More Running Around, and Some Halloween Birding

 

Sunday I had the notion to go up to Ipperwash and check the lake.  The wind was not right for a good lake passage of birds.  In other words, I should not have looked at the forecast!

Views from my vantage point:

Kettle Point in the distant background

After some lakewatching, I headed down to Forest lagoons.  There were lots of ducks there, but very skittish.  I had to count most of them in the air, since they flushed.  There was good variety, including two Blue-winged Teal.

A young Northern Shrike was making some rounds on this dismal day.

A couple of ravens went by at one point.  They are fairly regular in north Lambton anymore, as they have expanded their range southward.

In the shrubbery, a few Fox Sparrows were evident.  My favourite sparrow type!

Monday, I wanted to stay close to home, but early in the day I got word of three Purple Sandpipers at Erieau pier.  So much for that idea!

Long story short, I was about a half hour too late in arriving, as they were nowhere to be found.  I likely would have seen them if I had left right away, but I delayed my departure about a half hour. Still lots of chance to see one this year.

For consolation, I checked out the Erieau marsh trail.  

There were loads of birds, especially sparrows.  Warblers included the usual Yellow-rumped, a Blackpoll, a Nashville, a Palm and a Common Yellowthroat.  The one I saw was a dull female.

It was nice to see a lot of birds, so the day was not lost.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau and area for some Halloween thrills.  

The weather forecast was useless.  Sunday, they said it was to be a decent day, then Monday they said mostly rain for Tuesday.  But, the skies were mostly clear today, and little wind!  It was actually a pleasant day, so a word of advice, do not have much faith in weather forecasts!

I started with a lakewatch at dog beach.  Lots of ducks, grebes (Horned) and loons.

Coming back to the parking lot, Steve and I found a multitude of passerines.  Right away, I spotted a yellowish bird, which turned out to be an Eastern Palm Warbler (or "Yellow" Palm Warbler).  

I usually see one of these each year.

I moved on to south point trail, which was fairly birdy in some spots.  A couple of 'latish' Blackpoll Warblers were hanging out together, but I failed to get decent photos.

There were lots of Eastern Bluebirds at one point.

I did the usual walk to the Washout".

Site of the old campground office!

I walked back along the beach.  The sun had come back out at this point.

I found a Fatmucket mussel shell at one point.  It looked remarkably similar to one I photographed a few weeks ago.  I do not see how it could be the same one!

After the park, I stopped by Keith McLean Conservation Lands.  It was quite pleasant there, and I was looking forward to some decent birding.

Vesper Sparrow

Not long after arriving, I received word of a Cattle Egret on Lagoon Road north.  Well, I had to go see that since I missed the others this year!  In typical fashion, it was with cattle.

After getting a glimpse of the stocky little egret, I went back down the road to the lagoons.  Bonaparte's Gulls were the bird of the day here.  Over 1000 were there, but nothing else was with with, surprisingly.

There were lots of ducks to sort through.

Shorebirds included a single Least Sandpiper at the back.

Others included three Greater Yellowlegs, a couple of Dunlin, lots of Killdeer, and the surprise of the day, a Sanderling.  It was in the sprinklers cells!

A Sanderling is not usually found at a sewage lagoon.  Occasionally, some birders report them at lagoons, but I think mis-ID's are involved in some cases.  They are almost always along the beaches.

It was first here for both Steve and I.

Greater Yellowlegs

On to some November birding......

More Summer Stuff!

 I made my usual rounds not far from home the last few days.  The summer is waning quickly so I take advantage of any time I get to be outdoors looking for things of interest.

Dukes' Skippers have finally showed up in the "usual" spot at Reid.  I saw two in quick order late Thursday.

Friday I had the urge to go to Point Pelee.  I thought maybe I could look for Marine Blue or something of note.  (I have not heard of any sightings of Marine Blue after mine last Sunday.  I know some went to look though).

I did a watch at the Tip for a while before looking for insects.  The "Tip" goes way out right now!

There were hundreds of gulls, but nothing of note caught my eye.  Only one tern...a Caspian.

Some shorebirds included Sanderlings, Semisands, and an early Ruddy Turnstone.

I then slowly walked up west beach trail.  I stopped to read a nice sign recently erected.

There were more butterflies and dragonflies than I had been seeing in previous visits.  Wandering Glider was the most common.  Most were "wandering"!

Around the "serengeti" tree, a large darner caught my eye. It was a Comet Darner!  I was not able to get a photo though.  There have been a few previous records in the past at Pelee and surrounding area, but this was my first for there.

I stopped briefly at De Laurier parking lot, and found a Common Buckeye at the weather station.  A first-of-year!

My next stop was Hillman Marsh shorebird cell, where I thought it was the best chance of seeing some good butterfly.  It was paltry for leps!  I did see another Buckeye, and added a Common Sootywing.

I went home via Blenheim, and stopped by the lagoons.  A good number of shorebirds were in.  Solitary Sandpipers are in big numbers this summer everywhere it seems.

Another member of the glider family was present....a Spot-winged Glider....on the fly.

Saturday, it was up to north Lambton, as Forest Lagoons is a necessary stop at least once a week this time of year. It is the best place for shorebirds!  There were lots to sort through, including over 100 Lesser Yellowlegs. Again, lots of Solitary Sandpipers.  Nothing of note though.

I moved on to Ausable River Cut CA, but as I arrived, word got out that three American Avocets were at Kettle Point.  Since I had not seen any yet this year,and it was not far, back I went!  Jeff Skevington and James Holdsworth were still there when I arrived, and so were the Avocets.  My favourite shorebird!

A worse-for-the-wear Little Gull was also present.

I went back to Ausable River Cut and looked at mussels.  I added Fat Mucket to my list.

Three-ridged mussel seems to be the most common there.

Not much in the way of insects, but some Wild Indigo Duskywings were flying.

Along the way home, I stopped by Marthaville Habitat Management Area, for my once-a year visit.  Good wetland there.

Slaty Skimmer

Viceroy

One last stop was McKeough CA for an attempt at Marine Blue.  Virtually no butterflies!  Only Flag-tailed Spinylegs.

Today, it was a bit overcast after some much-needed rain overnight.  I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. where I spent some time there.  Shorebirds were quite fluid, as they often are.  There was not much at first, but things came in or flew over.

Quite a few dowitchers were eventually seen, including three rather early Long-billed.  Given the lighting, and distance, etc., my photos were no good for them.

I then went as far as Clear Creek and stopped by the old quarry.  One of my favourite spots!

I immediately saw a Comet Darner, but it seemed to take off.  Another eventually appeared, but as usual it was on the fly.

The sun was partially out when I arrived and there was some activity, but then it clouded over making things very quiet.  Very few damsels (bluets and dancers) now.

Azure Bluet

Violet Dancer

Last stop was Blenheim lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds again, but nothing spectacular.