Canada Geese on Snow Lake Ontario Three Days Before Winter Solstice

I took these pictures of several Canada geese who had wandered up the hill from Lake Ontario, in Rhododendron Gardens, Mississauga. The geese had come to look for lunch in the grassy areas exposed where the bright sunshine had melted last night's snow. With only three days until the winter solstice (Dec 21), yoo'd think they'd have flown south long ago.

Canada Geese Rhododendron Gardens

The day before, when there was no snow at all, at this same location, hundreds of ducks - Mallards, white and black coloured ducks ( that I can't find in my Peterson Field Guide to Birds), gulls, geese and swans -- filled the waters of this small cove and covered the waters far out into the lake. It was late afternoon, on a cloudy day, and I couldn't get a decent photo.

Two Canada Geese Walking in Snow

A passerby mentioned that the annual bird count had taken place the previous Sunday December 15. I had been there on that day, and there were significantly fewer birds of all types then. Yet on Friday, and on Tuesday (Dec 16), the birds were here in huge numbers. I hadn't known the date of this year's annual bird count then, or how to get involved, but I did find this information today.

Geese at water's edge, Lake Ontario in Mississauga

While half a dozen Canada geese had waddled up the embankment from the shore, larger numbers walked along the water's edge or bobbed out in the waves. It was a glorious day, with temps around zero C (32F), little wind, and a cloudless sky. How quickly the weather changes here! As I write this, an hour after I took the photos, the sun has gone, and huge clouds pregnant with rain or snow (my money's on snow) are rushing in over the lake.

Canada Geese Foraging for Food

I sat for a goodly while on one of the park's benches, warmed by the sun, out of the wind, dripped on by snowmelt falling from trees, all the while keeping watch that none of the geese got too close. I have a healthy respect for all geese: My grandmother's geese on the farm served as very reliable guard dogs. Those beaks can give you a good nip if you get too close.

Here at Rhododendron Gardens, I've watched while three hawks soared and dove, and a red headed flicker hammered a trunk for his lunch. Port Credit is a great spot to live, people! Who needs to drive to the cottage when the best of cottage life is right here, for free?

Ontario Field Ornithologists site may be of interest, too, for the types of birds found in Ontario.

Port Credit Lake Ontario Spring Update

Like much of Canada, we here in Port Credit (Mississauga, Ontario) have been eagerly awaiting the arrival of Spring. And, on April 1, we were sure it had finally come! As the temperature climbed to 10C (50F) and was set to go even higher, I set off for a walk under clear blue skies and a benevolent sun. It was pretty windy, though, and the tall evergreens were sighing loudly and bending to their task. I checked the weather channel: gusts to 60 kph (37 mph), from the northwest. Current time: 2 p.m.
The sun felt lovely and warm, and the strong wind promised to whip Lake Ontario into a lather. I could hardly wait! I love to watch wild waves. The only problem was, the wind (NW) was blowing from the land onto the lake, so there was not a lot of whipping room. Still, it was nice to see the lake ice-free. No hint of green grass, nor any leaves at all, yet. Only last Fall's dead leaves becoming mulch.
I took this picture at the end of the path leading from the south end of Godfrey's Lane, a rural road in the heart of Mississauga. This is part of the Waterfront Trail, adjoining Rhododendron Gardens to the east.

A pair of Canada geese were sunning themselves, and sipping rain water that had pooled in the rock crevices. Usually, geese in this area don't pay attention to people. This pair had been sitting, and when they noticed me coming too close, they stood -- but not the usual way as geese do when they want a handout. This pair seemed skittish, like they would take flight if I came any closer. Wonder if they are ready to nest?

And in the fifteen minutes it took me to walk from here along the Trail to Saddrington Park, the wind had blown heavy dark clouds over the entire sky. The temperature started to drop, and I pulled out my wool scarf. It felt like it could start snowing at any minute. What cruel April First jokes the Ontario climate can play!

Port Credit Ontario Lunch for Swans, Geese

A very chilly Good Friday in lovely downtown Port Credit, with the sun shining weakly, and a north wind nipping at ears and fingers! But these birds along the west bank of the Credit River at Lake Ontario didn't seem to mind.
The birds were too intent on eating the grain someone had put out for them to bother much with people, but even so, I kept one eye on the view finder and the other one on the view, as geese can give you quite a good bite if they want to. My grandmother used her geese on the farm as watch dogs. Turkeys make good watch dogs, too, come to think of it.

This long necked swan was warning off the interloper -- for a moment, I thought they might come to wing-blows. With the temperatures in Port Credit (which is often warmer in winter than more northerly areas of Mississauga) hovering just above freezing during the day, and dipping below zero at night, the birds might be thinking it's time to start this year's family.


I hope not, as Spring is not watching the calendar this year, and is not likely to appear for at least another month. For while this type of weather perfectly suits maple syrup production (photos), it's definitely not suitable for cygnets!

Mississauga Wildlife :: A Walk in the Park

When you live in Port Credit, there's less of an urge to head north to cottage country to experience the natural life. Just west of where the Credit River enters Lake Ontario, there are lots of parks and natural areas that are host to a variety of wildlife, some benign, and some, such as the coyotes in the area (sign, photo below), with a caution.

On the Waterfront Trail, just as it enters Saddrington Park, I heard a crackling sound in the underbrush that fills much of the lands owned by Imperial Oil. This large green space is totally fenced, with a barbed wire top, and many signs telling us to stay out. (It was here that I saw a coyote loping along the other evening.) I stood still, looked for the source of the noise, and saw this deer. It was only about 10 feet from the trail, but on the other side of the fence (center, photo below).

Here's a close up. You can see how serious this fence is. I was the only one on the trail at the time, but other walkers came along. We watched the deer make several fruitless attempts to find an opening in the fence before it headed out of sight, into the center of the green space.

Over by the Port Credit lighthouse, just under the bridge that crosses Lakeshore Road, passersby stopped to watch these nesting swans.



Here's a shot of the Toronto skyline. The CN Tower, just to the right of the rusting tanker, makes a good reference point to give some idea of the distance from Mississauga to the heart of Toronto.


For more photos of Mississauga, see my photo web site for the pages for Mississauga and Streetsville.