Many Wings!

Bonaparte's Gulls have been actively harassing Red-breasted Mergansers.

In the non-breeding season, Bonaparte's Gulls form tight, swift flocks that feed largely on small fish by dipping and diving. They sometimes steal fish from other birds such as these Red-breasted Mergansers that they chased along the Lake Huron shoreline in Canatara Park. Adults have black heads and red legs in the summer. In the winter months, they have a gray smudge near the ear.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Bonapartes_Gull/id

Mysterious Tracks on the beach: These tracks caught my attention as being out of the ordinary. It looked like a stick had been dragged through the sand, but there were no footprints. We concluded it was made by plant material blowing down the beach and even had it confirmed by a tracking expert! Some of the lines were intermittent which would be caused by changing wind strength and wind direction.

A Great Blue Heron surprisingly flew into Canatara Park on November 24th. I hadn't seen one in the park in over a month. It wasn't found the following day.

Mallard Drake shake!

Yoga stretch for a Mallard Drake.

When looking at a tree or nesting cavity, if the hole appears black, it is unlikely that an owl is sitting in the space. I noticed from quite a distance that this hole was occupied. Unfortunately as I got closer, I could see that the inhabitant was a Grey Squirrel. This nesting box was installed a few years ago in an area where a Screech Owl was regularly being seen. The owl's favourite tree fell over in a storm and the nesting box was installed as a replacement cavity. I have been told that if a Screech Owl really wants a specific cavity, that it can evict the resident squirrels.