Update on Migration Locally

We have been seeing lots of new birds lately.  April 28 looked promising but never really materialized, at least in my area.  I ventured down Lake Erie way but did not come across much.  A nice grebe (LOL) was in the Erieau channel, but that was the only highlight.  It had been around for some time anyway.

April 29 turned out to be an excellent day everywhere.  It was first good "fallout" day.  Perhaps the rain knocked things down, as it was raining to start off.  A break in the rain allowed me to go into Reid CA, but that walk got cut short as the rain returned!  I saw a couple of new warblers for the year (Black-and-White and Palm) before I vacated the place.

Later in the afternoon, things cleared a bit and I checked Peers Wetland which is only five minutes from home.  It was hopping with warblers!  Only about seven species, but multiples of many of them.  I added Yellow and Nashville to the "year" list.  A couple of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were there to add as well.  Also, I got a good look at a Sora as it scurried into the cattails.

Lots of Palm Warblers lately

A number of things were in the yard as well including a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Gray Catbird among other birds.

Today was a different story.  Most of the birds had moved on!  It was the same all over as reports came in from Erieau to Sarnia.
I did go to Reid CA to do my usual route.  I added Wood Thrushes and a Swainson's Thrush to the year list.  A Red-headed Woodpecker was nice to see there.  Very few warblers though.
A couple of Solitary Sandpipers were in a puddle nearby.

More plants caught the eye today.  I am amazed about the amount of ginger that is there, as it is coming up everywhere.
Jack-in-the Pulpits are popping up.

I came across Twinleaf for the first time.

It is an elegant plant that grows in rich forests, sometimes uncommon.

One can find several species of violets also.

Downy Yellow Violet

Yellow Trout Lilly is very abundant, but one can find the white one on occasion.

Then there are feral or abandoned cats, which does not do the bird population any good.

Here kitty kitty

Friday not so good, but Saturday looks decent.  Difficult to say where to go as birding spots are limited!  And, with rare sightings supressed or kept secret, it is everyone to fend for themselves and find something!  May is now upon us....have fun out there responsibly.