Some Nice Winter Finches and More

 Looks like winter is here to stay this week.  It will be interesting to see what kind of winter we get.  There is talk of a "real" winter!  Maybe there will be ice on the St. Clair River, but not like in the old days when it froze smooth.

Uncle Murray's iceboat at Sombra

This past week, birds were fewer and farther between as one would expect.

Last Sunday, I ventured up to Ipperwash and area to look for winter finches and other birds.  In particular, I wanted to see Bohemian Waxwings, but my usual bad luck prevailed and I did not see any!  Everyone else seems to come across them though.

I stuck it out and finally came across three Pine Grosbeaks feeding on winterberry.  They were in a very difficult position, so as usual I could not get good photos.  These chunky finches are always nice to see!

Certainly my favourite species of finch.

I spent a little time at Ausable River Cut CA where there were no birds to look at, but there were mussels of course.

Three-ridge (most common)

Spike

On the way home, I encountered a female Ring-necked Pheasant.  These creatures are difficult to find anymore.

Tuesday I went to Rondeau, but it was extremely quiet for birds!

Thursday, a Fox Sparrow showed up in the yard.  It is still present at time of this writing.  Would be a nice winter bird, if it decides to stay.

Friday, it was back to Rondeau.  There were more birds, but not many, and nothing of note.  My camera was acting up again anyway!

Today, it was finally calm after some brutal winds this past week.  I went to Hillman Marsh first thing for a walk.  Lots of mud showing!  Hillman Creek has dried up!

Eighteen Sandhill Cranes were near the the Mersea Rd. 2 west bridge.

I then joined an Essex County Field Naturalist outing at Wheatley Harbour.  It was just a nice and different thing to do on a gloomy day.

There was nothing of note, but nice to join in with some people I know.  Lots of gulls, but no Short-tailed!

The old Sombra ferry is still in the harbour at Hike Metals.  Not sure what the deal is, but they have done some work on her in the past year.  It is supposed to serve Bob-lo Island.

Here are some old photos of the Daldean, which was my grandfather's pride and joy.

Morgan Dalgety working on the ferry at Erieau.  Other photo at Sombra during winter

Here is one photo of it being built at Erieau I found in an old family album.

Winter birding season starts on Monday, so we will see what it brings.

Saturday Morning Around Ipperwash

 I decided to head up to Ipperwash on Saturday morning for a change.  Things have been quiet lately, and it was somewhat quiet there too!  There have been some good rare birds in the province lately, but nothing to speak of in my area.  I have little subject matter for this blog lately it seems.

Ipperwash is always an interesting place, as you have the lake to look at, and the dunes and swales just inland.  There is quite a bit of Crown land one can explore, but lots of it is inaccessible.  As well, there is the old Ipperwash Provincial Park, which of course is not accessible to the public.  In my early years of birding it was still open, and I recall finding my "lifer" Bohemian Waxwings there.  It is a good area for winter finches needless to say.

I started Saturday with a lakewatch at Beach 1, at the "MNR Parking Lot".  It was not an active day on the lake, however one can only try.

After watching the lake for a while, I checked the parking lot area and trails.  At one point I heard a Pine Grosbeak, but was unable to see it.  A few Common Redpolls were flying over, but no crossbills on this day.  And, no waxwings or Evening Grosbeaks!

I then went down to Beach 4 and looked around.  It was quiet, and only bird of interest was a Dunlin flying towards Kettle Point.

It was then on to Beach 2, where I met up with Scott Connop and James Holdsworth and had a nice 'visit'.  Scott is the veteran birder of Lambton County, and much information to share.  Some raptors were moving including Bald Eagles and Rough-legged Hawks.  A lonely Double-crested Cormorant flew over at one point.

While there, Pine Grosbeaks were reported at the MNR parking lot by Marta Poludnik.

I then opted to head up to Ausable River Cut CA for a quick look, passing by beach 1.  I did have a couple of Evening Grosbeaks fly over, but otherwise it was rather quiet.

The most amusing thing was a swimming squirrel!

Not sure what this creature had in mind!

I decided to give the MNR parking lot one more try, and it was somewhat successful, as I found the reported Pine Grosbeaks (2) right away!  Lighting was horrible though, and these appeared to be females.

It was a nice treat, as I had never photographed this species before believe it or not.  Other times in the distant past, I have only observed them and did not have a camera on hand.

One of the berries they like to eat is Winterberry Holly, Ilex verticillatea.  There is an ample supply of this deciduous shrub in the swales around Ipperwash.

These shrubs area either female or male.

Pine Grosbeaks are found all across the boreal region of Canada, and subspecies are known.  The one we find here is Pinicola enucleator leucurus.

They are certainly hit and miss.  For example, today, a number were reported at Ipperwash for some lucky birders.

I found not a single waxwing on my visit to Ipperwash on Saturday!  Most Bohemians seemed to have moved through in search of food, but some of these nomadic birds can still be found if one is in the right spot.

These birds are moving south in big numbers related to food availability--they know something we do not!  There is not much food in our area, so these birds will keep moving.  It will likely be a quiet winter, and certainly Christmas Bird Counts will be somewhat quiet in our area.

It is interesting that I noticed a lack of birds at Algonquin Park during my visit in September (compared to previous visits).  I thought is was an indication that many birds had already moved out, and that birds would be motoring south in big numbers.

Redpolls have been reported in big numbers this fall, and it seems I find some each day with the little birding I get in locally!  I have yet to see a Hoary this year though, but perhaps this coming weekend I will make an effort.  Hopefully the weather will co-operate, as it certainly did not on Sunday.  We will have to see, as it was indeed worse than what was forecast. Sunday was not productive at all.

Friday in the Rondeau Area and Finch Mania at Ipperwash

 The weather has been quite balmy so far this weekend.  Often it can be quiet for birding under these conditions, however I found it fairly good!  I did Rondeau and area on Friday, and Ipperwash on Saturday.

The lakewatches have been a bust recently, so I went straight to south point trail on Friday morning.  Along the way, I heard Evening Grosbeaks beside the campground, and soon after getting on the trail, some flew over.

Lots of White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and kinglets were still around, and Yellow-rumped Warblers were quite high in numbers.  Other warblers included a single Blackpoll and a Nashville.

After south point, I headed up to the campground and met up with Steve and Craig.  Along the way, American Robins littered Lakeshore Road and even more were in the campground.  A few more Evening Grosbeaks were heard around the campground.

This Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was working the campground, and perhaps it may stick around for the winter, as one or two usually do!

Many sparrows in the campground as usual, including Chippies.

Lots of Eastern Bluebirds were migrating.  (Still waiting for a Mountain!). 

After Rondeau, I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. and found the two Hudsonian Godwits.  As mentioned previously, it has been a good fall for sightings of this species.  I did not approach too closely as to not flush them.

A stop at Blenheim Lagoons was also in order where I found lots of gulls in the first pond.  Two adult Lesser Black-backed were among them, and certainly no Franklin's....

Shorebirds included lots of Dunlin, a number of Greater Yellowlegs, and a 'latish' Semipalmated Sandpiper.

There was a good variety of ducks, including a female Long-tailed, somewhat unusual for the lagoons.

Butterflies were out in the balmy weather including both sulphurs, Eastern Comma, and Common Checkered-Skipper.

Today, a change in scenery was in order.  Recently, there has been finch mania at Ipperwash, along with some Bohemian Waxwings.  Yesterday a Lark Sparrow was seen as well!  I had not been up this way much in a long time, so it was nice to do some birding up that way.

Birds, especially finches, follow the Lake Huron shoreline during fall migration and Ipperwash has always been a hotspot.  I remember Alf Rider telling me years ago how productive this area is during fall migration, especially during finch irruptive years.

I was the first to arrive at the now-famed MNR parking lot area.  (Actually I have always known it as a good birding location).  Off the bat, a flock of Evening Grosbeaks went by.  I took a quick look at the lake (which was dead!), then headed back to the parking lot.  In short order, one of my target birds of the day flew over.  Hearing it first, I recognized it as a Pine Grosbeak, then this male flew directly overhead at close range.

Soon, flock after flock of Evening Grosbeaks, siskins, redpolls flew over, and even a few Red Crossbills.  All easily recognized by their flight calls.

I was joined by several other birders.

Evening Grosbeaks (in the morning)

Not many waxwings today, and unfortunately no Bohemians.

While there, we got word that Mike Bouman had found a Townsend's Solitaire way down at beach 4 area.  He soon lost sight of it, so we waited it out at the north location.

Oddly, it seemed, we heard a whistle note several times towards the beach side.  James Holdsworth suggested Townsend's Solitaire.  Seemed right to me!  Josh Bouman played an audio of a solitaire which matched what we were hearing.  We heard it a few more times and walked towards the sound, but could not get a visual.  It was soon quiet, but as a bit of time passed, we got word that the Townsend's Solitaire was again found at the same location near beach 4.

Needless to say, we rushed down there and eventually saw it after some searching.

This whole area is good for Townsend's Solitaire, including Pinery P.P.  Back on 9 November 2003, we found one in Pinery after an excellent day of birding along the lakeshore starting in Sarnia.  It was late afternoon, so it was a nice way to end that day!  

Pinery has had several solitaires (not all listed in eBird) in early November.  They are mostly in the tight window of November 5-9!  So, the sighting today was right on schedule and was not totally surprising to me.

I am sure there had to be two different solitaires today at Ipperwash, as the locations were over 1 km apart and timing seemed to overlap.  The bird at beach 4 did not go anywhere in my opinion--it just was out of sight for some time.

Just before I left beach 4 area, a flock of White-winged Crossbills flew over to complete the finch tally.

Here is today's eBird list:

https://ebird.org/checklist/S75951048

Certainly turned out to be a good day, even though I did not find a Bohemian Waxwing (a target of the day), but the Townsend's Solitaire Trumped (no pun intented) that.  

Eastern Comma

Finches and Waxwings!

I certainly lucked out today. I had hoped to get Bohemian Waxwing and perhaps Pine Grosbeak for the year by going up to Pinery Provincial Park today. It didn't take long!

I started at Point Edward at first light. Some Black Scoters were in close, but not much else.

Brett Woodman from Kitchener happened to stop by as he was visiting relatives nearby. I met him a year ago there. He was keen on going to Pinery, so off we went.

We started along the river beside the campground. This is one of the better places in November for finches and waxwings. We first noted Common Redpolls flying over.

It didn't take long, and we spotted three Bohemian Waxwings. They were a bit distant, but nice to see none-the-less. A short while later, I heard the sound of a Pine Grosbeak. I immediately saw one alight the top of a Red Cedar. Then three more made an appearance. They flew right over our heads and landed in a tree nearby.

Next stop was the visitor centre feeders. Another female Pine Grosbeak!

Checking my records, it has been about 14 years since I have seen a Pine Grosbeak. That is a long dry spell!

We then checked the lake, but not much was out there. There were a couple of distant Common Loons.

Over at Burley Bridge, we encountered a large flock of Bohemian Waxwings. At least twently were feeding on wild grapes. We got close up views there, and some photos.

While there, a flock of twenty finch-type birds flew over quickly. I wasn't sure at the time, but playing recorded sound at home, made me sure that they were White-winged Crossbills.

Redpolls flew over in small groups all morning, but they seemed to be motoring on south.

Strangely, we did not encounter Evening Grosbeaks, but some have been reported lately.

Upon arriving home, I got an email that some Evening Grosbeaks were at Rondeau Park. I am doing some serious birding there tomorrow, so I am confident that I will get some then.