The Past Week: New Arrivals

 We are now in the midst of the exciting time of year with migrants coming in (and some rarities!) and new growth.

Last Wednesday, I went down to Point Pelee.  Although a nice day, it was just my usual luck that it was very quiet for birds.  Some first-of-year birds included both waterthrushes on Woodland trail.

On the way home I stopped by the south trail at Mitchell's Bay as I often do.  Highlight was a White-eyed Vireo that was too busy to come close as it was feeding.

Forster's Terns were occupying the dock, a little upset that I came along.

A Green Heron (as seen on the header) was busy looking for food.

Many turtles, constituting four species were basking in the sun.

Blanding's

Map

A couple of very large Snapping Turtles were present.

The next day, I went for the long walk out Rondeau's marsh trail to Long Pond.  It was quite busy with birds on the way out with many Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers.

On the way back, they were all gone!  Goes to show that early morning is most active.

Lots of  "spring" Azures along the way.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk in the woods at Reid CA.

Many familiar spring plants were coming along.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Red Trillium

Saturday was winter-like with high winds and cold temperatures under cloudy skies.  I went on an outing to Skunk's Misery that was organized by Thames Talbot Land Trust.  Very quiet for birds!  However, another good social outing.

An Eastern Red-backed Salamander was noted under an old log at one point.

In the afternoon, I was bored enough that I went for a walk at McKeough CA.  I checked out the Twinleaf patch just out of curiosity!

Sunday was a fine day, and I went up to Sarnia's Canatara Park.  It was quite birdy along Lake Chipican, but mainly with only two species of warblers.  Palm and Yellow-rumped warblers were quite numerous.

I joined in an outing organized by the Breeding Bird Atlas.  It was a great social event!

First-of-year birds included Black-and-White Warbler, Chimney Swift, Broad-winged Hawk, Great-crested Flycatcher and Blue-headed Vireo for me.

Unco-operative Vireo

I did not miss anything, as birding was slow everywhere that day.

Today, it was down to Rondeau again on a nice day.  And yes, the winds had an easterly component!  Somewhat quiet for birds (again!), but It was good to be there.

A very bright Blue-winged Warbler was a new year bird.  It was very active, so I was not able to get a decent photo.

On the way home, I stopped by Blenheim lagoons.  The were lots of shorebirds, but virtually all Lesser Yellowlegs.  About 80 of them!  Long time since I have seen that many in one place.

Gulls were almost absent, but a few Bonaparte's were swimming around.

In the afternoon, I had to take advantage of the nice weather at Reid CA.  It was almost birdless, but I just wanted to go for a walk in the woods.

Large-leaved Bellwort

Spotted Geranium

Wood Anemone

Tomorrow may be good for birds with the change in weather!  We always hope.

Earth Day Tours

Early this morning I went out to Mitchell's Bay.  The wind was uncomfortable coming in off the lake, so not much was seen.  These continuous strong winds are annoying!  Can we ever have one full day without strong winds?  Also, we are getting into the time of year when the winds are predominantly out of the east.  Looking at the forecast, that will be the case the next week.  Annoying!

I wanted to look for more plants at Reid CA, so that is where I went next!  In particular, Twinleaf, one of my favourite, should be coming into bloom at this time.  I went to the only known spot on the property, and there it was.

It was not quite into bloom, but note the spider on the flower!

Others are just coming out.

Largeflower Bellwort

Early Blue Cohosh

Oak Sedge

This afternoon I went for a tour on private property along Booth Creek.  It stretches from McCallum Line all the way south to Burman Line.  An interesting property indeed.

Looking onto adjacent property

It was once a pasture in the distant past, so much of it is covered in hawthorns.  There is a mature forest at the south end, and some very large oaks along the creek.

Burr Oak

Lots of Black Walnut and Shagbark Hickory here.  Shellbark Hickory is present as well. This one is just a shaggy shagbark I think!

Booth Creek is not very large, but mussels are here.  I could only find one species, namely Giant Floater.

It is here at the road where Booth Creek crosses, that Mocha Emerald was first found for Canada.  It would be interesting to check this property out when the potential for several species occurs.

Interestingly, one exposed area shows some fossils.

brachipod

It was very quiet for birds, but we did hear Sandhill Crane in the distance.

Leps included only Eastern Comma and several species of moths.

Forage Looper Moth

Lots of Virginia Spring Beauty attracting insects.

Orange-legged Furrow Bee

I hope to get back to the property at different times to see what may be seen!

Yesterday I did not go far.  Saw my first Solitary Sandpiper of the year at Peers Wetland.

New birds for the year are slowly coming through.  This Chipping Sparrow found the suet in the backyard tasty.

Tomorrow looks like a decent day to look around......

A Snail's Pace At Times

 Birding has been at a snail's pace at times the last few days.  Some decent things have come in, as well as the regulars, but it seems many went farther north (at least for Yellow-rumped Warblers).

I look for other things along the way, and I always end up at my "go-to" place.  You guessed it...... Reid Conservation Area.  The place is so unique to me and and one can find such a diverse array of species, many of which are uncommon to rare.

Today, I went for a long walk, and closer to the end of it, I stumbled upon a snail's shell.  I had no idea what species, but it turned out to be a Broad-banded Forest Snail.

Upon further investigation, it is critically imperiled in Ontario.  It lives on the forest floor in flood plains, which is exactly where I found it!

I have seen various snails over the years, but I don't think I have seen this one.  Of course, it was long-since dead, but obviously was living in the area.  So, chalk up another rarity for Reid CA!

This past Thursday, I went to Rondeau.  Not much in the way of birds again, but the usual Eastern Screech-owl hole was occupied.  The owl has changed colours!  Actually, a red morph has recently taken up residence in this cavity.

Always nice to see the red morph of the species.

Spring ephemerals are always a bit behind along the lakeshore, but Bloodroot was popping up along the trails.

As a naturalist, I always look for other things.  This fungus is called Hypoxylon Canker.  A recently-fallen tree was covered with it.

The next day I went to Mitchell's Bay to see if anything of interest was around.  Potential for rarities is always good there! It was rather quiet for birds.  Lots of tree swallows around.

Needless to say, later in the morning, I went for a walk at Reid CA.

Yellow Trout Lily

more Harbinger of Spring

Bloodroot (not overly abundant at Reid)

Purple Cress (leaves)

Spring Beauty Miner (bee)

Yesterday, I went back to Rondeau.  It was somewhat disappointing birdwise.  It was quite obvious that a lot of the birds skipped over the Rondeau area in the latest push.  That is often the case where one can note more birds farther north, in my opinion.

Today, I went to the Lake St. Clair area.  Lots of blackbirds and gulls in the fields, but nothing noteworthy.

Greater Yellowlegs

Unco-operative Palm Warbler!

I continued on and I went for a long walk at....you know where (!).  I cannot get enough of Reid!

Early Blue Cohosh

White Trout Lily (lots at Reid)

more Bloodroot (different area of the property)

Dutchman's Breeches is abundant.  A very similar plant called Squirrel Corn is apparently there, but I have yet to find some.

Dutchman's Breeches

I always keep an eye out for Harbinger of Spring.  As eluded to in the past, it is quite abundant at Reid.  I found yet another spot today.  However, it is just about done for another year.

I have found a variety of snakes on the property, but usually Common Garter Snake.

Not much in the way of mussels today.  This Mapleleaf was a bit out of reach.

Around the yard, birds have been trickling through.  Yesterday, a Pine Warbler briefly stopped late in the day.

Local birds include Northern Flicker.

More to come.....