From the Earth to the Sky

Tufted Titmouse, Black Capped Chickadee, White Breasted Nuthatch, Red Breasted Nuthatch One of the wonderful adaptations of birds is that some species can withstand brutal winter conditions.  Depending on their diet, they can glean food from the land, the sea, the sky (as Taylor Swift mentions!).  Many of the waterfowl that we have throughout the winter feed on fish, carrion and water plants, as well as any vegetation that they can get from the land.  That is why a bit of open water will enable some birds such as Great Blue Heron, Double Crested Cormorant and Belted Kingfish er as well as American Robins  to surprisingly overwinter, specifically at the Talfourd Creek outflow where the water is heated from the plants as well as Pinery PP.  Most of those species will migrate , but they do save a great deal of resources if they can manage to stay. Mute Swans, Canada Geese. Mallards and Trumpeter Swan Most of the waterfowl species that we see in the winter breed far...

Winter is one of my favourite times of year to get off the couch and get some fresh air.  The birds are not as plentiful as in other seasons, but we, here in sw Ontario are treated to many Arctic species.  Waterfowl and raptors that migrate here to escape the brutal winter of their Arctic breeding grounds treat us to good views if we are patient and lucky!   Some people, including myself, call this 'Weird Duck Season'!   Bluewater Bridge (Canada Side)  This winter especially has been extremely cold and snowy, with long durations of below seasonal temps and wind chills.  Today I am sitting at -16 with a windchill of -30 with about 2 ' of snow on the ground that just  came overnight with blowing snow and squalls. The 402 is closed in both directions and Hwy 21 from Grand Bend to Forest is closed, so unless I drive a sled, I'm staying in and staying local today!  Lake Huron is currently at 65% ice cover, while Lake Erie is about 94%, Lake O...