Mid-October Skies

 The last couple of days have been quite nice with clear skies.  I was out and about as usual to take advantage of the great October weather.  Today I visited some conservation areas north of Wallaceburg.  Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport is one of my favourite places for a walk, even if there are not many birds.  Today, several birds were flitting around.

View looking west

A couple of Black-capped Chickadees were quite curious about my presence.

Next stop was the McKeough Dam.  Some Purple Finches were flying over, but no other finch types seemed to be present. 

A Blue-headed Vireo was in the mix of passerines.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk through the woods at Reid C. L.  Many of the leaves had already fallen, so I missed some opportunities to photograph colours.

A few butterflies are still around, including Painted Lady.

I saw some type of darner at one point, but it flew off before I could ID it.  Autumn Meadowhawks are still around of course.

And, in the last day or so, Common Checkered-Skippers have shown up in my yard.

Yesterday I visited Keith McLean C. L.  A Yellow-billed Cuckoo showed nicely at one point just before I left.  It is getting late for them, but not unusual to get them at this date.  Seems it has been a good season for them, as many have been seen of late.

There have not been many good days for lake watches this season.  Saturday seemed promising, so I went up to Sarnia and spent over four hours there.  I was first to arrive!

The previous evening, a Sabine's Gull had been seen (not a good year for them in our area this year!) so I thought there would be a good chance it could still be around at first light.  I was right!  Too distant for a photo, but I was lucky to see it as it flew out onto the lake never to be seen again.  

Several birders were present for a lakewatch, but nothing of note showed up.  However, it was a good day for ducks, especially Northern Pintail.  Perhaps up to 400 were migrating through that morning.

A Short-eared owl did appear, as it migrated over the lake and landed near the lighthouse on the Michigan side.  We often see them come in over the lake this time of year!  Always a treat to see.

Some ships were upbound as well to keep up my interest..

John J. Boland

John D. Leitch

Last Thursday I needed a long walk so went out Rondeau's marsh trail.  As usual, nothing of note!  But I needed the exercise.

The following views of the shoreline are from the end of the boardwalk at the half way point.

And, during a visit to Rondeau last week, spring was in the air.....or so it seemed.  There was a lilac in bloom beside the pony barn.  I think they are supposed to bloom in early May!

Till next time....