On the Verge of Spring

 Nothing new lately, but we finally had a mild spell the last couple of days.  Much of the snow disappeared!  It was a relief to go outside with a light jacket in the afternoon.

Today, I saw the first migrant Red-winged Blackbird along the St. Clair River, a sing of things to come.

The river had opened up quite a bit, so waterfowl was spread out.  I was able to get into Cathcart Park for the first time in a while since the snow had melted enough.  A good number of Ring-necked Ducks had congregated here.

In fact, there were around 50, which is a good number for the river during winter.

There was an oddball duck, no doubt with domestic genes.

It has been a good winter for Red-breasted Merganser along the river.  Usually there are not a lot.

Canvasbacks have thinned out quite a bit.

Lots of gulls (mostly Herring) were moving up the river today.  At Mooretown, I counted over 400 in about a half hour.

When out along the St. Clair River, I am always reminded of good times when I was young.  We spent  a lot of time along that river!  Summer picnics were always a highlight.  One of our favourite spots was Seager Park (we called it The Willows back then).

Yesterday, I went down to Rondeau Park for a change in scenery and scoped the lake off access #8.  Things were a bit distant, but there was lots of movement of ducks and gulls.

The backyard feeder has been dismal this winter.  Hopefully spring weather will appear soon and bring something of interest.

A Trying Week

 I have not been out much lately, but there is not much in the way of birds out there this winter anyway!  Other than waterfowl along the St. Clair River, there are very few birds to find this winter.

Spending much time at home, it has been a difficult week, as my mother passed away yesterday morning quite peacefully.  She had health issues since last summer, going through a steady decline.  Although she had a remarkable life reaching the age of 87 (88 in another month!), it is always difficult to lose a loved one. Her mind was 100% sharp right to the last minute.

Memories are precious.  I include a couple of photos from June 1970 on an outing to Rock Glen.  I thought it appropriate here to include a natural place.

Mom with my cousin Carol Abraham (left), and my sister Susan (right)

Me, at left!

I thank everyone who has reached out to me in the last day or so.  Talking to people helps in the healing process.  As well, a thank-you to Steve Charbonneau for letting the local birding fraternity know about my mother.

I was able to get for a bit most days, just driving around.  Or, short walks at my "go-go" place, Reid CA.

Unfortunately, there is hardly anything around the feeder this winter.  Certainly the quietest winter ever around here.

Today was a gorgeous day so I drove around for a bit in the afternoon.

Roadside American Tree Sparrow

I went for a short walk at Moore WMA, but only had three birds!  All heard only.  Usually Moore is a nice place to look for birds in winter.....but not this year.

lots of animal tracks

Although nice to have a 'winter' for a change, it has gone on long enough!

Walk In The Woods, Hybrid Ducks and McGeachy Mocker

 Tuesday was a fine day to go for a walk in the woods.  With sunny skies and no wind for a change, it was quite pleasant at Reid CA.

Not many birds of course, but Wild Turkey tracks were everywhere throughout the property.

Here is another tree that took an abrupt turn earlier in life.

Nearby, another tree had some fungus called Silky Parchment.

Not sure what this fungus was, but part of the tree was on the ground.

Common Hackberry trees are rare at Reid, but here is another one.

I found some oak galls at one point, which are quite neat.

Wednesday, I made a good run along the St. Clair River.  It was still iced-in to north of Sombra, but had opened up quite a bit northward.  I suspect there is an ice bridge somewhere up Sarnia way keeping ice from flowing downstream.

It was a day of hybrid ducks.  Upon arrival at Cathcart Park, I spotted a Canvasback X Redhead male (females are more difficult to pick out!).  Another observer saw several more upriver later in the afternoon.  Too distant for the camera though.

As well, a Ring-necked X Redhead was here.  The open water was farther offshore, so it was not too close.

The male Ruddy Duck was also here.

I went as far as Guthrie Park, Corunna this day.  There was not much at Corunna this time around.  

The local Trumpeter Swan was in close.

Wednesday night we received quite a bit of snow, so I stayed home until afternoon.  Although a sunny day for the most part, there was not much to see along the river.  I cut in on Pointe Line, and came across some of the Sandhill Cranes that have been spending the winter in the area.

Today, I did not get going until late morning, but headed in the southerly direction for a change.  There is a lot less snow along Lake Erie!

I went for a walk at McGeachy Pond, where the lake was mostly ice.  

However, a few Redhead ducks were in an open spot.

Eight Sandhill Cranes were circling to the north, but out of range for the camera.

Mounds of ice along the shoreline as one would expect, but there was one spot that formed a mini grotto.

The local Northern Mockingbird was right near the tower today.

It must be getting desperate, trying to consume those non-native berries!

I then headed through Shrewsbury and got a glimpse of the wintering Virginia Rail.  There is a perpetual open water spot where it likes to hang out.

I did walk the campground in Rondeau Park, but it was virtually birdless!  I saw a flock of a dozen House Finches, and that was it!

There was lots of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings along the paved roads today as I worked my way home.

More Tourin'

 Lots of ice in the St. Clair River these days.  Been a few years since we have seen this much ice.  One has to go well north of Sombra to find significant open water.

Friday was a nice sunny day as I drove up to Mooretown.  Nothing new though.  

There is a bit of open water on the Chenal Ecarte that ducks occasionally stop at.

Saturday I felt like taking a long drive and went into Middlesex County.  With the freezing rain last week, it has been virtually impossible to walk anywhere with so much ice.  I managed to walk Wardsville Woods, but it was very dangerous.

Scene at Wardsville Woods

I went as far as Melbourne, then headed back up towards Glencoe, then over to Skunk's Misery.  I saw various raptors along the way, a very large flock of Snow Buntings and even a Common Raven (hwy 2 east of Taits Road).

The Misery was almost birdless as it usually is this time of year, but I did encounter some birds at the north end of Sassafras Road, including some American Robins.

I then headed up Limerick along the county line and found a nice patch of birds by the old pasture.  Among others, a Northern Flicker was here (lighting horrible as usual!).

The oddest bird was a male Red-winged Blackbird.  Seemed out of place.

I then turned down Fansher Road which goes quite a ways to Florence.  It has some interesting areas.  At one point, I noticed a couple of Golden Eagles soaring back and forth.

It was interesting to seem them interacting at one point, as seen above.

Seems to be quite a few Golden Eagles wintering over a wide area from here well into Middlesex and down to Elgin County.

I did not do much on Sunday except watch the yard.

I did get out to Port Lambton briefly in the afternoon.  Stopped by the Snye again, and some ducks were in the open areas.

Today, I went out to the river.  The only two good spots were at CF Industries outlet and at Guthrie Park, Corunna.

Lots of Greater Scaup were at CF, and at least eight Ring-necked Ducks.

At Stag Island off Guthrie, there was a good variety of waterfowl.

There are fewer Redhead on the river due to the ice.  One wonders where they have gone.

A single Lesser Scaup was fairly close. Lessers are quite uncommon here in winter.

Highlight was a Horned Grebe which was continually moving just offshore.  It spent most of its time diving, so difficult to keep track!

And of course, lots of Bald Eagles along the river.