As anticipated, the dam finally broke in the east for Greater Snow Geese yesterday with a large flock gathering east of Lancaster. There was a report of 30-50,000 first in the fields east of town near Bainsville then breaking up into smaller flocks and dispersing. The birds likely overnighted between Westley's Point and the Quebec border. Most of the geese usually make two trips a day into fields north of the river to feed, with many heading back to the river in between. The timing is not fixed but leaving the river an hour or more after sunrise, returning to the river before noon and heading back out about an hour and a half to two hours before sunset is a schedule to work with. Some will only hit the river again at sunset or later. Directions: From Lancaster head north on Cty Road 34 to concession 2. If there are no birds there, head east and work the various concessions north to 4 and east to 3rd Line. You could also continue as far east as Cty Rd 23 north of Curry Hill. Westley’s Point is 5 km east of South Lancaster on South Service Road, accessible at the light at the end of the exit from Hwy 401. This week the floodplain on Cty Rd 34 at Green Valley should also be checked. It is about 12 minutes north of Lancaster. Many fields are still snow-covered in the north but should be opening up later in the week. Brian Morin