The first week of the count was chilly! The Straits are still thawing out from winter. McGulpin Point has been encased in a mile of ice. Luckily, Graham Point thaws early and has plenty of open water.
The majority of this week was relatively slow as a result of cold north winds. A strong SE wind on March 23rd led to productive count. Early migrants have primarily been Long-tailed Ducks (519), Red-breasted Mergansers (171), Common Goldeneye (180) and Redhead (545).
Small flocks of Canada Geese (93) are on the move as pairs start to appear at local breeding sites. The first Double-crested Cormorant (1) of the season was also spotted this week. Fox and mink have visited the count site in the early hours of the morning.
Week two should kick off to a fast start with more favorable conditions. Looking forward to Southern winds and warmer weather!
