More Tourin' and a Special Visitor

 I have been taking advantage of the wonderful weather lately.  This past Sunday, I did a big tour, heading to Strathroy first thing.

The lagoons at Strathroy provide a good birding spot.  Black-necked Stilts have returned to nest there once again.  In fact, there are two pairs!  I only saw three birds, assuming one was tending to a nest hidden in the weeds.

They were not close, but I attempted a photo anyway.

It was then back west to check some pastures (what few remain).  More and more disappear each year, which is devastating to grassland birds.  I was really hoping to find Grasshopper Sparrow on this outing, but that did not happen.  One field I always get them is now a wheat field!

Some pastures remain, and attract Upland Sandpipers.

Another location near Glencoe had a couple as well.  This one was a bit agitated right beside the road.  No doubt young were nearby.

Used to be more pastures here even a couple of years ago, but only a couple remain.

It was then on to Skunk's Misery where I stopped by a popular birding spot.  Here we get various warblers and even Acadian Flyatcher.

I heard Prothonotary Warbler singing around a woodland pond, but it never showed.  I think it was my first for Middlesex.

A Cerulean Warbler was singing constantly along the road, in typical fashion high in a tree.

Since I was in the neighbourhood, a stop at Wardsville Woods was mandatory.  As readers of this blog know, it is a hotspot for insects, especially dragonflies.

Common Whitetail

Just before leaving, a dragonfly flew past me that I instantly recognized as a spiketail.  Which one?  Turned out to be a Twin-spotted.

Arrowhead Spiketail also resides here, so maybe next trip I will find one.  I discovered these two species here a number of years ago.

Lots of Midland Clutails were flying.  I had hoped to see the rare Cobra Clubtail, but it was a tad early in the season yet.

Along the trail, I caught sight of a fast-flying skipper.  I knew it had to be a Zabulon, and sure enough it was!

This is the third year in a row I have seen one here.  I discovered it here and am probably the only to have seen them here, as a first for Middlesex.

Monday I did not do too much, but came across my first Common Ringlets of the season.

Tuesday I headed down to Rondeau.  I did not come across anything of note, but you never know until trying.  While there, a friend sent me a note and recording that a Kirtland's Warbler was in their yard.  I had a difficult time believing it!  This was near Brigden.

There was no mention of having visitors, so I took my time, then went home.  I received another note that the warbler was still present and asked if I could see it.  Off I went!

As soon as I got out of the car, I could hear its loud song.

I stayed about an hour taking in this marvel.  As they often are, Kirtland's Warblers are very co-operative once they find a spot.

There are only a handful of records for Lambton, and this was my first for the county, needless to say.  One I have always wanted for Lambton!

I wish more people could have seen it, but it was on private property and was not my call to invite people.

Today, a few of us did a breeding bird survey at a new conservation lands.  Called Bradshaw Conservation Lands, it is a unique piece of property between McCallum and Burman Lines west of Brigden Road.

It was obtained in a partnership between Thames Talbot Land Trust and St. Clair Conservation, but it is a "closed" property meaing no general public access.

There is one exposed area that contains numerous fossils and rocks.  Pretty unique!

June is probably my favourite time of year, so more things to come!

Recent Observations As May Marches On

 The days are quickly passing!  Most migrants have moved through, but there were still lots this past week.

I was at Rondeau on Tuesday for a long walk.  I started at south point trail (west) and continued a ways out the south beach.  It was not overly productive, but that was what I wanted to do.

It was windy yet again, and there was not much out the beach.

As always, I look down once in a while.  An easily recognizable mussel shell was an Eastern Pondshell.

Before leaving, I checked around maintenance. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was showing nicely.

I then decided to head west in hopes of seeing Hudsonian Whimbrel.  I completely struck out!  Typical luck.

There were a few warblers along the Erieau marsh trail, including this Canada which was moving too much to focus on.

There was not much at Wheatley Harbour.  This duskywing was likely a Columbine.

I stopped in at Hillman Marsh.  The long-staying White-faced Ibis was still present.

Wednesday was not overly productive around the home area.

Thursday I made an early morning run to Mitchell's Bay before going to the museum.

I did finally see some very distant Hudsonian Whimbrel over Ticky-Tacky Point.

Friday it was back to Rondeau.  Yet again, very windy!  I had been itching to make the long walk out south beach for some time, but I went out anyway despite the wind.  It was somewhat disappointing birdwise.

I was focusing on shorebirds, and had hopes of seeing Red Knots (Knot!).  There were other common species out there.

Dunlin

Least Sandiper

more Dunlin

There were some warbler on the way back, but many were silent foraging in the treetops.  Good thing I looked up once in a while!

I looked at plants as well.

White Bear Sedge

Maidenhair Fern

Upright Carrion Flower

I managed to see Showy Orchis as well.  Unfortunately, I was late this year in getting it in fresh flowering mode.

I always like to find this orchid each spring.  Seems more difficult these days, as I have not found them lately in spots I had them in the past.

More American Redstarts were finally in, as well as Philadelphia Vireos.

Saturday was a complete washout as everyone knows!  Must be the weekend......

Today was finally a calm, but cloudy day.  Fairly warm as well.  I went out to Mitchell's Bay first thing.

Quite a few birds had come in overnight.  There were many in the yard when I got up, so I had high hopes for the south trail at the Bay.

There were indeed more birds along the way, but certainly not big numbers.  Highlight was a  singing Connecticut Warbler.  It is a regular migrant, but often difficult to find, let alone see. It was singing up a storm, but true to its nature, I did not even see it.  It was only about 3m away at one point!

I attempted a recording. (never mind the feet!).  You can hear it once.

A few Wilson's Warblers were among the crowd.

At one point I heard a Yellow-headed Blackbird, but it remained unseen.  Not really unusual out that way.

A Grey-cheeked Thrush made an appearance on the trail.

Back near home, I checked out Peers Wetland, then decided to head up along Marthaville Road where there are some pastures.

Upland Sandpiper, difficult to find anymore, are here every year.  It took a while, but two finally popped up on their tyical perch (wooden fence posts).

That was enough for today!

Mid May Things

 Looks like the weather has finally smartened up!  We still had winds with an easterly component until yesterday, but it was SE.  It was warm for a change!

Been making trips to Rondeau every couple of days.  This is the first year since I cannot remember that I have not camped at Rondeau during May.  The weather has been the pits, and it has just not been convenient to do so.

Monday was a nice but cool day at Rondeau.  

There was a good variety of birds and was quite birdy in some spots.  I ended up with 95 species.

Blackburnian Warbler

I did get some first-of-year birds including Olive-sided Flycatcher (my favourite flycatcher) and Mourning Warbler.

Along the trails, I check out known spots for rare plants such as Goldenseal.

In the evening while relaxing on the back porch, some birds came in to the yard including a nice Canada Warbler (a FOY!).  My camera has been malfunctioning on occasion lately, and this was one of those times!

Tuesday, I stayed close to home and it was not too productive birdwise.

Wednesday it was back to Rondeau and we found an excellent variety of birds.  It was good in some areas of the park.

I opted to check out marsh trail first thing and went all the way to log pond.  Unfortunately, it sprinkled rain most of the time, and was not as birdy as I had hoped.  I needed the exercise in any case!

It is always worth a check though.  Sparrows along the way included Savannah and White-crowned working the trail.

By the time I finished, the sun was coming out for a gorgeous day.  I did a lot of walking again, and birds did not disappoint.

Magnolia Warbler

Saw my first Philadelphia Vireos of the year.  They are my favourite vireo.

It was nice to talk to familiar faces along the way.  Some we only see during the May birding season!

This time of year I always keep an eye out for Showy Orchis in a known location.

Today it was a change in scenery.  I wanted to check out some grassland birds towards Strathroy.  One has to travel some distance anymore to see these birds on territory in numbers.

I first went to a spot that had both Clay-colored Sparrow and Grasshopper Sparrow among the other grassland species.

The clay was a bit far as it sang atop a tree.

Next target was Upland Sandpiper (now rare in Ontario), and two were visible right away upon arrival in typical pose at a known location.  Unfortunately, I was looking towards the sun, so they were terribly backlit.

They used to be easy to find in the pastures in south Lambton north of Wallaceburg, but farming practices have changed all that.

With those out of the way, I headed down to Skunk's Misery since it is on the way home.  Seems many birds have yet to arrive as it was somewhat quiet.  However, it was quite pleasant there even though a few mosquitoes are now out.

Flowering Dogwood (imperiled in Canada) was obvious in many spots.

First walk was Sittler (no relation to Darryl) Woods, where I checked off Acadian Flycatcher singing for pizza (!).  Hooded Warblers were also there, but I never came across a Cerulean Warbler.

Cinnamon Fern in the woods

After driving some roads, I walked a familiar trail off Sassafras Road.  A fair number of birds were there.

Juvenal's Duskywings are out in full force now.

Last stop was Wardsville Woods, which was not too productive.  I did see a Giant Swallowtail for the first time this year, but it kept going!

I will be looking forward to many stops there later on in search for insects.

This afternoon I needed a walk at Reid CA.  Juvenal's Duskywings were plentiful.  In fact, it is the best crop I have seen in many years there.  Did not bother to photograph any.

Silver-spotted Skippers were even more plentiful, as I had more than 25.  Very flighty though.

A Grey Comma was in the field and not too photogenic.  

I saw my first Monarchs of the year at Reid today.  They were even less photogenic!

lol

I was just not successful in photographing any butterflies today!

With the holiday weekend approaching, we should see the greatest variety of birds along the trails.