Foggy Birding on the St. Clair River

 The last few days, I have spent some time along the St. Clair River.  Unfortunately, we have been battling fog the last four days!  On most days, there was no point in going out of the house until noon, and even then it was a challenge at times to see anything.

With the milder weather, the river has opened up and viewing waterfowl has been better. Monday we had sun by mid-day, and here are some scenes.  Canada Geese were in the thousands!

On of the coots was visible at Cathcart Park.

Tuesday started out foggy again.  I went for a walk first thing at Brander Park, Port Lambton.

Then I went farther upriver.  The sun was out for a while.

I finally came across one of those hybrid Redheads at Cundick Park, for this winter.  The most common hybrid we find is Redhead X Ring-necked.  Not the best photo ops though.

Other hybrids out there include Redhead X Canvasback.  Probably others, but one cannot look at every duck!

Lots of other ducks to sort through, but nothing of note. And, very few gulls.

Herring Gull with Canvasback lunch

And some lazy ones....

That day, a Barrow's Goldeneye was spotted off Cathcart Park, so the next day I went out in the fog after lunch and found it.

Perhaps it is the same individual I found at Corunna earlier in the winter.  Probably is, but we can never know that for sure.

There are lots of Ring-necked Ducks along the river this winter.

Some spring migrants are showing up such as blackbirds and gulls.  These Ring-billed Gulls were near Fawn Island.

Today, it was foggy yet again!  I went out anyway, as I am tired of sitting around the house.  The river has really opened up now.  Amazing what a little mild weather will do.

I stopped by Cathcart Park again, and met a fellow birder.  We searched for the Barrow's Goldeneye, but it was just too foggy to find it.

I moved on, and went upriver, where it was better for viewing.  

Duck with a long tail

I found another Redhead X Ring-necked Duck at Courtright.  Not the best photos, but what is new?

On the way back, viewing conditions were a bit better, so I took another look off Cathcart Park.

The Barrow's was finally visible, but a bit too distant.  No sense in taking another poor photo!

I will likely spend more time along the St. Clair River until things  start moving and the weather gets a little better.

River Runs and Other Rambles

 I have been spending most of my spare time along the St. Clair River, although I did get to Rondeau on March 2.  That was a nice sunny morning and I walked the campground.....carefully.  It was icy!

A good number of birds were at the north end, including a single Yellow-rumped Warbler.  It may be the only one around there from this winter!

I drove some back roads on the way home, but did not see much.  I swung by Stefina Line to look for the wintering Wilson's Snipe.  Often it is not seen, but this time it was out in view!  Lighting bad that time of day though.

This is a known wintering spot ever since I can remember.

The Northern Shrike was nearby, but out of camera range.  I also saw another shrike along Harwich Road.

The last three days, I have checked out the St. Clair River for lack of anywhere else to go.  The river has opened right up with the mild weather, so things are spread out.  Mainly just the usuals.

Fawn Island area:

Yesterday and today, puddle ducks have come in, including American Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Gadwall.  Lots of Ring-billed Gulls too!  Not to mention Killdeer and blackbirds.

wigeons on ice (mallard too!)

Lots of Ring-necked Ducks lately!

Yesterday, I did come across one of the hybrid Redhead X Ring-necked Ducks.  Might be a different one, since the head colour is more red than a previous one I saw.

This morning was not much different, but I did see some pintail, wigeon and even a pair of Northern Shovelers which were new.

American Wigeon pair

This merganser got tangled up with something!

This afternoon was quite balmy, so I took a long walk at Reid CA.  Lots of blackbirds are now in, as well as American Robins.

A couple of scenes:

It is the time of year Sugar Maples are tapped.  While going through old photos the past week or so I came across this one.  It was at Upper Canada Village during a family visit when my uncle lived in Prescott.

Nothing to do with nature, but recently a story about my mother was published.  It is just such a cool story, I had to share here.  Thanks to John Martinello for writing it.  Just click on the link.

https://www.wallaceburgcourierpress.com/opinion/columnists/war-comes-to-sombra-a-story-of-ariel-mann

Walk In The Woods, Hybrid Ducks and McGeachy Mocker

 Tuesday was a fine day to go for a walk in the woods.  With sunny skies and no wind for a change, it was quite pleasant at Reid CA.

Not many birds of course, but Wild Turkey tracks were everywhere throughout the property.

Here is another tree that took an abrupt turn earlier in life.

Nearby, another tree had some fungus called Silky Parchment.

Not sure what this fungus was, but part of the tree was on the ground.

Common Hackberry trees are rare at Reid, but here is another one.

I found some oak galls at one point, which are quite neat.

Wednesday, I made a good run along the St. Clair River.  It was still iced-in to north of Sombra, but had opened up quite a bit northward.  I suspect there is an ice bridge somewhere up Sarnia way keeping ice from flowing downstream.

It was a day of hybrid ducks.  Upon arrival at Cathcart Park, I spotted a Canvasback X Redhead male (females are more difficult to pick out!).  Another observer saw several more upriver later in the afternoon.  Too distant for the camera though.

As well, a Ring-necked X Redhead was here.  The open water was farther offshore, so it was not too close.

The male Ruddy Duck was also here.

I went as far as Guthrie Park, Corunna this day.  There was not much at Corunna this time around.  

The local Trumpeter Swan was in close.

Wednesday night we received quite a bit of snow, so I stayed home until afternoon.  Although a sunny day for the most part, there was not much to see along the river.  I cut in on Pointe Line, and came across some of the Sandhill Cranes that have been spending the winter in the area.

Today, I did not get going until late morning, but headed in the southerly direction for a change.  There is a lot less snow along Lake Erie!

I went for a walk at McGeachy Pond, where the lake was mostly ice.  

However, a few Redhead ducks were in an open spot.

Eight Sandhill Cranes were circling to the north, but out of range for the camera.

Mounds of ice along the shoreline as one would expect, but there was one spot that formed a mini grotto.

The local Northern Mockingbird was right near the tower today.

It must be getting desperate, trying to consume those non-native berries!

I then headed through Shrewsbury and got a glimpse of the wintering Virginia Rail.  There is a perpetual open water spot where it likes to hang out.

I did walk the campground in Rondeau Park, but it was virtually birdless!  I saw a flock of a dozen House Finches, and that was it!

There was lots of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings along the paved roads today as I worked my way home.