Dai Evans and Kate Rogers have been birding Cobourg harbour three seasons a year since they moved there in 2022.
They say winter is the most productive time for raptors—birds of prey.
In winter 2022 Dai even captured images of a visiting snowy owl on the ice.
There are fewer snowies spending the winter hunting ducks in southern Ontario this year but that might be related to a limited supply of Arctic lemmings and fewer owlets fledging successfully this year.
Dai and Kate always like seeing snowies, but on January 18th they were thrilled to see two bald eagles over Cobourg harbour—one grasping a duck in its talons.
The eagles are doing very well in Ontario these days, finding lots of fish as long as there’s open water.
When the ice forms, the bald eagles, like they snowy owls, go for ducks!
It is hard to predict when birds of prey will try their luck in Cobourg harbour, but while you’re walking the lakeshore don’t forget to look up!
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
