My first stop was Perch Creek Habitat which is a place to get a decent variety of birds in winter. It has been rather quiet of late, and today was no exception. The property is adjacent the old Blackwell Landfill, so you can wander that and also take a look at the massive solar farm. It is good for raptors in winter, and today there were several Rough-legged Hawks, a Red-tailed and a couple of Northern Harriers.
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At dusk you are likely to see Short-eared Owls, as they seem to like solar farms!
Early on, as the light was still rather dull (actually dull all day....oops, it IS the weekend), I encountered a Long-eared Owl beside the trail. I was careful not to flush it. Unable to get good camera settings due to the lack of light.
There were hardly any birds, where in past years it is good for American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, and some sparrows.
I then moved on to Canatara Park to look at ducks and waterbirds on the lake. Visibility was not all that great and a cold brisk wind made things difficult. A decent raft of Redhead (with other ducks mixed in) was off the north end.
This handsome Long-tailed Duck was fairly close.
I did not find the lingering Horned Grebe, reported of late.
Lots of Red-breasted Mergansers are around right now.
I skipped the Point Edward lakewatch spot as I did not see much in that direction from Canatara, then went to the harbour area. Some Mallards and a couple of lingering Wood Ducks were near the grain elevator. Often there is a Wood Duck here in winter!
I could see a mass of gulls over Sarnia Bay, so I went over the parking lot at the end of London Road. Unfortunately, most gulls left, but they eventually came back.
There was upwards of 500 Herring, and I picked out a Glaucous and an Iceland among them.
It was bitterly cold there, so I could not stay out long to take a good look.
I then headed downriver and stopped a the south end of the Shell Dock. There I found a Wood Duck in company with other ducks.
At least 25 Hooded Mergansers were here. They seem to like the Shell Dock during winter. You are always guaranteed them at this location.
A mass of gulls was at the mouth of Talfourd Creek, likely feeding on shad. Around 500 Herring were here, but I could not pick out anything else!
There was nothing else of note downriver, so I headed inland along Bickford Line to Moore Wildlife Management Area. This WMA is a good spot for birds in winter, but the last couple have been terribly quiet for some reason.
I did finally find a group of birds--the usuals. No Yellow-rumped Warblers though, which usually winter here.
Final stop of the day was at Stewart Wetland. Unfortunately, it is now frozen over, but the Snye is open. Here I found the Pied-billed Grebes again.....wait for it......11 of them! They kept popping up. There have been a number here all fall, so I think this is mostly a family group that nested nearby.
Christmas Bird Counts start next weekend for most of us, so some good birds will be reported....most likely!
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