Morning Birds and 'Evening' Birds

 I do most of my birding in the morning when things are most active.  At first light, it seems to be the best time for lots of birds.  As often is the case, when I walk a trail, my return route finds fewer birds!

This past Sunday was quite miserable with wet snow and rain, but I headed out anyway.  I was near Lambton Line when a notice came out that a Brant goose was being seen at Sarnia.  So, I kept going!

The goose was seen soon after my arrival....several times.  It seemed like it did not know what to do as it flew back and forth.

It is always a treat to see one in our area since they are quite rare here.  (except during the hurricane Sandy event many years ago when over 200 were at the mouth of Lake Huron!).

Some other "good" birds were seen after I left, but I did not want to stay any longer.

Overnight Sunday, we received 7-8 cm of snow which was certainly a surprise.  And, below zero temps. However, nothing compared to the almost 60 cm received north of Skunk's Misery! (I would be done with winter already if I saw that!).

After shoveling snow, I just watched the yard all morning.  There was quite a variety of birds, and at one point at least four Evening Grosbeaks came into the Manitoba Maple tree.  Unfortunately, they were on the backside. However, nice to get such a rare bird species for the yard!

Cardinal at feeder

Despite the cold, Bruce Spanworm Moths can be found.  This one was on the back porch.

Next day was bright and sunny as I headed down to Lake Erie.  I started at Craford cemetery west of Cedar Springs, as it is a good place to watch for birds moving through.  Lots of Purple Finches, but not much else, so I left after an hour.

Then headed over to Rondeau and walked the campground.  Quite a bit of activity to keep up one's interest. At least two sapsuckers were working the grounds.

shy Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Note in above photo heavy crop of berries on Red Cedar.  Many trees have a heavy crop, so birds will be happy.  Hopefully something rare will find them!

Next stop was Keith McLean C. L.  Lots of sparrows! No Golden-crowned Sparrow though.

chipper

Yesterday, I toured local spots but did not come up with anything of note.

View just upstream of McKeough Dam

Today was very nice weatherwise, so I headed down to Rondeau Park.  I started at south point trail where there was lots of activity.  On the return walk, hardly anything.  Goes to show, again, get out first thing!

The campground is always a mandatory walk this time of year.  Lots of activity, especially at puddles!

wet Fox Sparrow

I had two flyovers of Evening Grosbeaks during the walk.

Last stop was Keith McLean C. L.  Still lots of sparrows, but nothing in the rarity department.

Field Sparrow

Field vs. Tree

Lots of mud with the low water levels.

Unlike last visit, there were some shorebirds, but only for a short time.  A flock of Dunlin flew in at one point and fed briefly.

With them were two late Long-billed Dowitchers and a Pectoral Sandpiper.  My camera does not seem to focus at long range though.....

A few hawks were moving, but most were more to the north.

Red-shouldered Hawk

It has been an interesting fall so far, and hopefully that will continue.  I need to see Pine Grosbeaks next!

Double Whammy Today!

 For a change in scenery today, I went up to Sarnia for a lakewatch.  A decent NNE wind was ablowin'!

American Herring Gull

  

There were not large numbers of birds, and certainly not much variety.  Less than an hour after I started, a single Brant flew by heading west.  I was actually looking at a flock of mergansers, and this bird was tailing!  It went up the Michigan side and out of sight.

About twenty minutes later, I caught sight of it swimming in the channel.  Several times, it flew upstream, then floating down.

Eventually, it flew back east and past Canatara Park.  I wonder if it kept going, as James Holdsworth had one at Highland Glen CA a while later.  Timing would be about right if it kept flying, but we will never be sure.

Always nice to see a Brant since we do not get many in the area for the most part.

Things got quiet, and I headed towards home.  I stopped at Moore WMA, then McKellar Tract, but not much was at either place.  I have had White-winged Crossbills at McKellar during incursion years, but I did not hear any today.

That big tree is still in the way at Moore!

A few mussel shells were visible.  Deertoe was one of them.

I then stopped at Nichols Memorial Forest and Wetland.  Highlight was a Great-Horned Owl.  A Barred Owl would have been better!

When I pulled into the driveway at home, I got word that a Mountain Bluebird was at Keith McLean C. L.  I was not ready to head out and stayed around for an hour at home.  The urge was too much to resist, so I headed down towards Rondeau.

Mountain Bluebird has never been seen in the Rondeau circle.  The only other in C-K was at Wheatley P.P. if I remember correctly.  I had to go as it was certainly a very overdue bird!

The bird was still present upon arrival, but light for photos was not good.  However, I took some photos anyway.

The bluebird was constantly going down to the mud and finding dragonfly nymphs to eat.

This was certainly a nice way to end the day!

This past week was rather uneventful, again. There were a couple of trips to Rondeau and McLean's.

Friday though I went up to Ipperwash in hopes of getting White-winged Crossbills.  I picked the wrong day.....again!

Random Scene along the trail

Instead I did another lakewatch for a while.  Yet again it was boring!

On Saturday, I worked the north end of Rondeau Park only as it was quite windy.  I finally came across some White-winged Crossbills, but they were single flyovers.

As usual I stopped by Keith McLean C. L., but nothing really different.  There has been a good-sized flock of Dunlin hanging around.

And, lots of gulls, but no good ones!

With the warm weather, lots of Autumn Meadowhawks are still flying (even today).

Sunday was a bit rainy and I did not go far.

Monday, it was back to Rondeau Park.  This late in the season, birds are getting fewer, but there was enough to keep me interested.

Another Carolina Wren

dark American Herring Gull

It was quite windy, especially along the lake at south point trail.  That concrete structure is getting farther out!

A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the campground was of interest.  Seems we always get a late bird there!  However, lighting was absolutely horrible.

Nothing new at Keith McLean's that day.  Ironically, I was thinking of Mountain Bluebird while there, and that perhaps this will be the year that we will get one in the area.  Little did I know that this idea would become reality!

Weekend Wanderings: 30 September-2 October

 It was an uneventful weekend, as I made my usual rounds.  Rondeau was fairly quiet on Friday and Saturday, and the lakewatches did not produce much.

We did see a jaeger on Saturday way out from dog beach, but indeed impossible to ID.  Any jaeger is good at Rondeau!

Keith McLean C. L. has been interesting lately.  The Nelson's Sparrows are back!  I made a quick stop on Friday and saw three.  Indeed, there is a lot of potential for something good to show up there.

Common checkered-skipper at McLean's

I then went on to Blenheim lagoons, where some more shorebirds had come in.  Unfortunately, nothing new.

Next stop was the Erieau marsh trail.  Lots of geese!  I did not carry a scope, but was quite certain I saw the Brant again.  Steve soon got on it from Bayview Avenue to confirm my suspicion.  It was probably there all week, but was difficult to see.

Also present, was a Greater White-fronted Goose.

A couple of Fiery Skippers caught my eye along the way.

Saturday it was back to Rondeau and Keith McLean C. L.  The lakewatch was better than the previous day.  The aforementioned jaeger was the only highlight.

I got better looks at Nelson's Sparrows at Keith McLean C. L., but not with the camera!

Common Checkered-skippers are plentiful right now, was well as Fiery Skippers.

Another one in the backyard!

In the afternoon, I went by Thamesville on my way to Sydenham River Nature Reserve (SRNR).  A quick stop at the Tecumseh monument area revealed some American Rubyspots.

This past weekend there was a tree planting event at SRNR by Ontario Nature.  One could pick a time slot on either Saturday or Sunday.

A group of us planted 250 trees in the afternoon, some of which were White Elm, Kentucky Coffee Tree, Tulip Tree, Silver Maple, etc.

The weather was very pleasant for the afternoon, so it was enjoyable.

Sunday a change in scenery was needed, so I went up to north Lambton.  First stop was Forest lagoons to look for sparrows.  I had no luck in finding a Nelson's, which was my target!  Numerous Swamp Sparrows kept me busy, before I gave up.

I then went on to Ipperwash.  It was somewhat quiet, but at least a nice day.  We soon should see some Evening Grosbeaks, I suspect!

I had to do some shopping in Sarnia, so afterwards stopped by Dow Wetlands for a walk.  Nothing of note!

Black-throated Blue Warbler

OFO Convention Weekend 2022

 This past weekend, many of us were pleased to return to an in-person Ontario Field Ornithologist's convention, after three years.  It was centred at Point Pelee.  Everything was pretty-much back to normal!  Indeed there was some concern with over 200 people mingling in a building, since COVID is still out there.  However, life must go on.

The convention is always a three day event where everyone is out birding in many different areas.  Friday evening has a dinner meeting with a speaker (this year:  Mike Cadman about the Breeding Bird Atlas), and a unique and famous bird quiz designed by Sarah Rupert.

Saturday evening is the main event with vendors and displays, a super dinner, bucket draw, AGM, Distinguished Ornithologist Award, Certificates of Appreciation and a keynote speaker.  It is a wonderful social event, and this year it was especially nice to see and talk to fellow birders after COVID shut things down two and a half years ago.

The bucket draw is especially popular, raising funds for the OFO.  I lucked out this year, winning three times!  I guess it made up for past years where I did not have have luck with me to get anything.

Besides winning a calendar from Hillardton Marsh, ironically, I won some things from Algonquin!

The keynote speaker was Merilyn Simonds, author of Woman, Watching, a biography of Louise de Kiriline Lawrence, an early citizen scientist who retreated in midlife to a log cabin in the bush to study songbirds.  Available on Amazon!  

After being home for one night from my recent trip, I started Friday by checking out the Mitchell's Bay South Shore nature trail.  There were a lot of warblers, but most were streaming north and difficult to ID.

Northern Parula

I then headed to Point Pelee for some birding. Around mid-day, things looked good for butterflies, so I checked out west beach trail south of the VC.  I walked the one section three times!

I found lots of Fiery Skippers (~12) and a few other things.

On my first pass, I noticed a brown skipper, but I was looking into the sun.  Hmm, there is not much choice this time of year for a brown skipper, but this one had longish wings.  I knew what it was!  I was looking at an Ocola Skipper!  A good rarity, but not entirely unexpected this time of year.

This was my third for Point Pelee, and fourth overall.  I once found one at Erieau Marsh trail, a first Chatham-Kent record.

Birding was fairly good the rest of the day.

Saturday was overcast most of the time and there were fewer birds around as we scoured the landscape.

Sunday was rainy (yep, the weekend!), so I headed to Erieau for a lakewatch with Steve Charbonneau.  The only highlight was a Trumpeter Swan, not all that common in C-K.

After some time, we decided to check out the Marsh trail, and it was a good choice!  The sun was coming out by this time, so it lightened the mood.

The OFO group was just starting there, so we forged ahead.  Just past the viewing stand, Steve got excited and shouted out Brant!  I took a look and it sure looked like one, a Holy S**t bird!  Good photos could not be obtained though.

I kept eyes on it, while Steve went back to the OFO group to inform them.  The Brant took flight and I lost it over the edge of the Bay.  We eventually found it further along, but views were not stellar.

The OFO group did manage to see it, thankfully.  It again took flight and we lost it.  Steve went to the church down the road to scope the shoreline, and sure enough it could be seen for others to tally.

Brant is really a mega-rarity for Chatham-Kent!  It is only seen every few years, and I think I have only seen it once when three were at Erieau in late October 2002.

It was seen again this morning for some local birders. I think it is the best bird of the convention!

With many birders scouring the area over the weekend, almost every bird out there will be recorded.  Although I do not have the totals, it may be a record tally for the convention.

Next year's convention is at Peterborough, where it was supposed to be in 2020 before the COVID mess shut things down.  Looking forward to that!

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