Red-neck Birding

I suppose I could have called the last post Red-neck Birding with those phalaropes!  One has to think of a catchy title once in a while.  The seven Red-necked Phalaropes were still at Blenheim today.  They tend to stay in a tight group, so I managed to get them all in one frame!

However, there were two separate Red-neckeds in the sprinkler cell.  Now we have nine!

It was an excellent day for birding.  With the weather and wind, it seemed probable this morning as I went out the door before sunrise.  I could hear migrants in the skies.

I started at Rondeau's south point trail.  Dozens of warblers greeted me.  Lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches as well.






I continued on out south beach.  Lots of warblers out there as well in the woody areas.  The Willet from last week was still present in the same spot for some reason.



Only other shorebirds were three Wilson's Snipe with the Willet.  In fact, snipe were all over today.
Many Great Egrets and other herons were out in the marsh.  I also heard Sandhill Crane at one point.
The most interesting thing was a chorus of Sora rails.  They must have been having a convention as many were calling constantly. I saw one at one point.  I estimated at least a dozen or so.





Among the warblers were lots of Palm.  Quite an influx as there were many all over.  Many Blackpoll around as well.

On my way back well onto south point trail, I encountered a hairstreak that flushed off the side of the trail.  With the flash of blue I knew it was a White-M!  It set down momentarily so I got a look at it, then it was gone.  Never got a photo.  A bit of a surprise really.  First record for the park I assume.

Skippers created some fire

I checked some other areas for butterflies but saw little.

Common-checkered Skipper at Blenheim

On to Blenheim lagoons....tons of shorebirds, especially in the sprinklers.  Already mentioned the phalaropes.  A obvious juv Baird's was in the sprinklers among the others.  Nothing else new, but it was nice to sort through perhaps 200 birds in the sprinklers alone.  A snipe there too.
Pond 5 is almost dried up infortunately.  Lots of birds to look at.

Common Sooty-wing at Blenheim

I also checked Ridgetown.  Lots of birds there as well.  Nothing noteworthy.  Another snipe.

McGeachy Mocker