Walk In The Woods, Hybrid Ducks and McGeachy Mocker

 Tuesday was a fine day to go for a walk in the woods.  With sunny skies and no wind for a change, it was quite pleasant at Reid CA.

Not many birds of course, but Wild Turkey tracks were everywhere throughout the property.

Here is another tree that took an abrupt turn earlier in life.

Nearby, another tree had some fungus called Silky Parchment.

Not sure what this fungus was, but part of the tree was on the ground.

Common Hackberry trees are rare at Reid, but here is another one.

I found some oak galls at one point, which are quite neat.

Wednesday, I made a good run along the St. Clair River.  It was still iced-in to north of Sombra, but had opened up quite a bit northward.  I suspect there is an ice bridge somewhere up Sarnia way keeping ice from flowing downstream.

It was a day of hybrid ducks.  Upon arrival at Cathcart Park, I spotted a Canvasback X Redhead male (females are more difficult to pick out!).  Another observer saw several more upriver later in the afternoon.  Too distant for the camera though.

As well, a Ring-necked X Redhead was here.  The open water was farther offshore, so it was not too close.

The male Ruddy Duck was also here.

I went as far as Guthrie Park, Corunna this day.  There was not much at Corunna this time around.  

The local Trumpeter Swan was in close.

Wednesday night we received quite a bit of snow, so I stayed home until afternoon.  Although a sunny day for the most part, there was not much to see along the river.  I cut in on Pointe Line, and came across some of the Sandhill Cranes that have been spending the winter in the area.

Today, I did not get going until late morning, but headed in the southerly direction for a change.  There is a lot less snow along Lake Erie!

I went for a walk at McGeachy Pond, where the lake was mostly ice.  

However, a few Redhead ducks were in an open spot.

Eight Sandhill Cranes were circling to the north, but out of range for the camera.

Mounds of ice along the shoreline as one would expect, but there was one spot that formed a mini grotto.

The local Northern Mockingbird was right near the tower today.

It must be getting desperate, trying to consume those non-native berries!

I then headed through Shrewsbury and got a glimpse of the wintering Virginia Rail.  There is a perpetual open water spot where it likes to hang out.

I did walk the campground in Rondeau Park, but it was virtually birdless!  I saw a flock of a dozen House Finches, and that was it!

There was lots of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings along the paved roads today as I worked my way home.

Early Winter Birding: Some Highlights

 The past few days have been winter-like for a change.  Not much in the way of snow around here, but more seasonal temperatures.  The northerly winds have made for some short walks!

There are not many "land birds" around this winter, but the cold and snow recently has helped to concentrate what few are around.

On Sunday, I made some rounds in the Rondeau area.  It was one of the better birding days of late.  I started at Rondeau Park for some short walks.  I have had the urge to do along walk out marsh trail, but it has been too windy on that side of the park.  So, I just checked the start of the trail which has harboured some birds.  The Ruby-crowned Kinglet was still flitting around, and I caught a glimpse of the Common Yellowthroat that has been there for some time.

I walked the campground, but it was quiet for birds, which has been the case for the most part.

While there, I got word that a Harris's Sparrow was found along Stefina Line.  I bypassed that spot for the time being and went to McGeachy Pond at Erieau.  There were not many birds, but the Northern Mockingbird was still taking advantage of various berries.

After seeing it further along the trail, I headed back to the parking lot.  I saw Steve at the end of the trail, and he sent a message that he was looking at the mockingbird.  What?  Obviously there was a second one!  I only got a glimpse of that one.

I then headed over to east of Blenheim to look for the Harris's Sparrow.  It took a few minutes for it to show, but it was there.  Photo conditions were not ideal from my position.

It was hanging out with a large number of White-crowned Sparrows.  Harris's Sparrows quite often accompany White-crowned Sparrows.  The one I found at Hillman Marsh a few years ago was the same deal.  As was the one along Gore Road many years ago.

While there, I got a glimpse of the Northern Shrike in the distance.  Seems every winter we have one there, but it is an ideal spot with hawthorns, etc.

Monday I looked at the St. Clair River.  It seemed to be getting a little better for birds.  Along the Chenal Ecarte, I saw another Pied-billed Grebe.

Tuesday, I did quite a bit of driving around, mostly to no avail!  Further south along the Chenal Ecarte, I found some more Pied-billed Grebes.  Must be quite a few around!  Also saw a Green-winged Teal in the same area directly west of town, which was nice for this time of year around these parts.

Wednesday, I looked at the Sarnia area, and upper St. Clair River.  There was a lot to look at in the way of gulls and ducks.  I did not take any photos this day, as nothing caught my eye.

I did get some "year" birds such as Glaucous Gull, Iceland Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull.  I sorted through a lot of ducks and gulls, but nothing spectacular showed.  Maybe I did not look hard enough, as a Harlequin Duck was reported off Canatara Park west end not long after I left!  However, conditions were brutal there with the stiff cold wind, and lots of slush ice.

The St. Clair River was quite full of slush ice, finally.  More seasonal-like.  There was quite a concentration of gulls and ducks off the head of Stag Island.  Most were Herring Gulls and Long-tailed Ducks.  There were well-over 2000 Long-tailed Ducks in view there.  But again, I could not find anything of note.

Today, I headed down Rondeau way again.  It was just too cold to do much walking, but skies were cloudless for a change.  I had to take advantage of it!

First spot was Erieau.  With the Bay frozen, duck are at the channel area or on the lake.  First thing in the morning on a sunny day is not the best for viewing there, but I did get in a decent position to view a good portion of the ducks.

A few days ago, two Harlequin Ducks were present.  I searched for them, but only got a distant view on one today.  Later in the afternoon would have been better to view these, but I am never there later in the day.

I headed over to the park afterwards, but after just walking the north end of the campground, I drove around the rest of the time!  Just too cold.

The Hermit Thrush was still at the north end.  Seems it appears each time.  No Yellow-rumped Warblers this winter.  Or, at least none have been detected.

There were a few Black-capped Chickadees here and there, including this one roadside.

I briefly stopped at Keith McLean C. L. later.  There was a tiny bit of open water near the viewing tower where three Killdeer were hunkered down.  These guys seem to want to stick around!

*head just showing of the third at far left

The skies remained clear all day for a change.  That old moon was shining bright this evening!

There were some other decent sightings last Sunday, including this one.

Barred Owl

Blues, Valves, Odes, Moccasins, Birds

 Now that the month of May is almost at an end....already (!) I have been looking more at insects.  Some days have not been all that good as we have had excessive amounts of rain.

This past Sunday, I went for a long walk at Hillman Marsh after looking at the shorebird cell.  Nothing of note in the shorebird department, but it was worth a look.

Sandhill Crane

Lots of Least Skippers were along the dyke.

Among the thousands of Eastern Forktails, some Skimming Bluets were seen.

Monday was a rainy day to start.  I wanted to head up Sarnia way to look at some things, but I had to take my time waiting out the rain.  After it stopped, and was still cloudy, I walked Dow Wetlands.  A decent bird in the form of a Sedge Wren was singing in the grasses.  It was a first-of-year bird for me, not all that common around here.  But, we do get the odd ones sticking around to nest.  Too distant for a photo though.

Nearby I found this rather large leech enjoying a puddle.

I then took a chance to go for a walk at Blackwell Trails park, an old dump site within Sarnia.  Luckily, the sun had come out by then so that I could look for the rare Silvery Blue.  All I was seeing were duskywings, likely Wild Indigo.  Perhaps Columbine as well, but they were too fresh to know.

After considerable time, I caught site of one Silvery Blue, but it kept going out of sight.  I persevered, then, right on the trail I found one nectaring on White Clover!

At least I did not have to go off trail and collect some ticks like in past years!

This is the only known site in Lambton for this species.  They are more common farther north.  The  only other Lambton record is of a couple along McCallum Line back in 2014.

With so much rain, Red Cedars are rusting!

Juniper Rust (fungus)

Tuesday was another rainy day, so I did not do much, but got some things done at home.

Wednesday I decided to give Rondeau one more go before May ended.  It was actually a calm and pleasant day as I checked out various places.

I walked along the beach off south point trail hoping for some decent gull.  It is a good time of year for Laughing or Franklin's or even a Black-headed, but no luck there.  However, there were up to seven Little Gulls.  All were first cycles except for one adult.  For some reason I never attempted to get photos!

Various mussel shells (mussels are sometimes called valves), were along the beach.  Just some plain old mussels.

Plain-pocket

Ducks included a single Bufflehead and a single Long-tailed, both of which are lingering later there.  I only got on the Long-tailed too late....

Some late warblers, but not unusual, were a singles of Tennessee, Canada, and Wilson's.  I found up to seven Blackpolls as well.

One has to ask where are the cuckoos?  Not a single one.  Also, Red Knots seemed to have fallen off the map anymore.  Another one I remotely hoped for.

After Rondeau, I decided to head over to Wardsville Woods to look for odes.  Unfortunately, clouds rolled in as I approached, and then the rain started.  I waited it out for a while, then went for a walk.  The sun never came, but I did see a few odes.

Pretty sure one was a Cobra Clubtail, then a couple of Midland Clubtails, a couple of Twelve-spotted Skimmers, Widow Skimmer, Common Whitetail, and Eastern Pondhawk.

The female  Twelve-spotted was missing part of one wing, so it was really a Ten-spotted Skimmer!

I did find one Double-striped Bluet.

A spreadwing caught my eye, which may be an Amber-winged.  It is somewhat uncommon and I have never seen one.  I did not know it at the time, so did not get all the photos needed.  Nobody on iNaturalist is brave enough to even comment on it, so that has not been helpful.

It was disappointing due to the crazy weather, but of course the sun came out as I drove home!

Today I headed to north Lambton.  I had the urge to walk the L-Lake trail and adjacent NCC trail.  There were not as many birds as I had thought there would be, but it was a decent walk.  

Up to five Acadian Flycatchers (not unusual there) and a Cerulean were singing among others.  Highlight was a singing Connecticut Warbler, remaining unseen.

It was too early in the cool day for odes, but I did see a couple Aurora Damsels.

A Chalk-fronted Corporal was at the start of the trail.

I decided to go farther north and check out the Klondyke Sports Park. Recently a Northern Mockingbird was found here, so I wanted to see it!  I could not get one anywhere else yet this year, so this one had to do. Not the prettiest one though.

They are certainly not as regular as they used to be.  Been a long time since I have seen one in Lambton.

Also here, a Grasshopper Sparrow seemed to favour the tennis court fence area.  They likely nest across the road (Clay-colored Sparrow has been here in the past as well).  Seemed odd it was hanging out in a groomed multi-use park.  Perhaps it was desperate for a mate.

Not finished for the day, I next went to Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales for  a walk.  With all the excessive rain this spring, I knew to wear boots!  The Cedar Trail was flooded in about seven spots, some areas quite deep.

A few Racket-tailed Emeralds were flying.  I never realized how common these are everywhere until recently.  I find them in most suitable places.  Even saw one at Peers Wetland earlier in the week!

A basking Blanding's Turtle caught my eye at one point.

Pink Moccasins (Pink Ladies Slipper) are quite common here.  I did not realize how common, but then I am not usually here at this time of year.  I saw dozens of plants.

It was a cool, but pleasant day on a light north wind.  The mosquitoes were not bothersome at all!

Speaking of north winds, they often push such things as kites to the Lake Erie shoreline.  Go figure, a Mississippi Kite was photographed at McGeachy Pond this morning!