Rondeau Red....Phalarope, Red-headed Woodpecker, Eared Grebes

Down at Rondeau on this chilly day, some decent birds were found.  We were looking forward to some sun, but as usual the weather forecast failed us yet again and the sun did not come out.  It tried though.
Birds are thinning out for the Dog Beach lakewatch now, but a couple of good birds showed for Steve Charbonneau and myself.  Early on, I briefly spotted a shorebird to the south, but it flew away.  I thought perhaps Dunlin, but a few minutes later, I spotted it coming towards us.  Hmmm...., phalarope!  It flew right past us at close range to reveal itself as a Red Phalarope.  It is actually only the second one I have seen in the Rondeau birding area, and the first in the park.  It continued on NE and was never seen again.

Then, I spotted a dark grebe to the NE.  Another Eared Grebe.  It worked the area going back and forth.

A few Common Loons flew by and very few gulls today.

Ducks were rather scarce, but a few White-winged Scoters were passing.

Nearly chilled to the bone, we headed to south point trail.  Lots of American Goldfinches were flying about and no doubt a few Common Redpolls were mixed in.
We met Jim Burk on the trail who informed us of another Eared Grebe off the south point lookout. We soon found that one.  It seemed to be staying in that area.
Walking back the beach, we saw very little including no grebes at all between the lookout and Dog Beach.

We spent some time at the Summer Tanager area after we heard that Reuven Martin had seen it a bit earlier.  We never saw it, and Allen Woodliffe never caught up with it either (sorry).

I headed up towards the beach access 9 area.  Along the way, I met Reuven who was doing another long walk.  He was keeping an eye on the beach area as well since he has never seen a Red Phalarope.  At least he got the tanager today.

Lots of sparrow types were near the traffic circle, and on the beach were many Canada Geese.  A nice Snow Goose was among them.

I walked the campground and found oodles of American Tree Sparrows and Juncos.  A couple of Field Sparrows were mixed in.

Several Fox Sparrows were around as well.

A group of Cedar Waxwings was working some Red Cedars.

At the playground area near the maintenance compound, a young Red-headed Woodpecker was working the area.

There were  a number of different birds there including a Fox Sparrow and some Eastern Bluebirds.

I checked Ridgetown Lagoons on the way home, but nothing of note there.

In other news, the female King Eider is still resting in Lake Chipican at Sarnia.  One wonders when it will get "airbourne".