Relief! Some Recent Walks

 Today's weather was certainly a welcome relief.  The temperature went above zero for the first time in several weeks!

This morning, I managed to go for a long walk under sunny skies (weather forecast was a bit wrong...turned out nice!).  In recent weeks, I had not been able to go for any lengthy walk due to the weather or cold or snow.  Weight gain......

My place of choice was the frozen Sydenham River starting at W. Darcy McKeough dam.  I had not done this in many years.  It is certainly something different and interesting to do.

Some scenes.......

Just north of the dam at the bend

There was practically no birdlife (no surprise this winter), but I was more focused on the fresh air and exercise.  Here are some scenes along the way.

I walked up to the next concession.

Smith Line bridge

One of the birds was a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  I did not get a photo, but here is the one in my yard this winter.

Along the way, I noticed remnants of a paper wasp nest.  The outer covering had blown off, exposing the inside.  Kind of neat-looking!

Neglected pic-nic table along the way:

Sunday was a nice day for a drive, as I went into Elgin County.  Again, not many birds, but I needed a change in scenery and a couple of moderate walks.  I went as far as John E. Pearce Provincial Park south of Wallacetown.

I walked the trail at the Storey Wetland.

No owls in the woods, but then they are scarce this winter.  Deer were prancing about though, and these two briefly stopped to take note of my presence.

On the way back, I stopped by Clear Creek Provincial Nature Reserve.  Coming up along Duart Road, a Common Raven was perched in a tree.  As usual, it flushed before I could get a photo.  It is quite standard to find a raven around these parts anymore.

Here are some scenes.

The trail passes by the famous old fallen beech tree.

Here is a photo way back when it was still alive.

At one point, I noticed some imprints in the snow.  Obviously a bird had come down to grab something.  Possibly an owl?

There have been some trips out to the St. Clair River, but it is mostly iced in.  Recently, open water is from north of Cath's Cart Park to south of Courtright. Here we find lots of waterfowl.

Yesterday, I stopped at the CF Industries warm water outlet where the concentration was.  I picked out four Trumpeter Swans here, and possibly a fifth.  Unable to get decent photos of anything since I sat in the car, not wanting to flush anything.

Two Trumpeters here with a Mute counterpart

There were too many Mute Swans, and a few Tundra Swans.

There was one Canadian Coot swimming around.  I recently had two at Cathcart Park.  Probably the "least common"bird here.

Barred Christmas Gift and Recent Outings

 On Christmas Day, I had some time to get out and view an owl that had been found recently in south Chatham-Kent.  It is not often we get a Barred Owl in Chatham-Kent, so when one has the opportunity to see one, it is a privilege.

I had tried to see this Barred Owl a couple of times previously, but it obviously hid well.  This third attempt I found it in short order!  It was a nice gift on an otherwise gloomy day.  Lighting was very bad.

I have only seen a couple of others in our county.  The first was pretty neat as it was found on the Christmas Bird count at Rondeau Park.  That one stayed several weeks.

A couple of years ago, one frequented Shrewsbury, being seen in several spots in the village.  It was always fun trying to find out where it was hiding!  Note how puffed up this one appeared.

A number of years ago, one was at John E. Pearce Provincial Park.  The day I found it, the owl still had a meal in its talons.  Obviously another owl!

I have seen or heard many further north in the province, such as the ones at Awenda Provincial Park.  This one was right in my campsite!

And, of course Algonquin Park.

The Barred Owl has to be my favourite.  Its unique call "who cooks for you" is certainly fun to hear.  As seen in the above photos, owls can puff themselves up in certain cases.  They are mostly feathers!

Boxing Day, I spent the morning along the St. Clair River, then through the countryside a bit.  There was actually a lot more things to see on the river than in previous visits.  But, a far cry from what it used to be.

At one point, there was a bear sighting.

Algoma Bear

It was Algoma's newest vessel!

Cathcart Park seems to be decent spot in recent times.  Gulls are collecting in the shallows, as well as ducks.

Swans can be numerous here as well.  Yesterday I saw three species here!

Tundra, Trumpeter, Mute

Least common in our area is the Trumpeter Swan.  There were two here.

A stop at my favourite walking place along the Kimball Road revealed some Eastern Bluebirds.  We usually see them at this location in winter.  Photos are horrible, but then so has the weather.  It has been very gloomy the last few days, and impossible for getting decent photos.

A Red-tailed Hawk was also here.

Just as I left, two Common Ravens were flying over  Kimball Road.  Not unusual in Lambton anymore.

Today, I needed a change in scenery, so headed into Elgin County.  It was still gloomy, but a little brighter at times.

My first stop was Port Glasgow.  I spent the better part of an hour there, as there was a lot of gull activity. Gulls were heading east. Out on the lake I noted a few Common Loons moving.

Farther east, I stopped by John E. Pearce Provincial Park south of Wallacetown.  I walked most of it, but it was rather quiet.  Only thing of note was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Scene in the woods along Lorne Spicer trail

Along one trail I noticed this Isabella Tiger Moth (aka wooly bear) caterpillar rolled up in a ball.  Must have been trying to keep warm!

A couple of Red Squirrels were chattering nearby.

Previously along Talbot Trail, I noticed two Golden Eagles soaring in a westerly direction at McColl Cemetery.  No chance for a photo though.

After Pearce, I worked my way home and went for one more walk at another favourite spot, namely Wardsville Woods.  It was really quiet for birds!  Better in early summer when I can look for dragonflies!

More Tourin' But No Horsin' Around

 I did quite a bit of touring around the last couple of days  since I just need to be outdoors!  Friday I started at Keith McLean C. L.  Not much to see, but we are now in the midst of fall migration (argh!).  The only "southbound" shorebird was a Lesser Yellowlegs.

I headed east as far as Fingal WMA for a brief look, then to nearby Southwold Earthworks on Iona Road.  For whatever reason, I like this place, as I remember going there with my father when I a tad younger.  In the past, I have found it good for butterflies as long as the grass is not cut.  Unfortunately, it had just been cut!

However, there were some things to see such as several Hickory Hairstreaks.

Moving on, I headed west to John E. Pearce P. P. and walked the Storey Wetland.  Not as many odes as I would like, but there were a few butterflies including lots of Banded Hairstreaks and some Hickory, and other things.

Next stop was another favourite, Wardsville Woods. I like it for the leps and odes.  I started off with a Striped Hairstreak on the laneway.

Some odes included Midland Clubtail, Common Whitetail and Black-shouldered Spiny-leg among others.

One had me intrigued, but I thought it was just a Midland Clubtail.  However, it does suggest Cobra Clubtail, an uncommon species.  I never looked at the face though, which would be the clincher!  I am not familiar with Cobra Clubtail, so I did not know what to look for. Now I do, lol.

Nearby Skunk's Misery was the next attraction.  I just checked out my favourite trail on Sassafras Road where the hairstreaks are.  There were still lots!  Another Striped was also here.

Farther down the trail, I found some milkweed that seemed to be quite attractive to leps.

Also here was a LeConte's Haploa moth.

Today, I had no clue where to go, but did want to get up to Reid and McKeough later.  To waste some time, I went down to St. Clair NWA for a walk.  Not much to see there anymore as it is grown in so much compared to the "old" days and phragmites along the trail is a problem.

Along the way I saw several heron types along "Heron" Line.

I then worked my way up to Bear Creek Marsh, a unit of SCNWA.  Nothing of note there.

After a stop at the workplace in Port Lambton, it was time to head over to McKeough.  Two Dickcissels were still singing at the aforementioned spot on Holt Line.

There were surprisingly few insects to see at McKeough, much to my disappointment.  I did see the one Pronghorn Clubtail.

Over at Reid, I spent quite a bit of time there.  Still lots of hairstreaks, and I did find one last Oak Hairstreak.

I was hoping to see Dukes' Skippers, but they have not shown yet.

Several Northern Broken-Dash and Dun Skippers are out.

Odes included a male and female Slaty Skimmer.

male

I got on one Royal River Cruiser which posed nicely.

A remaining Racket-tailed Emerald caught my eye.

Moch Emerald should be out now, so I will keep an eye out for them.

The summer is quickly passing, so take advantage of every day, and no horsin' around!

Black Horsefly