Recent Birding Adventures

 Been a while, but I have not found much for subject matter here.  As well, not many photo opportunities!  I have seen some decent birds since the last post, though, and have been all over the place!

Some Long-billed Dowitchers were still at Keith McLean C. L. on October 29.  In fact, nine of them.  It has been a good fall for them in our area.

On October 30, I stopped by Roberta Stewart Wetland west of Wallaceburg first thing in the morning.  It was blackbird mania!  Autumn mornings (at first light), we often see lots of blackbirds coming off roost from Walpole Island.  On this morning I estimated 14,000 Red-winged Blackbirds, 13,000 Common Grackles, some Rusty and one male Yellow-headed Blackbird.  Certainly the most birds I have seen coming off Walpole.

On October 31, I went south and stopped by Craford Cemetery west of Cedar Springs.  On certain winds in the fall, this is a good spot to view migrating birds along the lakeshore.  I was hoping for Evening Grosbeaks, but that was not to be like some times in the past.  There were lots of birds though.

Purple Finches were among them, and these are everywhere this fall in good numbers.

Next day, I headed north!  I went to Ipperwash hoping for some finches.  Struck out again!  I did have one Redpoll flying over though.  There is a good crop of Winterberry Holly, which Pine Grosbeaks enjoy.

While up there, I did a lakewatch for a couple of hours.  It was not too productive, as have most lakewatches been this fall.  However I did observe a Black-legged Kittiwake virtually all by itself.   There were hardly any gulls!  Lots of ducks, with many White-winged Scoters (91).

Next day I went to Mitchell's Bay.  I go there every three days or so looking for that one good bird.  Still has not happened!  Ten Greater Yellowlegs along the shoreline were interesting to watch.

In the afternoon I was curious  to check out Moore WMA.  Still one has to bushwack back to the causeway, so not enjoyable.  I was hoping to find some mussels.  There were lots, but mostly one species (giant floater).  I did find one Mapleleaf.

November 3, I went to Rondeau Park for a lakewatch at dog beach.  Not overly productive (yet again!), but one has to try.  Rain was coming in, so I was not able to stay to walk trails in the park.

In the afternoon, it was nice enough to go for a walk at Reid C. L.  I was not expecting much in the way of birds, but I needed a walk!

Highlight was a Blue-winged Warbler of all things!  I had good looks, but my camera was acting up so I was not able to get a photo.  It was quite active anyway.

According to eBird, this is Ontario's second latest record.  I knew it was late by a longshot. I went back the next two days, but could not refind it.  Probably was still present though.

November 4, I walked both north and south shore trails at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing exciting, but it was a nice day to be out.

It was a nice warm afternoon, so again I went for a walk at Reid C. L.  I saw both Eastern Comma and Clouded Sulphur flying.

While looking unsuccessfully for the Blue-winged Warbler, I saw this small Swamp White Oak.  I thought the leaves were exceptionally large.

The next three days, I never used my camera.....lol.

Wednesday, I went back to Rondeau Park for a lakewatch since a stiff SW wind was blowing.  This is the best wind, usually, for dog beach.  I joined Steve for a fairly productive morning.  Highlight was a Pacific Loon!  Good looks were obtained.  Ducks were in good numbers.

Thursday was my birthday, but no "birthday bird" came around.  It was a somewhat quiet day for birds, as I checked out local haunts.  It was all down hill a few years ago when I found that Sage Thrasher....

Friday it rained all morning, so just watched the usual common birds at home.  It cleared enough to go for a walk at Mitchell's Bay around noon, but it was very windy.  Nothing of note.

Today, Saturday, I had enough ambition to go down to Point Pelee!  The evening before, some Cave Swallows were reported at the marsh boardwalk, so I thought there was a good chance they were still around ( I cannot find them anywhere else anyway!).  

I joined Cam Chevalier on the tower first thing, as we talked about Cave Swallows.  Soon, a few just appeared out of nowhere!  I counted seven, then they disappeared.  A while later, I spotted them out by the pergola, so we headed out the boardwalk to that location.  We found one flying around.

It was a very dark and dull day, so lighting was horrible.  Hence photos are crappy.

We surmised that they were roosting under the boardwalk, as they would disappear for a time.  Luckily, they stayed around for many birders to see.

It was a good day in the park with lots of birds, but nothing else rare.  Purple Finches were in big numbers though-out.  No good for photography today!

It has been quite windy most days, as it typically is in November.  In a couple of days, it is the 50th anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald already.  There are a lot of events and media covering the Fitzgerald sinking.  I can remember hearing about the sinking.   Perhaps more on that later.

1978

Cave Swallows

 The last few weeks, southern Ontario has seen several appearances of Cave Swallows.  Just today, one was found at the Erieau pier.  As usual, I was elsewhere, and could not get there in time.  I have tried looking for Cave Swallows in various places the last couple of weeks to no avail.  Just my usual bad luck....again!

After looking at the pier today, I made a brief stop at the Erieau marsh trail.  It was too windy for many birds, but the highlight was a late Palm Warbler.

Below is an old post from October 2010 during one of the invasions.  Probably the biggest one at Erieau.  We first saw Cave Swallows at Erieau in 1999.

Cave Swallow Invasion

Sand in your Eyes!

(Rondeau south beach)

The brutal winds of this week continued today.

The biggest Cave Swallow invasion ever to hit Ontario tallied more birds today.  Erieau in south Chatham-Kent seems to be a reliable spot to see them this time of year, so that is where I started this morning.

Seven birds in this photo!

I arrived too early again, so I waited.  I saw the first ones on the Bay near the Government Dock.  Soon others appeared and I was up to about 15.  The flock moved over to the gravel/sand piles so Jim Burk and I went over there amongst them.  We tried to get some photos, and some turned out reasonably well.  We estimated up to 30.  Later reports put the total at 40+ in the Erieau area.

We first saw Cave Swallows here in 1999 when the first notable invasion occurred.

Rondeau: Birding in the Slush

Not surprisingly, the weather forecast did not look good for Saturday.  I headed down to Rondeau early this morning, leaving the house in calm, 5 degree weather.  By the time I got to Rondeau, it was 0 degrees and heavy wet snow!

View along Rondeau Ave towards Bay

Steve and I attempted a lakewatch from Dog Beach anyway, but it was downright miserable.  Typical weekend.  The snow changed to mostly rain, so at least the visibility was better.  Nothing much of note though.
We then moved to south point trail per usual.  I guess the warblers have finally left or perished as we did not have a single one.  There are some Yellow-rumped still around though. Somewhere.
After meeting Jim Burk, we abandoned the trail and moved up to the campground.  A number of sparrows and juncos were at the south end, but still no warblers.  Just a few Golden-crowned Kinglets and a singing Purple Finch.

I went off on my own afterwards and stopped at the visitor centre.  A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was the only different bird of the day at that point.
The weather was better, so I did another walk of south point trail.  I flushed up an American Woodcock at one point which is getting to be a decent bird at this date.
I came across a number of Black-capped Chickadees, but still no warblers.

Lagoon Road hawk!

After the second south point experience, I headed up Lakeshore Road and briefly stopped in front of McArthur's to look at juncos and tree sparrows beside the road. Most were on the lake side, but a few on the edge of the road to the other side.  I turned to look at those, and....ooops!  Not a junco, but a tanager.  A Summer Tanager no less.  It appeared to be an adult female, but I have never seen one this time of year.
I had a decent look at it and raised the camera, but of course it flew.  I saw it again, but it flew back right past me and disappeared.  I could not find it again.
Could it be the same bird Steve and I had a month ago?  Same plumage anyway.

After that high, I walked the campground again.  Some Eastern Bluebirds were at the south end.

Also a huge flock of juncos/Tree Sparrows which moved to the traffic circle and beyond.

I checked out Erieau as well, but nothing of note.  I did not locate the gnatcatcher at the marsh trail, but it was there yesterday.  The Eurasian Wigeon was still in the corner yesterday, and likely today once again.  Too lazy to scope.

The Blenheim lagoons had 9 Snow Geese among many Canada.  Lots of ducks too.  Tundra Swans were in, including our injured bird.  I counted 12 Dunlin at the back pond where there is now mud.

The Cave Swallows from yesterday were long gone.  They would not be happy today anyway.
There was quite a showing yesterday in the Rondeau area. It first started with the 3 Jim Burk had at the farm, then Brett Fried reported 5 at Rondeau Park.  Another was at Erieau harbour, and yet another single along McKinlay Line.
In the afternoon, several were reported near Rondeau Ave and out along the beach beyond the traffic circle.
Who knows how many were really around.  All told, I think at least 13 were at Rondeau Park for sure, then the others outside the park.

Weekend Birding

Cave Swallows have now reached Ontario.  Not surprisingly a good number were seen at Fifty Point near Hamilton today.  The Peregrine Prints guy and others stood vigil along the shoreline.  No doubt others were around somewhere along Lake Erie as well.

(two years ago at Erieau)

Tomorrow I am heading up to Point Edward for a lakewatch.  It is only a 45 minute drive, so not far to go.  Decent north winds are predicted, although not as strong as originally forecast (what's new?).  There have been no good north winds until now this fall.  A very strong NW wind was blowing early this morning, however it somewhat died out during the day and the wind is light out of the north right now.
It will be a good change of pace since the last few weeks I have headed down to Lake Erie.  Cave Swallows have been seen at Point Edward in the past, but probably little chance of them there for tomorrow.

Yesterday was probably the last blast of SW winds for a while at least.  I checked the gardens at Brander Park and found a few Fiery Skippers.  A decent-looking Summer Azure was there as well.  Never got a photo though as the winds were strong blowing things around.  Getting rather late for one of those creatures.

As I like to include some history on this blog, and not necessarily nature, here is some more for history buffs like myself.  Railroad to be exact.  Recently I looked at some old photos my father took in 1966.  He always had the camera and took thousands of photos over the years.  Steam locomotive 7470 was a switcher at the Canada and Dominion Sugar Factory here in town.  It was a very large operation in its heyday.  I had always wondered what happened to this locomotive.

I googled the number and instantly it came up!  I was fascinated to know that it is still running out in New Hampshire as part of the Conway Scenic Railway.  It blew my mind to find this.  I was there with my father when he took the photos, so I remember it well.  (top of my head is at lower left!)

Come on kittiwakes....

Puffin on the St. Clair River

Puffin

The salty Puffin was upbound at Port Lambton early this morning.
And you thought it was something else......!!

Winds continued extremely strong today.  The St. Clair River was the roughest I have ever seen it!  Some waves were about a metre in height.

Scene at noon hour, Port Lambton

Not surprisingly, Cave Swallows were reported today around the Great Lakes.  It is an annual event in late October and early November to see a few of these birds pass through the Great Lakes region.  This SW wind was bound to bring a few in.  More will be seen.
Cave Swallows were reported at Holiday Beach (James M. Pawlicki), Michigan, Ohio and New York state.
I have seen them in past years at Erieau and Point Pelee.

'Tis the Season

I find that autumn is a very interesting time of year. Migration is more drawn out and there are more choices for birding. One looks closely at the weather, especially wind direction and strength. For example, certain places can be fabulous during a strong onshore wind.

A SW wind at the Tip of Point Pelee can be productive. Last Saturday was interesting even though no real rarities showed. This Saturday could possibly be good if the forecast holds true.

A NW to N wind at Point Edward on Lake Huron is sometimes very good. We have only had a couple of decent winds for there in 2009, but as usual it was during the week. Nothing at all of significance has been recorded yet this fall. Even if you get the ideal wind, there is no guarantee that anything will show. That has happened many times in the past. As well, it seems that in recent years, not as much has been showing up there. Have migration patterns changed, or are there fewer birds?

The unique phenonema of Cave Swallow migration occurs around the first of November. Since 1999 on a regular basis, a few Cave Swallows from the south make their way to the southern Great Lakes, especially along Lake Erie.

I saw my first Cave Swallows at Erieau in November 1999, and have seen many since. Last year I was lucky enough to see a total of eight in one morning at Point Pelee!

It is now the time of year to watch for them. None have yet been reported (at least reliably) on the Great Lakes, but I am sure some will be soon.

Some years there are very few, but other years we will see many reports.

The right weather situation has to occur to bring them here.

Another thing to look for are lingering birds. It is fun to try and find something that is past its usual migration date, and is record late. Same goes for early winter arrivals.