Easter Eared and Some Notes

I started at Rondeau first thing this morning.  It was a day for getting exercise as it was dead as a doornail with regards to birds as we sometimes say!  The prevailing weekend east winds were certainly not welcome or helpful.

Birdless?

For warblers, there was a total of five Yellow-rumped in the park (two of those heard only) LOL.
The section of Harrison Trail North of Bennett had several Hermit Thrushes, a few Fox Sparrows and a few White-throated Sparrows.  It seemed to be the busiest part of the park.

Unco-operative Fox Sparrow

Pileated Woodpeckers have been quite visible and vocal in the park lately.  Probably at least four pairs around.

I had the park somewhat covered by 09:30, so I headed over to Blenheim Lagoons.  Quite a bit of stuff to sort through there.  On the way in, a Spotted Sandpiper was along the edge of the first pond to start off the shorebird list.

I picked out the first Eared Grebe of the season in pond 3.  It was too far away to get a photo though.
There may have been two Horned Grebes present, but this one came in close unlike it cousin.

The sprinklers have been decent for shorebirds with dozens of Pectoral Sandpipers and Dunlin present.  Also one Lesser Yellowlegs.

Most of the Dunlin were preening in the grass quite camouflaged:

I took a walk at some spots north of Wallaceburg this afternoon.  A pleasant day to be out in any case.  The two Yellow-rumped Warblers were still at Brander Park (they came earlier last week) so that tells you something.
I happened to find this meadow crayfish at Reid.  It seemed quite large.

Something we do not see too often anymore as all the pastures have disappeared.

Some wildflowers are starting to bloom, such as this bloodroot.

No doubt things will really get rolling by the end of this week. Yellow-throated Warbler will show up on Monday..??...

Merlin from Friday

I wonder if there has ever been a Merlin at Merlin?