Summer At Blenheim and Piper at Erieau

 Today I had high hopes of seeing lots of birds. It is still a bit early, but there should have been a lot more birds than what I found at Rondeau Park today.  I covered quite a bit of ground!

I arrived quite early in order to hear some Whip-poor-wills and timber doodles.  As day broke, it was heavily overcast.

I heard a couple of Wood Thrushes, as well as an Ovenbird for first-of-years.

I did a quick check of Keith McLean C. L., but it was extremely windy by that time, and water levels were terribly high.  Hardly any birds!

I then ventured over to Erieau to walk the "rail trail".  The only new thing was a Blue-winged Warbler which did not want to be photographed.

One or two White-crowned Sparrows are still hanging on there.

It was off to Blenheim Lagoons.  Last evening, a young birder (along with his parents) from Wallaceburg found an adult male Summer Tanager along the fence!

I had not heard if it was seen again today, but there were several birders there upon my arrival.  I was informed that it was still present, albeit very elusive.

It took some time, but we had brief views of the handsome bird.

We usually see first year males or females in the spring, so this was nice to observe.  I think I have only seen one adult male before.  It was till showing a little bit of green in the wings, so not quite entirely in full adult plumage.

This past Friday I was at Rondeau.  First thing, Steve an I walked the north central block of the park.  We did encounter quite a few warblers at one point, including an Orange-crowned atop a tree.  I attempted photos....but I think it was trying to tell us something.

I took a long walk out the marsh trail to the half-way point.  There were some birds of interest, but none wanted their photo taken.....again!

I started off with a first-of-year Common Yellowthroat.  Shortly afterwards,  an Eastern Kingbird made an appearance.  It tied the early dates in the county except for one a number of years ago that seen on the 19th (eBird records only).

An early Warbling Vireo made an appearance not far from the late one I saw last fall.

Farther along, I encountered a flighty White-eyed Vireo.

Some Northern Yellow Warblers were along the way.  For some reason, quite a few came in this year quite early all over.

Next day, I started at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing of note, so I continued on to Blenheim.  The weather got crappier as I went!

An early Wilson's Phalarope was at Blenheim lagoons.  Conditions were terrible with drizzle and fog and wind.

Since I was that far, I continued on to Erieau where a Piping Plover was on the beach of the tip of the Rondeau spit.  Two had been found the previous evening there.

Only one remained, but it took a while to find it.  It was too far off to try for a photo.  This bird appeared unbanded.

Here is a photo of another at Rondeau in the past.

Sunday was a rather nice day.  I started at Mitchell's Bay on the south shore nature trail.  A Black-crowned Night-Heron was right near the parking lot.

There was not much out on the lake.

In the afternoon, I took a walk at Reid C. L.

Large-flowered Bellwort was coming along nicely, albeit a very common plant.

Also looked at the Twinleaf patch.

Surprisingly, not much in the way of butterflies.

American Painted-Lady

Yesterday, I went a little later in the morning to Mitchell's Bay.  Still not much in the way of birds!

Turtles were taking advantage of the warm sun.

Next couple of days are going to be rather cold.  Par for the course this spring.....one extreme to the next!

Some Long Walks and This and That

 Not really much to report recently, but things are coming along.  Did not have much to photograph the last few days!

Friday I spent time at Rondeau, but it was terribly quiet for birds, and the weather was not very nice.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I did see my first Blue-headed Vireo of the year, but like most birds I encountered, it was not photogenic!

Saturday, I had the urge to head down into Essex County.  I did the long walk at Hillman Marsh.  Just the usual stuff, but one is always hopeful for something of interest.

I also visited Kopegaron Woods west of Wheatley.  I seldom go there, but it is sometimes a hotspot for birds.  Also good for forest wildflowers, although I did not take time to photograph much.  It was quite gloomy at the time!

Wood Anemone

I then spent an hour sitting at Wheatley Harbour, where there was quite a bit of action.  Only thing of note was an immature Little Gull that flew east with some Bonaparte's.

It was cloudy all morning, but by the time I got up to Mitchell's Bay, the sun was out and it was quite warm.  I walked the south shore nature trail.  A Bald Eagle was motionless in a tree the whole time, allowing a photo op.

Monday, was a calm sunny day, so I had to take advantage of it at Rondeau Park.  It was still very quiet for birds, but some first-of-years were tallied.  I walked about 6 km out marsh trail.  Rails are in, including Virginia and Sora.

I had hoped to come across a Least Bittern, but it was not to be!  Certainly some are out there.

Common Gallinules are in, and I encountered three.

One of the White-throated Sparrows posed quite nicely at one point.

Lots of American Painted-Lady were fluttering by.  This one appeared a bit faded though.

It was a day of long walks!  I figured I walked about 22 km in the park.  

I ended up going out south point trail west, and out the south beach as well.  A Piping Plover had been discovered out south beach, so I had to go take a look.  We kept our distance though, as always.

Yes, this bird was favouring its left leg.  Apparently that was noted in Florida, and it healed to some degree.  The bird seems to get around OK.

Most Piping Plovers we see are banded, so their origin can be traced.  This one apparently nested at North Manitou Island, Michigan (Sleeping Bear Dunes) last year.  It spent the winter in Florida.

They nested on the Rondeau beaches historically, and too bad that could not happen again.  There are too many threats out there in this day and age (mainly human).

As with many of these, they are given names.  Our current plover is a female, named LeVel.  Hopefully she makes it safely to a nesting site!

Today was uneventful for the most part, depending where one was situated.  So, nothing to report at my end!

While out south beach, I noted a number of freshwater mussels, as always.  The specimens here are quiet worn and bleached due to wave action.

Most were Fatmucket, which I alluded to before as the most common there.

I noted another, which is Wabash Pigtoe.  Not much of it left, but enough to determine ID.

Wabash Pigtoe is a considered a vulnerable species in Ontario.

Also, I might mention, that a few years ago I picked up a fossilized mussel.  I do not remember where now, but it was obvious at the time as to what it was.

Once we get through this current weather, things should really pick up by this weekend!

Earth Day Weekend Wanderings

 Friday was a bit slow for birding, so after looking around, I went up to Reid CA for another long walk.  It is a fabulous place for many things, including plants. I photographed a few common ones.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica flowers can vary in colour quite a bit.  I found this one which stood out.  It was the only one of this shade.

I did find Harbinger of Spring in a completely different spot of the property.  Naturally, the flowers are long gone at this point.  I think animals eat them, as I could see the stems.

Here are some other plants.

Red Trillium

Large White Trillium

Early Meadowrue

Bloodroot

Virginia Waterleaf

Sharp-lobed Hepatica (white form)

Yesterday, I went out to Mitchell's Bay.  The weather was a little iffy, but the rain held off for a walk and tour.  The first Yellow Warblers have already arrived, and I encountered three along the trail.  However, none did want to be photographed.

I include this one from the past.

In fact, nothing did!  Lighting was horrible anyway.  

Yellow-headed Blackbirds are now around and I saw one at the end of Angler Line.  More were a concession south in a field, but I did not check them out.

A Rusty Blackbird for consolation:

At Peers Wetland near home, the Purple Martins are now occupying the nest house.

A Greater Yellowlegs was foraging, a bit distant, in the south pond area.

I did see a Wilson's Snipe, but it was sitting on a dead tree in the middle of the wetland.  Seemed like an odd spot.  A bit too far to photograph though. Try and find it in this photo!

Last evening was the Lambton Wildlife Annual Meeting and dinner at Camlachie.  It was an enjoyable affair.  The bucket raffle is always a highlight, and I managed to come home with a hoarde of stuff!  I only spent $10.00, but a gas card for $25.00 was certainly handy!

Guest speaker was Jessica Linton of Natural Resource Solutions, talking about the re-introduction of the Mottled Duskywing at Pinery PP.  I had met Jessica a couple of years ago when I gave her a tour of Reid CA with regards to the Northern Oak Hairstreak.

Today was a Rondeau day.  Things were still very quiet, but Steve found a Louisiana Waterthrush on Bennett which was singing nicely for us.

I headed down to south point trail and cut out to the light beacon.  I contemplated looking at the beach, and decided to take a quick look.  Good thing I did!  A Piping Plover was huddled up in the cobble.

It was my second self-found Piping Plover in the park.  This one was unbanded!  That is somewhat unusual in this day and age.

I put out the alert, and others in the park managed to come along to see it.  Later, two Black Vultures were found on Rondeau Estates Line, but I spent too much time getting there.  I did not see them.  Despite driving around (too much!), I never did find them.  Lots of Turkey Vultures were out and about today though.  However, I was happy just to find the piper.

I felt abandoned, as everyone bailed and went to the see the White Wagtail near Barrie, lol!

I forgot to post this photo the other day, where erosion continues on south point.  Soon, I think the shoreline will be at the trail!  The campground office used to be here, but would be well out in the lake today!

Recently, the storm surge pushed sand onto the trail.

This month reminds of a special time in my history.  It was when I was only about 3 1/2 years old that my father took me to see the locomotive 7470 at the old sugar factory. I wrote about this a couple of times before since I discovered this thing still operates in New Hampshire at the Conway Scenic Railroad!