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The cycle of rain and snow continues, accompanied by shifts between freezing temperatures and balmy days in the mid-teens Celcius. Lake Margaret, March 29, 2026 Lake Margaret is a privately-owned lake in St Thomas that is adjacent to Pinafore Park and the Lake Margaret Estates housing development. The lake was created when a former gravel pit was filled with water. On an overcast day with a brisk wind, we had time for a short walk along the paved trail that borders the lake. Despite the proximity to housing, there were at least one hundred Ring-necked Ducks and smaller numbers of…

This week… … we’ve had some snow and quite a lot of rain. We’ve been keeping a close watch for the return of the Ospreys. For some time, we’ve seen only a pair of Red-tailed Hawks that perch from time to time on the old nest or one of the stadium lights. Yesterday, we were delighted to see two Osprey perched on the low platform. They sat for a while before taking off. Since they showed no interest in the high nest and haven’t returned this morning, we assume that this is not the pair that usually nests at the…

Spring is very slowly unfolding. The daytime temperature generally remains in the single digits with below freezing temperatures at night. It snows from time to time, but the snow disappears quickly. No doubt, there will be more snow… Depite the weather, we are witnessing the arrival of more and more early spring migrants. These past two weeks have seen the return of Turkey Vultures, Red-winged Blackbirds, Kildeer, Common Grackles, European Starlings, and many American Robins. We are watching eagerly for the arrival of the Ospreys that nest at Labatt Park across the river from us. Any day now! The Tundra…

In the past week, our temperatures have remained well above freezing, sometimes moving into double digits. Rain arrived, the snow melted, and the river overflowed its banks. Monday’s forecast was for sunny skies and a temperature reaching the mid teens by the afternoon. Our friends offered to take us on a grand tour of the Long Point area in search of migrating birds. Long Point is a sandy spit that extends into Lake Erie. According to Wikipedia, “Habitats on and surrounding Long Point include woodlands, sand dunes and bluffs, marshes, ponds, meadows, beaches and lakeshore. The complex is the largest…

March has brought clear, cold nights and warmer daytime temperatures that melt the snow. Sunset on February 27th and the moon setting on March 2nd. It is an in-between time when the birds that have spent the winter depart and the early migrants may or may not have arrived. We had not seen diving ducks on the river below us for a few days. Because of the milder temperatures and open water, it was likely that they had moved north, getting closer to their breeding grounds. Of course, the geese are always present and noisier now that they are pairing…