Perfect Morning Along River Saint Clair

 On Monday, I took a "day off" from the St. Clair River for a change in scenery.  It was a sunny day, so nice to drive through the countryside.  There are not many birds out there, as noted on my drive to Strathroy and back!

I ended up at the Strathroy sewage lagoons for a good walk.  This is one of the few lagoons that are completely open to the public, and a good birding spot to boot.  I did not spot many birds, but some Yellow-rumped Warblers annually winter there.

Heading home, I drove back roads as the wind picked up.  Besides some Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and numerous flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos, there was not much to see.  And, virtually no raptors!  I only saw two Red-tailed Hawks (they were together), but I did manage to see a Golden Eagle in the usual area off McCready Line.  Too distant for a photo though.

Golden Eagles have been widespread this winter, but are indeed hit and miss.  Usually miss!

Of interest, I saw this tree with a huge gall (opposite McPhail Tract on Mosside Line).  I have noticed it before, but this day was a good opportunity to photograph it.

Today was another story. I headed out to the St. Clair River and conditions were absolutely perfect!  Clear skies, little wind and warmer temps. As well, there was no shortage of waterfowl to sort though.  I still could not spot anything rare, but it was nice as usual, to look at waterfowl.

The tour started off nicely, as almost 50 Sandhill Cranes were in a field south of Brander Park, Port Lambton.  These had been reported in the area a few days earlier, but eluded my eyes until today.

They must have been cold, as many were standing on one leg!  We have seen them here in winter before.

Along the river, there was too much ice until one got to Fawn Island.  Actually, the river was more open today north of here.

A Bald Eagle stirred things up at one point.

Common Merganser

Red-breasted Merganser

Cathcart Park was once again good.  Here, it was nice enough to sit on a picnic table and view thousands of waterfowl.

Notable here was an American Coot.  Somewhat distant, but mixing in well with the ducks.

This is probably the individual reported a few days ago about a kilometre or so north from here.

There were lots of ducks all the way up to the OC Industries outflow.  There are now too many trees in along the shoreline to get good looks at things south of the outflow.  It never used to be like that as I recall when the Ivory Gull was here in 1995.

There were quite a few swans around, and probably the Trumpeter Swans were present, but I did not look too intently.

Swan of the Tundra

Mergansers with hoods near Stokes point

The Chenal Ecarte (or Snye) has some open water south of the county line and lots of ducks were taking advantage.  I noted a Pied-billed Grebe here as well today.

I will be checking out Sarnia tomorrow afternoon, so Sarnians beware!

I will conclude with this poem about the St. Clair River, which tells it all.