Point Pelee Jan. 30

I was due for an outing to Point Pelee, so I finally went today. The roads were not too bad getting there, but the trip back was nerve-racking. The wind picked up causing drifting snow on the roads. Along Point Pelee Drive just north of the park, the wind was pushing snow off the lake and drifting among the cottages. Huge drifts were along the west side of the road. It was fine inside the park though, but hard walking in the deep snow.

Just south of Marsh Boardwalk area along the road, there was a huge gathering of American Robins. Over 100 were scattered around looking for berries. A few White-throated Sparrows were along the road as well.

American Robin

I first walked part of Chinquapin Oak Trail. Only a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers were in that area. I heard a Purple Finch at one point. Towards the south end of the trail I was surprised to find a flock of 7-8 Eastern Bluebirds in the woods. They did not co-operate for good photos.

Eastern Bluebird

At the Tip area, I first saw a couple of White-winged Crossbills circling over the washrooms. Needless to say, those were the first crossbills I have seen in the park. The Spotted Towhee was not to be seen, but I learned later that it was discovered the day before in Sparrow Field--farther north.

The Tip area was rather bleak. Out in the ice was a misplaced channel marker--an indication of the powers of ice. According to the charts, it is supposed to be out in Pelee Passage just SW of Point Pelee. My camera was on the wrong setting (unknowingly) so I did not get a good photo of the area. However, the photo I did get gives an indication what some areas were like today!

lost channel marker #E8

Near the visitor centre were a couple more Yellow-rumped Warblers and some Golden-crowned Kinglets.

The ever-present Wild Turkeys

On the way out, I stopped to walk along the road to sift through the collection of Robins, but nothing unusual was there that I could see.

I suppose I should have tried to get a better photo of the above, but with the way things were going, it did not happen.

Sunday Report

White-winged Crossbills

It was a leisurely day for me. I had not looked at the St. Clair River much lately, so I headed out there first thing. Lots of ice and the Sombra ferry was not running needless to say.

There were some small open spots along the way, and farther upriver it was more open. Ducks were concentrated in these small areas. Most were Canvasback, followed by Redhead. I saw one Ring-necked at Sombra and a Long-tailed Duck there as well.

Towards Lambton Generating Station, there were lots of Long-tailed. At least 80 to that point. Very strange to have that many on the river, but that is the way it has been this year.

No gulls to speak of.

Inland, I stopped for a walk at Moore WMA on Bickford Line. As usual, the Yellow-rumped Warblers came out after some pishing. They would not co-operate for photos. There were at least eight of them.

Part of this area is the valley of Black Creek, a tributary of the north branch of the Sydenham River. It floods easily when the water is high. There were still chunks of ice clinging to the trees from a few weeks ago.

I watched the feeders and yard all afternoon. After 3 p.m. a group of about 15 White-winged Crossbills stopped for a few seconds at the top of a White Spruce.

Crossbills on the go!

A Walk in the Park

Hermit Thrush

I headed down to Rondeau Park today. The sun was shining and not a cloud to be seen in the sky. It was cold, but a very nice day for a walk.

I started in the campground and found a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers, Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets. Redpolls and Pine Siskins were flying overhead.

Wintering Warbler

I checked out south point trail for the first time since the CBC in mid December. I came across a Hermit Thrush looking for various berries, some chickadees, and a Carolina Wren.
There were several pairs of Cardinals in the park.
Pine Siskins were at the VC feeders among other common birds.
I did not encounter and crossbills this time.

Campground Creeper

There was some open water way out in the lake with many Herring Gulls flying around and a few mergansers.
Through the countryside, there were lots of Red-tailed Hawks, and I saw one Rough-legged on Stefina Line.


Here at home, the Pine Siskins are still invading the feeders!

More Pine Siskins and Snow in Wallaceburg!

We certainly got more snow than predicted. At least 25 cm came down in about 12 hours since noon yesterday. I did not go anywhere today because of all the snow around.

At the feeders, more Pine Siskins showed up. I expect in the neighbourhood of 30 were here at the peak of times. I only saw 3 Common Redpolls today, and they were here early in the day only. I took a few photos of the siskin. They are quite approachable. I remember one time I managed to feed them out of my hand!

Early this morning I saw a flock of about 10 White-winged Crossbills fly over. Not soon after, a group of 3 stopped for a few seconds. I managed to get a poor photo of a female.

female White-winged Crossbill

St. Clair River, Sarnia, Siskins, Snow

Long-tailed Ducks at Point Edward

I travelled up the St. Clair River this morning before the snow came. The river is mostly iced in now--not surprisingly with the extreme cold weather lately. A few open patches of water held some ducks, but not many. A number of Canvasback and a few others were at Fawn Island. A pair of Hooded Mergansers were at Sombra dock among the local Mallards.

Lots of Long-tailed Ducks were off Point Edward of course. It is a gull-less winter. I probably only saw 4 Herring Gulls on the whole river!

I also checked some of the ships laid up for winter in Sarnia Harbour. Most were of the Lower Lakes Towing, including Mississagi, Manistee, Manitowoc, Ojibway. The Algoway was alongside the Sidney Smith dock.

bow of Algoway in the distance

I took a few photos, as I usually do each winter.

I also scanned a couple of photos from many years ago that I took when I was young. I have always had a camera, and have hundreds of photos from years past.

The first is from January 1973. Those were the old days when the ships were packed like sardines at Sarnia! All of these have long since been scrapped.

SARNIA HARBOUR JANUARY 1973

1. Lakeshell; 2. Arctic Trader; 3. Beavercliffe Hall; 4. Cape Transport; 5. V. W. Scully; 6. Red Wing; 7. Cove Transport.

The second is from March 1974. These too are long gone.

The North Slip March 1974

Ottercliffe Hall, Cardinal (ex Imperial Windsor), Cove Transport, Hochelaga.

At the feeder today, it was a bonanza of finches. Lots of Pine Siskins and Goldfinches, but I could only detect one Common Redpoll. A Sharp-shinned Hawk buzzed through at one point.

Fiesty Finches

Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and American Goldfinches fighting for space

With the sun out and no wind (rather unusual for this winter!), I headed down to Rondeau Park. I walked around the campground. Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins were flying over. Towards the park gate, I heard a flock of White-winged Crossbills. There were atop a spruce tree. I caught sight of them before they took off.

Near the north end, there were Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatches a Carolina Wren and other birds including a White-throated Sparrow.

A lone female Red-winged Blackbird seemed out of place near the campground gate.

female Red-winged Blackbird

Walking back towards the car, I heard a kip kip kip that sounded much like a Red Crossbill. I never saw the bird, but I am sure that it was a Red Crossbill. This species is extremely rare in these parts. In fact I have only come across one ever before in Rondeau Park. (Actually that is the only one I have ever encountered in my life!). I never did get much of a look at that one, but its flight call was distinctive.

Here at home, the finch fest continues. Among the dozens of Goldfinches, the Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins are vying for space on the nyger feeders. A male Purple Finch stopped in briefly late this afternoon. That was a surprise, as this species is not seen too often around here. When they do show up, they never stay!

male Purple Finch (upper left) with Mourning Doves

Feeder Frenzy

Space was at a premium today as more birds came to the feeders. I already had upwards of 70 American Goldfinches, a couple of Pine Siskins and a couple of Common Redpolls.

Today, I noted at least a dozen Pine Siskins, and 6 or 7 Common Redpolls. An American Tree Sparrow joined the juncos on the ground today. The Tree Sparrow is rather uncommon here in town at the feeder, but I have noticed over the years, one or more usually show up after a snowfall or snowstorm. With the snow last night and today, it probably decided to drop in.

I managed to get out for a drive late morning, but not much was seen along the St. Clair River. On the back roads, there were lots of Snow Buntings and a few Horned Larks. A couple of Northern Harriers were hunting local field. There seems to be a number of harriers around this winter.

St. Clair NWA Bird Count

Here are the final results of the St. Clair National Wildlife Christmas Bird Count. (courtesy of Allen Woodliffe, compiler).

The following is the complete list of species recorded during the 29th St. Clair NWA CBC, held January 1, 2009. New species are in bold Italics.

Great Blue Heron—12
Canada Goose—805
Mute Swan—2
Tundra Swan—22
Wood Duck—1
Am. Black Duck—383
Mallard—924
Redhead—15
Ring-necked Duck—1
Common Goldeneye—2
Common Merganser—35
Bald Eagle—15
Northern Harrier—26
Sharp-shinned Hawk—10
Cooper’s Hawk—8
accipiter sp.—1
Red-shouldered Hawk—1
Red-tailed Hawk—72
Rough-legged Hawk—5
American Kestrel—5
Peregrine Falcon—3
Wild Turkey—2
Ring-necked Pheasant—2
Ring-billed Gull-6
Herring Gull—86
Glaucous Gull—1
Great Black-backed Gull—10
Rock Pigeon—1877
Mourning Dove—1427
Eastern Screech Owl—12
Great Horned Owl—24
Long-eared Owl—2
Short-eared Owl—1
Belted Kingfisher—2
Red-bellied Woodpecker—14
Downy Woodpecker—130
Hairy Woodpecker—1
Northern Flicker—4
Blue Jay—68
American Crow—50138
Horned Lark—157
Black-capped Chickadee—3
Red-breasted Nuthatch—2
White-breasted Nuthatch—2
Brown Creeper—4
Carolina Wren—13
Winter Wren—6
Marsh wren—1
Golden-crowned Kinglet—10
Eastern Bluebird—1
Hermit Thrush—2
American Robin—15
European Starling—4906
Eastern Towhee—1
American Tree Sparrow—1033
Field Sparrow—1
Song Sparrow—70
Swamp Sparrow—24
White-throated Sparrow—14
White-crowned Sparrow—67
Dark-eyed Junco—491
Lapland Longspur—3
Snow Bunting—775
Northern Cardinal—292
Red-winged Blackbird—388
Rusty Blackbird—3
Brewer’s Blackbird—2
Common Grackle—154
Brown-headed Cowbird—1086
Purple Finch—2
House Finch—167
White-winged Crossbill—182
Common Redpoll—9
American Goldfinch—691
House Sparrow—1766


Total Species Observed: 74
Total New Species: 1
New High Counts: 11
Total Individuals: 68498
Total Observers: 15
Total Party Hours: 68.0

Weekend Waterfowl

Yesterday I took a detailed look at waterfowl on the St. Clair River. I do this every year at this time. Nothing unusual really, except that there was estensive waterfowl hunting on this day and I could not check all the usual spots. Here is my list up to the south end of Sarnia:

CANADA GOOSE 598
MUTE SWAN 75
TUNDRA SWAN 5
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK 16
MALLARD 179
CANVASBACK 475
REDHEAD 1378
RING-NECKED DUCK 1
GREATER SCAUP 169
LESSER SCAUP 5
LONG-TAILED DUCK 105
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 5
BUFFLEHEAD 137
COMMON GOLDENEYE 98
HOODED MERGANSER 16
COMMON MERGANSER 46
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 2

I suppose if there is anything to note, the number of Long-tailed Ducks was high. They are rather uncommon in this area, and certainly unusual to see in the main part of the St. Clair River. There were about 70 in the Wallaceburg CBC circle. Usually there are none!

White-winged Scoters appear to be more frequent every winter. These large black sea ducks are always nice to see.

Of course things are always constantly changing out there, and one cannot look at every nook and cranny along the river. Other things could be out there! I look forward to next weekend to see what is around.

Cone Connoisseurs

It is certainly the winter of the White-winged Crossbill. They have been widely reported in almost every locale, and in spots rarely if ever reported. Many Christmas Bird Counts recorded some as a new species for the count.

Today I had a flock of approximately ten come into the yard and feed on spruce cones. I had seen a few stop brieflly about 10:00, but they did not stay long. About ten minutes later, I went out the door in prep for doing some shopping, and I saw a bunch at the top of a spruce tree. I ran back into the house to obtain my camera. It was a bright sunny clear day, so the photos turned out fairly well.

I mentioned in a post on Christmas Day that I had three in the yard, and that that was only the third time I had seen them in the yard ever. Frankly, I have never heard of such a wide invasion into southern Ontario before in all my years of following birds.

female crossbill

It seemed to have started last summer when flocks were reported in July in various places. Just in the last week, the pace seems to have picked up.

Another good bird seen today was a first winter Merlin flying over the house in the afternoon. Not a minute later, a young Northern Harrier flew over as well.

New Year's Day Birding

the frozen marsh!

Quite often, the St. Clair NWA Christmas Bird Count occurs on New Year's Day, and this year was no exception. It is a good way to start the birding year, as you can see lots of good things for your list.

snow drifts caused by phragmites

It has been an early and harsh winter so far, and perhaps that had a bearing on the results of today. There simply were not many birds around! This count relies heavily on waterfowl, and that family of birds was rather scarce. Certainly the frozen landscape did not help in that regard. There were very few geese, and not many ducks. Sometimes there are tens of thousands of ducks on this count of many species.

find the Great Blue Heron............!

The most notable species of this count today was White-winged Crossbill. Several parties had them and it was a new species for the count history. With the lack of vegetation, and in particular spruce trees in this area, it is an excellent bird for this count.

mouse trails and coyote tracks (?)

It appears that Common Redpolls are moving farther south. Several people, including myself had them. They had not been around previously.

Three Peregrine Falcons were recorded--a new high for this count. Hawks were fairly low in numbers.
A few decent sightings were made for the count including Hermit Thrush, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Marsh Wren, Eastern Towhee and Eastern Bluebird.
Total species found was 74, rather low!

recent evidence of a beaver

I had my camera along and took some photos just for fun around the marsh that I surveyed.

late afternoon SE corner of Lake St. Clair