On A Hunch

 Yesterday (Monday) I headed down to Rondeau Park early to do some birding.  I was there early enough to hear some Whip-poor-wills!  No Chuck-wills-widow of course, but we are certainly overdue for one at Rondeau.  Point Pelee had one though!  Many even got to see that one, let alone hear it sing.

The "chuck" is one bird I recall in my early years of birding, where there was a pair on south point trail that we saw. Very rare for Ontario.

There were not a lot of birds, but it was steady with a good variety.  Ovenbirds were plenty for one thing

While I was there, JB saw 13 American Avocets fly past the east side of the park.  As this species is my favourite shorebird, I was disappointed that I was not in the right place at the right time to see them. That is birding though.  Later, they were reported passing the west side of Erieau, so obviously heading west.

After I was done birding at Rondeau, I decided to head west to Wheatley and Hillman Marsh.  I thought there was a good chance some Avocets might show up there.  And, if the Rondeau ones kept moving, they should show up at Hillman.

After a quick look at Wheatley Harbour, I headed over to Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  Not much was there, but the place is always hit and miss, and things are constantly changing there.  Just as I was leaving the parking lot, a report came in that 13 American Avocets set down on the sandbar along the lake at Hillman Marsh.  It was only a five minute drive, so I headed over to a good position and saw the 13 Avocets!  They eventually took flight, but settled back down.

Obviously, these were the same birds that passed by Rondeau a few hours earlier! My hunch paid off!

Thirty-two Willets were also present.  Willets seems to be quite plentiful anymore, and big flocks can be seen.

The previous day, I did not go far.  Had things to do anyway.  Peers Wetland had a good variety of birds.  There were several Cape May Warblers (my favourite warbler).

The Common Gallinule was still around.  Perhaps it may nest there, so I will be keeping tabs.

A number of years ago, this species did nest there producing four young. Would be nice to see that happen again, and record it for the bird atlas's last season of data-gathering.

Cliff Swallow gathering mud

Later in the morning I went out to Mitchell's Bay.  A good variety of birds was present to sort through, but nothing of note.  That place always has potential for something good, so I keep trying!

old snapper

Today, I went out to Mitchell's Bay again at sunrise.  It was quite calm and pleasant for a change, but not as many birds as I had hoped for.  Hundreds of gulls still around, but I never seem to pick out anything different.

Common Gallinule

Black-crowned Night Heron

White-crowned Sparrows are in good numbers right now.  One of these days, I hope for one with a golden crown!

Later in the morning, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.  It was quite pleasant and I looked at plants more than anything.

one of the yellow violets

one of the purple violets

                             Dwarf Ginseng

Swamp Buttercup

one of the old oaks, possibly Shumard

Strathroy Stuff and Sydenham River Nature Reserve Stuff

 Wednesday was brutally cold and windy, so my activities were limited.  It was a little drizzly in the morning, so I just checked out some spots along the St. Clair River.  I later went for a short, but uncomfortable walk at Reid CA just looking at plants.

Kidneyleaf Buttercup

Largeflower Bellwort

Dwarf Ginseng

Early Blue Cohosh

Red Trillium

Large White Trillium (with a pink hue!)

Today was calm and sunny, but cool!  Looks like the weather has settled down and it will get quite warm this weekend.  Watch for lots of new birds!

I went to Strathroy this morning, first stopping at the lagoons.  A Black-necked Stilt has arrived for the third year in a row!  Its mate should be arriving soon.

There was lots to look at and I spent over an hour and a half there.  Another notable bird was an early Eastern Kingbird.  Probably the earliest I have seen one.  Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photograph.

Other migrant shorebirds included six Greater Yellowlegs, two Lesser Yellowlegs, and a dozen Pectoral Sandpipers.  But, they were distant and a scope was necessary.

I also checked out Strathroy Conservation Area.  This was only the second time I have ever been there.  Not much in the way of birds, but this Eastern Screech-Owl was keeping an eye on things.

The place has an abundant supply of Eastern Skunk Cabbage.

And Marsh Marigold in the wet areas.

Next stop was Clark Wright CA on Walker's Line.  A Pine Warbler has already arrived on territory there.

I then drove some roads, but it seemed too early for Upland Sandpiper yet, or at least I could not find any!  They should be around starting now.

The next stop was Sydenham River Nature Reserve, where a planned outing of Lambton Wildlife was to take place.  I arrived over an hour early, so looked around on my own at the end of Buttonwood Road in Middlesex.

This a premier place to see Virginia Bluebells, an endangered plant.

Most were not in full bloom yet, but it is impressive the amount that is there, especially on the other side of the creek.

Generally, the SRNR is not open to the public, as it is a reserve owned by Ontario Nature (ON).  That is a good thing, as there are many rare and precious things there.  But, we often have special planned outings there, as I have covered in the past.

In the retired field acquired in recent years by ON, Mark Buchanan spotted a small butterfly.  It turned out to be Meadow Fritillary!  It is a bit early, but they can be seen this time of year.  It was another species not on the list.  I had difficult time trying to get a photo.

We also spotted  a Juvenal's Duskywing.

I noticed various insects, and randomly photographed this one.  It is an Eastern Catkin Fly, which is vulnerable in Ontario.  Another one not on the SRNR list, although I am sure they have been there.

Another insect was a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, a common beetle.

There is a beaver dam along the little creek, that has the water backed up.

One could cross the creek here, as there is little water downstream of the dam.  There is some shale exposed here, and within that I found a brachiopod of some sort.

Here are some other views of the area.

Some birds included Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (they nest here), Wilson's Snipe, and a Greater Yellowlegs.  The yellowlegs was a new one for the bird list here.

It was a productive day with some decent finds!