Pinery Things To Rondeau Things

 A couple of days ago I headed up to Pinery Provincial Park.  It was a gorgeous day to be out looking for birds, or just going for a walk.  My goal was to look for a Bohemian Waxwing or two, as there had been an influx of waxwings a couple days previous.  However, they must have left!  I could not find any waxwing flocks. Neither could other birders.

photo from the past

Lately, Pinery has been sparse for birds, and this day was no exception.  However, I did manage to get a couple of "year" finches.  Flyovers included a Common Redpoll (very scarce this year even in the 'near' north), and a couple of Red Crossbills.  Although rare this far south, the crossbills have been widespread since last summer.  

photo from the past

It was no problem hearing the Red Crossbill, as I got my fill last September on the Algonquin trip where they were everywhere and elsewhere.

Algonquin Red Crossbill

A popular spot for birds is at P9 in Pinery.  Black-capped Chickadees expect to be fed there!  Although I had no offerings, the chickadees landed on my hand, and even my camera.

Nearby Red Squirrel

A look off P9 towards the birdless lake

I nice walk was along the river beside Riverside Campground.  I have good luck in the past along here, but it was almost birdless as well.

Canada Geese on the Ausable

Later, I briefly checked out Ipperwash at the old MNR parking lot.  I found eleven Cedar Waxwings.....more than in Pinery!  Alas, no Bohemians either.

On the way home, I noticed many Red-tailed Hawks, many paired up.

Yesterday, I stayed near home in the morning, but it was so nice I headed down to Rondeau Park for an afternoon walk.

The best option was marsh trail, albeit very few birds to be found.  The Bay was still frozen, but some open water was within the marsh.  I walked all the way to Long Pond, then headed back.  

The walk back revealed a couple of decent birds, included a pair of Gray Catbirds.  This was rather unexpected, as none had been reported in the park this year.  Obviously they wintered nearby.  True to form, they remained skulky.

Not sure what this one was trying to say.....

Also, a Northern Shrike made an appearance.  At least one has been out there this winter.

Signs of warmth included this Isabella Tiger Moth caterpillar.

Trailside, a cute Virginia Opossum was nibbling on a dead Racoon.

Along the trail, a Canadian Beaver was startled by my presence.  It had been sunning, so was dry, then took a dive.

Today was like April with balmy and windy conditions.  The temp went up to 15 C!

I stayed close to home, but saw very few birds.  Blackbirds have already arrived, and no doubt Killdeer are around.

I went for a long walk at Reid CA, then went to a private property west of Wallaceburg.  The trusty Eastern Screech-owl was absorbing some sun as it poked out of a duck box.  I only had the cell phone handy for a photo.

Withe the balmy weather and strong SW wind, it will be interesting to see what hops in this weekend.

Redpoll Mania

Another fine day of birding.  Dead calm again which was nice to hear things for long distances.
Redpolls have really arrived and they were everywhere I went.  The biggest bunch was at Blenheim Lagoons where almost 100 birds were working the weeds.

I arrived at Rondeau at first light despite driving through dense ice fog.  With Steve and Jim I birded south point trail.  There was dense fog over the lake, so nothing could be seen.  However, a Common Loon was constantly calling the whole time as it seemed to be saying "where am I?".
We had White-winged Crossbills fly over as well as redpolls.  A couple of flyover Pine Siskins turned out to be the only ones of the day.
A Gray Catbird (first one in some time) was heard mewing. Also heard was a Common Raven (pretty sure!) which I had never had at Rondeau  before.  It has been a while since one was recorded in the park.

The campground was somewhat productive with more redpoll flyovers and another (or the same?) Northern Saw-whet Owl.

It even had a vole cutlet sitting nearby!

Three or four Yellow-rumped Warblers were working the west side of the grounds, and a late Nashville Warbler was seen earlier.

It was still hopeless for scoping the Bay, so we tried for Bohemian Waxwing outside the park on McKinley Road.  We only found a half dozen of the Cedar type.  I saw a flock of Eastern Bluebirds in front of the trailer park later on.
At the east end of New Scotland Line, a pair of Carolina Wrens was singing up a storm.  Seems to be lots around this fall.

I went back into the park and looked at the owl in better light.  At that point I heard a single Red Crossbill fly over (the only one of those for the day.).

by this time, the fog had dissipated and we scoped the Bay.  One of the Eurasian Wigeons was off the dock (Mike Bouman had already staked it out!).  We had good looks at it but a bit far for good photos.  Lots of ducks to look at until the hunters returned from their morning run.

Afterwards, I went back into the campground again and helped Garry Sadler find the owl (a lifer!).

I found a few Cedar Waxwings but still no Bohemian!

The warblers were still in the same location, and undoubtedly will be the winter resident type.

I explored some areas out of the park, stopping at Erieau as well.  Redpolls were on the point of Rondeau too.  On the RR track trail, more redpolls!

Over at McGeachy I found a Common Yellowthroat (finally!) and a couple more Cedar Waxwings. Still no Bohemian!  Redpoll flyovers, again.
I stopped at the lagoons and found a large flock of redpolls (~100).  I tried searching for Hoary but to no avail.  But, I could not look at every single bird.

A fine day to be out!

Sparrows and Spouts (and a gull)

Got out early this morning for a lot of walking at Rondeau.  It was enjoyable though as there were lots of birds all over.  I just like to get out rather spend too much time like some on computers and iphones, etc. talking about what the next rare bird(s) will be (!) and submitting lists to eBird.

Skies were threatening over the lake first thing.  Very dark clouds with thunder and lightning.  At least it stayed out on the lake.  Water spouts formed.  One was quite large.

Another smaller one was in the other direction.

Sparrows and kinglets were birds of the day. Not a lot of warblers, but maybe ten species, and of course lots of Yellow-rumped. I finally saw a Northern Parula for the fall!  Where have they been?
Only two vireos, one White-eyed on South Point, and a Philadelphia on Marsh trail.

Early on, I heard, and spotted a flock of about two dozen Red Crossbills whizzing by near the light beacon.  A rare species for Rondeau!
I walked out south beach again.  Lots of Swamp Sparrows.  About 15  Black-crowned Night-Herons got out of the rice patch today.  (one adult only).

Lots of Greater Yellowlegs were out and about.  Pipits and siskins were flying over in good numbers.  One Peregrine out the beach.
While out there, Jim Burk called to say he was looking at a Franklin's Gull along Marsh Trail.  Seems to be a few around southern Ontario this fall.  This was an adult.  It took me 1.5h before I got there, but it was still there!

Hopefully a Kelp Gull will be next!!

I walked more than half way out the marsh trail as there were lots of birds.  At the half way point there were a couple of Indigo Buntings, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo and many sparrows.  Tough to get a clear photo of some of these birds.



One sparrow seemed odd.  It had a distinctly greenish face somewhat like what you see on a Henslow's.  It was quite distinct, but I guess is was just a Swamp.

A couple of Sandhill Cranes were out today as well.  Could not seem to get the camera on them!
Several Great Egrets and Great Blues too.

Lunchtime Surprise

What a storm!  Yesterday we had record amounts of rain, and new bodies of water were visible today.  I was a bit late getting to work this morning due to flooded roads so I did not get my morning walk in.  I would have needed boots anyway.
The sun came out in the morning for a beautiful day and since Wednesday is my day to go out for lunch, I stopped at Brander Park, Port Lambton.  I went for a bit of a walk, not noting many birds.  A few Tundra Swans came off the lagoons and a couple of juncos and blue jays were in the park.

I walked over to the edge of the field where I had the Glossy Ibis last spring, then started walking back.  I heard a finch type call coming from somewhere.  I heard it several times and concluded that it was coming from a large Norway Spruce.  I could not see the bird, but that sure as heck sounded like a crossbill.  I was thinking Red Crossbill!  Certainly not a White-winged I concluded.  I have only heard Red Crossbill a couple of times at Rondeau in the past, but this was obvious.

I walked up to the tree and still could not see the bird, but pished as a last resort and the bird popped out briefly.  I did not even have binoculars, but there was a red bird.  Obviously a male.  As dumb as this may sound, I did not put on my binoculars for this walk, and only had the small lens in my camera as I was trying to look for scenery shots.
Goes to show that one should carry binoculars at all times, and that you never know what to find with regards to birds.  This is bird 202 for the location.

I took some back roads home just looking at all the flooded fields and overflowing ditches.  I often take back roads home in hopes of finding some kind of owl or other bird.

Looking towards  Port Lambton lagoons (the "ibis" spot!)

Gulls in one of the Flooded Fields

With all the reports of Snowy Owls lately, I check on key spots they have been in the past.  Also, a year ago I encountered a Short-eared Owl working a roadside.
Weather looks good this weekend-sunny but cold, so birding could be interesting.

Dusk at Chicken Island (NE Wallaceburg)

Fiesty Finches

Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls and American Goldfinches fighting for space

With the sun out and no wind (rather unusual for this winter!), I headed down to Rondeau Park. I walked around the campground. Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins were flying over. Towards the park gate, I heard a flock of White-winged Crossbills. There were atop a spruce tree. I caught sight of them before they took off.

Near the north end, there were Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-breasted Nuthatches a Carolina Wren and other birds including a White-throated Sparrow.

A lone female Red-winged Blackbird seemed out of place near the campground gate.

female Red-winged Blackbird

Walking back towards the car, I heard a kip kip kip that sounded much like a Red Crossbill. I never saw the bird, but I am sure that it was a Red Crossbill. This species is extremely rare in these parts. In fact I have only come across one ever before in Rondeau Park. (Actually that is the only one I have ever encountered in my life!). I never did get much of a look at that one, but its flight call was distinctive.

Here at home, the finch fest continues. Among the dozens of Goldfinches, the Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins are vying for space on the nyger feeders. A male Purple Finch stopped in briefly late this afternoon. That was a surprise, as this species is not seen too often around here. When they do show up, they never stay!

male Purple Finch (upper left) with Mourning Doves