The pond at Mathers Corners was still interesting today with hundreds of Canada Geese, one Snow Goose, about twenty Northern pintails, a few American Wigeons, and Green-winged Teals, Mallards and American Black Ducks. Driving north on Stony Lake Road, we found a dead mostly-white Snowshoe Hare. Only the hare’s back had started to turn brown. Coltsfoot was in full bloom in several locations as were American Elms, Speckled Alder, many of the Trembling Aspen, Pussy Willows, and Silver Maples. On Hubble Road alvar, west of County Road 44, Chorus Frogs were calling raucously. We also say two Gray Comma (wings in immaculate condition, despite having overwintered as an adult) and one Eastern Comma butterflies. Birds of interest here included a flock of about two dozen Bohemian Waxwings. On Sandy Lake Road, west of County Road 46, we saw two Mourning Cloak butterflies, an Infant moth, several Midland Painted Turtles, and an American Woodcock standing quietly in the middle of the road. It was gently bobbing up and down, almost like it was performing some kind of display. At the end of the day, we checked the Otonbabee River for swallows but did not find any. Other birds of interest recorded today included Turkey Vulture, Brown-headed Cowbird, Wild Turkey, There was no snow visible in the bush anywhere. Some of the ponds still had a bit of ice in the middle. Stony Lake had a thin covering of black ice out from shore but the bays and shoreline areas were ice free. (max. of 25 C)
Location: Mather’s Corners, Stony Lake and Methuen Lake area
Observer: Jerry Ball, Tony Bigg, King Baker and Drew Monkman
