Weekend Tours: Pelee/Strathroy/Skunk's

Saturday I decided to take a run down to Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee again.  The Hillman shorebird cell is being drained, as per usual this time of year, so I wanted to get one last look for shorebirds, etc.
A few ducks were present including up to ten Gadwall, a Northern Pintail (male) and other common species.

Shorebirds included White-rumped, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlin and Semipalmated Plovers.

Two Sandhill Cranes were present--a regular occurrence anymore.

Moving on to Point Pelee, I started at the VC and walked to the Tip.  Just as I was getting out of the car, a smallish raptor quickly flew over which struck me as a Mississippi Kite (sub-adult).  Unfortunately it disappeared behind the trees before I got a good look.  With the northerly wind, it was a good possibility.  One of those that got away......

Even though the wind was northerly, the Tip had some activity.  There were lots of gulls and terns.

Three Sanderlings and two Dunlin were working the sand the whole time.

At least three Common Loons were around.

Further up the west side, a lingering Horned Grebe was close to shore.

I walked up the west beach trail and came across a meadowlark.  It was certainly out of place for the time of year, and thoughts of Western crossed my mind.  However, it seemed to be an Eastern and certainly never vocalized.

With few tourists in the park, I checked out Tilden's, Cactus Trail and De Laurier.  Nothing in the way of migrants.
Since it was a dismal day (forecast wrong again!), there was not much in the way of butterflies.  I did come across this Common Sootywing at Northwest Beach.  They are not too common within the park.

Common Sootywing

I stopped by Hillman on the way back, but it was quieter than before.

A look at Blenheim lagoons was also on the agenda.  A few common sandpipers were present, as well as a Lesser Scaup (only one when I was there!).

Sunday was nicer weatherwise.  Just the opposite to what the forecast said all week.  Saturday was supposed to be sunny (but was cloudy), then Sunday 80 % rain (not decided until Saturday).  After a nice sunny morning, it did rain heavily around lunch on Sunday though, but I was done what I wanted to do anyway.  (same old stuff!).

I did my annual run up Strathroy way, then down to Skunk's Misery.

Napier Road had the usual Clay-colored Sparrow buzzing away, and the pasture birds.

An Upland Sandpiper along Calvert was nice to see since they are becoming scarce anymore.

Clark Wright CA was very quiet this year, and Strathroy lagoons did not produce much.  A lone Ruddy Duck stood out at the lagoons.

Wood Ducks were plentiful there.

Down Watterworth Road, the usual Hooded Warbler was at the Crown Land, but no Acadian Flycatcher.  Perhaps one was further in.

Off Sassafras Road, a couple of Blue-winged and Hooded Warblers were singing away.

A tardy Wilson's Warbler was along the trail.

I came across about 13 singing Hooded Warblers along the roads and trails in Skunk's.  They certainly like the Mosa Forest!  Most remained unseen, but were heard well.

One just drives the roads, stopping at various points.  There are several trails to check out.

It is a good place for insects (not to mention mosquitoes).

Common Whitetail

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Hobomok Skipper

I also checked out Wardsville Woods, another favourite stop of mine.  The 'annual' Blue-winged Warbler was here again.

Some Peck's and Tawny-edged Skippers were out today.

Tawny-edged Skipper

Wardsville Woods was a former golf course, so watch out for balls!

April Fool's Birding

This morning I went down to Rondeau Park under overcast skies.  The park was rather quiet for birds, at least compared to last weekend.  The sparrows and kinglets had thinned out considerably, and I only came across a couple of Eastern Phoebes among other birds.
Common Loons were on the move again though.  I counted 41 the few times I looked at the lake.  I probably missed twice that number!

Along south point trail, a Common Green Darner was not too happy about the weather.

FOY

I stopped by Spicebush Trail in hopes that early Louisiana Waterthrush was around.  It was nowhere to be found, but could still be in the vast sloughs of Rondeau.  It was found late Wednesday and seen early Thursday as probably only the 4th March record.  I think the earliest is March 26.  We found one 31 March 2012 once, also at Spicebush trail.

Two Yellow-rumped Warblers were in the campground, but they were the winter leftovers.

The rail trail at Erieau was also quiet and no shorebirds to be found in the wet spots along Erieau Road.
With the day still young, I headed west to Hillman Marsh.  At least there was something to look at there!
The sun had finally come out and the day was quite pleasant after a crappy weather week.

A pair of Sandhill Cranes stood tall in the shorebird cell.

A single Greater White-fronted Goose was mixed in with the Canada Geese, but difficult to spot.  I only saw it well once, then I could not pick it out again!

Shorebirds included up to 30 Dunlin.

shorebirds and sandhills

I also saw the first couple of yellowlegs of the year, but no Pectoral Sandpipers.

Several Horned Grebes were in the cell.  There are lots around right now.

There was a good variety of the common ducks, but nothing unusual.

Lesser Scaup

Sunday looks fairly good for birding!

Rondeau Songs/Pelee Beaver Tails

It was a fairly good weekend for birding despite the usual crappy weekend weather.  On Saturday I checked out Rondeau Park where there was Song Sparrow galore.  About this time of year, the first big push of Song Sparrows occurs, but I am not sure if I have seen this many at once.  I saw well over 300.

Lots of juncos and American Tree Sparrows had come in as well.

The Song Sparrows were everywhere, and certainly there had to be close to 1000 in the park alone.
Along south point trail, I saw a good number of Eastern Phoebes for the first time this year.

Several Tree Swallows were moving along the lake.  Also a Common Loon or two was sighted.
Some Fox Sparrows and Eastern Towhees were new arrivals as well.

I only saw one Horned Grebe at Rondeau!

A check of Ridgetown Sewage Lagoons was later, but it was too late to see the swans.  Earlier, a Trumpeter Swan was among many Tundras.  I met John Lamey there and he indicated that a Trumpeter was present earlier in the day.

Bluebird at Rondeau

Today, Sunday, I headed down to Point Pelee knowing there would likely be a good movement of birds.  As I walked to the Tip, a fat rodent caught my eye.  It was a beaver!

It was there several hours, so I am not sure if something was wrong with it.

Upon arrival at the Tip, it was evident that Horned Grebes and Common Loons were on the move.

I estimated around 120 Horned Grebes while I was there.  Some were swimming while others were on the move.  At one point I thought I had an Eared Grebe, and I am still not certain that it was not one.

Horny Grebe

Common Loons numbered at least two dozen, all heading east.  One was swimming off the west side for some time though.

Lots of ducks (mainly scaup) were off the west side out of the east wind.  Some Surf and White-winged Scoters were among them.

Greater Scaup

There were blackbirds, Tree Swallows, American Robins and meadowlarks on the move.

I met up with Jeremy Bensette and we walked around for a bit talking about bird related stuff!

The park had very few sparrows, as compared to Rondeau the previous day.

Around noon, I headed over to Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  I was there quite some time as there was lots of waterfowl. I had hopes of seeing some early shorebirds, and eventually some Dunlin came into view.  At first I had 13, but before I left, the number rose to 17.
I was more expecting Pectoral Sandpipers, some early Dunlin can be expected this time of year.

Green-winged Teal was the dominant duck, and I counted over 700!  There was probably a Eurasian Teal among them, but I was not going to try and pick it out!

Eventually I spotted two Greater White-fronted Geese in the distance.  Not surprising really.

Some Horned Grebes were in the cell as well, and one came in quite close.

After over an hour there, it was pouring rain, so it was time to leave.

On the way home, at least 3 Snowy Owls were still seen from Winter Line, between Mallard and Marsh.  They have been there most of the winter.

Things will be happening quickly from now on!

Lakewatch at Rondeau!

I was a bit unsure what to do today, but headed down to Rondeau.  I knew it was the weekend since it was threatening rain and did rain a better part of the day!  However, turned out I spent many hours watching the lake on the east side of Rondeau.
I started on south point trail as usual, and took a look of the lake off the light beacon.  Before I reached the beach, I noticed a large raptor-like bird coming in from way out on the lake. As it got closer, I said to myself it looks much like an owl. Sure enough it was a Short-eared Owl!

They often fly over the lake this time of year when migrating.  We have seen them up at Sarnia come in off the lake in the past.  Off to a good start!

As I watched birds moving over the lake, I realized it was a day for a big movement of loons, grebes, ducks and gulls.  The first large flock of bonies I looked at had two adult Little Gulls.  But Common Loons and Horned Grebes were constantly moving by.  As well, hundreds of scaup and other ducks were moving.
I really needed a scope!  So I went back to the car taking a short cut along the forest edge. In the process, I inadvertently flushed the Short-eared Owl.

I decide to go to Dog Beach just up the road for a better vantage point.  By then things were toning down, but still lots to see.  By the time I was done there, I had at least 150 Common Loons and 135 Horned Grebes.  That was a conservative estimate.  A Peregrine stirred things up at one point.
Gulls and ducks were numerous too but nothing stuck out.  Surf and Black Scoters were moving as well.
I went back to south point for a walk.  Sort of the same deal as last week, but fewer species.  Besides Palm and Yellow-rumped there was one Nashville Warbler.

On the way back it rained, but I watched the lake again at the light beacon.  One Red-throated Loon was added here.
I noticed today there was a big movement of Tree Swallows.

With constant rain, I decided to head out of the park and watch from the car where Rose Beach Line hits the lake.  Wow....hundreds more birds on the lake!
At the little park I took watch and there was a group of 100+ Common Loons and 50+ Horned Grebes right there.  I also picked out a Red-necked.  Things were constantly moving and there were hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls and other common gulls.
Along this stretch of road I added an additional 75 Common Loons and 50+ Horned Grebes.  Lots of ducks including Ruddy too.
I checked Erieau as well, but nothing of note there. (A Black-legged Kittiwake was observed on Thursday). **The end of the road at the pier is blocked off due to breakwall repair, so you cannot get close.
Despite the wet weather, it was interesting to watch the lake for a change.

By the way, I went out to Mitchell's Bay last evening.  I did not see the godwits, so perhaps they have finally left?

Sunset off Mitchell's Bay