Rambles at Rondeau

It was rather chilly and windy this weekend as this wacky weather continues. Early Saturday morning was not too bad down in Rondeau, but as time went on things took a turn for the worse.
I managed to find a few birds that were first for the year.  One was a Brown Thrasher on south point trail, which did not want to face the camera.

A pair of early Purple Martins was investigating a home near the visitor centre.  I am sure they did not appreciate the weather late yesterday and this morning!

Quite a few Horned Grebes were on the lake and while watching at beach access #9, I spotted a Red-necked Grebe.
By that time, the weather had deteriorated, but I looked at some sparrows near the tennis courts.  A Vesper Sparrow was among them.  The weather prevented me from getting a decent photo.

A heavy snow shower was underway, so I decided to get into the woods and walk Black Oak Trail.  Soon after starting, a large white bird caught my eye.  Turned out to be a Great Egret!  A slough in the woods is not a usual location for such a species.

It was time to leave as the weather was rather dismal by mid-day.
I took a quick peak at Blenheim Lagoons, but it was totally unbearable to stay there!  Too windy and cold.  Water levels are high and nests are afloat.

Bufflehead are in big numbers everywhere right now, including Blenheim.

Sunday was very cold, but sunny.  I walked south point trail (east side) again.  It was evident that Fox Sparrows had come in with good numbers, some littering the trail.

They were all over the park.

Fewer Eastern Phoebes were present, or at least they were silent today in the cold.

More sparrows were present at the tennis court area, as well as the continuing Vesper Sparrow.

Lots of Pine Siskins are at feeders right now.

The week will still remain cold, but hopefully next weekend will be warm and with many newly-arrived birds.

Monday Report

Sunrise at Bate's Marsh

Sunday I went back to Rondeau, but found out the birds from the previous day had departed!  It was rather quiet for birds and I did not even find a warbler, although undoubtedly a few Yellow-rumped were deep in the woods.
The lake was a little more active, but nothing of note was seen in the calm morning.

Along Lakeshore Road first thing, was this disoriented Tundra Swan.  Likely a health issue going on.

A few Tundras are lingering around.  Four were at Blenheim S.T.P. yesterday.

I did not stay at Rondeau too long and did quite a bit of driving around, to no avail.  Some good wet spots were just north of Erieau in the fields that held a large number of bonies.  Some Pectoral Sandpipers were seen...finally.

This morning was balmy and calm.  The St. Clair River was very smooth, until some ships came along!

Tim S. Dool

One thing of note was the number of Bufflehead on the river.  I watched at my lookout spot for about a half hour before work and there were upwards of 100 Bufflehead among a few other species.  Mike Bouman noted even more this morning, with perhaps 600 at Courtright!
Quite a few Long-tailed are still floating around as well.

Recently, a number of hybrid ducks have been seen on the St. Clair River.  This beauty was found by Mike Bouman.  Can you guess species involved?

This evening was too nice to stay in, so I checked out Peers Wetland near here.  A few birds migrants there, but no warblers yet.
I decided to check out Stewart Wetland as well.  Nothing special, but saw my first Rough-winged Swallow was associating with the numerous Tree Swallows.
I could hear Wilson's Snipe winnowing, but did not see them.  Perhaps they were along the Walpole shoreline.

I drove back home along Stewart Line, which turned out to be a good choice.  One field near the R/R tracks held hundreds of gulls and several yellowlegs (finally some yellowlegs!). I did not have  scope with me, so who knows what all was there in the more distant parts.
This field has many gulls, ducks, etc. each spring while it stays wet.

Now that we are in mid April and the warm weather is finally here, things will start happening soon!

the usual coltsfoot blooming beside the shop today

Rondeau & Area September 27

Rondeau Park was the destination first thing this morning.  As expected with this fine weather, not many birds were around.  However, there were things to look at here and there.
Today it was obvious kinglets have finally arrived in numbers.  Lots of Ruby-crowned were flitting about.  A few Golden-crowned were mixed in, the first for me this fall.






There not many warblers today, and certainly no large groups of passerines.  I came across this Northern Parula on south point trail.

Along the shoreline, this young Red-headed Woodpecker surveyed the situation atop a dead tree.  I saw this one, or another farther along.  You can see a hint of red coming in on the head.

Several Horned Grebes were on the lake, and I counted about 15 off south point area.

A late-ish Scarlet Tanager was at the compost area.

After almost 3 hours, I left the park and headed up to Blenheim Lagoons.  This time there were many birds to look at!  Lots of ducks and shorebirds.  All four sprinkler cells were just right.

There were around 100 shorebirds, a good number for this date.  Lots of Lesser Yellowlegs (at least 40) and Pectoral Sandpipers. There were Semipalmated Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, a Long-billed Dowitcher, a couple of Dunlin and pretty sure a White-rumped.  **Note:  bring in a scope!

Lots of ducks including a female Bufflehead, rather early for the date.




Walked the Erieau trails as well.  Not much there except a Gray-cheeked Thrush and some White-crowned Sparrows.

This late-ish Silver-spotted Skipper was still hanging on.








I decided to check Ridgetown, but presently it is only good for waterfowl.  Geese are always attracted in big numbers there, so worthwhile to check for uncommon species.  A single Snow Goose was among Canada's.

Not many insects today, but I thought this katydid on Big Bluestem was a neat photo op.