Birding Pinery and Kettle Point

Kettle Point (last year)

I joined the OFO trip starting at Grand Bend today. The Pinery and Kettle Point area is an always interesting place for birding especially in the fall. It is good for finch types and waterbirds, and sometimes Townsend's Solitaires. Quite a number of solitaires have been found in Pinery this time of year.

On the way up there, I spotted a Golden Eagle southwest of Arkona--the only Golden Eagle of the day!

Our fearful leader, Maris Apse (wondering where everyone went!)

At the parking lot first thing in the morning, we had a couple of small flocks of White-winged Crossbills fly over. A good start to the day!
On the waterfront, the lake was fairly calm due to an easterly wind. We spotted three Red-throated Loons and a Common Loon. One Red-throated was fairly close. Last year we had a Pacific Loon here.
At Grand Bend Sewage Lagoons, a large number of ducks were present. Many species including a couple of Long-tailed and the surprise, a White-winged Scoter. The scoter is not a duck one usually sees on a sewage lagoon! We also had a lone small goose that appeared to be of the Cackling type.
Next stop was Pinery Provincial Park. Not many birds were to be found. A couple of Purple Finches, the usual Tufted Titmice at the feeders and some raptors overhead. We did come across a Ruffed Grouse. Three Red-headed Woodpeckers were visible in the burn out area.

feeder setup with Tufted Titmouse

an elusive Ruffed Grouse

The beach at Ipperwash produced four species of gulls and a Killdeer plus another White-winged Scoter. As well, a small raft of Black Scoters were offshore.

gulls at Ipperwash Beach

At Kettle Point we saw a large flock of Black-bellied Plover and one Dunlin on the reef. Two Bald Eagles were seen here. Later on the other side of the point we saw a couple more Bald Eagles and more Red-tailed Hawks.

At Cedar Cove, (a place I did not know existed!), there were many gulls and ducks. A Lesser Black-backed Gull (adult) was here and a couple of Hooded Mergansers to add to the list. I counted about 30 Horned Grebes out on the lake and another Common Loon. I heard White-winged Crossbills on the hill. This is a great spot for spotting birds on the lake!
Here, was a Painted Lady butterfly--a nice find for this late in the season. I did see some sulphurs (both types) on the west side of Kettle Point as well today.
It will be very warm this week, so more butterflies will be out I would think.