Earth Day Birding and Reid Plant Tour

 Today was one of the better weather days so far this spring.  I headed down to Rondeau Park, but it was rather quiet for birds.....again!  Yes, it is early, but one always expects more.

A couple of first-of-year birds included a Red-headed Woodpecker along Lakeshore Road, and a Blue-headed Vireo on south point trail.

Butterflies were enjoying the warmth.

American Painted-Lady

While in the park, I heard reports of Marbled Godwits, Willets and American Avocets at points farther west.  It was one of those days that those types of shorebirds show up in numbers!

I left the park and headed towards Erieau.  Spent some time at McGeachy and the marsh trail there.

A single Willet was reported on the tip of Rondeau, as seen from the Erieau pier area.  I managed to see that one, but it was too distant to even try for a photo.

American Avocets were reported at Hillman Marsh.  I had not intended to go that far today, but since the avocet is my favourite shorebird, I had to go!

I went straight to the Hillman shorebird cell where there were lots of shorebirds.  There were big numbers of Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers, but in the distance I picked out four dowitchers as well.

Long-billed Dowitchers are the default dowitcher species this time of year, so no confusion with Short-billed need arise.

No Avocets were present upon my arrival, but while there, eight popped in!  My target bird was then checked off.  The dowitchers were just a bonus, which are somewhat uncommon in spring.

Lighting was horrible, but I attempted photos anyway.

One of the continuing Cattle Egrets was present as well.

Two days ago, I started at Rondeau, but it was disappointing, so I went to Hillman to see two reported Cattle Egrets.

My camera malfunctioned (which is happening too often lately!), so photos were crap.

Often we do not get some until fall migration.

Yesterday morning I started at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing of note in the way of birds, but I keep trying.  It was uncomfortably cold first thing.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

The afternoon was quite pleasant, so I went for a walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  I had not been there in two weeks, so I wanted to check out the plant life.

Harbinger of Spring is about done for another year, but I did find a couple of plants with remnants of flowers.

Nearby, I found the patch of Twinleaf, one of my favourite plants.  It was not very far advanced compared to previous years.

Lots of trout lilies are blooming, including the white version.

Large-flowered Bellwort is just coming into bloom.

Dutchman's Breeches is past its prime, but some were in bloom.

Note the ginger, which is abundant at Reid

I think I finally found its cousin, Squirrel Corn.  I know it is there, but it is extremely scarce.  It is yet to be confirmed (or rejected) for some strange reason.

Bloodroot is not all that common at Reid, but some were in bloom.

Trilliums are just coming into bloom.

I found one with the virus. The abnormal greening of plant parts (virescence) is a symptom of a plant disease caused by bacterial organisms called phytoplasmas.

Various insects were flying about.

Black and Yellow Nomad Bee (?)

Greater Bee Fly

Birds will really start arriving, possibly tomorrow!  Stay tuned.

Morning Birds and 'Evening' Birds

 I do most of my birding in the morning when things are most active.  At first light, it seems to be the best time for lots of birds.  As often is the case, when I walk a trail, my return route finds fewer birds!

This past Sunday was quite miserable with wet snow and rain, but I headed out anyway.  I was near Lambton Line when a notice came out that a Brant goose was being seen at Sarnia.  So, I kept going!

The goose was seen soon after my arrival....several times.  It seemed like it did not know what to do as it flew back and forth.

It is always a treat to see one in our area since they are quite rare here.  (except during the hurricane Sandy event many years ago when over 200 were at the mouth of Lake Huron!).

Some other "good" birds were seen after I left, but I did not want to stay any longer.

Overnight Sunday, we received 7-8 cm of snow which was certainly a surprise.  And, below zero temps. However, nothing compared to the almost 60 cm received north of Skunk's Misery! (I would be done with winter already if I saw that!).

After shoveling snow, I just watched the yard all morning.  There was quite a variety of birds, and at one point at least four Evening Grosbeaks came into the Manitoba Maple tree.  Unfortunately, they were on the backside. However, nice to get such a rare bird species for the yard!

Cardinal at feeder

Despite the cold, Bruce Spanworm Moths can be found.  This one was on the back porch.

Next day was bright and sunny as I headed down to Lake Erie.  I started at Craford cemetery west of Cedar Springs, as it is a good place to watch for birds moving through.  Lots of Purple Finches, but not much else, so I left after an hour.

Then headed over to Rondeau and walked the campground.  Quite a bit of activity to keep up one's interest. At least two sapsuckers were working the grounds.

shy Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Note in above photo heavy crop of berries on Red Cedar.  Many trees have a heavy crop, so birds will be happy.  Hopefully something rare will find them!

Next stop was Keith McLean C. L.  Lots of sparrows! No Golden-crowned Sparrow though.

chipper

Yesterday, I toured local spots but did not come up with anything of note.

View just upstream of McKeough Dam

Today was very nice weatherwise, so I headed down to Rondeau Park.  I started at south point trail where there was lots of activity.  On the return walk, hardly anything.  Goes to show, again, get out first thing!

The campground is always a mandatory walk this time of year.  Lots of activity, especially at puddles!

wet Fox Sparrow

I had two flyovers of Evening Grosbeaks during the walk.

Last stop was Keith McLean C. L.  Still lots of sparrows, but nothing in the rarity department.

Field Sparrow

Field vs. Tree

Lots of mud with the low water levels.

Unlike last visit, there were some shorebirds, but only for a short time.  A flock of Dunlin flew in at one point and fed briefly.

With them were two late Long-billed Dowitchers and a Pectoral Sandpiper.  My camera does not seem to focus at long range though.....

A few hawks were moving, but most were more to the north.

Red-shouldered Hawk

It has been an interesting fall so far, and hopefully that will continue.  I need to see Pine Grosbeaks next!

And So It Begins...Finally

 We finally received more acceptable weather starting yesterday, May 5.  It was obvious that an influx of migrants would appear, and we were not disappointed.  Many overdue species were added to our annual lists.

Back on Thursday May 4, it was still cool, but better than it had been.  I checked out Rondeau Park, Erieau Marsh trail, McGeachy Pond trail and Blenheim lagoons (2X!).

Blanding's Turtle at Erieau

A decent flock of Long-billed Dowitchers had been frequenting the lagoons, but they were hit and miss.  They would disappear to parts unknown for a while, then return.  I missed them earlier in the day, as well as later in the day!  However, on my second visit, I did manage to see three of them.

Friday was more normal in a sense for this time of year.  Many warblers, sparrows, orioles, etc. had dropped in.  I checked out south point east at first light, then moved up to the start of marsh trail to observe the "morning flight".  A good number of warblers and other birds were exiting the park as they typically do with an easterly component to the wind.  It is actually a fun experience to observe this, but you have to be quick on ID!

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Palm Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler

I missed an Evening Grosbeak that stopped by at the VC feeder, and perhaps the same individual later in Bate's subdivision.  I decided to leave the park just after 1:00 when the grosbeak was seen again!  Hopefully another will make an appearance for me!

Later in the morning, a pair of Willets was resting on the east beach.

Today, I decided to stay local.  Just as well since probably nothing new awaited me at Rondeau. It is nice to check out things around home at this time of year.

Baltimore Oriole at my feeder

First thing, I stopped by Brander Park, Port Lambton.  A few things came in, but not as much as I had expected.  A Great-crested Flycatcher was a FOY there.

It was such a nice day, I went up to Reid CA.  I spent the better part of three hours there!  A good number of birds had dropped in.  I ended up with nine species of warblers, and some were in multiples.

Black-throated Blue Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

Blue-headed Vireo

Most things were in the "Lilly Bush", so I spent almost two hours there.  While chasing the warblers, I heard some croaks to the north.  I thought it had to be  Raven, and soon I saw it being chased by four American Crows.  It never came close.

Ravens are rather regular in Lambton anymore, especially in the north part, and are not considered "rare" on eBird.

The most notable warbler was a Bay-breasted.  They typically show up a bit later in migration, so this one was exceptional.  Probably the earliest one I have seen, and perhaps the earliest for Lambton.  I was unable to get a photo, unfortunately.

Peers Wetland had a few things as well, including an Ovenbird and a couple of Black-and-white Warblers.

A Solitary Sandpiper was new for the year there, but eluded the camera.

This creature was lurking around:

Peers Prowler

Rondeau Report May 2, 2021

 It was another birding day at Rondeau today.  It appeared that this was the place to be today based on reports from other locales.

Things looked pretty good for new arrivals with the incoming weather.  There was not a fallout of sorts but lots of new birds came in.  However, they seemed to be on the move.  We could hear lots of birds moving north and at one point we lingered around the north end of the campground watching some birds move through.

It was not a photo-taking day, so not much in the way of photos!

I started on south point trail first thing and only went so far as it was very windy along the lake.  It was apparent some birds were still dropping in.  

Eventually, some "good" birds were reported and it was time to try and chase some of them.  Best was an Ash-throated Flycatcher, but it was not seen again after the initial observer reported the sighting.

I happened to be near "Log Pond" when a Prothonotary Warbler was reported.  I managed to see it as a FOY.  A bonus bird was a FOY Northern Waterthrush at the same location.

Next was a male Cerulean Warbler farther down Harrison Trail.  Eventually it showed up for us, for another FOY.

It was getting mid-afternoon, and some Long-billed Dowitchers were found at McLean's.  We scurried over there to find many birders present.  A total of 20 Long-billed Dowitchers were present which is an incredible number for this time of year.  

There was a more basic bird by itself that we did not put much consideration into.  It was most likely an early Short-billed!

A bonus bird was a Wilson's Phalarope, another FOY!

So, a decent day for sure with about 10 FOY birds today.  Here is my Rondeau list:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S86942702

Osprey nesting!