Rondeau Provincial Park - Birds & Critters

It rained heavily on Friday morning as we packed the RV for the trip to Rondeau Park. That brought back memories of our 2011 trip to Rondeau, driving in heavy rain and arriving to a flooded campground that was still "soggy" when we left a week later.  This year we are happy to say that although temperatures have been below normal (frost warning tonight) the campsites are quite dry.

Strong winds and cooler temperatures haven't reduced the number of birds at our campsite or the number of "birders" on the hiking trails.  Temperatures will be more seasonal beginning Tuesday and continuing through Friday as we head for home.

Robin's nest in the low crotch of a tree

Acrobatic black squirrel

Orioles having an orange feast

Grey squirrel climbing a tree on our campsite

Red bellied woodpecker on our suet feeder



Rose breasted grosbeak (male)

Baltimore oriole (male)

Rose breasted grosbeak (female)

Red wing blackbird having a drink of water

Inquisitive chipmunk

White crowned sparrow



Swamp photo near Visitor Centre

Konijn having a snooze on Judy's lap

Winter Camping Season is Over

Last Thursday night most of Southern Ontario got hit with severe freezing rain and high winds.  As we left Waterloo on Friday the ice was beginning to fall from the trees and hydro wires but the damage had already been done.  Trees were uprooted, branches broken off and hydro poles snapped like toothpicks.  As we approached the MacGregor Point and Port Elgin area it became evident that although they had received a lot of rain, there were fewer power outages and less damages to trees.  In fact, MacGregor Point Provincial Park did not lose hydro at all.

In the Park some campsites were covered with water, including that of the campground hosts who had water running across the roadway and underneath their fifth wheel trailer.  The next day we got a photo of them digging a trench across their driveway to drain the water.

Friday evening one mature and one young female deer visited our campsite as did a couple of Snowshoe Hares on Saturday evening.  Birds (particularly Juncos) were plentiful at our bird feeders.  It was as if they knew we would soon be removing the feeders and heading homeward on Sunday.

After intermittent snow and light rain most of Saturday, the sun broke through on Sunday morning as we removed our electrical cables, satellite TV dish, bird feeders, etc. and vacated our campsite.   




Snoozing after a tiring drive



Ribs & sweet corn

Still a few small piles of snow on our camp site



Almost ready to roll



Bold red squirrel by our window feeder

 

Campground hosts draining their camp site

Winter Warriors "Farewell Brunch"

Thanks to Tom and Kerry for once again hosting the end of season Winter Warrior "farewell brunch".  To the best of our knowledge the term Winter Warriors was initiated by Frank and Lucy Spence who were winter hosts at MacGregor Point Provincial Park for a number of years.

Upon arriving at the Park yesterday afternoon we were given a list of available On-site Winter Program campsites for 2013 - 2014.  Sixteen sites are being added in Ash Woods campground in addition to the twenty-three sites already available in Birch Boulevard campground.  It's exciting to see this great program expanding.

This year's program ends April 15 so most of the campers have already removed their winter tarps, mud rooms, etc. Today's weather forecast wasn't that great when we arrived so shortly after our arrival I tackled the disassembly process.  In less than three hours the task was complete and some campers thought I had set a speed record.  Next weekend we'll remove our bird feeders, outdoor lights and electrical cables and take the RV back to Waterloo.

Today has been a particularly good day for wildlife observation.  This afternoon while returning from a short trip to Port Elgin we saw a porcupine foraging in a field adjacent to Bruce Rd. 33.  Since they are not known for being very speedy, I was able to approach it and get a couple of photos.  Unfortunately though, we believe that we missed a great photo opportunity with a Pileated Woodpecker.  While preparing to barbecue supper we noticed large wood chips around a cedar tree on our campsite.  The chips weren't there yesterday and judging from the size of them (up to 2" long) they appear to have been the work of a Pileated Woodpecker.  Shortly thereafter we got the photo of a snowshoe hare and then the deer, both on our campsite.

Tom\s "right profile"

 

Awning damage on Site 51

Porcupine in field on Bruce Rd. 33

Fresh woodpecker holes.  Top hole about 5" in height

Snowshoe hare in transition from winter to summer colouring

Deer at our campsite



Spring Break 2013 at MacGregor Point

This is the "tail end" of Spring Break week at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Yesterday's trip from Waterloo was relatively uneventful except for seeing the burnt out remains of a Bruce County landmark, the Dunkeld Restaurant on Bruce County Road #3.

Things are relatively quiet here, as last weekend seemed to be the choice for the majority of campers.  The skating oval is closed today, no doubt because of the rain received earlier in the week.  However, with seasonal temperatures in the forecast for the next week, we hope to see it opened again.

The Park roads were a bit muddy when we arrived but with overnight temperatures below freezing and a light snowfall overnight, only a few mud puddles were visible this morning.  From our RV windshield we could see two good sized puddles and it was amusing to see the young children run through the puddles, some in full view of their parents.

Our RV dash is adorned with a bouquet of yellow tulips.  Purchased last Monday, we decided we might as well take them with us to enjoy the last few days of their beauty.

Remains of Dunkeld Restaurant



Photo taken on Concession 4 with Blackberry Z10



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Almost there (Concession 4)

Campers at yurt site 62

Skating oval Closed

Facing our site # 61

Family Day Weekend update

Although this update will be brief, we thought you may wish to see the completed Snow Hut on site 49,  complete with smoke coming from the chimney.  Previously the occupants used a stove they had made from a 45 gallon drum.  However, this year they've invested in a new wood stove.  Given that smoke comes from the chimney intermittently (perhaps a minute at a time), this sounds like a "high tech" stove , maybe even burning wood pellets.

Lots of snowshoes and skates being used in the park this weekend.  Although a bit cold at night (minus 13 Celsius), the days are basically sunny and seasonal.

 




Lake shore ice in Port Elgin

Male Cardinal at our camp site

Family Day Weekend at MacGregor Point Prov. Park

Today is the first  day of the February 2013 Family Day holiday weekend.  The weather has cooperated and the Park is a popular place for snow shoeing, cross country skiing and skating.  All of the yurts appear to be occupied and aside from a double site, all campsites in Birch Boulevard campground are in use.

Early last evening our campsite was visited by 4 deer and 2 cottontail rabbits. No flying squirrels yet.

Campfire watching

Coming or going?

Overflow parking for the skating oval

At the skating oval

 

 



Zamboni

Snow hut under construction

A happy group of yurt campers

Winter at Last

Winter has finally returned at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  We arrived at the Park around 4 pm Friday and aside from the last 30 km, driving conditions were quite good. 

Everything was OK at our camp site, aside from some storage compartment locks being frozen from all the rain earlier in the week. Fortunately we had some lock de-icer and wind shield washer anti-freeze in the RV and soon were able to thaw the locks, switch on the batteries and retrieve a snow shovel. The RV was already quite warm inside, thanks to the camp ground hosts for plugging in our hydro cables earlier in the day.

Given the fresh snow and seasonal temperatures, we expected there might be more activity in the park.  However, today being Super Bowl Sunday might be a factor.  In spite of the rainy weather earlier in the week the skating oval is open once again.  Campers as well as "locals" appear to be making good use of the facility.  About 7 "winter warriors" on site and Saturday afternoon a rental Class B RV with Alberta license plates pulled in..

Driving conditions South of Paisley





Arrival at our camp site #61





Judy and our pet rabbit Konijn relaxing



 



Heavy snow falling at one of the Yurt sites





At the Skating Oval