Relief! Some Recent Walks

 Today's weather was certainly a welcome relief.  The temperature went above zero for the first time in several weeks!

This morning, I managed to go for a long walk under sunny skies (weather forecast was a bit wrong...turned out nice!).  In recent weeks, I had not been able to go for any lengthy walk due to the weather or cold or snow.  Weight gain......

My place of choice was the frozen Sydenham River starting at W. Darcy McKeough dam.  I had not done this in many years.  It is certainly something different and interesting to do.

Some scenes.......

Just north of the dam at the bend

There was practically no birdlife (no surprise this winter), but I was more focused on the fresh air and exercise.  Here are some scenes along the way.

I walked up to the next concession.

Smith Line bridge

One of the birds was a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  I did not get a photo, but here is the one in my yard this winter.

Along the way, I noticed remnants of a paper wasp nest.  The outer covering had blown off, exposing the inside.  Kind of neat-looking!

Neglected pic-nic table along the way:

Sunday was a nice day for a drive, as I went into Elgin County.  Again, not many birds, but I needed a change in scenery and a couple of moderate walks.  I went as far as John E. Pearce Provincial Park south of Wallacetown.

I walked the trail at the Storey Wetland.

No owls in the woods, but then they are scarce this winter.  Deer were prancing about though, and these two briefly stopped to take note of my presence.

On the way back, I stopped by Clear Creek Provincial Nature Reserve.  Coming up along Duart Road, a Common Raven was perched in a tree.  As usual, it flushed before I could get a photo.  It is quite standard to find a raven around these parts anymore.

Here are some scenes.

The trail passes by the famous old fallen beech tree.

Here is a photo way back when it was still alive.

At one point, I noticed some imprints in the snow.  Obviously a bird had come down to grab something.  Possibly an owl?

There have been some trips out to the St. Clair River, but it is mostly iced in.  Recently, open water is from north of Cath's Cart Park to south of Courtright. Here we find lots of waterfowl.

Yesterday, I stopped at the CF Industries warm water outlet where the concentration was.  I picked out four Trumpeter Swans here, and possibly a fifth.  Unable to get decent photos of anything since I sat in the car, not wanting to flush anything.

Two Trumpeters here with a Mute counterpart

There were too many Mute Swans, and a few Tundra Swans.

There was one Canadian Coot swimming around.  I recently had two at Cathcart Park.  Probably the "least common"bird here.

Recent Sightings and Travels Early February 2026

 I have been out to the St. Clair River a few times in the last week.  Monday was a clear and sunny day, but very cold at Guthrie Park.

Upon arrival, I saw three Double-crested Cormorants in flight coming out of Talfourd Creek.  Seems we get a few wintering here every year!  No time for a photo op as they were in flight just as I pulled up.

A few Bald Eagles were messing around causing a stir among the ducks.

Here are some other scenes:

The lonely White-winged Scoter in this photo!

Early in the week we had what some call a "snow moon".  Whatever you call it, it was big and bright!

When I got up in the morning, it was low in the western sky.

At dusk, it was low in the eastern sky!

On Tuesday, I felt like going for a bit of a walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  Not much in the way of bird life of course, but here are some scenes on this cloudy day.

Yesterday I was a due for a trip to Rondeau and area.  I walked the campground.  Some blackbirds are hanging around the north end this winter, including many Brown-headed Cowbirds, a few Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles.  They were high the trees during my visit though.

Afterwards, I wandered the countryside, and even went into Erieau.  One place I stopped at was along Holdaway Line east of Blenheim.  There is a unique natural area alongside the road that harbours some decent birds every winter.

From the roadside, I saw about 15 American Robins, a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Purple Finch and a Northern Flicker.  Conditions did not warrant for decent photos.

Upon arrival though, a Red-tailed Hawk was at the edge of the woodlot.

I remember this area just after I first started birding.  It was always a stop on our Christmas Bird Count route since there were birds to be found there.  We did walk in back in those days, and I do recall Long-eared Owls here, among other things.  Too few of these areas left!

Last walk was at McGeachy Pond.  The main trail along the lake is too drifted in for walking, but the waterway alongside was easy to walk on.  Not much in the way of birds, but it was nice just to get out and walk (something I have not been able to do enough of this winter!).

Perhaps one could call this the phragmites corridor.

A Bald Eagle was in the distance.

Heading home, I went up Fargo Road.  A dark morph Rough-legged Hawk was perched at the edge of a woodlot.  I was not even close, and it still took off!

Today, I went out to the St. Clair River later in the morning.  It has opened up a bit more, but not until well north of Sombra.  The snow was down enough to get into some places such as Cathcart Park.  There was quite a bit to look at here.

Upon arrival, a pair of coots was just off the breakwall.  There is usually one or two on the river each winter, but these are the first I have seen this year!

I walked out onto the island for a better view of things.  A Trumpeter Swan was just offshore hanging out with its European counterparts.

There was another Trumpeter in the distance, and I am pretty sure there were too more in the far distance, but I did not have a scope.

Lots of Ring-necked Ducks here too, but none were close.

At the north end of Cundick Park (Stoke's Point) there was some open water.  Some Tundra Swans hanging out here, among other waterfowl.

Now that we are well into February, hopefully this winter weather breaks and we get get some milder temps.  Although it has really been a more normal winter, I have had enough!