Friday I ventured down to Rondeau way, and started with a lakewatch. Nothing of note, but lots of Red-throated Loons appeared, as we now expect this time of year. Numbers will likely build, and hopefully lots will be around for the Christmas Bird Count in two weeks. Last year, we had a crazy record number!
"Land" birds are very scarce now, and a walk through the campground in the park and maintenance area revealed very little.
It was then over to Erieau to look for the "Western" Sandpiper. On Thursday, Steve Charbonneau photographed a sandpiper which was obviously a Western. Although almost a look-alike to the Semipalmated, Western is expected or default species this time of year.
The "peep" we saw there a week ago was undoubtedly the Western Sandpiper. (We were too lazy to go back for a scope, lol).
The subject bird had been seen earlier in the morning, but disappeared over the edge for some time. We were almost ready to give up after a long wait yesterday, but soon it appeared with three Dunlin.
Others had better cameras than mine on site, so you can view those photos on eBird.
This is not the latest we have had around here. I recall one in 2016 at Blenheim lagoons. It stayed for several weeks well into December, till freeze-up! One can see ice on its feet in one of my photos.
Lots of this species have been recorded over the years around the Rondeau birding area.
There were four species of shorebirds at Erieau's Marsh trail yesterday. At least 25 Killdeer, 3 Dunlin, and 3 Wilson's Snipe!
Today, weather was the pits first thing (yep, it is the weekend!). I went up to Sarnia for a lakewatch, which seemed to be the best thing to do in the rain. My goal was to see a Black-legged Kittiwake.
One these kitties seemed to be hanging around the last few days at the mouth of Lake Huron, but it was a longshot that I would see it. Just after 08:30, I caught sight of it! It quickly disappeared into the river, but there was no chance for a photo in the driving rain. Mission accomplished.
A photo of one just over a year ago will have to suffice here:
There were two Iceland Gulls.
The other bird of note was a Nelson's Gull (Herring X Glaucous).
From there I went up to Ipperwash for a brief lakewatch. It was not productive for me! And, landbirds were missing in action.
Some ships went to anchor on Lake Huron probably due to the wind. I noticed the Mesabi Miner, Algoma Intrepid, an Algoma tanker and the Radcliffe Latimer. The Latimer went upbound while I was watching the lake.
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