We are experiencing very variable weather this winter. March is no exception. The main thing is that we have virtually no ice cover (~10%) on the Great Lakes — a very different situation compared with the last two winters when we had heavy ice covers (around 90%) in mid March. The high evaporation rates plus the lack of water content in the snow cover of the drainage signals a low water summer for Georgian Bay this year.
Here are some pix taken over the last week or so:
Some early morning hoar frost, due to freezing temperatures, humid air and no wind …
Riverside Drive:
The last few minutes before sunshine finished off the ice crystals …
Very different day with rain and fog, well above freezing …
A Pileated Woodpecker (or two) spent a day cleaning out the grubs in this Elm which died due to Dutch Elm Disease about 5 years ago. I am sorry that I missed the performance!
Oft photographed corner post in the ground fog/rain.
Bits of light reflecting off of raindrops here…
Remnants of 100 year old dockage in Byng Inlet.
Byng Inlet architecture:
Late afternoon melting snow from Hwy 522:
(shorter, square-tail, smaller beak, smooth throat feathers compared to Common Raven) American Crows have been back for about a week and are busy collecting baubles etc for their nests. (Double click on its beak to see its whiskers!!)
Pine Siskins are chattering in the willow and alder thickets …
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and are often seen with the Common Red Polls … who will be soon heading back up north for the summer.
Nature lovers who wish to share their love with youngsters might be interested in this practice:
Brtthome's Blog 