Fall Flings and Autumn Anecdotes

 I have been alternating between Lake Huron and Lake Erie the past week in hopes of seeing something of interest.  For the most part, it is not happening!  Lakewatches have just not been producing and while there is the odd interesting bird, it seems frustrating.

Last Saturday I went to Sarnia to do a lakewatch.  The winds were half decent, but not much showed up.  It was a nice day with excellent visibility.

Spruceglen

On the way back home, I stopped at a couple of places for a walk, including Moore WMA.  One can only go so far, as that huge Burr Oak laying across the causeway makes it impossible to go back further.

The river was low enough to see some mussels.  Some Mapleleaf are nicely patterned.

Mapleleaf

Eastern Comma

Sunday it was threatening rain as I arrived at Rondeau.  Not the best wind was blowing for a lakewatch, but did one anyway.  The better winds have not even been producing, so what the heck!

False Indigo Bush

A few birds were on the trails, but not many.  And, a quick stop at Keith McLean C. L. was uneventful in the wind.

Monday, it was back up to Lake Huron where I first went to Ipperwash.  Essentially, the wrong winds were blowing for a good lakewatch.  The wind was more east that what the forecast called for, so yet another mistake!  Lots of ducks were moving including Surf Scoters.  Oddly, most ducks were moving north.  Not sure why I went there, as I knew better!

I finally left there and headed to Sarnia, as a Sabine's Gull was being seen, among other things.  Perhaps it was one that has been frequenting the area.  It was a better wind for a lakewatch there anyway.  Although I got there in time to see a Sabine's Gull, there was not much else.  Interesting how things die down quickly after the early morning activity.

Some Common Terns came in close at one point.

Naturally, since I was at that end of the spectrum, word came in that a Cattle Egret showed up at Keith McLean C. L.  Par for the course!  I was not going to chase after it......

Tuesday, you guessed it, I went down to Rondeau.  I wanted to go for a long walk, so chose to go out the marsh trail about 4 km.  The weather was nice with lots of birds, but as usual nothing rare.  The best bird was a Northern Shrike, first for the fall.  At least it co-operated nicely for a photo in good lighting.

After that walk, I stopped by McLean's for  while, as some raptors were moving.  (Of course, the Cattle Egret was nowhere to be found that day!).  Lots of Turkey Vultures moving.  One wonders where they all come from, as many days are like that.

A pair of Trumpeter Swans was the only thing of interest there.

Thursday,  I did not have  clue what to do, so wandered around aimlessly.  A Tennessee Warbler was at Peers Wetland early morning.  Of course, a branch had to be in the way!

In the afternoon I headed up Sarnia way and visited some spots, starting with Dow Wetlands.  Lots of sparrows were popping up there.  I was hoping for a LeConte's like a few years ago.  Maybe there was one there, but I did not find it!

Some warblers included Orange-crowned and Nashville among lots of Yellow-rumped.

A dragonfly caught my eye at one point.  It was a Shadow Darner. Getting late for them, but there have been lots this year.

I also checked the lakewatch at Sarnia, then went for a walk at Perch Creek after stopping at Lambton Mall for a meal.  I was planning on going to the Lambton Wildlife Meeting (reason for being up there), but eventually lost interest for various reasons, lol!  Got home before it became dark.

Today, I had no interest in going very far.  It was quite cold to start, and our first frost of the fall was coating everything.  This afternoon warmed up nicely so I went for a long walk at Reid CA.  The beans are off the fields, so it is easy to walk around the back field!

Still lots of greenery, but some trees are changing.

Eastern Commas and Common Buckeyes are still numerous.

The commas seemed quite skittish, so I never could get a decent photo of one.

I found yet another Shadow Darner today at Reid.

Interior scenes:

On to another day.....

Fall Birding and Aurora Borealis Puts on a Show

 A couple of days ago I decided to check out Keith McLean C. L. first thing in the morning.  I ended up staying over four hours since many birds were around!  Lots flying over and some lingering.

There are some good mudflats around presently.

Some shorebirds have finally been consistent there with a variety during my visit.  I caught up with the Long-billed Dowitcher that had been reported the previous day, but it was a bit too far for my measly camera.

I was fairly certain that I saw two first thing, but later on I could only come up with one.  Today there were two!

Both yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers and Wilson's Snipe were working the grounds during my visit.

There were lots of birds in the air and one wonders what all went through.  Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers were streaming through or working the trees on the property.

My first Pine Siskin of the fall flew over, as well as a couple of Purple Finches.

I caught glimpses of the trusty Nelson's Sparrows there as well, but as usual no chance for a photo.

I was about to leave at one point, when the Turkey Vultures started moving in big numbers.  So, I stayed much longer in hopes of seeing something different.   I saw over 700 TV's.

However, there was not much variety in raptors, and certainly a hoped-for Black Vulture never materialized.

I ended up with 58 species there in four hours.

Yesterday, I did not venture far, but started at the south lakeshore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Not much variety in birds on this crisp and clear morning.  One is always hopeful for something with the calibre of a Sage Thrasher!  Frankly, I am still hopeful of a Varied Thrush showing up there.

Hermit Thrushes have certainly arrived in numbers this week.

After this walk, I decided to head down to St. Clair NWA.  I do not often go there anymore as things have changed from the old days when there was always a good variety of birds there.  However, it always has potential for something interesting.

There was actually a lot of birds, especially sparrows.  Fox Sparrows have arrived in small numbers, as well as White-crowned Sparrows.  Swamp was the sparrow of the day with the 37 seen or heard along the way.

White-crowned Sparrow on the fence

Always a chance for a Nelson's Sparrow there as well, but it was not to be.  I have only seen one there, and it was at the end of December a number of years ago (running around on the ice)!

Some Sandhill Cranes were around.  These are quite regular at St. Clair anymore.

Common Buckeyes are everywhere, and this place was no exception.

Later on in the morning I went for a walk at Peers Wetland.  A late Least Skipper caught my eye at one point.

Insects in the few flowers that remain, included this Perennial Mason Wasp which is classified as imperiled in Ontario.

Today, you guessed it, I went down to Rondeau Park.  Not the best wind, but a stiff WSW wind was blowing and I was hopeful something of interest would show during a lakewatch.  Yet again, nothing of interest at dog beach.  I do not get it!

Afterwards, I walked south point trail east, then the north end of Harrison.  Yellow-rumped Warblers have arrived in numbers, as there were lots.  Perhaps we may find an "Audubon's" again this year!

Other warblers included Tennessee, Pine, Blackpoll (2), Bay-breasted (2) and Black-throated Blue (2)

Pine Warbler in a deciduous tree

Black-throated Blue Warbler (F) sticking it out

A few Blue-headed Vireos were around, but no all-gray ones.

Last night, the Aurora Borealis lit up the northern sky.  One needs to get away from the city/town lights to get the full effect, as some neighbours are obsessed with leaving lights on!

However, after 22:00h, I looked out my window and saw something happening.  It did not look like much to the naked eye, but using one's cell phone in night mode makes a difference.

Here are a couple of from my window here in Wallaceburg.

Keep your eyes to the sky, as you never know what you will see.

UFO

Sparrow Hunting and More Insects

 This past Friday I decided to check out Forest Lagoons.  This place has often been a hotspot for birds of various sorts.  Used to be good for shorebirds, but it has grown in too much and water levels are a bit on the high side.  This time of year it is good for sparrows.

I had the notion to look for the more secretive type such as LeConte's and Nelson's, which no doubt will be renamed in the future!  Both have been seen here in the past.

I spent the better part of two hours there, but despite a valiant effort, I did not turn up either species.   Getting to be too much phragmites as well!

There were lots of other sparrows, especially Song and Swamp.  Some warblers included Palm.  This one posed for a time.

Heading back homeward, I stopped by Marthaville Habitat for lunch break as I often do.  Not many birds there.

The last stop was at Moore Wildlife Habitat Area which I have avoided all summer.  This year it was too grown-in and wet and the river too high due to all the rain.  However, it was fairly accessible now that vegetation is dying down, but the river was running a bit high.  The area near the river has been known for a thick forest of ragweed in the past.  However, this year there is none due to all the flooding!

Some mussels were along the bank.

Deertoe

Giant Floater

Saturday it was Rondeau bound.  Birding was a bit better than the previous visit with more warblers and sparrows.  Lots of Bonaparte's Gulls were on the move, but par for the course for Rondeau, nothing was with them.

Here is a plant in the dunes area called False Indigo Bush, as far as I can tell.  It is fairly uncommon here, and listed as imperiled in Canada.  (photos taken along a trail)

I later stopped by Keith McLean C. L.  where many birders eventually came along looking for an elusive Nelson's Sparrow.  One just has to be in the right place at the right time for those most of the time.  Luckily, I managed to see two different ones.

Sometimes they can be co-operative for photos, but often not.  This is what happens when one is not quick enough with the camera!  You can see the orange though.

Not as many butterflies this day, probably due to the wind, but this Peck's Skipper was the path.  Getting late for them.

Sunday  I had no clue what to do, but since there was a decent SW wind, I decided to head to Rondeau and do a lakewatch.  It was very disappointing as not much was moving.  Some ducks were though to keep up interest.

There was a nice sunrise to start.

Birding the rest of the day was a bust....just not much around.  So, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.

Here are some insects.

Common Buckeye (lots!)

Common Checkered-Skipper

Bare-winged Aphideater (new for me!)

These are not identified to species, but there are hundreds of them around right now.

Long-tailed Aphideater Complex

Thick-legged Hoverfly

It was quite windy, so very difficult to focus on these little insects.  This one no specifically nailed down to species, but is a fly.

Neocyptera

Monday, it was all Lambton birding as I went to Dow Wetlands, then Perch Creek Habitat.  Both places are good for sparrows, and there was no shortage of them.  Any bird I saw was too active or unco-operative to get photos!

Way at the back of Perch Creek I managed to get a quick look at a Nelson's Sparrow.  So, not a total loss.

Butterflies included Common Buckeye.  This time of year we often see the "red" form, which is neat.

I stopped by Nicholl's at Wilkesport before getting home.  With the cooler day, there were fewer insects.

Today I did not venture far, checking out Peers Wetland first thing.

No sap on this tree!

Quite a few sparrows, but nothing I wanted.  I once saw a Nelson's here a few years ago though, so there is potential.

White-crowned Sparrow

It was then off to Brander Park at Port Lambton, where there were a fair number of birds.  Quite a few Tree Swallows were near or over the lagoons.  As well, a few late Northern Rough-winged Swallows were mixed in.

Next walk was at W. Darcy McKeough CA.  A fair number of birds, but I could not come up with anything of note.  Always a chance of LeConte's there too, but I have never had one there despite all the years trying.

I went for another walk at Peers in the afternoon, but it was virtually birdless!  Amazing how things change from morning to afternoon.

I photographed this wasp.  Comes up as Catskill Potter Wasp on iNaturalist, something new for me.  Nobody has confirmed it though.

The days are getting too short......