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?

Summer At Blenheim and Piper at Erieau

 Today I had high hopes of seeing lots of birds. It is still a bit early, but there should have been a lot more birds than what I found at Rondeau Park today.  I covered quite a bit of ground!

I arrived quite early in order to hear some Whip-poor-wills and timber doodles.  As day broke, it was heavily overcast.

I heard a couple of Wood Thrushes, as well as an Ovenbird for first-of-years.

I did a quick check of Keith McLean C. L., but it was extremely windy by that time, and water levels were terribly high.  Hardly any birds!

I then ventured over to Erieau to walk the "rail trail".  The only new thing was a Blue-winged Warbler which did not want to be photographed.

One or two White-crowned Sparrows are still hanging on there.

It was off to Blenheim Lagoons.  Last evening, a young birder (along with his parents) from Wallaceburg found an adult male Summer Tanager along the fence!

I had not heard if it was seen again today, but there were several birders there upon my arrival.  I was informed that it was still present, albeit very elusive.

It took some time, but we had brief views of the handsome bird.

We usually see first year males or females in the spring, so this was nice to observe.  I think I have only seen one adult male before.  It was till showing a little bit of green in the wings, so not quite entirely in full adult plumage.

This past Friday I was at Rondeau.  First thing, Steve an I walked the north central block of the park.  We did encounter quite a few warblers at one point, including an Orange-crowned atop a tree.  I attempted photos....but I think it was trying to tell us something.

I took a long walk out the marsh trail to the half-way point.  There were some birds of interest, but none wanted their photo taken.....again!

I started off with a first-of-year Common Yellowthroat.  Shortly afterwards,  an Eastern Kingbird made an appearance.  It tied the early dates in the county except for one a number of years ago that seen on the 19th (eBird records only).

An early Warbling Vireo made an appearance not far from the late one I saw last fall.

Farther along, I encountered a flighty White-eyed Vireo.

Some Northern Yellow Warblers were along the way.  For some reason, quite a few came in this year quite early all over.

Next day, I started at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing of note, so I continued on to Blenheim.  The weather got crappier as I went!

An early Wilson's Phalarope was at Blenheim lagoons.  Conditions were terrible with drizzle and fog and wind.

Since I was that far, I continued on to Erieau where a Piping Plover was on the beach of the tip of the Rondeau spit.  Two had been found the previous evening there.

Only one remained, but it took a while to find it.  It was too far off to try for a photo.  This bird appeared unbanded.

Here is a photo of another at Rondeau in the past.

Sunday was a rather nice day.  I started at Mitchell's Bay on the south shore nature trail.  A Black-crowned Night-Heron was right near the parking lot.

There was not much out on the lake.

In the afternoon, I took a walk at Reid C. L.

Large-flowered Bellwort was coming along nicely, albeit a very common plant.

Also looked at the Twinleaf patch.

Surprisingly, not much in the way of butterflies.

American Painted-Lady

Yesterday, I went a little later in the morning to Mitchell's Bay.  Still not much in the way of birds!

Turtles were taking advantage of the warm sun.

Next couple of days are going to be rather cold.  Par for the course this spring.....one extreme to the next!