Splashdown to Marbled Godwits

 We finally have had some nice warm days, although yesterday morning was miserably cold at first.

This past Friday morning I was out to Mitchell's Bay.  A lone Tundra Swan has been hanging around, and I do not think it is entirely well.  It was still there yesterday.

A bit of a surprise was a flyover of six Snow Geese.

In the evening, likely many of us watched the historic and picture-perfect splashdown of the space capsule Artemis II.  Humans got to circle the moon for the first time since the early 1970's during the Apollo program!  I remember the Apollo program (now I am aging myself!) and found that fascinating at the time.

I watched the recent event live on the NASA YouTube channel.  I just took some screen shots with my phone.

Next day, I headed down to Rondeau Park quite early.  Target was a Louisiana Waterthrush that had been sighted the day before.  I found it right away in the early morning light singing away in a slough.  It was really too early for photos, as it was not very light, but I tried anyway.

I did a lot of walking that day as it was a nice sunny and calm day for a change.  Later, I walked out the marsh trail to the half way point.

I saw three species of butterflies, including a Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral and an American Painted-Lady.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. before going home to see both yellowlegs, and first-of-year Pectoral Sandpipers.

They finally got a burn done on the property.  They have been trying for two years!

Yesterday, as alluded to above, it was terribly cold and windy at Mitchell's Bay first thing.  There were not many birds in the uncomfortable weather.  The Tundra Swan was in close.

In the afternoon, it warmed up considerably as the sun was out, so I went for a drive along the St. Clair River.  Loons are heading north this time of year, and one can see many.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau Park in anticipation of some good birding.  Overnight, there was a brisk southwest wind with rain, and the temperature rose dramatically.  Surprisingly, it was rather quiet for birds.

I did get the first Purple Martins finally, as they arrived yesterday.

The park was full of Red Admirals.

Some plants are just emerging from the leaf litter, and I noticed this Bloodroot at one point.

While there, I got word that some early Marbled Godwits had set down in the Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  They were found by the "morning shift", which used to be the "afternoon shift"!  LOL.

I headed in that direction since there was not much else to do.

They were still present upon my arrival.

Several birders came by to see the godwits.  It was nice to talk to some long-time fellow birders after a long winter.

While there, I caught sight of a Variegated Meadowhawk. First time I have seen one in a few years.  They are not all that common at times.

As well, a Blanding's Turtle was lurking in the weeds.

Now that we are in mid-April, we will see lot of birds coming in.  The excitement of spring migration has now begun!

Hillman Sandhills

Duck Clouds

Today seemed too predictable--few birds!  (Even though I probably saw over 100,000 birds).  The weather was just too nice.  I went to Pelee instead of Rondeau today.  Probably a better choice as reports from Rondeau were essentially entitled "Birdless".

I arrived at the Tip after being a bit delayed by dense fog in the Wallaceburg area, but that made no difference.  Marianne Reid, Bob Cermak and Mike Tate were staking out the Tip upon my arrival. 

Many Red-breasted Mergansers were moving around (35,000+??).  I only saw two Common Loons and no apparent Pacific Loon.

Merganser Mess

Just after Marianne left for parts unknown, I spotted an adult Little Gull coming down the west side.  Been a while since I have seen one of those.  They have been quite scarce this year.

On the walk back, I caught a glimpse of the red morph Screech-owl.

I lingered longer than the others then walked up the west side trail a bit.  A huge number of scaup (+others) has been hanging around.  It is estimated around 60,000 with the bulk being Greater.  At one point they all got up for an impressive sight.  I only had the big lens on, so you can see only a small fraction of them!

Some ducks were in close north of the Serengetti tree.

Scoters and Scaups

(Hey Josh, there's a Tufted Duck in there somewhere!)

Very few things flying over today, but I did hear a couple of Common Redpolls and some siskins.

I then headed up to the VC and met up with Marianne where we checked out the group campground.  Campers were absent of course, but so were the birds!  I think we heard a Chickadee (Pelee Chickadee that is).  

We then walked behind the VC and heard a Northern Cardinal.  Wow!

Lone TV

My next stop was De Laurier and the old maintenance field.  A few birds were back there including a Yellow-rumped Warbler and various sparrows.  Another redpoll flyover !  I saw one Green Darner dragonfly there.

The red morph Screech-owl at the De Laurier location was not visible.  However last Thursday Mike Bouman was lucky enough to get a shot of it.

My next stop was the south end of NW Beach parking lot.  In fact I walked the whole area up into Sanctuary.  As I walked over, I heard what was perhaps a Red Crossbill fly over.  It was not the typical flight call, but I could not pin it to any other bird.  

A few birds around plus about 5 Green Darners.

Highlight was a very fresh-looking Red Admiral.  Getting late!  It was the only butterfly of the day, but later I found out Marianne had a Common Buckeye in the same spot!

I checked out the mud at Hillman, but the shorebirds were near the bridge on Mersea Rd. 2.  There were lots of Killdeer and Dunlin.  Lighting was bad,, but that is all I made out.

Up the road I checked out 4 Long-eared Owls roosting in the cedars.  They have been there in past years as well.

I stopped at Mitchell's Bay on the way home.  Lots of gulls but no shorebirds.  On Friday, a friend photographed a Greater Yellowlegs (with bad leg) there.

Titanic Movement of Red Admirals

On this 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic highlight of the day was the migration of Red Admiral butterflies.  Although it rained most of the morning (birding was a bust today), by early afternoon it was evident that a mass migration of Red Admirals was underway.  I notice quite a few yesterday, but today they were absolutely everywhere.  The first spot I really noticed was when I walked the Marsh Trail (aka R/R) at Erieau.  I decided to walk the entire trail since there were many sparrows, etc. to look at.
All afternoon where-ever I went there was a constant easterly movement.  I birded Blenheim Lagoons with Mike Nelson and we noted the number there as well.  I noticed what I believe was a Question Mark as well.

I did not get home until 7 p.m. but noticed the Red Admirals all the way home.  About 50 were flying about my yard here when I arrived home.
I am not sure one can even begin to estimate the number in southern Ontario right now!

Lagoon Savannah Sparrow

Early this morning I arrived at Rondeau in anticipation of some good birding.  It was not to be.  In fact there were fewer birds than yesterday!  It poured rain most of the morning so that did not help.

Wet Woodcock

The Black-throated Green Warbler and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were still hanging around the same area.  At least 4 Pine Warblers were at the visitor centre with many Yellow-rumped.  There were a couple of other Pine Warblers elsewhere.

White-throated Sparrow:  "Singing in the Rain"

During the heavy rain, we resorted to driving the roads for a couple of hours.  Not many birds, so we looked at turtles, toads and frogs too.

Nothing new to report elsewhere.  Same birds were at Blenheim Lagoons.  We only got a brief look at the shorebirds before there were scared off by a Northern Harrier.  They never returned.

Pelee Grebes to Butterflies

Clear, crisp night

A very enjoyable day to be out!  Since it was going to be warm, I decided to venture down to Point Pelee and look for birds and butterflies.
I tried driving to the Tip since someone forgot to close the gate last night.  I knew it was supposed to be closed, but why not try?  I got booted out quickly, so I parked at the V.C. and walked.  A couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers were along the way.





 I cut in at Sparrow Field and on the lake I saw close to 100 Horned Grebes, some very close.

Horny Grebes

Down the east beach I saw some sparrows including Savannah.  Lots of Red Admirals in the butterfly department.

I birded around the Tip area for quite some time, then decided to head up West Beach Trail.  At the parking lot, I looked at all the ducks and picked out a big brown duck that I believed to be a female eider.  I assumed King, and looking at the field guide at home I am sure it was.  Sometimes Common can look similar at a distance.  I did not have a scope, but the bird was not too far out.  When I first saw it, the head was up, but it quickly folded back and went to sleep.  The birds slowly drifted away sleeping....

Ducks Galore

More Horned Grebes were on the west side as well.  I probably saw over 200 total for the day.  I was hoping to find an Eared Grebe today, but I guess I would need Josh Vandermeulen to help (!).
Up the west side trail there were a lot more Red Admirals.  I also came across 5 American Painted-Lady.  The first was quite worn, but others were fresh looking.







I walked through Tilden's Woods to put in time and there were several Yellow-rumped Warblers there.  The first Spring Azure of the day was present.

Spring Azure

Up at De Laurier I had another American Lady and Spring Azure.  I ate lunch with Steve Pike, Mike Mencotti, and Gerry Sniderman.  We talked about the Northern Bobwhite reported at Hillman yesterday.  Apparently it was only heard.  Maybe someone played a tape!  Seriously though, I mentioned that Walpole Island is the only place left in Ontario that wild birds likely exist.  They are extremely difficult to find anymore, but some are still present.

The Goodyear Blimp!

I stopped at Northwest Beach and had 3 more American Painted-Lady plus some Red Admirals.  Total for the day included about 80 Red Admirals in the park.  Minus one I hit with the car.

I made a quick stop in Hillman Marsh.  Lighting was bad but there were lots of Green-winged Teal.  About 15 Pectoral Sandpipers were in the weeds.

Eastern Phoebe

Louisiana in March!

Headed down to Rondeau.  As usual the skies were cold and gloomy, but we are used to it on weekends.  Plentiful Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets all over today.

Common Loons are showing up in numbers now and today was no exception.  Hundreds upon hundreds of Common and Red-breasted Mergansers were heading east on the lake.
Sparrows were scarce today, but a few Fox were around.  Later, I found a good-sized flock of Juncos in the campground.  One looked like a female Oregon.  Another had a white stripe on one wing.

A Yellow-rumped Warbler was also in the campground but likely a winter holdover.

I walked Spicebush Trail with Steve and Jim and right off the bat we heard the tell-tale chip of a Louisiana Waterthrush.  It got up and made a complete circle around us and went down in the slough.  It never co-operated for a photos though.  It was the first record any of us had in the month of March.  I think the earliest record for Rondeau is the 26th, but not sure, so this could be second earliest.  Spicebush is usually the first spot they show up every year.  I know Jim and I had one there early April last year.

At Erieau's McGeachy Pond, I found one of the local Northern Mockingbirds.  A few American Tree Sparrows were at the west end.

'Mocker'

I also saw the only butterfly of the day--a Red Admiral.  It did not co-operate either.  I think this is the earliest that I have had this species.

I started heading west afterwards and just kept going.  My car did not stop until I got to Point Pelee!  One of these days I will have to put a stop to this!
The onion field area had lots of Bonaparte's Gull and others on the ground.  I saw two Sandhill Cranes, then another single later.

In the park I walked West Beach Trail.  It was a pleasant walk, but not much in the way of birds.  The Park did lots of burning this past week or so, but the fire was not very hot.  They burned many of the junipers.
Out on the lake were lots of scaup and scoters, fairly close and also very far.  The lake was calm and viewing conditions were good.  All three types of scoters were present including lots of Black.  The Blacks were the ones that were making noise!

I did not go into Hillman due to lack of time, but I heard the Eurasian Teal was seen again today.
On the way home I checked Winter Line Wetlands (Curly Clark's) and many waterfowl present.  As well, four Pectoral Sandpipers were there (FOY).  Nearby, the fields were filling up with waterfowl by the hundreds.  Several species present.  Too bad it was late in the day.

At least the weather was better than forecast.......