K.P.-P.P-Nuts-No Dice

Just a short posting today.  I went up to Kettle Point and Pinery today for a change.  Another very nice day, but obviously too nice.
I checked out Ipperwash Beach and Kettle Point for Purple Sandpiper.  No such shorebird, so no dice.  It is probably still present somewhere.  The road (Parkway Dr.?) along Ipperwash beach is always interesting because of the coniferous trees.  It is a good flyway for small birds and attracts lots of chickadees, nuthatches, finches, etc.  Noteworthy was a small flock of Common Redpolls flying off a birch tree.
Ipperwash beach is unique as you can drive your car all along the beach.

I decided to go into Pinery Park and check out some good spots.  Usually they are good this time of year, but with this strange weather, birds are spread out.  I had heard that the Red-headed Woodpeckers were hanging out on Heritage Trail.  Three elusive ones were present today!  Nice to get them in winter.  We used to get them regular north of Wallaceburg, especially on the CBC but have not for a few years.
The trail along the river at Riverside Campground is usually good as in the past I have had Northern Shrike, Bohemian Waxwing, Pine Grosbeak, etc.  Not much today, but had a Robin among other things.
Tufted Titmouse was plentiful as expected.  I would have obtained some good photos, but had the wrong setting on the camera since lighting was dull!

bathing Titmouse

On the way home, I stopped at McKellar Tract again and found the pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches right away.  I was looking for owls in the pines and I did flush an owl.  Not sure what it was though, but it seemed big.

 R. B. Nuts

Down the road I stopped at Moore WMA and found a Yellow-rumped Warbler!  I could not go far as the river was still running high.  This spot harbours the warblers every winter, although last year I could not find any.  I have found Yellow-rumped here every winter since at least the mid 1990's.