Birding May 5-8: A SNOW and some Snow

Spent Monday and Tuesday at Point Pelee.  Not surprisingly, it was very cold except for Tuesday afternoon. I did not find many birds which seems to be my usual luck there.  It was tough finding where some birds were on those days.
I stopped first thing at Hillman Monday and noted a single Long-billed Dowitcher.  The other shorebirds of note had left from the previous day!

At the park, I came across an Eared Grebe early morning on the west side south of midway of West Beach Trail. Water was calm and lighting was somewhat good for a decent photo.

Around mid-day I walked Woodland Trail with the Groves.  Two Hooded Warblers were at the head of the trail, the Yellow-throated Warbler was at its usual neighbourhood and a Louisiana Waterthrush was at the south boardwalk.  Not much opportunity for photos this day.

Blame this poor photo on my shivering....lol.

Louisiana Waterthrush

In mid afternoon, I checked out the Smith's Longspur spot.  One has to go into that field to find them.  I saw a female up close.  For some reason I did not lug the camera along!

I camped at Wheatley PP the two nights in my usual spot. As expected, both Sora and Virginia Rail were calling at the old lagoon site as I went to sleep.  Also heard Great-horned Owl.  During the night, a coyote or some member of the canine family kept me awake for a while!

Tuesday at Pelee was sunny for a change, but very cold to start.  By later in the afternoon it was quite pleasant and no need for jacket inland.  First thing we found a Bobolink perched in a tree at the Tip.  Not the typical habitat, but often seen like this when they first come in.
A fresh arrival was a Warbling Vireo at the Tip.

It was once again tough finding many birds.

Later afternoon was the annual pot-luck at White Pine where a number of friends gather for some good times.  This is the second I have been able to attend and it is quite enjoyable.  A special presentation (plaque of appreciation) at the end of the dinner was given to Alan Wormington for his hard work over the years in for his writings contributing to ornithological records in Ontario.  (A surprise to Alan!). Congratulations!

Back at Wheatley PP, I found a Solitary Sandpiper in the' usual' spot.  There is one here every year at this time!

For Wednesday, I decided to go back to Rondeau.  As usual, the weather was poor!  However there was a good number of birds (esp. warblers) on Spicebush Trail.  Included was a male Golden-winged.
At first light, hundreds of warblers were streaming north at a fast pace.  Seems to be the trend lately!  As a result, not many were left in the park.

In the afternoon I ventured outside the park to look at the Snowy Owl (SNOW) reported the previous day at Erieau.  Latest I have ever seen one!

There is a late June record for Erieau though.

While in the vicinity, I checked the first part of Marsh Trail (aka R/R track trail) and found a number of birds out of the wind.  At one point I thought I was hearing a Golden-winged Warbler, but due to the gale force wind (yes, again!), I was not sure.  Sure enough, a bird came alongside the trail singing.  A Brewster's Warbler!  It even sang a Blue-winged song at one point.

McGeachy Pond edge still had a bit of remnant snow.  Rondeau's marsh trail also had some leftover snow on this day.  One would think it was March with the weather, snow and Snowy Owl!

Up at Blenheim Lagoons (I never did go in), the Franklin's Gull that was found by Steve Charbonneau a couple days earlier, was in a field with bonies.  It is an immature bird.  Too far away for a photo though.

By nightfall, a thunderstorm rolled in.  There were several storms during the night and one very intense.  A lot of rain fell.
By first light Thursday morning, the clouds were disappearing and the sun came out for a nice.  Actually the nicest day we have had yet.  It bode well for birding, as hundreds of birds dropped in during the night.  However, hundreds were quickly streaming north out of the park once again.
Steve Charbonneau and I stopped at Bennet and Rondeau Roads first things and noted lots of birds, most of which were heading north at a good clip.
We decided to counter them at maintenance.  A good choice as we spotted around 18 species of warblers, plus many tanagers, orioles, and vireos.  Best warbler was a Golden-winged that flitted briefly right in front of me for a few seconds.  No time for a photos on all these anxious birds!

Scarlet T.

Nashville Warblers won the lottery for numbers today, but Ovenbird, Black-and-White were close behind.
Thrushes were in good numbers (we had FOY Gray-cheeked) as well a White-throated Sparrows.  We spent a lot of time along Rondeau Road.  Still no Kenucky or Hooded there!
At one point we had Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Swainson's Thrush close together in one binocular view.  A Wood Thrush was singing in the background.  Was not till later we saw a Hermit Thrush!

Birds were all over the park and it was nice to finally see some numbers.  As I left this afternoon, warblers were quietly working the sloughs.

My yard here even had a good number of migrants....finally.

Tomorrow looks pretty good as well.

Rondeau Birding May 15

Red-necked Phalarope (far away and too cloudy!)

Gray-cheeked Thrush at Erieau


Bay-breasted Warbler

NOTE: There has been some glitch in the system that I cannot place photos where I want them.

Rondeau Park was not dripping with birds, but there were enough to keep the birdwatcher busy. A few quality birds were around too.

Northern Parula

I started at south point trail. Highlights there included a Yellow-breasted Chat, Brewster's Warbler and Grasshopper Sparrow. A couple of Mourning Warblers were singing as well.

Brewster's Warbler (singing Blue-winged song!)

Tulip Tree Trail was very quiet. I did hear the Prothonotary Warbler way down the slough and the ever-present Northern Waterthrush was singing.

I then decided to walk up Harrison Trail, and I ended up going all the way around down Rondeau Road. Near the start, I saw a Brown Creeper. That species is tough to get this time of year; where was it last weekend?! Half way up Harrison I caught sight of a silent Prairie Warbler. A Pine Warbler was here as well. (A second Pine Warbler was near the visitor centre). There were a number of birds along this stretch that made things interesting. Rondeau Road was terribly quiet.

South of the visitor centre, I heard another Chat making all kinds of noises. I never did see it as it was closer to Lakeshore Road. By the way, the Clay-colored Sparrow was still along the road and singing down from the visitor centre.

Next stop was behind maintenance and down to the log pond. A few warblers were here as well. And the only butterfly I saw all day was a Tiger Swallowtail--new for the year.

I decided to leave the park at this point and check out Erieau. Nothing special there, but a Northern Mockingbird was at the fish warehouse. I saw one Dunlin and heard some Black-bellied Plover.

Along the railroad track trail, there were some warblers and thrushes, including a Gray-cheeked. Soras were calling in the marsh.

At Blenheim Lagoons, the Eared Grebe was still present in pond 3. It is a treat to see this time of year. Too bad it did not have a mate. It would be like being at the Emo Sewage Lagoon near Rainy River! A single Red-necked Phalarope was in the first pond--always nice to see this time of year. Perhaps it was a male since it was not in bright plumage.

Overall today I noticed more Canada Warblers, Northern Parulas and Blue-winged Warblers. Gray-cheeked Thrushes have come in as well as Mourning Warblers. Cuckoos have not arrived yet. I heard some Cedar Waxwings along the road (where were they last week too?).