Sunday, April 24, 2016

Weekend Report April 24

I spent a lot of time birding this weekend.  Mornings were very cold, but daytime was rather nice. Warblers were almost absent.  Sarnia, however, is getting a lot for some peculiar reason.  Perhaps the birds head up the US side and cross over at the mouth of Lake Huron!

Friday started out foggy.  It was very calm and actually rather scenic.  I captured this view looking towards Walpole Island.


There was a time one could hear Northern Bobwhite at this locale, but that is a thing of the past. A few are likely still around the south part of the island.

Saturday morning I headed down to Rondeau Park rather early.



I spent six hours in the park and nary a warbler!  It got to the point that a single Yellow-rumped would have been exciting.
The only vireo was a lone Blue-headed.
It is interesting how things vary from year to year with regards to numbers of birds and species at this date.

Lots of thrashers are now around.



I walked out marsh trail with Steve Charbonneau.  A number of ducks are still on the Bay, most being scaup, but they were far out.  On our way back, three swans were sighted.  Out of the corner of my eye, I assumed they were Mute, but not so.  They were quite large with characteristic bills of Trumpeter.  With the increase in Trumpeter Swan sightings this year, they were not out of the question.  I did not get on them soon enough with the camera, so my photos were not so great.

At Blenheim lagoons, the first Wilson's Phalarope was still present.



A number of Lesser Yellowlegs and a single Dunlin were also present.

I also checked out Erieau's marsh trail and McGeachy Pond.  A FOY Yellow Warbler was singing along with the only Yellow-rumped Warbler of the day (lol) in the Rondeau area.



On the way home, I swung around by St. Clair NWA and walked to the tower.  I saw at least 4 Yellow-rumped there, so it was not a total loss.  Nothing else of note besides the all of a Virginia Rail.
Some Northern Harriers were hunting the marsh.



I should have spent some time at the end of Angler Line, as late in the day, an American White Pelican was seen at Ticky Tacky Point by Reuven and Pilar.  Pelicans are an annual occurrence at Mitchell's Bay any more.  Likely more will be found.




Today, I headed back to Rondeau five minutes earlier (lol) than the previous day.



I met up with Steve Charbonneau and we checked out south point trail.  It was very calm, and we spent quite a bit of time watching the lake.  It was rather active and we accumulated a good list of birds in the early morning light.

Duck with a Long Tail
Three distant shorebirds, fairly large, were seen at one point. We were not sure of the type.

Common Loons were on the move, and I ended up with 25 for the morning.



On our return walk, I sighted the rare Yellow-rumped Warbler!  Later I found another and that was it for that species.  A couple other Pine Warblers and a Nashville were seen in the morning for a grand total of 5 warblers in almost 7 hours.
A few gnatcatchers are now in.



Red-headed Woodpeckers are now starting to arrive.  Two were along Lakeshore Road north of the VC this morning.



A few Savannah Sparrows were were working the grounds, four of which were across from the churches.




This area is good for sparrows and perhaps a Lark Sparrow will be found this May.  I know of two there in previous years.

This evening I headed out to Mitchell's Bay. Just as I was arriving near the Lake Shore Trail entrance, several Yellow-headed Blackbirds got up from beside the road.  I never got any photos though.  They are hit and miss where you will see them as they seem to be moving around.



I spent quite a bit of time looking on the lake, but no pelican(s).  I did get some FOY birds though.

Next weekend can only be better!

2 comments:

  1. I especially like your first photo. And yes, the coming weekend looks promising.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Allen. It can only get better from here, especially since the weekend is over!

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