November Gales, Tales and Swales

 Been here and there the last few days trying to find things of interest.  November is an interesting time of year no doubt for birds as well as ship history.  Lots of windy days lately, as November often brings us. Gales of November are upon us.

This past Friday I went northward to Ipperwash in hopes of seeing some finches.  It is an irruption year for northern finches, so that fact has made birding interesting.  Not the biggest irruption we have ever had, but all the finches have made an appearance to some degree.

Best spot is the old MNR parking lot at Ipperwash.  There are adjacent sand barrens and a trail winding through the 'swales'.  The swales harbour lots of winterberry holly, which is quite attractive to Pine Grosbeaks.

Some of these attractive grosbeaks were seen the previous day, but I could not come up with any this visit.  However, I did manage to check off practically all the other finches!

Just out of the car, some Evening Grosbeaks flew over.  I heard the odd Redpoll (all one species now!) go over, as well as lots of Purple Finches.  Some Pine Siskins were mixed in.

Later on, a White-winged Crossbill flew over (then another shortly thereafter) much to my delight.  There have not been many crossbills in this particular irruption, so it was a bonus.

Although I did not get any Pine Grosbeaks, I was happy with the morning's results.  As well, several birders I know were around, so as always, it was a social event too.

Next day I did not go too far from home.  Stopped by Mitchell's Bay first thing (yes, I am still hopeful for a goodie there!).  Water levels are still dropping, exposing lots of mud here and elsewhere.

Of note, a late Greater Yellowlegs was feeding on the mud.

An preening!

Later on, I went up to Reid C. L.  I noticed that they have started some 'improvements' by trimming down some of the thick stuff in hopes of making it more suitable for the Northern Oak Hairstreak.  The "open" area was getting quite overgrown, and fewer and fewer nectaring sources each year were available.  Some things such as hemp dogbane will be planted there.

I was out basically just for a walk in the woods, which I love to do.  Best bird was an Eastern Towhee which did not come out to face the camera!

It was quite warm in the afternoon, so some insects were out.  This member of the long-tailed aphideater complex was on one of the last flowers in the garden.

Sunday, was forecast to be sunny with a very strong NW wind.  You guessed it, I headed up to Lake Huron, namely Ipperwash, for a lakewatch!

There were not many ducks, but lots of gulls.  I missed an adult Black-legged Kittiwake that was seen (adults are very rare on the Great Lakes), but did see a Parasitic Jaeger.  A jaeger is good on any day it seems!

It was too windy for land birding, even though I tried for a bit.  I did finally see a couple of Pine Grosbeaks though.  Hopefully I can go back for some better looks someday.

Today, I had little ambition to go anywhere, so finished cleaning up the yard in the morning. In the afternoon, it was nice and sunny, so went for a walk at the "go-to" place.

A couple of scenes:

This date in the past is notable for some marine history facts.  I have written about these in the past, but are always significant to my eyes.

On November 17, 1972, the Michipicoten broke in two in the Gulf of St. Lawrence whilst being towed overseas for scrap.  I remember well seeing this ship at Port Lambton in the summer of 1972.  So much so, my dad commissioned a line drawing for me as a Christmas gift.

line drawing by Frank Crevier

It was originally built in 1905 as the Henry C. Frick.

An identical ship built in 1905 was the William E. Corey. It was eventually renamed the Ridgetown and retired in 1969.  As many of you know, it still exists today!  However, it is now a rusty old breakwater at Port Credit.

(I once found a Western Grebe here!)

Tomorrow will be the 67th anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley on Lake Michigan.  A very tragic event indeed.

The husband of my father's cousin sailed on her at one point, so there is a family connection there.  He took these photos, among others, which I possess.

Don and Dorothy Langridge

So, this month is memorable for me in many respects.

Point Pelee Tip lifering (when water came up and washed it away)

Chilly November Update

 After last Friday's Pacific Loon find at Rondeau, things were not as eventful.  I spent Saturday morning at Rondeau, starting with a lakewatch.  Sean Macey eventually joined us for some lakewatching and then a walk through the campground.

There were lots of loons out there, but we did not see the Pacific.  (Note:  Barb Charlton had the same or another Pacific Loon at dog beach on Monday!).  We did see a Red-necked Grebe, always rare at Rondeau!

Highlight in the campground, was a flyover Evening Grosbeak.  As often is the case with these, I heard it long before we saw it.

Sunday, it was a change of scenery for me, so I went up to Sarnia for a lakewatch.  Winds (NW) were not ideal, but it was better than most weekends this fall (SW winds).  Lots of gulls, but nothing noteworthy.

I walked various spots, as I worked my way home.  Lots of Black-capped Chickadees are around this year.  I keep hoping to bump into a Boreal...

Today, I did Rondeau, Erieau, and then over to Wheatley Harbour.  Strong west winds kept birds on the east side of the park, and south point was fairly birdy.  Highlight was a Pine Warbler with several Yellow-rumped.  I failed to get a photo though.

Some Eastern Bluebirds were around, as well as Cedar Waxwings.  One must always look for Bohemian, but only Cedars today.

Since we finally got Pacific Loon out of the way last week, we need to work on a Mountain Bluebird for Rondeau.  I tried today, but all were Eastern Bluebirds.  I could only manage some distant photos. 

Along Erieau marsh trail, a female Purple Finch was lost in the wind.

Shorebirds included two Killdeer, and six Wilson's Snipe.

It was noon by this time, so I headed over to Wheatley Harbour.  Nothing noteworthy, but I thought I saw a very distant jaeger at one point.

Sandhill Cranes have built up in numbers west of Wallaceburg.  One day this week, I counted 135.

With the wind today, I was reminded of storms on the Great Lakes.  It was 64 years ago today that the Carl D. Bradley went down on Lake Michigan.

Don & Dorothy Langridge (my Dad's cousin)

November was always a bad month for the demise of some ships on the Great Lakes, which I have covered before.

On another note, retired ships have been towed overseas for scrapping.  Some did not make it, including the Michipicoten (originally Henry C. Frick of 1905).  She was a sister ship to the Ridgetown (originally Wm. E. Corey) which still exists as the breakwater at Port Credit.

Ridgetown

I remember seeing the Michipicoten in the summer of 1972 at Port Lambton ( I have a photo from the day, but it is buried somewhere!).  I also recorded steam whistles starting that year, and this was one of my favourite.  It turned out to be its last season.

Line drawing by Frank Crevier (very dear friend of ours) for Blake Mann

Recording I made in 1972!:

Later that year, the Michipicoten was being towed overseas, but never made it.  Some photos were posted of it breaking up on November 15, 1972, which is interesting to me.  It was in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

(photo taken from Boatnerd posting)

(Pelee Tip lifering!)

Summer Sandhills

On the way to work this morning, I spotted seven Sandhill Cranes in a field west of Wallaceburg.  It is not unusual to seem some in the fields west of town in the summer, but this seems a bit early.  I assume these have come off Walpole Island for the day.

It was one of those picture-perfect days. I got off work a tad early and did a bit of looking around.....for butterflies, of course.  Looks like a good year for the 'Southern' Hairstreak. I saw two more today which looked pretty fresh.

I only had the point and shoot camera, but these turned out pretty good!

I have now seen a total of eight (8) since this past Sunday.

Other hairstreaks were present too.

A clear, calm morning on the St. Clair River.

Michipicoten (ex. Elton Hoyt II)