Roaming around at the end of autumn, including some Bald Eagle news

 Well, winter finally arrived, although the last couple of weeks have at times, seemed more winter-like than some winters!

I'm always looking for an opportunity to go for a long, brisk hike at Rondeau, and now that the snow and ice have almost completely disappeared, there is so many of the roads and trails that are less icy to walk on briskly. I haven't found an abundance of things to photograph, but there is always something.

The east beach was always a guarantee to find Canada Geese, but now that the beach was laden with ice piled up, they were typically out off shore a little ways. 

I often walk what I call the central block, which includes both Rondeau Rd and Harrison Trail, and includes both Bennett Ave and Gardiner Ave. It is a nice woodland walk of ~5 km or so. This Destructive Pholiota fungus which I have been watching come and go over the last couple of months, was in surprisingly good condition in spite of the recent weather, at least based on appearances.

Another fungus that was still in fairly good shape was this Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus.

Next is a general photo taken along Harrison Trail. I like looking at the variability in trees, etc.

Wild Turkeys were a little shy, likely due to the shooting that took place during the two deer culls in recent weeks. But this one didn't appear too worried as I drove by, and even stopped with my lens pointed at it.

One of the things I was glad to see was a new nest of Bald Eagle. It was well out along the west edge of the woodland, and there were too many branches, etc., to bother with a photo, but it will be interesting to keep track of it, at least while the trees are leafless.

And more on the Bald Eagle topic, I noted that the eagles at the south end of Fargo Road, just a bit north of Shrewsbury, seemed to be building a new nest. I think this is the fourth nest I have seen along this narrow stretch of woodland, with two already having come down. The first photo shows an adult clutching some twigs and small branches to add to the nest.

The second photo show it down in the nest, working on getting the twigs positioned comfortably,

Continuing with Bald Eagles, I encountered this bird at the edge of St. Clair NWA. It appears to be a 3rd year bird.

 A bit north of the SCNWA, I checked some Wood Duck boxes, and noted an Eastern Screech Owl sitting quite visibly in one.

 Elsewhere in the former Dover Twp, I came across these: Crows, of course. The usual tens of thousand are scattered here and there. They are fairly tolerant if a vehicle keeps moving but when you stop and point something out the window, they tend to move on rather quickly.

At the very north end of the former Dover Twp is a spot I check out periodically, especially for waterfowl and sunset photography. There had been enough of a current to keep the water completely open, but there was not a bird to be seen, not even a gull or a crow, let alone a duck or goose. The wetland across is at Walpole Island First Nation.

Elsewhere there were groups of Rock Pigeons settled onto a hydro wire, with feathers fluffed up trying to keep warm even in the sunshine.

Birds in this part of the upcoming SCNWA Christmas Bird Count seem to be quite scarce. There were a few birds hanging out at the water treatment outlet along the Thames River, at the west end of Chatham, including these:

 A single Herring Gull....

...the usual couple of dozen Mallards....

...and the ever present Canada Geese.

Being that Christmas is almost here, I often include some type of Christmas message. Rather than re-do it here, I will link you to my other blog, Life Is A Journey for some Christmas thoughts. It is a new blog that I started last June, and some people who are on the list to get Nature Nuggets, also get Life Is A Journey. I started this blog due to the challenging things I have had to deal with over the last couple of decades, and especially over the last couple of years. The journey posts essentially start with my early years, and in bits and pieces, go through the decades to what I am dealing with now. It is linked to Nature Nuggets.

Here is the link. Check it out if you like, and all the best as the Christmas season arrives, and the New Year is just around the corner!

 

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