More May Meanderings (May 19-24, 2020)

Migration was in full swing this week with some decent days.  Some days were hopping, while others were rather slow as birds are in a hurry to their breeding grounds.
On May 19 I went to Rondeau in the morning under sunny skies.  A good variety of birds were seen including a Golden-winged Warbler along Harrison Trail.

A while before that, I encountered an insect-like buzz which I recognized to be a Worm-eating Warbler.  However,  it was about two sloughs back and there was no chance in seeing it!


On May 20 I checked out Reid CA early morning which turned out to be rather quiet.  Breeding birds certainly had not arrived in big numbers yet.  However, I did find a Wood Thrush on a nest!

Waterfall at Reid CA!

On May 22 I decided on a change in scenery and went to Skunk's Misery.  I drummed up ten singing male Hooded Warblers which is about right for there.
Ovenbirds were singing all over and the count tripped the eBird filter!
Great-crested Flycatchers were numerous, but I failed to turn up an Acadian Flycatcher in a usual spot.  Perhaps it was farther back out of range.

Shy Blue-winged Warbler

While in the neighbourhood, I took a quick look around Wardsville Woods.  Blue-winged Warbler is always there, and last year I found a "Lawrence's".  This year, I thought I had just seen a Blue-wnged, but it had yellow wingbars which indicates a hybrid.

Saturday May 23 I went to Rondeau and it was a good choice as it was one of the better days that one could wish for.  Large numbers and varieties of birds were present.
I started on south point for a change, but walked the edge of the woods along the dunes to avoid all the water.  Lots of birds along the way kept me busy.  I distant bird over the lake caught my eye at one point, as it got closer, I realized it was a swan!  A Trumpeter Swan was indeed an odd sighting for the location and time!

I did quite a bit of walking on Saturday, probably at least 20 km, as my sore feet can attest.  Birds were everywhere so no matter where one went, there was something to look at

Flycather with a yellow belly

At one point I found an Acadian Flycather calling for "pizza".

I decided to walk down the west side of south point trail which I do not often do.  Near the end, a Prothonotary Warbler was singing and possibly on territory.  This is where we used to find them when I first started birding, before we knew anything about birds in the park!

At one point along the trail, I encountered a tiny snake which I thought was a Fox Snake before I took a closer look.  Turned out to be a Northern Watersnake in the middle of the woods!

Just a baby!

Many species were in big numbers especially Tennessee Warblers (60+ on my list!).  Several Pine Warblers are still around which leads one to believe they may stay to nest.  They have in the past.
Swainson's Thrushes were all over the place and one birder was all "thrushed out" by mid day.

While walking through the campground with a couple from Leamington, I saw a White-crowned Sparrow.  They are getting scarce by this date, but I recognized it as a "Gambel's" type.  I usually try to look for these each time I see White-crowns--they have a white lore.  I have seen several of these over the years.

After 3 p.m. I was getting tired and decided to head home.  A ways up Kent Bridge Road I heard that the Erieau Rail Trail was hopping with birds including some decent ones.  However, I was too tired to turn back!

Today, I went back to Rondeau and it was rather quiet.  As the saying goes, "here today, gone tomorrow"!  The weather was just too nice and birds were anxious to head to the breeding grounds it seems.
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were in good numbers today, often in pairs.

"Screech" the owl was still keeping watch from his hole along Bennet Road.

Near the north end of the park, a Connecticut Warbler was spotted along Lakeshore Road.  It took some time to relocate the bird, but we managed to get a look at it.  Photos were less than ideal.

I wanted to add some shorebirds to the list, so I went back to south point and checked out the beach.  Whimbrel was high on the list, and oddly enough, a single Whimbrel took off just as I arrived!

Next on the agenda was Erieau.  I struck out on the reported rarities (just bad luck!) but there were lots of birds to look at.  Included was an obliging Hooded Warbler.

A few more Whimbrel were in the field to the north of McGeachy Pond.  I did not see any large flocks yet this year.

It  was a good week, and still lots to come, but migration will soon be behind us. Keep looking up!

Saturday Scenery and Birding

I headed down to Point Pelee early this morning.  Since it is the long weekend, I wanted to get there at some point, and today seemed to be a good day.  I walked to the Tip first thing to see what was going on besides thunder and lightning.  There were lots of warblers, etc. in the woods, but it turned out the lake was not as active as I had hoped today!
Some interesting scenery was there for a couple of hours with thunder and lightning on the lake, and quite a bit of light rain.

Steve Pike joined me and we spent some time taking in the scenery and birds.

The rain was right over us (clear sky to the north and south), making it feel like a typical weekend.  What is a weekend (even it not forecast) without rain?  LOL. Eventually the sun came out though for a very nice day.






There were lots of warblers and thrushes every place I checked today.  A good variety of warblers was seen, with a large number of Blackpoll.
Around lunch time I walked De Laurier and saw lots of birds, including a Golden-winged Warbler. It was not too co-operative for a photo though.

There were not very many butterflies again today.  I came across another Buckeye at NW Beach and a duskywing beside the Cactus Trail.

Lots of darners of course, mostly Lance-tipped I presume.

I checked the onion fields for Buff-breasted, but I guess they do not appear on weekends!

Shorebirds are plentiful at Blenheim right now, so I headed there on the way home. I was interested in the Willet and I finally found it at the last minute just up from the gate!  I thought I had a glimpse of it upon arrival, but then could not find again until later.

There were still a few Redheads (not rare anymore!), both Green and Blue-winged Teal, etc.  The Tundra Swan will likely see its swan song there at freeze-up......

May 2-4 Birding

The Three Sisters on TTT

Today was the nicest day of the month, at least for me.  Weather was near perfect, a rarity for a Saturday, and there were lots of birds.  With some birds running a bit late this year, this weekend was bound to be 'birdy'.  Although no mega rarities, it was pleasant to sift though hundreds of birds.

I arrived at Rondeau Park just before 6 a.m. and I could hear many resident and migrant-type birds singing. Of note while was an Acadian Flycatcher near the entrance of spicebush trail. One has nested here at least the last two years, and hopefully today's male has a mate.

I started walking south point trail and spent almost 3 hours in the usual stretch of trail.  Lots to look at! Warblers were all along and at one point I heard a Blue-winged.  It has been hanging around a particular area and I suspect it may be nesting there this year.  They have in the past.
Flycatchers, including Alder, were abundant.

Only a few minutes after hearing the Blue-winged, I heard the song of a Golden-winged.  These days you have to check in case it is a hybrid.  I only heard the bird for the longest time as it was moving around quite a bit. I finally caught up with it to see that it was a male Golden-winged.  Could not get close as this bird was very active.

Other warblers were high in numbers, excepting the resident American Redstart and Yellow.  Probably Blackburnian won the prize today.  Canada Warblers were all over and today I had about 14 in the park. Wilson's were not far behind as were Tennessee.  Maggies were right in there too.

Mourning Warblers were in good numbers and I saw or heard 12 today.

Warbler of the Morning

Two territorial male Prothonotary Warblers were seen today.  This one was investigating a nest box, but I could not get a clear shot.

I always check for bands, but this one was unbanded.  Once in a while, there are returnees.

I ended up with 24 (2-4?) species of warblers today.  No doubt I missed some (first day I did not see Yellow-rumped!).

Finally saw an Olive-sided Flycatcher,  (near the VC).  Unfortunately it did not vocalize since it is one of my favourite songs to hear.

A couple of Green Herons were still flying around south point this morning.  As I mentioned previously, lots seem to be around this year.

I checked the lake and beach frequently hoping for shorebirds--especially Whimbrel.  Off Dog Beach, I encountered a flock of about 40 Whimbrel.  Later, this lone individual was off south point.

A neat-sounding bird!

More Whimbrel were seen from Erieau later along with hundreds of Black-bellied Plover. Heat haze was playing havoc early afternoon, so who knows what all was along the beach.  Usually Red Knots show up at this time.
A large flock of Ruddy Turnstone flew over while I was at Erieau.  Many were around today.

More Black-bellied Plovers were in the fields near Erieau.  I did not see the Snowy Owl--I think it left a few days ago.

Two Horned Grebes were swimming off the east side of south point this afternoon too.

I checked Blenheim Lagoons for my last stop.  The sprinklers were full of shorebirds--mostly Dunlin.  In fact, perhaps around 600. Mixed in were 2 Wilson's Phalarope males (phew!  finally saw some!), 4 White-rumped Sandpipers, several Semisands, and only 2 Least Sands.

The ponds looked devoid of ducks until you got to the back pond.  A nice variety of ducks was present. Some have been there a while including the Canvasback male, Northern Shoveller male, several Redhead, Ring-necked female, Gadwall,(2), Northern Pintail (3), a few American Wigeon, and a few Ruddy and Mallard.  An American Coot was still present.  A Lesser Scaup pair was still around.

Birding May 5-8: A SNOW and some Snow

Spent Monday and Tuesday at Point Pelee.  Not surprisingly, it was very cold except for Tuesday afternoon. I did not find many birds which seems to be my usual luck there.  It was tough finding where some birds were on those days.
I stopped first thing at Hillman Monday and noted a single Long-billed Dowitcher.  The other shorebirds of note had left from the previous day!

At the park, I came across an Eared Grebe early morning on the west side south of midway of West Beach Trail. Water was calm and lighting was somewhat good for a decent photo.

Around mid-day I walked Woodland Trail with the Groves.  Two Hooded Warblers were at the head of the trail, the Yellow-throated Warbler was at its usual neighbourhood and a Louisiana Waterthrush was at the south boardwalk.  Not much opportunity for photos this day.

Blame this poor photo on my shivering....lol.

Louisiana Waterthrush

In mid afternoon, I checked out the Smith's Longspur spot.  One has to go into that field to find them.  I saw a female up close.  For some reason I did not lug the camera along!

I camped at Wheatley PP the two nights in my usual spot. As expected, both Sora and Virginia Rail were calling at the old lagoon site as I went to sleep.  Also heard Great-horned Owl.  During the night, a coyote or some member of the canine family kept me awake for a while!

Tuesday at Pelee was sunny for a change, but very cold to start.  By later in the afternoon it was quite pleasant and no need for jacket inland.  First thing we found a Bobolink perched in a tree at the Tip.  Not the typical habitat, but often seen like this when they first come in.
A fresh arrival was a Warbling Vireo at the Tip.

It was once again tough finding many birds.

Later afternoon was the annual pot-luck at White Pine where a number of friends gather for some good times.  This is the second I have been able to attend and it is quite enjoyable.  A special presentation (plaque of appreciation) at the end of the dinner was given to Alan Wormington for his hard work over the years in for his writings contributing to ornithological records in Ontario.  (A surprise to Alan!). Congratulations!

Back at Wheatley PP, I found a Solitary Sandpiper in the' usual' spot.  There is one here every year at this time!

For Wednesday, I decided to go back to Rondeau.  As usual, the weather was poor!  However there was a good number of birds (esp. warblers) on Spicebush Trail.  Included was a male Golden-winged.
At first light, hundreds of warblers were streaming north at a fast pace.  Seems to be the trend lately!  As a result, not many were left in the park.

In the afternoon I ventured outside the park to look at the Snowy Owl (SNOW) reported the previous day at Erieau.  Latest I have ever seen one!

There is a late June record for Erieau though.

While in the vicinity, I checked the first part of Marsh Trail (aka R/R track trail) and found a number of birds out of the wind.  At one point I thought I was hearing a Golden-winged Warbler, but due to the gale force wind (yes, again!), I was not sure.  Sure enough, a bird came alongside the trail singing.  A Brewster's Warbler!  It even sang a Blue-winged song at one point.

McGeachy Pond edge still had a bit of remnant snow.  Rondeau's marsh trail also had some leftover snow on this day.  One would think it was March with the weather, snow and Snowy Owl!

Up at Blenheim Lagoons (I never did go in), the Franklin's Gull that was found by Steve Charbonneau a couple days earlier, was in a field with bonies.  It is an immature bird.  Too far away for a photo though.

By nightfall, a thunderstorm rolled in.  There were several storms during the night and one very intense.  A lot of rain fell.
By first light Thursday morning, the clouds were disappearing and the sun came out for a nice.  Actually the nicest day we have had yet.  It bode well for birding, as hundreds of birds dropped in during the night.  However, hundreds were quickly streaming north out of the park once again.
Steve Charbonneau and I stopped at Bennet and Rondeau Roads first things and noted lots of birds, most of which were heading north at a good clip.
We decided to counter them at maintenance.  A good choice as we spotted around 18 species of warblers, plus many tanagers, orioles, and vireos.  Best warbler was a Golden-winged that flitted briefly right in front of me for a few seconds.  No time for a photos on all these anxious birds!

Scarlet T.

Nashville Warblers won the lottery for numbers today, but Ovenbird, Black-and-White were close behind.
Thrushes were in good numbers (we had FOY Gray-cheeked) as well a White-throated Sparrows.  We spent a lot of time along Rondeau Road.  Still no Kenucky or Hooded there!
At one point we had Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Swainson's Thrush close together in one binocular view.  A Wood Thrush was singing in the background.  Was not till later we saw a Hermit Thrush!

Birds were all over the park and it was nice to finally see some numbers.  As I left this afternoon, warblers were quietly working the sloughs.

My yard here even had a good number of migrants....finally.

Tomorrow looks pretty good as well.