Wallaceburg CBC December 28

Saturday December 28 was the 34th Wallaceburg Christmas Bird Count.  This count has been ongoing since 1986, and I have done all of them except that first one.  (I must be getting old!).  I have been in the same area as well, except the one where Steve and I did Walpole Island.  Thanks goes to Steve Charbonneau for compiling the results all of those years (except the first one where I recall Allen Woodliffe at the desk)!

We lucked out with near perfect weather!  Despite the "quiet" year for numbers of birds, the count made out remarkably well for variety of species.  Some numbers were down (ducks), but some were highs and there were some good finds, plus one incredible find.

I did my usual area around Wallaceburg from Langstaff Line south to the Sydenham River and east to Tupperville.  Indeed, birds were low in numbers in my area with only 30 species this year.
I started at Roberta Stewart Wetland, which I find is a good starting point at first light.  Things can be moving along the Snye.

Stewart Wetland at first light

The recent very mild weather has removed most ice, and ducks were in the wetland, including four Gadwall (not too unusual for this count).
Just out of reach and hearing range across the Snye, another counter found Common Yellowthroats (2 total) and a few Marsh Wrens.  I am surprised I did not hear any given the fact it was dead calm on this morning.

Glass-calm Chenal Ecarte late afternoon

I then moved east to Peers Wetland which seems to be more active early in the day.  A few birds were there, but no highlights.  A Winter Wren was along Otter Creek.  At one point I thought I had a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, but then I noticed a starling there.  lol.

Like many places, there is much beaver activity here recently.

After finishing at Peers, I headed back west along Stewart Line (checked off the Snowy Owl), then went to my old workplace at the end of Payne Road.  Although somewhat quiet, my best bird of the day was a Yellow-rumped Warbler.  An unexpected surprise!  I watched it for some time, then it made a beeline for Walpole Island.

Pond at the 'Boat Doctor'

I recall back in the day, the pond here full of ducks in the spring.  It was incredible the variety of species that stopped in.

Afterwards, I checked the rest of my area with no real highlights.

Around mid afternoon, I got word that the nine Sandhill Cranes had not yet been tallied at Port Lambton.  Although slightly out of my area, I had to go and check them off!  Indeed they were there.

Michigan Imports

Total species for the count stands at 83.  Some highlights were Yellow-headed Blackbird and on Walpole Island and the aforementioned Common Yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens (6, a new high).  Better yet were two Eastern Phoebes, new for the count.  Two Chipping Sparrows were also tallied on the island (tied high).
Nine Snowy Owls were tallied, so some may have moved on.
A miss was Ring-necked Duck, but two males were in the Sombra area today!
Cummulative total for the count history is 144 species, a tally to be proud.

The real "knock-your-socks-off" find was a Common Gallinule at the Sombra sewage treatment ponds, originally spotted by none other than area resident Mike Bouman.  A couple of other counters got to see the bird.
Common Gallinules generally leave long before winter sets in, so there are very few "winter" records in Ontario.  Beats my Northern Rough-winged Swallow from last year by a little bit!

photo from the past

We looked this morning for the above marsh bird, but weather was horribly miserable and we could not find it first thing.  No doubt it is still lurking around.  Thanks goodness the weather waited until today to....oh yes....it is still the weekend.

Needless to say, a thanks goes to Wendy and Becki Cornelis for preparing a hearty meal, and Georgette Cornelis for once again providing her residence for the gathering at the end of the day.

One more CBC to go in our area around St. Clair NWA, this coming Wednesday.