Chilly November Update

 After last Friday's Pacific Loon find at Rondeau, things were not as eventful.  I spent Saturday morning at Rondeau, starting with a lakewatch.  Sean Macey eventually joined us for some lakewatching and then a walk through the campground.

There were lots of loons out there, but we did not see the Pacific.  (Note:  Barb Charlton had the same or another Pacific Loon at dog beach on Monday!).  We did see a Red-necked Grebe, always rare at Rondeau!

Highlight in the campground, was a flyover Evening Grosbeak.  As often is the case with these, I heard it long before we saw it.

Sunday, it was a change of scenery for me, so I went up to Sarnia for a lakewatch.  Winds (NW) were not ideal, but it was better than most weekends this fall (SW winds).  Lots of gulls, but nothing noteworthy.

I walked various spots, as I worked my way home.  Lots of Black-capped Chickadees are around this year.  I keep hoping to bump into a Boreal...

Today, I did Rondeau, Erieau, and then over to Wheatley Harbour.  Strong west winds kept birds on the east side of the park, and south point was fairly birdy.  Highlight was a Pine Warbler with several Yellow-rumped.  I failed to get a photo though.

Some Eastern Bluebirds were around, as well as Cedar Waxwings.  One must always look for Bohemian, but only Cedars today.

Since we finally got Pacific Loon out of the way last week, we need to work on a Mountain Bluebird for Rondeau.  I tried today, but all were Eastern Bluebirds.  I could only manage some distant photos. 

Along Erieau marsh trail, a female Purple Finch was lost in the wind.

Shorebirds included two Killdeer, and six Wilson's Snipe.

It was noon by this time, so I headed over to Wheatley Harbour.  Nothing noteworthy, but I thought I saw a very distant jaeger at one point.

Sandhill Cranes have built up in numbers west of Wallaceburg.  One day this week, I counted 135.

With the wind today, I was reminded of storms on the Great Lakes.  It was 64 years ago today that the Carl D. Bradley went down on Lake Michigan.

Don & Dorothy Langridge (my Dad's cousin)

November was always a bad month for the demise of some ships on the Great Lakes, which I have covered before.

On another note, retired ships have been towed overseas for scrapping.  Some did not make it, including the Michipicoten (originally Henry C. Frick of 1905).  She was a sister ship to the Ridgetown (originally Wm. E. Corey) which still exists as the breakwater at Port Credit.

Ridgetown

I remember seeing the Michipicoten in the summer of 1972 at Port Lambton ( I have a photo from the day, but it is buried somewhere!).  I also recorded steam whistles starting that year, and this was one of my favourite.  It turned out to be its last season.

Line drawing by Frank Crevier (very dear friend of ours) for Blake Mann

Recording I made in 1972!:

Later that year, the Michipicoten was being towed overseas, but never made it.  Some photos were posted of it breaking up on November 15, 1972, which is interesting to me.  It was in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

(photo taken from Boatnerd posting)

(Pelee Tip lifering!)

Stefina Stuff and Just Ducky Along the St. Clair River

 We are in the dead of winter, but there are some birds out there to be found.  Friday I went down to Rondeau in the morning to look around.  It was rather quiet, but that was expected.  I wanted to check out Stefina Line near Blenheim on this day, so that was the next stop.

Some Eastern Meadowlarks were found along the road this week....a nice bird for mid-winter.  I found them right away, but was unable to get decent photos.

Seems there are quite a few around southwestern Ontario this winter.  Perhaps they stuck around with the very mild start to the winter.

The snipe was not visible in the creek....again, but this Great Blue Heron was feeding,

Several sparrow types were feeding along the roadside scrapes, including White-crowned.

I also saw a couple of Turkey Vultures before leaving the area.  They often winter in the Blenheim area.

I headed back home, but decided to head out to the St. Clair River.  Lots of ducks!

Stoke's Point had a good array of ducks.

There used to be a light here (Stoke's Point Light) and old foundation can still be seen.

Long-tailed Ducks were by the thousands at the north end of Mooretown.

I spent quite a bit of time at Guthrie Park, Corunna.  Nothing new in gulls, and white-winged gulls are difficult to find this winter.

On the way back, I found one of the hybrid Redhead X Ring-necked ducks at Cundick Park.  There was some snow most of the afternoon, so visibility was poor.

Today I decided to head back to the St. Clair River.  Seems to be more ducks, especially Canvasback.  They finally increased in numbers.

There is a good open spot at Fawn Island attracting waterfowl, including lots of Tundra and Mute Swans.  I was hoping for Trumpeter, but never saw one!

The hybrid was still at Cundick Park.

I spent most of the time at Guthrie Park.  Gulls were disappointing this morning, but ducks were numerous.

I headed back home via some back roads.  I had a nice walk at Moore WMA for a change.  Some Eastern Bluebirds were the highlight there.

Some of the usual dickie birds were present.

Farther east on Bickford Line, I encountered some more Eastern Bluebirds.  One of these days I will find a Mountain Bluebird!

I also walked McKellar Tract, but it has been very quiet this winter.

Here and There January 14-16

 It was too cold to do long walks this weekend, but I got out to various places in search of birds.  Friday I started at Rondeau in dismal weather.  Some sun was forecast all week for Friday, but that never materialized till late in the day.

There was not much to be found, as some birds bailed or were laying low in the cold weather.

After some time at the Park, I headed east to John E. Pearce Provincial Park where I sometimes walk in the winter.  I actually found quite a few birds, including some wintering Long-eared Owls.  Difficult to get a clear view of the four though.

Along the treeline were several birds including a few Tufted Titmouse, Red- breasted Nuthatches, etc.

While there, 12 Sandhill Cranes flew over heading west.  The last couple of days many have been reported heading west.  They bail when the weather gets consistently cold!

On the way home, I toured many backroads but nothing of significance appeared.  It is a rather quiet winter for birds!  My last stop was a short walk at Wilkesport.  At least nine Eastern Bluebirds popped up--a nice surprise.

Saturday I had the notion to head up to north Lambton.  Ausable River Cut CA was birdless!  I moved on to Pinery PP.  P9 is the best area for birds in winter as many people come to feed the chickadees, titmice and nuthatches.

After Pinery, I headed south and stopped at Ipperwash.  It is always hit and miss there as one might hope for finches or Bohemian Waxwings.  Most common bird was American Robin around the MNR parking lot area.

I recorded a conservative 33, but I know many more were farther back in.

I decided to head to Sarnia and look for gulls and ducks there, and along the river.

Although there are lots of Herring Gulls, there are very few white-winged gulls this winter.  Only a couple Glaucous and a couple of Iceland Gulls are around.

More ducks are on the river now that ice is forming.  A Harlequin female has appeared at the south end of Courtright, but in a difficult location.  I did not see it on Saturday.  I suspect it is the long-staying Sarnia bird, since that one disappeared some time ago.

Today, I wanted to see the Greater White-fronted Geese on the Thames River. I arrived at the right time, just before all the geese took flight.  The numbers have varied in the area, but I counted 14.

I was not able to get good photos looking through phragmites, as I did not want to spook the birds.

Some Snow Geese were there as well, but I did not get a good look at the entire gathering of geese before they took off.

Since there was not much to see farther on due to the frozen landscape, I headed up to the St. Clair River.  It was just too nice of a day with clear skies and no wind to pass up.  Unusual for a weekend!  Conditions were perfect along the river today.

With ice now collecting in the river, there are more ducks to be seen, as well as gulls.  Geese are in the thousands.

Redhead is the most common, as we rarely get many Canvasback anymore.

Some Ring-necked Ducks were there as well, but like most of the ducks, they were sleeping.

At the old ferry dock in Sombra, one has to sort through all the Redhead to find the annual hybrid Redhead X Ring-necked.

We have seen up to three in past years.

I stopped by Cundick Park near Stoke's Point but did not see the Blue-winged Teal found by Lars Bouman the other day.  Blue-winged Teal are 'outta here' when cold weather comes, so it is a novelty in winter!

I stopped at various points along the river, and even made three passes for the Harlequin Duck on my way to Corunna.  A no-show, but I know it was there somewhere.

Guthrie Park at Corunna is good in winter, but on a day like this, the gulls were too far out and lighting was very harsh.  I did not linger there, so headed back south.

Lo and behold, I did catch a glimpse of the female Harlequin Duck on my last pass by the location!  There was no chance for a photo though.

One last walk was at Moore WMA.  A few birds were present, and I was finally able to cross the creek.  No Yellow-rumped Warblers this winter, I do believe.  I have been visiting this spot for almost thirty years and this is perhaps only the third winter I have not found those 'butterbutts'!

It is nice to see more seasonable weather, but with no snow.  It can stay cold, but I have no use for a lot of snow!