White-winged Scoters breed on large lakes in northwestern North America. Most move to the ocean or coastal bays in winter but a few spend the winter on Lake Ontario.

White-winged Scoters feed chiefly on mollusks which they collect from mussel beds and depths of 15 – 25 feet.

Unlike most diving ducks which propel themselves underwater with their feet, scoters may also use their wings.

In Europe they are known as the Velvet Scoter.

Some other birds:

The first bridge of the Burlington Skyway was completed in 1958 with a second added in 1985.

I remember as a child before the Skyway construction, waiting for hours in the car as a ship entered or left Hamilton Harbour which stopped traffic as the lift bridge went up.

NATURE POETRY

The icicles now fringe the trees

That swayed in summer’s gentle breeze,
When summer days were fair.                 – Dora Read Goodale (1866–1915)

Miles Hearn