Spring Flings 'N Things

 Things are slowly coming in with this roller coaster weather.  I have checked out the usual haunts, sometimes several times!

Been to Rondeau and points in between a few times.  

The Iconic Concrete Structure! (getting farther out)

I have not had too much luck at Rondeau, but it is always a nice place to go.  Winter leftovers include Yellow-rumped Warblers, but we should be seeing new arrivals about now.

One day I took a trip to Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee.  Nothing spectacular, but one of these days I may get it right!  I did however, find a Hairy Woodpecker, which is actually rare at Point Pelee.  May have been my first one there, but I do not remember.  No chance for a photo though.

Great Egret at Hillman Marsh

Curious Kinglet

Been to Reid C. L. a couple of times.  This Field Sparrow was an early arrival checking out the place.

The warm weather a couple of days ago revealed one of the first signs of spring.  Harbinger of Spring was just popping up.

And, the early butterflies included  Eastern Commas.

I walked along the riverbank for a while.  I found one spot with several mussels, but the bank was too steep to descend.  One was easily recognized as a Mapleleaf, which I only took with the long lens.

A couple of visits to Mitchell's Bay were in order this past week.  Many of the wintering ducks have left, but a few were still present.  Great Egrets are making their rounds resplendent in breeding plumage.

Red-bellied Woodpeckers are checking out nesting sites.

Ducks included Blue-winged Teal, although the below photo was taken at Peers Wetland after I got back from Mitchell's Bay.

A couple of days ago I checked out both the south shore trail as well as the north shore trail.  The north side is a bit more exposed and it was a cool windy day, but I persevered.  

An early Greater Yellowlegs was working the mudflat.  

There is a lot of mud at the Bay, so shorebirds should be happy when they arrive in numbers!

One of the trips to Rondeau was primarily a lakewatch.  Lots of waterfowl moving, but nothing unusual.  This American Pipit was working the surf-line was we stood watch.  It was a first-of year for us.

Yesterday was uncomfortably cold as I checked out Keith McLean C. L. and Rondeau.  Lots of mud at McLean's too!  Shorebirds included Lesser Yellowlegs and Wilson's Snipe.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Today was a threatening rain but I got a run out to the St. Clair River first thing.  Not much to see, but I keep hoping for a Red-necked Grebe or something.  A good time for them to show up!

By the time I got home, it started raining, so it was a good time to do some volunteer work at the museum.  I had a tour of the back rooms, and there is so much stuff one does not see on display!

Afterwards, I decided to make a quick run to Strathroy.  Yesterday, a Black-necked Stilt showed up!  As you recall, they nested there for a couple of years, but did not last year.  There was not even a sighting last year.  This bird was a record-early arrival in Ontario.  Perhaps it was anxious to get started!

Upon arrival, I could not find the elegant shorebird, but it soon popped out for viewing.  It moved around quite a bit.

Hopefully a mate will arrive this year and they can make more stilts!