Some Winter Birding-Rondeau and Ridgetown

This morning I headed down to Rondeau Park to check around.  Nothing new was found, but hopefully some of the birds we saw today will be seen in another week on the Christmas Bird Count.
We did a short lakewatch at dog beach first thing.  It was quite frigid with the brisk wind (it has been very windy all week), but we did see a couple of Red-throated Loons.  It would be nice to get at least one on December 17!

Along south point trail, we found the mixed flock of birds that had both kinglets, chickadees, both nuthatches, among others.  There was not much else, but that is par for this time of year. Next Sunday will be interesting as to what turns up.
Surprises always turn up during CBC's such as the five American Woodcocks I found late in the day at Rondeau last year.  It was a Canadian CBC high!

Later, I checked the campground and saw some of the usual birds.  Only one Yellow-rumped today.  I had hoped the Townsend's Warbler was visiting the campground, but while I was there, it was found in its usual area in Bate's!  Good to know...it just has to stay eight more days.
At the maintenance area, I just got out of the car and found a few birds at the SE corner.  Two Ruby-crowned Kinglets zipped by, and at least three American Robins were in the rose bush.

A Hermit Thrush was there, plus a flicker, and some other birds.  A Yellow-rumped Warbler was near the loop trail.  Some have been around there recently feeding on poison ivy berries.

I decided to walk the campground one more time and found a few Fox Sparrows which I missed previously.  I did find more juncos and American Tree Sparrows.  I am sure there might be a chippie or two, or Field Sparrows nearby.

Opposite the campground entrance, I noticed some gulls sitting on the ice in the Bay.  One stuck out as dark and I suspected Lesser Black-backed.  I walked over with the scope and sure enough it was a Lesser.

Nearby was a Snowy Owl feeding on something, but it too was rather distant.

Today's eBird list:
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S40988971

My next stop was Ridgetown Lagoons.  There is still some open water there and lots of ducks and geese and swans were present.
I noticed one swan with extra yellow on the lore area and base of bill.  It made me think of "Bewick's", but perhaps not.  There are different variations on the amount of yellow with each having a name.  The least amount of yellow is referred to a the 'blackneb' which today's bird is close to.

Before getting home, I headed out to the Snye to see what was around.  I was hoping to see Sandhill Cranes, but they seem scarce this year.  I did have 14 along Stewart Line on Thursday.
Three Pied-billed Grebes were swimming on the Snye.  We often get them on the Wallaceburg CBC late in the month.

This Redhead has been hanging around in the canal next to Stewart Wetland.

Tomorrow, I will check some different areas!