Some Nice Winter Finches and More

 Looks like winter is here to stay this week.  It will be interesting to see what kind of winter we get.  There is talk of a "real" winter!  Maybe there will be ice on the St. Clair River, but not like in the old days when it froze smooth.

Uncle Murray's iceboat at Sombra

This past week, birds were fewer and farther between as one would expect.

Last Sunday, I ventured up to Ipperwash and area to look for winter finches and other birds.  In particular, I wanted to see Bohemian Waxwings, but my usual bad luck prevailed and I did not see any!  Everyone else seems to come across them though.

I stuck it out and finally came across three Pine Grosbeaks feeding on winterberry.  They were in a very difficult position, so as usual I could not get good photos.  These chunky finches are always nice to see!

Certainly my favourite species of finch.

I spent a little time at Ausable River Cut CA where there were no birds to look at, but there were mussels of course.

Three-ridge (most common)

Spike

On the way home, I encountered a female Ring-necked Pheasant.  These creatures are difficult to find anymore.

Tuesday I went to Rondeau, but it was extremely quiet for birds!

Thursday, a Fox Sparrow showed up in the yard.  It is still present at time of this writing.  Would be a nice winter bird, if it decides to stay.

Friday, it was back to Rondeau.  There were more birds, but not many, and nothing of note.  My camera was acting up again anyway!

Today, it was finally calm after some brutal winds this past week.  I went to Hillman Marsh first thing for a walk.  Lots of mud showing!  Hillman Creek has dried up!

Eighteen Sandhill Cranes were near the the Mersea Rd. 2 west bridge.

I then joined an Essex County Field Naturalist outing at Wheatley Harbour.  It was just a nice and different thing to do on a gloomy day.

There was nothing of note, but nice to join in with some people I know.  Lots of gulls, but no Short-tailed!

The old Sombra ferry is still in the harbour at Hike Metals.  Not sure what the deal is, but they have done some work on her in the past year.  It is supposed to serve Bob-lo Island.

Here are some old photos of the Daldean, which was my grandfather's pride and joy.

Morgan Dalgety working on the ferry at Erieau.  Other photo at Sombra during winter

Here is one photo of it being built at Erieau I found in an old family album.

Winter birding season starts on Monday, so we will see what it brings.

Christmas Season Notes

 Here we are and it is Christmas already.  Nothing exciting around here as usual, but I have been out and about.  There has been a lack of good subject matter for this blog lately, so I am struggling with it.

On Friday, I headed down to Wheatley Harbour and Point Pelee.  There was quite a bit of activity with birds around Wheatley, but I could not find anything of note.  A few Double-crested Cormorants were in the harbour.  There are always a few hardy individuals this time of year.

They were in the C-K portion.  It is always dicey as to what county you are in at the harbour.  The channel is not the dividing line.  Here is a photo showing the county lines.

I noticed an interesting ferry at Hike Metals.  I think it is the old Sombra ferry, Daldean, but has been extensively rebuilt.  I am not certain, but I know of no other ferry like it.

I could see no indications of name, but the Daldean went to Bob-Lo Island when it was sold back in 2020.  I did some research, and it was renamed Columbia VII.  However I could not find any photos.  I am fairly certain that is what it is, as the basic structure is the same.  I do not like the colours though!

aboard Lowell D

In the Hike Metals yard, there is a smaller ferry that has been sitting there for years.  It is the old Walpole ferry, Lowell D, name after my uncle.  It also spent some time at Sombra.  These two ferries were once owned by my grandfather who operated the ferry business for a time at Walpole, then Sombra.  

The last time these two ferries were together was a long time ago!  A reunion of sorts!

Photo from many  years ago before wheelhouse was rebuilt

I did not spend much time at Point Pelee and did find much as usual.

Saturday, I spent some time along the St. Clair River.  Once again, it is dead for birds for the most part.

Kaye E. Barker

Skies were relatively clear, but there was a lot of shimmer, as seen in the above photo, since it did not come out sharp.

Sunday, I went to Rondeau.  It was quite cold, but the skies were clear.  Why was it not like that a week earlier?  Probably because no bird count was scheduled!

Only half a moon this day!

Everything was frozen from the cold weather.

Bay Ice

I needed a long walk, so went out marsh trail to Long Pond.

Scene at frozen Long Pond

At Long Pond, two Killdeer were on the ice.  They were calling, wondering what they were still doing at these latitudes.  A bit too distant for  photos though.

Some curious Black-capped Chickadees were along were along the trail foraging for food.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was the only notable, but there have been quite a few this month sticking around.  It was near the cottages just as I was finishing up my 11 km walk!

Monday was quite birdless everywhere!  I spent some time along the St. Clair River, but it was even quieter than the previous visit.  Climate change!!!

Today was a very dismal day weatherwise and birdwise, not what we would like to see for the Christmas season.  I went for a walk at Reid CA this morning to collect my thoughts.

Scene along the Sydenham at the high point

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

Canada Day Adventures 2021

 

On this holiday the best bet was to get some atlassing done north of Wallaceburg.  I decided to get a few more point counts out of the way, starting in my "half" square which runs up the St. Clair River to Sombra.  After four of those, I moved inland to the full square to do some more point counts.  The window is closing fast for point counts, so it was a good opportunity to knock a few off.

First one inland was along Holt Line just east of Baseline Road.  As always, I drive with the windows open hoping to hear something of interest.  I was moving along, but had mis-judged where the next point count was when I heard a Dickcissel!  Turns out the point count location was right there!

There is not a lot of habitat for Dickcissel in my squares, but it was nice to finally find one. I think there were two there.

My next stops were along Smith Line west of Kimball Road, so I went by McKeough then up Duthill Road. Motoring along with the windows down, I once again heard something of interest.  Sedge Wrens!

There is a nice grassy field where they were singing.  It is not often we get nesting Sedge Wrens around here, but once in a while we do.  Often they are associated with an invasion of Dickcissels.

I sat there for some time, but they never showed their faces despite being quite close, so I moved on to my next point count.  Finishing that one , I moved a bit east towards the next stop and once again heard something of interest.  A Grasshopper Sparrow.  They are rare in my district anymore! It was a first one for this year to record for the atlas in my square.  

Nearby was an American Kestrel, which you may not think is noteworthy. But it is!  They are scarce this year, and it was the first one I had seen in any of my squares this spring/summer while atlassing. It was recorded on my last point count of the day.

Next, I moved on to McKeough floodway for a long walk.  I had already confirmed many birds as breeding in previous visits, but this time Yellow-billed Cuckoo made the cut.

I had hoped to find some insects (odes), but there was not much probably because it was still quite early in the day.  A few Banded Hairstreaks were around.

Next stop was Reid CA for another long walk.  I checked out hairstreak central along the way.  Numbers have drastically declined since last weekend, so things are on the down-swing for those now.

Interesting that no Edwards' have showed.  In the past I have seen big numbers at Reid.  Funny how those things go.

Dukes' Skippers should be out anytime, but I did not find any today.

I walked around the big field at the back which can be interesting at times for insects.

A few Appalachian Eyed-browns were flying, but not near as many as last year.

Four-spotted Skimmers are common at Reid.  I find them quite attractive.

I had just finished up the field walk when Pete Chapman and Mary Martin popped into view off the laneway.  We observed various things along the way back, including a Royal River Cruiser.  (It kept cruising though!).

Large Lace Border moth

I lingered a bit at the hairstreak headquarters, and found a Northern Oak.  Very worn, and probably the last one I might see this year.  This photo shows the good side.  The other side was missing about one-third!

I was not done for the day and made a brief stop at Moore WMA.  Did not stay long as it was still wet (tired of wet feet!) and one cannot get into the valley due to high water.

After a quick walk at Wilkesport's Nicholl's Memorial Forest, I made one more quickie attempt at McKeough.  Flag-tailed Spinyleg should be out  anytime, but no dice on that.  I did find one Pronghorn Clubtail, a regular there along the river's edge.

An historical note for today:  Hard to believe, but 70 years ago today, the ferry Daldean arrived at Sombra under much fanfare after being built at Erieau.  How time flies.....

Photo below was taken by my Uncle Bill Abraham as the Daldean passed the family cottage at Port Lambton.  

The ferry now serves Bob-Lo Island.

Recent Observations (Pelee) and Events (Sombra Ferry)

With the very hot and dry weather, little has been happening at my end.  Or, at least one has no ambition!

Today I wanted to go to Point Pelee.  We can now get in the park at 7 a.m., so one can beat the heat and tourists!  I walked to the Tip and watched for over an hour.  I had the place to myself, so that was nice.  A few gulls were around, including the Lesser Black-backed that has been around for some time.

There were no Bonaparte's Gulls for some time, but all of a sudden, a bunch came in.  Possibly they were scared off Seacliffe Beach by tourists.

Several Black and Common Terns were loafing about.

Pelicans have thinned out, but at one point I am sure I had one in the distance.

I walked up west beach trail, then cut over to Sparrow Field in hopes of seeing the resident Yellow-breasted Chat.  It was still there and made a lot of noise in the underbrush for the longest time.  It popped up briefly, so I got a quick look, then it disappeared again.  So much for a photo!  Included here is a photo from last year (2019) at northwest beach in the park.

It was a FOY, as there were only a couple of at Rondeau this spring I never caught up with.  The one at McGeachy Pond never co-operated for me despite my efforts!

I continued up west beach trail, but there was little to see.  I am sure the hot and dry conditions kept leps and odes at bay.  I saw only a few common species.

Common Whitetail (f)

Black Saddlebags

Blue Dasher (f)

I checked Cactus Field trail as well before leaving.

Out of the park, I passed by Mersea Road 21 fields.  Seven Short-billed Dowitcher were in the wet area.

I headed east and ended up at Blenheim lagoons.  We are indeed well into fall migration, and lots of shorebirds are showing up.  There were over 30 Lesser Yellowlegs at Blenheim, among other species.

Halloween Pennant

The summering Ring-necked Duck and Canvasback were still around.

Blenheim bonie

Now I must inject an historical note here!
It was the end of an era at Sombra this week, as the ferries were sold.  The Daldean left about 05:15 Tuesday morning, much too early for me to get up!
Some photos were taken just downriver by M.B., and I thank him very much for these.

My cousin Rusty was at the helm to take the Daldean to its new home at Bob-Lo Island.

This ferry means much to me as it was built new at Erieau in 1950-51 on order from my grandfather, Morgan Dalgety, and his business partner at the time.
There was much fanfare on its maiden voyage and arrival at Sombra July 1, 1951.  There was a big celebration for the 'big new ferry' after its arrival.

The photo below was taken at Port Lambton July 1, 1951 by my uncle Bill Abraham passing near the old Ohio Cottage Hotel. The Mann summer cottage was nearby.

Three long and two short!