Mid-April Report: Some Highlights

 Not too much to report this past week, but there were some highlights.

Tuesday, while I had to spend some time in Chatham, I checked out O'Neil Nature Reserve (Paxton's Bush).  It is actually an impressive woodlot right on the north edge of Chatham that kind of sticks out.  A good variety of large trees are within.

The forest floor has typical plants that one can find in a woodlot.

Bloodroot

Yellow Trout Lily

On Wednesday I had the urge to go up to Sarnia's Canatara Park for some birding.  The weather was less than impressive (eventual rain!) but it is a good migrant trap for finding birds.

I saw my first Little Gull of the year on the lake.  

A House Wren was chattering on the edge of Tarzanland.  A bunch of them seemed to come early this year in various places.

Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers were in the woods and migrating westward.

Thursday was quite disappointing with yet another rainy day.  I managed to get out to Mitchell's Bay first thing, but there was hardly anything to look at.  However, the same six Snow Geese were still in the area!

Friday was another nice weather day as I checked out Rondeau Park.  Turned out to be a good birding day, with some early stuff.

I walked out marsh trail to Long Pond.  Some first-of-year birds included Marsh Wren,  Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and both Sora and Virginia Rails.  Also, a couple of Palm Warblers.

                               

Palm Warbler

American Coot

Tundra Swans (young ones!)

On the way back we found some warblers!  Other than Yellow-rumped, a Northern Parula and a Nashville Warbler were singing in the tree tops.

The parula was record early by one day (we had one on Spicebush Trail back on April 18, 2010), and the Nashville was record early by a few days.  At least what I can see.

Nearer the parking lot, an early Yellow Warbler was singing its typical song as another first-of-year.  It was an early arrival, but not record early.  Steve and I had one April 13, 2001 on Tulip Tree trail.  That year was quite impressive with lots of very early birds.

While out marsh trail, we saw a couple of Blanding's Turtles.

Today, I wanted to head into Essex County.  It was another crappy weather day.  Seems we cannot get two good days in a row this spring!

A Laughing Gull had been frequenting Wheatley Harbour for three days, but as usual, it did not show up today much to my disappointment.

Highlight was a Baikal Teal in Hillman shorebird cell.  It was found a number of days ago there, and has stirred up quite a controversy.  I saw it right away, but it was distant in poor light.  

It was sleeping when I went back the second time, but very distant as well.

(attempt at digiscoping!)

A duck of this type is usually considered an escapee, but who knows.  There are a number of factors that might point towards this being a wild duck, but I will not delve into it here.  An attractive duck in any case!

An early Solitary Sandpiper (yes it was solitary and alone!) was in the cell as well.  Lighting was too horrible today to get any decent photos of anything, even with the ISO cranked up to 1000.

I left Hillman and went into Point Pelee for an hour.  It was quiet, so I went back to Hillman!

Two Marbled Godwits were in the cell when I arrived.

A couple of Little Gulls were also present, but not photographable.

Just before getting home, I made a quick stop at Mitchell's Bay.  Yellow-headed Blackbirds should be in now but I did not find one.

Only highlight was another early Yellow Warbler.

If this weather ever gets its act together, we should have some good birding days ahead.......

More Running Around-Looking For Things of Interest

 Last Friday I checked out the Sombra Western Meadowlark.  It finally came close and perched on the wire beside the road.  Unfortunately, I was looking towards the sun, so I had to doctor the photos.

It will be interesting to see how long it stays.  I doubt it will find a suitable mate!

I then went for a walk at Reid CA around the back field.  More insects are showing as one would expect.  

Eastern Giant Swallowtail

Juvenal's Duskywing

I photographed this dragonfly, not looking too close, and I did not pursue it.  I should have since it was a Pronghorn Clubtail!  One of the more uncommon clubtails, but regular in this area.

South of town I came across a pair of Ring-necked Pheasants.  Although non-native, they are are very difficult to find in the wild anymore.

Next day, I ended up at Point Pelee.  Some days I do not know what to do and just start driving!  It is always a crap shoot as to what one may find.  Again, I seemed to pick the wrong day.  Nothing of note in birds, and hardly an odonate to be found, not to mention butterflies.

American White Pelicans area a regular feature around the Tip this time of year.

Sunday was rather rainy for the morning.  In the afternoon I was bored to the point where I went for a walk at McKeough.

Azure Bluets are regular in one spot.

Turtles included a couple of Map and a couple of softshell.  Of the dozens of times I have been there, I do not think I ever saw a softshell at McKeough (!).

Lots of Maps here too.

Monday was foggy to start, but very calm.  I had no idea where to go, but just headed towards Rondeau.  By the time I started walking, the fog had lifted.  I walked the beach all the way from the light beacon, way out south beach!  There was just enough activity to keep me interested.

I only saw one Little Gull this outing.

There are always things to find along the beach.  I found another old shotgun shell brass.  From what I can tell, it was made from 1935- early 1950's.

I really wanted to go to Wardsville this day, but the clouds and fog delayed that until after Rondeau.  It was nice and sunny when I arrived at Wardsville Woods.  I had high hopes for lots of odonates, but yet again, there were hardly any!  However, there were some highlights.

Early on, I spotted one of the specialties for here, a Cobra Clubtail.

One of the key features is the face, where there is a line across it.

As it got warmer, more things came out including some Double-striped Bluets around the pond.

Also, a first-of-year Violet Dancer.

There were a few Twelve-spotted Skimmers.

I kept making rounds, not giving up, and later on I came across an Arrowhead Spiketail, another specialty of the property.

In fact there were two.  Still looking for its cousin, the Twin-spotted Spiketail!

One can always spot a spiketail in flight.  They are large and have a certain flight characteristic, at least to me.  Also their perch position seems unique.

There are always lots of moths everywhere one goes, but I only look at the more attractive ones.  A very common type is the White-striped Black.

Today, I just had to go to another place!  Every year in June at some point I check out Joany's Woods north of Sylvan on the Middlesex border.  It can be good for birds and insects.  I was there  a bit too early I guess, for lots of insects.  There were hardly any odonates.  Are we in a lull for them right now?

The only clubtail I got on was a Midland.

There were a few butterflies, including my first-of-year Great Spangled Fritillary.

For birds, the usual ones were there but not in big numbers (except Red-eyed Vireos).  Blue-winged Warblers are normally plentiful there, but I only heard two in the distance over the 8+ km I walked.  However, I heard five Mourning Warblers which is more than usual.

Getting to Joany's, I always pass through Hungry Hollow and by Fossil Road.  Down Fossil Road one can access the river, and this is a premier spot to look for odonates.  Indeed, I stopped there!

Yet again, there was hardly an ode to be seen.  The river was also running very high due to the ridiculous amount of rain we have been getting lately.  That is a big factor in limiting habitat.

I did see a single American Rubyspot.

I also photographed this non-descript damsel not knowing what it was.  Turns out it is a female Eastern Red Damsel!  

I have honestly never seen one before, but they are quite uncommon.  And, rather tiny to boot. In our area, they are only seen in this spot and at nearby Rock Glen.  Likely they are elsewhere in some unknown spots.  Also seen in the Komoka area near London.

I did not stay long, being quite disappointed.  But, going back up the slope, something caught my eye.  A male Eastern Red Damsel!  I was in an extremely awkward spot, so could not get proper photographs without moving and flushing it.

That certainly made my day!  I will be back there later on when (hopefully) the water recedes and more odonates emerge.

Rondeau Campout and a "Lifer" in the Mix

 The past four nights I camped at Rondeau (place of choice for this time of year) as I usually do this time of year.  At least it cuts down on travel time in the car!  I never took many photographs though, but always had the camera on hand.

The weather was reasonably good with sunny days, except Thursday which was cloudy, cool and windy.  A bit of rain late in the afternoon dampened things.  Most rain, which was little, came at night.

Birding was generally slow for the most part, and there were not as many birds as I had hoped.  However, it is what it is and one makes the best of it!

Monday morning we started early on south point trail.  Some new birds had come in.  Highlight was an immature Little Gull flying by the washout.

I saw my first Prothonotary Warbler of the year on Tulip Tree trail.  It afforded close-up views!  (Hence a new header photo for this blog!).

Although a female, it was nice to see.

I ended up with 94 species for the day in the park.

Later in the afternoon, I took a jaunt over to Keith McLean C. L.  Highlight was a Willet, but probably not Willie the Willet.

In the evening, conditions were excellent to walk out marsh trail (ended up with 50 species).  I found it a bit quiet, but added Least Bittern (6) for the year's list.  Some Sora were calling, but no Virginia Rails were heard.

As usual, hundreds of swallows were heading back to the marsh to roost a dusk.  Difficult to count, but most seemed to be Bank.

I stayed out till dark, but oddly, no Whip-poor-wills were heard at the north end.  Are more to come?

Tuesday I was up bright and early.  I counted eight Whip-poor-wills along Lakeshore Road down to south point trail.  It ended up being a quiet day, although some new birds had come in.  The only new bird for the year was Gray-cheeked Thrush.

Plants are doing their thing.  One of the more abundant forest floor plants is Canada Mayflower.  Not quite in bloom though.

Maidenhair Fern

As I was crawling in the tent for the night, a Black-crowned Night-Heron flew over, calling incessantly.  Other birders in the campground noted it as well, as shown on their eBird lists!

Wednesday was a good day, where I surpassed 100 species in the park.  Added for the year were only two, including Eastern Wood Peewee and Wilson's Warbler.

More White-crowned Sparrows had come in. One would think a Harris's Sparrow might pop in with them!

Later in the afternoon, I walked south point east trail.  Not many birds, but for amusement I looked at some reptilian creatures!

Five-lined Skink

Dekay's Brown Snake

Also some leps.

Eastern-tailed Blue

Spicebush Swallowtail

While out there, word came in that a Ferruginous Hawk was found at Port Crewe by Brandon Holden.  It caused a flurry of activity by birders, as expected.  I really had no ambition to chase after it, so stayed in the park!

Thursday was a gloomy day.  With the traditional east winds for this time of year, the east side of the park was not desirable.  Steve and I walked south point west trail.  Once we got to the beach, we decided to keep going out south beach!

Shorebirds included Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Semipalmated Plover and Sanderling.  Later in the month is better for shorebirds out there.

A lone Long-tailed Duck kept going up on the beach.  It looked Ok and seemed to fly well, but we wondered about it.

On our way back, word came in that the Ferruginous Hawk was found again, closer to Port Alma.  With few birds in the park and nothing else to do, I took a run for it.

It was well out in the field when I arrived, but scope views afforded satisfaction.  For all it is worth, here is a photo!

Needless to say, it was a 'lifer' for many, or at least an Ontario 'lifer' for others.

On the way back, I checked out Erieau marsh trail, which was somewhat birdy.

I walked Tulip Tree trail upon returning to the park.  It was quite birdy, with numerous warblers.  Included was a pair of Prothonotary Warblers.  This time, the male was point blank in front of me.  Unfortunately, I did not bring the camera along!

A late Winter Wren was singing, but in the past they have nested in the park as I recall.

Later in the afternoon we had light rain, so not much happened.

Today, Friday, was another sunny day.  We started at south point trail where a few new birds had come in.  However, not many.  There were lots of Cape May and Chestnut-sided Warblers.

I later walked Harrison Trail south from Bennett to the old group campground.  It was actually quite pleasant with lots of birds.  While in group camp, word came out that a Swallow-tailed Kite had made an appearance over pony barn!

It was not far away from me, but I never saw it.  There is an open area in group camp where I watched the sky for some time, but it never passed my location.

Later it was briefly seen at dog beach, but several of us never did see it despite standing vigil there for some time  afterwards.

The bird must have been moving quickly, as it (presumably) was seen in west Chatham-Kent not long after.  I have yet to catch up with one in Chatham-Kent.  Been close a couple of times!

Generally speaking, there are lots of birds yet to come.  Most flycatchers have yet to arrive for example. This coming week should give us lots to look at, although the weather may be something to be desired.

Will be spending more time at my place of choice next week.