Tail of the Shrew

 (I could not think of another catchy title!)

Short-tailed Shrew (deceased)

I suppose the highlight for me this week was going to see the Black-necked Stilt at Strathroy.  An early Black-necked Stilt showed up at Strathroy lagoons earlier this week.  As you recall, a pair successfully nested there last year, which was Ontario's first successful record of this species.

I arrived early on Tuesday morning, under gloomy skies and a stiff cold wind.  I met up with Paul Nicholson and we soon spotted the stilt.

A number of waterfowl were in the other cell which we observed while walking around it.  Here, an Eared Grebe has been present for some time.  It was difficult to spot, as it spent more time below the surface than above!  With that, weather conditions, and distance, I was unable to get an sort of a photo.  However we did see it well in our scopes.

Farther south in Middlesex, a Smith's Longspur was photographed near Melbourne a couple day's previous.  We went to look for that, but it had long since departed.  I have seen a couple of them in Ontario, so not a huge disappointment.

There has not been much to see in the way of birds lately in my area.  Seems like a slow spring from what we are sometimes used to from the past.

Yesterday, I went for a long walk at Reid CA and looked at plants.  Some are still yet to bloom or pop up.

I found some Bloodroot, which is scarce at Reid.

Large-leaved Bell Flower was about to bloom.

Some others:

Dutchman's Breeches

Wood Anemone

Dwarf Ginsing

Wild Ginger is very abundant throughout Reid, but I did nto photograph any as it is just coming up.

There are other plant to look for of course, some yet to come.  I did see Skunk Cabbage once, but I doubt I could find it again!  Twinleaf is there, but I have not seen it yet this year.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Reid CA

Today, I went down to Rondeau.  Not a lot of birds yet, but I guess exercise is always good!

More White-throated Sparrows are showing up, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets seem to out-number its golden counterpart.

My last walk was a bit out marsh trail a little past the old tower area.  Still nothing of note there either. Kingfishers were competing for territory.

Rain the next couple of days...supposedly!

Algoma Transport at Port Lambton