Winter Birds at Rondeau

Checking out Rondeau this morning, I found a few birds that would be decent for the Christmas Bird Count in three weeks. At this point, most of the birds around may attempt to winter if the weather is not too severe. We do need some cold weather and perhaps a little snow to concentrate birds.
Not much was on South Point Trail, but just out of the car, I was greeted by two or three American Robins. I heard at least one there last week, so they may be sticking around.
I also heard a Screech Owl, even though it was quite light out. It was a dull day to start, so that may have had something to do with it.
Approaching the light beacon, I heard a warbler chipping, much like a Yellow-rumped. I was not convinced though. I did eventually see the bird, but the lighting was so bad, I only could make out a silouhette. The bird then flew quickly a long distance and I could not relocate it despite trying.
Ironically, I heard the same sound a week ago not far from that location. I was not convinced then either! I can only speculate as to what it may have been.
At the south end of Harrison trail, I came across a pair of Hermit Thrushes.
Next stop was the campground.


Some decent birds were there, including two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. It was no good for photography, so what you see is what you get.
Around the middle of the campground, there was a good group of birds including several Fox Sparrows, a White-throated Sparrow, at least six Yellow-rumped (all "Myrtle"), a couple of Creepers and a few Golden-crowned Kinglets. As well, White-breasted Nuthatches and Cardinals. I also heard a Ficker at one point.
Some Purple Finches were heard.
A large flock of sparrows was at the Trailer Sanitation Depot, but I did not see any Chipping or Fields. One Fox Sparrow was there as well.
At the Blenheim Lagoons, there was a huge number of Ring-billed Gulls (~600?), but I did not see anything that stuck out.
No shorebirds.


The only shorebirds were ~300 Dunlin along Rondeau Bay at the Erieau RR Track Trail.

Brant Goose: Heading East

For a change of scenery, I headed into Elgin County today. There are lots of places along the lake to look for birds. It has been a while since I checked out the ports along that stretch of Lake Erie. A Black-tailed Gull was reported earlier this past week at Port Burwell. Most of the gulls are out on the lake during the day, so perhaps late in the afternoon is the best time to look for a wayward gull.

My first stop was going to be Port Stanley lagoons. On Coon Road west of the lagoons, I saw some birders looking at a huge number of gulls in a field. Turned out to be Andrew Keaveney and Tim Snieder! After some looking at those gulls, which were heading out to the lake, I went to the lagoons.
First thing I saw was an eagle perched in a distant tree. I did not look at it with a scope, but after the others arrived, we realized it was a Golden Eagle. Not too often one gets to look at a perched Golden Eagle!
Two Dunlin and a Pectoral Sandpiper were the only shorebirds at the lagoons. Among the many Canada Geese was a smaller one, but certainly not a Cackling.
We all headed to Port Stanley Harbour and upon our arrival, a Cooper's Hawk flew by. A couple of Pipits were overhead as well. Not much happening there...weather too nice!
The others had seen the Brant Goose at Port Bruce yesterday, so I headed over there. I saw it right away along the breakwall feeding on the grass.

I suspect this is the same individual that was at Port Glasgow three weeks ago. It was also seen at Port Stanley this past week. Nice to see up close!

Looking East from Port Bruce

I went as far as Port Burwell, but it was quiet. I walked through the Provincial Park and noted the usual birds. With all the good birds in that area in recent times, I had hoped to find something, but my usual luck persisted.

I stopped at Port Glasgow on the way back. Just the usual gulls.

Looking west from Port Glasgow

I travelled the west portion of Gray Line. It is a neat road with deep ravines. Some parts are not maintained in the winter, so be careful. Acadian Flycatchers nest in some of the wooded ravines.

A quick stop in the Rondeau campground revealed the usual nuthatches, Yellow-rumped Warblers, kinglets, etc.

We need some cold weather to concentrate the birds!

Remembering the Carl D. Bradley

November 18 is the 51st anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley in Lake Michigan. The 615' vessel broke in two in a storm and there were only two survivors. It was late in the season and the boat was on one of those "last" trips of the season on November 18, 1958.
This freighter has special meaning to me, as the husband of one of my Dad's cousins sailed on it. Donald Langridge was a sailor for the Bradley fleet, working his way up to master. His first command was the W. F. White and his last was the Myron C. Taylor. At some point in his career, he sailed on the Bradley.
Pictured above is Donald and his wife Dorothy. Cousin Dorothy is still living in Detroit at the age of 98.

I have in my collection various photos taken aboard the Bradley.

Looking forward, probably at Rogers City, Michigan

Passing under the Ambassador Bridge

The Carl D. Bradley was the longest vessel at the time of her building in 1927. She set many cargo records.

Before the foundering there was talk of serious rusting in the holds and frames and that major work was required. The fact that it was only 31 years old at the time of her sinking raises some concern. Perhaps she was constructed of bad steel. Many Great Lakes vessels lived much longer lives.

One of my prized possessions is a Jim Clary print of the Bradley. It depicts the ship in rough waters. Clary is a famous marine artist from St. Clair Michigan. He and Chuck Muer used to put on a Whistle Blow at the River Crab restaurant in St. Clair each Labor Day. I once did Clary a favour by recording the whistle sounds and he rewarded me with one his prints. I was able to pick the print I wanted from his store. It is highly valued at the present, so I guess I picked the right one!

As a side note, many years ago some of you may recall that Chuck Muer, who owned a chain of seafood restaurants, mysteriously disappeared while sailing in the "Bermuda Triangle". He was never found.

Super Sunrise

As I headed down to Rondeau this morning, a spectacular sunrise was developing. I thought things were off to an interesting start, but the sunrise turned out to be the highlight of the day!

Not many birds were to be seen today. I know it is getting late in the season and the weather has been unseasonably nice, but give me a break! We need some foul weather to stir things up.

I saw less than 20 birds on south point trail, discounting ducks and gulls out on the lake. Lots of Red-breasted Mergansers were moving today.

More birds were at the north end of the park. At the traffic circle near the campground, I noticed a large flock of sparrows. Amongst them, I had a brief look at a Nashville Warbler, looking colourful in the prairie grass.

We have Nashvilles quite often into late November and perhaps early December. I know the record late will be tough to beat, as I found one on a cold and cloudy January 11 1998. That one exhibited characteristics of the western subspecies.

Back to the sparrows, there were lots of Tree Sparrows and Juncos. As well at least six Field Sparrows were with them and I also spotted a single White-throated and a White-crowned.

In the campground, birds of note included a Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, a noisy Yellow-bellied Sapsucker a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and some Golden-crowned Kinglets.

A single Yellow-rumped Warbler was along the maintenance fence.
I checked other spots in the Rondeau area but nothing of note came to light.
No Cave Swallows (yet).

Rondeau Area Birding 8 Nov.

Very few birds were around today. I guess the weather was just too nice! Dense fog greeted me early this morning, so I slept in an extra hour. I did not miss anything.
It was dead calm and quiet. I did manage to scrape up a few decent birds. Photography was not my best effort today, but I did try....

White-eyed Vireo

Best bird was a White-eyed Vireo on Rondeau's south point trail. It did not come in close, and none of the birds responded to pishing. It is late for this species, but Rondeau's late record is sometime later this month.
Warblers seemed to have cleared out early this fall. I saw three individual warblers of three species on SPT.

A dull Nashville Warbler had me take second looks. Just a few seconds before that, I saw an Orange-crowned Warbler, but did not get a photo of that one. These never responded to pishing either, so they did not come in close.

A few Purple Finches were around, especially in the campground.

female Purple Finch

A number of Fox Sparrows were about, including a flock of about eight in the campground. Like many species, they were late in coming this fall. Not many sparrows were evident today. Where are all the Lincoln's Sparrows? I've only seen two or three this fall, and strangely, none in Algonquin Park when I was there in August.

pair of Fox Sparrows

This Red-bellied Woodpecker was acting like a Flicker on the ground.....

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Shorebirds included Killdeer and Snipe at Bate's Marsh, and Pectoral (1), Dunlin (many), and five Long-billed Dowitchers at Blenheim Lagoons. There were also both Yellowlegs.

Pectoral Sandpiper

At Erieau RR tracks I had a pleasant walk. A Northern Mockingbird greeted me at the start.

Along this trail were Yellow-rumped Warbler, three species of wrens (guess what ones!), several Fox Sparrows and I heard a Virginia Rail.

Northern Mockingbird

A new viewing platform has recently been constructed, which is nice. Normally you cannot see the Bay due to cattails and weeds, but this platform allows you to get high enough to see out onto the Bay.

I met a fellow walking his dog, and he said that someone saw a Snowy Owl from here two days ago. I have no reason to disbelieve him.

View from the platform

The Morning After....

Today I planned to go to Point Pelee (despite a rare bird report). Seems I go there every Saturday as southerly winds are forecast.
Yesterday, an Ash-throated Flycatcher was seen and photographed near the Tip, so I had hopes in seeing that. But, as usual, it was a one day wonder during the week. Another one missed!
I had left work early yesterday and saw the post on Ontbirds and I contemplated heading down there. It sounded a bit iffy, so I did not go. Just as well I guess.
The Ash-throated is a rather rare Ontario bird. Only about seven records to date.
Birding was on the quiet side today, unless you were counting Red-breasted Mergansers. Tens of thousands were passing the Tip. Well over 50,000 went by in the first few hours of the morning.
Not many other species of ducks were seen. Scaup, Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Long-tailed, and all three scoters.
Common Loons were migrating in good numbers. Perhaps close to 100 went by. One Red-throated Loon in the distance was a good sighting.
Quite a few Bonaparte's Gulls were moving early on, but no other small gull was to be seen.
Shorebirds included a couple of Dunlin and a Sanderling.
It seemed that I saw more birding friends than birds! (Hi Dorothy and Dianne!).
It was quite balmy and some butterflies were out. Orange Sulphur and Eastern Comma were at De Laurier. In the field across from the restaurant near Sturgeon Creek Clouded Sulphur, Cabbage White and Painted Lady were added to the list.
The Orange Sulphur depicted was seen at Northwest Beach.

Birding the Lake Huron Flyway

Looking at a Vesper Sparrow! (the guy in camouflage is looking the wrong way!)

I went north today for a change. The annual OFO trip from Grand Bend to Kettle Point was held under a cloudy day. It was supposed to be sunny.....but you know the drill....
We started at the Grand Bend beach to look at ducks, loons and grebes. Quite a few Common Loons were migrating today. We saw about 40 in less than an hour. A few Horned Grebes were swimming on the lake and many scoters were flying by. Other ducks included Long-tailed, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Mallard and Black.
Next stop was Grand Bend Sewage Lagoons. A good variety of ducks were there, including a nice male Wood Duck.
Shorebirds included a Greater Yellowlegs, and many Dunlin. Mixed in with the Dunlin were three White-rumped Sandpipers.

White-rumped Sandpiper with Dunlin

A Phoebe was along the south fence. I discovered a Vesper Sparrow along the north fence just before we left. Too far for a photo though.
On to Pinery where it was rather quiet. The usual birds were around the visitor centre.
A walk along the river was very quiet. The water level was very high for some reason. Beavers?

Wet Picnic!

I bailed out after Pinery as I had things to do. I briefly stopped at Highland Glen CA, but nothing was there. Kettle Point is seen in the distance from there.

Kettle Point