Waterbirds, Water, and More Water

With the wacky weather continuing (where the heck is the sun?), water levels are at a crazy high with the runoff.  As a result, the McKeough Dam was closed to mitigate flooding in Wallaceburg.  Completed by the mid-1980's, the mega project has saved Wallaceburg from flooding many times.

The diversion channel, which empties into the St. Clair River south of Sombra was put to good use this weekend.  It was still flowing today.  Here is the scene at Baseline Road this morning.

Looking East

Looking West

This afternoon, I went up to Wilkesport and water levels were still high, so I think the dam was still closed.

Flooded Field

Yesterday, I did a thorough look along the St. Clair River.  Best area was around Sombra where there were lots of Redhead and Canvasback, a number of Ring-necked Ducks, and others.  A far cry from the "old" days though.

I did pick out a Ring-necked X Redhead hybrid at Sombra, but we see at least one of these every winter.  It was too far, and too gloomy for a photo though.

Ruddy Ducks are uncommon on the St. Clair River, especially in winter, but I did find one female off the old Lambton Generating Station dock.  Again too far!

Long-tailed Ducks seem to be the most common duck on the river anymore.  They used to be a rarity!

I went all the way to Sarnia for a change.  In Sarnia Bay (which really should be frozen), a good variety of waterfowl was swimming about.

Red-breasted Merganser

Although not a waterfowl type, a couple of American Coots have been wintering in the Bay.

While there, I got word that the Black-legged Kittiwake was still being seen at the mouth of Lake Huron.  Just after I arrived at the lakewatch spot, it came out of the yacht club, then flew downriver.  I got there just in time! I did not have any time to focus on it as it went by.

Despite waiting the better part of an hour, it never made another appearance.  Certainly nice to have this Arctic seabird wintering in the area!

There is a handful of ships in the Sarnia harbour and north slip, but not like the "old" days.

North Slip in 1974

Today I went out to the river again.  Although most things were still at Sombra, it seemed a bit "quieter".  Even walking some areas, there were virtually no birds!

Along the Chenal Ecarte (Snye), I found one of the wintering Pied-billed Grebes.

Several Red-tailed Hawks were seen today.  They are getting ready for nesting already!

 

Morning Grosbeak to Afternoon Owl

Today I went to a place I have not been to in many years.  Fanshawe Conservation Area at NE London has been on the radar lately with the regular appearance of an Evening Grosbeak.
I arrived a little after 09:00 and stood watch at the start of Tamarack Trail.
Here, people have been putting out bird seed to attract a variety of birds.

Dark-eyed Juncos appeared to be the most numerous species, but a few White-throated, a single White-crowned and a Fox Sparrow rounded out the sparrow department.

The Fox Sparrow was a bit skittish, but did come in for one decent photo.

I kept to the spot for more than 1.5h in hopes of seeing the Evening Grosbeak.  Around 10:30h, I heard the bird call a couple of times, but could not find it.  I went to the other side of the spruce trees, and finally saw it fly in to perch atop one of the trees.  I alerted others who were standing vigil.  Included was Paul Nicholson who writes a fabulous column seen in the London Free Press each Saturday: the-world-outdoors

It perched there for some time, but lighting was horrible.

It might have come down to the seed, but I decided to leave since I was chilled to the bone!

Earlier, just before I arrived at Fanshawe, I received word that four Greater White-fronted Geese were at Sarnia.  I did not really intend to go there today.  I checked a couple of back roads as I headed west, but did not find anything of note.
I decided to head into Sarnia anyway.

The geese were still present upon my arrival at Blackwell Trails south pond.

It was just over a year ago that some arrived here!
It seems to be an annual event around this time.  Several Greater White-fronted Geese have arrived in southern Ontario the last couple of days.  Lots are at Jack Miner's in Essex County, while many are on Rondeau Bay.

Continuing on, I checked Sarnia Harbour and Bay.  The harbour and bay are iced in, but open water is on the river.
Two of Canada Steamship Lines oldest vessels are wintering in Sarnia this year.

Frontenac

CSL Tadoussac

Highlight was an American Coot in a small open patch in the Sarnia Marina.  It was too distant from my vantage point for a photo.

I also received word of Long-eared Owls at McKeough CA.  I usually see one or two here each winter in various spots. Today, I managed to see one.  They flush too easily though. I never got a photo, but at least I saw one for a first-of-year.

old photo

It turned out to be a decent day.  It was cloudy in the London area, but sunny down my way!

Weekend Roundup

Saturday I started at Rondeau Park.  It was somewhat quiet, but birds are starting to more.  Hundreds of mergansers were moving on the lake.

A few Song Sparrows were in, a sign of things to come.

Lots of chipmunks were out and about.

A check of Erieau across from McGeachy Pond, revealed a number of spring migrant ducks.

However, there was no sign of the recent Greater White-fronted Geese.  But, they were back today, just my luck.

I moved on west to Hillman Marsh.  More migrant waterfowl was around, including FOY Green-winged Teal, etc.
Still, no sign of any recent Greater White-fronted Geese! 😢

Towards home, I stopped at St. Clair NWA.  There was still lots of ice in the area, but some waterfowl was present.

Northern Shovelers

There were also some FOY American Coots.

Up Heron Line, there was a bonanza of waterfowl in a corn field.  They stretched across the entire concession, so many were just too far away.  As well, what was there, blended in well with the corn stubble and mud.

Highlight were a few Greater White-fronted Geese, continuing from the last couple of days 😏 .

To boot, a pair of Sandhill Cranes made the FOY list.  Try and find them in this photo 😤 :

Today was sunny...finally.  However it was extremely windy.  I went out to the St. Clair River.  It was TOO windy to set up the scope, so I just used the window mount where I could.

A pair of  American Wigeon was at Cathcart Park.

There was not much else between there and Sarnia, but Sarnia Bay was attractive for the birder.

There were at least eight Glaucous Gulls working the Bay.

Lots of ducks were present, mostly towards the marina.

Some American Coots came in this week, but I could only find two!

The local contingent of Mallards and Blacks plus the crazy Wood Duck were near the parking lot.

The Wood Duck seems to favour a female Mallard, so who knows what will happen this spring.

After spending almost an hour at Sarnia Bay, I just headed east to Hiawatha Horse Park.  This spot favours geese.  I did see one Cackling Goose which stood out like a sore thumb among the regular Canada Geese.  I was too lazy to grab the camera!

I headed down Telfer Road all the way to Bickford.  Somewhere around Moore Line, I came across a very dark Red-tailed Hawk which I considered the abieticola type.  It was fairly close at first, but I was not quick enough with the camera.

At the end of Telfer, I turned on to Bickford Line and headed over to Moore WMA.  The river had receded quite a bit, but of course was still very high.