Sarnia Stuff, Blackbird Bonus and Rondeau Ramble

 Friday, I decided to make a run up along the St. Clair River to Sarnia.  With the recent cold weather, the river has filled with ice!  There was not much to see until one got to Guthrie Park, Corunna.  Even the Sombra dock area had frozen over, when usually there is a bit of open water there on the downstream side of the causeway.

A few ducks were here and there.

Most ships are laid up now, but the St. Marys Challenger barge was upbound.  This is the oldest operating hull on the Lakes, dating back to 1906.

Earlier this week, the female Harlequin Duck appeared at the Sombra dock.  Before work on Tuesday I took a quick look just for fun.  Too dark that early!  The Harlequin was still asleep.

Apparently, the old girl is back up at Sarnia today!

Lots of Bald Eagles are along the river.  When their inland locations get frozen over, we see more along the St. Clair River.

On a historical note, the rail ferry Sainte Marie was launched at Toledo on this day (January 22) back in 1913.  Here is a photo taken at Port Lambton on its maiden voyage, by local grocer Mabel Smith.

I stopped by the west end of Suncor Nature Way where ducks are packed in like sardines.  Nothing notable.

A couple of White-crowned Sparrows popped up at one point.

I walked the old Blackwell Landfill later on, but it was quiet.

Crow chasing a Rough-legged Hawk

Last stop on Friday was at Moore WMA.  Along the road I noticed some blackbirds.  Well.... turned out to be hundreds!  Kind of odd for the location at this time of year.  Maybe they ventured up from Walpole Island!

With this kind of flock from my experience, one should search for a Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Did not take long before I spotted one!  It was a bit far back though, but stood out like a sore thumb.

The flock was quite scattered through the woods and kept moving, so I could not get a good look for something like a Rusty or even a Brewer's.  There were around 600 Common Grackles, some Red-winged, Brown-headed Cowbirds and starlings.

The Yellow-headed sighting made up for a somewhat disappointing day otherwise.

Today, I felt the urge to go to Rondeau.  It was quite windy (been too much of that lately) and the lake was full of ice, so no lake watch.  Some birds were here and there.

Hermit Thrush

Red-bellied Woodpecker

White-throated Sparrow

Steve and I checked the campground and found some of the usual creatures.  The main Yellow-rumped Warbler flock roams widely and we found it along Lakeshore Road near Lake Access #2.  Some of them were checking spider webs on a cottage.

After Steve left, I checked the maintenance area and elsewhere.  Among more White-throated Sparrows was a Brown Thrasher!  Although I saw it well, it did not co-operate for a photo.

LOL

Earlier in the week, Steve had one out marsh trail, so perhaps that one bailed the remote location and ended up here!

Heading home, I checked checked Stefina Line.  No Stefina Snipe today, and the mockingbird was MIA.