More Rondeau and Moore Mussels

 Little to report as we seem to be in a lull for birding around here.  I have been down to Rondeau a couple more times, as it seems to be the only decent place to go to.  There is not much to see up my way, especially when the St. Clair River is dead for ducks!

On one of my trips, I came across a pair of Short-eared Owls hunting a field at dawn.  I just happened to get lucky along this well-travelled road!

There seems to be a number of them around this winter, but of course not like it used to be in the 'old' days.

That day at Rondeau was not too bad for birding, but the north end of the campground seems to be one of the better spots.  I came across the wintering Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler.  It was very active and kept burying itself in the trees, so no chance for a good photo.  You can see the yellow throat patch in any case.

I also walked along the beach of south point trail.  The ever-shrinking shoreline offers a different view each time.  Imagine a building well back from the lakeshore here many decades ago!

Later, I briefly checked the Erieau marsh trail.  It was warm enough for the first Midland Painted Turtles to soak up some sun.

Water levels have gone down to a respectable level which gave me a chance to check out Moore WMA recently.  The high water changed things, and several mussel shells got caught up at the bend in the river.  Most appeared to be Giant Floater, which is a very common and widespread species.

They can get very large!  Latin name is now Pyganodon grandis, but it used to be Anodonta grandis grandis

There was at least one Fragile Papershell, another common species.  It is similar-looking.

Also in the mix were a couple of Deertoe mussels, a vulnerable species.  They are somewhat regular here.  Here is one:

Even with the very high and fast moving water recently, it failed to dislodge the large oak tree caught up on the causeway.  I guess it will be a permanent fixture there, unfortunately not allowing us to be able to cross the river anymore.

I went back to Rondeau today, but it was very disappointing from a birding standpoint.  The weather is too stagnant but it will now be colder for a few days. Perhaps that will change things.

I walked half way out marsh trail, then checked the campground, then drove around the park.

I did quite a bit of travelling, checking the park, Shrewsbury, Erieau and the lagoons.  Although thousands of ducks on the Bay, I saw nothing of note.  I had hoped to see Greater White-fronted Geese, but, but there were not many geese anywhere.  Where did they go?

The north end of Rondeau's campground was quite birdy at one point this morning, but nothing new.  I did see the Audubon's Warbler again, so it is doing well.

Spring cannot come soon enough!

Easter 2016 Birding

Today, Sunday was the nicest day of the year, finally!  Lots of early spring migrants showed up.  There was a good push of Tree Swallows, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers etc.  Some butterflies were also out and I finally saw a couple today.
A Red Admiral went through my yard this afternoon (Jim Burk had 3 today) and I saw an Easter(n) Comma at Peers Wetland.

Yesterday I ventured down to Hillman Marsh first thing to look for some early shorebirds.

While it is not unusual to have Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers this time of year, I saw both species for the first time this year.  They had showed up recently.  The Dunlin (7) were seen in the morning.

3 Distant Dunlin

On to Point Pelee, I saw a nice male Ring-necked Pheasant in a usual spot.  They are certainly difficult to find anymore.  I don't know where to find them around Rondeau these days!



I started walking at the Tip where it was uncomfortably cold.  Some recently-arrived Golden-crowned Kinglets were in the woods, but not much else.



I walked up west beach trail to the "serengeti tree" and while looking at the ducks on the lake, I heard the call note of a Yellow-rumped Warbler behind me.  It seemed to be a bit different, but I turned around to look for it.  I only got a brief look at first, but then managed a better look.  It turned out to be an "Audubon's" Yellow-rumped!  A female no doubt with the pale yellow throat and plain face.  It was, unfortunately on the move and I could not get a photo.  At least I saw it well-enough to ID.

A female was found earlier in the winter by Jeremy Bensette farther north in the park on February 5. I looked for that one the next day to no avail.  It was found again March 12 by Jeremy Hatt at the Tip parking lot. The bird is well-travelled.

Some are found each year somewhere in the province, but not all are documented.  I know there are a couple for Rondeau undocumented and I am guilty of not documenting one I saw 21 years (!) ago north of Wallaceburg.

2015 Sarnia bird found by C.B.

After a couple hours in the park, I went back to Hillman Marsh shorebird cell and ticked off some Pectoral Sandpipers.  Too distant for any sort of a photograph in the poor weekend light.
Lots of Northern Shovelers (200+) were present.

Looking in an easterly direction at the viewing hut, there were lots of ducks.  Most were Gadwall and one was leucistic.  It may have been a Redhead though.  I had one identical bird at Erieau in early January.

On the way home, I checked the old Dover Township and St. Clair NWA environs.  There were still a few groups of Tundra Swans.  Lots of wet spots, but no shorebirds.  Greater Yellowlegs were seen the previous day.

Today, Sunday, I went down to Rondeau Park for a while.  It was a nice day for a change but nothing spectacular was seen.  However, I heard there was a Caspian Tern, which would be record early by 8 days.


I did have a FOS Common Loon fly by south point.
More Easter(n) Phoebes were in among the dozens of kinglets and a few Easter(n) Towhees.

Bald Eagles are nesting in the area and this one always seems to be perched along the south point shoreline.

I quick check of Erieau revealed lots of ducks, but not the Harlequins.  They can be elusive at times, so possibly still present.  It is quite unusual to have a pair there.

The next week should see more new migrants as spring is in the air.