Again with the rain and wind!

As Stéphane mentioned, this is fall on the Bruce Peninsula! It seems that the weather system that has brought us roaring dramatic waves, slate skies, walls of sparkling rain, has also held migrating birds north.

The last owls banded were caught just as the day-birds were beginning to stir on the 16th of October. Although we have opened nets several nights since under the threat of rain and wind and snow, no owls were present or curious enough to visit us. I postulated that this was either due to an early peak, or a weather system further north of us preventing them from moving, or perhaps some other factor I had not thought of. But reports from other stations suggest they are experiencing the same paucity of owls, and indeed for both passerines and saw-whets, weather is what is holding them back.

So we hold out hope, stock the fire, and imagine the walls of saw-whets that will arrive when the rains finally dissipate, allowing their passage!

Despite the roaring winds and rain, a raft of common and red-breasted mergansers entertains us on the basin with their synchronized diving, slicing into the water, and a bald eagle soars on thermals, and ring-billed gulls bank and play, all undaunted by wintry weather. Each foray reveals a new feathery or furry surprise, leaving us feeling delighted as always to be here.