Ship Jam in the Snye

Something a little different today.

Wallaceburg was once a bustling port. It started back in the 1800's when lumbering was king. Sailing vessels were towed in to load lumber and other goods. Steamers came in to load goods from the local industries or unload coal. Later, corn was loaded and taken out by small ship.

Passenger vessels made Wallaceburg a popular destination as well.

Wallaceburg was once busier than the port of Toronto! This fact is documented.

Shown here is a famous jam-up in the Snye in 1922.

In the summer of 1922, the barge John J. Barlum grounded in the Chenal Ecarte near the Weiser farm south of Bluewater Conference. It was being towed by a tug, but veered too sharply and lodged itself cross-ways in the river. The Barlum was on its way to Wallaceburg loaded with sugar beets.
A local tug, Delisle was called to assist, but the Barlum remained steadfast after valiant efforts by the tugs. Shortly afterwards, the passenger vessel Rapids King outbound from Wallaceburg came upon the scene. Unable to pass in the narrow confines of the Snye, the captain of the Rapids King gently nudged the Barlum, and with the assistance of the two tugs, was able to free the barge.The Rapids King, fully loaded with passengers, continued on its way to Detroit, while the Barlum and its tug headed towards Wallaceburg

The Wonders of Bird Migration

I headed down to Rondeau this morning to take advantage of the nice weather. It was supposed to be rainy all weekend, but as usual, the weather forecast was wrong.

Migration is well underway with many new arrivals today.

Exhausted Golden-crowned Kinglet

The first thing I noted was the arrival of many Golden-crowned Kinglets. They were all over the park. Later in my walk, I came across one sleeping on the trail. It was obviously exhausted from migration and was content to rest there. I picked it up and moved it off the trail. A little later I looked at it again and it had perked up.
Quite often one will see exhausted birds. Some are a little more perky, but quite approachable. I have seen Scarlet Tanagers on the trail before. It is one of the perils of migration.


A number of Eastern Phoebes were in the park as well. I also came across my first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the spring on Spicebush Trail.

Song Sparrows were once again in large numbers all over the park. Some Tree Sparrows were mixed in and the odd Field Sparrow as well. A Chipping Sparrow was near the visitor centre. I caught a glimpse of one Fox Sparrow which would be a fresh migrant as there were none all winter in the park.

Many ducks were on the Bay to look at. I scoped from the Rondeau Dock. I saw a couple of Horned Grebes also, starting to get their breeding plumage.

At Blenheim Lagoons, the same ducks as last week were there plus I noted two Tree Swallows.

Duck Quiz: What species is this (above)?

Several Turkey Vultures were in the air today.

At home, a male Purple Finch was at the feeder today.

Old Scenes

I was going through some old post cards today. Here are some scenes. Interesting how things have changed!

Kettle Point in the early 1900's (note concretion)

A much more impressive gate at Point Pelee National Park ! (1940's?)

Rondeau Dock (not sure if this is in the park, or at Shrewsbury)

Almost Spring

view from south point trail, Rondeau Park

It is still a bit cool. This past weekend was mostly cloudy and cool. It was supposed to be all sunny and a bit warmer, but alas, that is what you get for listening to weather forecasts!

I did not do any birding on Saturday, but did see my first Turkey Vultures of the year.

Sunday I went to Rondeau. On the way there, I saw a male Ring-necked Pheasant alongside Kent Bridge Road. They seem to be less common any more.

Song Sparrows and American Robins seemed to be everywhere today. A few Golden-crowned Kinglets were around the park.

Ducks were far out on the Bay, so I did not bother scoping them out. Lots of mergansers, both Common and Red-breasted were out on the lake. South of Morpeth, a male Long-tailed Duck was heading east. Long-tailed ducks are rather uncommon in the Rondeau area, especially in spring.

At Blenheim Lagoons, Ring-necked Ducks were stealing the show. Likely there were around 400--certainly the most I have seen in one location. Many other species were present including a Green-winged Teal, and a couple of American Coots.

Canada Geese are making their presence known with loud squawking any time you get close to them.

Here at home, there are still lots of Pine Siskins hogging the nyjer seed. I have gone through lots of that seed this winter. It is time for them to leave, but I do remember having siskins at the end of the third week in May one year! I guess I will start them on rations!

Tundra Swans passing Rondeau Park

Rondeau Park on Saturday

Rondeau Bay (note deer at right)

We finally have some nice weather for a weekend. It was a bit cool this morning, but I headed down to Rondeau Park to get some fresh air and exercise. I walked most of Marsh Trail first thing. There is still quite a bit of ice, but Rondeau Bay is mostly open. Probably upwards of 20,000 ducks are out there, plus hundreds of Tundra Swans and some geese.

The best bird was the first Sandhill Crane that flew by me along the Bay shoreline. Red-winged Blackbirds are very abundant making endless noise all around.

lone Sandhill Crane

I encountered one Purple Finch along the trail, and a few Song and Tree Sparrows. Not much else, and not a single raptor.

I also walked the south end of the campground and heard a couple of redpolls flying over. At one point, surprisingly, I heard the tremelo of a Screech Owl. I look towards the sound and saw a gray morph Screech Owl poking out of a hole in a tree! I tried to approach a little closer, but it popped back in out of sight. It was not to be seen again! One does not often hear a screech owl in the middle of the day, but this one was making itself known.

White-breasted Nuthatch in the campground

I headed out towards Erieau after my walk, but little did I know a Black Vulture was less than two kilometres away.....until I got home! (This has always been my nemesis bird anyway, so what is new?).

Ice off McGeachy Pond, Erieau (note how it was driven towards shore and the spile "cut" through the ice!)

Rondeau Scenes

Shoreline after a harsh winter

Despite the rotten weather, I headed down to Rondeau Park. It had stopped raining by the time I arrived, so it was OK for walking south point trail. However, it eventually started pouring again.

Common Mergansers

Not many birds have arrived yet--it is till quite frozen. Many Red-winged Blackbirds were singing and a couple of Song Sparrows were feeding on the path. I did hear a Tufted Titmouse back in the woods.

Carolina Wren

At the visitor centre, the usual winter feeder birds were there plus a Song Sparrow.

one of two Red-breasted Nuthatches

Since I had not been to Erieau for a month, I went there to check out ducks and geese. Some Canada Geese were in the corn fields, but I did not see and White-fronted Geese. Nine were reported late last Sunday!
There were many Canvasbacks on the Bay near Erieau. I noticed a few Ring-necked Ducks as well. A lone American Coot was on the rocks at the entrance to the government dock area.

By the is time, the fog was rolling in limiting visibility.

Some Redpolls

I went out for a drive this morning. Very little in the way of birds once again. There has not been much on the St. Clair River the last few weeks. It sure has been a disappointing winter for ducks on the river. Inland there is not much else either. Obviously the harsh winter caused many birds to leave the area. Red-tailed Hawks, what few there are, are paired up now.

At McKeough Dam I came across a small flock of Common Redpolls.

I checked some spruce there and evidence of owls in the way of whitewash and pellets was there, but nothing recent. Probably Long-eared Owls.

The old Duthill Bridge (view from atop the McKeough Dam)