More May Birding

 I spent the last few days at Rondeau Park.  Initially, the weather did not look good for the week, but  needed to go anyway.  As usual, the forecast was almost 100% wrong!  Weather was quite pleasant except for today (Friday).

Birds were not in large numbers.  In fact, I have not seen a day yet this spring with a nice big fallout.  Maybe those days are a thing of the past.  Variety was there, if one worked for them.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Tuesday I birded around the park, and went out marsh trail in the evening.  I ended up with 121 species.  Mourning, Hooded and Blackpoll were first-of-year warblers.

Quite a few of the expected shorebirds were along the east beaches.

Least Sandpiper

This time of year, we see Showy Orchis in bloom.  I had a difficult time finding just one plant in a usual area.  Not as many as there used to be it seems.

Next day I was up early, as usual.  Birds were scarce, so I did not do as well as the previous day.

An Eastern Screech-owl has been sleeping out in the open of late, providing good photo ops for photographers.

In the afternoon, I had the urge to walk out south beach.  Not really worth it, but one has to satisfy one's curiosity!  There were some of the common shorebirds, including Least Sandpipers.

Still finding lots of Fatmucket mussels along the shoreline.

I spent the last part of the day at the entrance to the marsh trail hoping for Common Nighthawk.  Not!

Earlier, an Osprey was in the sky.

The night was clear as the waxing gibbous moon shone in the sky.

Thursday was a decent day, but I worked for the birds to tally 122 species.  I decided to do an early morning run of the marsh trail.  A couple of Willow Flycatchers were finally in.  Seems flycatchers are a bit late this year, as obviously there are a lot more to come.

I heard both Sora and Virginia Rails.  As a bonus, a King Rail was making itself known by making its characteristic calls deep in the marsh.  It remained unseen.

Interestingly, a King Rail was seen the previous day at the Erieau marsh trail, and again this day, delighting birder from far and wide.

Later in the day, I checked out the shorebirds on the east beaches.

Sanderling

Least Sandpiper

Dunlin

another Sanderling

A couple of Common Loons were far out, and three Long-tailed Ducks were resting on the beach.  Something about those that they like sitting on the beach!  Did not bother to take photos though.

Friday, the weather came!  This time they were right for a change.  I awoke about 04:15, and luckily I heard a Common Nighthawk overhead.  Nicer to see them, but the distinctive call was obvious and will have to do.

I packed up the tent early before the rain came and then drove around the park.  I was a bit late, and only got four Whip-poor-wills.  Seems there are not as many as in previous years.  I could not find any at the north end the month.

I got a walk in on south point trail before some rain came.  A Blue-winged Warbler was singing in the thick of things and remained unseen for us.  However, it was later seen and confirmed by another birder.

Rain started, so I parked at dog beach for a while.  After it stopped, I checked a few shorebirds, including this Greater Yellowlegs.

The rain stopped enough to go for a walk in the visitor centre area and down Harrison trail a bit.  Highlight was a singing Prairie Warbler.  A singing Canada Warbler was nice to see as well.

Rain came again, and I headed up to Bennett and Harrison.  It stopped again, so I went for a walk to the defunct group campground.  By the time I got back, it stared pouring.

That ended my birding in the park as it was going to be a long rain.  Then I was homebound!

Sunset May 16 Rondeau Park

Sanderling to Hairstreak or Tip to Reid

Today seemed like a good day to go to Point Pelee, as a SW wind was in the works.  The previous times I have been there lately the wind has been in other directions.  It did not do much for butterflies as I saw very few today.  Sure has been a dismall year!

I went to the Tip first thing as usual.  No gulls on the Tip!  The fact that four Bald Eagles were sitting there might have had something to do with it.
Most of the gulls I saw continued on south.  Early on, a first cycle Little Gull was on the wing.  One has been around in recent weeks.
A flock of about ten Common Terns went by, and a couple of Black Terns were milling about.

It was not till later, that I noticed a shorebird on the Tip.  I thought it was just the Dunlin from last week, but a closer look revealed a Sanderling.

Certainly an odd time for one!  I suppose it could be an early fall migrant, as it does not seem plausible to be a late spring migrant at this date.  There are no close dates recorded on eBird in the Pelee area.

There was also a Spotted Sandpiper keeping it company.

Some gulls did sit on the Tip later, but most went by.

Don't get me started on pelicans......

Definitely not a Pelican

I walked back west beach trail per usual and saw practically no butterflies.  Even dragonflies are still absent.

De Laurier and the marsh boardwalk entrance are still flooded.  The water levels are not going down at all.  In fact they are still rising!  At the marina in Port Lambton we were plagued with problems all week.  Marsh plants are now growing beside the shop!

I took a quick look at Hillman marsh on the way back.  Five Sandhill Cranes flew over at one point.

I was going to walk around the shorebird cell, but it was just too hot.  Probably no butterflies anyway!

Back at home, I decided to give Reid CA another shot since conditions were perfect for insects.  I lucked out and saw my first and only hairstreak so far this year.  And yes, it was an Oak Hairstreak!

Things are more than a week behind this year compared to any previous year that I can recall. Average date for Oak Hairstreak is around the 20th.
Hopefully it will pick up soon, at least with regards to insects.  Skunk's Misery butterfly count is next Sunday.

European Skipper

Thanksgiving Weekend Birding

I was out as much as possible birding during the holiday weekend.  However, due to the usual crappy weekend weather, some time was lost.
Saturday I started with a lakewatch at Rondeau.  It was fairly active but there was nothing of note.  Visibility was not all that great.
A Great Blue Heron had thoughts of a big breakfast.

Some Sanderlings were working the shoreline.  A Dunlin and some Killdeer were the only other shorebirds.

It was obvious that a large number of kinglets and White-throated Sparrows had finally come in.

A good variety of birds were seen, including a fairly late Scarlet Tanager near maintenance. (no photo)

I made various stops including Keith McLean CA, Erieau rail trail, Erieau, McGeachy Pond and Blenheim Lagoons.
McLean's had a number of sparrows, but the elusive Nelson's evaded me.  It is a good spot to harbour a Nelson's.  I had to cut my visit a bit short due to an incoming storm.

At the Erieau rail trail, there were lots of kinglets and sparrows again.  I had to cut my visit a bit short to an incoming storm....again!

Junco getting wet after the storm

I checked out Erieau and was hoping to find a Little Gull, but obvious these only show on weekdays.  I have not seen this scarce species yet this year!

After waiting at McGeachy for the rain to pass, the sun finally came out briefly for a pleasant walk.  Many geese came in including a Snow Goose.

Some butterflies were on the asters, including several Bronze Coppers.

Sunday, I decided to head to Sarnia under gloomy skies.  There was a NE wind blowing so I tried a lakewatch with some local Sarnia birders.  However nothing of note showed, not surprsingly. Obviously the good stuff only appears on weekdays.

Wawanosh Wetlands was very quiet, as were other places.

Checkered Skippers are plentiful right now in several locations.  This one was at Peers Wetland.

Monday I went back to Rondeau, but the unpredicted fog continued to build as I approached the park.  There was a stiff east wind, but dense fog prevented one from seeing anything.  I wanted to do a lakewatch again, but that was a lost cause.  No doubt Tuesday it will be clear!

Practically the only things visible were Sanderlings.

I walked south point trail with Steve Charbonneau and found lots of kinglets again.  There was not much variety in warblers apart from Yellow-rumped and Blackpoll.  A single Magnolia Warbler was the oddity.

I checked around maintenance where lots of sparrows were around.  At pony barn, a late Least Flycatcher (I assume) was hanging around.

On the way out, I stopped by Keith McLean's again.  There were a number of birds to sort through, but nothing of note.  I checked the sparrows again.

White-crowned Sparrow

Some Bronze Coppers were in the asters.

As well as moths.

Yellow-collared Scape Moth

The weather had cleared a bit by the time I got to McGeachy Pond.  A few birds were seen including another Least Flycatcher.  The asters were attracting butterflies and moths.

Corn Earworm Moth

Soybean Looper

Green Cloverworm (?)

Bronze Copper

A few Red-breasted Nuthatches are still around.

Hopefully we will get back to more seasonal weather this week.