Weekend Washout Wanderings

Saturday morning I headed down to Rondeau Park.  It was not raining when I went out the door, but starting pouring soon after.  However, by the time I got to the park, it stopped!  Thankfully it stayed dry for a few hours to walk around.

It was evident that there was a sparrow fallout this week.  Hundreds of sparrows, including juncos littered the roads and trails.

chippie (dozens of those!)

At key areas like the yacht club and tennis court, there were several Vesper and Savannah Sparrows.

Juncos were in big numbers, but I did not see any Oregon, Pink-sided, White-winged,
Gray-headed or intergrades.

I first walked south point trail, which was surprisingly out of the wind.  Some Brown Thrashers were singing and a couple of Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting about.  The Yellow-rumped were scattered about the park, and I probably came across about 20.
It is interesting to look back on past records to see what we have seen by this date.  Several warbler species, vireos, etc. have all appeared.  This year migration is very held back.

I added several FOY birds though.

The White-winged Dove had not been seen in several days.  One wonders if it is still nearby or what.  Mel's Diner has not been open yet, unlike last year.

After the park, I checked the lakeshore south of Morpeth, where the lake was very angry.

Ruddy Duck riding the waves!

The water levels were very high, especially at Erieau.

Back near home, a Snowy Owl was still along Langstaff Line.

Today, the mind-boggling weather was even worse.  Freezing rain coated everything, but I headed out to the St. Clair River.
There was a fair number of things to see, including the lingering male King Eider at Sombra.  It was exactly where I found it Friday morning.

A White-winged Scoter was in Sombra Bay, among other ducks.

Ring-necked Ducks

Several Common Loons were along the river, as well as a couple of Horned Grebes.

I drove some back roads, and came across a large group of Savannah Sparrows along Pretty Road.  They were probably looking for the pastures that were here 20+ years ago!

Tomorrow will be much nicer (but cold) once the weekend is over.....as usual!

Rambles at Rondeau

It was rather chilly and windy this weekend as this wacky weather continues. Early Saturday morning was not too bad down in Rondeau, but as time went on things took a turn for the worse.
I managed to find a few birds that were first for the year.  One was a Brown Thrasher on south point trail, which did not want to face the camera.

A pair of early Purple Martins was investigating a home near the visitor centre.  I am sure they did not appreciate the weather late yesterday and this morning!

Quite a few Horned Grebes were on the lake and while watching at beach access #9, I spotted a Red-necked Grebe.
By that time, the weather had deteriorated, but I looked at some sparrows near the tennis courts.  A Vesper Sparrow was among them.  The weather prevented me from getting a decent photo.

A heavy snow shower was underway, so I decided to get into the woods and walk Black Oak Trail.  Soon after starting, a large white bird caught my eye.  Turned out to be a Great Egret!  A slough in the woods is not a usual location for such a species.

It was time to leave as the weather was rather dismal by mid-day.
I took a quick peak at Blenheim Lagoons, but it was totally unbearable to stay there!  Too windy and cold.  Water levels are high and nests are afloat.

Bufflehead are in big numbers everywhere right now, including Blenheim.

Sunday was very cold, but sunny.  I walked south point trail (east side) again.  It was evident that Fox Sparrows had come in with good numbers, some littering the trail.

They were all over the park.

Fewer Eastern Phoebes were present, or at least they were silent today in the cold.

More sparrows were present at the tennis court area, as well as the continuing Vesper Sparrow.

Lots of Pine Siskins are at feeders right now.

The week will still remain cold, but hopefully next weekend will be warm and with many newly-arrived birds.

Birding On Fool's Day

No fooling, it was downright warm today!  Although cooler along Lake Erie at Point Pelee this morning, on the way home this afternoon some spots reached 18 Celsius. With the strong southerly wind, I figured today was a good day to take off and check out Pelee.

I started at the Tip shortly after 8 a.m.  Already it was obvious many kinglets and creepers were working the woods, and gulls (especially Bonaparte's) and ducks were on the move out on the lake.

This American Coot was all alone adjacent to the very tip as I arrived.

Bonaparte's Gulls were steadily moving southwards, especially on the west side.  It was evident that many songbirds were in reverse migration.  Perhaps they know something is in the works with regards to the weather!  Quite a few Eastern Phoebes went by as Alan Wormington and I watched.

Several Eastern Meadowlarks were moving around as well.  A few Eastern Bluebirds went south also.

Waterfowl and other waterbirds included Green-winged Teal, all three scoters (I saw at least 2 Black), Pink-footed Goose (2), Common Loon (1 only), Glaucous Gull (2), and Double-crested Cormorants.  It took a while for the cormorants to kick in!  Of course there were the usual scaup, Bufflehead, mergansers.

White-winged Scoters

I saw a total of 5 Tree Swallows "bailing" the province.

I checked out Sparrow Field but not much was there except a Savannah Sparrow beside the road with Song Sparrows.  Some meadowlarks were around too.

Next walk was at De Laurier and Ander's Footpath. More phoebes and sparrows including a Vesper.  I finally saw for the year, Chipping Sparrows in the parking lot.

I did check the wet spots in the fields and Hillman, but there seemed to be little around today!

Just in the last two days, lots of ice and snow has disappeared.  It was a good day to recharge one's batteries!