Earth Day Birding and Reid Plant Tour

 Today was one of the better weather days so far this spring.  I headed down to Rondeau Park, but it was rather quiet for birds.....again!  Yes, it is early, but one always expects more.

A couple of first-of-year birds included a Red-headed Woodpecker along Lakeshore Road, and a Blue-headed Vireo on south point trail.

Butterflies were enjoying the warmth.

American Painted-Lady

While in the park, I heard reports of Marbled Godwits, Willets and American Avocets at points farther west.  It was one of those days that those types of shorebirds show up in numbers!

I left the park and headed towards Erieau.  Spent some time at McGeachy and the marsh trail there.

A single Willet was reported on the tip of Rondeau, as seen from the Erieau pier area.  I managed to see that one, but it was too distant to even try for a photo.

American Avocets were reported at Hillman Marsh.  I had not intended to go that far today, but since the avocet is my favourite shorebird, I had to go!

I went straight to the Hillman shorebird cell where there were lots of shorebirds.  There were big numbers of Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers, but in the distance I picked out four dowitchers as well.

Long-billed Dowitchers are the default dowitcher species this time of year, so no confusion with Short-billed need arise.

No Avocets were present upon my arrival, but while there, eight popped in!  My target bird was then checked off.  The dowitchers were just a bonus, which are somewhat uncommon in spring.

Lighting was horrible, but I attempted photos anyway.

One of the continuing Cattle Egrets was present as well.

Two days ago, I started at Rondeau, but it was disappointing, so I went to Hillman to see two reported Cattle Egrets.

My camera malfunctioned (which is happening too often lately!), so photos were crap.

Often we do not get some until fall migration.

Yesterday morning I started at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing of note in the way of birds, but I keep trying.  It was uncomfortably cold first thing.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The afternoon was quite pleasant, so I went for a walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  I had not been there in two weeks, so I wanted to check out the plant life.

Harbinger of Spring is about done for another year, but I did find a couple of plants with remnants of flowers.

Nearby, I found the patch of Twinleaf, one of my favourite plants.  It was not very far advanced compared to previous years.

Lots of trout lilies are blooming, including the white version.

Large-flowered Bellwort is just coming into bloom.

Dutchman's Breeches is past its prime, but some were in bloom.

Note the ginger, which is abundant at Reid

I think I finally found its cousin, Squirrel Corn.  I know it is there, but it is extremely scarce.  It is yet to be confirmed (or rejected) for some strange reason.

Bloodroot is not all that common at Reid, but some were in bloom.

Trilliums are just coming into bloom.

I found one with the virus. The abnormal greening of plant parts (virescence) is a symptom of a plant disease caused by bacterial organisms called phytoplasmas.

Various insects were flying about.

Black and Yellow Nomad Bee (?)

Greater Bee Fly

Birds will really start arriving, possibly tomorrow!  Stay tuned.

Another Week Already: Insect and Bird Encounters

 Obviously the summer seems to be going by quickly!  I have been making my rounds locally as usual.

This past Sunday, was nice as I checked out Dow Wetland first thing.  I wanted to see the Clay-colored Sparrows that are nesting there.  It did not take long to locate a singing male by its characteristic buzz song.

Last year we had Sedge Wrens nesting here, but not this year.  Dickcissels were previous to that, so there always seems to be something of interest.

Other nesting birds here include Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows.

On the way back home, I stopped by Reid CA.  I saw both Broad-winged Skippers and Dukes' Skippers, but very few.

Always on the lookout for moths.  I caught sight of this Lost Owlet.  It was lost in the sedges!

It was mid-morning by this time and already too hot and humid, so I went home!

The next day was hot, but less humid so it was more comfortable.  I visited a private property near Brigden to see what insects were around.  

Dukes' Skippers are doing quite well here, as we saw about ten.

No Broad-winged or Mulberry Wing this year though!

Very few dragonflies, as usual, but a few Mocha Emeralds were flying.  Always nice to see.

The very poor hairstreak year continues, as we only saw one Banded Hairstreak.

There were many Hummingbird Clearwings working the Wild Burgemot.

Tuesday seemed like a good time to go for an early morning walk at Mitchell's Bay.  Highlight was a group of twelve American Avocets flying by.

Interestingly, by mid-morning, twelve were seen at Blenheim lagoons!  We assume this was the same group!

Tuesday afternoon I went for a long walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  More Duke's Skippers were out.

I walked around the back field, but very few insects. It does not help that the farmer has sprayed twice, oblivious to what he is doing to insects.

Only one or two Monarchs, and only a single Question Mark.

Afterwards, I went for a walk, seeing very little.  I did find a single Flag-tailed Spinyleg for a first of year.

This mossy Map Turtle must spend too much time in the water!

Wednesday I went to Blenheim lagoons first thing.  Although lots of shorebirds, nothing of note.

Thursday started out gloomy with a very light drizzle off and on.  I drove up towards Courtright along the St. Clair River to where I heard a Dickcissel singing.  It was reported the previous day at the berm in front of the old Lambton Generating Station property.  They have been here in past years, so not a surprise!

It was still gloomy as I headed back and stopped by Reid briefly.  Seemed to be more Royal River Cruisers flying, and one finally stopped to be photographed.

I did manage to see a single Broad-winged Skipper in the usual spot.

Today, I gave Blenheim lagoons another go. There was not really much change since two days ago.  Lots of shorebirds, but no rarities.

It was such a fine day, I continued on to Hillman Marsh for a walk.  Lots of Broad-winged Skippers there, but little else.

Eyed Browns were in the usual spot by the boardwalk.

Viceroy

Hardly any dragonflies to look at there!

A single Solitary Sandpiper found a wet spot in the corner of the shorebird cell.

And that is it for this day!

On A Hunch

 Yesterday (Monday) I headed down to Rondeau Park early to do some birding.  I was there early enough to hear some Whip-poor-wills!  No Chuck-wills-widow of course, but we are certainly overdue for one at Rondeau.  Point Pelee had one though!  Many even got to see that one, let alone hear it sing.

The "chuck" is one bird I recall in my early years of birding, where there was a pair on south point trail that we saw. Very rare for Ontario.

There were not a lot of birds, but it was steady with a good variety.  Ovenbirds were plenty for one thing

While I was there, JB saw 13 American Avocets fly past the east side of the park.  As this species is my favourite shorebird, I was disappointed that I was not in the right place at the right time to see them. That is birding though.  Later, they were reported passing the west side of Erieau, so obviously heading west.

After I was done birding at Rondeau, I decided to head west to Wheatley and Hillman Marsh.  I thought there was a good chance some Avocets might show up there.  And, if the Rondeau ones kept moving, they should show up at Hillman.

After a quick look at Wheatley Harbour, I headed over to Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  Not much was there, but the place is always hit and miss, and things are constantly changing there.  Just as I was leaving the parking lot, a report came in that 13 American Avocets set down on the sandbar along the lake at Hillman Marsh.  It was only a five minute drive, so I headed over to a good position and saw the 13 Avocets!  They eventually took flight, but settled back down.

Obviously, these were the same birds that passed by Rondeau a few hours earlier! My hunch paid off!

Thirty-two Willets were also present.  Willets seems to be quite plentiful anymore, and big flocks can be seen.

The previous day, I did not go far.  Had things to do anyway.  Peers Wetland had a good variety of birds.  There were several Cape May Warblers (my favourite warbler).

The Common Gallinule was still around.  Perhaps it may nest there, so I will be keeping tabs.

A number of years ago, this species did nest there producing four young. Would be nice to see that happen again, and record it for the bird atlas's last season of data-gathering.

Cliff Swallow gathering mud

Later in the morning I went out to Mitchell's Bay.  A good variety of birds was present to sort through, but nothing of note.  That place always has potential for something good, so I keep trying!

old snapper

Today, I went out to Mitchell's Bay again at sunrise.  It was quite calm and pleasant for a change, but not as many birds as I had hoped for.  Hundreds of gulls still around, but I never seem to pick out anything different.

Common Gallinule

Black-crowned Night Heron

White-crowned Sparrows are in good numbers right now.  One of these days, I hope for one with a golden crown!

Later in the morning, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.  It was quite pleasant and I looked at plants more than anything.

one of the yellow violets

one of the purple violets

                             Dwarf Ginseng

Swamp Buttercup

one of the old oaks, possibly Shumard