River Runs and Other Rambles

 I have been spending most of my spare time along the St. Clair River, although I did get to Rondeau on March 2.  That was a nice sunny morning and I walked the campground.....carefully.  It was icy!

A good number of birds were at the north end, including a single Yellow-rumped Warbler.  It may be the only one around there from this winter!

I drove some back roads on the way home, but did not see much.  I swung by Stefina Line to look for the wintering Wilson's Snipe.  Often it is not seen, but this time it was out in view!  Lighting bad that time of day though.

This is a known wintering spot ever since I can remember.

The Northern Shrike was nearby, but out of camera range.  I also saw another shrike along Harwich Road.

The last three days, I have checked out the St. Clair River for lack of anywhere else to go.  The river has opened right up with the mild weather, so things are spread out.  Mainly just the usuals.

Fawn Island area:

Yesterday and today, puddle ducks have come in, including American Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Gadwall.  Lots of Ring-billed Gulls too!  Not to mention Killdeer and blackbirds.

wigeons on ice (mallard too!)

Lots of Ring-necked Ducks lately!

Yesterday, I did come across one of the hybrid Redhead X Ring-necked Ducks.  Might be a different one, since the head colour is more red than a previous one I saw.

This morning was not much different, but I did see some pintail, wigeon and even a pair of Northern Shovelers which were new.

American Wigeon pair

This merganser got tangled up with something!

This afternoon was quite balmy, so I took a long walk at Reid CA.  Lots of blackbirds are now in, as well as American Robins.

A couple of scenes:

It is the time of year Sugar Maples are tapped.  While going through old photos the past week or so I came across this one.  It was at Upper Canada Village during a family visit when my uncle lived in Prescott.

Nothing to do with nature, but recently a story about my mother was published.  It is just such a cool story, I had to share here.  Thanks to John Martinello for writing it.  Just click on the link.

https://www.wallaceburgcourierpress.com/opinion/columnists/war-comes-to-sombra-a-story-of-ariel-mann

On the Verge of Spring

 Nothing new lately, but we finally had a mild spell the last couple of days.  Much of the snow disappeared!  It was a relief to go outside with a light jacket in the afternoon.

Today, I saw the first migrant Red-winged Blackbird along the St. Clair River, a sing of things to come.

The river had opened up quite a bit, so waterfowl was spread out.  I was able to get into Cathcart Park for the first time in a while since the snow had melted enough.  A good number of Ring-necked Ducks had congregated here.

In fact, there were around 50, which is a good number for the river during winter.

There was an oddball duck, no doubt with domestic genes.

It has been a good winter for Red-breasted Merganser along the river.  Usually there are not a lot.

Canvasbacks have thinned out quite a bit.

Lots of gulls (mostly Herring) were moving up the river today.  At Mooretown, I counted over 400 in about a half hour.

When out along the St. Clair River, I am always reminded of good times when I was young.  We spent  a lot of time along that river!  Summer picnics were always a highlight.  One of our favourite spots was Seager Park (we called it The Willows back then).

Yesterday, I went down to Rondeau Park for a change in scenery and scoped the lake off access #8.  Things were a bit distant, but there was lots of movement of ducks and gulls.

The backyard feeder has been dismal this winter.  Hopefully spring weather will appear soon and bring something of interest.

A Trying Week

 I have not been out much lately, but there is not much in the way of birds out there this winter anyway!  Other than waterfowl along the St. Clair River, there are very few birds to find this winter.

Spending much time at home, it has been a difficult week, as my mother passed away yesterday morning quite peacefully.  She had health issues since last summer, going through a steady decline.  Although she had a remarkable life reaching the age of 87 (88 in another month!), it is always difficult to lose a loved one. Her mind was 100% sharp right to the last minute.

Memories are precious.  I include a couple of photos from June 1970 on an outing to Rock Glen.  I thought it appropriate here to include a natural place.

Mom with my cousin Carol Abraham (left), and my sister Susan (right)

Me, at left!

I thank everyone who has reached out to me in the last day or so.  Talking to people helps in the healing process.  As well, a thank-you to Steve Charbonneau for letting the local birding fraternity know about my mother.

I was able to get for a bit most days, just driving around.  Or, short walks at my "go-go" place, Reid CA.

Unfortunately, there is hardly anything around the feeder this winter.  Certainly the quietest winter ever around here.

Today was a gorgeous day so I drove around for a bit in the afternoon.

Roadside American Tree Sparrow

I went for a short walk at Moore WMA, but only had three birds!  All heard only.  Usually Moore is a nice place to look for birds in winter.....but not this year.

lots of animal tracks

Although nice to have a 'winter' for a change, it has gone on long enough!

Walk In The Woods, Hybrid Ducks and McGeachy Mocker

 Tuesday was a fine day to go for a walk in the woods.  With sunny skies and no wind for a change, it was quite pleasant at Reid CA.

Not many birds of course, but Wild Turkey tracks were everywhere throughout the property.

Here is another tree that took an abrupt turn earlier in life.

Nearby, another tree had some fungus called Silky Parchment.

Not sure what this fungus was, but part of the tree was on the ground.

Common Hackberry trees are rare at Reid, but here is another one.

I found some oak galls at one point, which are quite neat.

Wednesday, I made a good run along the St. Clair River.  It was still iced-in to north of Sombra, but had opened up quite a bit northward.  I suspect there is an ice bridge somewhere up Sarnia way keeping ice from flowing downstream.

It was a day of hybrid ducks.  Upon arrival at Cathcart Park, I spotted a Canvasback X Redhead male (females are more difficult to pick out!).  Another observer saw several more upriver later in the afternoon.  Too distant for the camera though.

As well, a Ring-necked X Redhead was here.  The open water was farther offshore, so it was not too close.

The male Ruddy Duck was also here.

I went as far as Guthrie Park, Corunna this day.  There was not much at Corunna this time around.  

The local Trumpeter Swan was in close.

Wednesday night we received quite a bit of snow, so I stayed home until afternoon.  Although a sunny day for the most part, there was not much to see along the river.  I cut in on Pointe Line, and came across some of the Sandhill Cranes that have been spending the winter in the area.

Today, I did not get going until late morning, but headed in the southerly direction for a change.  There is a lot less snow along Lake Erie!

I went for a walk at McGeachy Pond, where the lake was mostly ice.  

However, a few Redhead ducks were in an open spot.

Eight Sandhill Cranes were circling to the north, but out of range for the camera.

Mounds of ice along the shoreline as one would expect, but there was one spot that formed a mini grotto.

The local Northern Mockingbird was right near the tower today.

It must be getting desperate, trying to consume those non-native berries!

I then headed through Shrewsbury and got a glimpse of the wintering Virginia Rail.  There is a perpetual open water spot where it likes to hang out.

I did walk the campground in Rondeau Park, but it was virtually birdless!  I saw a flock of a dozen House Finches, and that was it!

There was lots of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings along the paved roads today as I worked my way home.