Around the 'Hood

Migration is certainly stuck for the most part.  Locally, Peers  Wetland is the only place that has a number of birds.  I checked it  out this morning through 3 cm of snow!  Basically, the same birds from six days ago were present.

The only thing different was a couple of Least Flycatchers, which might have been there anyway.

Also in the flycatcher department, an Eastern Phoebe was looking for non-existent insects.

There have been lots of swallow (300+) at Peers, and needless to say they were disgusted this morning.

A Wilson's Warbler popped up yesterday and I saw it this morning, but it did not want to be photographed.

Yesterday a Black-throated Blue Warbler showed up in the yard.  It was playing in the snow this morning.

A couple of White-crowned Sparrows have been hanging around.  This one has a little extra white on the head.

I stopped by Reid CA yesterday morning after a three day absence.  There was not much of course, but a couple of Ovenbirds were new.  A couple of Black-throated Green Warblers and a handful of Yellow-rumped Warblers (plus 3 Nashville) were around.

Highlight was a Peregrine Falcon which flew overhead and alighted in a tree briefly.  Certainly an oddity!

I also checked out McKeough CA and walked through a wooded area north of the spillway.  It had been a few years since I was in there!  In my early years of birding it was my go-to place and I recall some good days there during migration.  A couple of Ovenbirds were there as well.

I found a patch of Twinleaf at  one point.

Trilliums are all out and one can look for oddities.  I found this one, which shows green in the petals.  It is actually caused by a virus and can vary in the amount of green present.

The Pacific Loon was still at Sarnia yesterday, attracting many birders. Not often one gets to see a  breeding plumaged Pacific up close!

One of these days we will see some action!

Away to Awenda and Other Places

After leaving Algonquin Park early Wednesday morning, I headed west through Muskoka.  Clouds were building in the west and rain was imminent.
I stopped by Port McNicoll to view the Keewatin.  As it was raining, I decided to take the tour of the ship!  Although I have been on it three times before, one cannot get enough of this national treasure.

Each time, there is something different to see, as new displays are added.  I started out the tour alone with the guide and she mentioned the sister ship Assiniboia.  I had to correct her, as she did not go directly to Philadelphia after being sold by Canadian Pacific.  In fact, the Assiniboia had a brief stint in Sarnia with JAL Steamships.  Being a friend of one of the owners, my father went aboard (and took me along when I was very young).  Here is a photo!

The Keewatin was virtually identical (Both originally burned coal, but Assiniboia was modified to burn oil and the stack was shortened).
Here are some photos.

Above "Flowerpot Lounge"

Quadruple expansion steam engine

After lunch I headed up to Awenda Provincial Park, another one of my favourite places to camp.
The skies were starting to clear, but the wind picked up considerably, as it switched to the north.  What a relief after the scorching heat in Algonquin!
The wind was strong off the lake and no birds were seen (not even a frigatebird!).

Shoreline at Awenda.  Giant's Tomb Island in background

I walked around Kettle's Lake, but few birds were seen.  This is a good birding spot at times.

After setting up the tent, I checked out Robitaille Trail, which is a decent birding trail.  A few warblers were seen including this Black-throated Blue.

For some reason, Black-throated Blues often come in pairs.

I also found an Ovenbird. It was in the shade, so the photo is not too good.

The trail is named after the Robitaille family which owned the property.  One can see the foundation ruins of the house and barn.

After supper, I just milled about the campsite hoping to hear Barred Owls,  Although I have had them on each previous visit, perhaps the strong wind kept them quiet.

After a little bit of birding, I headed out early the next morning and after lunch stopped at West Perth Wetlands, Mitchell.  It is always worth a visit when in the area.  There were quite a few shorebirds, but waterfowl stole the show.  Among several species of ducks, there were over 600 Mallard.
Lots of yellowlegs were present, as well as a single Pectoral Sandpiper and a Wilson's Snipe.  Dowitchers had been reported recently, but I did not detect any.

Over 40 American Golden Plover were present as well.

Despite the heat and humidity and rather few birds, it was nice to get away to familiar places.

Rondeau Butterbutts

Today's Sunrise

I headed down to Rondeau this morning. Winds were very light out of the SSW so it was warm.  It was evident from the start that hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets were all over.  Some trees were loaded with them!  I managed to come up with ten species of warblers in the park, but several were singletons.  Black-throated Blue Warblers were the most popular next to the butter-butts.  It is a common warbler--there were lots up at Algonquin on my recent trip.

Not many sparrows have come in yet it seems.  Only few White-throated here and there that I could see.
Winter Wrens were in good numbers today.
The lake was active on the east side with lots of gulls and cormorants.  A few Horned Grebes were out there.
Some birds present today that we did not see last Sunday included Brown Thrasher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.  Actually I had a few gnatcatchers today.
I spent three hours in the park sorting through the birds.  It started out gloomy, but the sun eventually came out for a few hours, then disappeared again!

At one point I came across this co-operative Bald Eagle.  I got fairly close, but lighting was poor (after all it was the weekend).

I went down to Erieau as well.  At the R/R track trail, Yellow-rumps were streaming through.  Over 250 went through by the time I got to the viewing stand.  Not much else there!
I checked the start of McGeachy and came across a Northern Waterthrush.  Getting late for them, but of course far from record late.

Several other birds were there as well.

American Redstart

Last stop was Blenheim Lagoons.  And, yes it is open again!  No edge left anymore, so shorebirds were on the concrete wondering what was going on.  However, the sprinkler cells are now cleaned out and have mud.  Two were working and some shorebirds were in.  Just both yellowlegs and pectoral that I could see.
I walked all around the lagoons.  A good variety of ducks present including about 15 Ring-necked Ducks which is good for this date.  Lots of Lesser Scaup in as well.
The back pond has opened up so has good habitat for ducks.
On my walk I found a skunking Sora.  Difficult to get a photo!

Rusty Blackbirds were in the shrubbery as well.

Some butterflies today included this Buckeye (rosa form).

An October's Day of Birding

The weather was actually quite beautiful today. Too nice maybe....birds were not too numerous. I birded Rondeau Park and Blenheim Lagoons with Jim Burk and we found the typical things.
Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets. The only different warbler was a male Black-throated Blue on south point trail. It is getting late for that species, but the latest date I have there is November 8. Almost forgot that we did see a Nashville foraging in the dogwoods.
A couple of Blue-headed Vireos were around. They get very yellow-looking this time of year it seems, so they really stand out.
More sparrows and Hermit Thrushes were in. I noticed lots getting off the road when I drove in this morning. I heard a Fox Sparrow, but have not seen any yet. They have not yet appeared in any numbers.
The first Pine Siskins were flying around. We saw one and probably heard another. They will be scarce this year. As well, Purple Finches have shown up.
Notably, there were lots of Eastern Bluebirds flying overhead. We probably saw/heard well over 50, but it was hard to tell which ones were circling around.

The Bay is full of ducks. A lot of Wigeon have come in. I did not spend much time looking them over.

Over at Blenheim Lagoons (yes they have reopened!), many Dunlin were around the edges. Other shorebirds included a Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, one Long-billed Dowitcher and a late Stilt Sandpiper. An immature Black-crowned Night-Heron was along pond one. It may stay for a while.