Warbler in Town(send's)

 I spent all three of my days off at Rondeau Park this balmy weekend.  Friday and Saturday started with the usual lakewatch at dog beach, then roaming around the park and elsewhere.

Saturday was the best day for a lakewatch, with lots of action.  There was a good gull and loon movement.  Still no Pacific Loon though!  Best flyby was a Red-necked Grebe.

Friday morning I stopped at Keith McLean C. L.  A couple of Nelson's Sparrows were still kicking around, and some shorebirds.

After the lakewatch on Saturday, I stood vigil at Ric and Anne McArthur's yard, hoping to see the famous Townsend's Warbler.  After three hours, I moved on.  Of course, within the hour, the creature showed up!

Some other warblers included Bay-breasted, Orange-crowned, Magnolia, Palm and Cape May.

I went to see the Cattle Egret that Donald Pye found(on Friday) at Ridgetown lagoons.  It was moving around quite a bit in typical fashion, among the horses, but I did get a distant photo in the adjacent pasture where it hangs out.

Last stop was Blenheim lagoons.  Not much in the way of shorebirds, but it was a good day to see Turkey Vultures migrating.  Hundreds were moving west, but not much else with them.

Sunday was almost summer-like!  I skipped the traditional lakewatch and went to south point trail for a walk.  Hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets were flitting about.  Not much variety in warblers, but I did have Blackpoll, Black-throated Blue and Palm.

I journeyed up to to McArthur's to wait for the Townsend's Warbler, as I knew it was still around.  Many dedicated birders were standing by.  After more than an hour waiting, the celebrity bird appeared at the water feature much to the delight of those birders present.  

This bird is unique, as it has a crossed bill.  Perhaps it is a cone specialist!  Once in a while, we see birds with the deformity of a crossed bill.  The above photo partially shows the bill.

Once again, many thanks goes to Ric and Anne McArthur for graciously allowing birders to invade their yard to see a rarity.

Townsend's Warblers seem to have some affinity with Rondeau Provincial Park!  With the present bird, this constitutes the seventh record, if I am correct.  The one a few years ago that frequented Bate's just outside the park, made a brief appearance in the campground.  I happened to be the one to find it that day!

The latest Townsend's Warbler is my fourth check for the park, the first being in May 1994 on Spicebush trail.

We still have lots of autumn to go and I am sure more rarities will appear.  Perhaps a Black-throated Gray Warbler?  Would not be new for the park, as I saw the previous two.  To boot, I was co-finder of the first one, and finder of the second one!

Hermit Warbler would be better......

With the balmy weather this weekend, butterflies were out.  I saw Eastern Comma, Question Mark, Red Admiral, Mourning Cloak, both sulphurs, and of course Cabbage White.

Question Mark

Eastern Comma