Some Sightings This Week As October Ends

 Some warm weather descended upon us this past week.  Then we experienced strong winds!  It will be interesting to see if anything of interest shows up as a result.

Some lingering butterflies enjoyed the warm weather.  This past Monday, I found a rather late Pearl Crescent at Reid CA.  On average, these are done by this date.

Tuesday, I did a lakewatch at Rondeau, but had to leave early.  As usual, nothing of note showed up, but it was active.  Lots of Dunlin lately.

Of course, well after I left, a Pacific Loon went by!

I went back on Wednesday since I had more time.  Just my luck (again), it was a slower day.  

The day started with another nice sunrise.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. after visiting the park.  A lot of Dunlin were in taking advantage of the mud.

A Common Painted-Lady was along the dike.

As well, I noted a couple of Fiery Skippers.

With all the mud, Wilson's Snipe were taking advantage.

Thursday was not a birding day for me for various reasons.  The afternoon was spent gathering up leaves in the yard!

Today, the only option was to check out Rondeau again.  With the change in weather, it looked promising for some activity.

Another lake watch was in order to start.  A good amount of activity, but as usual, nothing of note showed.  These lakewatches are getting quite discouraging!

Afterwards, I walked various spots in the park.  Lots of kinglets and other things.

Of interest, a large flock of Eastern Bluebirds was working south point trail area.  I could not see every bird, but there were at least 40.  One of the largest flocks of bluebirds I have ever seen at once.

As per usual, I stopped by Keith McLean C. L.  I was not going to stay long, but there was a fair bit of bird activity, so I stayed a while.

What peaked my interest, was the passage of three Golden Eagles just after I arrived.  All three seemed to be travelling together.  I ended up seeing a total of six during my stay.  Unfortunately, lighting was absolutely horrible!

As well, my camera was not co-operating.  For some reason it completely seized up! No explanation.

Water levels are very low right now.  Lots of mud exposed at McLean's.  Possibly the lowest I have seen it here.

Lots of birds were in the air including gulls, blackbirds and American Pipits.  Well over 100 pipits were around.

On the way home, I saw another Golden Eagle at Rushton's Corners.  Seems Golden Eagles have been in good numbers this year.

This month should bring us some things of interest.

October Odds 'n Ends

 It has been a bit slow the past week, or at least nothing too exciting has crossed my path.  Lots of birds in various locations, but nothing in the rare category.  Some good birds have been turning up in the province, but not around here after the Black-tailed Gull!  Lots of potential yet though.......

There was a lot of camera lugging this week, but I never used it for about three days!  Just nothing I wanted to photograph.

This past Wednesday I went down to Rondeau and started with a lakewatch.  A good wind was blowing, but as usual, nothing of note showed up.  

It was a nice sunrise, as seen the above blog header photo. 🖞

After leaving the park, I took a look around Keith McLean C. L.  I did get a glimpse of a Nelson's Sparrow.

Thursday I went back to Rondeau for lack of any other place to go.  I did the long walk out marsh trail to Long Pond.  It was interesting, but again nothing of note.  Dark-eyed Junco was the bird of the day with close to 150 out there.  And, Swamp Sparrows (55) were numerous too needless to say.

As I got back to the parking lot, some Eastern Bluebirds were working their way north.  I intercepted them behind the park store,  There were at least five.

After leaving the park, once again I stopped by McLean's, just in case.  Some butterflies were out, including several sulphurs.

Also stopped by Bannerstone Conservation Lands.  The only thing of note was a "Yellow" Palm Warbler.  This is the rare one of the eastern range.  I usually see at least one of these every year.  Photo did not turn out well, as the camera did not co-operate.  So, does not show it very well.

Back at home, the only flower I have left in the garden is a Chrysanthemum which is attracting insects.

a member of the genus Clistopyga

These insects are very common all over, and are not identified specifically.  They are in the Long-tailed Aphid-eater complex.

Margined Calligrapher

Friday I did not go far and got some things done around home.  First thing in the morning, it was clear, but rain soon came in.  I was out at Port Lambton and saw a "perfect" rainbow.

Not sure what was at the end of the rainbow, but it was in Michigan!

By the time I got out for a walk at Brander Park, it was fading.

I walk at Peers Wetland in the afternoon was uneventful except for a sluggish Meadow Vole on the path.

Saturday, a good NW wind was forecast, so I went up to Kettle Point for a lakewatch.  There were lots of ducks moving, and a few gulls.  Shorebirds included Dunlin and Sanderlings.  But, yet again, nothing of note showed.  Where are the kittiwakes this year?  It is getting quite discouraging with these lakewatch!

Black Scoters scooting by

More insects in the garden.

Golden Dung Fly

There is not much around Wallaceburg to look at, so today I again went to Rondeau. I walked out marsh trail to the half way point.  It was a crisp and clear morning.  Seemed like there was potential for something of interest, but yet again nothing.  Lots of sparrows again.

Sparrow of the Swamp

One of these days, a Golden-crowned Sparrow is going to pop up!

White-crowned!

There were  a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, and only one Common Yellowthroat.  It showed nicely though in the early morning sun.

Another stop at Keith McLean C. L. revealed lots of Dunlin, a single Least Sandpiper, a couple of Pecs and around 80 Killdeer.  A couple of Wilson's Snipe rounded out the shorebirds during my visit.

Water levels are quite low all around now, so lots of mud available for what shorebirds are left to come.

Besides a couple of Buckeye, this Common Painted-Lady was enjoying the sun.

The sun is now setting for yet another day as I write this note.  Time is flying by!

Wallaceburg

Some Autumn Birding and an Asian Visitor Stirs Thing Up

 This past Friday I went down to Rondeau Park early to check things out.  I figured there should be lots of birds.  And there was!  It was a cool and crisp morning, just the way I like it.

I mainly walked south point trail (east) and ended up spending quite a bit of time since there were so many birds.  Mind you, most were Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Between SPT and the north end of Harrison trail, I ended up with over 300 butterbutts!

Other warblers included Blackpoll which tripped the filter early on.  I ended up with 12.  

There was also Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia and Black-throated Blue.  Five Northern Parula was also a good number.

Lots of sparrows too, but I could not turn up anything out of the ordinary in that department.

A lot of birds were streaming west along the lakeshore, and noticeably at the washout area.

A quick look at Keith McLean C. L. did not turn up anything of note.  A couple of Fiery Skippers were along the trail.

Saturday was quite boring and I did not go far.  Some meadowlarks along Meadowvale Line caught my attention for a bit.  Seemed appropriate with the "meadow" name!

Eastern Comma along the way

Sunday I needed a change in scenery and went to Point Pelee.  It was not too interesting!

Purple Finches seemed to have come in at various locations in the last few days.

I stopped by Hillman marsh for a walk around the shorebird cell, looking for butterflies.  Part of the conservation area is closed to activities, as an aggressive non-native water plant was found recently.

Common checkered-skippers were the butterfly of the day.  I counted over 40 around the cell.

Some Fiery Skippers were flitting around as well and did not really want to be photographed.

Needless to say, some Common Buckeyes were around.

And, a Common Painted-Lady.

As well as, Bronze Copper which was very fresh.

There are not many flowers this time of year, but some goldenrod is still blooming which attracts a few insects.

Oblique Streaktail

Bramble Mason Wasp

The non-native Common Drone Fly was quite abundant.

Another non-native insect was this Chinese Mantid.

Today, for lack of any other ideas (birding has been slow for the most part recently!), I went up to Forest lagoons.  There were not as many birds as the last visit.  I was hoping to turn up a LeConte's Sparrow, but that was not to be.  We have had them there in the past.

Quite a bit of waterfowl, including three early Tundra Swans.

I headed back towards home, and stopped by Marthaville Habitat as per usual.  While there, I got word that a Black-tailed Gull was at Port Glasgow on Lake Erie.  Good grief, here we go again!  I always go in the opposite direction when something of note decides show up.  I was not going to miss this one, so I zig-zagged my way down to Port Glasgow.

Luckily, the bird was still in position when I arrived.  Not real close, but enough to get details.

This bird was present a couple of days earlier, but mis-identified at the time.  Luckily, someone noticed the photo and a correction was made.

The Black-tailed Gull is a resident of eastern Asia, especially Japan.  There is one other record for Ontario, and ironically it was just up the shoreline at Port Burwell a number of years ago.  I tried to see that one the next day after it was reported, but it never showed (of course).

As always, these rarities draw many birders and familiar faces.  The social atmosphere is always nice!

Very pleasant weather today, so it was nice to be out and about.