Mid-October Skies

 The last couple of days have been quite nice with clear skies.  I was out and about as usual to take advantage of the great October weather.  Today I visited some conservation areas north of Wallaceburg.  Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport is one of my favourite places for a walk, even if there are not many birds.  Today, several birds were flitting around.

View looking west

A couple of Black-capped Chickadees were quite curious about my presence.

Next stop was the McKeough Dam.  Some Purple Finches were flying over, but no other finch types seemed to be present. 

A Blue-headed Vireo was in the mix of passerines.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk through the woods at Reid C. L.  Many of the leaves had already fallen, so I missed some opportunities to photograph colours.

A few butterflies are still around, including Painted Lady.

I saw some type of darner at one point, but it flew off before I could ID it.  Autumn Meadowhawks are still around of course.

And, in the last day or so, Common Checkered-Skippers have shown up in my yard.

Yesterday I visited Keith McLean C. L.  A Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed nicely at one point just before I left.  It is getting late for them, but not unusual to get them at this date.  Seems it has been a good season for them, as many have been seen of late.

There have not been many good days for lake watches this season.  Saturday seemed promising, so I went up to Sarnia and spent over four hours there.  I was first to arrive!

The previous evening, a Sabine's Gull had been seen (not a good year for them in our area this year!) so I thought there would be a good chance it could still be around at first light.  I was right!  Too distant for a photo, but I was lucky to see it as it flew out onto the lake never to be seen again.  

Several birders were present for a lakewatch, but nothing of note showed up.  However, it was a good day for ducks, especially Northern Pintail.  Perhaps up to 400 were migrating through that morning.

A Short-eared owl did appear, as it migrated over the lake and landed near the lighthouse on the Michigan side.  We often see them come in over the lake this time of year!  Always a treat to see.

Some ships were upbound as well to keep up my interest..

John J. Boland

John D. Leitch

Last Thursday I needed a long walk so went out Rondeau's marsh trail.  As usual, nothing of note!  But I needed the exercise.

The following views of the shoreline are from the end of the boardwalk at the half way point.

And, during a visit to Rondeau last week, spring was in the air.....or so it seemed.  There was a lilac in bloom beside the pony barn.  I think they are supposed to bloom in early May!

Till next time....

Early October Things--Usually Nothing Of Note!

 Time sure is flying by.  It has been well over a week since my last update--not that there has been a lot to talk about.  Birds are certainly thinning out, but it is the time of year we could have some rarities.

Brander Park, Port Lambton had been good around the end of September and beginning of October. More like the days I remember it!  I would usually stop there before and after work.

Pond Area

I have not been to Peers Wetland much for various reasons.  Zach's bench is going to a more natural state.  Fan-shaped jelly fungus is growing on it!

For those who follow Adam Shoalts, Zach was a friend that sometimes accompanied Adam on adventures.  Their trip  is featured in the book The Whisper on the Night Wind.

Last weekend was the annual Ontario Field Ornithologists convention, this year held at Leamington.  I just did the Saturday thing, starting with birding at De Laurier in Point Pelee National Park.  It was actually a "Big Sit", where we try and record as many bird species in one spot.  We ended up with an impressive 70+ species! from the parking lot!

It is amazing what you can see in one spot, as opposed to running around all over the place.

In the afternoon, I looked around for butterflies.  Some of the usuals were seen.

Common Buckeye

Common Painted-Lady

Highlight was a Cloudless Sulphur.  It fluttered around for the longest time, but eventually settled.

In the evening we attended the dinner and meeting at the Roma Club.

The next day I finally had a chance to go and see the young Purple Gallinule at Keith McLean C. L.  It took a while for it to pop out, but was in bad lighting.

There was rain to the north that made for an interesting sight.

I then walked Rondeau's marsh trail to half way, but did not see anything of note.....as usual!

Monday--nothing of note.

Tuesday was a nice day for going out Rondeau 's marsh trail.  Large number of Yellow-rumped Warblers, but as usual, nothing of note.

In the afternoon I went for  a walk locally.

Eastern Phoebe

Lots of Painted Lady around lately.

Wednesday I was at Brander Park.  Highlight was a Red-headed Woodpecker, but it took off before I could get close.

It was my first record for there, bringing my Brander Park species total to 214.  (Includes the river and lagoons adjacent).  I have a good run there since 1988!

Thursday I went to Mitchell's Bay. Not much to see.  While there, word came out that a pair of Hudsonian Godwits was at McLean's.  After going home and gathering gear, I headed down for those.

Northern Parula

I had a good feeling that some would show this week.  I missed them last year, so had to go!

Friday morning I went for some walks locally.  A few birds here and there.  A Tennessee Warbler was decent at McKeough.  Lots of robins there, but none of their cousins.

In the afternoon it was nice to go for a long walk at Reid C. L.

Nothing of note....of course!

Today was a fine day to check out Keith McLean C. L.  I spent over two hours looking around there.  The godwits were still present first thing, but soon took off never to be seen again (at least for today).

Lots of sparrows around.  I found only two Nelson's Sparrows, but as usual, no time to get a photo.

That was my main event for the day, other than a walk at Peers Wetland in the afternoon.  As usual there, nothing of note, and certainly not much!

Differential Grasshopper

Stink bugs have been plentiful lately.  A couple on the back porch today included these:

Green Burgundy Stink Bug

An Update....Finally!

 I have not done a blog post lately for a couple of reasons.  Mainly there has been a lack of subject matter!  As well, I have been posting daily on Facebook of notable finds or scenes, which seems to be of more interest these days.  I actually avoided Facebook until this past June, but realized I was missing too much.  There are a lot of good sites out there, and also, up to the minute information can be obtained.

This post will mainly be a rehash of things I posted to Facebook.

There have been some good birding days in the last two weeks, but things have dropped off in the last few days.

One evening I noticed a large katydid plop onto the screen of the back porch.  It was a Greater Anglewing.

There are a number of different katydis out there, but this is the largest I have seen.

I have stopped by Peers Wetland on a couple of occasions, but I do not go there as often as I used to.  It is a busy place anymore!  Water level is very low and lots of mud there.

Been out to Mitchell's Bay a few times, but nothing of note which seems to be the trend for me of late.

A couple of days this week it was quite foggy.  Tuesday I waited a bit, but eventually went out anyway.  This Great Egret was posing in the fog. (Note:  photos are not reproducing very well when uploaded here.  Not sure why).

There were quite a few birds at the north end of the trail, but the main part of the trail there were very few for some reason.

On Friday September 25 I went to McGeachy Pond and the Marsh Trail at Erieau.  There were lots of birds.

Black-throated Green Warbler

Magnolia Warbler

Northern Parulas were plentiful around that time, and I saw several.

Some butterflies included Viceroy.

I took a detour on the way home and stopped by Thamesville area to check for rubyspots before they disappear.  I managed to find one or two Smoky Rubyspots.

On the Saturday, I just checked some spots north of Wallaceburg.  A few birds at McKeough included this Blue-headed Vireo.  I inadvertantly caught it with its mouth open!

There was an airshow near Mooretown that day, and while I was at Reid C. L., one of the participant planes few over.

Just after I got home, a similar plane flew over the house around noon!

One later flew back south around 4:20!

On the 27th, I was down Rondeau way.  Stopped at Keith McLean's later after walking out the park's marsh trail.

Palm Warbler

Red-tailed Hawk

Fiery Skipper

This past Monday was a perfect day.  I went for a walk at Reid C. L. in the afternoon.  Here are some scenes:

One of the larger Burr Oaks (dbh more than 36")

Chicken of the Woods

Sedge patch in the woods

There are not many ferns at Reid, but this one stood alone.  It is a Northern Lady Fern.

I was out today down to Rondeau, but it was not a good day.  So, all for now!