More Gray and a Little Blue

 Yesterday was a clear crisp day, and I had more time to spend at the Gray Kingbird.  I first checked out the trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Not much of note, but there is a lot of mud showing along the shoreline. Good for shorebirds!

One can see quite a bit from the dock.  There were many Greater Yellowlegs, Killdeer and Wilson's Snipe that I could see.

Still hopeful something rare will pop up there.  Potential is very good along that trail.

Since I was in that direction, I then headed to the Gray Kingbird spot.  It was motionless in a tree for a long time, but later moved around.  I was able to get better photos.

There were lots of birds in the area, so some of us walked down Balmoral Line for a ways.  Kinglets and various sparrows were plentiful!  I had hopes for some rarity, but that never materialized.  However, it was nice to sort through all these birds.

This Autumn Meadowhawk was thawing out in the morning sun!

In the marsh, five Greater White-fronted Geese were notable among the hundreds of waterfowl.

In the afternoon, I just had to get out, so went for a walk at Reid C. L.  Hardly any birds as usual for there, but it was a nice fall afternoon for a walk.  Some trees are showing good colour.

This Red Oak is living up to its name!

I encountered one Garter Snake at the edge of the field taking advantage of the warm sun.

It was warm enough for some butterflies, including Orange and Clouded Sulphurs, and several Eastern Commas.

Today was another very crisp but clear day.  I headed up to Dow Wetlands.  I was hoping to encounter some Redpolls since some have been seen along the Lake Huron shore the last couple of days.  None for me yet!  The redcoats redpolls are coming!

There were not as many birds as I had hoped, but it was enjoyable none-the-less.

American Tree Sparrows arrived in the last week.

One the way home, I heard that the Little Blue Heron was found again along the Thames River.  After lunch, I decided to try for it.  Luckily it had stayed in the general area.  Although it was across the river, here is a photo or two.

Been a long time since I have seen one!  I once found a similar bird in Bate's marsh, as seen from the causeway.  That was way back on August 26, 2000!  It stayed a few days.

Hopefully the trend continues for rare or decent birds in the area!

Many March Meanderings

 To start off the month of March, I went down to Rondeau on Friday.  It was another nice day, but not with many birds.  I walked out marsh trail with Steve, once again going as far as Long Pond.  Northern Pintail was numerous in the duck department. Over 300!

Later, I checked out a bit of Black Oak trail.  It is a good place to look for lichens.  Here are a couple more continuing on that theme.

Star Rosette Lichens

Rough Speckled Lichens

While there, I noticed some very tiny creatures on a tree.  They were a type of springtail, as far as I could tell.  Just like snowfleas, which I have not seen in a long time.  Too difficult to get a good photo though.

Hypogastrura

After heading out of the park, the trusty Red-headed Woodpecker was on its usual tree near the end of Kent Bridge Road.

Saturday started out gloomy as I walked the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Still lots of duck on the water, most of which seemed to be Canvasback.

At home, the resident Merlin made a stop in the yard.  I took a quickie photo out of the window.

Sunday, I had the urge to check out Hillman Marsh.  I had the notion that a Eurasian Wigeon should be around.  However, there were not a huge number of ducks.  I did the long walk, with scope, but I did not spot the European variety of wigeon.

Trumpeter Swans are a regular sight there.  I saw two pairs.

I also went into Point Pelee for a brief period, but it was extremely quiet.

Strangely, later in the afternoon, a Eurasian Wigeon showed up at Hillman!  Go figure.

Today was quite balmy.  I had to go to Corunna, so took my time going up that way.  An Eastern Bluebird was finally at Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland near Wilkesport.  Some wintered there last year, but this was the first one I came across this winter.

Long-tailed Ducks continue to be the dominant duck on the St. Clair River from Courtright and northward.

Quite a few Common Mergansers were around as well.

This afternoon was so nice, I went up to Reid CA for a long walk.  With temps reaching 22 C, I knew there had to be some butterflies out.  I did see three Eastern Commas, but no Mourning Cloaks.

A visit to Reid is not complete without checking out the riverbank for mussels.  Just the usuals again.  Two of my favourites, easily identified.

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

Not many birds, as usual, but this White-breasted Nuthatch was caching some food.

Here is a scene in the "Lilly Bush"  along the river.

Soon, spring wildflowers will be out.  But this fern stayed out all winter!

Christmas Fern

Saturday Solace

Saturday afternoon became quite nice so I took another walk through Reid CA.  Not as long as the previous one, but it was something to do.
I could not get out in the morning as it was the annual Ontario Bird Records Committee meeting (via conference call!).  It is certainly something we never had to do before but we got things done.

It seemed so perfect walking through the woods.

I saw my first butterflies of the year (long overdue!).  Multiple Mourning Cloaks were fluttering about, and I saw one Eastern Comma.

At home, a fresh comma came into the garden.

Some forest floor plants are starting to peak through.  Spring Beauties were popping out.

Near the front of the property it is quite 'sedgey' and this is where the Dukes' Skippers call home.  I had never really gone that far back in before, but it is quite extensive.  Maybe this summer I will venture further back!

There are a heck of a lot of Shagbark Hickory trees here when one gets looking, but this this large oak tree seemed out of place in that area. 

This morning was cold and gloomy.  I just drove up along the St. Clair River to Corunna.  There was nothing of note, but one has to at least try!

Reid Remnant

Early December Wanderings

As many headed down to Niagara Falls this weekend, I stayed fairly local.  I used to do the Niagara thing each year, and it was always nice, but it seems it is uneventful anymore.  As well, birds are appearing later and later.  We used to go a week earlier as I recall, and found lots of gulls (many species), a Purple Sandpiper or two, etc.

On Saturday I decided to head up to north Lambton County.  As usual, it was a dreary day, but at least the rain held off until late day.  I first stopped at Perch Creek Habitat east of Sarnia.  I walked most of the circuit.  Some Common Redpolls flew over while I was in the woods, but once I got out beside the old landfill, there were dozens!  They never seemed to settle down for any length of time though.

I had expected them, as the old landfill seems to be a good spot to find them when they are around.  There were around 100 this day.

One of my target birds of the day was Long-eared Owl.  I never came across one last winter for whatever reason.  I did find one roosting in a Red Cedar--the very tree I saw whitewash the week before.  I did not get much of a photo after it flew (not that I meant to flush it).

For my next walk, I took another crack at Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales.  I did the Dunes trail and the trail to the big MNR parking lot.  Yet again it was very quiet, so that may be my last time this year!  The birds are not staying.

Next walk was the Ausable River Cut CA.  There, I could hear an Evening Grosbeak calling across the river cut.

The area has quite a history, and this cut was certainly an engineering feat.

On my way out, I heard an Eastern Phoebe chipping in the trailer park across the road.  Perhaps it was the same one I had a couple of weeks ago since it was the same spot.

As I left the parking lot, the power steering went out in my car, so I thought my day was over!  I drove for a while then stopped at C. J. McEwen CA close to Camlachie.  There I found out that if one shuts off the car, then restarts, the steering may return.  It did.  Computers......

I took a look at the lake there and among a few ducks, a Horned Grebe was far offshore.

Yes it is

A Common Redpoll flew over here as well.

On the way home, I took back roads and came across a large flock of redpolls on Waubuno Road.  Perhaps 80 in that group.  They never settled down to any degree either!
Appears that lots of redpolls were on the move Saturday, as Sean Jenniskens had hundreds in north Lambton as well.

Last stop was Peers Wetland near home.  More redpolls flying over, numbering about 20.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau.  Turned out to be an unusually nice day, and eventually temps reached 16 degrees inland.
It was actually too nice, as not many birds were seen.  I did have an Eastern Phoebe at south point.
After searching the usual spots, I left the park.  (Too soon since that Great Kiskadee revealed itself again!).

I headed east for a change, into Elgin County.  I walked around John E. Pearce P.P.  There were lots of chickadees, nuthatches and some kinglets (1 Ruby included), and an Eastern Phoebe.

On the Spicer Trail, I came across an Eastern Comma, the first butterfly I have seen in many weeks!

I was actually expecting to see one with the balmy weather.

Just as I was leaving, a flock of 16 Sandhill Cranes flew over.
I had hoped to come across a Barred Owl, since one was seen there a week ago.  It was probably roosting somewhere!

My last walk was at Wardsville Woods, a place I do not usually get to in winter.  Another Eastern Comma was along the trail, not unexpected.  I flushed it before I could get a photo.

There were lots of fall cankerworm moths out today.

Looks like more stable weather later this week!

Early November Novelties

The weather has been much too nice this week and not too many birds have been around or on the move as a result.
I checked out Rondeau and area and beyond, today and the list was rather low.

It was almost a year ago that we had several late or record late warblers at Rondeau, but this year even Yellow-rumped are scarce!

Blackburnian Warbler 7 Nov 2015

There was an Orange-crowned on south point this morning among a couple of Yellow-rumped.

Lots of ducks are around though.  The lakewatch at Dog Beach this morning revealed good numbers of many species.  It was apparently the most active day this week. Seven Common Loons were seen in one hour also.

Of course, Rondeau Bay is full of ducks.  At least two Eurasian Wigeons are around and possibly more given the number of wigeon. I did not look for them today.
Two Cattle Egrets were at Blenheim this week, but only one this morning.

Steve and I checked out part of McGeachy Pond dike as well.  At the parking lot, 2 Eastern Commas were flitting about.  One was extremely fresh!

Earlier this week, Jim Burk had a Yellow Warbler along the dike, but it was rather quiet today for birds in the wind.
Perhaps things will change if the weather ever gets more seasonal!

Being only mid-day at this point, I wandered west and looked at the Cattle Egret along Mersea Rd. 21.  It had smudging on its right face, but not on the left.

I recall seeing one here a couple of years ago.  It is always worthwhile to check any paddock or pasture where horses or cattle are present.
Four, discovered by Sharon Nethercott, were at Lucasville east of Sarnia earlier this week as well!

I checked out Hillman Marsh shorebird cell while in the area.  A total of 18 Wilson's Snipe were in the weeds.  A Killdeer, 6 Dunlin  and a Greater Yellowlegs rounded out the shorebird numbers.

During the day, there were lots of Orange Sulphurs, a couple of Clouded Sulpurs and Cabbage White, as well as a couple of Monarchs.  One Monarch was at Hillman, while the other was at Rondeau.