Recent Odds 'N Sods

Saturday I decided to check the shore trail at Mitchell's Bay early in the morning.  It is a good spot for early morning as the sun is at your side.  There were a few warblers and vireos along the trail as well as flycatchers (one Olive-sided).

Yellow Warbler

It is a good place for heron types.

Green Heron

I went on to Point Pelee to walk Ander's Footpath and the Cactus Trail.  A few more warblers were flitting about.  Another Chestnut-sided Warbler was photogenic.

There were quite a few flycatchers, mostly Eastern Wood Peewees, especially at the Cactus Trail.  I was interested in trying to find the recently reported Tufted Titmouse.  After a half hour there, I almost gave up, but I then heard it.  It was a bit distant though for a respectable photo.

For whatever reason, a Tufted Titmouse is rare in Point Pelee.  I have seen them in the park on three occasions in the past though.  Black-capped Chickadees are not all that common either.  I did come across a couple on this trip.
This little skink made an appearance at De Laurier.

Out along the onion fields, I looked for Buff-breasted Sandpiper to no avail.  Rick Mayos and Jeremy Hatt were also looking, but came up empty.  There will be more to come!

Today was rather gloomy, even though it was not supposed to be.  I did not go far.  Among other local places, I spent some time at Peers Wetland.  It was rather quiet, but a family of 5 Cooper's Hawks did not help matters!

The only warblers were a pair of American Redstarts and a Chestnut-sided Warbler.
Three Great Egrets were present, but have been off and on all summer.

Some dragonflies included a Lance-tipped Darner.  They are one of the more common darners, especially this time of year.

Around the yard, some birds are moving through.  A short while ago, I heard a Black-capped Chickadee, which is very odd for here in summer.
I have been watching the garden and a good variety of butterflies have stopped by.  Yesterday a Common Sootywing briefly hesitated. I think it is a first for the yard.
The last few days I have been seeing a Common Checkered-Skipper.

Peck's Skippers have been around as well.

It is back to work tomorrow, as the summer wanes.

Blenheim Blunders to River Rubyspots

It was another fine day as I headed down to Blenheim early this morning.  There was still a good selection of shorebirds, but nothing spectacular that I could find.  A nice-looking Baird's Sandpiper was near the start, but a bit out of range for the camera.

the one behind the yellowlegs!

One must examine the shorebirds carefully, as last Sunday there was a Western Sandpiper present.  On my way out, I photographed a shorebird in the one corner which suspiciously looked like a Western.  I thought no more of it, and even posted the photo on my blog last Sunday in case anyone noticed.  I sort of expected a comment on it!


Garry Sadler got a nice photo of the bird, as shown on his eBird list of August 20.





More ducks had come in, including a large number of Blue-winged Teal.  The crazy Ring-necked Duck was still in the same spot.

I had not been down to Erieau all summer, so I first stopped at the rail trail.  A decent array of warblers was working the trees along the trail.  However, they were not easy to photograph.

Northern Waterthrush

Blackburnian Warbler

And some flycatcher...

Great-crested Flycatcher

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

I also walked McGeachy Pond dike where a few more warblers were seen.  There was also a Yellow-throated Vireo that eluded the lens. A chestnut-sided Warbler was co-operative though.

The tip of Rondeau at Erieau had lots of birds, but no Laughing or Franklin's that I could find! In due time.
A quick stop at Ridgetown revealed an odd-looking goose.

I wanted to check on the rubyspots at Thamesville again, so that was my last stop.  There were not as many American Rubyspots as last week, but more Smokey Rubyspots were along the steep riverbank of the Thames.

American Rubyspot

There was a unique-looking clubtail patrolling the edge, but of course never landed.  I wonder what it was....one can only speculate.

Rondeau April 27

A day will make all the difference. There were not as many birds today, and there seemed to be a changeover in the birds. Quite often, when one has a good day, the next day is not as good! Anyway, we found a nice male Cape May Warbler and a Chestnut-sided Warbler on south point trail. These were good for this date. I also spotted a Least Flycatcher which was another first for the year.

Other warblers included a pair of Pine, Black-throated Green, Palm, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat and of course Yellow-rumped. Another two White-eyed Vireos were on south point as well.

On the lake lots of Bonaparte's Gulls were moving and we spotted four Little Gulls among them.

In the afternoon I went along with Lambton Wildlife's hike in Reid's Bush north of Wallaceburg. It was mainly to look at plants, but we did see a few birds. Just as we started, we heard a Sandhill Crane. In the woods we encountered Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Black-and-White Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Wood Thrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and the resident woodpeckers.

A Tree Frog about four metres up a tree in a hole provided a unique photo opportunity.

A very large burl in a Walnut tree was interesting.