An Uncommon Duck Visits Erieau

 Monday, I ventured down Pelee way first thing.  I started with scoping some ducks off the end of Shuster trail in the National Park.  Lots of Common Goldeneye spend the winter in that area.  Just for fun, I was hoping to spot a Barrow's Goldeneye (did not happen!).  A couple of days earlier, one had been spotted at Erieau by Keith Burk.  It could not be found on Sunday, despite my efforts, along with other birders.

Disappointed, I thought I would go to Pelee on Monday instead of trying again at Erieau.  Perhaps someone else could find the Barrow's for me at Erieau!  While at Pelee, I got word that the Barrow's Goldeneye had indeed been found again at Erieau.

I was not seeing much at Pelee anyway, so cut my visit short.  Touring through the "onion fields" area, I came across a young Northern Shrike.  

There was also a wintering Red-shouldered Hawk nearby, but too far for a photo.

I was hoping to come across the blackbird flock frequenting the area. Within it was a Yellow-headed Blackbird. It had been seen every day, but just my usual luck, the flock was nowhere to be seen!  I did see a few blackbirds here and there, but no big flock.

It was then on to Erieau in hopes that the goldeneye was still visible.  I arrived at the channel area, and there it was!  A classic male.

It was a new "Rondeau" bird for most of us.  I do not know when the last one was seen in the area, but it is on the Rondeau list.  There is not much to go on looking at eBird records.  There was one listed at the Blenheim lagoons, but it looks more like a Common Goldeneye to me based on the photos.

A little trivia:  Barrow's Goldeneye was named after Sir John Barrow (1764-1848), an English geographer, linguist, writer and civil servant. (Wikipedia)

We have likely missed some over the years, as they can hide well in a raft of Common Goldeneye.  The ones on the St. Clair River were like this.  Although the duck was present, try and keep track of it!

We had one at Corunna exactly a year ago.

It was likely a returning bird that we may have missed in some years.  Just late yesterday, one was found at Stag Island.  I would suspect it is the same bird as last year!  It will likely be around for a while, so I will attempt to see it at some point.

It is interesting how some birds return to the same spot each year after travelling their long distances.  There is a Barrow's Goldeneye at Owen Sound Harbour that returns each year, indeed it was there again this winter.  I went to see it in 2020, just for a two-day get-away.  A bit distant though.

Feeders are busy here at home, when not terrorized by one of these......

Bald Eagles are occupying nests now.  The local birds are busy tending to the nest.

Spring is around the corner even though we really never had a winter here.  Yesterday, I saw two Killdeer at Erieau marsh trail.  They are most likely winter holdovers.

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.

Christmas Harlequin

This morning I went out on my annual Christmas Day look at the St. Clair River.  With the unprecedented weather, there was not much to look at.  It is probably the slowest I have ever seen it for ducks for this time of year.  Looks like yet another gull-less winter.  I like looking at gulls, and today I had thoughts of the Ivory Gull I found in 1995. Dream on.....

The highlight today was the Harlequin Duck at the Sombra dock.

I arrived at the site and Rayfield and Donald Pye were already looking for the duck.  We soon found it associating with the Mallards.  (not much else to associate with anyway!).

It has made count week status for the Wallaceburg CBC, and should be around on Sunday.

A few other ducks were around. Most were Bufflehead.

Two White-winged Scoters, annual but rare for the river, were north of Port Lambton.  Too far out though for photos.

"Look at me!"

The other most numerous waterfowl type was, unfortunately, Mute Swan.  I also saw a couple flocks of Tundra Swans on my way up to Sombra.

A Bald Eagle was at Cathcart Park.

A couple of American Robins were at Cathcart Park, but that would not be unusual this year.
I went inland a bit but did not find anything of note.

The Vermilion Flycatcher was still present today, but I did not check it out.  Just as long as it stays for Sunday!

Another Morning at Rondeau

I headed back down to Rondeau this morning.  Normally I alternate between there and Pelee this time of year, but Pelee sounded rather dead yesterday!  Should have headed north to Canatara Park in Sarnia where the warblers seem to be concentrated.  Catherine Bouman spotted an Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler there this morning!  Interestingly, we were just talking about Audubon's at Rondeau early this morning....lol.

One of several photos by Mike Bouman

Another frosty morning with, you guessed it, NE winds.  Pine Warblers were once again singing on south point trail.  They were quite active today, moving around a fair bit.

A few Yellow-rumped were the only other warblers seen/heard.

I birded with Keith Burk and Steve Charbonneau, and we refound the White-eyed Vireo at the bottom end of south point trail.  It too was quite active and did not co-operate very nicely for the camera.

The lake was not near as active today compared to yesterday.  We only saw a couple of Common Loons heading west the brief time we looked.

One very nice Pine tree is starting to lean towards the lake as the severe erosion continues.  I decided to photograph it today since it may be in the lake next week!

Same area March 28.....

We took the long walk down Rondeau Road across Gardiner and up Harrison to Bennett.  Never came across a warbler!  Nice day for a walk and to burn off some fat....
However, this Bald Eagle perched majestically on a snag looked good in the morning sun.

We did not check out marsh trail today to look for other birds.

Pileated Woodpeckers have been very visible this spring.  Probably at least 4 pairs in the park.

Not in Post Woods

Later, I went over to Blenheim Lagoons.  The Dunlin number had increased to perhaps 160 birds.

Three Least Sandpipers were new.  A couple of pecs were in as well.  The Tundra Swan continues.
I did not flush up an owl today!

Looks like the end of this week is when things will really start to happen....finally.

SNOW to BOW

I have had a case of cabin fever lately and was anxious to get out today.  The weather was lousy as usual (since it was the weekend) but there were birds to be found!
I started with the local Snowy Owl (SNOW) outside of Wallaceburg.  It was atop a barn.  Too early for a photo though.
Next bird was another Snowy Owl, the lighter bird, on Holt Line east of Sombra.

Yesterday I saw the darker one along this road late in the day, but not this morning.

I drove by the solar farm and saw no owls, but by mid morning when I drove by again, the darker Snowy Owl was on the fence.

Crappy Weather=Crappy Photo!

It was snowing heavily by this time.  A couple of Northern Harriers were around.  No doubt the Short-eared Owls were resting nearby, as five were seen last evening.

On the river, things have opened up a bit and ducks were spread out all along.  No way to look at all of them so who knows what was out there.  I did see a couple of White-winged Scoters off Mooretown and another at the head of Stag Island.
A good number of waterfowl and waterbirds were at the OC outlet north of Stanley Line.  Included were a number of Tundra Swans and Mute Swans.

Tundra Swan group

Very few Gulls this Winter

Also here was a Horned Grebe.  One was off Mooretown yesterday so I assume this is the same one as I could not find one in the two open spots off that village.

note Horned Grebe at left

Later I saw a Great Blue Heron here, a scarce commodity this winter.

I went as far north as Guthrie Park at Corunna.  Here we have had a concentration of Bald Eagles this winter--the most we have ever seen on the river.  They were scattered about, but I estimated 20 within visible range.  No doubt more were somewhere.

Seems Bald Eagles have really made their presence known this winter with all the reports elsewhere.

Stag Island Perch

The main outing today was our naturalist's club walk and duck box cleaning expedition into Bickford Oak Woods (BOW).  Although it snowed heavily the whole time, we had a good walk with not too much snow on the ground. No owls found in the boxes this year! (One year we had part of a Flying Squirrel!).

Lots of Buttonbush!

Bickford Oak Woods is a large woodlot held by Ontario Parks as a Conservation Reserve.  There is a large wetland area within complete with beaver lodges and a Great Blue Heronry.  The heronry has waned in recent years, but we did see at least two nests today.

Back in 2003, we put up a number of Wood Duck boxes.  Phragmites has really taken over like every place else since then.

February 2003

(a weekday hence nice weather)

Late today, out of curiosity, I went to find the local Snowy Owl.  It was farther down Langstaff Line near hwy 40 atop a hydro pole!