Some Nice Winter Finches and More

 Looks like winter is here to stay this week.  It will be interesting to see what kind of winter we get.  There is talk of a "real" winter!  Maybe there will be ice on the St. Clair River, but not like in the old days when it froze smooth.

Uncle Murray's iceboat at Sombra

This past week, birds were fewer and farther between as one would expect.

Last Sunday, I ventured up to Ipperwash and area to look for winter finches and other birds.  In particular, I wanted to see Bohemian Waxwings, but my usual bad luck prevailed and I did not see any!  Everyone else seems to come across them though.

I stuck it out and finally came across three Pine Grosbeaks feeding on winterberry.  They were in a very difficult position, so as usual I could not get good photos.  These chunky finches are always nice to see!

Certainly my favourite species of finch.

I spent a little time at Ausable River Cut CA where there were no birds to look at, but there were mussels of course.

Three-ridge (most common)

Spike

On the way home, I encountered a female Ring-necked Pheasant.  These creatures are difficult to find anymore.

Tuesday I went to Rondeau, but it was extremely quiet for birds!

Thursday, a Fox Sparrow showed up in the yard.  It is still present at time of this writing.  Would be a nice winter bird, if it decides to stay.

Friday, it was back to Rondeau.  There were more birds, but not many, and nothing of note.  My camera was acting up again anyway!

Today, it was finally calm after some brutal winds this past week.  I went to Hillman Marsh first thing for a walk.  Lots of mud showing!  Hillman Creek has dried up!

Eighteen Sandhill Cranes were near the the Mersea Rd. 2 west bridge.

I then joined an Essex County Field Naturalist outing at Wheatley Harbour.  It was just a nice and different thing to do on a gloomy day.

There was nothing of note, but nice to join in with some people I know.  Lots of gulls, but no Short-tailed!

The old Sombra ferry is still in the harbour at Hike Metals.  Not sure what the deal is, but they have done some work on her in the past year.  It is supposed to serve Bob-lo Island.

Here are some old photos of the Daldean, which was my grandfather's pride and joy.

Morgan Dalgety working on the ferry at Erieau.  Other photo at Sombra during winter

Here is one photo of it being built at Erieau I found in an old family album.

Winter birding season starts on Monday, so we will see what it brings.

Scenes Along the River St. Clair

 On this gloomy day, I had plans to check out the St. Clair River up to Corunna.  The river has always been an attraction for many reasons, and has been a big part of my life since I can remember.

The Good 'Ole Days!

I stopped by Roberta Stewart Wetland first thing.  With the low water levels, it is mostly mud!  Goes to show that the dike is not completely sealed from the Chenal Ecarte!

Next stop was Baby Point, aka Brander Park.  This is a very historic spot dating back to the earliest settlement in the area.

I have done extensive birding here since it was close to my old workplace.  Even an interpretive sign has my name on it!

The above photo is from many years ago, but unfortunately this sign is almost toast now!

Along the river there are other interpretive signs, one of which I wrote about before.

Here is a scene from low water times looking downriver, similar to today.

I always search the sand and have found some interesting things over the years.  Today, I found this mussel shell.  It appears to be a Spike, which is not often found along the river.  Or, at least it is the first one I have seen here.  We do not often find mussel shells along the river's edge.

Further upriver, I stopped at Cath's Cart Cathcart Park, always a good birding spot (at least in the past!).  We already have a big number of Common Mergansers hanging around here this winter.

Gulls tend to congregate here as well.

Larry, Curly and Moe?

A little farther upriver, I stopped at the outlet of Bowen Creek.  I had never checked out this outlet before, but I was alerted by a friend that there were mussels along the creek.  Since I am quite interested in mussels, I had to go and look!

There were oodles of Giant Floaters.

But, the highlight was an Eastern Pondmussel.  It is a species of concern in Canada, and listed as critically imperiled in Ontario.  I have found several at Rondeau Park, but it is rare along the St. Clair River.

Since water level is so low, one can walk along the shoreline.  There are lots of beaches along the river right now!  Beaches were common when I was little, as I remember swimming in the river at Port Lambton off the end of Gibson Lane.

Here are views at the outlet of Bowen Creek.

north

south

I stopped by Willow Park as well, which is in front of where the old Lambton Generating Station used to stand.

Common anymore, are alien species of clams and mussels, with thousands of shells littering the shoreline.  Here is an Asian Clam.

Most numerous are Quagga Mussels and Zebra Mussels.

The river was a bit quiet for birds today, not surprisingly.  By now in the past, we would be having colder weather and some ice forming.  Ducks and gulls would be congregating in the river.  But with climate change, that is a thing of the past.

I went as far as Guthrie Park, but there was hardly anything up that way.  The north parking lot, our favourite spot for gull watching, is closed off for some kind of construction.  Not sure for what, but it will be disappointing if it lasts all winter.

After stocking up in Corunna, I headed towards home and went for a walk at my old standby place of Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland.  There were a few birds there, including a couple of Red-tailed Hawks.

Cold weather tomorrow, before the weather goes for a crap on the weekend....again.

Uplands, Midlands, Lowlands = More Running Around!

 A couple of days ago my car headed in the direction of Strathroy.  I was hoping to see Upland Sandpiper in a usual spot, but again no luck.  I did hear one though!

I continued on to the Strathroy lagoon site, where once again, Black-necked Stilt is likely nesting.

It is an excellent birding location with Sora and Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, and various ducks nesting.  And passerines!

After an hour there in early morning, I headed back to the Upland Sandpiper site with no luck yet again.  I knew there were some in the Glencoe area, so that was the next spot.  Bingo!  Right at roadside I saw a pair, and I did not even get out of the car.

What to do next?  I got the notion to check out Wardsville Woods as I headed out of Glencoe.  It is getting that time of year to look for odonates.

Lots of Midland Clubtails were out, but nothing looked  like a Cobra Clubtail.

After milling about the little pond at the back, I caught sight of something I knew right away as an Arrowhead Spiketail.  They have a distinctive shape, flight and perching habit that gives them away, at least to my eyes.

After getting photos of this one, I went back to the car for refreshments. I headed back the trail and saw another one, but was unable to get on it with the camera.

It is early in the season, so hopefully more to come at Wardsville Woods!

Regarding butterflies, they are a bit scarce, but I have already seen several Common Sootywings in various locations.  

Common Sootywing at Wardsville Woods

Monday, I did not do much and stayed close to home.

Common Whitetail (F)

Today was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve (SRNR).  It is always an opportunity to check out the place, since there is no public access on the Lambton side (you would have to cross private property).  You can get into the Middlesex side off Buttonwood Road, which is on the east side of the Sydenham.

Great-crested Flycatcher

There were not many participants this year, but we got it covered.  I did my usual area on the Lambton side.  Nothing new really.  Song Sparrows were really abundant!

The trusty Blue-winged Warbler was in its usual area.

Towards the "lowland" parts of the reserve, I heard Cerulean Warbler singing along the river, as well as Mourning and American Redstart (plus Yellow, Common Yellowthroat) in the warbler department.

While near the river, I decided to do a quick check for mussels.  It is very shallow and fast moving in this location.  This is a prime spot to look for mussels.

I found some along the edge, but most notably was a Round Hickorynut.  It is a critically imperiled species which I had never encountered before.

Here is a more common species:

Spike

Not much in the way of odes today.  Lots of Midland Clubtails and Common Whitetails, a few Ebony Jewelwings.  No Arrowhead Spiketails!  I had one dancer sp., then this Azure Bluet.

There are some impressive deep ravines here which are something to behold.