Recent Birding Adventures

 Been a while, but I have not found much for subject matter here.  As well, not many photo opportunities!  I have seen some decent birds since the last post, though, and have been all over the place!

Some Long-billed Dowitchers were still at Keith McLean C. L. on October 29.  In fact, nine of them.  It has been a good fall for them in our area.

On October 30, I stopped by Roberta Stewart Wetland west of Wallaceburg first thing in the morning.  It was blackbird mania!  Autumn mornings (at first light), we often see lots of blackbirds coming off roost from Walpole Island.  On this morning I estimated 14,000 Red-winged Blackbirds, 13,000 Common Grackles, some Rusty and one male Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Certainly the most birds I have seen coming off Walpole.

On October 31, I went south and stopped by Craford Cemetery west of Cedar Springs.  On certain winds in the fall, this is a good spot to view migrating birds along the lakeshore.  I was hoping for Evening Grosbeaks, but that was not to be like some times in the past.  There were lots of birds though.

Purple Finches were among them, and these are everywhere this fall in good numbers.

Next day, I headed north!  I went to Ipperwash hoping for some finches.  Struck out again!  I did have one Redpoll flying over though.  There is a good crop of Winterberry Holly, which Pine Grosbeaks enjoy.

While up there, I did a lakewatch for a couple of hours.  It was not too productive, as have most lakewatches been this fall.  However I did observe a Black-legged Kittiwake virtually all by itself.   There were hardly any gulls!  Lots of ducks, with many White-winged Scoters (91).

Next day I went to Mitchell's Bay.  I go there every three days or so looking for that one good bird.  Still has not happened!  Ten Greater Yellowlegs along the shoreline were interesting to watch.

In the afternoon I was curious  to check out Moore WMA.  Still one has to bushwack back to the causeway, so not enjoyable.  I was hoping to find some mussels.  There were lots, but mostly one species (giant floater).  I did find one Mapleleaf.

November 3, I went to Rondeau Park for a lakewatch at dog beach.  Not overly productive (yet again!), but one has to try.  Rain was coming in, so I was not able to stay to walk trails in the park.

In the afternoon, it was nice enough to go for a walk at Reid C. L.  I was not expecting much in the way of birds, but I needed a walk!

Highlight was a Blue-winged Warbler of all things!  I had good looks, but my camera was acting up so I was not able to get a photo.  It was quite active anyway.

According to eBird, this is Ontario's second latest record.  I knew it was late by a longshot. I went back the next two days, but could not refind it.  Probably was still present though.

November 4, I walked both north and south shore trails at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing exciting, but it was a nice day to be out.

It was a nice warm afternoon, so again I went for a walk at Reid C. L.  I saw both Eastern Comma and Clouded Sulphur flying.

While looking unsuccessfully for the Blue-winged Warbler, I saw this small Swamp White Oak.  I thought the leaves were exceptionally large.

The next three days, I never used my camera.....lol.

Wednesday, I went back to Rondeau Park for a lakewatch since a stiff SW wind was blowing.  This is the best wind, usually, for dog beach.  I joined Steve for a fairly productive morning.  Highlight was a Pacific Loon!  Good looks were obtained.  Ducks were in good numbers.

Thursday was my birthday, but no "birthday bird" came around.  It was a somewhat quiet day for birds, as I checked out local haunts.  It was all down hill a few years ago when I found that Sage Thrasher....

Friday it rained all morning, so just watched the usual common birds at home.  It cleared enough to go for a walk at Mitchell's Bay around noon, but it was very windy.  Nothing of note.

Today, Saturday, I had enough ambition to go down to Point Pelee!  The evening before, some Cave Swallows were reported at the marsh boardwalk, so I thought there was a good chance they were still around ( I cannot find them anywhere else anyway!).  

I joined Cam Chevalier on the tower first thing, as we talked about Cave Swallows.  Soon, a few just appeared out of nowhere!  I counted seven, then they disappeared.  A while later, I spotted them out by the pergola, so we headed out the boardwalk to that location.  We found one flying around.

It was a very dark and dull day, so lighting was horrible.  Hence photos are crappy.

We surmised that they were roosting under the boardwalk, as they would disappear for a time.  Luckily, they stayed around for many birders to see.

It was a good day in the park with lots of birds, but nothing else rare.  Purple Finches were in big numbers though-out.  No good for photography today!

It has been quite windy most days, as it typically is in November.  In a couple of days, it is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald already.  There are a lot of events and media covering the Fitzgerald sinking.  I can remember hearing about the sinking.   Perhaps more on that later.

1978

Ups and Downs of This Week

 This past week was quite damp with fog, drizzle, rain and even some wet snow.  Wind changed direction several times, having an influence as to where I went!  With the damp weather, there was not much in the way of birding, let alone photography.

It was quite mild at times.  Frogs singing included many spring peepers, and even a Chorus Frog!

Tuesday I went to Rondeau on strong SE winds.  The lakewatch at dog beach had potential with lots of ducks moving.  Naturally, Red-breasted Mergansers were the most numerous and tallied over 24,000 during my watch.

Afterwards, I walked quite a few spots in the park.  Highlight was a roosting Eastern Red Bat!  It was in an odd spot I thought, right out in the open, hanging on a thin twig of a shrub.  How I noticed it was simply a miracle.

I no luck in photographing any birds, as they were quite active in poor light.  A tardy Common Yellowthroat was near the start of marsh trail.  The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher that will attempt to winter, was still in the campground.

Just before dark (it gets dark too early now!), a Chipping Sparrow showed up at the backyard feeder.  Been a while since I have had one this late here.  A Lark Sparrow would have been more interesting.....

(taken through a window)

Wednesday was essentially fog and rain all day.  I managed a walk at Mitchell's Bay and Peers Wetland in the morning during a break in the weather, but it was foggy.  Actually there was less fog on Lake St. Clair!

Peers Wetland

A Lambton Wildlife meeting was scheduled that evening, so I thought I might do some birding around Sarnia.  NOT!  It rained the whole time, so I spent most of the time in the car and driving around aimlessly!  Not doing that again....

Thursday was another dismal day, but by that night, the wind had switched to the NW and was stiff.  That signaled a visit to Lake Huron at Sarnia on Friday!

View from the parking lot

A good number of birders showed up for a lakewatch, but the weather was miserable with mostly rain and drizzle.  However, it was a good day for birds.  Lots of gulls.

The highlight was a Black-legged Kittiwake.  Finally one showed up (and four were at Bright's Grove as reported by Ken Burrell).  They had been absent this fall until now.  

Our bird was an adult, which is quite rare in our area of the Great Lakes.  I have only seen one other adult (at Van Wagner's Beach) in all the year's I have been birding.  Paul Pratt (also present) remarked that it was only the second one he has seen on the lakes as well.  However, it was too far out for photo attempts.

We also saw two adult Little Gulls, and not much variety in ducks.  Red-breasted Merganser was the most common besides Long-tailed.

Another highlight was a Short-eared Owl.  It circled aimlessly (as they often do) behind us and even came overhead at one point.  It was extremely backlit though.

As mentioned before, it has been a good fall for Short-eared sightings.

I left about noon, but some others stayed to tally a Red Phalarope!  Cannot get 'em all.

Algoma Compass downbound

Today, we had another NW wind, but lighter.  I figured it would not be as good of a day at Sarnia.  I have learned that most times when we have a good day, the next day is not so good!

However, farther north at Ipperwash, there was an impressive loon migration with over 1000 seen in about five hours.  Interesting how some decide to move en masse.

I opted to go to Rondeau today.  There were not a lot of birds around, but it was pleasant.  The lake was very quiet for moving ducks and gulls.

South point trail revealed quite a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, for whatever reason.  I managed to come across a Pine Warbler at one point, so that was the highlight of the day.

The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was still hanging around the campground.  Seems we get one every year that wants to try and spend the winter!

This Eastern Bluebird posed at one point, but I could not get a focus on it, except when it turned away.  Today was another one that I had no luck with the camera!

I did get an obscured view of a Pileated Woodpecker in the campground.

When I arrived home, a female Purple Finch was at the feeder.  Not often I get any staying here.

(taken through a window)

More seasonal weather is soon coming...and hopefully some rarities.

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!

 

Mid January Jaunts

 With the recent cold and very windy weather, outdoor activities have been limited.  It was simply too cold to go for a long walk anywhere.

Feeder watching from home provided the main excitement, although just the usual birds were around.  Last year I had two White-throated Sparrows, but only one is hanging around this winter.

After the big blow, an American Tree Sparrow showed up for a day.  Not a usual visitor here, but for some reason one or two show up after a storm, then depart!

A couple of days ago, I decided to go to Rondeau Park.  It was still quite cold, so walking was limited.  I first checked the campground.  I came across the Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler at the north end.  It was quite active, and I was unable, once again, to get a decent photo.

There were lots of Fox Sparrows along Lakeshore Road, feeding in the roadside scrapes.  I counted at least 16.

Yesterday, I headed up to Sarnia for a change.  Things are getting more productive on the St. Clair River and at Sarnia with the more normal winter weather.

A Black-legged Kittiwake was found the day before off Canatara Park--an excellent January record.  I thought chances were slim for me to see it, but after some waiting, it showed off the lakewatch near the water plant!

It was quite distant though, but easily recognized.  It is one of very few January records in the area.  One was in Sarnia Bay December 2019, and just made it into January (I saw this one).  Another was off downtown Sarnia December 2010, and just into January 2011.  Indeed, the current bird was my latest sighting.

Also of note, was a large raft of Redhead ducks.  I really have no idea how many, but certainly over 5000.  There were some scaup mixed in, and perhaps something else, but it was 98% Redhead.

A Bald Eagle put them up a couple of times, creating quite a spectacle.  Note, the eagle in this photo:

Some would drift downstream then head back out.

Today, I did not do much, but we certainly got a lot more snow than what was forecast.  In the afternoon, I took a walk at Moore WMA.  Water levels were recently quite high, so there was ice under the snow.  I slipped and fell twice!  Some scenes:

We used to cross the river when the water is lower, but the large oak tree that fell and drifted down to the causeway, will make it impossible as seen in the above photos.

At one point, a Canadian Beaver swam downstream.

There were not many birds, although usually this is an excellent spot to find wintering birds, including Yellow-rumped Warblers.  Some American Tree Sparrows were working the weeds.

Staying indoors more the last few days, I took on a jigsaw puzzle.  It was a 1000-piece Sibley puzzle, but certainly the most difficult one I have ever done.  I was tempted to give up a couple of times, but true to my nature, I stuck it out.

No more Limpkin, as it was taken in by a rehabber a few days ago (not that I agree with that).  It would not have survived anyway with the recent weather.  Glad I went to see it when I did.  It was looking happy and healthy at that point.