Hawk Cliff

 a bird-bander releases an immature red tail hawk at Hawk Cliff

It's migration time once again for all the birds that are heading south after a long summer in Canada. One of the best places to see migrating hawks at this time of year is Hawk Cliff, just east of Port Stanley, on Lake Erie.

Hawks and eagles like to glide on the rising air of thermals but because there are no thermals over bodies of water, they bunch together into huge groupings called kettles, along the north shore of Lake Erie. Looking up with a pair of binoculars I saw hundreds of broad-winged hawks circling together. A magnificent sight!

Jian Ghomeshi

Jian & Gail

Gail & I went to hear Jian Ghomeshi introduce his first book at the Eden Mils Writer's Festival yesterday. The book 1982 is an autobiographical account of his coming of age as a 14 year old Persian David-Bowie-wannabe in suburban Toronto. It's full of the wit and wisdom that you'd expect from this celebrated radio personality.  After chatting with Jian, I must say that he is every bit as warm and personable as he seems on the radio each morning.

Nuit Blanche

As part of the Guelph Jazz Festival, I attended the all night celebration called Nuit Blanche on Saturday. From dusk to dawn there were over 70 free music, dance and art events to attend!

Trash Theatre's gnomes encounter The Shuffle Demons in St. George's Square

As could be expected, some events were mesmerizingly beautiful, some were hilarious, and some were a little strange and puzzling. Despite my initial enthusiasm, I only survived to a little past 2 AM before I had to find my pillow for the night, with visions of gnomes & demons dancing in my head!

The Ondine Chorus in Old Quebec Street