A number of warblers were moving around as I walked to the Tip. At the Tip, I met up with Keith and Jim Burk. We were hoping for an early Sabine's Gull, but I guess they stayed on Lake Ontario!
Shorebirds included several Sanderlings, a Semisand, Least Sand and a Ruddy Turnstone.
The turnstone allowed close approach to where one could get almost full-frame photos.
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| Turnstone on stones |
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| Sanderling on Sand |
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| Least Sandpiper |
After too many 'tourists' arrived, we headed up west beach trail and found lots of passerines. A good variety of warblers were flitting about and many vireos and flycatchers.
A caterpillar was noticed at one point, which turned out to be a Salt Marsh Moth. It is apparently quite common even though there is no salt marsh nearby!
Near the famed 'serengeti tree' we met up with Steve Pike who has been on the prowl this weekend. We soon caught sight of a large dove with a squared tail, but it was only a fleeting glimpse. Steve was pretty certain it was an Eurasian Collared-Dove. We then heard it sing (out of sight) once, confirming the ID. As I was looking intensely, I spotted it atop a dead tree!
We all had decent views before it disappeared not to be seen again....by us. Certainly the highlight of the day.
This species has increased considerably in the last few years, and in fact it was delisted for review by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) this year.
Keith and I continued on up west beach trail noting a few birds and butterflies along the way. Lots of Common Painted-Lady were out and about.
Next stop and walk was at De Laurier. We did not add much there.
We decided to check west beach trail from Dunes north to Northwest Beach next. Quite a few birds were towards the north end. An Olive-sided Flycatcher was amongst them. Seems they are regular everywhere right now.
On the way home, I checked briefly the Mersea Road 21 wetland, but nothing of note was there to my eyes.
I stopped by Angler Line on the way home, noting lots of blackbirds. Surprisingly, no Yellow-headed was mixed in!
Yesterday, I did some Rondeau birding. There was a good selection of birds on south point trail, but little at the north end. Mourning and Canada Warblers were among those seen.
There was still a wet spot that we could not get through, farther along.
A check of Blenheim Lagoons later revealed a decent selection of shorebirds.
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| Stilt, Dowitcher, Yellowlegs |
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| Solitary |
Highlight was a group of four Red-necked Phalaropes. They did not come close.
Later in the day, one of them cloned and then there were five! They were still there today.
We saw two dowitchers, one very close. We tried to make it Long-billed, but it was one of those in-between birds that made us think a bit.
I think perhaps it was a Short-billed based on tertials, but nobody on iNaturalist is brave enough to comment!
Seems that being in the right place at the right time is what finding good birds is all about. (Case in point, the collared-dove today)
Yesterday a Buff-breasted Sandpiper was at Forest, and today there were two! I often plan ahead, and Pelee was destination today. Will one be there tomorrow if I go? Probably not with my luck lately. No pelicans at Pelee today either. LOL.
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