Typical shoreline today
Today was the Rondeau/Blenheim CBC. Preliminary total species was at 98, but will likely go higher. This count usually leads Ontario. The recent weather and storms certainly pounded down the numbers of many species. Many birds probably left!
I did take the camera today, but as usual for this count the skies were gloomy. A very fine snow fell most of the day as well.
I did my usual routine, mainly of south point trail in the park along with Maris Apse. We walked long periods of time without seeing any birds! Birds were scarce on the lake as well. We did pick up two species on the lake that nobody else had: Glaucous Gull (first cycle) and a Long-tailed Duck.
Ducks were scarce. Common Mergansers were the most plentiful, which was the opposite to most years where there are lots of Red-breasted.
We lucked out seeing two Pileated Woodpeckers. They are always there, but usually not seen nor heard!
There were three very active feeders along Lakeshore Road. One had a Rusty Blackbird (Ric and Anne McArthur) as well as two female Red-winged Blackbirds. Maris picked up a White-crowned Sparrow at another.
Rusty Blackbird
While eating lunch in our vehicles at the VC, a male Harrier swooped down at the feeders, then perched nearby. Never saw a Harrier at a feeder before.
Tufted Titmouse at the VC
On the count, Short-eared Owls were at a high, as expected. It is thought they have been driven down from farther north due to all the snow.
Great Horned Owls were active. I heard two first thing this morning and even one around 4 p.m. near the visitor centre. On the way to Erie Beach, I caught sight of one flying around a barnyard on New Scotland Line.
A lone Fox Sparrow in the middle of the woods was an odd sight as we walked the old Dillon Trail.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
The two Ross's Geese were seen. I saw two Snow Geese flying over Shrewbury near 5 p.m. and apparently they were the only ones of that species seen.
No new species were seen, but a good variety today.
Sounds like an impressive count - considering how cold it's been this year! Missing GBHE does seem pretty odd though.
ReplyDelete