Recent Rondeau Ramblings as NE Winds Prevail

 Migration has been a virtual trickle the last few days with the prevailing east winds.   East winds have been the usual winds this time of year the last number of years for whatever reason.  This year, has been the worst!  However, we persevere.

Thursday evening, I decided to go and see the White-faced Ibis at Erieau in case it was not seen again.  However, it was still there today! The bird was originally spotted by Jeff Tunstall.

It is only the second one I have seen in the Rondeau birding area.

Friday I was at Rondeau bright and early, or at least early since it was a dull day.  I started with a watch at the entrance to the marsh trail where birds stream out first thing, especially on NE winds.  As usual, hundreds of blackbirds, swallows and a few warblers were streaming out.  Nothing special.

Before leaving, Steve and I walked a bit down marsh trail.  We did not get far when some funky shorebirds, six of them, quickly flew by.  Steve was sure they were American Avocets, but turned out they were cousins, namely Black-necked Stilts!  There was no time for a photo.

Craig Anderson was nearby on Water Street, and ran out just in time to see the tail end of them in the distance.  We figured they must have headed for Keith McLean C. L., so Craig rushed out to see them in the field to confirm ID.  However, they quickly took off never to be seen again!

Likely the best species of Rondeau Park so far, at least for us!

We checked other areas later, but it was dead!

We came back to the marsh trail and headed out but were stopped when we spotted the Henslow's Sparrow that was found the previous day by Kevin Gevaert.  We saw it well, but it did not co-operate for photos during our watch.  We were going to head farther out, but as usual, rain was on way to coincide with the weekend.

This is the second Henslow's found in the park this year!  We usually go years without one.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler was hopping on the ground at our feet, in desparate search for food.

Today was sunny and clear much to our amazement (it was Saturday!).  Rain was forecast a couple of days ago, but then, long-range forecasts are usually 100% wrong.

We again stood at marsh trail at sun-up.  Thousands of swallows were streaming north, but no warblers.

With lack of any other ideas, Steve and I decided to walk down the west side of south point trail.  Very few birds, but some were at the end.  A White-eyed Vireo was showing nicely in the morning sun.

The celebrity of the park was again showing off on marsh trail, so we went down to see the Henslow's Sparrow.  It was virtually at our feet crawling like a mouse through the vegetation, as they typically do.

Not much was seen the rest of our stay in the park, except for a couple of Little Gulls on the Bay.  Those were seen in a feeding frenzy from the marsh trail dock.

East winds are forecast the entire week strangely enough, so we will see what happens.  There is certainly a big back-log of birds somewhere down south, many of which should already be here by this date.

Sparrow Spotting

 On Saturday, I ventured up to Forest Lagoons to check the birding scene.  The previous day, James Holdsworth found a LeConte's Sparrow, so that was a good reason for me to be there. I had not been to Forest in some weeks!

I arrived soon after first light, but a Sarnia birder had already gotten ahead of me.  I soon joined Deryl Nethercott and we carefully scrutinized the sparrows.  There were lots of them!

After about an hour, I spotted an orange-coloured sparrow and thought it was a Nelson's.  Could have been, but I never had a thorough look.  A few minutes later, Deryl spotted a bright LeConte's Sparrow!  We followed it a bit, but then lost it.  Meanwhile  I put out an alert for other birders. Soon, many arrived in search of the furtive sparrow.

We found it again and followed it around.  My photo is highly cropped.

It was obvious there were at least two LeConte's, as the one I did not photograph was not as colourful.  A furtive as they are, there could be more out there.  Who knows if we saw the same one James did the previous day.  They are out there, you just have to dig them out!

The Ammospiza sparrows are my favourite.  I have seen quite a few LeConte's over the years, both in spring and fall.  They are attractive indeed.

spring bird at Rondeau

The similar Nelson's shows more gray.  As you know, Keith McLean C. L. is the premier place to find them in recent years.  Multiple birds there are fairly easy to find in the fall.

We also have the Henslow's Sparrow.  I have seen a number of them in spring migration at either Point Pelee or Rondeau.  True to their nature, they are difficult to find, as they can crawl through grasses like a mouse.

They have almost been wiped off the map in Ontario, especially as breeding birds.  However, their secretive nature may be a factor.  This past summer, a couple were found in Chatham-Kent, perhaps due to the extra effort during the first year of the Breeding Bird Atlas Project.  One pair was actually successful in nesting!  I never got a photo of any of the ones in C-K, but did see the birds at both sites.

The Grasshopper Sparrow is another declining species, obviously due to habitat loss.  There are still quite a few in Lambton and Middlesex, but try and find one in Chatham-Kent in the breeding season!  We always see them in spring migration at Rondeau to some degree, but there is no nesting habitat nearby.

Lastly, Baird's Sparrow, a severely declining species, has been recorded only once in Ontario.  That is a story in itself, as Steve Charbonneau and myself happened to be in the right place at the right time to get in on this sighting.  (See the post on our epic trip to Rainy River!) Rainy River Trip .  

It was early July 1996 in Rainy River district and our trip coincided with John Lamey being there.  John found the bird on July 2, the day after our arrival.  We saw it for four days before we left.  I never had a proper camera at the time, so I drew a quick sketch for my OBRC report.  I remember on one of the days seeing it perched on a wire fence.

Pelee Piper and Serengeti Sparrow

Tip Chickadee

I was due for a trip to Point Pelee today.  Landbirds were scarce if you discount blackbirds, but some quality birds were present.
We started at the Tip at usual.  Mostly blackbirds reversing, but a few Eastern Meadowlarks were seen as well.

While we were at the Tip first thing, one of the local birders (Jack Fenton) came along and said that he had a Piping Plover near Sparrow Field.  Huh?  That one was not on my radar for today!


We all trudged up the beach and there it was.

It seemed tired and did not move much.  Not record early by any means, but one of the earliest I have heard about.  It did have bands on the legs, but they were difficult to see at times.  It was found out that this bird hatched at Tawas Michigan in 2014 and of course was banded.

After viewing that shorebird for some time, I went along with Steve Pike and Dan Greenham over to the serengeti tree area.  We found the Henslow's Sparrow right away!  It was hidden most of the time as it crawled through the grasses and brush piles, but did come out enough for many to see.  I was able to get very good photos though.

We walked back towards the VC and while passing Sparrow Field, a Pine Warbler was singing away.
I cut into Woodland trail which was extremely quiet for birds, but I did pick out the continuing Louisiana Waterthrush near boardwalk A.  It never made a sound!

That was the only warbler on the trail except on Yellow-rumped back of the VC.  I only found about a dozen Yellow-rumped today.

A few of us sat at the VC parking lot for a raptor watch, then I went off and did some walking.  Saw very little!
I came back to the VC and sat for a while at the parking lot.  Adam Pinch was there and he and Bill Smith had earlier seen and heard a Fish Crow towards the Tip.

Quite a few birders were in the park today and there was an OFO field trip as well.  They got to see the plover and sparrow, so that was worthwhile for some.

It was a warm day and several Red Admirals were fluttering around, not to mention a few Eastern Commas.

Quite a bit of erosion on the west side north of the Tip area.

It was nice meeting up with several friends today before the May madness begins!

Not a Tricolored Heron

Good Friday Birding

Things are picking up, albeit slowly.  I headed down to Rondeau first thing this morning to check out what birds might be around.  I met up with Steve and we did quite a bit of walking.  Unfortunately very few birds had come in, but at least it was nice to be out to try for some.
Warblers were difficult to come by as we came up with only about a dozen Yellow-rumped and three Pine.

The sparrows that came in last week had departed, not to be replaced by a new batch.  A few more White-throated were in and dribs and drabs of other species.

By lunch time I had covered the park quite well, so there was no way that I was going home yet.  I headed over to Point Pelee to try my luck at recently-reported species.  The sun was out by now and we never got a drop of rain that was forecast all week for last night and this morning.  Par for the course again!

First stop was De Laurier.  I totally lucked out and found the Henslow's Sparrow.  I did not know it was still around and one could very easily walk by it.  Typical to its nature, it was working beneath the grasses.  I caught sight of some movement, then saw nothing at first.  I was just about to walk away thinking it was a mouse, but then I saw it.

It was there all the time but seldom seen as it crawled beneath the grass.  At one point it finally got up for a fine view as I got Dwayne Murphy and Sarah Renaud on the bird.

I next walked Tilden's Woods hoping for a Louisiana Waterthrush, but there was little to see.  Woodland Trail was the next bet and by the time I got most of the way around, I found a waterthrush beside the slough.  It came out for some pretty good photos.

I saw four species of butterflies today, including some Spring Azures on Woodland Trail.

Red Admirals were numerous.  I saw my first one last Sunday at Pelee.

The next couple of days should be good for birds coming in!

Good Birds but No Camera

I headed down to Point Pelee today for something different.  I left the camera at home (big mistake!) since it called for rain all day.  It did rain in the morning for a while, but the sun came out for a couple of times and it did not rain anymore.  Temperature was far warmer than anticipated.  Case in point, the weather forecast was wrong again!  So, no new photos.

It was nice to meet many friends today.

Started at the Tip.  One Willet was at the Tip with some gulls.  Not many birds, but I did see a few warblers.
I walked back the road, then headed into Woodland Trail, then Tilden's Woods.  A Red-eyed Vireo was new for the year, as well as a White-eyed Vireo there.  Just before finishing Woodland, I spotted a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  For the most part, cuckoos do not show up until the third week of May or so, but there is always the odd very early one.  A male Hooded Warbler was a nice find in Tilden's.
 
I had heard that a Worm-eating Warbler was at Dunes, so I headed up there and immediately saw it.  It was a very co-operative bird and was singing quite a bit. By this time the sun was out, but no camera. I have seen many of this species, and even have it on my yard list here in Wallaceburg, so no big deal.  (I did get a poor photo of my yard bird, but it was moving around the yard very quickly so I could not focus on it.  A very decent bird for Wallaceburg!)

 

Worm-eating Warbler in Wallaceburg May 9, 1999

I left there too early, as the others spotted a Prairie Warbler (male) just as I was leaving.  I went back about an hour later, and found it.  Even heard it sing once.  They used to nest at Pinery P. P. where I have seen them before.  Usually there are one or two at Rondeau in migration as well.

I checked out De Laurier area, but did not see much.  A Dark-eyed Junco was at the house all by itself.

Not done yet.  I walked through the centre down to the tram loop at the Tip area, then back up West Beach Trail.  I was more interested in butterflies.  There were several Red Admirals (all over the park!), several American Lady, Question Marks, etc.  Later, I did see my first Spicebush Swallowtail of the year.

About 200m south of the West beach parking lot, the find of the day popped up.  It was a Henslow's Sparrow!  It perched on a branch for more than five minutes, which was unusual, giving a stellar view.  This is where the big mistake comes in.  NO CAMERA!   Oh well.
This is the third time since 2007 that I have found a Henslow's Sparrow at Point Pelee.  It seems to be the only reliable spot to find this species.  I have seen them years ago at Rondeau, but not one has been found in recent years.
I alerted others when I got back to the V. C. and we went down to look for it.  It was not refound to my knowedge, but they can be very secretive, crawling around like a mouse in the undergrowth.

New birds for the year included, Willet, Ruby-throated Hummingbird (west beach trail), White-eyed Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Cliff Swallow (long time coming!), Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Prairie Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Canada Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow.

Almost forgot to mention I saw a large Fox Snake at De Laurier.

Awesome Weather and Birding

The weather has been great the last two days. Yesterday I got down to Rondeau later in the morning in hopes of finding some migrants. The place was unbelievably dead for birds! The only noteworthy bird was a male Baltimore Oriole at the corner of south point trail and Rondeau Rd. That was new for the year and probably the earliest I have ever seen the species.

Pileated Woodpecker at Rondeau

Contrastingly, there was a major fallout at Point Pelee. There was a rain shower just before dawn that made the difference. Apparently there were upwards of 15 species of warblers-- hundreds of them along with vireos, thrushes, orioles, and sparrows.

One of many Black-throated Green Warblers at Point Pelee

With that in mind, I headed down to Pelee this morning (Saturday). I planned on going there anyway, so it was a good choice. It turned out to be an awesome day!

I spent the day birding with Steve Pike. We got the 8 a.m. tram to the Tip. A number of warblers and vireos were near the Tip. Most interesting was a Brewster's Warbler. There was also White-eyed, Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos. While we were separated, Steve saw a Grasshopper Sparrow near the solar panel area.

We then tried for Henslow's Sparrow part way up West Beach Trail, but to no avail. We spent a lot of time around Sparrow Field and loop woods finding lots of things. At one point we looked out onto East Beach and saw two Willets! At the north end of Sparrow Field were some Pine Siskins.

Down the old Concession Road, we spotted a Short-tailed Weasel running around. It caught a mouse and went into its burrow. It later came out and started running around again. Steve got some fabulous photos of it! I only got a couple of shots.

Short-tailed Weasel!

We walked back the road, and did the Woodland Trail.
Next stop was De Laurier and down Anders and back the road. There were lots of birds along the way. At De Laurier I spotted a male Indigo Bunting.
Along the road we heard what was likely a Worm-eating Warbler, but did not see it. Across from the entrance of Black Willow, we saw a Henslow's Sparrow. That was a species we hoped to see today!

The Elusive Henslow's Sparrow

On the way home, I peaked in at Hillman Marsh and saw at least a dozen American Avocets. They had been reported earlier in the day.

New species for the year today included: American Avocet (~12), Willet (2), Spotted Sandpiper, Least Flycatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher (2), White-eyed Vireo (2), Blue-headed Vireo (several), Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veery, Swainson's Thrush (many), Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Brewster's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler (many), Black-throated Green Warbler (many), Pine Warbler (many), Palm Warbler (many), Black-and-white Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Henslow's Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Orchard Oriole.

Butterflies seen today included several American Painted Lady, Eastern Comma, Spring Azure, Cabbage White.

Mammals included: Short-tailed Weasel, Raccoon (road kill), Virginia Opposum (road kill), Black Squirrel, Cotton-tail Rabbit, House Cat (!).

Bloodroot