Sunshine and Blue Sky!

Kitchener offers over 30 miles of community trails throughout the city suitable for walking, jogging, bicycling, walking the dog or even bird watching. The trails are well-marked and groomed with stone. Maps of the trail system are on the Grand River Transit maps which can be obtained for $2 each at Kitchener Community Services, 7th floor of City Hall or the Transit Terminal on Charles Street in Kitchener. (source)

It was a treat to see a few hours of sunshine this evening after almost a week of rain.

A Walk Before Work

These pictures were taken early this morning along the boardwalk at Riverside Park in Cambridge. The birds and other animals were not looking for human handouts but were busy singing, making nests and feasting on new plant growth.

McLennan Park- Phase 2 Development

Blackhorne Drive entrance to McLennan Park

Phase two of the City of Kitchener’s development of McLennan Park is well under way. It is slated to open in the spring of 2011 and according to the city website will include:

• Playground area, including accessible playstructure and splash pad.
• Skateboard park with bowl and street elements.
• McLennan Park gate roadway, centralized drop-off and parking areas.
• Entrance feature off McLennan Park gate at Blackhorne Crescent and Block Line Road.
• Pedestrian trails and landscaping.
• Basketball and beach volleyball courts.
• Washroom building and picnic shelter.
• A great lawn for picnics, ice skating and field play.

(map)

Winter Robins

Grand River, Homer Watson Park opposite Pioneer Tower

I walked along the Grand River in Homer Watson Park yesterday. It was very cold and bleak as I stepped over big chunks of river ice which were thrown up on the banks during the recent thaw. This is one of the few areas of the river that has open water within the city limits. The nearby water treatment plant discharges treated water here and it seldom freezes over in this area opposite the Pioneer Tower. I was looking for birds and saw the usual species in the trees and water. Then I noticed some unusual birds on the edge of the ice. Robins! A flock of about 30 birds was in the trees below the tower and they came to the edge of the river for a drink. The light was poor and the bottom picture was taken with digital zoom but there is no mistaking these birds.

Ducks on the River

I walked along the Linear Trail after work yesterday. The Grand River is ice free following the thaw and rain we had last weekend and is home to many ducks which come south to winter in our region. Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Merganser ducks are found along this stretch of the river. This memorial bench is ideally situated for watching the river. On the opposite bank is the RARE Charitable Research Reserve. It is not uncommon to see deer on these river flats.

Common Mergansers and Common Goldeneye Ducks on the Grand River