The closest spot was Bain Park in Trenton. Not a particularly hot birding spot, but this time of year there are sure to be waterfowl and in particular I have been lucky in finding Shovelers there.
The water was black with waterfowl. Several large rafts some quite far into the lake and some closer - within photographic range.
Scanning some of the closer groups I noticed a marked difference from other large rafts that I had seen. They were mostly American Coots with some Scaup mixed in. The odd Bufflehead and American Wigeon as well ... but mostly Coots.
For some strange reason in the past, groups of birds (and other animals) were given specific names. Everyone knows a 'murder of Crows' since it seems so silly but Coots also have their own collective name. This was therefore a 'Cover of Coots' - mostly because they were mixed in with other ducks that have no collective,
I have seen Coots in ponds, inlets, harbours in small numbers but never a gathering of this size.
A few American Wigeon added a bit of colour, but no Shovelers this time.
A Ring-billed Gull flew over with a discarded apple core.
And a Belted Kingfisher took a dive.
Not a bad morning so far.
Then, in the distance 3 CF-18 Fighters appeared on the horizon and started getting closer.
I was right on the flypath to CFB Trenton. So what do you do is a Fighter Jet passes overhead and you have a telephoto lens? You shoot ... not literally ... I could be in deep trouble if that statement happened to be mis-interpreted by CSIS.
Then they peeled off and came in to land one by one.
Well back to shooting Coot.
But it was not over yet. A military chopper came along the flypath behind the last Jet sweeping and possibly surveilling the area.
I know exactly what these CF-18s were doing here. They were in transit from Cold Lake Alberta to the ISIL conflict in Iraq ... a mission that has been kept secret because of the threat of domestic terrorism and possible domestic attacks.
So some guy in full Camo pointing a long round thing (which could easily be interpreted as many things from a distance) was a possible cause for concern.
The chopper was clearly interested in me and I put my camera away and sheepishly visualled the waterfowl instead until it left.
I wondered if I would soon have a tap on my shoulder from the OPP or Military Police asking to see my pictures or worse, seizing my camera. These things don't normally happen in Canada but these are different times. I had no idea how prophetic that thought would turn out to be.
Within a few minutes of the chopper leaving it appeared that (to use a well worn cliche) all hell broke loose.
Coming from the base were all manner of alarms. Police sirens going back an forth in the neighboring Highway.
What the hell have I done.
My wife had previously gone back to the car in the parking lot and I thought it wise to join her. As I was walking toward the parking lot, she was coming to meet me. "The OPP just came to the car and told us to leave the Park immediately". "There has been an incident and the Base has been locked down".
Now I'm really in for it, I thought.
As we drove to the entrance I told my wife of my fears but she just laughed. "You are too self important to believe that you could cause all this". The exit from the Park was blocked by 2 OPP cruisers.
Should I swallow my SD card now?
They waved us through as as we drove along Highway 2 back towards Belleville, the right lane was jammed by cars with people in uniform trying to get into the base.
It was at this point that I thought about turning on the Radio. CBC had breaking news about a Terrorist attack in Ottawa. A gunman was on the loose inside the Parliament Buildings after having shot a soldier at the War Memorial.
So this is why there was all the fuss ... it had nothing to do with me. Although this was a sad and tragic situation, I breathed a sigh of relief.
It wasn't my fault after all.
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