Winter Season Is Here!

 Looks like winter has set in....as it really should be this time of year!  Consistent cold temperatures are here for now.

I have not been out much for various reasons.  Last week I came down with some kind of bug that put me down.  First time in a long time that I have felt that bad.  Therefore, little to report and certainly no new photos.

I did get out a bit here and there when I could.  Last Friday I did some walking at Rondeau.  Some birds here and there to keep up interest.  Seemed to be quite a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets sticking around.  Not happy with the snow I am sure!

Water levels have been extremely low lately.  Certainly helping the erosion situation at Rondeau.  Here is a familiar scene where once there was a lot of shoreline!

November 2024

A campground office was once at this site, well back from the shoreline.  Just in the last ten years, this shoreline has receded immensely.

2015 (note where the concrete structure sits!)

A single Killdeer was at this location on Friday.  Unfortunately, I did not realize the camera has changed settings!

I went back to Rondeau on Sunday for lack of anywhere else for a long walk.  Speaking of Killdeer, at least six flew over the campground.  They were likely frozen out of a usual haunt.  Freeze-up has come early this year compared to the past few.

There were not a lot of birds on Sunday, so I did not have a barrel of fun trying to look for them.

With the advent of consistent cold weather, many birds have packed their bags.

Winter, and the approach of Christmas, means Christmas Bird Counts!  They are not as exciting to us oldtimers as they once were in the past, but most of the local counts are running.  My favourite is the Blenheim/Rondeau on December 15.  Skunk's Misery, just announced today, is December 29.  The St. Clair NWA got a reprieve this season as a new compiler has taken over for its January 1 debut.  Unfortunately, the Wallaceburg CBC will not be run this year due to multiple reasons.  Perhaps it will be revived in the future.  It has had a good run over the years, with some very good birds recorded.