Migrants at Rondeau & Lost Egg at Blenheim

Spring Beauty at Rondeau

A number of migrants finally appeared at Rondeau this morning. Several species had arrived overnight. I saw or heard eight species of warblers including an Ovenbird, Magnolia, Nashville, Yellow, Black-throated Green, Black-and-White, Northern Waterthrush, and Yellow-rumped. Most numerous were the Black-throated Green. There were several waterthrushes scattered throughout the park. The Magnolia was nice to get this early.

The snakes are out! DeKay's Brown Snake

Flycatchers included Great-crested, Least and an early Peewee plus a couple of resident Phoebes.

A White-eyed Vireo was singing on south point trail along with several Blue-headed.

The first Rose-breasted Grosbeak was singing in the maintenance yard.

Several of the thrushes had arrived including Wood and Swainson's.

Over at Blenheim Lagoons, a Snow Goose (blue morph) was swimming with the Canada Geese in pond 1 (see photo above). Nine Dunlin were wheeling around looking for a patch of mud, but to no avail.

Ring-billed Gulls are nesting at the sprinkler area there. I found one egg on the driveway!

PHOTO QUIZ: What species is this?

Awesome Weather and Birding

The weather has been great the last two days. Yesterday I got down to Rondeau later in the morning in hopes of finding some migrants. The place was unbelievably dead for birds! The only noteworthy bird was a male Baltimore Oriole at the corner of south point trail and Rondeau Rd. That was new for the year and probably the earliest I have ever seen the species.

Pileated Woodpecker at Rondeau

Contrastingly, there was a major fallout at Point Pelee. There was a rain shower just before dawn that made the difference. Apparently there were upwards of 15 species of warblers-- hundreds of them along with vireos, thrushes, orioles, and sparrows.

One of many Black-throated Green Warblers at Point Pelee

With that in mind, I headed down to Pelee this morning (Saturday). I planned on going there anyway, so it was a good choice. It turned out to be an awesome day!

I spent the day birding with Steve Pike. We got the 8 a.m. tram to the Tip. A number of warblers and vireos were near the Tip. Most interesting was a Brewster's Warbler. There was also White-eyed, Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos. While we were separated, Steve saw a Grasshopper Sparrow near the solar panel area.

We then tried for Henslow's Sparrow part way up West Beach Trail, but to no avail. We spent a lot of time around Sparrow Field and loop woods finding lots of things. At one point we looked out onto East Beach and saw two Willets! At the north end of Sparrow Field were some Pine Siskins.

Down the old Concession Road, we spotted a Short-tailed Weasel running around. It caught a mouse and went into its burrow. It later came out and started running around again. Steve got some fabulous photos of it! I only got a couple of shots.

Short-tailed Weasel!

We walked back the road, and did the Woodland Trail.
Next stop was De Laurier and down Anders and back the road. There were lots of birds along the way. At De Laurier I spotted a male Indigo Bunting.
Along the road we heard what was likely a Worm-eating Warbler, but did not see it. Across from the entrance of Black Willow, we saw a Henslow's Sparrow. That was a species we hoped to see today!

The Elusive Henslow's Sparrow

On the way home, I peaked in at Hillman Marsh and saw at least a dozen American Avocets. They had been reported earlier in the day.

New species for the year today included: American Avocet (~12), Willet (2), Spotted Sandpiper, Least Flycatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher (2), White-eyed Vireo (2), Blue-headed Vireo (several), Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Swainson's Thrush (many), Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Brewster's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler (many), Black-throated Green Warbler (many), Pine Warbler (many), Palm Warbler (many), Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Henslow's Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole.

Butterflies seen today included several American Painted Lady, Eastern Comma, Spring Azure, Cabbage White.

Mammals included: Short-tailed Weasel, Raccoon (road kill), Virginia Opposum (road kill), Black Squirrel, Cotton-tail Rabbit, House Cat (!).

Bloodroot

Rondeau Park Migrants

Early Morning Scene on South Point Trail

We finally have some decent weather on our hands. I spent Friday morning at Rondeau Park, as well as part of Saturday morning. Some new migrants had arrived, but certainly not big numbers.

Most notable were sparrows and Hermit Thrushes. Driving down Lakeshore Road Friday morning revealed dozens of Juncos. Many newly arrived Song Sparrows were mixed in as well. A number of Fox Sparrows were around plus Field, Swamp and Savannah. There were at least three Savannah Sparrows in a grassy area along the beach at south point trail.

Savannah Sparrow

I could hear Sandhill Cranes out in the marsh, as well as an American Bittern. The first Wilson's Snipe made an aerial display.

There were absolutely no warblers in the south part of the park. Near the visitor centre I heard a Pine Warbler sing twice, but I never saw it, nor could I locate it.

Near the maintenance yard I saw the first male Yellow-rumped Warbler of the season, and farther down Harrison Trail was another. Those were the only warblers that I could find in the whole park!

Snapping Turtle on the road

Pileated Woodpeckers were vocal and drumming. I saw two and heard another.

Some butterflies were out. I saw a Mourning Cloak fly through spicebush trail. There were several Spring Azures and a single Eastern Comma behind the maintenance yard.

Spring Azure

Saturday morning was rather quiet, but certainly more Hermit Thrushes had arrived along with a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Perhaps more Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were in the park too.

There were fewer Juncos, but probably just as many Song Sparrows.

A single Yellow-rumped Warbler was on south point trail, and another, perhaps one of yesterday's near the Pony Barn area.

Out on the lake were many Ruddy Ducks, some Common Loons and Horned Grebes among the other ducks.

Bufflehead on the lake

The wildflowers were just sprouting at Rondeau Park, but at Sinclair's Bush inland, Bloodroot and Trout Lilly were blooming. I saw some Coltsfoot along the bluffs south of Morpeth.

Bloodroot

A Redpoll!

Late yesterday (Thursday) I noticed a pale bird at the feeder. I looked a little closer and realized it was a redpoll. The more I looked at it, I realized it was likely a (female) Hoary! A redpoll at this time of year here is quite decent, but to have a Hoary is even better. I have never had a Hoary in the yard before. Even last year with all the redpolls around, I never saw a Hoary!

It was at the feeder again first thing this morning, and late today. I managed to get closer looks and it appears to be a Hoary. The size is a bit larger than the Common Redpoll. The rump is prominantly white with no streaking, and there is little streaking on the flanks and no streaking on the undertail coverts. The bill is stubbier and has the "pushed-in" look characteristic of the Hoary. The overall appearance is simply frostier-looking than what we usually see in a Common Redpoll.

I did get a few photos at some distance this evening.

Easter Weekend

I went back to Rondeau Saturday morning. There was a cool NE wind, but what else is new? Not many birds have come in yet. It has been too cool. Certainly no warblers at Rondeau, and I do not think Pelee has had any either.

Lots of Red-breasted Mergansers were feeding close to shore off south point trail. Not often we see this many this close.

The only new bird I saw for the year was a Purple Martin flying overhead while I was on spicebush trail.

Outside the park, I heard Vesper Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow.

Sunday morning was once again cold and I did not know what to do. I checked out Stewart Wetland first thing and I finally saw my first shorebirds of the year--Greater Yellowlegs. Habitat is perfect there for shorebirds, so I will be checking it everyday from now on.

I then decided to head down to Point Pelee. Although it was nice for walking there, it was a waste of time for birds! Landbirds were conspicuously absent! However, there were thousands of diving ducks all along West Beach Trail from the visitor centre south. Most were scaup, but many Surf Scoters were mixed in as well as Black Scoters. I saw one imm. Common Loon far out, and a Horned Grebe in breeding plumage. There was probably a King Eider out there, but I could not find it!

A few Turkey Vultures were flying about. Someone wrote in Black Vulture yesterday for the Tip area, but who knows if that is valid. The sightings book has become a bit of a joke in recent years for inexperienced birders making misidentifications or people just being silly!

On the way home, I saw a Great Egret at Hillman Creek, and an adult Bald Eagle flying over near there.

I am sure next weekend will see lots of new birds.

Good Friday

One of several Turkey Vultures

With the holiday and fairly nice weather, I checked out Rondeau Park today. A cool east wind was coming in off the lake, but that seems normal for this time of year any more! Not as many birds were around as I had hoped, but it was nice to get out.

Coltsfoot

Lots of Golden-crowned Kinglets were around plus one Ruby-crowned. Brown Creepers were creeping up the trees (I even had one in my yard today!).

Brown Creeper

I only saw two Hermit Thrushes. A third was even singing! It is not often one hears a Hermit Thrush singing in spring migration. I think it is one of the prettiest songs around.

Curious Carolina Wren

Ducks were plentiful on Rondeau Bay, especially scaup.

New birds for the year included Common Loon, Forster's Tern, Barn Swallow, Double-crested Cormorant, and of course the Hermit Thrush.

A large number of ducks were at Blenheim Lagoons, including a wide variety. There were over 200 Ruddy Ducks, and a large number of Bufflehead as well. The noisy Canada Geese were already on nests.

Nervous Canada Goose

Quite a number of Bonaparte's Gulls were swimming around, but no other gulls were among them (such as Black-headed, Little, etc.).

Blenheim Bonies

Credit River Valley and Coconuts

View of Credit River at Timothy Street Park

The Ontario Bird Records Committee annual meeting was this past Saturday at the Royal Ontario Museum. As a voting member, I had to attend, so I stayed with my girlfriend Jo-Anne, in Mississauga. The ROM was only about a 45 minute drive (without traffic) from her place. It has been a long time since I have been downtown Toronto, and over 30 years since I have been to the ROM! The facade of the ROm has changed slightly (!).

I arrived at the ROM early on Saturday morning, so Mark Peck gave me a tour of the labs and storage areas where he works. Most unique was the "bug room" where birds and animals are left for a time in order to get rid of all fleshy parts, leaving only the bones. Beetles eat the flesh and after a certain time, only the skeleton remains. It was a stinky place needless to say!

Friday was too rainy to do much birding. Late Saturday afternoon was OK, but very windy. Jo-Anne and I checked out Sawmill Valley off Burnamthorpe Rd. and Riverdale Park where we walked the last time.

Remains of old mill along the river

Sunday was beautiful! First we went to Timothy Street Park along the Credit River in the north of the city. We saw quite a few birds including Winter Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and the common birds. Pine Siskins were all over the place. They were constantly flying over. At one point we saw a Red Fox.

Red Fox

Our next walk was at Meadowvale Conservation Area, well north of the 401. It was a very nice walk along the Credit River. Like all the other parks along the river, it was muddy and wet from flooding in the previous days due to the heavy rain.
We saw a pair of Northern Flickers here and a Kingfisher among the common birds. A Great Blue Heron was a nice sight just as we arrived.
One thing of note. Along the Credit River there are many parks. We can see lot of old trees which are interesting. Many are oaks, beeches and even Black Cherry. In one area I noticed many Black Cherry.

View from the suspension bridge at Meadowvale CA

At one point I spotted an old coconut which we thought was amusing. Later on we found another! We joked about it, saying that coconut trees grow in Mississauga!

Genuine Mississauga Coconut

At this area, jets were flying directly overhead going into the Pearson International Airport. About every three or four minutes, one was coming in for a landing. Jo-Anne, being very knowledgeable about planes, and that being a hobby of hers, knew what they were.

Air Canada Jet approaching Pearson

I was hoping for butterflies, but it was not to be. I did however, see one flying over the 401 near Mississauga as I left in the afternoon. No idea what it was!