Sunday, December 15, 2013

Winter Wonderland Good News and Bad News

Winter Wonderland in Waterloo

    Yesterday, on a bitterly cold winter's day (the highest temperature we achieved was minus 11 degrees C) with deep and continuing snow, we did the annual Kitchener Christmas Bird Count. As might be expected under such conditions, the total count was down from previous years, but our party managed to find three significant species - only the second record ever for Greater Scaup Aythya marila (a pair on the Grand River), a Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus and a very agreeable Great Grey Shrike Lanius excubitor.
    Unfortunately, between the snow falling constantly, and the fact that we were bundled up against the cold, I failed to get a single picture.
    This morning I went out to shovel my driveway; the good news is that it's done, the bad news is that it's still snowing and will probably need it  again before the day is out!
    Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of what it looks like on Osprey Drive in Waterloo.

My house with its clean driveway

Looking north along the street

Looking south along the street

David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

3 comments:

  1. So you too are having heaps of snow!
    When I think that if temperatures are - 2/3°C in the morning, they soar to 17 during the day! And.... lots of sunshine!
    Well, chin up and courage for the shoveling
    (better you than me, LOL)!
    Cheers David!

    ReplyDelete

  2. I already know where he moved to winter in my neighborhood did not see a year ago already was.

    Greets from Poland :))

    ReplyDelete
  3. I love it so much snow but if you stay in meot long as you can I imagine you find that less fine.

    ReplyDelete

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