CBC Season: The Counts Begin

This weekend many of us joined in on our local Christmas Bird Counts.  Saturday I went up to Arkona to do my section of the Kettle Point CBC.  I should have stayed home!  Some years are better than others, but this year I saw the fewest number of birds ever.
I do Rock Glen CA and the village of Arkona.  It was mucky too, with the mild weather.

view from above of the old dam site

It took almost two hours just to find a Black-capped Chickadee!
It was difficult to hear in certain locations as the water levels were high and much water was going over the falls.
I was home by noon.

Today was a different story.  It was the Blenheim/Rondeau count and the weather was beautiful.  Perhaps too nice as birds were not plentiful.  That has been the story this year though since birds have left the province en masse.  Many people saw Eastern Commas today, the latest ever for most of us.  We saw one in the campground, but could not catch up with it for a photo.

We started with a productive lakewatch at dog beach.  Quinten Wiegersma and his father joined me for the third year in a row.  Lots of ducks were moving, but the highlight this year a waterbird called the Red-throated Loon.
As I have alluded to previously, this species has been in higher numbers the last couple of years, and this year has been exceptional.  We tallied 43 in our area (many more were tallied off Erieau and south beach), including a few farther down off south point.  This breaks the previous record of two(?) by a slim margin.  lol.
This is significant since Red-throated Loon has been recorded on the CBC only a couple of times.  A couple were seen in 1981, and in 2017, Quinten and I saw two..

There were lots of white-winged scoters this year, and quite a few Long-tailed Ducks far out.

We checked for the Gray Catbird along Lakeshore as we walked by, but came up empty.  However, on the drive back north, it was there!

I likes to be elusive!

During lunch at the VC, a flock of at least 16 Pine Siskins came in to the feeders.  Nice to see. NO redpolls there though.

The campground was dead when we went through.  We parted ways and I went back to south point.  I find it quite pleasant to walk mid to late afternoon on a sunny day.
I added a couple of species including a Hermit Thrush and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

I did see a sapsucker at maintenance.

I checked maintenance area again, but still could not find that elusive White-eyed Vireo.  Others saw it though, a new species for the Rondeau count. In fact there had never been a December record before.

I checked the first part of marsh trail, but it was quiet. I then headed north on Water Street, and saw birders congregating near maintenance.  I decided to check it out.  Allen Woodliffe had photographed a Barred Owl!
Unfortunately it had flown, but Jim and Steve got a glimpse of it heading north into the campground.  We went in pursuit and were about to give up.
I started heading back and heard a squirrel squawking that had me curious.  I soon saw the Barred owl fly out of a pine and eventually perch with a squirrel in its talons.  We had walked right by it.
Soon others arrived to see the owl.  What a way to end the day!  (no photo of this bird)
This is what they look like though:

At my campsite Awenda P.P.

The count turned out well with a 114 species for the count--a very respectable number.  White-eyed Vireo was new, Barred Owl exceptional, and Northern Waterthrush was once again tallied for this count.  The waterthrush was the one we found at McGeachy several weeks ago!  That Kiskadee had not been seen since about Monday unfortunately.
Other decent birds and some decent numbers were tallied for the day, as all participants had fun.

Thanks goes to Keith Burk for hosting the compilation at the end of the day, and Jane and crew for preparing the fabulous meal as always!

Monday Rounds

Monday morning I headed down to the Blenheim area to see what was around.  First stop was the lagoons since we are now in the midst of fall shorebird migration.  The were a few yellowlegs and Least Sandpipers in.  I did not get much of a look at them since they flushed even though I was not even very close to them.

A lone Lesser Scaup was in the one pond, looking out of place.

I wanted to check on some local Dickcissels.  Many have returned to sites occupied in 2017.  Other sites have not been occupied this year.
Not far away, a colony of Dickcissels is behind the Canadian Tire, easily seen from Hyland Drive.

It appeared that there were three males singing while I was there.  Seems we rarely see the females, so likely they are there too.

On the Fence

Another spot is the pasture along Campbell Road NE of Blenheim.  I saw four birds there during the brief stop.

Dickcissel in Flight

After that, I worked my way home and went straight to Reid CA before it got too hot.  Quite a few Banded Hairstreaks were out.  Most are dark and easily recognized from a distance, but some are light in colour such as this one.

I came across two Oak Hairstreaks, one of which was very worn.  They are now in their decline and will not be seen again within a week.

I finally saw a FOY Edwards' Hairstreak as well.

I looked for Dukes' Skippers and I believe I did see one flying away into the shaded area of sedges.

It was close to noon at this point and getting too hot again, so I headed home.  This heat wave has certainly limited our activities.  There is always something!

Say('s) What?

Since it is a weekday, I was busy at work all day.  I got home and read messages about...what?....a Say's Phoebe near Blenheim?
After wolfing down some supper I made a beeline for Lagoon Road.  It takes me 45 minutes to get there from home on a good day, but traffic was heavy and of course I just happened to meet one of those CP (too long) trains at Grand and Prince Albert Roads.

I soon arrived on the scene and a bunch of familiar birders were looking for the bird.  They had seen it a few minutes previous, but after about ten minutes, the bird appeared in a tomato field that was being harvested.

This bird was certainly a long time coming for me and was on my mind recently!  I do not usually chase long distance birds, but this one was fairly close to home, so I had to try.
Eventually the bird came closer, but still a bit distant for decent photos.

It has been a while since I have had a life bird, so this was nice to get.  A lifer for many today it appears.  It is new for the Rondeau Birding Area checklist.

Lagoon Road has had some decent flycatchers.  Back in the fall of 2002, A Tropical Kingbird spent some time at the very south end!

I was originally thinking of going on an evening boat ride since the weather was so nice (it is a weekday afterall!).  Those plans were quashed obviously, but well worth it.

Walpole Island in the background last week

A Snowy Day

Went down the Rondeau area for another morning.  Main goal was to see the Snowy Egret at the landfill.  Keith Burk took us (Jim, Steve, Allen and myself) in to see the ponds.  We saw the Snowy Egret right away in the distant pond.

Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron!

It seemed rather nervous and flew around a bit, eventually perching in a tree with Great Egrets.

"Baby" Egret

When we first arrived, a large flock of Mallards dropped in, and of course as we approached the pond, they all got up including the egrets.

A few shorebirds were present, but nothing special.

SBD's (No LLB's)

At one point, a Peregrine Falcon came in to scatter all the birds.  It gave chase to a Pectoral Sandpiper for the longest time, giving us quite a show.  Not sure who won, but this was an inexperienced peregrine that should have caught the sandpiper at some point!

"I am doomed!"

A drive around the landfill revealed a Great Horned Owl on a snag.

Hoot!

A quick check of Blenheim lagoons turned up only one Red-necked Phalarope among the usual species.
After the landfill outing, Steve and I went down to the Erieau R/R track trail and we found quite a few warblers.  A large number of Magnolia was present.  At one point we had about 8 maggies in a bunch!

After lunch I swung over to Ridgetown and saw nothing different from yesterday.  Would someone please find a Marbled Godwit? lol.  Getting boring there.....

For one last walk, I stopped north of Wallaceburg and was somewhat surprised to find  a worn sedge skipper.  Dion or Dukes?  Probably Dion, but it was quite worn.

First Impressions and Seeing Red

Red-necked Phalarope (adult--prebasic moult) Blenheim

Photo by P. Allen Woodliffe

Yesterday was a lazy day...not too many birds around.  I think the north wind that kicked in late Sunday pushed things out.  Went to Rondeau and weather was perfect, but few birds.
Several Caspian and Common Terns were out on the lake as I walked out south beach.  Only a few Great Egrets out in the marsh Monday.

Great Egret at Stewart Wetland

I went into Blenheim Lagoons hoping to see that phalarope.  There were rather few shorebirds compared to Saturday, but it was easy to find.  I wanted to get a good look at this crazy bird, and I did.  Concentrating on the bill I noticed it was fairly long and thin.  No doubt this was a Red-necked!  An adult moulting into winter plumage.  I got the adult part and phalarope part right earlier, but not species. LOL.
Goes to show that your first impression is usually correct.  I admit the photos were misleading (I could not get close enough) and was virtually talked into it being a Red.  I will thank those who commented (even though some may have been wrong!).
Other birders changed their minds as well.  First thought, Red-necked, then Red.  Power of suggestion has some influence especially if you do not examine something closely enough.
To those who saw Red, it was actually a Red-necked.  Make use of the White-out!

rather "yellow" Viceroy at Erieau

Late yesterday I went out to Stewart Wetland and found a number of shorebirds.  Habitat is good, so I must check it regularly.

Hundreds of Purple Martins and swallows hanging out on hydro lines lately, especially at Port Lambton.

Birding Today

A rather slow day for birding around Rondeau today.  The last couple of days have seen considerably few birds around here.  Weather turned out decent most of the day as the weather forecast fooled us yet again.
I checked out Rondeau first thing and noted a large number of Ruby-crowned Kinglets.  They were in bunches.    Hardly any sparrows as compared to a week ago.  The most common one seemed to be Field!  All the White-throated Sparrows have left save for a few, and I never saw a White-crowned today.
Warblers included singletons of Blackpoll, Orange-crowned and Nashville plus scattered Yellow-rumped.  Only a couple of Blue-headed Vireos today.  Still lots of Pine Siskins flying around.

The lake was fairly active for a change.  Hundreds of Red-breasted Mergansers flew by.  Quite a few Common Loons were moving as well as Horned Grebes.


A couple groups of Sanderlings went by south point.




At Erieau's Marsh Trail (aka R/R tracks), I found a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher among kinglets and Yellow-rumps.

At Blenheim Lagoons a fair number of birds were in.  Most were Ruddy Ducks again, but lots of Bonaparte's Gulls.  In fact there seems to be more hanging out there than on the lake!  No sign of the Red-necked Phalarope, as it would have been record late by now.








Shorebirds included a late Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, White-rumped Sandpiper (with bad leg), 2 Dunlin and both Yellowlegs.

Dunlin

I caught sight of a kettle of buteos--all being Red-tailed except for one Red-shouldered within.
American Pipits were in small numbers every place.

Butterflies included a single Buckeye and several sulphurs (both species).  Also a single damselfly.

I decided to check Ridgetown Lagoons for a change (have not been there in many weeks!).  Water is high, but lots of Canada Geese as usual.  Surprisingly, no Cackling as this is a reliable spot for them.

Fringed Earthstar

More Photos from Pelee

Although birding was very slow this weekend, some birds were plentiful such as Blue Jays and Double-crested Cormorants.  Thousands of jays were attempting to head off the Tip.

Cormorants were coming in droves. Sunday morning a big feeding frenzy was off East Beach.

Black Walnut trees are producing a bumper crop this year. In the campground all you could hear were walnuts hitting the shelter roofs or the ground.

Some more butterflies:
Silver-spotted Skipper

white female form of Orange Sulphur

Today, I just went for a walk at Rondeau and then checked the lagoons.  Again things were quiet, but at least there were some passerines to look at (compared to Pelee).  A few Yellow-rumped and Blackpoll were around, and a single Black-throated Green and two female Black-throated Blues.  The lone vireo was a Blue-headed.  Lots of Brown Creepers and both kinglets were in.

At Blenheim I found the lagoons full of Ruddy Ducks.  Perhaps 450?  A few yellowlegs were in the sprinkler cells.

Butterflies included a worn Viceroy (getting late) a Bronze Copper, a couple of Fiery Skippers and numerous Buckeyes.  Many of those were the dark form, or Rosa form. The underside is reddish.  These were very active and would not pose for photos!