Some Weekend Birding

After an enjoyable day on Friday with the trip up to Goderich, I did some birding this weekend.  Things were rather quiet and birds were few and far between.

Saturday morning, I headed down to Point Pelee.  It felt just like the weekend with the rain!  I met up with Steve and Jim and we walked to the Tip.
There was a strong SE wind and it was somewhat active, but mostly with Red-breasted Mergansers.  A few other ducks were also seen.

I had not been to Point Pelee since the OFO conference in September, so I stayed a little longer at the Tip.  Nothing of note showed.

I checked various spots in the park. Golden-crowned Kinglets were quite plentiful all over and a few Ruby-crowned were mixed in as well.
I also stopped by Hillman Marsh.  No tardy shorebirds were in the cell.  In fact, it seems shorebirds are virtually gone all over, but we have yet to find a Purple Sandpiper!
An Eastern Phoebe was in the vicinity of the boardwalk, not unexpected.

A huge flock of blackbirds was along Mersea Rd. 21 as I passed by.  Perhaps 5,000 birds, but nothing with a yellow head.

Today, I went down to Rondeau Park.  Perhaps it was just too nice of a day, as birds were not very plentiful in the warm air.  I first checked the campground.

Carolina Wrens were certainly vocal.  At least four were singing or making noise first thing.  As well, one of two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers was calling.

Later, I stopped by dog beach where Steve and Jim were watching the lake.  There was a good movement of Red-throated Loons today.  I saw 13 in the brief time I was there.

I walked south point trail myself.  Regarding finches, a Common Redpoll and a couple of Pine Siskins flew over.  Again, there was not anything of note, however, an Orange-crowned Warbler was briefly seen.

The VC feeders were next on the list.

Some Pine Siskins were busy feeding there.

One stood out as perhaps a green morph.

Near maintenance, I was told of a Black-crowned Night-Heron roosting in a tree.  Earlier in the day, Josh Pickering had found the bird.  It was difficult to spot.

This species is rather rare for this time of year around Rondeau.

I walked the campground again, but it was even quieter than earlier.

I then went over to McGeachy Pond where two Trumpeter Swans were swimming.

A stop at Blenheim Lagoons revealed only ducks.  Most were Bufflehead.

Next weekend will likely be colder, so perhaps birds will be more concentrated.

frogs were out today