White Birds, Wheres the snow?

Today my dad and I went birding on the lake/river on this very chilli winter day. Our primary goal was for the Trumpeter Swan previously reported by Blake Mann at Sarnia Bay, but we would obviously be keeping and eye open for the Western Grebe seen about 5 days ago at Point Edward Lighthouse and the Harlequin Duck on the river a little over a week ago, unfortunately we didn't get either them! Our first stop was at Point Edward Lighthouse, there wasn't a ton there, mostly Long-tailed Ducks, but also present was a nice close up adult male White-winged Scoter, a few Red-breasted Mergansers, and Common Goldeneye. In the distance, there were a few groups of Redheads and Scaup sp. mixtures as well. Gull wise, the usual Ringer and Herring, and finally got that Iceland Gull everyone has been seeing here for my year. On our way out of the paring lot, we had a little male Merlin fly up to a pole right beside us. While we were here, I was informed of a Snowy Owl at the intersection of Waterworks Rd and Plank Rd.

Our second stop was the Sarnia Bay/Marina. Duck wise, a few species, Mallards, Common Mergs, a group with Redheads, Greater Scaup, and a couple Canvasback, and there was a single Am. Black Duck swimming with some Mallards. Gull wise, many of the two commons again, about 18 Greater Black-backed, 2 Lesser Black-backed, and another single Iceland Gull. But best for this location was the Trumpeter that was previously reported, it was along with a pair of Mute Swans.

After that, just headed down river. Down river, there was a complete lack of ducks! Even the shell docks where I had 12+ Hooded Mergansers on the 1st, there was only 1 today! No other interesting ducks other then that either! There were a few distant Tundra Swans in some spots but thats it! Before we headed out towards home from the river, we stopped one more time, there was a large group of gulls flying around. Included was a few Greater Black-backed, and 3 Glaucous Gulls, 2 first years and an adult.

Our lat stop was looking for the Snowy Owl. We did not find it at that intersection, but we did find one a couple km East of there, so probably the same one. It was at a distance in a field strait West of the intersection of Rokeby Line, Plank Rd and Mandaumin Rd.

At first it was wayyyyy out there in the field, needed a scope to positive ID, but we walked out into the field for pictures, though they didn't turn out well.

I just think this is a cool shape it's making n flight!
So new species for the day, Iceland Gull, Trumpeter Swan, Tundra Swan, and Snowy Owl. So theres all the white birds, wheres the white fluffy snow!?!?
Until Next Time.

Good Birding!