September Tour: A Visit to Some Favourite Parks

This past Sunday I headed northward for a few days during my annual week off.  I checked out some of my favourite provincial parks:  MacGregor Point, Awenda and Killbear.  As one plans these months in advance, it is a gamble as to what you find and what the weather will be.  It was a somewhat disappointing trip! As a result, I took very few photos.

As you all know, we had a record amount of rain this week, a certain sign of climate change.  My first two days were quite nice, but the third was a bit iffy, the fourth a complete washout and the fifth non-existent.  I had no choice but to forfeit a night at Killbear due to the rain.  Sitting in the car most of the day was not an option!  The crazy weather continues!

Anyway, Sunday was a gorgeous day to head up highway 21.  I had time on my hands, so I continued on past Port Elgin to east of Owen Sound to take a chance on the Northern Wheatear at Annan.  It had been seen an hour before I arrived, so it was still around!  I waited about an hour, and the four people present eventually left.  The bird did pop up in the distance briefly, but it was too far for a photo.  I did not stick around as I wanted to get back to MacGregor Point.

Chantry Island

Birding was rather slow, but I always enjoy being there.  I sat by the lake before sunset (my usual spot was closed this year).

Mergs on the lake at sunset

As the sun set, it was dead calm and clear while I sat at the campsite.  A couple of bats flew over, and some birds were heard.  Eventually I heard a Great Horned Owl.

Next morning I did some more birding in the park before heading east.  Highlight was a Peregrine Falcon along the lakeshore.

I was hoping the wheatear would be reported again, as I would have taken another look.  Not to be.  It appears Sunday the 19th was the last day it was seen.

Bruce/Grey Road 40 heads straight out from MacGregor Point and goes right to the Georgian Bay shoreline near Thornbury.  It is actually a very scenic drive!

Once I got through the traffic chaos at Collingwood and Wasaga Beach, I headed north to Awenda Provincial Park.  Before checking in, I birded the Wendat trail around Second Lake.  Quite a few birds were at the north end.  They were at treetop level, so it was a challenge to sort through them.

Violet Dancer

I might note that all three parks I visited were devasted by gypsy moths this year.  Shows how widespread the outbreak was this year.  I guess forest floor plants got more sunlight this year.  Large-leaved Aster was quite abundant at Awenda.

After setting up the tent, I birded the Robitaille trail.  I talked about the history of this one in the past.

The evening was very windy and one could not hear very much.  Usually I get Barred Owls here, but it was just too windy this time.

Next morning it started pouring rain before I got the tent down.  Not on the agenda!  It eventually stopped for me to get in some more birding in along the lakeshore.

Sailboat leaving anchorage near Methodist Point

The drive from here to Killbear is around two hours, so I headed out.  At least it did not rain on the way despite a threatening sky.

Killbear Provincial Park is quite scenic.  It has three hiking trails:  Twin Points, Lookout Point, and Lighthouse Point (very short).  It also has a more recent recreational trail that parallels the main road right through the park.

I have been to Killbear six times now, the first being in 1994.  It is an "out-of-the-way" park as you head west off the 400 (was two-lane highway 69 back in '94!), then goes south down a peninsula.  It is less than a half hour from Parry Sound.

Upon arrival, I checked out Twin Points Trail, then walked Lookout Trail.

Lookout is the highest point in the park looking east.

Twin Points has a couple of scenic spots along the lake on red granite.

There are several nice beaches at Killbear...for use when the weather is nice.

View from Lighthouse Point

Rain came later in the day, and I only got halfway through supper before I had to retreat to the car!  The night was horrendous with a torrential downpour like there was no tomorrow.  Good thing I put a tarp over the tent!

Scene along Twin Points trail

Next morning, I walked both Twin Points and Lookout Point before the rain really hit.  There was a bit of drizzle off and on though.  I did find more birds than the previous day, so that kept my busy.  A Ruffed Grouse was a highlight.

I also went down to Lighthouse Point for another walk while the rain came down.

Northern Parula in the rain

I drove around a bit and unhappily sat in the car.  I thought hard about what I was going to do, and by noon I decided head out and forfeit a night's stay.  I went to the campsite and wrapped up the wet tent.  I got a surprise underneath....a couple of Red-backed Salamanders were hiding from the deluge!

It was not going to be fun driving home, but I focused on that and headed south.

It was heavy drizzle or rain the whole 6+ hours home!  I drove straight through.

Who is in charge of weather anyway??  I have some words....

A Fall Trip-Provincial Park Visits

This past week I took my annual fall week off to head in a northerly direction.  I chose to check out a few provincial parks, all of which I have camped at before.
Sunday I pointed my car in the direction of Penetanguishene.  Awenda Provincial Park, established in 1975, is always one of my favourite stops.

The weather was pleasant on Sunday, so walking the trails was enjoyable.  However, I found there were fewer birds compared to previous visits.

Hermit Thrush

There was a stiff wind coming off the lake, so there was not much in the way of birds along the shoreline.

Giant's Tomb Island, Awenda P.P.

Around supper time, a Barred Owl starting calling.  It was earlier than usual, but I always see/hear them at this park.
At dusk, several birds were moving through the woods, such as thrushes and sparrows.

Monday was another pleasant day as I headed north towards Parry Sound.  After a short rest stop in Bobby Orr's hometown, I headed north to Killbear Provincial Park. It is sort of "out-of-the-way", but I have been here several times before.

View from Lookout Trail

Although it was a nice clear day, the wind was till blowing stiffly from the west.  Birding was rather slow again, but the scenery is always nice.

My campsite was near the shoreline, so I could not hear anything during the night due to the wind.  Just at sunset, the predicted clouds moved in for rain overnight and the next day.

There was a brief reprieve in the rain/drizzle the next morning that allowed me to walk Two Peaks Trail before I headed north on highway 400/69.

Scene along Two Peaks Trail (Monday)

It was drizzle all the way to the historic French River where I wanted to walk the trail to Recollet Falls.  I walked the trail anyway as most of the drizzle held off.  There were lots of birds along the trail to observe, at least.

My next stop was Grundy Lake Provincial Park, just a bit south of the French River.  The weather was drizzly all day, but stopped enough to allow me to walk the trails and look for birds.

Gut Lake

By late afternoon it was raining and it poured all night for one of the most miserable nights I have ever spent in a tent!  I did have a tarp, but it was so damp with condensation, everything was wet by morning.  I could not hear a thing due to the rain pounding on the tent.

Rock Scene showing glacial action, along Gut Lake Trail

By dawn Wednesday, the wind had switched, rain stopped and it was cooler much to my relief.  I was going to stay here two nights and spend part of a day up at Killarney, but due to the weather I got of out Dodge Grundy!

I decided to head back towards home, but spend the next night at Pinery Provincial Park.  It was actually quite enjoyable (especially after the previous night).  The weather was again nice and lots of birds were around.
Upon arrival, I went to the lake for a watch. The wind was pretty good, and there was some activity over the lake.  Things were distant, but I did spot a couple of jaegers.

After an hour, I walked a trail or two and found lots of warblers.

Bay-breasted Warbler

It was very windy overnight....again!  I could not hear a thing with the roar of the waves on the shoreline and the wind through the trees.

It was quite cool the next morning, but the wind was shifting.  I did watch the lake for an hour before hitting the trails.
The night was clear and it was obvious many birds had left overnight since I did not see that many.

On the way home, I stopped by Forest Lagoons, which had a good number of shorebirds. Highlight was a Willet, which I did not see at first, until it took a brief flight.

During the trip I saw other things such as wildflowers and insects.  This time of year the asters are out and there are many kinds which I can only guess at identifying.

Large-leaved Aster at Awenda

Swamp Aster at Killbear

Tri-colored (?) Bumble Bee at Killbear

Despite the Tuesday weather (which was bad all over--Wallaceburg came close to a tornado!), it was a decent trip for getting away.