Winter at the Pinery!

We were prepared for cold temperatures and Sunday was a gorgeous day to spend at Pinery Provincial Park!

It wasn’t a particularly “birdy” day, however birds, such as Tufted Titmice could be found at the traditional feeding stations. In total, only 11 species of birds were found in our 5 hour visit.

We began our walk at the Cedar Trail, which starts near the Visitor Centre. One branch of the trail leads to a boardwalk overlooking the frozen Old Ausable River Channel.

Lots of snowy branches lined either side of the trail.

The Cedar trail extension leads into the Dunes Campground where we had access to Lake Huron. The snowy dunes provide a blanket of warmth to critters sheltering out of sight beneath the snow.

In the campground, picnic tables were covered with a foot of snow. We stayed on packed down sections of the road as we weren’t keen to walk through deep snow.

More Snow!!

We were able to complete a walking loop and made our way back to the Visitors Centre where lots of birds including this Red-breasted Nuthatch were hanging out.

This Tufted Titmouse and Black-capped Chickadee appeared to be having a “stand off” as they stood on either side of a pile of sunflower seeds.

Snow scattered when a Chickadee dropped down for some food.

Our last stop was beach parking #9. There is often lots of "discussion" amongst the birds as they argue about the feeding order! 

Tufted Titmouse

Some people get hair extensions....This Red-tailed Hawk has a TAIL extension!! The hawk flew in with the squirrel and landed on the branch of a Spruce Tree. Other squirrels in the area were sounding the alarm, but it was too late for their "friend"!

 Stories in the Snow!

Animals are good at staying hidden from humans but their tracks in the snow tell stories that we might not otherwise witness. Above, a busy runway for a mouse or small rodent!

Mouse tracks leading to a hole under a log. The tail drag is noticeable.

Wing prints in the snow at the edge of a rural property, tell the story of a bird hunting for food. Based upon the size of the wing prints, and the fact that we saw the bird earlier, we believe the prints were likely made by a Northern Shrike. Wing prints are visible on the left and right sides of the photo.

The next day, I found a set of wing prints in the snow in Canatara Park, which were made by a  much larger bird. (Remnant of the prey is in the top left corner)

A closer view of the prey remnant shows that squirrel was on the menu. Based upon the size of the wing print, I considered Great Horned Owl as a possible predator.

However, a nearby Red-tailed Hawk was the likely predator of the squirrel! I saw this hawk about 5 minutes before discovering the wing prints.

Squirrels are part time sleepers and are active during sunny days in the winter. Lots of holes dug into the snow layer were created by squirrels looking for nuts that they had buried in the fall.

A White-tailed Deer stepped into a Cross-country ski track.

Wild Turkey tracks!

The size and shape of this scat is diagnostic of an Eastern Cottontail.

A Raccoon spent the night in the rafters of a pavilion. When I first heard noises as we walked by, I assumed it was a squirrel. He ran away from us in the rafters and then returned to have a look. It was probably hoping for food.

 Snow & Ice & Birds!

Ice build up on Lake Huron along Canatara Beach.

Long-tailed Ducks in flight at the entrance to the river which has some of the only open sections of water along the Canadian shoreline. This species is currently the most abundant on the river. The shipping channel is still open.

Looking back at the extreme west end of Canatara beach from the Sarnia Lighthouse.

Wind blown icicles along the St. Clair River!

Hooded Merganser resting in an eddy on the St. Clair River.

A pair of Trumpeter Swans posed nicely for identification purposes on the St. Clair River. The shape of the beak is important in separating the species from Tundra Swans when the 2 species aren’t standing side by side. (Tundra Swans are 20% smaller than Trumpeter Swans.) The bill base forms a ‘V’ shape at the forehead on the Trumpeter Swan. In the side profile, the eyes on Trumpeter Swans are more broadly attached to the longer, heavier black bill.

https://www.sibleyguides.com/2006/02/distinguishing-trumpeter-and-tundra-swans/

Trumpeter Swans are North Americas largest waterfowl. Canada Geese in the foreground provide some size perspective.

Fluffed up feathers help to keep this White-breasted Nuthatch warm in the frigid temperatures.

A European Starling stopped for a fruit snack on Staghorn Sumac.

An American Robin had a feed of berries on a Hackberry Tree. That tree has been his restaurant this winter, and some nearby cedar trees are providing night time shelter.

A Red-tailed Hawk watched us drive slowly past on a rural road.

 Winter Life in Canatara Park and Waterfowl at the St. Clair River!

It is a misconception that Owls can turn their heads 360 degrees. Unlike humans with moveable eyes, owls have large, elongated, tubular eyes that are fixed in place. Extensive head rotation serves to compensate for their fixed gaze. Unlike humans with 7 cervical vertebrae, owls posses 14 vertebrae, allowing them to turn their heads 270 degrees in either direction. This Eastern Screech Owl rotated its head back and forth as it followed the movements of 2 squirrels racing around the tree in which it was sitting.

https://biologyinsights.com/how-far-can-owls-actually-turn-their-heads/

The same Screech Owl looking up (180 degree head turn) at the squirrels from the same roosting spot but a different angle with the camera.

In an area known as the "feeding stumps, many birds have been congregating to get food during the recent frigid weather. An American Tree Sparrow had the stump to himself for a few moments.

Northern Cardinal, Dark-eyed Junco and American Tree Sparrow sharing space on the "feeding" Log.

Ice on Lake Huron from Canatara Beach.

We parked on the gravely road shoulder on a rural tour when we saw a small flock of Snow Buntings. Some corn had spilled and 34 Snow Buntings plus 7 Horned Larks were enjoying the treat.

At Guthrie Park, just north of Corunna, a patch of open water in the St. Clair River attracted a great deal of waterfowl. About 200 Redheads were concentrated in this location.

Video: Ducks swimming against current in St. Clair River.

Long-tailed Ducks flew north after drifting downriver in the strong current.

Some of the 200 Common Mergansers that we saw. It was difficult to get an exact count since there was so much movement in the water. We saw 17 species and over 600 individual birds at Guthrie Park.

Canvasback with snow on head.

Belted Kingfisher. A Kingfisher can often be found in the area of open water each winter.

A recent sunrise!