As 2023 Ends

 Here we are at the end of yet another year.  It was a decent year with lots of good sightings and occurrences.  It was not the best year for butterflies and dragonflies, as I missed many things because they were absent or in low numbers.  

It was disappointing for dragonflies, especially at Wardsville Woods.  But, I lucked out on a couple occasions getting specialties like Arrowhead Spiketail and Twin-spotted Spiketail on one day.  Another day, I managed a single Riverine Clubtail!  I was lucky to get the photo of the Riverine.  There was hardly anything there that day, and I saw this fly in.  I took a very quick photo, then it was gone!

Riverine Clubtail

Arrowhead Spiketail

Twin-spotted Sandpiper

There were some other good odonate sightings such at the Westfall's Slender Bluets at Port Lambton's Brander Park.

Birds this year were pretty good, but not as spectacular as the previous year.  However, for someone who does not "chase" birds, except locally, I did quite well.  I almost made 300 in Ontario, but there were some sore misses.  I missed Summer Tanager, even though it was an exceptional spring especially at Rondeau.  I went to Rondeau quite a bit, but the days I did not go was when they were seen!

This fall, Purple Sandpiper was a sore miss.  There were multiples at Erieau/Rondeau, but I missed some by less than thirty minutes!  Today was a good example of another miss.

And, do not get me started with the Roseate Spoonbill at Springwater CA!

A couple of lifers were a nice addition.  This fall, the Western Flycatcher (if accepted) at Rondeau was certainly not on the radar.  It will potentially be a first for Ontario.

The recent Limpkin at Wheatley Provincial Park was another unexpected bird.

The male King Eider and Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler at Rondeau Park were nice finds.

A Harlequin Duck was seen at Erieau yesterday, and I knew it would likely be present again today.  I went to Mitchell's Bay first thing for a walk along the south shore trail.  While I was there, a Purple Sandpiper was seen at the Erieau pier, then a bit later the Harlequin Duck was found again.  On to Erieau!

Upon arrival the Harlequin Duck was not a problem as I could see it from my car as I parked.

The Purple Sandpiper was at the end of the pier earlier, but obviously disappeared before I arrived.  In any case, the Harlequin was a nice way to end the birding year.

A bonus appeared in the form of a Snowy Owl.  They have been extremely scarce this fall in southern Ontario and I was under the impression that I would not see one.  The Erieau bird was a bit distant, but showed well.

I have seen various Purple Sandpipers at Erieau before.  Here is one I found on the pier about 15 years ago.

Tomorrow, New Year's Day, is the annual St. Clair NWA Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  I went to Mitchell's Bay this morning in anticipation of seeing what was around.  I was going to check various spots before word came in of the Erieau birds.

Great Blue Heron at Mitchell's Bay

One of the trusty Eastern Screech-owls was keeping watch.

Yesterday was the Skunk's Misery CBC under cloudy skies, but at least no precipitation!  Looked like there was some sun well to the south, but that never materialized in our area.

I worked the Thamesville area, but I found it one of the quietest counts I have done there.  Very disappointing.

The Thames River was running unusually high.

View from under Victoria Road Bridge

However, the count overall did quite well, breaking 60 species, though I did not get the final results yet.  I heard that Ring-necked Duck (multiples) and Common Raven were new for the count.  Common Raven is not a surprise, as they are getting numerous in Lambton.

The count covers parts of four counties which is unique.  The area was well-covered by many veteran birders.

As a new year dawns, tomorrow's CBC will kick things off.  There should be lots of waterfowl, as there is absolutely no ice.  Some lingering birds will be lurking around in this mild weather.

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In the history department, the Algoma Transport was on her final voyage from Superior Wisconsin yesterday.  She will be going to Port Colborne for the scrap lineup after discharging her last cargo at Hamilton.  These more "modern" lakers are already going to scrap!

Algoma Transport at Port Lambton 18 April 2023

36th Wallaceburg CBC December 27

 Yesterday, December 27, was the 36th Wallaceburg Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  Weather was essentially crappy even though it was a weekday!  This, no doubt had some bearing on numbers.

The tally at time of this writing was 83 species, a bit above average and certainly respectable considering the weather and conditions so far this year.

I did my usual area around Wallaceburg, including the town, and came up with 41 species.  No real highlights, but a Snowy Owl was nice to see.

Some Sandhill Cranes (48) showed up on cue, but they slept in a bit this day.  Timing was right, as I saw them fly in to their usual spot between Langstaff and Stewart Lines while I was on private property.

I did have two small groups of Common Redpolls, but they were on the move as usual.

I had five Pied-billed Grebes in my area, all along the Chenal Ecarte, as usual.  With the dismal weather, photography was a challenge.

Gadwall numbered 13 in Roberta Stewart Wetland, which were there the entire day.

We had quite a bit of snow early morning which made things easier to see at least.

Some highlights of the count included Golden Eagle (Walpole Island), Turkey Vulture (7), and a Double-crested Cormorant.  Also, a Yellow-headed Blackbird was found on the south end of Walpole Island, not too unexpected there!

Too bad the count was not the previous day, as weather was gorgeous.  I went up to Sarnia to take a gander at the female King Eider hanging out at the mouth of Lake Huron.  It was too distant for a proper photo though!

I think this is the eighth King Eider I have seen at Sarnia over the years.  One was a young male, but I have yet to see an adult male King Eider anywhere!

Lots of gulls are around Corunna, but we have yet to find something of note.  We need a real winter with cold weather and ice!

My feeders have the usual birds, including a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches and White-breasted Nuthatch.  These taken at a distance through a window.  Been many years since I have had something decent.

Next CBC in the area is St. Clair NWA on Saturday when the weather will be crappy....again! lol.

Along Lake St. Clair

 This morning I stayed fairly close to home and visited Mitchell's Bay and St. Clair NWA.  The weather was finally getting better but the sun struggled to come out first thing in the morning.  Eventually it finally did!  I had almost forgotten what a sunny day was....

I walked the "south shore nature trail" off Angler Line.  Most of the birds were waterfowl, and all the geese were in the adjacent field.  

There were several hundred Canada Geese and one would think something different would be in the group.  Sure enough, I spotted a single Greater White-fronted Goose.

There was a good raft of ducks beyond the edge of the ice on the Bay.  A good scope was needed, but I was too lazy to bring one along.  I could tell that most were Redhead though.

After this walk, I ventured on to the wildlife area.  Lots of  Tundra Swans and Canada Geese were on the move and very few within the area.  I could tell most of the geese were in the field off Balmoral Line.

As many swans were going over  throughout my visit, I was not paying too much attention.  However, at one point I heard a different sound--that of a Trumpeter Swan!  I looked up and within a group of swans there was a larger one. It all happened very quickly, so there was no time for a good photo as it flew off.

I highly doubt this was the same bird I saw on January 1.  

I walked the entire cross dike and back.  On the way back, all the geese got up on the adjacent field for some unknown reason.  It was an impressive sight.  

All I could pick out were the continuing eight Snow Geese.

Six of 'em

Looking to the north, I could see hundreds of ducks in the air, likely most were Mallards.

Within the wildlife area, there were around 30 Northern Shovelers.

I had no Marsh Wrens or Common Yellowthroats on this visit.

On the way home, I went along Heron Line and found four Snowy Owls.  One was fairly close, offering a half decent photo op.

Lambton Wanderings to Pelee Wanderings

The last couple of days I have been checking out various haunts.  With Rondeau Park being closed the last couple of days, unfortunately for me, it allowed me to visit some other places not too far away.
Friday I went to north Lambton.  Since I always like doing a lakewatch this time of year at least once a week, I went to my favourite spot at Ipperwash Beach.  It turned out to be a good loon day (just the two usual species).
Here is my list for there:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61838769

After getting chilled to the bone, I went on up to Ausable River Cut CA.  It was disappointing with respect to birds!
Going back, I stopped by Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales for a short walk.  I knew it would be quiet, but I did find quite a few Black-capped Chickadees.
One spot had quite a few shrubs of winterberry holly.

I continued on with a drive around Kettle Point which did not produce anything.  It sure looks different than many years ago since the water level is so high.  There used to be a "point" that we could walk way out.  There is absolutely no sign of it anymore!
Here is an old photo taken from way out on the "point" looking towards land.

A stop by Forest Sewage Treatment Ponds proved fruitful.  Right at the the entrance, a Snowy Owl greeted me.

(taken through windshield)

A variety of ducks was present. The oddity was a Long-tailed Duck, not often seen in a small sewage lagoon.
While standing near the platform, I heard the soft chips of a Common Yellowthroat.  It saw it well, but it did not co-operate for a decent photo.

The Snowy Owl did not move the whole time despite traffic on the laneway directly below.

I did stop by Perch Creek Habitat, but it was very quiet.

One last stop was at Moore WMA on Bickford Line.  Right at the parking lot, a number of birds were flitting about, including three Yellow-rumped Warblers.  They have always wintered here in various numbers. I have been going to this place since the early 1990's.

Today, I headed in the opposite direction, to Point Pelee.  There was a stiff east wind, not the greatest for a Tip Watch, but it was actually quite busy with ducks.

Very few bonies...the trend this fall.

Duck-of-the-day was White-winged Scoter where I counted well over 400.
Thousands of scaup were rafting offshore on both sides, but I did not pick out anything of note.

Eastern Scaup

Western Scaup

A few Common Loons and Horned Grebes were around, but none of the rarer cousins.

A few birds were out of the wind on the west side as Kory Renaud and I walked up to the famed serengeti tree.  We did see a late Turkey Vulture way in the distance to the north.
Along the trail was some sort of shrew, deceased.

I checked some other areas including west beach parking lot.  A couple of Chipping Sparrows were in the grass, among other species.

The only Yellow-rumped Warbler I encountered was at Pioneer.  While I was at Dunes, I got word from Kory that a Northern Saw-whet Owl was at Sparrow Field. Might as well go see it....although I had no idea where to look.
Turns out I found it instantly!  I could only get this photo without disturbing it.

These tiny owls are difficult to find in Essex County, so it is a treat to see them.  This one is at least the fourth I have seen in Point Pelee over the years.
Still in the Pelee circle, but in C-K, I recall one in Wheatley Provincial Park while birding with the 'afternoon shift'.  It was deceased, but strangley, it was still clinging to a branch, upside down!  I wish I had taken a photo of it.

My list for Pelee today:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61869988

A stop by Hillman Marsh, produced little, except a late Great Egret.  Not the latest I have seen in Essex though.

The shorebird cell was devoid of birds again, except for a single Mallard.

Not sure what will happen tomorrow, but weather looks horrible.  Every time one looks at the forecast, it changes for the worse.  You never know what will happen since there seems to be little accuracy to weather forecasts anymore! It is the weekend though!