Solitaire Saturday

With the news yesterday that the Townsend's Solitaire was still at Point Pelee, I had to check it out today.  I arrived shortly after 08:00 and some birders were already looking for the bird, including the famous Rick Mayos.  I managed to spot it in a cedar in front of the VC a few minutes after my arrival.
It soon went down to feed on berries.

Nice views were obtained!

There have been a number of Townsend's Solitaires at Point Pelee over the years.  My only other one in the park was in May 2002 at Sleepy Hollow.

After some stellar looks, I went on to walk Shuster Trail, Tilden's Woods and up to the cemetery.  Some Red-winged Blackbirds were going overhead, a sign of early spring.
I encountered a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, but not a big flock as in my last visit.
a Great Blue Heron was a surprise at the end of  Shuster Trail.  Only ice around these parts!

Lots of American Robins were feeding near the Cactus Field trail.

I half expected to come across a Varied Thrush, but no dice.

While there, I encountered a Ruby-crowned Kinglet that obviously has survived this nasty winter. It was in the underbrush where I could not get a photo.

At the cemetery,  both kinds of nuthatches were present.

A walk around De Laurier trail was in order, and I came across a flock of birds early on.

White-throated Sparrow

Among some chickadees was a Tufted Titmouse, rare for Point Pelee.  It remained unseen by the camera.  It was my fourth record for the park.
Some Purple Finches flew over on my walk.  They have been scarce this winter.

Near Hillman, the big flock of blackbirds was still around.  I saw nothing rare among them!

I stopped by Wheatley Harbour to eat my lunch.  Waterfowl was frequenting the Essex side and towards Hillman Marsh.  There were hundreds of Canada Geese, but I could not pick out anything different among them.
At one point I thought I got on a Red-necked Grebe, but then it took off out of sight.  It remains a mystery now!  I would think we should be seeing some by now.

On the drive home, there was not much to be seen.  No Tundra Swans have arrived yet, but I think things will start to happen next week.  Killdeers!

Do you know where this is?....

Pelee Pipe

Christmas Eve (day) at the Stakeout

At noon today, I headed to the steakhouse stakeout.  (I skipped lunch).  I have not really had any time since last Friday to see the Vermilion Flycatcher again.  It was a fine sunny day (but then it is a weekday!) and several birders came to see the bird for Christmas.

Vermilion Flycatcher

It was right in front of me as I arrived.  It never came very close though.  I was hoping to get some decent photos, as was Cherise Charron who was clicking away with her camera.

After everyone else left, I stuck around to watch the flycatcher move about the grounds.
We hope it stays to be counted on Sunday's CBC.  Coincidentally, we always have the compilation gathering and dinner at the very same location!  How cool is that?

The Belgian horses were going about their business as the bird moved about the paddock area.

Afterwards, I went up to Reid CA for a walk.  There was actually a number of birds there to look at.

At home, I had a chance to look at the feeders since I am usually not around during the day.  I have a pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches taking advantage of the seed.  This species is always decent around Wallaceburg, especially for the bird count.  (There is also one at the flycatcher property).

Late this afternoon, I went south of town to check out some of my CBC area before the clouds came in for the weekend.  I found 3 Snowy Owls in one spot!  A wide-angle lens could have captured all three, but only two were able to fit in the view.  They were distant, but two were basically in the same furrow.

Another farther back, was regurgitating a pellet, I believe.

Merry Christmas to all blog readers!

Lambton Co. Tour

I decided to do some walking and birding inland today.  I started at Moore WMA.  Like most places this winter, it was rather quiet.  Usually this place is hopping with birds and a good place for wintering Yellow-rumped Warblers.  I managed to scrape up a few birds and it looks like the warblers did not stay this year.


Along the river a flock of birds included a Tufted Titmouse, chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, Cardinals and juncos.  Also present was a White-throated Sparrow which is decent for the spot at this time.

Cardinal on Ice

junco on ice

Down the road I checked out McKellar Tract.  In past years Long-eared Owls have sometimes been here, but they are just not around this year.  I came across a small flock of birds which included 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches.  The pine plantations here attract them.

One spot I usually do not check in winter is Marthaville Habitat near Petrolia.  There were more dogs than birds here, but I did come across another pair of Red-breasted Nuthatches.

From there, I headed straight west on Lasalle Line.

At Guthrie Park on the St. Clair River, there was a bonanza of birds to look at.  Most of the ducks on the St. Clair seem to be concentrated here, since south of Cathcart Park, the river is jammed with ice.

Three Glaucous Gulls were milling about, but that was it for those white-winged creatures which are scarce this winter.

Lots of ducks to sort through and likely a Harlequin is out there somewhere.

Off Cathcart Park north of Sombra, a bit of open water attracted the wintering Tundra Swans (and a few Mute) and many Canada Geese.  Most of the geese were towards the US side though.

A while after I got home, I got a message from Mike Bouman that he found a male Barrow's Goldeneye just south of Cathcart.  Too late to go back out...... (hope it is refound!).
This is the first Barrow's in the river in many many years (last one late December 1995). I can only recall two in all the years I have been birding there.

'record' photo provided by Mike Bouman

Sarnia-area on Sunday

John G. Munson upbound after fueling at Shell

I checked out the Sarnia area today looking for birds on the Port Huron CBC.  The sun was out for a change making it a nice day.  However, birds were few and far between as one would expect.

Very few ducks on the St. Clair River.  A pair of Gadwall (see below) was off Guthrie Park at Corunna this morning, as was a male hybrid Mallard X Black Duck (no good photo).

An immature Snow Goose was also hanging out.

No sign of that Double-crested Cormorant in Talfourd Creek today. That would have been the least common bird!

The adult Iceland Gull was still in Sarnia Bay--the only white-winged gull I have seen this fall!

Quite a few ducks were in the Bay plus an American Coot.
At the mouth of Lake Huron, a good number of Long-tailed Ducks were out there--perhaps 2500 within a reasonable distance.  A few White-winged Scoters were present, but that was it for variety!

I checked Perch Creek Habitat but it was almost devoid of birds.  Nearby, a couple of solar snowies were atop hydro poles along Blackwell Sideroad.

Faceless Owl!

Moore WMA was equally devoid of birds, but it was nice for a walk.

This place has a good variety of uncommon trees including lots of Hackberry.

I also checked McKeough CA north of Wallaceburg in anticipation of the CBC in a week.  Same theme, but I came across a very small group of birds which included a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  It is a decent bird this time of year within the CBC circle.  It co-operated for a few photos.

I also inadvertently photographed it in flight!

Another weekend comes to a close.....again!

Sunset at Duthill Bridge (Friday)

River Run

Typical Scene Today

Needless to say I slept in today.  I waited for things to settle down a bit and for the sun to come out.  I headed out mid morning under sunny skies, but by the time I got to Port Lambton, it was a blizzard!  So much for that.
Feeders were busier than usual today so I watched them.  Not a lot coming this winter, but two Red-breasted Nuthatches and a White-breasted were nice to see.  Strange as it may seem, it is the first time I have seen a white nuthatch at the feeder this winter!  As well, I thought there was only one red nuthatch.

By mid afternoon the sun was out again so I was out again!  The new snow was blowing around, but it was not too bad along the St. Clair River.  First stop was the Sombra ferry dock.  The local resident had just put out feed, so the mallards were in a frenzy.

Sombra

I decided to go as far as Corunna since a friend reported 24 (!) Bald Eagles there this morning.  A few were around but the bulk had dispersed.

The mouth of Talfourd Creek is open and a few ducks and other waterfowl were there. A Double-crested Cormorant is wintering there as well.
Hooded Mergansers are numerous here.  Perhaps those eagles like them.

Hoodless Merganser?

On the way home I swung inland to the solar farm.  Nothing there, but as I approached Holt Line on Baseline Road, I spotted a Snowy Owl in flight. It alighted on a pole at the corner.

After looking at that I turned east on Holt, but I spotted another Snowy Owl!

This darker bird I assume to be the one that was at the solar farm earlier in the winter.  The other is no doubt the one that has been along Holt Line all winter.

I was hoping to see the one just outside Wallaceburg for a hat trick, but no luck.

Photos taken by Canon G16.