Splashdown to Marbled Godwits

 We finally have had some nice warm days, although yesterday morning was miserably cold at first.

This past Friday morning I was out to Mitchell's Bay.  A lone Tundra Swan has been hanging around, and I do not think it is entirely well.  It was still there yesterday.

A bit of a surprise was a flyover of six Snow Geese.

In the evening, likely many of us watched the historic and picture-perfect splashdown of the space capsule Artemis II.  Humans got to circle the moon for the first time since the early 1970's during the Apollo program!  I remember the Apollo program (now I am aging myself!) and found that fascinating at the time.

I watched the recent event live on the NASA YouTube channel.  I just took some screen shots with my phone.

Next day, I headed down to Rondeau Park quite early.  Target was a Louisiana Waterthrush that had been sighted the day before.  I found it right away in the early morning light singing away in a slough.  It was really too early for photos, as it was not very light, but I tried anyway.

I did a lot of walking that day as it was a nice sunny and calm day for a change.  Later, I walked out the marsh trail to the half way point.

I saw three species of butterflies, including a Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral and an American Painted-Lady.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. before going home to see both yellowlegs, and first-of-year Pectoral Sandpipers.

They finally got a burn done on the property.  They have been trying for two years!

Yesterday, as alluded to above, it was terribly cold and windy at Mitchell's Bay first thing.  There were not many birds in the uncomfortable weather.  The Tundra Swan was in close.

In the afternoon, it warmed up considerably as the sun was out, so I went for a drive along the St. Clair River.  Loons are heading north this time of year, and one can see many.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau Park in anticipation of some good birding.  Overnight, there was a brisk southwest wind with rain, and the temperature rose dramatically.  Surprisingly, it was rather quiet for birds.

I did get the first Purple Martins finally, as they arrived yesterday.

The park was full of Red Admirals.

Some plants are just emerging from the leaf litter, and I noticed this Bloodroot at one point.

While there, I got word that some early Marbled Godwits had set down in the Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  They were found by the "morning shift", which used to be the "afternoon shift"!  LOL.

I headed in that direction since there was not much else to do.

They were still present upon my arrival.

Several birders came by to see the godwits.  It was nice to talk to some long-time fellow birders after a long winter.

While there, I caught sight of a Variegated Meadowhawk. First time I have seen one in a few years.  They are not all that common at times.

As well, a Blanding's Turtle was lurking in the weeds.

Now that we are in mid-April, we will see lot of birds coming in.  The excitement of spring migration has now begun!

Hillman Sandhills

Weekend Loons, Geese, Ducks and Gulls

Saturday I paid a visit to Rondeau Park for the first time this calendar year.  The day was dead calm for a change, so one could hear for a long distance.
Not much has changed birdwise, but the highlight was the presence of many Red-throated Loons.  At first I did not see any, but then two or three popped up which I thought was nice.

After walking the trail on south point, I decided to walk back the beach.  Red-throated Loons kept popping up everywhere!

I counted at least 35, then Steve came along with a scope and came up with 37.  Certainly a significant number for this time of year.

With last week's wind, there has been more significant erosion along south point. 

Past the "washout" it has cut right back in and one cannot walk through there anymore!  Rondeau is shrinking!

We stopped by to see the wintering Red-headed Woodpecker as well.

The campground was rather quiet this day.

On the way home, I swung around to Ridgetown Lagoons.  With the open water, there were lots of geese and swans.
Four Snow Geese stood out, and one stuck out like a sore thumb.  It was almost black!  Certainly the darkest snow goose I have ever seen.

Sunday, I decided to head to Sarnia to view the continuing Harlequin Ducks.  They are still attracted to the fast water at the start (not mouth) of the St. Clair River.  Still in US waters though.

The St. Clair River still remains almost devoid of ducks, but the gulls continue at Corunna.

Gadwall

Things are always changed there, but still nothing different.  This morning there were over 2000 Herrring Gulls present. I did pick out one Glaucous, one Iceland, one Lesser Black-backed and two Ring-billed.
They were quite spread out today and farther out on the river.  The sun was bright (weather forecast wrong yet again) so lighting was harsh.

While, there, M.B. picked out the hybrid Glaucous X Great Black-backed Gull.  It is difficult to pick out unless you see it fly.  Never got a photo though.

Another weekend is about to close, as time flies on.

Weekend Waterfowl and Other Birds February 22-24

I made my rounds to some usual haunts this weekend. Friday was a nice day (obviously not a weekend day) and after work I headed up along the St. Clair River.

There was a lot of waterfowl to look at, but nothing of note stood out.

Canada Geese are in big numbers along the river this winter (most I have ever seen!).  This past week a couple of Ross's Geese were in the vicinity of CF Industries.  I thought perhaps I would come across them on Friday, but it was not to be.

Saturday, I did some running around Rondeau campground.

I spent quite a bit of time there, but just the usual wintering birds were seen, especially around the north washroom.
Lots of White-throated Sparrows this year.

The "good" birds seen earlier in the winter are likely long-since dead! The Barred Owl did not reveal itself this day, but was nicely seen the day before.

There was a lot of waterfowl to look at on Rondeau Bay, so I grabbed my scope to scan the area.  Most of the stuff was over near Rondeau Estates, so it was a challenge to pick out things.  A smaller open patch of water is closer to Rondeau, and I checked that as well.  Among the hundreds of Tundra Swans, I managed to pick out a pair of Trumpeter Swans.  I left my camera in the car, so I tried digiscoping.  Not sure I got them.  (I am no good at digiscoping!).

The pair eventually took off making their "trumpet" calls.  Earlier, while in the campground, I am certain I heard a Trumpeter Swan.

Across the Bay, the Greater White-fronted Geese and Snow Geese were in the mass of waterfowl.  It was difficult to get a number.  At one point I saw two small white geese, which were no doubt Ross's.  Later, Jim Burk managed to see five of the rascals.  I erred on the cautious side, so did not list them.

I moved on west and took a quick check of Blenheim Lagoons.  Two Snow Geese were there.

Farther west, I ended up at Hillman Marsh!  A Northern Shoveler and some other waterfowl were early spring migrants in the shorebird cell.  The resident Trumpeter Swan pair was in the cell as well.

They eventually took off trumpeting!

To the east there was a mass of geese.  I went down the dead-end road and I picked out two Snow Geese (certain due to size).  Other birders had many Greater White-fronted Geese and some Ross's Geese in the area.
As usual, lots of trash at this end of the road.  A strange collection of dolls too!

Sunday, I headed up along the St. Clair River noting all the ducks and geese.  Things started out well with a Greater White-fronted Goose at Brander Park, Port Lambton.

This was a new bird for my list there!
By the way, the 30 Sandhill Cranes are still being seen nearby, so they obviously wintered!

The wintering Tundra Swans were downstream, mid-river, of Fawn Island today, and not as much to see at Sombra.
Not much was at Cathcart Park today.

In front of Lambton Generating Station, a Ross's Goose stood out.

Who knows if it was one of the two seen earlier in the week farther downstream.

Very little was off Guthrie Park, Corunna today.

I headed east and north and ended up at Ausable River Cut CA!  I find this place rather intriguing.

Half way through the walk, the high winds kicked in, so I hurried back.  Before that at one point, I heard an Evening Grosbeak calling across the cut.
The usual chickadees and nuthatches were working the area.  No Hermit Thrush today!

On the way home I saw lots of Red-winged Blackbirds, expected this time of year.

I went for a walk at McKeough CA, but was cut short due to the wind and a snow squall.  I did see a couple of Long-eared Owls.  These birds are not really approachable.

Now that March is approaching, we will be outdoors more often to see what has arrived!