May Birding: The Fun Begins

Now that we are well into the month of May, birders are beating the bushes for birds in their favourite spots. 

On May 1, I stayed fairly close to home.  There were not many birds that day around anyway.

Along the St. Clair River, the Nautica Queen was upbound.  It is a cruise and dinner vessel out of Cleveland, Ohio.  Not sure where it was going.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk at Reid CA just admiring the scenery.  There are lots of hickory trees there, including some Bitternut Hickory.  One of the large ones fell down for some reason during the winter.  It would have made for some nice lumber!

Nearby, another of same size was looking healthy.

Blue Phlox is blooming, but I found this one not quite out.

I happened to come across a rather large patch of Harbinger of Spring in a spot I missed before.  It is amazing how much is within Reid CA.  Not worth a photo at this stage though.

Other scenes:

Sedgy Area

Aspen patch

Eastern Forktail emerged in recent days.

On Thursday I went to Rondeau.  There were lots of new birds, including a good influx of White-crowned Sparrows.  This one was showing off its white crown!

After Rondeau, I slid over to Erieau.  It was  a good turtle day everywhere, as they were all out taking advantage of the warm sun.  I saw five species along the rail trail!

Spiny Softshell

Blanding's Turtle

Northern Map Turtle

Heading home, I decided I was not done for the day, so took a detour over to the south shore nature trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Lots of turtles there as well.  I saw at least 30 Map Turtles along the trail.

I have seen Spiny Softshell on the Bay there in the past, but not on this particular day.

The Snowy Egret was apparently still present, but somehow it remained hidden during my visit.  I missed it by about 15 minutes!

I kept an eye on the field, as often Yellow-headed Blackbirds forage in it.  I was not disappointed, and noted five.  Just too difficult to get a proper photo though.

Friday, I started out at Mitchell's Bay on the trail again.  It was rather quiet for birds though, but I always have to check.  Not knowing what else to do later, I eventually ended up at Point Pelee!  It turned out to be a good choice.

There had been a massive influx of birds overnight (same thing at Rondeau), but many were streaming out.  I parked at northwest beach just in time to see lots of warblers streaming north.  Most were Yellow-rumped (we finally got numbers!), but others were mixed in.

Along the west side, the grasses were littered with Palm Warblers as well.

Some warblers lingered.  Many first-of-years birds were tallied, including lots of Cape May Warblers.

A few Black-throated Green

Lots of Northern Parula

I had some good finds, including Golden-winged Warbler, Summer Tanager, and Fish Crow.

After birding the park for a few hours, I was too tired to stop in Hillman Marsh, so ventured home.

Today, it was back to Rondeau.  The "morning flight" fizzled!  In fact, the park was very quiet for birds.

I happened to be in the right place at the right time, when Jeff Tunstall spotted an Olive-sided Flycatcher.  He managed photos, but I did not as it flew back too far, then out of sight.  This is remarkably early for that species, but some have been reported elsewhere already.  Usually we look for this one in the second week of May and beyond!

The other decent bird was a Yellow-breasted Chat.  I completely missed this one last year (there were not many), so nice to see.  Unfortunately, it was very elusive (true to nature) and did not co-operate for the camera.

The chat is much scarcer than it used to be needless to say, but there has been a good showing already this year in various places.  Hopefully some stay to nest.

As always, I keep an eye out for plants.  I believe this one is Oak Sedge, an easily over-looked plant that looks like grass.

I also took a look at the trusty Goldenseal, which is already well-advanced in flowering.  This rare plant is always nice to see.

A brief stop at Keith McLean C. L. did not reveal much.

Sandpiper by itself (Solitary)

Possibly the Red-headed Woodpecker that wintered nearby

This Bald Eagle may be ill.  It rarely moves, and is easily approached.

This coming week should be good, as I will spend most of it at Rondeau Park.

Winding Down As June Approaches

 The bulk of migrants have gone through, but still lots to see and potential for good birds or rarities. Other things to look at soon!

This past Thursday, I started at Erieau and saw nothing of note (again).  The stiff east wind did not help matters though.  Seems to be better later in the day there!

I then headed over to Wheatley Harbour where some shorebirds were on the beach.  An oddity was amongst them!  A Ruddy Turnstone hybrid had been seen the last couple of days in the area.  Speculation it is the result of an encounter with a White-rumped Sandpiper, but I have no idea.  Stood out among the crowd in any case.

Gull numbers have been skimpy lately, but a long-staying Iceland Gull was on the beach.  This bird has been around since early spring.  Some have mistakenly called it a Glaucous due to its superficial appearance and size, but it is an Iceland approaching 3rd cycle.

I then decided to go into Point Pelee.  There was nothing of note (again) to my eyes.  Seems that I pick the wrong day every time to go there.  I have better luck at Rondeau!

While there, I noticed the Cuyahoga anchored off Kingsville.  The day before, it suffered an engine room fire and they actually called out a May-Day request. Fortunately it was not that bad, but has probably ended the career of this vessel.  It is (or was) the oldest operating laker left, built in 1943.

It is currently lingering in Kingsville awaiting its fate.

Friday it down to Rondeau for probably the last time in a while.  I wanted to walk out south beach with Red Knot as the target bird.  There were lots of shorebirds out there in the distance, but by the time I got to the best location, they had thinned out.

Quite a few Whimbrel made a brief appearance.

At one point I thought I saw a flock of Red Knots, but it was too distant.  Never saw it again, but I did see at least one Red Knot.  At one point, it flew right in front of me, then I saw it again at a distance.  Unable to get a photo though, but goal achieved!

A Greater Yellowlegs was also out there.

Always kept an eye out for mussels, but I saw only the usual types.  Mostly quite worn.

Fatmucket

There were still a few migrants along the trail.

Thrush with Grey cheeks

Was hoping to get on an Olive-sided Flycatcher, but they too seen scarce so far this year.  Not many reported.

Another Blanding's Turtle caught my eye in one of the sloughs.

Afterwards, I wandered over to Clear Creek to see what was going on.  Not a good time of day, and I got skunked on birds.

Skunk Cabbage

Yesterday, I stayed fairly local and went for a walk at Reid CA first thing.  A few migrants still trickling through.

Just as I ended my walk, I noticed blackbirds chasing a raptor along the river about a kilometre away.  As far as I could tell, it was a Red-tailed Hawk, but all white!  Too bad it did not come closer.

Later, I went out to Mitchell's Bay for a walk.  Always potential there at some point.  These turtles were putting themselves on the map by sheer numbers.

Today it was NE towards Strathroy.  I wanted to see Upland Sandpiper, but got skunked on that too.  They certainly seem scarcer this year.  They are are almost a guarantee in that area, but obviously there are not many around this year.  Not a good sign.

I then headed down to Skunk's Misery where I found some birds.  Usual ones though.  Lots of Hooded Warblers (~10 singing males) and a couple of Acadian Flycatchers.

At one point, I noticed a female Scarlet Tanager building a nest.

Some trees/shrubs in the area:

American Chestnut

Flowering Dogwood

Alternate-leaved Dogwood

Migration Peak and Some Shorebirds

 This time of year I like as we get the greatest variety of birds resident or migrant, as well as large numbers of shorebirds.

Friday, I opted to go for a walk at Hillman Marsh.  The shorebird cell had lots of Dunlin, but little else in the morning.  Mind you, I find later in the day better for shorebirds.

The Trumpeter Swans are once again nesting in the marsh, and their bugle-like call can be heard from afar.  They were too far for photos though!

Some Great Egrets were around, and this one just caught a meal.

After Hillman, I stopped by Wheatley Harbour (C-K side) and watched shorebirds.  There was an impressive number of Ruddy Turnstones on the beach.  I estimated over 300!

Indeed, it was the most I have ever seen in one location.

They thinned out a bit after some beachcombers came along, oblivious to the birds (as usual).

A good number of Semipalmated Plovers were present as well.

My goal was to see Whimbrel.  After about an hour, I was getting in my car to give up, when I heard the unique call of Whimbrel.  Sure enough, five were coming in!

On certain days, we can see hundreds, but five was good enough to head out.

We should be seeing Red Knots this week, not that we see any numbers anymore.

Before going home, I stopped by the Mitchell's Bay south shore trail as I often do.  This place always has good potential for something, but once again nothing of note caught my eye.  I keep trying though!

One can always find lots of turtles along the ditch.  I saw three species this day, and many were Map.  I found this interesting sight of a small painted turtle on top of a large Map turtle!

On Saturday, the morning was cool and gray but I went up to Port Franks to walk part of the Heritage forest for a change in scenery.  It was a good choice, as there were dozens of warblers feeding in the trees.  However, lighting was horrible, and I could not ID many of them in the treetops!

American Redstart was in big numbers, as well as some others.  A couple of Cerulean were in the mix, as well as Hooded.  It was too dark for photos, and unfortunately it did not work out well with this Hooded Warbler that posed nicely even though I had the ISO cranked up.

After more than two hours on that walk, I headed over to Kettle Point.  A couple of American White Pelicans had been hanging around of late, and they were present out on a reef.  They were too far out and gave unsatisfactory views.  Maybe I will see some more soon!

Today, I had no idea what to do, but started at the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  A few things were around, but nothing in the rare department.  Perhaps the same Green Heron was in the ditch!

I wandered aimlessly after that and ended up down at Erieau marsh trail.  There were a few things to keep one interested, but nothing new for me except an Alder Flycatcher.

A stop at Blenheim lagoons revealed a couple of tardy Short-billed Dowitchers among others.

Still lots of good birding days left.....