Spring Flings 'N Things

 Things are slowly coming in with this roller coaster weather.  I have checked out the usual haunts, sometimes several times!

Been to Rondeau and points in between a few times.  

The Iconic Concrete Structure! (getting farther out)

I have not had too much luck at Rondeau, but it is always a nice place to go.  Winter leftovers include Yellow-rumped Warblers, but we should be seeing new arrivals about now.

One day I took a trip to Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee.  Nothing spectacular, but one of these days I may get it right!  I did however, find a Hairy Woodpecker, which is actually rare at Point Pelee.  May have been my first one there, but I do not remember.  No chance for a photo though.

Great Egret at Hillman Marsh

Curious Kinglet

Been to Reid C. L. a couple of times.  This Field Sparrow was an early arrival checking out the place.

The warm weather a couple of days ago revealed one of the first signs of spring.  Harbinger of Spring was just popping up.

And, the early butterflies included  Eastern Commas.

I walked along the riverbank for a while.  I found one spot with several mussels, but the bank was too steep to descend.  One was easily recognized as a Mapleleaf, which I only took with the long lens.

A couple of visits to Mitchell's Bay were in order this past week.  Many of the wintering ducks have left, but a few were still present.  Great Egrets are making their rounds resplendent in breeding plumage.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are checking out nesting sites.

Ducks included Blue-winged Teal, although the below photo was taken at Peers Wetland after I got back from Mitchell's Bay.

A couple of days ago I checked out both the south shore trail as well as the north shore trail.  The north side is a bit more exposed and it was a cool windy day, but I persevered.  

An early Greater Yellowlegs was working the mudflat.  

There is a lot of mud at the Bay, so shorebirds should be happy when they arrive in numbers!

One of the trips to Rondeau was primarily a lakewatch.  Lots of waterfowl moving, but nothing unusual.  This American Pipit was working the surf-line was we stood watch.  It was a first-of year for us.

Yesterday was uncomfortably cold as I checked out Keith McLean C. L. and Rondeau.  Lots of mud at McLean's too!  Shorebirds included Lesser Yellowlegs and Wilson's Snipe.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Today was a threatening rain but I got a run out to the St. Clair River first thing.  Not much to see, but I keep hoping for a Red-necked Grebe or something.  A good time for them to show up!

By the time I got home, it started raining, so it was a good time to do some volunteer work at the museum.  I had a tour of the back rooms, and there is so much stuff one does not see on display!

Afterwards, I decided to make a quick run to Strathroy.  Yesterday, a Black-necked Stilt showed up!  As you recall, they nested there for a couple of years, but did not last year.  There was not even a sighting last year.  This bird was a record-early arrival in Ontario.  Perhaps it was anxious to get started!

Upon arrival, I could not find the elegant shorebird, but it soon popped out for viewing.  It moved around quite a bit.

Hopefully a mate will arrive this year and they can make more stilts!

Spring Walks and Scenes This Week

 I was able to get out for some walks this past week, as we have had some decent weather.

The usual spring arrivals are showing up.  This Eastern Phoebe was in my yard earlier this week on a rainy day.

A lot more gulls have shown up as expected, including this Ring-billed Gull along the St. Clair River.

Herring Gull in background

On Tuesday, I was due for another long walk, so I took advantage of the nice morning and walked out Rondeau's south beach.  There was not much variety in birds, but the clear skies made for a good walk.

Marsh View

It was quite cold overnight, so there was some ice.

Continued walking back via the east beach.

Along east side beach

This Pileated Woodpecker was not sure what direction to go.

There were lots of Horned Grebes swimming in the early morning light.  I was hoping to see a Red-necked, but that never happened!

One of the mussel shells I encountered was a Wabash Pigtoe.  It is an endangered species, but I have come across them several times before at Rondeau.  Always well-weathered!

Remnants of last fall's waterfowl hunt were evident on the beach!

After the walk, I scoped the Bay for ducks.  We still cannot find a Eurasian Wigeon!  Every place else seems to have them.....

One last stop was a quick walk at Keith McLean C. L.  I finally saw an Eastern Bluebird for the year!  I was not able to get a decent photo, but pleased to see one after a long absence.

They just were not around to any degree this winter, like many other birds.

Northern Flickers have arrived in numbers recently.

Yesterday morning I started out at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing special, but Great Egrets have arrived in numbers.

Hundreds of Tundra Swans were in fairly close for a change.

Later in the day, I did some birding in the Sarnia area since there was a Lambton Wildlife meeting in the evening.

I accidently stumbled upon a soon-to-depart owl.  There were hardly any owls around our area this winter.  Snowy Owls were absent in the area for sure, among others.

Today was quite nice in the morning.  It was sunny this morning despite the forecast.  I guess it was a little delayed as the clouds and rain rolled in just before noon.

I took advantage and went for a long walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  Pleasant to get back in there and see signs of spring.

Spring plants are just starting to pop up after a harsh winter.

Virginia Spring Beauty

Purple Cress

Some that stay visible all winter include the Sharp-lobed Hepatica.

There is lots of it at Reid, but I have never found Round-lobed!

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In the history corner, the little passenger vessel Omar D. Conger (built 1887) blew up at its dock in Port Huron around this date in 1922 due to a boiler explosion.  It was a frequent visitor to Wallaceburg, and seen in many photographs.  It was mainly a ferry between Sarnia and Port Huron.

Some Scenes During Another Windy Week

 This past week has some new arrivals, but the weather has not been ideal.  Cool temperatures on most days and lots of wind!  Nature's way of cleaning the trees I guess.  I had already cleaned up the yard, but with all these winds, another four bags of debris were collected the last few days!

Anyway, last Tuesday was rather uncomfortable, but I went for a couple of walks anyway.  One was at Reid C. L.

Another was a short one at Moore WMA.

On Wednesday, I went for a long walk at Rondeau Park.  I parked at Black Oak and walked up Lakeshore and back down Harrison.  There were not many birds, as expected, but I needed the long walk since there have been few of those this winter.

I then walked the campground, and managed to see my first Eastern Phoebes of the year.  It was yet another very drab day, so photography was not up to snuff.

The next day, I had the notion to check out Mitchell's Bay.  With the colder weather, ice had reformed so waterfowl was further out than I would have preferred.

View towards St. Anne's Island

Nothing unusual was seen, even though visibility was quite good.

View towards Ticky Tacky Point

Yesterday morning the weather was not very good, but I went out to the St. Clair River anyway.  Not much to see, as most waterfowl has cleared out.

Stopped to look at the mouth of Bowen Creek.  I only found one mussel, which was easy to ID.

At Roberta Stewart Wetland, a pair of Northern Shovelers was in close.  The male is quite a handsome creature.

View towards Walpole Island

Today seemed like a good day for a long walk out Rondeau's marsh trail.  The wind was light (for a change!) out of the NE.

I was joined by Steve Charbonneau and we walked out to Long Pond and back.  It was the first chance we had to get out there since December!  It was too snowy, cold and windy all winter.  Some drifts were still remaining today, but it was a clear walk for the most part.  I doubt anything would have survived out there this winter anyway!

The Bay is now ice-free, so there were thousands of ducks out there, but most were not close.

Our highlight was a Brown Thrasher way out, close to Long Pond.  A first-of-year for both of us.

At one point, we noticed a not-too-happy frog.  Not even sure what species!

After the walk, I scoped the waterfowl on the Bay, but nothing unusual.  Where is that annual Eurasian Wigeon?  Nobody can find one yet despite numerous attempts.

Several Fox Sparrows have come in, as noted today.

Here is a single White-throated Sparrow in the campground.

Now that snow and ice is gone I keep an eye out for mussels.  These were at the start of marsh trail in Rondeau.

Fatmucket (very common)

Deertoe

Weather does not look all that great this coming week, but we will see what happens.