Past Weekend Travels and Finds

 Not much on my end to report from the past weekend, but Friday was spent at Rondeau and area.  The usual lakewatch started the day.  Lots of ducks were moving, and Red-breasted Mergansers were increasing in numbers.

On south point, a Chestnut-sided Warbler was the highlight, but I was unable to get a photo.  A Palm Warbler was at the north end of the park.

I then went to Keith McLean C. L.  A Hudsonian Godwit was still present albeit at the far side.

A number of shorebirds were in, including two late Least Sandpipers.

Highlight was a Northern Saw-whet Owl.  As often is the case, kinglets revealed the location!  Well hidden, as they usually are.

I stopped by Ridgetown lagoons.  Ring-necked Ducks were in crazy numbers, well over 1000.  A Snow Goose was close by.

Saturday, I needed a change in scenery and went up to Ipperwash.  Evening Grosbeaks are on the move this year, and I had a number flying overhead.  I spent some time around the "MNR" parking lot area.

I passed through Kettle Point on the way back south to Forest lagoons.

Long-tailed Duck

Sparrows were numerous at the lagoons, as expected.  I came across a LeConte's at one point, but unable to get a photo.

photo from another time

Some Evening Grosbeaks flew over here as well!

Before getting home, I stopped at a couple of places for a walk.  Not on the radar for this day, was a Baltimore Oriole at Nicholl's Memrial Forest at Wilkesport!

A number of chickadees were here too.  There is a southward movement afoot of Black-capped Chickadees this fall.  More to come.  Keep an eye out for Boreal, as they have been known to get mixed in!

It was quite warm, and I saw a number of Eastern Commas out and about.

Sunday I went back to Rondeau for lack of anything else to do.  I opted to walk out marsh trail to Long Pond for a change.  

Nothing earth-shattering was encountered, unfortunately!  An American Bittern was the "rarest" bird.

There were lots of Greater Yellowlegs on the mudflats near Long Pond.

Fox Sparrows have finally arrived in numbers.

A final stop for the day was at McLean's.  It was consdierably quieter than Friday, but the Hudsonian Godwit was still present.

Here They Come.....

A warm day today! Some more new birds and butterflies came in. Not too many up this way, but likely more along the north shore of Lake Erie. This is likely the first good migration day.
I had virtually nothing at Port Lambton this morning which surprised me.
North of Wallaceburg I had my first Baltimore Oriole of the year as well as a Black and White Warbler.

Red Admiral

There was a noticeable influx of Red Admirals today. It is an immigrant butterfly. I had a couple at Reid CA this evening and at least five were in the yard till dark. They just kept flying around and chasing each other. Others in the province noted an influx today as well.
At Reid, the first butterfly was an American Painted Lady.

American Painted Lady

There were several Juvenal's Duskywings, but I could not get a really good photo. They are not much to look at anyway. Many of the duskywings look alike, but you can see the differences.

Juvenal's Duskywing

I had a total of six species of butterflies, including a Clouded Sulphur which was new for the year.

At home birds in the yard included White-crowned Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and Red-breasted Nuthatch.