A Wild Smew Chase

This morning while I was contemplating what to, an ONTbirds post immediately made the decision easy for me. A Smew was reported in Whitby harbour, presumably the same bird that was present last December (see here). I immediately booked it down there with Reuven and we showed up around 11:00 AM. Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be seen, and all the birders had missed it as well, including some that had shown up right after it was posted to the listserv. Reuven and I still spent several hours around the harbour area searching for it, but no luck. With several other birders we did view an adult Thayer's Gull and an adult Kumlien's Gull next to each other on the breakwall! There were several more Kumlien's around as well as a 2nd/3rd cycle Glaucous Gull.

We decided to check out nearby Lynde shores to see if there were any interesting waterfowl there. No rare geese among the hundreds of Canada Geese, but we did see a nice Red-shouldered Hawk overhead and several migrant ducks (Ringneck Duck, Gadwall, etc) at Lynde Shores.

We saw on the WELLbirds listservs that Fred Urie had found a Snow Goose in Aberfoyle. This would be a life bird for Reuven (his biggest hole on his Ontario list) so we stopped there on the way back. Fortunately it was there when we arrived and we were able to view it from quite close. It appeared to have an injured leg but was still active and wary.

Snow Goose - Aberfoyle, Wellington Co.

The Snow Goose was year bird 141 for me. Since arriving in Canada, I picked up Common Grackle on March 4 and Rusty Blackbird with a mixed flock of blackbirds near Cambridge last night. The Red-shouldered Hawk was #140.

Snow Goose - Aberfoyle, Wellington Co.

No Smew, but that's how it goes sometimes! It was cold and windy for much of the day and very few blackbirds were around compared to yesterday. The forecast is improving, fortunately!

Hey look, its a Smew

Last night when checking my email on my phone, a message popped up from Glenn Coady. I could only read part of the message's title, which read: "Miracle on Brock Street: ". Knowing that when Glenn posts its usually a rare bird, I clicked on the message and was shocked to read that a Smew had been found by Jim Robinson at Whitby harbour!!! Since Smew was my most wanted Ontario bird, I tried to find out a way I could finagle my schedule to see it today.

After an appointment I couldn't cancel, I picked up Brett Fried and Erika Hentsch and we booked it down to the harbour. I had Christmas dinner at 3, and I didn't pick up Brett and Erika til 11:30, so it was going to be close! If anyone knows me I don't like to miss a meal let alone a Christmas feast.

Fortunately when we arrived a hoard of birders already had their scopes set up on this bird, potentially Ontario's 3rd accepted record of this Eurasian species of duck. When we first arrived, this is how far away the bird was. It's between the raft of ducks and the Mute Swans:

waterfowl at Whitby harbour (Smew is in there!)

A Snowy Owl was conspicuous on the breakwall as well.

Snowy Owl - Whitby harbour

Eventually, the 1st winter male Smew took off and flew right at us. It ended up landing in the water not far off from where we were all standing, so everyone ended up with great looks at this bird.

Smew - Whitby harbour

Most wanted Ontario bird: Check! Now we just need an adult male to show up.

Smew - Whitby harbour

Thanks to Jim Robinson  for finding the bird and to Glenn Coady and Jean Iron for providing regular updates throughout the day. Brett, Erika and I had to leave after about 10 minutes, we raced back home (except for moments of heavy traffic) and I ran in the door just as everyone was sitting down for Christmas dinner! Perfect.

Some more shots...

Smew - Whitby harbour

Smew - Whitby harbour

Check out Jean's photos. http://jeaniron.ca/2011/smew.htm
Brandon's: http://www.blog.peregrineprints.com/2011/12/smew-tacular.html
Ken's: http://kenburrell.blogspot.com/2011/12/holy-shit-its-smew.html

If only this bird hangs around for a while! Not only would it be great to have more extended views to study the bird, but it would also be a good way to kick off the big year.