, which is about an hour from our home. There are viewing platforms at the staging area, and feed is provided. I have been here in the past, but in recent years, spring came early, and the number of birds that rested in the area was much lower than usual. We had a long, cold winter, and spring has not been in a rush this year. My husband and I checked the ponds on March 21, the first full day of spring.

It can be difficult to distinguish Tundra Swans and Trumpeter Swans in the air. Trumpeter Swans are seen locally throughout the year in southern Ontario. Both species have black bills, unlike the orange-billed Mute Swan.
 

Tundra Swans are smaller and have a whistling call. They often have a yellow spot in front of their eyes. There were family groups in the resting area as well as some courting couples.

The pair of swans in the above two photos performed a courtship dance routine for several minutes. 

White-crowned Sparrow in a ditch

There are a few groomed trails on the property, and other birds were doing spring things. This White-crowned Sparrow is here at least six weeks early. They usually pass through our area in the middle of May on their way north. I wonder if this bird stayed locally over the winter. 

This female Mallard Duck was investigating a Wood Duck box at the edge of the pond. I didn't see any Wood Ducks, but this isn't a suitable home for a Mallard.

I saw my first Robin on March 3rd this year. There are many around now, and they start singing well before dawn. They are a welcome harbinger of the season, and we would admire them more if they were not so abundant. 

Pussywillow catkins are one of the earliest buds of spring, and when we came home, I discovered that...

...The Common Snowdrops were also blooming. Snowdrops are a European plant that has naturalized in North America. They bloom before hyacinths and crocuses. Rhubarb stalks were also breaking through the ground.

Winter came early and was cold, snowy and long. I have missed birding and exploring outdoor spaces and welcome this new season.