Wetland walkies, helicopter, nuthatch, plane

It was a cold morning, Saturday, but it warmed up to -5 C. and I went for a walk on the wetland. Is it ON or in?! It was frozen, and the snow is hard as a rock.

First, coyote poop! From the colour, I'd say they were eating cattails. I've noticed evidence of the deer doing this. The snow is too frozen to take any tracks.

The ice crystals are amazing with the thaw and refreeze. Aren't they lovely? I only had my long lens and my videocam, I need to travel lightly, but this give you an idea.



The wetland looks so different in the winter. In the shelter of the trees, there are plants and fungus grown, and now frozen.


Someone's been shooting barrels on the Coutts property. It runs right behind ours. I can hear them from time-to-time.

On the way back I nearly got a soaker! I sunk and the snow was up to my boot top, the water a few inches deep. Whoopsie! I was following our property line, and decided to head back.


Meanwhile, back at the quaint bungalow... an emergency helicopter flew overhead. I checked my Twitter sources, and they think it was going to the Kingston hospital. Ain't Social Media grand?
As a former Muskoka Victim Services volunteer, helicopters and sirens give me the heebee jeebies!

I spotted a red-breasted nuthatch. During the December bird count they were totally absent. Go figure!


Then, an airplane flew overhead, and a red squirrel perched for me.
I looked up the registration for the plane.

C-FJZP

Cessna

150L

15074708

The Ottawa Flying Club