We went for a drive!

 Wednesday, we began the day with rain. This is highly unusual for us – for February. It shows us with snow, but that wasn't the case. I haven't been down to the trailcams in a couple of days. I've been busy and tired. Last night it was snow, which is better than the freezing rain they predicted.

Tuesday I had an appointment and a respite client. I suggested to JB a drive we could plan for the next nice day, and to rest Wednesday, but it didn't look too encouraging for sunshine for a week. The clouds were moving in. Off we went. 

A new home:

There are lots of sap lines up in our area. Apparently, sap producers have begun tapping. Normally, this happens in March and April. JB and I were just discussing this. It has to be above zero in the day, and below in the night. This way the sap rises and falls and is captured by the sugar shack. Many use modern tubing sap lines, smaller operations still use buckets. The tubing does less damage to the trees. This is Josephine at our neighbours operation in 2011: Sugar shack! (Our neighbours have 35 acres, with 2000 taps.)

We made it to Narrows Lock. Lots of geese!

And swans! They could be trumpeter or tundra swans talking to the Canada Geese. Trumpeter or tundra swans have black beaks, with a bit of colour (red or yellow). You'll note, the clouds rolled in, but it was good to get out for a drive.

I was quite shocked to find that the ice machine was chugging away in the lock house. The building is closed for winter, and there is no staff.

They've been doing work!

 

narrows lock from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

The Big Rideau is quite solid, or so it appears:

We did a full circle around Rideau Lake. The green is Murphy's Point Park.

Rideau Ferry's little island, frozen in the ice.

Now for some coffee, later some breakfast, and then today's exercise is to go out and shovel! 

Narrows Lock Road: swans!

Our otter trip gave us a bald eagle. We went off to Narrows Lock to see if we could see some more birds. On top of the Rideau Ferry bridge, I could see an ice fishing hut.



Here is the turn.



YES! It was a mild day, but it was REALLY cold in the middle of the lock area. The wind just whipped across that cold ice to the other end of the water.



The water rushes through from Westport, northeast through the Big Rideau.




There they were, 7 swans. After a bit of research, I think they could be trumpeter or tundra swans. Both have black beaks, with a bit of colour (red or yellow). My photos really aren't good enough to tell which.

Narrows Locks – adventure part 2

[We had an adventure! Part 1]

Down to the narrows and we made it. This is where there is a bridge and the narrow part of Big Rideau Lake.


Off in the distance, a couple of fishing huts.


The cottages are fairly quiet, although more people are retiring to the lakefront.


Aha! Beauty! It wasn't as cold as it looked. The sun is warming.


From the Trumpeter Swan Society:

There are three species of swans in North America. The Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) and Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus), sometimes known as the Whistling Swan, are native to North America. The Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) is a Eurasian species that has been introduced and now breeds in the wild in some areas. All three are very large all-white birds.

Trumpeter swans

Trumpeter swans have black bills, and tundra swans usually have yellow markings by their beak. Mute swans have orange beaks and a nobby thing on its head.


Narrows Lock, where we spotted the swans, we turned around and headed back to Newboro for lunch, after I suggested we just eat there! More on that tomorrow. Newboro is a lovely town.