Sterling Nature Center Looking South-west Toward Fair Haven

Sterling Nature Center Beach Destruction

Sterling Nature Center: Rocks Remain After the Sand Is Gone

Mexico Point SP: Casey’s Cottage

Mexico Point SP: Small Beach is Gone

Sandy Island Beach SP: History of a Fragile System

Sandy Island Pond SP Back Beach Erosion and Blow-out

Sandy Island Beach State Park: Rock Barrier Protecting a House on the Top of the Dune, Looking North

Three years ago one could safely and easily walk along the beach around this and many other points.

Sandy Island Beach SP: Beach Damage

Sandy Island Beach State Park: Rocks Where There Was Sand

Beach Access Ramp at Sandy Island Beach State Park

Black Pond WMA Exposed Dune Layers

Black Pond WMA Beach Looking South

See that some of the banks have been undermined.

Black Pond WMA Birches in the Swale

Black Pond WMA on Lake Ontario: Swale Behind the Foredune

In mid-November I longed to see once more before winter set in, four beach areas along the eastern Lake Ontario shoreline.

My goal one afternoon was to visit beaches ranging from Black Pond WMA in south-western Jefferson County, the farthest from home, to Sterling Nature Center in northern Cayuga County.

The other two were Sandy Pond Beach State Park and Mexico Point State Park, both in Oswego County.

Lake Ontario had been at disastrously high levels all spring and summer, causing major damage and closures of many camps, roads and parks all along the shoreline.

Great Blue Heron atop Muskrat House, Montezuma NWR

NYS Thruway Traverses Montezuma NWR

Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes at Montezuma NWR

Sandhill Cranes at Montezuma NWR

Sandhill Cranes in North Pool at Montezuma NWR

Tundra(?) Swans at Montezuma NWR

Geese on Muskrat House at Montezuma WMA

Great Blue Heron Resting and Possibly Hiding from a Nearby Bald Eagle

Multitudes of Geese at Montezuma NWR

Lion-dog in Halloween Parade in Strathmore

Autumn in Strathmore

Bald Eagle Making the Other Birds Edgy at Montezuma NWR

Painted Lady

Willow and Reflection in Upper Onondaga Park

Arched Bridge and Willows