My Recent Observations May 1-2

Making some rounds the last couple of days, I have come across some birds.  Friday started out gloomy, but turned nice later on.
Along one roadside near Sombra, I found lots of warblers staying out of the wind.

There were lots of Palm Warbler as well.  One turned out to be the "Yellow" type (hypochrysea), but I was not able to get a photo.  It is the rarer eastern form.  I usually come across at least one of these each year either in spring or fall migration.

American Coot vs Common Gallinule

Later on, my favourite shorebird species made an appearance at a popular location.

There was a day when we had to write these beauties up for the OBRC, but they have become rather regular in migration.  As far as I am concerned, the American Avocet is the most attractive shorebird!

Other good birds were reported not too far, but far enough that I have no desire to go after.  It depends where you are and who you know!

Today, there were hopes of a good number of birds.  The weather was fabulous, but reports from all over used the word "dead".

I checked out my favourite haunts locally.  A nice walk, but few birds!  Lots of Pine Warblers are still moving through, so that tells you something.  I had three in one spot and a single in another this morning.  Not co-operative creatures though!

There should be other species (resident) present by now, but that is not the case.  Things are quite late this year or so it seems.

The Red-headed Woodpecker is still around, which kept high in the treetops.  Hope it stays.  There was a time when these were regular residents around here, but that was long ago.  Even in winter, there used to be a number around.

With few birds, I kept eyes to the ground.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

sedge sp.

Avens (white)

Later, I stopped by W. Darcy McKeough Dam CA to walk around.  I went over to an area where we (Sydenham Field Naturalists) planted some trees over 25 years ago!  Many had signs, but those have long since disappeared.  Some are still there, and some trees are still alive.

Lots of the White Trout Lilly were in this area.

Last stop was 5 minutes from home at Peers Wetland.  It is always a good migrant trap.  Finally I found some birds for the day!  Highlight was a FOY Tennessee Warbler, which was not too co-operative.

Palm Warblers were plentiful (at least ten), as well as Yellow-rumped.

Palm Warbler tend to be early migrants, so that is an indication as to status.

Others included Nashville and Pine.

Will see what tomorrow brings...

A Visit to Pinery and Port Franks

Saturday morning I ventured up to Pinery and Port Franks.  It was a scorcher and birds went rather quiet early on.
First stop was Cedar Trail.  I was interested in seeing if the Prairie Warblers were still present. I did hear one singing at the end of Cedar Trail extension, but it was well off trail.
Prairie Warblers always used to nest at Pinery, but disappeared many years ago as residents.  I suspect they are nesting again along the first dune.  A couple were seen last year at the end of May near the end of Cedar Trail, but I do not know if they stayed.
Along the way, I heard a Black-throated Green Warbler singing as well as a Black-and-White.  I did manage to get a visual on the latter high in the canopy.

Next trail was the Carolinian Trail near Burley campground.  It is not often I walk this trail.  Last year I had Hooded and Black-throated Green Warblers near the end of June, but none were evident today.

Scene along Carolinian Trail

I also walked Riverside Trail and came up with an Acadian Flycatcher.  I have seen them in the past here on several occasions.
Red-headed Woodpecker lives here. If you are not fast enough with the camera, this is what happens:

Lots of duskywings were still out.

Juvenal's

Chalk-fronted Corporals were common at the pond on Carolinian Trail.

Dot-tailed Whiteface female

Chalk-fronted Corporal female

After checking out Pinery, I moved over to the County Forest at Port Franks.  By this time, birds were rather quiet, but I did come up with several Hooded Warblers and 2 Acadian Flycatchers.  A Cerulean Warbler was also heard.  At this time of year, many of the birds remain unseen!

I also checked out Karner Blue Sanctuary and the only bird of note was an Acadian Flycatcher.  No butterflies, which was very strange!  This place is getting terribly overgrown now.

Calico Pennant female at Karner Blue

While in the Port Franks area, I walked "L" Lake Trail just off Outer Drive.  I have had Magnolia Warbler there at this time of year, but not today.  I did hear another Hooded Warbler though.

By this time, it was getting too hot, and I headed home.  It was supposed to rain today, but as usual the weather forecast was wrong again!  Better hot than rainy!

Red-spotted Purple at Pinery

NOTE:  It seems to take several hours anymore for a new blog post to appear on "My Blog List".  If your click on the old post title, you may actually get the new post!