Recent Chat

 (needed to thnk of a catchy title!)

This past Wednesday, I decided to do some birding in Sarnia. Stopped by Wawanosh Wetland first thing. Not often I get there anymore, but when I first started birding, it was a place I went to often.

A good variety of birds there on this outing.  A lost Lesser Scaup was swimming in the main pond.

At one point I thought I heard a Blackpoll Warbler sing.  I did not think much of it (at this date?) and continued on.  Later, I came to the same spot and indeed a Blackpoll Warbler WAS singing!

This is exceptionally late at this date, and likely a record late spring date for Lambton by a longshot.  Latest I have ever seen a Blackpoll Warbler was at Rondeau Park June 22, 2003.  Needless to say it was (and still is) record late for spring.

I also walked around Dow Wetlands.  The Clay-colored Sparrows and Sedge Wrens were still present.  No doubt nesting.  None co-operated for the camera!

Highlight was a bunch of Baltimore Checkerspots.  This attractive butterfly always gets one's attention.

Before getting home, I stopped in Reid Conservation Lands to see how the hemp dogbane plants were coming along.  Just coming into bloom.  I had Northern Oak Hairstreak on my mind, as it was prime time for them to emerge.  None seen.

There were lots of Peck's Skippers.

At one point I saw a large dragonfly go to perch.  I thought it was a female Twelve-spotted Skimmer, but it turned out to be a Prince Baskettail.  They are quite similar in appearance.  Not often I seen a Prince.  This one had a bent abdomen.

Thursday was museum day.......

Friday I headed up to north Lambton just short of Grand Bend.  The Klondyke Sports Park is a good birding spot.  A few days ago, James Holdsworth came across a Yellow-breasted Chat.  Quite rare for Lambton!

This day was the first chance I had to go up that way (1.5h drive from Wallaceburg).  I had not yet come across a Chat for this year, despite trying at Rondeau.

Upon arrival, I could hear the bird singing, but it remained unseen.  They are famous for being elusive!  It took about an hour and a half before I caught a brief glimpse of it.  No chance for a photo!

Yellow-breasted Chat from the past (Point Pelee)

While up that way, I stopped in at other places.  One was the Sandrin Tract in the County forest.  As eluded to in a previous post, the "bowl" is almost dried up, so no good for dragonflies.  Several rarities have been seen here in the past though.

Here are a couple of butterflies:

Red-spotted Purple

Hackberry Emperor

Next stop was Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales.  I walked the Cedar Trail which parallels the wetland.  It was flooded in spots, but luckily I had waterproof footwear on.

Here are some insects there:

Slaty Skimmer (male)

Slaty Skimmer (female)

Elegant Spreadwing

Racket-tailed Emerald

Hobomok Skipper

I headed towards home after this walk, but had one last stop in mind.  I am not satisfied each year until I see an Oak Hairstreak!  The Indian Hemp was in full bloom, attracting insects.  After almost an hour I was just about to leave, when something caught my eye.  A Northern Oak Hairstreak just popped in!

Hopefully they will have a better showing this year.  I only saw one in each of the last two years, and I was the only one to have seen one.

Today I toured in south Lambton just north of Wallaceburg.  Dickcissels in three locations, but still none co-operated for the camera.  I did get a crappy photo of one though.

I stopped by Reid before heading home, but it was fairly early in the day, and no hairstreaks.

This afternoon I went to Sarnia for a little celebration of Lambton Wildlife Inc. It all started sixty years ago!

More Running Around, and Some Halloween Birding

 

Sunday I had the notion to go up to Ipperwash and check the lake.  The wind was not right for a good lake passage of birds.  In other words, I should not have looked at the forecast!

Views from my vantage point:

Kettle Point in the distant background

After some lakewatching, I headed down to Forest lagoons.  There were lots of ducks there, but very skittish.  I had to count most of them in the air, since they flushed.  There was good variety, including two Blue-winged Teal.

A young Northern Shrike was making some rounds on this dismal day.

A couple of ravens went by at one point.  They are fairly regular in north Lambton anymore, as they have expanded their range southward.

In the shrubbery, a few Fox Sparrows were evident.  My favourite sparrow type!

Monday, I wanted to stay close to home, but early in the day I got word of three Purple Sandpipers at Erieau pier.  So much for that idea!

Long story short, I was about a half hour too late in arriving, as they were nowhere to be found.  I likely would have seen them if I had left right away, but I delayed my departure about a half hour. Still lots of chance to see one this year.

For consolation, I checked out the Erieau marsh trail.  

There were loads of birds, especially sparrows.  Warblers included the usual Yellow-rumped, a Blackpoll, a Nashville, a Palm and a Common Yellowthroat.  The one I saw was a dull female.

It was nice to see a lot of birds, so the day was not lost.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau and area for some Halloween thrills.  

The weather forecast was useless.  Sunday, they said it was to be a decent day, then Monday they said mostly rain for Tuesday.  But, the skies were mostly clear today, and little wind!  It was actually a pleasant day, so a word of advice, do not have much faith in weather forecasts!

I started with a lakewatch at dog beach.  Lots of ducks, grebes (Horned) and loons.

Coming back to the parking lot, Steve and I found a multitude of passerines.  Right away, I spotted a yellowish bird, which turned out to be an Eastern Palm Warbler (or "Yellow" Palm Warbler).  

I usually see one of these each year.

I moved on to south point trail, which was fairly birdy in some spots.  A couple of 'latish' Blackpoll Warblers were hanging out together, but I failed to get decent photos.

There were lots of Eastern Bluebirds at one point.

I did the usual walk to the Washout".

Site of the old campground office!

I walked back along the beach.  The sun had come back out at this point.

I found a Fatmucket mussel shell at one point.  It looked remarkably similar to one I photographed a few weeks ago.  I do not see how it could be the same one!

After the park, I stopped by Keith McLean Conservation Lands.  It was quite pleasant there, and I was looking forward to some decent birding.

Vesper Sparrow

Not long after arriving, I received word of a Cattle Egret on Lagoon Road north.  Well, I had to go see that since I missed the others this year!  In typical fashion, it was with cattle.

After getting a glimpse of the stocky little egret, I went back down the road to the lagoons.  Bonaparte's Gulls were the bird of the day here.  Over 1000 were there, but nothing else was with with, surprisingly.

There were lots of ducks to sort through.

Shorebirds included a single Least Sandpiper at the back.

Others included three Greater Yellowlegs, a couple of Dunlin, lots of Killdeer, and the surprise of the day, a Sanderling.  It was in the sprinklers cells!

A Sanderling is not usually found at a sewage lagoon.  Occasionally, some birders report them at lagoons, but I think mis-ID's are involved in some cases.  They are almost always along the beaches.

It was first here for both Steve and I.

Greater Yellowlegs

On to some November birding......

Rondeau Rounds and Some Late Birds

I did my usual rounds at Rondeau once again this weekend.  Saturday was brutally windy and rather cold, but a short lakewatch at dog beach started the day.  One could only stand there for so long!  The only shorebirds were four Sanderlings.  Gull activity was fairly good, but no rarities.....again.

I checked out south point trail afterwards.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets were plentiful for this late date.

A few Yellow-rumped Warblers were kicking around.  Lots of juncos and other sparrows were found.

Later, I went up to the campground.  The south end had quite a few birds to keep one busy.  Two tardy Blue-headed Vireos were working the trees.

Steve had seen a Nashville Warbler (not unusual at this date), but I could not find it.

I decided to go back to south point trail again as it was somewhat out of the wind.  A Blackpoll Warbler was notable on this round.  Lighting was horrible most of the day.

The only flycatcher type left, was a single Eastern Phoebe.

Quite a few Cedar Waxwings were kicking around during the day, but still no Bohemian.

For Sunday I thought of going other places, but it would take a longer drive.  I went back to Rondeau and it turned out to be a good day.  Several late birds were around.  Keith had seen a Cape May Warbler, Northern Parula and American Redstart (female type) during the day, as well as a White-eyed Vireo.  McArthur's had seen a male redstart at their pond as well.  The redstarts are record late by about a week.
I could only come up with Yellow-rumped Warblers despite trying.

Steve and I started the day at dog beach for a lakewatch under more comfortable conditions.  Lots of ducks were moving, especially Bufflehead.  Bufflehead seemed to be everywhere today!  There was a good variety of ducks seen.
Horned Grebes were in good numbers--I kept track and counted 44.  A few Common Loons and a single Red-throated Loon was observed.

We had a distant shorebird which remained unidentified.  It could have been a Purple Sandpiper for all we know!

I went on to south point trail by myself.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets were more plentiful this day.  There were actually all over the park.

An American Woodcock was in the same area as yesterday, but did not co-operate for any type of photo.

Juncos were numerous today, as they usually are this time of year.

The campground was on the agenda next, but it seemed quieter than yesterday.  I checked it twice.
At least three Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers were roaming around the campground (I saw a fourth near maintenance).  They are regular in winter in the campground!

Finch types were not all that plentiful this weekend. Although some Evening Grosbeaks were around, I could not come up with any.
A few Pine Siskins were around, as well as Purple Finches.
One wonders if we will see any crossbills.  There is a White-winged coming to a feeder up at Sarnia.  It is an ugly dark juvenile, not much to look at apparently!

Down Harrison trail, I spotted a Gray Catbird munching on some berries.

On a tip from Mike Cowlard, at beach access #1, I saw a Blue-headed Vireo.  It was there as soon as I got out of the car!

A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers was along Lakeshore Road.  Despite their grandeur and size, they are very elusive in late fall and winter!  It had been a long time since I had seen one.

After making rounds in the park, I headed over to McGeachy Pond and met up with Steve.  I did not anticipate spending much time there, but we spent more than 1.5h!  Living up to its name, this dike held some decent birds for this time of year.  A Wilson's Warbler was there on Friday, as seen by Jim Burk.
We had to work for them, looking into the tangles, but we came up with some decent finds.  Steve spotted a Black-and-white Warbler at one point.  Even though I was standing right beside him, I did not get a good enough look.  This warbler is most certainly record late by almost two weeks.

Near the viewing tower, we checked the area and a number of birds were in the lower area.  Almost simultaneously, I heard the chip notes of a Northern Waterthrush and a Common Yellowthroat.  Although I saw the waterthrush well, I could not get a photo.

We did get good looks at the Common Yellowthroat, a bird not unusual in this area in late fall.

I went back up on the dike to see if I could see the waterthrush.  As a consolation, I spotted an Orange-crowned Warbler!  These creatures are often difficult to photograph, especially at McGeachy.  Fuzzy photos are the norm!

After this round, it was time to head home.  It will be interesting to see what else turns up in the Rondeau area in the next few weeks.