Little Gull to Splitgill, and a "Block" in Between

 This past Thursday, I visited Erieau, Keith McLean C. L. and Blenheim lagoons.  Rondeau Bay is chocked full of ducks as it usually is this time of year.  I scoped some from the platform at the Erieau marsh trail.   I suspected that there would be a Eurasian Wigeon out there, but I could not find one from that vantage point.  (The next day, Steve found one while viewing from the fire hall!).

I next slid over to Keith McLean C. L.  There were fewer Dunlin than the previous visit, and a lot less other birds as well.  Nothing of note (I tried!).

Over at Blenheim lagoons, Bonaparte's Gulls were quite numerous.  Finally, something different was with them in the form of a Little Gull.  It was never close, so did not co-operate for a good photo.

On the pond, it was difficult to pick out. 

While there, a dark bird caught my attention.  Initial thought from a distance was European Starling, but a closer look (plus the call note) revealed it to be an American Pipit.  It was certainly a sooty-looking bird, something I have never seen before, at least with that species of bird.  I did not attempt to get a decent photo!

I guess something weird happened with that bird, and perhaps it was melanistic.

The afternoon was still young as I headed home, so swung over to Mitchell's Bay for one last walk of the day.  It was rather quiet along the south shore nature trail, but I keep trying as potential for something good is always there!

The dock

View towards St. Anne's Island

Friday, I needed a change in direction, so headed up to north Lambton.  I was up early, and noticed the old moon in the sky.  I thought it was interesting.  I made the mistake of taking a photo through the window, hence the double flash.

I first stopped by the "Point Edward Lighthouse" at the mouth of Lake Huron.  Nothing of note on a gentle west wind there.

I ventured on up to Ipperwash and decided to do a lakewatch at beach access one.  Some Dunlin were moving, and quite a few loons.  Most loons were Red-throated.  You never know what will show up on Lake Huron.....two alcids this past week!!

I walked through the woods behind the MNR parking lot, but it was rather quiet.  Lots of Winterberry Holly, but no Pine Grosbeaks to take advantage of it!

I stopped by Forest lagoons on the road home.  Some ducks were in, including lots of Bufflehead.  One was a pale brown, which stood out.

A couple of Long-tailed Ducks were on the lagoon as well. Not often seen in a lagoon setting!  Note the one with the Bufflehead in above photo.

The sparrows have left, but a single Marsh Wren was still Hiding in the reeds.

It was quite warm by the afternoon.  I stopped for one last walk at Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport.  Insects were out, including a Cabbage White, and an Autumn Meadowhawk among other things.

As well, this spanworm moth was taking advantage of the balmy day.

This American Tree Sparrow posed briefly.

Today it was a local day.  I stopped by the St. Clair River at Port Lambton first thing, for a bit.

Joseph L. Block

Not often we see this vessel on the St. Clair River.  Usually sails Lake Michigan.

A bit later, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.  I did not get any photos of birds, but a Golden Eagle was indeed a highlight.  Several Fox Sparrows were in company of tree sparrows, juncos and a Field Sparrow.

Some wild Canadian Ginger is still quite green.  It is very abundant throughout Reid.

There are some very large trees at Reid.  I admired this oak in the "lilly bush", which may be Shumard.  

This small fungus caught my eye. Size of a nickel, for reference.

Splitgill Mushroon

Labour Day Weekend 2022

 Nothing too exciting this weekend as it was a crap shoot where to go!

Friday I went down to Rondeau and area, but it was fairly quiet for passerines.  I later stopped by Blenheim lagoons to check on the shorebirds.  It has been very good there of late, and actually the best in years.

I lucked into an American Avocet, my favourite shorebird!

Numerous other shorebirds were present.

The next day, it morphed into two more birds!  The following day, three were down in Essex lagoons, so that is where they went obviously.

I went for a short walk at Reid CA in the afternoon.  There were a few warblers along the trail.  This Royal River Cruiser posed for a photo.

Yard things included  Common Checkered-Skipper and a Cape May Warbler.

Saturday, I went down to Hillman Marsh and walked the dike loop.  That walk has good potential for something, but I did not turn up anything of note.  I had hoped the Wood Storks were hiding there somewhere, but oddly they were only seen the one day.

In the afternoon, I went for another walk at Reid CA.  An early Lincoln's Sparrow popped up.

Sunday, I wanted to get up to north Lambton, so went to Kettle Point. Big mistake!  I should have went to Sarnia where multiple jaegers were seen.  I did a lakewatch at the point with James Holdsworth.  I thought there was potential for something, but not much was moving there.  However, we did get on a flock of shorebirds which were Sanderling, plus a chunky bird.  It was a Red Knot!  They were moving too fast to get any sort of photo.  In less than an hour, they were reported at Sarnia/Port Huron!

It was a drizzly day unfortunately, so I could not do much else.

Today, I went down to Rondeau for a lakewatch.  It had potential, but once again, nothing of note showed.  I then walked south point trail, finding lots of warblers.  I guess the best one was a Mourning.

It was then on to Blenheim lagoons to see the shorebird spectacle.  Lots of took at!  Something must be really good in the sewage in the middle pond, where most of the shorebirds hang out.

The same shorebirds were present, including the Red Knot.

Two Red-necked, and two Wilson's Phalaropes were also in the mix.

It was nice to see so many shorebirds there.  One of these days, perhaps we will see something really good.

Fall Flings Around Rondeau

I did some birding in Rondeau Park and the surrounding area the last couple of days.  The weather was cool but nice.

As usual, I started with a lakewatch with Steve at dog beach on Friday morning.  There was a good variety of ducks and loons were on the move.  Both Common and Red were in good number.

Shy Semiplover!

After the lakewatch, we checked out south point trail.  Warblers were mostly Yellow-rumped as one would expect, but several Blackpoll were still around plus a Tennessee and Magnolia.

Here is the list for the day:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S74892970

I also spent some time at McLean Conservation Lands.  Here is the list for there:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S74893146

We came across an attractive, but common moth caterpillar.

Smeared Dagger

Today I once again started at Rondeau Park.  I always arrive early to start the day.

I opted out of the lakewatch and went directly to south point trail.  More Yellow-rumped Warblers appeared to be around, and other warblers included Black-throated Green and Nashville.  Only one Blackpoll today!  Here is today's list:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S74937114

Eastern Phoebe

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

I was going to stop by McLean's again, but as I was passing there, I received a message that Steve Charbonneau had found a Cattle Egret at Ridgetown sewage treatment ponds.  I went directly there, even though I had seen one of these little herons earlier in the fall.  It was a bit distant for a decent photo though.

After seeing the Cattle Egret, I thought it was time to pay a visit to Blenheim Lagoons.  It had been several weeks since I was there!  It was a good choice, as raptors were moving.  Often, the lagoon site is a good spot to view raptors when they are migrating a bit inland on a southerly wind.

Turkey Vultures were the bird of the day, as they kept coming!  Steve and I counted almost 2000 in just over three hours.

There were several other raptors including two Golden Eagles.

Red-shouldered Hawks were also in the mix.

It was an interesting watch at the lagoons!  Here is the list for there:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S74972845

Bird of the Week and other Sightings

 This week's Bird of the Week in Chatham-Kent attracted many birders to the Blenheim sewage lagoons.  A Purple Gallinule was discovered by Steve Charbonneau!  It is a juvenile, so the brownish colour is far less attractive than the purple.  However, it is a neat bird!

It is a somewhat secretive bird as it lurks among the phragmites/reeds.  Just look at those feet though!

It is apparently Chatham-Kent's first record, so we all added one to our C-K list this week.  There have been about two dozen records in Ontario.  The nearest one to C-K was at Stoney Point marsh in May-Jun 1984; this bird found by Ron Pittaway.  Stoney Point used to be an excellent place to go for birds, and I recall going there in my early years of birding.  It is all phragmites now.

Solitary Sandpiper

Migrants have been passing through our favourite birding haunts.

Chestnut-sided Warbler

Eastern Phoebe with Blue Dasher

Peck's Skipper

The above were taken at Peers Wetland, Wallaceburg.  The place is a mess this year with high water, so one cannot walk too far.  Much of it was impassable this summer and has grown in to the point where it is impossible to walk.

Today I had plans to go to McLean's, Rondeau and Blenheim.  Although rain was forecast today, as usual, we got way more than predicted, so it was mostly a washout.  I spent the first two hours watching the lake at Rose Beach Line to pass the time.  There was quite a bit of activity, but of course no rarities.  Visibility was not the best though.

When the rain stopped, I went into the park and walked south point trail.  A few migrants were seen.  As I got back to the car, the rain started again.  So, more time was spent sitting!

It stopped again so I walked down Harrison to pony barn.  I encountered a nice pocket of migrants along the way that kept me occupied.

As I got back to the car it started raining again, so I headed over to Erieau.  I got a bit of a walk at the rail trail before the rain came down once again.  I then drove around endlessly hoping it would stop.  I actually ended back at Erieau pier for nothing else to do.

By the time I got back up to the lagoon area, it was clearing, so I went for a walk at the lagoons.  I did not see the Purple Gallinule, but did not spend much time looking for it.

Short-billed Dowitcher

Solitary Sandpiper

Semisand

A few butterflies came out with the sun.

Common Buckeye

Some gliders were wandering about.

Wandering Glider

I was on my way out when  I met up with a couple from Mississauga looking for the gallinule.  I left, and not five minutes later they found it!  I was not going back....

Hopefully Saturday will be a better day for weather.  We certainly do not need any more rain!