February Ups and Downs

Record high temps yesterday brought an influx of migrants from ducks to blackbirds.  Some Tundra Swans arrived here as well.  It is almost the end of February, so these were expected, but a nice welcome after a nasty winter (which is not yet over!).

As this bizarre weather continues, the large amount of snow melted quickly and with the endless rain, water levels rose dramatically.  Locally it was dicey, but the ice in the Sydenham broke up this morning and headed downriver out of harm's way.
Fields were flooded today and ditches overflowing.
The McKeough Dam was closed this morning, something that rarely happens, but it helped in preventing a major flood in Wallaceburg.  It was exactly nine years ago a similar weather event occurred and the dam was closed.

South Side of Dam

The Floodway

Peers Wetland

Monday was drizzly, but I headed up to Goderich for a change in scenery doing the same trip from exactly a year ago.  I stopped by Naftel's Creek CA, as I usually do.  This is a good place to go for a walk and check for birds just south of Goderich.  In the breeding season, there is a good variety of birds here, including warblers.

On my walk I found the usual chickadees and nuthatches, but I was surprised to hear a couple of Common Redpolls flying overhead.  They never really made it to the south part of the province this year again, but it was a delight to hear them.

Naftel's Creek

At Goderich, I walked across the old CPR bridge and onto the trail on the north side of the Maitland River.

Everything was frozen so there was not much in the way of waterfowl this year.

Today, it will be a rushing torrent!

A couple of Algoma vessels are wintering in the harbour.  The Algoway will probably be scrapped this year, and the Algorail has perhaps another year.

Algoway

On the way home, dense fog developed by the time I got to Pinery.