Tag / Lake Winnipeg

The Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. Cormorants are widely distributed in North America living around rivers, lakes and coastal areas . Their feathers are not waterproof which is why we often see them sitting on rocks with their wings spread out to dry. They feed mainly on fish.  You can see by their shape that they are clearly a diving bird. Note how their legs are set far back on the body like a loon. Cormorants can measure around 35″ in length making them one of our larger birds. I really like their blue eyes. These photos were all taken at Winnipeg Beach located on the south-western shore of Lake Winnipeg.

Below: A pair of cormorants at the Winnipeg Beach harbour.

Below:  A Cormorant sunning on a boat – perhaps auditioning for a re-make of “Titanic”.

Below:  A close view of a Double-crested Cormorant.

Below:  Double-crested Cormorant sharing a rock with Pelicans.

Enjoy!

~Sharon

We are re-visiting Hecla Island once again. A beautiful red fox was hunting in a clearing just off the highway. In a small marsh on one of the back roads, Solitary Sandpipers were happily snatching up food with their very long beaks. Another view from the Quarry clearly shows the layers of sediment that consist of dolomitic limestone, shale and sandstone which are known as sedimentary rocks and formed hundreds of millions of years ago.

~Sharon

Hecla Grindstone Provincial Park is about 2 hours north of Winnipeg on Hwy 8.   Hecla features a beautiful campground, a golf course and a newly renovated Gull Harbour resort. It’s a very picturesque spot in Manitoba surrounded by Lake Winnipeg and is home to many varieties of birds and animals including moose and wolves.  There are some easy walking trails through the marsh area and a wildlife viewing tower just a short walk off the highway.  A few years ago we saw a wolverine in that area. The stones along the shorelines are rounded and polished from the constant action of the waves.  Marsh Marigolds were in full bloom in the ditches giving them a splash of colour.

There is also the very historic Hecla Village which is still home to descendants of Icelandic settlers.  It seems a big friendly dog was acting as a village greeter this weekend as he/she loped down the highway right to the car.  I am not sure of this breed but it looked like the dog was wearing a winter hat with ear flaps.

You can easily visit on a day trip. Places to purchase provisions are limited so be sure to take whatever you will need with you for a picnic lunch.  Today’s blog features some of the scenery from the park.