Snow Geese in Eastern Ontario

BM
Brian Morin
Wed, Mar 22, 2023 8:36 PM

Activity has been a little behind schedule but there is finally some
movement. Even the Canadas were slower to make a major appearance. In the
past week only a few very small flocks of Greater Snow Geese have been
reported between South Lancaster and Morrisburg along the St. Lawrence or
close by.

Today I headed west from Morrisburg to Cardinal and had my first look at
serious goose movement. Canadas are at the peak with well over 100,000
(more like 125,000) spread out in the river and on shore but concentrated
at several locations. I had Snow Geese at basically two spots only. The
first was 12,000 about 1 km west of Mariatown (which is at the west end of
Morrisburg) along Lakeshore Drive. The birds were far out, initially
landing along the south shore of the shipping channel in US waters then an
hour later were on the adjacent American island in fields that are devoid
of snow. They could be seen with binoculars but if you were just driving by
you might have missed them. The second flock was about 1,000 on the ice in
the bay immediately east of Iroquois off Cty Rd #2. These birds were
intermingled with Canadas and were easy to see. The birds could also be
seen by heading south on Saver Rd and turning right. The numerous Canadas
spooked easily at the end of the road and may have taken the Snows with
them so I remained in the car. In the middle of the river at Cardinal I had
a handful of Snows with Canadas.

Fields throughout the counties are still largely snow-covered but with some
bare patches. The snow is low enough in some of the corn stubble for geese
to feed. Reports from the area east of South Lancaster on the river so far
have only a few small flocks but that should change. For the immediate
future the Snow Geese will be spending more time along and near the St.
Lawrence before eventually spreading north into the counties.
Unlike Canadas that can be spread far and wide, Snows tend to remain in
larger, more cohesive flocks once they are established in the area. It is
usually feast or famine with them.

For those checking the river, you are unlikely to find many geese of either
kind from Ingleside to well past Cornwall (maybe 1000 Canadas at Long
Sault), at least for now. Also, the Long Sault Parkway will remain closed
through the goose migration. That means concentrating efforts at this time
from Morrisburg west to Iroquois and South Lancaster east.

Brian Morin

Activity has been a little behind schedule but there is finally some movement. Even the Canadas were slower to make a major appearance. In the past week only a few very small flocks of Greater Snow Geese have been reported between South Lancaster and Morrisburg along the St. Lawrence or close by. Today I headed west from Morrisburg to Cardinal and had my first look at serious goose movement. Canadas are at the peak with well over 100,000 (more like 125,000) spread out in the river and on shore but concentrated at several locations. I had Snow Geese at basically two spots only. The first was 12,000 about 1 km west of Mariatown (which is at the west end of Morrisburg) along Lakeshore Drive. The birds were far out, initially landing along the south shore of the shipping channel in US waters then an hour later were on the adjacent American island in fields that are devoid of snow. They could be seen with binoculars but if you were just driving by you might have missed them. The second flock was about 1,000 on the ice in the bay immediately east of Iroquois off Cty Rd #2. These birds were intermingled with Canadas and were easy to see. The birds could also be seen by heading south on Saver Rd and turning right. The numerous Canadas spooked easily at the end of the road and may have taken the Snows with them so I remained in the car. In the middle of the river at Cardinal I had a handful of Snows with Canadas. Fields throughout the counties are still largely snow-covered but with some bare patches. The snow is low enough in some of the corn stubble for geese to feed. Reports from the area east of South Lancaster on the river so far have only a few small flocks but that should change. For the immediate future the Snow Geese will be spending more time along and near the St. Lawrence before eventually spreading north into the counties. Unlike Canadas that can be spread far and wide, Snows tend to remain in larger, more cohesive flocks once they are established in the area. It is usually feast or famine with them. For those checking the river, you are unlikely to find many geese of either kind from Ingleside to well past Cornwall (maybe 1000 Canadas at Long Sault), at least for now. Also, the Long Sault Parkway will remain closed through the goose migration. That means concentrating efforts at this time from Morrisburg west to Iroquois and South Lancaster east. Brian Morin