An Early Morning Run to Long Point

Today started early—with a 6:30 a.m. departure from Tilbury while the sky was still shaking off the night. The drive east felt quiet and expectant, the kind of morning that already promises something memorable before the coffee even kicks in.

By the time we reached Long Point, the wind made its presence known. It whipped across the landscape, raw and unrelenting, reminding us that nature always sets the terms here. Despite the bluster, the birds delivered.

We spotted several Northern Harriers, effortlessly riding the wind low over the fields, their buoyant flight impossible to miss. A couple of juvenile Bald Eagles appeared as well—still a little rough around the edges, but commanding all the same. The real show, though, came from the Sandhill Cranes. There were plenty of them, their calls cutting through the wind as they moved across the area, ancient and unmistakable.

After driving around Long Point Island, taking in the scenery and whatever birds chose to reveal themselves, hunger finally took priority. We headed inland to The Country Fork in Rowan for lunch—and it absolutely delivered. Comfort food done right, warm and satisfying after a cold, windy morning.

Well… mostly satisfying.
Jess ate like a bird.

All in all, it was one of those simple, perfect days: an early start, wild winds, great birds, and a solid meal to close it out. Long Point never disappoints—especially when you’re willing to meet it on its own terms.