Mid May Already: Things Are Finally Picking Up!

 Although there have been some good birds around, migration has certainly been behind what we have been used to in the last few years.  The weather has been unseasonably cold, but tomorrow the days will start to warm up.  In the last day or so, things have finally picked up.  

Tuesday I went to Rondeau on a sunny but cool day.  There was good activity around the Bennett and Harrison area.

Walking down Harrison with some birding friends, we encountered an active Summer Tanager.

Many birders were in the area and managed to get a glimpse of this handsome bird.

Seems there are good numbers of Summer Tanagers around this spring, unlike last year.  I completely missed the species last year!

Wednesday I was back to Rondeau bright and early.

I was up for a long walk.....all the way to the end of the marsh trail!  About a 14+ kilometre round-trip trek for those keeping track.

There was not a huge number of birds, and many that should be around already, were not present.

I only heard one bittern, that of an American, off in the distance.

It was a fine day for a walk.

The End!

A lone Trumpeter Swan was near the end.  Perhaps a female was on a nest somewhere?  We can only speculate at this point.

Noticed this odd tree near the trail.

A mink was hunting for breakfast at one point.

After that long walk, I drove around the park a bit, but did not encounter much.  So, it was westward bound!

I stopped by Wheatley Harbour to check the beach. All shorebirds were Ruddy Turnstones (save for one Dunlin).  Well over 100.

Hillman Marsh shorebird cell is a must stop at this time of year.  Things are constantly changing there.  I did not bring a camera in, but birds were a bit distant anyway.

I lucked out in spotting the adult Black-headed Gull at one point.  It had been hanging around the area for some time. Somewhat mis-named, the gull's hood is actually a very dark brown.

Also present were six Willets.  These large shorebirds are always a treat to observe.

On the way home, I stopped by the Zion Road bluff for a looksee.

Too bad I was not there there next day, as there were thousands of birds moving, including some good rarities!

Yesterday, I stayed fairly close to home. It was a windy, cloudy and very cold day anyway after early morning.  The temperature actually dropped during the day.

I did check out Port Lambton and Peers Wetland first thing, before going to a friend's place near Bridgen.

Magnolia Warbler

Late in the day, a hummingbird finally visited the nectar feeder, while a Swainson's Thrush scurried around the garden.

Today was volunteer day at the museum, but first-thing I did get some birding done at the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  There were a few warblers present, but not like it should be.

Some other birds included:

Great-crested Flycatcher (not Ash-throated!)

Scarlet Tanager

Sparrow with a White Crown

At home this afternoon, I noticed a bright spot at the bird bath in the form of a male Scarlet Tanager.

The bird bath is well-used each day.  It has been around a long time, as it was my grandmother's back in the 1960's!

With warm weather setting in and southwest winds, this weekend should bring in the backlog of birds.  Birdcast radar looks awesome for Friday night!

some young birds are already out!

May Meanderings This Past Week

 Things are picking up, but it is still not booming with birds.  Perhaps the continuous cold weather has had some bearing.

I have been here and there and down to Rondeau a couple of times.  On Wednesday, I managed to scrape up 90 species in the park.  Lots of first-of-year birds of course.  There was a good variety of warblers.

Palm

Blackburnian

Cape May

At one point we got word that a Yellow-throated Warbler was seen at Bennett and Harrison.  We looked around, but could not find it.  A bit later, Steve found it along Lakeshore Road.  However, it did not stay in that location for the rest of us!.  After I left, it was found again along Harrison.....of course.

While hoping to find this warbler, I came across some White-crowned Sparrows around the churches.  One was of the gambelii type which was white lores.  It is an uncommon but regular visitor to Ontario from the west.

On Thursday the Yellow-throated Warbler, it was found again quite reliably along Harrison.  However that day I volunteer at the museum, so could not be at Rondeau.

Friday morning, I was at Rondeau bright and early and the first target was the subject warbler.  I soon found it singing high in some trees.  This bird was still around the next day as well.

It was too early and dark first thing to attempt a photo of the warbler.

(photo from the past)

The morning was clear and crisp.  I did a slow walk along south point trail (east) with some friends.

The Lonely Concrete Structure!

I covered quite a bit of ground in the park.

White-crowned Sparrow

Eastern Kingbird

Northern Flicker

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

In the afternoon I walked a bit out marsh trail  Found a Clay-colored Sparrow which had me stumped at first since I was looking directly into the sun.  Could not get a decent photo....

Saturday, was terribly cool along the lake.  I did not see anything of note, despite some effort in trying to find something!

Today was still cool (again!), but clear and sunny.  

I went up to Dow Wetlands first thing to see Sedge Wrens and a Clay-colored Sparrow.  Each have nested there in the past, so perhaps will again this year.

The Sedge

The Clay

I completely missed seeing Sedge Wren last year, so these were nice to see today.

A couple of Solitary Sandpipers were at Doug's Lookout pond.

I checked out some other spots for birds this morning, but nothing of note.

Oriole of the orchard

This time of year we see lots of blossoms and trees in flower.  One of my favourites is Redbud.  Most around here are planted, but nice to see none-the-less.

May Madness? Not Yet.

 Birding was quite slow this past week until today after some southwest winds kicked in....finally.

Been spending some time at Mitchell's Bay since it is close to home.  Friday evening I was bored to the point where I went out to the Bay to get a look at a Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Seems everyone is only seeing one, but it is a tick on the year list!  Coming to a local feeder.

I did a quick walk of the south shore nature trail and finally saw some Cedar Waxwings.  They have been incredibly scarce this year!

Great Egrets are a regular sight along the trail.  One of these days we may see a smaller relative!

Heavy clouds were over the lake that evening.

Saturday morning was crisp but clear and I stayed relatively close to home.  I stopped by Port Lambton, Wilkesport, then Peers Wetland.

Scene at Wilkesport

Scene at Peers Wetland

Sunday morning I was up early and checked out Mitchell's Bay.  Still very quiet for birds!

I then decided that I needed to see some White Pelicans, so went on to Hillman Marsh where they have been quite reliable.  Upon arrival, they were there!

These are not considered rare in Essex anymore.

A stop at the shorebird cell was quite productive with a number of Long-billed Dowitchers.  They have been rather numerous this spring.  Lots of other shorebirds were present as well.

While there, my first of the year Black Tern made a pass through, as well as some Common Terns.

Southwest winds were brisk overnight and there was anticipation that a good number of birds would come in.  Not a huge number, but there were many new arrivals at Rondeau Park.  The weather was warm and sunny for a change!  Birders were out in full force today.  It has become a popular sport.

I ended up with 81 species in the park when all was said and done.  Many first-of-years included several warblers (Hooded, Black-throated Green, Northern Waterthrush, Black-and-White, etc.)

Quite a few sparrows came in overnight.

White-crowned

Lincoln's

Just before I left, two male Scarlet Tangers were putting on a show near the Park Store.

Butterlfies included numerous American Painted-Lady.

I kept an eye out for some plants along the way, including Sharp-lobed Hepatica, trilliums, etc.

One of the rarer plants was Goldenseal, just coming into bloom.

Showy Orchis will be a while before flowering, but I did see some leaves...lol.

As usual, after a nice day, the winds switch back to the north with rain and cool weather starting tomorrow!  Will we ever get two good days in a row?