Take A Hike Day at Rondeau

It was down to Rondeau Park this morning under gloomy (as usual) skies.  Visibility was excellent though as we started with the obligatory lake watch at dog beach.
Not much was moving today.  A few Red-throated Loons and several Common Loons were seen among some Horned Grebes and ducks.  Bonaparte's Gulls numbered a paltry 3, not unusual for this fall.

On the trails, it was noticed that passerines had thinned out since last weekend as one would expect, but more sparrows were in.
My second visit into the campground revealed lots of Dark-eyed Juncos, and other sparrows mixed in.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet numbers had shrunk to less than ten this weekend.  As well, Black-capped Chickadees were reduced in numbers.

There were at least three Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers roaming the campground.

On my second visit to the campground, a large number of birds were in the centre of the grounds.  Goes to show how quickly things change in that locale!
Highlight was a flock of six Evening Grosbeaks chattering away in one tree.  Lighting was horrible, so good photos were impossible.

Over 100 Cedar Waxwings were working finding berries in the cedars and other places.


I tried in vain to spot a Bohemian.  One would think at least one would be around!  There is still time.

Sparrows were numerous too in this area.  White-throated, Field, Chipping and Fox were mixed in with the juncos.

I even spotted a White-crowned munching down a grape.

After leaving the park, I went over to McGeachy Pond dike, another must-stop for this time of year.  One has to work hard to spot birds in the thick tangles along the dike.  Things are always changing!

I did find at least two Common Yellowthroats and a Blue-headed Vireo.  They were quite active and impossible to photograph in the thickets.

I did briefly see the ass-end of another yellowish warbler which had to remain unidentified.

More Cedar Waxwings were along the dike. It was two years ago had a Bohemian mixed in here, but no such thing yet this year.
One waxwing had orange tail tips, which we occasionally see.

After wearing out the dike, I moved on west and decided to head over to Wheatley Harbour.  The number of gulls there was overwhelming (several thousand!), but I could only spot three species.  Likely Lesser Black-backed was around, but I did not see one.  And, not a single bonie!  They have been relatively scarce this fall in our neck of the woods (lake?).

In another month, we will amidst Christmas Bird Counts.....