Lunchtime Surprise

What a storm!  Yesterday we had record amounts of rain, and new bodies of water were visible today.  I was a bit late getting to work this morning due to flooded roads so I did not get my morning walk in.  I would have needed boots anyway.
The sun came out in the morning for a beautiful day and since Wednesday is my day to go out for lunch, I stopped at Brander Park, Port Lambton.  I went for a bit of a walk, not noting many birds.  A few Tundra Swans came off the lagoons and a couple of juncos and blue jays were in the park.

I walked over to the edge of the field where I had the Glossy Ibis last spring, then started walking back.  I heard a finch type call coming from somewhere.  I heard it several times and concluded that it was coming from a large Norway Spruce.  I could not see the bird, but that sure as heck sounded like a crossbill.  I was thinking Red Crossbill!  Certainly not a White-winged I concluded.  I have only heard Red Crossbill a couple of times at Rondeau in the past, but this was obvious.

I walked up to the tree and still could not see the bird, but pished as a last resort and the bird popped out briefly.  I did not even have binoculars, but there was a red bird.  Obviously a male.  As dumb as this may sound, I did not put on my binoculars for this walk, and only had the small lens in my camera as I was trying to look for scenery shots.
Goes to show that one should carry binoculars at all times, and that you never know what to find with regards to birds.  This is bird 202 for the location.

I took some back roads home just looking at all the flooded fields and overflowing ditches.  I often take back roads home in hopes of finding some kind of owl or other bird.

Looking towards  Port Lambton lagoons (the "ibis" spot!)

Gulls in one of the Flooded Fields

With all the reports of Snowy Owls lately, I check on key spots they have been in the past.  Also, a year ago I encountered a Short-eared Owl working a roadside.
Weather looks good this weekend-sunny but cold, so birding could be interesting.

Dusk at Chicken Island (NE Wallaceburg)

A Balmy Gull Extravaganza

This weekend was the one I chose to head up to the Niagara River to check out the gulls and other birds.  It turned out to be an excellent time!  A good number of gulls were on the river...and birders too!  The weather was balmy--certainly the warmest I have experienced there for this time of year.  I met lots of familiar people and even three fellow Bloggers!
No photos, as I gave the camera a rest this weekend.  Birds were too distant to photograph anyway, but he scenery was nice.  Actually for a brief period this morning, there was a nice sunrise.
I left Wallaceburg at 05:30 Saturday morning to get an early start.  I was going to check on that suspicious pelican on the way to Niagara-on-the-Lake, but missed the turn somehow.  I got it on the way home this afternoon.
Upon arrival at the mouth of the Niagara River, Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway pulled into the parking lot in front of me, and others I knew were already there looking at the Razorbill.  This alcid was visible right away!  It was undoubtedly my target bird for the weekend, and the others were just nice to see.  It appears that this bird is likely a first year bird.
I followed other birders upriver including Mark Peck, Barb Charlton, Tyler Hoar et al to the Queenston docks. From there we could see two adult Little Gulls.
On the way to Adam Beck, we checked for roosting Black Vultures, but to no avail.  Turns out this was the only day there were not seen! (not surprising to me).  Today, Brandon Holden and Jenn Bock spotted 5 well over New York soil before lunch.
At Adam Beck yesterday, the Franklin's Gull was well seen, and later sitting on the "roosting rock" upriver.  We also had at least 3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls (one a 2nd cycle-not often seen), 2 Thayer's (1 adult, 1 first cycle), perhaps 4 Iceland plus the usuals.  Glaucous was absent, as it has not come in with numbers yet.
Very few Bonaparte's here, but lots at the roosting rocks and whirlpool

I heard that there was a Black-legged Kittiwake at the Whirlpool, so I went up there to find it.  Brad Carlson helped me find it swimming on the water.  There was also a first cycle Little Gull there.
At the Falls with the Mark Peck party, we only found a couple of Lesser Black-backed Gulls.  No Purples yet!
I spent the rest of the afternoon at Adam Beck and "apparently", left just a few minutes before the California Gull was spotted!  Oh well, you cannot be everywhere all the time.  I had to go eat supper, and if anyone knows me, I don't miss meals!  It was one that Barb Charlton was after, making an impressive 315 for her Ontario list this year.

Early this morning I started at the Whirlpool.  However, I checked the north side which is actually quite good for viewing gulls.  Birders less often go to the viewing spot it seems.  I saw hundreds of bonies, but nothing unusual.
I then spent some time at Adam Beck seeing all the usuals.  Bored with that, I headed down to NOTL to get another look at the Razorbill.  Brandon and Jenn were there among others.  Just before I left Queen's Royal Park, I spotted an adult Little Gull among the bonies.
Not done for the morning, I went back up to Adam Beck.  I walked up the trail to view the roosting rocks spot.  While I was there a Northern Mockingbird perched for quite some time, and a few Eastern Bluebirds were feeding on berries.  Also there was a Yellow-rumped Warbler (first one in quite some time!), and chickadees.
Back to Adam Beck, a bonus bird came upriver and worked the area.  A Pomarine Jaeger (juv)!  It is the first jaeger I have seen there.  Likely the same one seen downriver earlier.
Almost forgot to mention, I had some Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins flying over Adam Beck early this morning.  First redpolls I have encountered this fall!
By this time it was raining quite heavily, so I headed homeward.  I made a brief stop to see that pelican, then booked it home in the rainy, windy weather.  A long, crappy drive......!
Next weekend will likely be good as well since it is supposed to get colder this week.

Niagara Birding

 A Row of Glaucous Gulls! 

This is the time of year birders flock to the Niagara River to look at gulls, waterfowl and any other birds of note.  Some excellent birds have been reported there this year, including the Razorbill at the mouth of the river, and the Black Vultures near Queenston.  They were once again reported today, and hopefully will be present for the weekend.

I plan on heading up there after a few year's absence!  I used to go every year, but have held off in recent times.  I first went  back in the 1990's to join field trips led by Martin Parker.  By doing that, I got a feel for the river and what to expect.  Certain spots are good vantage points for gulls and other birds.

A good starting point is the mouth of the river at Niagara-on-the-Lake at the park there.  It is an excellent spot to see grebes and loons and perhaps a Razorbill!
Other points include the Queenston docks where you can get right down to river level.  A little ways upriver, the Adam Beck overlook is a famous spot to see many species of gulls, including the annual California Gull.

Upriver from that, if you want to get warm and take a break, go into the Butterfly Conservatory.

The Whirlpool area is a good spot to look down on the gulls for species such as Black-legged Kittiwake.  I once saw a Franklin's Gull here.
There are various spots to look on the river, but above the falls you can look for other gulls and ducks.  Here you can also look for Purple Sandpiper on the slimy rocks.  I have not heard of any reports yet this year, but some should be there by now.
Beside the Enginerium building is a good outlook spot.  Keep your eyes open for other birds.  Back in 1995 I found a Yellow Warbler in the trees there that was apparently record late at the time.

Along the way, you meet other birders and you can exchange information as to what has been seen.  I always meet people I know, so that is helpful.
Weather looks fairly warm this weekend, unusual for this time of year.  I found it was always cold and windy almost every time I went in the past.
It is a long, crappy drive to get there, and perhaps that is why I do not go as often as I used to, but it should be an interesting weekend.  I know I will probably meet at least one birder there who reads this blog!

Brrrrr!

Birds on the Move

I birded the Rondeau area today.  I met up with Jim Burk at first light on South Point Trail.  Like many times this fall we did not find much on the trail.  Songbirds sure cleared out early this year!  Even Yellow-rumped Warblers are difficult to find right now.  In fact I have not seen one in a while.
Pine Siskins are still on the move.  There have been quite a few this fall, but they continue to motor on through. Several went over again this morning.
Perhaps the only interesting bird on south point was an American Woodcock that we scared up.  It would be a nice bird four weeks from now on the CBC!  I also spotted a timid Hermit Thrush that seemed to suddenly disappear.  Also in the thrush category, a few Eastern Bluebirds were present.  These are likely staying a while.
We headed up to the campground as we always do this time of year.  Our luck changed right away.  Many birds were out and about and one of the first was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  It will likely stay there as one or two hang around the campground into winter.  Near it was a male Eastern Towhee--perhaps another bird that will stick around.
Heading into the campground, Jim spotted a flock of 11 small geese flying south.  Snow geese...but wait....one was a little smaller which we assumed to be a Ross's Goose.  There were several Snow Geese of the blue form in this flock.  Surprisingly, these were the first Snow Geese I have seen this year!  Just yesterday I was wondering about this species as I visited Ridgetown lagoons.  I heard that three (3) Ross's Geese were seen at Point Pelee today as well.
At the north end of the campground a bunch of juncos came out of a cottage yard that has an excellent feeder setup.  One appeared to have a distinct hood that I concluded to be a female Oregon type.
Just a few minutes later, Jim and I both heard the distinctive flight calls of White-winged Crossbills passing quickly overhead.  We did not see them, but a minute later, another flock at lower altitude buzzed by.  We saw those and estimated at least 15 White-winged Crossbills on a mission south.
It is only every few years we get crossbills at Rondeau, so this was a treat.
I am including a couple photos of an immature female that I had at my feeder exactly ten years ago.  I thought it was rather unique, as this bird had no fear and was  so intent on eating that I walked right up to it.  It stayed a few days.

Near maintenance, we had a mixed flock of birds--Chickadees, Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers and a pair of Purple Finches.

Several Common Loons were flying over today, as we counted many while in the campground.

Jim and I parted ways for a bit and I went over to Ridgetown Lagoons.  Lots of geese and swans there, and the two Dunlin were still present from yesterday.  I think this was a little before Josh Vandermeulen arrived!

I worked my way back to Erieau and met Jim at the R/R track trail.  Not much was there, so we went to the pier.  Nothing unusual again, but 9 Sanderlings were flying around.  The bonies from yesterday were absent.

I did spot 4 Turkey Vultures over Rondeau Park at this point.

I checked Blenheim Lagoons on the way home and did not add anything new.

Another Big Blow...and Bust

With these relentless SW winds this fall, I have been going to the Tip of Point Pelee quite often in hopes of seeing some good birds.  Little has been seen, and today was no exception.  Although there were thousands of birds, most were Red-breasted Mergansers as usual.  It was a fairly big day for movement of mergansers.  I never tried to count, but I am sure there were well over 30,000.

Other ducks were mixed in including a few scoters (all three species), lots of Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Black Duck, Ruddy Duck, Long-tailed, etc.  Several Common Loons and Horned Grebes went by as well.
I spent the whole day birding, watching the sunrise at the Tip, then ending up at Ridgetown Lagoons.

A few birds were attempting to fly off the Tip including goldfish (aka Goldfinches) American Pipits, but no Cave Swallows.  It appears none have been reported in Ontario yet, but a couple were in Ohio yesterday.

Highlight of the day was a first cycle Franklin's Gull at the marina in Sturgeon Creek.  It had been seen by Kevin McLaughlin on Thursday, and perhaps it was there earlier.  A number of Franklin's Gulls have been reported lately--not surprisingly with the westerly winds.  We usually see an increase in sightings when the winds are strong from the west.
I found the Franklin's immediately upon my arrival at the marina.  It was sleeping on a dock with a Ring-billed and a Bonaparte's Gull.  It was directly in the sun, so photographing it was not ideal.

Bonaparte's Gull

Lots of Canada Geese in the creek, and I only picked out one Cackler just quickly scanning with binoculars.  Kevin said there were up to 8 at one point.

At Wheatley, there were lots of gulls to look at, but nothing unusual.  Horned Grebes were in the cut.





At Erieau, another good bunch of gulls, including Bonaparte's.

Horny Grebe

bonies

Several Double-crested Cormorants were around (at least seven), some of which will possibly stay through the CBC as in the past.

At the R/R track trail, a few Dunlin got up near the viewing platform and went out to the edge where there was probably mud.  I also had two Dunlin at Ridgetown.

Blenheim Lagoons were somewhat quiet, but the most numerous duck was Northern Shoveler.  Perhaps 90 were there--a pretty good number for now.

Ridgetown, as usual, had lots of Canada Geese, but no other goose species.  I hit the right time, as hundreds of Tundra Swans were coming in, as well as ducks.  I estimated about 800 swans all over the place.  This lagoon usually has Snow Geese, but strangley I have not seen one yet this fall. Once in a while a Ross's Goose will appear there as well.

One butterfly today included a Red Admiral on the east side at the Tip.  One bat included a Little Brown on the Tip washroom wall, as usual!

Tomorrow the winds switch to the NW, but still very strong.  The previous forecast has SW winds, so I am glad I went to Pelee today.  However, with my luck, something good will be found tomorrow!

November Notes

It has been a long week it seems, but Friday is almost here.  We had more seasonable weather today (high of 1 degree C), but the SW winds are kicking in again tomorrow to drive up the temperature.  

We will try again at the "Tip" this weekend, as we are overdue for some decent birds!  With the strong SW winds, the odds are with us that something of note will appear.

Dunlin at Pelee's icy Tip in December

This is the time of year many check out the Niagara River for gulls and other birds.  A Razorbill has been at the mouth for some time now, and many of the usual gulls are being reported.  The old standby California Gull has already been reported at the Adam Beck overlook.

Adam Beck overlook in November

The days are too short this time of year for us working folk to do much birding during the weekdays.  I have a bit of time at the beginning of the day, but that is quickly fading as December approaches.  I check out Port Lambton's Brander Park and the St. Clair River there.  Monday was birdy, with perhaps 3 dozen Juncos, a Purple Finch, Hermit Thrush and American Robins among others.  A Brown Creeper has been creeping around the park every day this week.

The St. Clair River has been slow, but I have been seeing Bonaparte's Gulls every day, cruising around.  Ducks have been scarce, but in recent years we do not see many until late December.

I have here a photo of the King Eider at the Tip of Point Pelee from last Sunday as taken by Steve Pike.  The bird was a bit distant, but some detail can be seen.

King Eider  at Point Pelee Tip 13 Nov 2011 (photo be Stephen T. Pike)

My other hobby of ships and boats always gets a plug on this blog once in a while.  I have some followers that enjoy this type of thing as well.  

Tomorrow is the 53rd anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley in Lake Michigan.  It broke in two on one of those famous " last trip " of the season.  Only two men survived.

Donald and Dorothy Langridge

It has special interest to me because my dad's cousin (Dorothy) was married to

a sailor in that fleet who at one time sailed on the Bradley.  

I have several on board photos.

Dorothy died last spring just a few months short of her 100th birthday.  The Mann's tend to live well into their 80's or 90's, and she has the distinction of living the longest.  (My grandfather made it to just short of 97).

I hope I am not crazy enough to still be birding when I get old!

Eider Down

I had to call this blog post something!  Very few birds yet again today, but the highlight was a young male King Eider at the Tip of Point Pelee.  We (Marianne Balkwill, Steve Pike, Alan Wormington, myself) saw a large duck flying down the east side and luckily it set down on the water.  For some reason we had to look at it for some time to decide it was a King.
I have not had much experience with eiders but have only seen King Eiders (either young males or females) at Point Edward, Point Pelee, near Rondeau and at Etobicoke (CSS Park).  I think females are tougher to ID between King and Common, but males are not all that difficult really if you get a good view.
Today's bird stayed for some time before taking off.  It is not often we see this species down our way.

Not a King Eider

The relentless strong south winds continued today, hopefully pushing some rarities up our way.  There are lots of things over in Wisconsin and Minnesota and some in northern Michigan, but not here.  As in the past, when it finally gets cold, there should be some good birding!

The Niagara River looked decent today, however I hate spending most of my time driving highways to get to places.  Niagara is a 7 hour round-trip from Wallaceburg!  Perhaps I will spend a weekend there soon.  I used to go every year just for the experience.  I think the best I have done is 11 or 12 species of gulls plus the other things there.

I left Pelee earlier than I had hoped today, as there simply was not much to see.  By the time I got to Tilbury, Steve Pike called me to say he located a Black-legged Kittiwake at Sturgeon Creek.

Kittiwake at Erieau a few years ago

I would have gone to look if I had been in the area, but I had already seen one this fall.

 Not a Kittiwake

Lots of Pipits and Horned Larks were out in the onion fields.  Pipits were even sitting on hydro wires.  I had to give a second take with the first one I looked at as I did not expect a Pipit on a wire!

Odds are we will get some good birds out of these weird winds, but this week is still supposed to be warm. Something to look forward to, I guess.....
Regarding yesterday's incredible discovery of a Lucy's Warbler in Michigan, photos and story on Karl Overman's site:
http://web.me.com/karloverman/Site/North_AmericaN_Birds_III/Pages/Lucys_Warbler.html

Good Birds in Ontario Soon?

With all these south winds lately, one would think Ontario would get a mega rarity.  The weather sure has been wacky this fall, but good birds have been showing up all around Ontario--especially west.  Late today a Lucy's Warbler was reported by Brad Murphy up at Whitefish Point in the UP of Michigan!  Some decent flycatchers have been seen in Minnesota and Wisconsin lately as well.  Soon...???!!!

Many tundra Swans Today!

I was out again today and the weather was just too nice yet again!  Birding was somewhat dull, just like it has been most of the fall.  Lots and lots of Pine Siskins were moving or flying around.  Best bird of the day was an Evening Grosbeak flying over the campground of Rondeau Park.  I recognized it by its distinctive call note.  Not one we get every year at Rondeau!  Near maintenance I am quite sure I had three White-winged Crossbills flyover also.


Fox Sparrows were around, with a group of six in the campground and a couple of others elsewhere.

Fox Sparrow

On South Point Trail, only one good pocket of birds included many Yellow-rumped  Warblers, an Eastern Phoebe and others.

I checked Blenheim Lagoons but nothing noteworthy other than about 75 American Coots were there.

At Erieau's R/R track trail, I met up with Steve Charbonneau and we came across at least one Common Yellowthroat in the reeds among many sparrows.  Steve had just checked the harbour area for Cave Swallows to no avail.  Where are the Cave Swallows?  Maybe tomorrow!
Lots of American Pipits were moving today, especially at Erieau.
Three species of butterflies today including Monarch (2), Orange Sulphur (6) and Clouded Sulphur (1).

November Winds and a Time to Remember

Lots of winds lately, but little to show for it in the way of birds.  With the exception of the odd good day this fall, birding has been dull in SW Ontario.  Lots of things have been reported all around and even in eastern Ontario, but time after time I have seen very little.
Over in Minnesota and Wisconsin, many "good" birds have been sighted.  A good summary is on Michael Butler's blog Northshorenature today.
Today was no exception.  With things slow at work before we get into winter work, I took the day off and headed to the Tip.  Strong westerly winds again today, but not a good bird to be found!  Quite often it is being in the right place at the right time, as was the case last Sunday when Cherise Charron (link)
photographed at Black-legged Kittiwake at the Tip parking lot around noon.  We had been at the Tip most of the morning!
I met the usual crew today for the Tip "love fest" plus a surprise.  Jeremy Hatt was down from Toronto.
We watched for a few hours and looked at lots of Bonaparte's Gulls, but no Franklin's or others.  Perhaps some Franklin's will show in the next day or two as a result of these strong west winds.

The Tip has severely eroded recently and there was little ground to stand upon.  The Tip lifering went for a swim as seen in the above photo!


Very few landbirds.  I found a few Fox and White-throated Sparrows plus the usual Robins and Waxwings near White Pine.
Several hawks were on the move, mostly Red-tailed.

It was thought Cave Swallows would show today, but I guess there is still hope in the next few days.                                             Now that they are off the Ontario Review List, maybe none will appear this year!

Strong winds are still forecast in the next few days, so hopefully something interesting will appear.





November is not only the time to honour and remember war veterans, but a time when many on the Great Lakes remember ships and sailors that have perished in storms.  Today is the 36th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald and loss of its entire crew of 29 men.  It was something that many believed unfathomable at the time, but it did happen.

Me, examining the Fitzgerald's lifeboat up at the Soo, summer 1978

A Bittersweet Day?

I don't know what to call today's blog.  It was my birthday today and I was hoping for a good bird to top it off.  With this strange weather continuing, not much was around.  I went to Point Pelee again on the strong south wind.
I met some of the usual birders there, and we checked out what was moving.  It was a decent loon day with over 250 Common Loons on the move.  No other loon species though.  Not much else to mention really.
While there, a fresh American Painted Lady stopped by, and even set down on my pant leg.  It is quite late for this species and perhaps record late for there.

American Painted Lady

I found another, rather worn, up West Beach Trail.
The same butterfly species were around as yesterday, but not quite in the number.
A large flock of starlings was swirling around the Tip area first thing this morning.  Has anyone seen that video Murmuration of Starlings that has been on the internet the last couple of days? That was taken in Ireland and quite an impressive sight.
Starling Video


It looks like a windy week and unseasonably mild (yet again!) to start.  Wednesday looks like an excellent day to be at the Tip of Pelee.  As usual it will be a weekday.....

Another Pelee Tip Watch

Since there was a strong SE wind, I decided the best bet was Point Pelee for today.  I arrived shortly before 08:00 and was soon joined by Alan.  Most the birds were made up of Red-breasted Mergansers.  Probably 15 duck species in total for the day.  Not many gulls today.  Shorebirds included a single Sanderling and a distant flock of about 20 Dunlin.  A total of 22 Common Loons was seen by myself.  A single Red-throated was spotted by Alan.

Merganser Mess

A fair number of raptors were moving.  I later saw two Golden Eagles (juv) and a perched Peregrine Falcon.


Strangely I never came across a warbler!  Very few passerines today.  A good sized flock of sparrows was at the south end of NW Beach--mainly Juncos.  An Eastern Phoebe was here also.

One Snow Bunting was flying around as I walked down West Beach Trail south of the VC.  I was mainly looking for butterflies and some were to be found.  I had 7 species today!  Most common was Buckeye.

Totals included:
    Common Sulphur --3 NW Beach (south of P. L.)
    Orange Sulphur --1 West Beach Trail, 4 NW Beach

    Question Mark --1 NW Beach
    Eastern Comma --4 WBT, 2 NW Beach
    Red Admiral --1 WBT
    Common Buckeye --12 WBT, 7 NWB
    Monarch --1 WBT, 1 NWB

Maybe Shoeless Joe's had some Fiery Skippers, but I did not have time to go and look.





Still some possibilities Sunday as strong south winds are predicted.

Orange Sulphur

Do you recognize this mug?