I have been keeping an eye on activity and the weather for several weeks, focusing on what's forecast for northern areas. While we are enjoying mid-summer conditions now and for the immediate future, conditions much further north have suggested that some Snow Geese may move south earlier than we have seen in the last few years. In the last three years there has been no noticeable activity until late October - early November but last week a flock of a few hundred were observed on the sod fields south of Hwy 417 off Hwy 138 on Lafleche Rd. Today a flock of 60 was sighted over Renfrew, further west than we normally see flocks. eBird reports of one or more Snow Geese in southwestern Ontario and in the Northwest in recent days are all Lessers. The flock last week and today are all or largely Greaters. Brian Morin