FOY Birds and More!

I was due for a trip to Point Pelee, so there I went!  Rondeau was not in the cards today as Kent Bridge Road would have been very busy first thing in the morning with the 401 closure.  Pelee was a good choice today as I heard that Rondeau was quite "slow".

I met many friends and found some decent birds.

I started birding with Dan Greenham and we walked to the Tip.  Some FOY birds along the road included Eastern Kingbird, Ovenbird (heard singing), Northern Parula.  Just south of the solar panel, a trail-side Sedge Wren was giving birders some good looks.

The very Tip was quite brutal and nobody stood there for any length of time.  We did catch a glimpse of the long-staying Eared Grebe along with some Horned Grebes.  I never saw an Eared last year, as they were rather scarce overall.

We then walked up west beach trail where at the start, I caught sight of the Prairie Warbler from yesterday.  Lighting was horrible though.

We checked the serengeti tree area for the Henslow's Sparrow, but to no avail.  A Savannah Sparrow was nearby.

I continued up west beach trail seeing a few birds including several Palm and Black-throated Green Warblers.

I kept walking up to White Pine then over to Chinquapin Trail and down through Tilden's Woods.  A few birds were noted, but not many!  A FOY included a Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Woodland Trail was not too productive for birds, especially on the east side with the brutal EAST (again) wind.  I did see at least 3 Red-headed Woodpeckers.  Many have come in the last couple of days.

Next stop was briefly at Blue Heron, but it was too windy.  A bunch of Chipping Sparrows were on the lawn, and later I learned that a Clay-colored was among them.
I then decided to park at Dunes and walk the seasonal trail down to Pioneer, then back up west beach trail.  The only FOY was a Veery.

I heard that the Henslow's was seen again, so I went down that way by myself. Upon arrival, a bird flew out of the grass which I was certain an ammodramus type.  It briefly perched, but it was certainly not a Henslow's but a Le Conte's!  I saw it a second time, but never was able to photograph it.  A decent consolation in any case.

While there, I added a FOY Tennessee Warbler.

Upon arriving back at the VC, it was time to leave and head to Tilbury.  The Black-necked Stilt (found by Barb "Wire" Charlton) had been reported again, and since it is basically on the way home, I stopped there.  Irene the Birder was there as well as Carmen Loew.

The Black-necked Stilt was nice to see since I was not able to get to Windsor for the "flock" a couple of weeks ago.

The last I saw of this species were the two at Hillman Marsh a few years ago.

The weather actually turned out quite nice today, despite the threatening forecast.  Better than yesterday!

On to another week.....

Dickcissels and Daintys

First thing this morning I stopped at Tilbury Lagoons. The only non-resident bird was a Solitary Sandpiper, which I think is good for this time of year.  Habitat is excellent for when the shorebirds arrive!

Solitary Sandpiper

I went on down to Point Pelee today.  A bit of a bust in the park as very few butterflies, but lots of stable flies!

Red-breasted Merganser family along West Beach

On the way passing Hillman I heard a couple of Dickcissels along the west side, then at least one along Rd. 19.

A group of 29 Turkey Vultures was near the Tip of the park.

On the way out there was another Dickcissel singing along Rd. 19, a bit closer.

I went into Hillman Marsh and started walking to the shorebird cell.  I met up with Bev Scott and we spotted a Dainty Sulphur.  Then several more.  I estimated that I saw eight by the time I left.  Leaves me to speculation they colonized there.  These tiny butterflies were difficult to photograph!

We located a singing male Dickcissel.  I saw another shortly after, then yet another near the SE corner of the cell.  These birds were too far away to get a decent photo.

Needless to day, shorebirds were very few.  Besides noisy Killdeer were two Semipalmated Sandpipers, two Dunlin and a Black-bellied Plover.

I also saw a single Fiery Skipper along the trail.

After a quick lunch, I stopped by the Camper's Cove Dickcissel spot briefly.  Multiple birds here. I heard reports of up to 11!

Black-billed Cuckoo at De Laurier

Nothing noteworthy on the way home.  Very few spots to check since it is mostly 100% agricultural fields!

Peep Show

This afternoon after some time in Point Pelee, I stopped at Hillman Marsh to see what was in.  Lots of "peeps" were in, but they were over on the far side.  I walked over to get a closer view.  They were quite close, affording good views of dozens of Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlins, about 12 White-rumped Sandpipers and a single Semipalmated Plover.  Lots of Bonaparte's Gulls were present as well.

Bonie Bonanza 

One Semipalmated Sandpiper was of interest since it wore a colour flag on its left leg.  The marker was blue with white lettering EMT on both sides of the flag.  I sent in the information to see what response I get.

I walked all the way around the cell, and some butterflies were out even though there was a gale force wind.  A single Fiery Skipper, which did not co-operate very well was of note.

Fiery Skipper at Hillman

A Common Buckeye, the first in a while, was also on the path.

In the morning I did some birding in the park, starting at the Tip.  Some birds were trying to fly off, but the gale force winds told them otherwise.  Besides countless blackbirds and Cedar Waxwings, a Black-billed Cuckoo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and about a half dozen hummingbirds made the attempt.
The only shorebird I saw was a Semipalmated Sandpiper that rounded the Tip.

A Good Wind at the Tip (for fall!)

Walking back, Kory Renaud and I heard a Mourning Warbler at the 42 sign.  It was quite elusive until I finally spotted it from the shelter.  It was singing happily almost like a Kentucky!
I walked back through the centre and heard only two Blackpoll Warblers in the migrant department.

Prothonotary Warbler on Woodland Trail

I also walked De Laurier and Anders.  A Swainson's Thrush was singing along Anders and a couple of cuckoos.  A Little Yellow butterfly was along here as well.

Giant Swallowtail (note missing tail)

On the way home I stopped at Tilbury Lagoons and noted more shorebirds.  Different for the day was a Short-billed Dowitcher.

peeps at Tilbury

There were also several Semipalmated Sandpipers and White-rumped Sandpipers.

I checked out Angler Line near Mitchell's Bay, but did not come up with anything of note.  One cannot see anything due to the phragmites!  A Great Egret was in the ditch along the road.

Sandhills, Snipe, Shorebirds

A good number of shorebirds were at Stewart Wetland near Wallaceburg today. New for the summer there, believe it or not, was a Baird's Sandpiper and two Short-billed Dowitchers.  Lighting was terrible at noon with very strong winds, but several peeps and yellowlegs were present as well.
On the way to lunch I noticed quite a few Sandhill Cranes in the cut wheat fields.  Around 30 today in the fields I went by.

Baird's Sandpiper (right)

Without anything else to do this evening, I headed down to Tilbury.  New for me there was a Wilson's Snipe in the shorebird cell.  This cell is almost dried up!  Another day or so without rain it will be dry.  This has been an excellent spot, so I hope we do get some rain to replenish the mudflat.  Lighting was terrible for photos.


Also present were the usual 4 Long-billed Dowitchers (the only dowitchers present!), 4 Stilt Sandpipers and only one Baird's.  The other common peeps, yellowlegs, etc. were present.
Long-billed Dowitcher:






Five Black-crowned Night-Herons were around as usual.
Hopefully this weekend some new stuff will be around.  (i.e. Buff-breasted Sandpipers!).

Locations I have seen Sandhill Cranes near Wallaceburg: (trying something new here!!)

Weather Change

Late yesterday afternoon a storm quickly blew in with NW winds.  It is nice and cool today.  No doubt there was some exchange in birds.  More passerines are around today.
Without any destination in mind, I headed down to Tilbury first thing again this morning.  Not surprisingly, there were far fewer birds than yesterday.  Shorebirds were down to almost one third of yesterday.

Fellow blogger Dwayne stopped in and we were disappointed in the absence of the Red-necked Phalarope.  Only one Baird's present that I could see, and fewer dowitchers.  The trusty Long-billeds were still there though.

 Four Stilt Sandpipers (juvies) were present--likely all the same from yesterday.
No White-rumped Sandpipers here, but I thought I saw one yesterday.

Solitary Sandpiper

Even that odd Horned Grebe could not be found.
There will be good days ahead there--maybe a Red Phalarope will drop in like it did two years ago!
Bobolinks were on the move as some flew over Tilbury and elsewhere today.

I headed down to Erieau afterwards.  Hundreds of Common Terns around and some gulls including a first year Lesser Black-backed (not surprisingly).
I walked the R/R track trail and found a nice selection of warblers.  I had to stand under a thick canopy of trees since it started raining (must be the weekend!), but that was OK as I could look at the warblers.  Species included Tennessee, Yellow, Magnolia (2), Cape May, Blackburnian, American Redstart and Canada.  Other birds included Swainson's Thrush and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.
Over along McGeachy Pond dike, I caught sight of what was likely a Yellow-breasted Chat.

Someone needs to report some Buffies this week!

Many butterflies were getting some action yesterday!

Tilbury Puts on a Show (in more ways than one)

I did my usual weekend route (seems like a routine anyway) by stopping at Tilbury Lagoon then going on to Point Pelee.
I was at Tilbury by 07:30 and was delighted to find lots of birds!  First thing to see was a group of 40 Great Egrets.  Still no Snowy!!

Over at the shorebird section, there was finally a big number of birds to study.  Of note were 2 juv Baird's Sandpipers, 2 or 3 juv Stilt Sandpipers and at least 3 Long-billed Dowitchers among the 11 dowitchers present. There was no Red-necked Phalarope first thing, but on my return trip mid afternoon, it was there.  It had already been seen by other birders!  Always nice to see a phalarope!

Lots of shorebirds were there for a change.  Things may be looking up!

Long-billed Dowitchers

imm. Black-crowned Night-Heron

At Point Pelee I walked West Beach Trail south of V. C. twice.  It was getting too hot after the second time!
I saw two different Horace's Duskywings along the trail, then another along the beach edge.  A fourth duskywing farther south was around the Crown Vetch patch which led me to believe it was a Wild Indigo.

The butterfly situation was a bit mediocre today except for hundreds of crescents.  A couple of American Painted Lady butterflies were found, and one Red Admiral.

American Painted Lady

After my weekly fill of a Green Godess I stopped at the south end of Northwest Beach parking lot as usual and found a Gray Hairstreak.  This was only my second one of the year--the first being in mid May at Rondeau Park.

Gray Hairstreak

Birds included a handful of warblers such as Blackburnian, Canada and Yellow.

On the way home I stopped at Tilbury again and was delighted to see a Red-necked Phalarope.

Things come and go.  More ducks 'n things were present including a Horned Grebe.

Walking towards my car, I saw 3 Fiery Skippers in a cluster!  A male and female were in copula and another male was trying to get some of the action!

Slow Times

Caspian Tern

Things are still rather slow.  I have not seen much in the way of birds moving lately.  I checked out Tilbury S. L. last evening and found the same stuff.  A fair number of shorebirds, but nothing new. A good number of shorebirds have already moved through, but nothing in the rare category.
The usual Black-crowned Night-Herons were there, including this one which everyone seems to photograph.

A few egrets kicking around--I stayed until they headed out to their roosting site (where-ever that is!).

About 11 dowitchers were present with two or three being Long-billed.  This seems to be the only reliable place to find dowitchers in this neck of the woods.  If fact, I have not seen one anyplace else this summer.

Little happening at Stewart Wetland.  Down to four Lesser Yellowlegs today and the usual one Great Egret and a few Great Blues.  I faithfully check everyday....still waiting....
I did see an immature Black-crowned flying over the St. Clair River this morning at Port Lambton.
The first Wilson's Warbler of the fall was at Brander Park Monday morning.  I have not seen any other migrant warbler other than Yellow!
There have been some north winds recently, but nothing much to show for it.  Long-tailed Jaegers should be showing up by now!  Somewhere.
Saw lots of Five-lined Skinks at Rondeau on Saturday afternoon.  Even tiny ones.  This one is from the past: