Tuesday Sept 10 - Walk to Moosonee Lagoons

 Today our morning outing was a walk to the Moosonee Lagoons.  The road we took was nice and flat, no hills to climb.  It was about a 4.7 km birding walk to the Lagoons.  We were fortunate that even though there were heavy machines on the road, we were allowed to proceed.  We were very careful to  dump trucks and called out "truck" to have everyone in the group to move to the side of the road.  The trucks were also careful as likely word had gone out on the truck channel to watch out for the birding group.

It took us the better part of two hours to get to the Lagoons.  We stopped for Bohemian Waxwings and the strange looking juveniles.  We had some warblers: Yellow rumped and Nashville and Golden crowned Kinglets.  Woodpeckers included a Yellow bellied Sapsucker, Downey and Hairy.  We went past a cemetary that had carefully tended gravesites.    

The Lagoons were very different compared to the ones in the Ottawa area.  These here have white rock shores.  There were many waterfowl: Hooded Merganser, Blue winged Teal, American Widgeon, Common Goldeneye and Northern Shoveler to name a few.  There were many Bonaparte's Gulls sitting high in the water and calling. There were some shorebirds (Lesser Yellowlegs) and several Swamp Sparrows.  The September light was bright and it was warming up to make it seem like a summer day.

Martin then called for a truck to come by to take us back to the hotel.  Did anyone want to ride back to the hotel?  The first trip had five passenger with Emily and myself in the group.  The next truck trip had 5 people and 7 people decided to walk back.  The trip back to the hotel took a few minutes.  We had a lovely leftovers pork loin lunch at the hotel.  There was fruit and dessert also.  We dined like Kings!

In the afternoon we were out again. First was the municipal office to see if they had any T-shirts or caps with the Moosonee logo.  The t-shirt sizes were limited but a few of us found their size.  We walked down to the Moose River again to scan what was out there on the islands and the sand bars.  It was pretty quiet.  We stopped in at the Ministry of Natural Resources. It was interesting to see the diorama cases with the stuffed birds. We could also touch the actual skins of the animals that are trapped for their fur.  I was keen to touch the Polar Bear skin because after seeing Henry the Polar Bear, I wondered what the fur was like.  It is actually a stiff  wiry fur.  We continued down the road but it was pretty quiet.  Martin suggested a siesta period this afternoon and we headed back to the hotel.

Before I returned, I went to to the Northern Store, just to check it out.  Prices for food items were expensive and about double what they are at home on just the handful of items I looked at.  

Now we are watching CNN as they showcase the preparations for the upcoming debate this evening.  Supper is spaghetti this evening.  I am going to wear a black t-shirt.  Spaghetti sauce and I have a messy history.