Week In Review and OFO Convention

 Lots of birding going on in the last week!  The Ontario Field Ornithologists annual convention was the highlight this past weekend.  Headquartered in Sarnia, it was nice to have it close to home!

Ontario Field Ornithologists logo

Bird sightings are recorded each convention just to see what can be found in the area.  They can be recorded on eBird, sharing with OFO.  On Friday, I toured locally on my own before heading up to Sarnia for the Friday evening event, which is called 'Birds and Beers'.  And yes, beer was available!

I did record Bobolink and White-crowned Sparrow at Wilkesport, first for this year's convention.  The sparrow was the first one of the fall for me.

The meeting was at the Dante Club in Sarnia.  Friday's highlight was the usual bird quiz, put on by Sarah Rupert.  As always, it was frustrating.  But fun!

Field trips are held in the general area.  On Saturday, I chose the heritage forest at Port Franks, led by Jeremy Hatt.  Birds were a bit scarce, but there was enough passing through to keep up our interest.  I did not carry the camera this day.

At L-Lake, we recorded the only Wood Thrush of the weekend.

Afterwards, I checked out the shoals at Kettle Point, then moved on to Sarnia.  One last walk on my own was at the Blackwell Landfill, and north end of Perch Creek Habitat.  I managed to see an Olive-sided Flycatcher, was at the time was first for the convention.  While watching that, a Virginia Rail called behind me!

The evening event was again held at the Dante Club.  As with every year, a Distinguished Ornithologist award is give to some individual.  This year, it was Doug McRae who worked at Presque Isle Provincial Park, among other places.  With a storied career, it was well-deserved.

When the OFO convention was at Kingston many years ago, I camped at the provincial park. I birded with him one morning out to High Bluff Island.

Sunday, I went out on my own, checking out Mitchell's Bay area.  It was fairly good for birds.  I recorded the only Purple Martins and a Long-billed Dowitcher for the convention!

I went to both the south and north shore trails.

Harrier of the north

Not sure if this Brown Thrasher was sending me a message or not....

At the south end, there were many Wilson's Snipe.  Close to twenty, with a flock of 13 at one point.

There is excellent shorebird habitat at the north end, and this is where the dowitcher was.

Long-billed Dowitcher (highly cropped)

Lots of American Pipits were moving Sunday morning.  At least 60 were present on my visit.

This morning, I did the same thing, but there was a lot less bird activity.  

Parula from the north

The dowitcher was not to be seen today.  Lots of Greater Yellowlegs around though.

The potential for a rare heron is high there!  Lots of Great Egrets only.

This afternoon, I went for a short walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  Trees are turning early this fall due to stress from lack of rain.

Hardly a bird, as usual, but I looked for insects.  Highlight was a Metric Paper Wasp, which is apparently critically imperiled.

A few butterflies, including this Peck's Skipper.

Lots of sulphurs today..

Some insects of the past week:

Least Skipper

Lance-tipped Darner

Viceroy

And, a Coyote at Bickford Oak Woods.  I fumbled too much with the camera....

A good week all in all!

Fall Birding and Aurora Borealis Puts on a Show

 A couple of days ago I decided to check out Keith McLean C. L. first thing in the morning.  I ended up staying over four hours since many birds were around!  Lots flying over and some lingering.

There are some good mudflats around presently.

Some shorebirds have finally been consistent there with a variety during my visit.  I caught up with the Long-billed Dowitcher that had been reported the previous day, but it was a bit too far for my measly camera.

I was fairly certain that I saw two first thing, but later on I could only come up with one.  Today there were two!

Both yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpipers and Wilson's Snipe were working the grounds during my visit.

There were lots of birds in the air and one wonders what all went through.  Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers were streaming through or working the trees on the property.

My first Pine Siskin of the fall flew over, as well as a couple of Purple Finches.

I caught glimpses of the trusty Nelson's Sparrows there as well, but as usual no chance for a photo.

I was about to leave at one point, when the Turkey Vultures started moving in big numbers.  So, I stayed much longer in hopes of seeing something different.   I saw over 700 TV's.

However, there was not much variety in raptors, and certainly a hoped-for Black Vulture never materialized.

I ended up with 58 species there in four hours.

Yesterday, I did not venture far, but started at the south lakeshore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Not much variety in birds on this crisp and clear morning.  One is always hopeful for something with the calibre of a Sage Thrasher!  Frankly, I am still hopeful of a Varied Thrush showing up there.

Hermit Thrushes have certainly arrived in numbers this week.

After this walk, I decided to head down to St. Clair NWA.  I do not often go there anymore as things have changed from the old days when there was always a good variety of birds there.  However, it always has potential for something interesting.

There was actually a lot of birds, especially sparrows.  Fox Sparrows have arrived in small numbers, as well as White-crowned Sparrows.  Swamp was the sparrow of the day with the 37 seen or heard along the way.

White-crowned Sparrow on the fence

Always a chance for a Nelson's Sparrow there as well, but it was not to be.  I have only seen one there, and it was at the end of December a number of years ago (running around on the ice)!

Some Sandhill Cranes were around.  These are quite regular at St. Clair anymore.

Common Buckeyes are everywhere, and this place was no exception.

Later on in the morning I went for a walk at Peers Wetland.  A late Least Skipper caught my eye at one point.

Insects in the few flowers that remain, included this Perennial Mason Wasp which is classified as imperiled in Ontario.

Today, you guessed it, I went down to Rondeau Park.  Not the best wind, but a stiff WSW wind was blowing and I was hopeful something of interest would show during a lakewatch.  Yet again, nothing of interest at dog beach.  I do not get it!

Afterwards, I walked south point trail east, then the north end of Harrison.  Yellow-rumped Warblers have arrived in numbers, as there were lots.  Perhaps we may find an "Audubon's" again this year!

Other warblers included Tennessee, Pine, Blackpoll (2), Bay-breasted (2) and Black-throated Blue (2)

Pine Warbler in a deciduous tree

Black-throated Blue Warbler (F) sticking it out

A few Blue-headed Vireos were around, but no all-gray ones.

Last night, the Aurora Borealis lit up the northern sky.  One needs to get away from the city/town lights to get the full effect, as some neighbours are obsessed with leaving lights on!

However, after 22:00h, I looked out my window and saw something happening.  It did not look like much to the naked eye, but using one's cell phone in night mode makes a difference.

Here are a couple of from my window here in Wallaceburg.

Keep your eyes to the sky, as you never know what you will see.

UFO

The Winds of Lake Erie

 Spent some time lakewatching each day this weekend, as there were some stiff winds.  However, yet again it was in the non-productive category!  One always hopes for rarities or something of interest.....

Both Friday and Saturday lakewatches were at Rondeau's dog beach.  Saturday was a little more active, but basic birds only.  One of these days.....

Sunday, I needed a change in scenery so went to Point Pelee on a stiff SW wind.  I just cannot get the right day for a good lakewatch!  I am either at the wrong place (eg. on Lake Huron), or cannot get there on a good day.  Oh well.

Keith McLean C. L. was decent on Friday.  Lots of shorebirds, including the long-staying Long-billed Dowitcher.

Lots of White-rumped Sandpipers have been around this fall, and a few were still present on Friday.

Nelson's Sparrows are still around, but are good at eluding my camera lens.

Blenheim lagoons has dropped off for shorebirds in recent weeks, but a couple of late birds have been present.

This sandpiper was "spotted" this past Thursday, and was still there on Friday.

In the same area, this swallow was on the "bank" of the cell.

Saturday was a rather slow day at Rondeau, at least in the woods.  Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers were around, plus a few others mixed in.  This Northern Parula was no doubt camera shy.

Colours are getting nice in the park.

Sunday, was good at Point Pelee for passerines, after the lakewatch.  De Laurier was hopping with birds along the back canal.

Some late things included Indigo Bunting, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Bay-breasted Warbler, Yellow Warbler, among others.  

Bay-breasted Warbler

Maybe a second Bay-breasted!

Yellow Warbler

I stood in one spot for an hour since it was so active!

After covering the park, I went over to Hillman Marsh, not expecting to see much.  Looked for some late butterflies, and a few Common Checkered-skippers were around the shorebird cell.

The surprise of the day popped up at the backside of the shorebird cell, a Harris's Sparrow!  Been a while since I have seen one, and certainly not on my self-found list till then.

I could not get a clear photo of it through the tree branches unfortunately.  Also, I was looking into the sun.

It appeared to stay in the area, as local birder Rick Mayos managed to find it some time later.

Speaking of winds on Lake Erie, I came across something of interest to boatnerds.  On October 20, 1916 a fierce wind blew across Lake Erie. It claimed at least three ships, one being the "whaleback" freighter James B. Colgate (built in 1892).  This event became known as the Black Friday Storm.

The gale-force winds were too much for the steamer, as water leaked through hatches, eventually causing the ship to founder off Long Point.  Only the captain survived, being found almost two days later in a raft.

What caught my interest, is that I have a few photos of the Colgate in my collection.  I do not know where they came from or who took them, but obviously they were taken at some point before this event.