Weekend Birding at Rondeau

This past weekend I went to Rondeau on both days.  There was nothing too noteworthy.  We keep trying though.  Lake watches often look promising, but never produce anything of note.  One of these days, the dam has to burst!

A good SW wind was blowing on Saturday morning, and we did the usual dog beach lake watch first thing.  There was quite a red sky as the sun was coming up.  However, it was cloudy all day, par for a weekend.

Just after we set up, an interesting gull came by close.  It turned out to be a battered and bleached-out second cycle Little Gull!  Although there were lots of ducks and loons, that was the highlight.  Some Dunlin were moving, but no Purple Sandpiper with them.
A tardy and lonely Ruddy Turnstone was still on the beach from the previous day.

I checked out south point trail later.  Besides a number of Yellow-rumped Warblers, the only other warbler was a Nashville.

I also checked the north end of Harrison Trail and the campground.  With the campground now closed to campers, we have free reign!  The north end is always interesting this time of year.  You never know what may turn up.  Good warblers have turned up later in the fall.

Afterwards, I checked Ridgetown Lagoons.  Always excellent for waterfowl.

A single Greater White-fronted Goose was the only notable.

There were more Bonaparte's Gulls here than at Rondeau.  There have not been many gulls at Rondeau this fall.

Sunday I went back to Rondeau for lack of better places to try locally.  I changed it up a bit by starting at the campground.  There were lots of birds, but nothing of note.

Many White-throated Sparrows are still around.  We need one with a black throat!

South point had lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets among other things. 

Lots of blackbirds were moving along the east side of the park.  Rusty has been quite plentiful lately.

Eastern Bluebirds were on the move this day, as I had close to 80.  We still need Mountain Bluebird for Rondeau....terribly long overdue!  Perhaps this will be the year (or winter).
Also in the thrush department, American Robins were all over the place.  Too bad something like a Varied Thrush was not seen with them. (It happened once for me!).

I stopped by Keith McLean Conservation Lands on the way home.  There is still enough water in the field for shorebirds.  A single Lesser Yellowlegs has been hanging around among it Greater counterparts.

Dunlin were numerous, as they often are this time of year.

Some crazy coots were around too.

Looks like we some cooler weather on the way, which may help in concentrating birds.