Visiting the Tundras

On the way to a family Easter dinner in St. Thomas, we made a quick stop in Aylmer, Ontario to visit the migrating Tundra Swans.  We see 50 or so every year in Durham, but I couldn't resist the temptation to see several hundred in one marsh.

Aylmer Wildlife  Management Area is a preferred Tundra Swan stop-over year after year, where they see between 10,000 and 60,000 migrating swans each season.  For more information, http://www.naturallyelgin.com/natural-areas/aylmer-wildlife-management-area.

The migration doesn't last long and we stopped by during the tail end.  My guess is that there were between 400-600 the day we went.

Amazing to watch them!  They were quite animated in their interaction with one another, and they would frequently do fly-bys as well.  And nothing beats their mumbling vocalization.  It was a combination of a school yard at recess, and a busy airport.

Gossiping at Recess!

Bossy!

Lots of incoming and outgoing flights.

Tundra Swans Taking Off

Great to see them...and its always nice to see a distant surprise Bald Eagle, who stole some of the Tundra's thunder.

Bald Eagle

Tundra Swan in Flight

I'm really hoping that I will see a few here in Durham over the next week or so.  Beautiful birds!