An Interesting Day!

Once again I got down to Rondeau Park to watch the sun rise over the lake. Lots of birds were flying about and I knew it was going to be an interesting day.

Certain species had arrived in large numbers, including Pine Siskins that were flying around all morning. I was hoping for White-winged Crossbills, but none were heard. They are a rare commodity at Rondeau, and I have only seen them there a couple of times. Juncos were in the park by the hundreds. One flock near the maintenance compound numbered over 100. Sparrows were numerous as I had all the usuals including White-crowned, White-throated, Tree, Chipping, Field, Vesper (one in campground), Savannah, Song (large numbers) and Swamp and Fox (surprisingly large numbers--I saw or heard at least 25). There were even several Eastern Towhees--more than the last couple of weeks.

Fox Sparrow

Both kinglets were plentiful, and Yellow-rumped Warblers were not in short supply. Other warblers included a single Orange-crowned on south point and a Nashville at the visitor centre.

Nashville Warbler

At one point I saw a Red-headed Woodpecker fly over--maybe it will stay a while. The acorn crop is large this year.

Raptors included a Merlin (possibly the same one as last week) and a Northern Goshawk (immature).

There were lots of ducks on the lake, especially south of Morpeth. A couple of Common Loons and a few Horned Grebes were swimming as well. A lone Long-tailed Duck (decent for Rondeau area) was sleeping by itself near the scaup raft.

At Blenheim lagoons, shorebirds included a Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 2 Least Sandpipers, numerous Dunlin and a few Killdeer. There were lots of ducks as well. The immature Black-crowned Night-Heron was still hanging around.


Butterflies were even out today. There were lots of Orange Sulphurs, a few Clouded Sulphurs, and even a tattered Common Buckeye!



I checked out Erieau marsh trail later on and came up with a Northern Mockingbird--not unusual for that area. Butterflies there included an Eastern Comma and a passing Monarch.

Northern Mockingbird

A number of Tundra Swans have shown up in the area.
It was a nice day to be out, even though I had been hoping to discover some type of rarity! (I am overdue!).