Solemn Sunday

Pine Siskin

Common Baskettail Dragonflies

I got out for a nature walk early this afternoon. It was nice to get out on this fine day with so much on my mind. Even though it was quite cool, there were a few butterflies out, and even some new ones for the season

Giant Swallowtail

On another note, Pine Siskins are still at the feeder. Yesterday I noticed a pair with one feeding the other! Looking closely today, one appeared to be a juvenile type. There have been reports of siskins nesting in southern Ontario this year. No surprise here I guess!

Hobomok Skipper

female Juvenal's Duskywing

Inornate Ringlet

Northern Broken-Dash

Rondeau May 29

Since it was a very nice day, and I needed to go for a long walk, I headed down to Rondeau Park. Quite a few migrants were still around and some butterflies as well. The most numerous warbler (besides Yellow and Redstart!), was Blackpoll. They were all over. Others included Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, several Blackburnian, Magnolia, Wilson's, Canada, and several Mourning.
Lots of Willow and Alder Flycatchers were calling.
The only thrush I saw was a Gray-cheeked along the maintenance compound fence.

A good-sized flock (~100) of shorebirds was off the east beach of south point trail. Most were Semipalmated Sandpipers, with a few Sanderlings, Dunlin and one Semipalmated Plover.
There were several Hobomok Skippers throughout the park.

Hobomok Skipper (with deformed wings)

fresh Hobomok Skipper

I also walked a ways out Marsh Trail. At the start was a pair of Green Herons. I seem to see those each time, so they must be nesting in the area. There were some butterflies and moths out there, including a White-striped Black, which is rather neat.

White-striped Black Moth

I also saw the first Little Wood Satyr of the year. Later, I had another near the maintenance compound.

Little Wood Satyr

Several Mourning Cloaks were out today.

My first Question Mark of the day was also out marsh trail.

Question Mark

I only saw one Pearl Crescent today in south point parking lot.

Coming back on marsh trail I noticed a baby Snapping Turtle on the path.

A couple of Blanding's Turtles were in the pond near the start of marsh trail--a reliable spot.
Other butterflies of the day included Orange Sulphur, Tiger Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, American Lady and Azure sp.

Also of note were three White-crowned Sparrows out marsh trail. They were likely the same ones from last Sunday. Getting late for those to stick around!
Sandhill Cranes were calling in the marsh, and I even saw one fly over.

Point Pelee/Hillman May 24

Wilson's Warbler

Today I went to Point Pelee for a change. As usual, the weather forecast was wrong and it rained most of the morning. It was a light rain, but certainly put a damper on plans to look for butterflies later. The sun did come out at lunch time though and it was rather warm. Some butterflies were out by then.

Driving into the park one cannot help but dodge Wild Turkeys. It seems the park is getting over-run with them. I saw them every place I went today!

Philadelphia Vireo (singing)

There was still a good variety of warblers (I tallied 22 species for the day). As expected, Blackpoll and Wilson's were the most common. One Yellow-rumped was still around, as well as a Blue-winged.

Canada Warbler

On West Beach Trail, about midway, I came across a female Connecticut Warbler. This was the first one I have seen in at least four years! It was elusive and hard to photograph.

Butterflies included a couple of fresh Spicebush Swallowtails, a Pearl Crescent, a Monarch and an American Painted Lady. These of course were in the afternoon when the sun was out.

Spicebush Swallowtail

At the old maintenance compound, I watched a Yellow-breasted Chat. It was wet from the rain. It is likely nesting in the area.

"wet" Yellow-breasted Chat singing

While waiting at De Laurier in the rain, I heard a Pine Siskin fly over. I guess every place still has some!

I saw both types of Cuckoos today. The only three Yellow-billed I saw were all together early in the morning.

On my way home I stopped at Hillman Marsh to behold a spectacle of Black-bellied Plover. There were likely 2000! At one point, everything got up for some unknown reason and half of them left. There were about 25 Whimbrel among everything else.

Hillman Shorebird Cell with thousands of birds
(this was after half had left!)

Shorebirds and Songbirds

Blanding's Turtle

It was a beautiful day for birding at Rondeau Park. There were still lots of warblers around and more vireos, flycatchers and thrushes were in. Hundreds of shorebirds were along the lakeshore.

Driving into the park first thing this morning, I noticed a large number of thrushes (mostly Swainson's) along the road. Previous to this there had not been many yet.

Later in the morning, I checked a reliable spot for Acadian Flycather, and was not disappointed. I immediatley recognized the "pi-za" sound.

Acadian Flycatcher

There were several Alder and Willow Flycatchers along south point trail. I still did not see a Yellow-bellied though.

Shorebirds and gulls were the most notable thing along the beach on south point. Among the gulls, I quickly picked out a first summer Little Gull among hundreds of Bonaparte's. Shorebirds were by the dozens along the surf-line. There had to be up to 100 Ruddy Turnstones in various spots--probably the most Turnstones I have ever seen. Among them were some Sanderlings in various states of plumage. Most were in breeding though. The odd Semi-palmated Sandpiper was mixed in as well.

Ruddy Turnstones

Later, I checked the beach again and found up to eight Whimbrel. They are one of my favourite shorebird with their unique call and long decurved bill.

Larry, Curly, Moe?

Whimbrel in flight

Along the trail I saw my first Black-billed Cuckoo of the season--the only one of the day!

There were many warblers including several Blackpoll, Tennessee, Blackburnian and Wilson's. Surprisingly there were a lot of Black-throated Green as well. I also saw Black-and-White, Magnolia, Canada, Redstart, chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Mourning and a lone Palm along the beach.

Palm Warbler

I also heard Northern Waterthrush and Ovenbird.

Along the beach I caught sight of a late-migrant Savannah Sparrow.

Many birds were carrying nesting material, including Orchard Oriole.

After lunch, I walked out marsh trail. I only went two-thirds of the way to the half way point, but there were many birds. Most notable were Blackpoll Warblers. I probably had up to 20. There were other warblers, but the most notable was a Prothonotary at the start of the trail on my return. Not the usual spot to see one!

I had one Blue-headed Vireo out the trail that had me going for a while. It was high in the tree tops and had very little colour. I tried to make it into a Plumbeous, but it was not gray enough!

I also heard two different White-eyed Vireos.

A Green Heron was a nice sight at one point. It perched atop a dead tree.

There were three "getting-late" White-crowned Sparrows along the trail.

On my way home, I went into Blenheim Lagoons to check for shorebirds. Along the way, I saw the only flock of Black-bellied Plover for the day flying overhead.

There were lots of shorebirds there too, but mostly Dunlin. There was one White-rumped that posed for a photo. Others included one Greater Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Plover.

Rondeau May 18

It was a rather mediocre day--like most of the month! Not many birds were around, but there was good variety. I started out on Rondeau's south point trail along with Steve Charbonneau.
A couple of Mourning Warblers were singing along with several Wilson's, among others.
Lots of gulls were out on the lake, but nothing unusual. Some Common Loons were flying around, and one was swimming close to shore and constantly calling.
A Bobolink singing atop a maple tree was interesting--not the usual spot you would see one.
In the sparrow department, several Lincoln's were around, and the Clay-colored was still on Lakeshore Rd. A few White-crowned were still hopping around.

We walked the north end of the park and noted several warblers and vireos. Magnolia was certainly the most common. Lots of Wilson's as well.
I later walked to the Gardiner deer exclosure, but did not see much. The most interesting thing was this bracket fungus growing out of a crack in a tree.

At Blenheim Lagoons, virtually all of the ducks plus the Eared Grebe had left. There were a few Wigeon and Ruddy, plus a single female Lesser Scaup and a Bufflehead. There were many shorebirds in the irrigation cells, but most were Dunlin (~350). I also saw Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, a Stilt Sandpiper, 3 Short-billed Dowitchers.
A single Black Tern was flying about. There were many swallows of all five species, but mostly Bank. No violent green (!)

I checked out Erieau as well. Lots of gulls, but nothing unusual AGAIN! Shorebirds on the point included Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstone and Sanderling. I was hoping for Whimbrel and Red Knot, but it was not to be. The closest I came to a knot today was this thing on a tree......

I also saw a kite today. It was a colourful one in the shape of a plane, and was attached to a long string.

Crop Tour

I decided to take it easy today by sleeping in a bit and doing a local tour. I checked various spots and seemed to come across warblers in each place. Mostly Blackpoll, Tennessee and Northern Parula. Even drving down the roads where there was a concentration of trees, I heard some of these singing!
My hotspot of Brander Park had several warblers including Blackburnian, Yellow-rumped, Tennessee, Blackpoll, Parula, Black-throated Green and a couple of Scarlet Tanagers.
At Reid CA, those species were present plus Northern Waterthrush, Magnolia, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated Blue. I heard a Black-billed Cuckoo calling. This species breeds there.
I came across my first Juvenal's Duskywing there. Despite the very cold and damp morning, it was out in a warm spot. It was very fresh, so I think it just emerged recently. I had lots of these there last year in early June.

Juvenal's Duskywing

At the ICI Pond, I saw American Coots and Blue-winged Teal and Black Terns. I think they breed there.

Driving the back roads, there were many Eastern Kingbirds and Bobolinks in the grassy areas. I had hoped to come across an Upland Sandpiper, but practically all of the pastures are now gone and they are hard to find around here anymore.

I saw a couple of Northern Harriers cruising the fields as well.

Eastern Kingbird ready for takeoff!

At McKeough CA I found a nice pocket of warblers--just more of the above-mentioned species plus Bay-breasted.
I wanted to see a Yellow-headed Blackbird, so I went to the reliable spot at the end of Angler Line south of Mitchell Bay. I heard one in the private marsh west of Curly Clark's place, then saw one at the end of the road. I usually see Moorhen here as well, but not today.

Out in the yard today I saw a Blackburnian Warbler and a Bay-breasted, not to mention the hungry Pine Siskins.

Saturday May 16

I started at Rondeau again this morning. There were fewer birds than yesterday, but some nice pockets of warblers, etc. More vireos and flycatchers were in plus Scarlet Tanagers. There were several Scarlet Tanagers. The one pictured here had some damage on its right flank. The feathers were sticking out, but otherwise it seemed normal in its behaviour.

Scarlet Tanager

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird was along Harrison Trail....

The two Chats I saw and heard yesterday were still around. The one did not co-operate for a photo.

A Kirtland's Warbler was found at the park yesterday. Obviously I walked by that one at some point. You cannot get 'em all!

I headed over to Point Pelee after lunch since I was done at Rondeau. Upon arrival, I heard that a Plumbeous Vireo (possible) was seen in Tilden's Woods. I headed over there and only saw lots of warblers. Later I went back in and only caught a brief glimpse of the vireo, so I could not draw any conclusions on that. It will be interesting to see what comes of it.

I also walked part of Woodland Trail. There were lots of warblers there too on the west side of it. Several Tennessee and Blackpoll were there. Must be getting later in migration......

Rondeau Birding May 15

Red-necked Phalarope (far away and too cloudy!)

Gray-cheeked Thrush at Erieau


Bay-breasted Warbler

NOTE: There has been some glitch in the system that I cannot place photos where I want them.

Rondeau Park was not dripping with birds, but there were enough to keep the birdwatcher busy. A few quality birds were around too.

Northern Parula

I started at south point trail. Highlights there included a Yellow-breasted Chat, Brewster's Warbler and Grasshopper Sparrow. A couple of Mourning Warblers were singing as well.

Brewster's Warbler (singing Blue-winged song!)

Tulip Tree Trail was very quiet. I did hear the Prothonotary Warbler way down the slough and the ever-present Northern Waterthrush was singing.

I then decided to walk up Harrison Trail, and I ended up going all the way around down Rondeau Road. Near the start, I saw a Brown Creeper. That species is tough to get this time of year; where was it last weekend?! Half way up Harrison I caught sight of a silent Prairie Warbler. A Pine Warbler was here as well. (A second Pine Warbler was near the visitor centre). There were a number of birds along this stretch that made things interesting. Rondeau Road was terribly quiet.

South of the visitor centre, I heard another Chat making all kinds of noises. I never did see it as it was closer to Lakeshore Road. By the way, the Clay-colored Sparrow was still along the road and singing down from the visitor centre.

Next stop was behind maintenance and down to the log pond. A few warblers were here as well. And the only butterfly I saw all day was a Tiger Swallowtail--new for the year.

I decided to leave the park at this point and check out Erieau. Nothing special there, but a Northern Mockingbird was at the fish warehouse. I saw one Dunlin and heard some Black-bellied Plover.

Along the railroad track trail, there were some warblers and thrushes, including a Gray-cheeked. Soras were calling in the marsh.

At Blenheim Lagoons, the Eared Grebe was still present in pond 3. It is a treat to see this time of year. Too bad it did not have a mate. It would be like being at the Emo Sewage Lagoon near Rainy River! A single Red-necked Phalarope was in the first pond--always nice to see this time of year. Perhaps it was a male since it was not in bright plumage.

Overall today I noticed more Canada Warblers, Northern Parulas and Blue-winged Warblers. Gray-cheeked Thrushes have come in as well as Mourning Warblers. Cuckoos have not arrived yet. I heard some Cedar Waxwings along the road (where were they last week too?).