Narrows Lock Birding – Part 2

 This is what we found at Narrows Locks: Canada Geese, Mergansers, and a busy spot for all. I was really happy that I brought my tripod. I think I might like a monopod at some point. I dragged the tripod with me around the road. It was comical.

Narrows Lock Road crosses the lake and it is a great spot for birds at certain times of the year. 

 

The single width bridge is closed for trucks. So the signage says! That's where JB parked, in the parking lot beside the blockhouse, and then the mail truck came along. He was happily waiting in the car, as the wind was really cold.

First to be photographed was the mute swan – all by itself. It was eating something just behind the blockhouse. I was happy to see that. I liked the reflection in the first one, although I got better using the tripod as I worked at it.

 

From here, I walked to behind the blockhouse, and onto the big dock.

There were lots of Canada Geese standing on the ice. 

Then I spotted a healthy flock of mergansers.

Cottages await their owners. Soon it'll be time to turn on the water and hydro.

This is where the lock is situated, and more birds in the shallows.

You can see the bubblers moving the water under the dock.

Big Rideau Lake is rather shallow (110m at its deepest), lots of rushes at the side of the lake.

The wind was merciless. As more geese flew in, the others either complained, or honked in recognition. It could go either way! geese at Narrows Lock:

 

There was a lot of grooming. Maybe in preparation for another big flight north or after their partial flight here!

The males guard their females:

Walking across the 2nd bridge, I noticed more birds. In the 2nd photo, below, you can see a male chasing off another male. 

I was at the other end of the road, and found a pair of mergansers all by themselves, seperate from the group on the ice on the other side of the highway. I wasn't sure if they were loons or not. The sun was so bright, my viewfinder made it difficult to see for sure. 

Happily, I'd fetched my heavy coat from the car. It was cold and windy. You can hear it on the audio: Narrows Lock in March from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I scared them off as I approached. I felt badly. They roared around in the air, and this is where a monopod would have come in handy! 

I've always enjoyed watching common mergansers. We had them in Bala in 2008:

I thought that was it for our adventure, but something caught my attention beside the bridge. More on that tomorrow! Stay tuned... 

In the meantime, we expect snow, freezing rain, and/or rain tonight. I am really glad we went for a drive in the sunshine.