After a difficult season opening on St. Patrick's Day with Greater Snow Geese not following their traditional pattern, this week seems to be better. Last week's brief flirting with high temperatures and heavy rain on Saturday near the St. Lawrence created feeding habitat in fields throughout the region. Areas with flooded cornfields offer the best chance for observation on land but unlike Canadas that will disperse widely, Snows tend to remain in fairly cohesive flocks so it is often feast or famine for sightings. Yesterday there was a flock of 7,000+ off Cty Rd 34 along Concession 7, south of Green Valley. The birds were in the flooded area of Riviere Beaudette. The flood zone is extensive this spring, better than most years here, so this will be an attraction for some time. Another 10,000 were seen in the air along 4th Line Rd. north of Bainsville. Also in the Bainsville area there were many ducks including numerous Pintails as well as Scaup and Green-winged Teal. The ice off Westley's Point east of South Lancaster along South Service Rd. is still solid so until it opens up there will be no regular gathering here between feedings. This is also your route for getting to Bainsville. There were no birds on the sod farm east of Casselman at Hwy. 138 but once the grass starts to grow, activity there should pick up. Some Snows were with numerous Canadas between Concession 19 and 20 north of Hwy 417. With more rain starting tomorrow night, the field flooding will expand, creating an ideal condition for the birds, far better than last year. Watch for Golden Eagles and be careful with identification because there are immature Balds, especially near the river. The Goldens follow the goose flocks, both Canada and Snow Geese. Brian Morin