Weekend Combo Post

Saturday, the last day of February, I ventured down to Point Pelee.  I did not expect to see much in the frozen landscape and that certainly held true.  I renewed my year pass for Point Pelee at the discounted rate, a far better value than one will ever see with the inflated Ontario Parks system of gate fees!

This Eastern Screech-owl was taking advantage of the morning sun.

On the way back home, I came across this Rough-legged Hawk perched in a tree. Just as I got my camera up, it decided to take off, but I managed some decent photos.

I continued all the way up Essex Rd. 37, and noticed two Snowy Owls near Lakeshore Road 303. They were too far away for any sort of photo though.

Earlier, on the way to Pelee I had seen two other Snowy Owls--one just south of Wallaceburg and another at the corner of Heron Line and Winter Line.  Both were nicely perched atop trees in the morning sun.

Although I took back roads home, I saw very little.  As I mentioned before, many raptors and other birds seemed  to have vacated the area.

So, I continued up to the St. Clair River to photograph ducks.  The sun was out this day for a change, so that helped the mood.

Sunday, the first day of March was a bit warmer, but with a fresh coating of unscheduled snow!  We cannot seem to get two good weekend days in a row anymore.  

Not wanting to go too far today, I headed down to Rondeau.

I had to go the VC feeders three times since a certain accipiter was frequenting the area.

The usuals were present on my third try.  The male towhee was looking good.

The White-crowned Sparrow came in, but seemed to be favouring its right leg.

It was constantly looking upward waiting for seeds to drop from the feeder above.

This shot got four species below one of the feeders.

The female Red-winged Blackbird was still present as well.

Along Lakeshore, a male Red-winged was singing, but we had one there a month ago.

I did check the campground, but it was very quiet.  One wonders how many of those birds, especially the kinglets, have survived.

On way way home I did see a few raptors, especially at Stefina Line.  I wanted to check the creeks that never freeze.  The one on Harwich had a sleeping Black Duck!

There is no open water nearby.  I did however see a flock of 11 Common Goldeneye fly over Rondeau's visitor centre earlier in the day.

This Red-tailed Hawk along Prince Albert Road had found some lunch.

We cannot find much in Lambton either.  The Bird Trax is going to go blank very shortly!

Rondeau to Skunk's

I started at Rondeau Park this morning and met up with Steve and Jim at the north end of the campground.  Turned out to be a fairly productive day despite the usual weekend weather.  There was a good-sized mixed flock of birds at the very north end of the park.  Included were at least 3 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, lots of Golden-crowned, chickadees, nuthatches, etc.  White-breasted Nuthatches are in plentiful supply this winter all over.  Some new birds for the year were obtained today during my travels.

I guess the warblers are dead!  None have been seen for some time and the last Orange-crowned was January 5, do believe.

Birds were along Lakeshore Road in various spots.  Included was a singing Red-winged Blackbird atop a tree.  Too much in the way to get a photo of quality though.



At the visitor centre, feeders were busy.  A few Pine Siskins are around.

One White-throated Sparrow was weakly singing, but remained unseen!
The male Eastern Towhee was present, but was hiding back in.

Lots of birds were along roadsides today, including some good-sized flocks of American Tree Sparrows.

After Rondeau, I worked my way towards Skunk's Misery.  I was interested in seeing a Golden Eagle, and managed one on Centreville Road.  However, the combination of distance and crappy weather did not provide a photo op.







At this same location, a Great Blue Heron got up out of a small creek.  They too are pretty scarce this winter.

Other birds of note included an Eastern Meadowlark up along the Middlesex/Lambton border near Bentpath. It flew across the road in front of me and went down in a field.

stream in Skunk's

Farther up Watterworth, a nice dark morph Rough-legged Hawk was perched atop a hydro pole.

There was freezing drizzle (what else is new on a Saturday?) on the way home so roads were slick.  I drove by the Rutherford pasture and noted an Eastern Meadowlark there as well. At least 3 are wintering at that location.

Feeders were busy today for a change so I watched them for a while the rest of the afternoon.

Saturday Tour

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I birded the Rondeau area this morning, not wanting to go too far.  The wind is strong and there is a bit of snow today.  And it is very cold (in the wind)!  Yesterday was a beautiful day, but as usual, the weather went down hill for the weekend, not to mention an inaccurate weather forecast.

The Rondeau visitor centre feeders were active with the usual birds.  Lots of Chickadees were around there--about 20.

shy Tufted Titmouse

An adult Bald Eagle called on South Point Trail to get my attention, but there was not much else of note.
The campground was dead for birds.

Quite a few Horned Larks and Snow Bunting were along the roadways and fields.  One good flock on New Scotland Line did not co-operate as they kept getting behind me.  Probably longspur amongst them.  One group of Canada Geese there also in a corn field.  There is no open water anywhere except several kilometres out on the lake.
On Stefina Line, I saw the flicker again. If nothing else I always see that one.  The hypothetical Northern Shrike was not there, and the snipe may be long gone.  I did see the usual dark morph Rough-legged Hawk.

AT Erieau, I did venture out the R/R trail and McGeachy Pond.  The usual sparrows-Song, Swamp, White-throated and Tree were there.

White-throated Sparrow

I was crazy enough to check out the McGeachy dike in hopes of seeing the Gray Catbird.  I actually did manage to find it, but it was hunkered down.

This is a Gray Catbird!

There were lots of birds at the compost pile on Gore Road, but nothing new that I could see.  One can only hope for a Golden-crowned Sparrow there!

The old Moon (yesterday morning)