I have been checking out the usual spots lately, but nothing spectacular to report. Since the weather has been very unseasonal this month with continuous north winds, it has been uncomfortable at times.
I have been to Rondeau a couple of times, including this past Tuesday. I did the long walk out marsh trail first thing, then walked down Harrison trail a bit.
This Mourning Warbler popped up at one point.
Then it was over to Erieau. An obliging Wilson's Warbler was trailside.
Next day, this Gray Catbird was skulking around the yard at home.
On the Thursday, the weather was absolutely horrible, but I went up to Kettle Point anyway. A bit of a lakewatch was in order since a Black-headed Gull had recently been found.
If it was October, the weather would fit right in! Uncomfortably cold, but the lakewatch revealed the Black-headed Gull. It was too distant for a photo though, but the following shows where it was.
This gull was the first of its kind since about 1994 or so in Lambton (according to eBird), so it was a new one for our Lambton list.
Some Whimbrel had been seen already that day (and the day before), but I only managed to get a glimpse of one. They are rather rare in Lambton at this time!
It was back to Rondeau on Friday. Cool but sunny, and there were lots of birds. Nothing rare though, as I checked out quite a few areas.
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| Eastern Towhee (singing an odd song!) |
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| Chestnut-sided Warbler |
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| thrush of the woods |
There were lots of Bay-breasted Warblers this day, not one being very still.
Saturday I felt like staying close to home. Started out clear, but quickly clouded over. The skies cleared again for a while, but most of the day was cloudy with northerly winds making it uncomfortable.
I went for a long walk at Reid CA. Would have been nice it was more seasonably warm to look for insects, but that was not to be.....again!
While the sun was out, it was nice! Some Cedar Waxwings were checking out some blossums.
There were rather few birds, and only a couple of "migrants" during my walk.
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| Random Scene: Chinquapin Oak! |
Today, was clear and sunny and eventually became fairly warm, despite the relentless NE winds.
I started at Blenheim lagoons where nothing of note (again!) was seen. Good birds rarely stay, as a Red-necked Phalarope was seen the previous day. This species is quite rare in spring!
Then went to Erieau to walk the marsh trail and McGeachy Pond trail. Quite a few birds!
McGeachy was more interesting with the highlight being a singing Connecticut Warbler. It was in the thick area and never made an appearance! Apparently it is a RBA.
Also unseen were a couple of Mourning Warblers.
It was still early in the day, so I headed west to Hillman Marsh. Lots of shorebirds coming and going at the shorebird cell. It is the time of year we get hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers, and today was no exception. Well over 600 during my tenure there. And just as many Dunlin.
A male Wilson's Phalarope was fairly close, but the time of day had poor lighting.
Interestingly, it was following a Blue-winged Teal. The teal was obviously stirring up critters for the phalarope!
Two Stilt Sandpipers were also seen, but again in horrible light and not very close. The stilts are very rare spring migrants, but regular in fall migration. I guess they take different routes.
A few things have been filtering through the yard each day. Yesterday, a couple of Swainson's Thrushes stayed the day.
Also, a little bandit passed through.
Today, among other things, a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was hunting for insects.
Looks like warmer weather ahead....finally!
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