Mid October Birding

I headed down to Rondeau this cool and crisp morning. There were lots of birds, especially Yellow-rumped Warblers and Kinglets. Hundreds of Yellow-rumped Warblers were around and it was a challenge to find other warbler species among them. Dunlins were on the beach and at McLean's marsh. More sparrows were in. Signs of mid October.

Dunlin near South Point Trail

In the last day or two, Dark-eyed Juncos have come in numbers. They were everywhere as well. Other sparrows included the usual White-throated and White-crowned, but I have not seen a Fox yet.
Lots of Eastern Phoebes were looking for insects, but some were eating dogwood berries. I observed one swallow a berry.

Eastern Phoebe

Other warblers included a female American Redstart, one Northern Parula, one Palm, one Tennessee, one Nashville, several Blackpoll, at least six Orange-crowned, and a single Pine in front of the churches.

Redstart

The Pine Warbler (at least that is what it appears to be), came up from a puddle and preened in an oak tree. It seemed to have me stumped for while, but I think it is just a female Pine.

Some Eastern Bluebirds were on South Point Trail and in the picnic area near the churches. One of these days we need to see a Mountain Bluebird! Never has one been recorded in the Rondeau birding area.

The only vireo was a single Red-eyed.

I noticed quite a number of Common Loons moving today.

A few butterflies were out including Red Admiral, Question Mark, Eastern Comma and Cabbage White. The Comma and Question Mark were in close proximity. They are very similar, but look for the fourth "dot" on the upperwing of the Question Mark.

Question Mark

Eastern Comma

Since Blenheim Lagoons have been closed, I have stopped at Ridgetown Lagoons. Today there were three Long-billed Dowitchers, one Least Sandpiper, five Pectoral Sandpipers, two Snow Geese, and one Cackling Goose. This lagoon seems to frequently have Cackling Geese.

Among the Canada Geese was a domestic X Canada Goose that I am certain was near the Rondeau dock on Thanksgiving Monday.