Winter Birds

With all the snow farther north from here, I decided to head to the Lake Erie shoreline where birding would likely be more interesting. I spent several hours in Point Pelee looking for good winter birds. There were many Yellow-rumped Warblers all over the place, along with Hermit Thrushes and some Purple Finches. I noticed lots of grapes, poison ivy berries and other berries still around for the birds.

Hermit Thrush with grapes

It was a dull day along the lake with a fine snow, so photography is poor.I started on the Chinquapin Oak trail and walked towards the cemetery. There were a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers and Hermit Thrushes there, along with a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Some Golden-crowned Kinglets and Purple Finches too.

male Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I then decided to walk towards Tilden's Woods and found a larger flock of warblers, White-throated Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes, etc. While on the Tilden's Woods trail where it crosses the old road bed, I happened to look up and saw a Sandhill Crane silently passing over. It was just by luck that I had looked up at that time, otherwise I would have missed it. A good bird for just before Christmas!
After getting back to the car, I headed to the Tip. Not many landbirds there, but some Juncos and White-throated Sparrows in the underbrush. No sign of the Spotted Towhee. There were lots of gulls at the Tip, while a couple of Northern Harriers came in off the lake.

The icy Tip

Later, at the beginning of Shuster Trail, there were more Yellow-rumps and Hermit Thrushes. I did see both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks (adults) flying over. There was also a Rough-legged Hawk and a Red-tailed Hawk.
I went back to the Chinquapin Oak Trail and found the kinglets again. I also saw a large flock of Starlings, and one all-white one stood out. I wish I had been able to get a photo of it.

On the way out of the park, I caught sight of an adult Bald Eagle near the gate.

I wanted to head over to Erieau, so I drove along the lake. I noted quite a number of Harriers heading west during the drive.
At Erieau, there were lots of ducks and gulls to look at, but it was so cold and windy I did not spend as much time as I would have liked to.
The male Harlequin Duck was still in the channel. At one point, I got a brief look at a juv Black-legged Kittiwake flying out near the end of the pier. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was on the ice on the Bay. At least one Double-crested Cormorant is sticking around.
There were several species of ducks plus several American Coots. A Great Blue Heron was under the dock overhang where the Black-crowned Night-Heron usually stands. At first I thought is was the Night-Heron!

It was getting late, so I headed home!