Mid-April Report: Some Highlights

 Not too much to report this past week, but there were some highlights.

Tuesday, while I had to spend some time in Chatham, I checked out O'Neil Nature Reserve (Paxton's Bush).  It is actually an impressive woodlot right on the north edge of Chatham that kind of sticks out.  A good variety of large trees are within.

The forest floor has typical plants that one can find in a woodlot.

Bloodroot

Yellow Trout Lily

On Wednesday I had the urge to go up to Sarnia's Canatara Park for some birding.  The weather was less than impressive (eventual rain!) but it is a good migrant trap for finding birds.

I saw my first Little Gull of the year on the lake.  

A House Wren was chattering on the edge of Tarzanland.  A bunch of them seemed to come early this year in various places.

Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers were in the woods and migrating westward.

Thursday was quite disappointing with yet another rainy day.  I managed to get out to Mitchell's Bay first thing, but there was hardly anything to look at.  However, the same six Snow Geese were still in the area!

Friday was another nice weather day as I checked out Rondeau Park.  Turned out to be a good birding day, with some early stuff.

I walked out marsh trail to Long Pond.  Some first-of-year birds included Marsh Wren,  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and both Sora and Virginia Rails.  Also, a couple of Palm Warblers.

                               

Palm Warbler

American Coot

Tundra Swans (young ones!)

On the way back we found some warblers!  Other than Yellow-rumped, a Northern Parula and a Nashville Warbler were singing in the tree tops.

The parula was record early by one day (we had one on Spicebush Trail back on April 18, 2010), and the Nashville was record early by a few days.  At least what I can see.

Nearer the parking lot, an early Yellow Warbler was singing its typical song as another first-of-year.  It was an early arrival, but not record early.  Steve and I had one April 13, 2001 on Tulip Tree trail.  That year was quite impressive with lots of very early birds.

While out marsh trail, we saw a couple of Blanding's Turtles.

Today, I wanted to head into Essex County.  It was another crappy weather day.  Seems we cannot get two good days in a row this spring!

A Laughing Gull had been frequenting Wheatley Harbour for three days, but as usual, it did not show up today much to my disappointment.

Highlight was a Baikal Teal in Hillman shorebird cell.  It was found a number of days ago there, and has stirred up quite a controversy.  I saw it right away, but it was distant in poor light.  

It was sleeping when I went back the second time, but very distant as well.

(attempt at digiscoping!)

A duck of this type is usually considered an escapee, but who knows.  There are a number of factors that might point towards this being a wild duck, but I will not delve into it here.  An attractive duck in any case!

An early Solitary Sandpiper (yes it was solitary and alone!) was in the cell as well.  Lighting was too horrible today to get any decent photos of anything, even with the ISO cranked up to 1000.

I left Hillman and went into Point Pelee for an hour.  It was quiet, so I went back to Hillman!

Two Marbled Godwits were in the cell when I arrived.

A couple of Little Gulls were also present, but not photographable.

Just before getting home, I made a quick stop at Mitchell's Bay.  Yellow-headed Blackbirds should be in now but I did not find one.

Only highlight was another early Yellow Warbler.

If this weather ever gets its act together, we should have some good birding days ahead.......

Splashdown to Marbled Godwits

 We finally have had some nice warm days, although yesterday morning was miserably cold at first.

This past Friday morning I was out to Mitchell's Bay.  A lone Tundra Swan has been hanging around, and I do not think it is entirely well.  It was still there yesterday.

A bit of a surprise was a flyover of six Snow Geese.

In the evening, likely many of us watched the historic and picture-perfect splashdown of the space capsule Artemis II.  Humans got to circle the moon for the first time since the early 1970's during the Apollo program!  I remember the Apollo program (now I am aging myself!) and found that fascinating at the time.

I watched the recent event live on the NASA YouTube channel.  I just took some screen shots with my phone.

Next day, I headed down to Rondeau Park quite early.  Target was a Louisiana Waterthrush that had been sighted the day before.  I found it right away in the early morning light singing away in a slough.  It was really too early for photos, as it was not very light, but I tried anyway.

I did a lot of walking that day as it was a nice sunny and calm day for a change.  Later, I walked out the marsh trail to the half way point.

I saw three species of butterflies, including a Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral and an American Painted-Lady.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. before going home to see both yellowlegs, and first-of-year Pectoral Sandpipers.

They finally got a burn done on the property.  They have been trying for two years!

Yesterday, as alluded to above, it was terribly cold and windy at Mitchell's Bay first thing.  There were not many birds in the uncomfortable weather.  The Tundra Swan was in close.

In the afternoon, it warmed up considerably as the sun was out, so I went for a drive along the St. Clair River.  Loons are heading north this time of year, and one can see many.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau Park in anticipation of some good birding.  Overnight, there was a brisk southwest wind with rain, and the temperature rose dramatically.  Surprisingly, it was rather quiet for birds.

I did get the first Purple Martins finally, as they arrived yesterday.

The park was full of Red Admirals.

Some plants are just emerging from the leaf litter, and I noticed this Bloodroot at one point.

While there, I got word that some early Marbled Godwits had set down in the Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  They were found by the "morning shift", which used to be the "afternoon shift"!  LOL.

I headed in that direction since there was not much else to do.

They were still present upon my arrival.

Several birders came by to see the godwits.  It was nice to talk to some long-time fellow birders after a long winter.

While there, I caught sight of a Variegated Meadowhawk. First time I have seen one in a few years.  They are not all that common at times.

As well, a Blanding's Turtle was lurking in the weeds.

Now that we are in mid-April, we will see lot of birds coming in.  The excitement of spring migration has now begun!

Hillman Sandhills

Adventures In The First Week of April

 Some days were nice, but some days were just plain frigid!

Last Friday I started at Mitchell's Bay.  There was a brisk southwest wind, but a good movement of birds was noted.  Forster's Terns had arrived in numbers.

There were lots of ducks, but most notable was a big movement of Northern Pintail into the wind.  A conservative estimate was 275.

There was not much opportunity for photographing things, but this Northern Harrier passed by at one point.

By the time I left, some turtles were coming out to warm out in the sun.

In the afternoon, it was just too nice not to go for a walk at Reid C. L.

Plants were starting to pop up through the leaf litter, including hepaticas.  I have only found Sharp-lobed there though.

In the onion family, Wild Leek was just making an appearance.

And, of course I kept an eye out for Harbinger of Spring.

I only saw two garter snakes, and they were both together.

I walked randomly through the forest, but I came across that old pop can that I first found almost 15 years ago!

Came across this moth, called a Wedgling.

Walking along the river, I noticed this beaver swimming across.

Saturday was a rainy day, so not much went on.

Sunday, I went to Rondeau and walked various places.  I got some first-of-year birds, some of which were long overdue.  Included was Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Along the way, I noted this twisted tree.  I have seen it before.

Before leaving, Steve and I looked for the Eurasian Wigeon.  We found it off the yacht club.  Remarkably, I set up my scope and first look I had the scope dead on the wigeon!  Strange how that happens!

On Tuesday, I checked out the St. Clair River from Port Lambton to Sombra area.  

A river watch at the Port noted a good movement of gulls and terns northbound into the cold north wind.  Lots of Bonaparte's Gulls!

Yesterday was sunny but very cold.  I needed a long walk, so went out Rondeau's marsh trail about 4 km.  

Lots of Fox Sparrows out there.

There were still thousands of ducks on the Bay, but I did not bring a scope for the walk.

Gadwall

Still not done, I walked the length of south point trail (west).  

There were lots of Eastern Phoebes along the way.

Any oldtimer would remember the Dillon trail (was even drivable!) that connected each side of south point trail in the middle.  This photo shows where it came out.  One would never know it today.

Before leaving, I took a quick look at the Bay off the yacht club.  I had no problem picking out the Eurasian Wigeon with binoculars!  Too far for proper photo though.

Today started out rainy, but the afternoon was actually quite warm and sunny.  As you might guess, I went for a walk at Reid C. L.

Several butterflies were out including commas and cloaks, and my first-of-year Red Admiral.

Some flies and bees were out, including this (possible) Horn-faced Mason Bee, which is actually an introduced species.  Note that it is on Harbinger of Spring!

Birds included a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.

And even a Common Raven croaking its way around the property!

Some other plants just appearing included.....

Cut-leaved Toothwort

Dutchman's Breeches

Looks like lots of rain in the coming week, but hopefully the birds will keep coming!