Fog 'n Blog: May 17 Birding

I arrived at Rondeau Park early this morning in dense fog.  Not many new birds had come in and birding was not all that exciting today.  Most of the birds were along Lakeshore Road, but that is not the best place to get out and look for birds.  Elsewhere in the park it was very quiet for birds.
Bennett Road was virtually abandoned in the early morning!  Our only highlight was a close view of one of the Prothonotary Warblers--too active for photos.

As usual, we checked south point trail first thing.  A Hooded Warbler was singing along the way and that American Tree Sparrow was still hobbling around.  More Canada and Wilson's Warblers were evident.
The haunting calls of unseen loons on the foggy lake added to the atmosphere.


Bored by 10:30, I headed over to Hillman Marsh.  I met up with Adam Pinch and we checked out the shorebird cell.  Some fog was rolling in and out making visibility difficult at times.  We moved over to the westerly side where things were better-seen. We joined Jean Iron who was taking one last look at shorebirds before returning to Toronto.

The Glossy Ibis was feeding, as well as the two American Avocets.

distant Avocets

Ibis with two Avocets

Twice the ibis took off, but eventually came back.

Birds kept coming and going with hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers with many Dunlin.  Some Ruddy Turnstones and Short-billed Dowitchers were mixed in.


We spent considerable time there as birds kept changing.  Soon it was time to move on and we went over to the area where rails were being heard.  We did not hear any such rail today, but certainly did hear a Least Bittern.
Shorebirds were still flying over and when we got back to the parking lot, and that was likely when the reported Whimbrel flew into the shorebird cell!

On the way home I checked in on the Yellow-headed Blackbirds.  As I mentioned before, things are always changing there and one never know what may show up. One has to keep looking!