Back to Chatham-Kent:

We had some errands in Chatham last week, and made a detour to Mitchell's Bay.  We didn't seen any birds at the end of Main Street so drove to the North Lakeshore Nature Trail for a walk. 

Some of the 19 Greater Black-backed Gulls that we found tucked into sheltered areas at the North end of the Bay.

175 Tundra Swans were visible but many more could be heard beyond our view.

This picture will likely need to be enlarged, but a row of dots just below the line where the sky meets the water is visible. There were thousands of ducks resting in that line. At this location, we were able to positively identify 28 species, including a pair of Sandhill Cranes that flew in but were too far for photos.

We also made a stop at Peers Wetland, just north of Wallaceburg, where we encountered the aggressive Mute Swan residents. The Swan above flew straight down the path at me before veering over the water to chase away a rival swan. They make a lot of noise in flight and when landing.

Watching and listening to them land was entertaining. They used their wings and feet as brakes by repeatedly dipping them into the water.  It sounded to me like a car driving with a flat tire!

I have driven past these poles on several occasions and finally got to see their purpose. These students were learning at the St. Clair Power Line Training Centre.