Barred Christmas Gift and Recent Outings

 On Christmas Day, I had some time to get out and view an owl that had been found recently in south Chatham-Kent.  It is not often we get a Barred Owl in Chatham-Kent, so when one has the opportunity to see one, it is a privilege.

I had tried to see this Barred Owl a couple of times previously, but it obviously hid well.  This third attempt I found it in short order!  It was a nice gift on an otherwise gloomy day.  Lighting was very bad.

I have only seen a couple of others in our county.  The first was pretty neat as it was found on the Christmas Bird count at Rondeau Park.  That one stayed several weeks.

A couple of years ago, one frequented Shrewsbury, being seen in several spots in the village.  It was always fun trying to find out where it was hiding!  Note how puffed up this one appeared.

A number of years ago, one was at John E. Pearce Provincial Park.  The day I found it, the owl still had a meal in its talons.  Obviously another owl!

I have seen or heard many further north in the province, such as the ones at Awenda Provincial Park.  This one was right in my campsite!

And, of course Algonquin Park.

The Barred Owl has to be my favourite.  Its unique call "who cooks for you" is certainly fun to hear.  As seen in the above photos, owls can puff themselves up in certain cases.  They are mostly feathers!

Boxing Day, I spent the morning along the St. Clair River, then through the countryside a bit.  There was actually a lot more things to see on the river than in previous visits.  But, a far cry from what it used to be.

At one point, there was a bear sighting.

Algoma Bear

It was Algoma's newest vessel!

Cathcart Park seems to be decent spot in recent times.  Gulls are collecting in the shallows, as well as ducks.

Swans can be numerous here as well.  Yesterday I saw three species here!

Tundra, Trumpeter, Mute

Least common in our area is the Trumpeter Swan.  There were two here.

A stop at my favourite walking place along the Kimball Road revealed some Eastern Bluebirds.  We usually see them at this location in winter.  Photos are horrible, but then so has the weather.  It has been very gloomy the last few days, and impossible for getting decent photos.

A Red-tailed Hawk was also here.

Just as I left, two Common Ravens were flying over  Kimball Road.  Not unusual in Lambton anymore.

Today, I needed a change in scenery, so headed into Elgin County.  It was still gloomy, but a little brighter at times.

My first stop was Port Glasgow.  I spent the better part of an hour there, as there was a lot of gull activity. Gulls were heading east. Out on the lake I noted a few Common Loons moving.

Farther east, I stopped by John E. Pearce Provincial Park south of Wallacetown.  I walked most of it, but it was rather quiet.  Only thing of note was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

Scene in the woods along Lorne Spicer trail

Along one trail I noticed this Isabella Tiger Moth (aka wooly bear) caterpillar rolled up in a ball.  Must have been trying to keep warm!

A couple of Red Squirrels were chattering nearby.

Previously along Talbot Trail, I noticed two Golden Eagles soaring in a westerly direction at McColl Cemetery.  No chance for a photo though.

After Pearce, I worked my way home and went for one more walk at another favourite spot, namely Wardsville Woods.  It was really quiet for birds!  Better in early summer when I can look for dragonflies!

Low Water and Recent Rambles

 Been quite uneventful for birds lately.  Looks like a quiet winter!

Of interest this week, water levels are the lowest they have been in years.  Lots of mud exposed!

This past Saturday I made some rounds locally.  At Mitchell's Bay lots of mud exposed along this shallow lake.

Roberta Stewart Wetland has much mud showing for a change.  Here is a view looking at the Snye towards Walpole Island.

Quite a few raptors are around right now, including Northern Harriers.

Sunday was a very nice day so I just went for a drive into Middlesex and Elgin.  I walked Wardsville Woods.  There were a few birds there to keep up one's interest.

Here is a view of the frozen pond where I find some nice insects in the summer:

From there, I headed down Furnival Road straight to Port Glashow marina.  This can be an interesting spot at times!  Gulls congregate in the marina (no Black-tailed  this time!), and to the west is a nice natural area where one can walk.

White-throated Sparrow

Here is a view looking west.  There are scenic bluffs both to the east and west.

Looks like eyes are a delicacy for some scavengers!  This Freshwater Drum (we called them Sheephead when I was young) was recently washed up.

I continued west from here, then home.  Along the way I stopped at a field where some raptors were hunting.

Monday I spent some time on the St. Clair River.  It was foggy, and then got even foggier!

Here is a scene at Cathcart Park.  Mud was exposed here when a laker went by.  Lots of Common Mergansers were at this location.  Well over 200!

Algoma Niagara

Today was very calm for a change, and it gave me a chance to walk out Rondeau's marsh trail.  The Bay was still partly frozen, but was fogged over due to the unseasonably warm temps.  However, visibility was good along the trail.

One can see the low water situation here.  Lots of mud.  Too bad shorebirds were not around at this time!

Nothing unusual popped up in the way of birds though, but it was a nice long walk for fresh air and exercise.

Some bracket fungus along the way:

After walking to the half way point and back, I took a quick lap around the campground.  Once again very quiet.  I hope things are better on Sunday for the bird count!  There were lots of juncos, but that was it.

I would have stayed longer, but had things to do in the afternoon at home.

Sunset over Walpole Island

Some Autumn Birding and an Asian Visitor Stirs Thing Up

 This past Friday I went down to Rondeau Park early to check things out.  I figured there should be lots of birds.  And there was!  It was a cool and crisp morning, just the way I like it.

I mainly walked south point trail (east) and ended up spending quite a bit of time since there were so many birds.  Mind you, most were Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Between SPT and the north end of Harrison trail, I ended up with over 300 butterbutts!

Other warblers included Blackpoll which tripped the filter early on.  I ended up with 12.  

There was also Tennessee, Nashville, Magnolia and Black-throated Blue.  Five Northern Parula was also a good number.

Lots of sparrows too, but I could not turn up anything out of the ordinary in that department.

A lot of birds were streaming west along the lakeshore, and noticeably at the washout area.

A quick look at Keith McLean C. L. did not turn up anything of note.  A couple of Fiery Skippers were along the trail.

Saturday was quite boring and I did not go far.  Some meadowlarks along Meadowvale Line caught my attention for a bit.  Seemed appropriate with the "meadow" name!

Eastern Comma along the way

Sunday I needed a change in scenery and went to Point Pelee.  It was not too interesting!

Purple Finches seemed to have come in at various locations in the last few days.

I stopped by Hillman marsh for a walk around the shorebird cell, looking for butterflies.  Part of the conservation area is closed to activities, as an aggressive non-native water plant was found recently.

Common checkered-skippers were the butterfly of the day.  I counted over 40 around the cell.

Some Fiery Skippers were flitting around as well and did not really want to be photographed.

Needless to say, some Common Buckeyes were around.

And, a Common Painted-Lady.

As well as, Bronze Copper which was very fresh.

There are not many flowers this time of year, but some goldenrod is still blooming which attracts a few insects.

Oblique Streaktail

Bramble Mason Wasp

The non-native Common Drone Fly was quite abundant.

Another non-native insect was this Chinese Mantid.

Today, for lack of any other ideas (birding has been slow for the most part recently!), I went up to Forest lagoons.  There were not as many birds as the last visit.  I was hoping to turn up a LeConte's Sparrow, but that was not to be.  We have had them there in the past.

Quite a bit of waterfowl, including three early Tundra Swans.

I headed back towards home, and stopped by Marthaville Habitat as per usual.  While there, I got word that a Black-tailed Gull was at Port Glasgow on Lake Erie.  Good grief, here we go again!  I always go in the opposite direction when something of note decides show up.  I was not going to miss this one, so I zig-zagged my way down to Port Glasgow.

Luckily, the bird was still in position when I arrived.  Not real close, but enough to get details.

This bird was present a couple of days earlier, but mis-identified at the time.  Luckily, someone noticed the photo and a correction was made.

The Black-tailed Gull is a resident of eastern Asia, especially Japan.  There is one other record for Ontario, and ironically it was just up the shoreline at Port Burwell a number of years ago.  I tried to see that one the next day after it was reported, but it never showed (of course).

As always, these rarities draw many birders and familiar faces.  The social atmosphere is always nice!

Very pleasant weather today, so it was nice to be out and about.