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.

Christmas Season Notes

 Here we are and it is Christmas already.  Nothing exciting around here as usual, but I have been out and about.  There has been a lack of good subject matter for this blog lately, so I am struggling with it.

On Friday, I headed down to Wheatley Harbour and Point Pelee.  There was quite a bit of activity with birds around Wheatley, but I could not find anything of note.  A few Double-crested Cormorants were in the harbour.  There are always a few hardy individuals this time of year.

They were in the C-K portion.  It is always dicey as to what county you are in at the harbour.  The channel is not the dividing line.  Here is a photo showing the county lines.

I noticed an interesting ferry at Hike Metals.  I think it is the old Sombra ferry, Daldean, but has been extensively rebuilt.  I am not certain, but I know of no other ferry like it.

I could see no indications of name, but the Daldean went to Bob-Lo Island when it was sold back in 2020.  I did some research, and it was renamed Columbia VII.  However I could not find any photos.  I am fairly certain that is what it is, as the basic structure is the same.  I do not like the colours though!

aboard Lowell D

In the Hike Metals yard, there is a smaller ferry that has been sitting there for years.  It is the old Walpole ferry, Lowell D, name after my uncle.  It also spent some time at Sombra.  These two ferries were once owned by my grandfather who operated the ferry business for a time at Walpole, then Sombra.  

The last time these two ferries were together was a long time ago!  A reunion of sorts!

Photo from many  years ago before wheelhouse was rebuilt

I did not spend much time at Point Pelee and did find much as usual.

Saturday, I spent some time along the St. Clair River.  Once again, it is dead for birds for the most part.

Kaye E. Barker

Skies were relatively clear, but there was a lot of shimmer, as seen in the above photo, since it did not come out sharp.

Sunday, I went to Rondeau.  It was quite cold, but the skies were clear.  Why was it not like that a week earlier?  Probably because no bird count was scheduled!

Only half a moon this day!

Everything was frozen from the cold weather.

Bay Ice

I needed a long walk, so went out marsh trail to Long Pond.

Scene at frozen Long Pond

At Long Pond, two Killdeer were on the ice.  They were calling, wondering what they were still doing at these latitudes.  A bit too distant for  photos though.

Some curious Black-capped Chickadees were along were along the trail foraging for food.

A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was the only notable, but there have been quite a few this month sticking around.  It was near the cottages just as I was finishing up my 11 km walk!

Monday was quite birdless everywhere!  I spent some time along the St. Clair River, but it was even quieter than the previous visit.  Climate change!!!

Today was a very dismal day weatherwise and birdwise, not what we would like to see for the Christmas season.  I went for a walk at Reid CA this morning to collect my thoughts.

Scene along the Sydenham at the high point

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!

More Holiday Weekend Birding

Sunday was a decent day for birds at Rondeau Park.  There was a good influx of various warblers such as Tennessee, Canada, Wilson's and Mourning, as well as various flycatchers.  The holiday weekend in May often sees a good showing of flycatchers, especially Willow, Alder, Acadian and more of the others.  Interestingly, I did not find any Acadian, despite looking in the appropriate spots.  Hopefully more are to come in.

Eastern Kingbird

I did a long walk from maintenance area down Rondeau Road, across Bennett and back up Harrison.  I found a good variety of warblers including several Canada and Wilson's.
I heard that south point trail was good, so I headed there next.  It was slow going due to the deep water, but worth the effort.  Perhaps two dozen species of warblers were seen, plus lots of flycatchers.  Alders and Willows were calling, and more Leasts were in.  However, I never came across my favourite, the Olive-sided.  Other birders reported it though. ( I did finally find one at Peers Wetland in the evening!).

Indigo Bunting

After many hours in the park, I headed west along the lake shore hoping to see some Whimbrel.  The holiday weekend always seems to be the peak time for them.  After a brief stop at Wheatley Harbour where there were no Whimbrel, I moved over to Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  Mostly Dunlin were in, but 4 Short-billed Dowitchers, some Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers and a single of both yellowlegs rounded out the shorebirds.
Perhaps just as I was leaving, a Stilt Sandpiper came in, going by the reports.  This species is rare in spring migration in our area.

I stopped by Wheatley Harbour once more and lucked out with Whimbrel.  Far to the east I spotted a flock coming in.

It circled a few times, landed on the beach, circled again, landed again, and took off.

Whimbrel often seem to be nervous and in a hurry during spring migration.

This flock was difficult to count, but I thought there were 58.  Interestingly, Deryl Nethercott reported the same number at Erieau less than two hours previous.  That flock headed west, so likely it was the same group!

Today I headed back to Rondeau for a more leisurely birding time.  The park had very few people--unprecedented for the Victoria Day holiday.  The closure of the campground, likely the first in its history, cut down on the number of people in the park.  Birders loved this situation!

Warbler of Canada

I started on south point first thing.  I had the trail to myself.  It was obvious that there were fewer birds today, but that is expected at this point.  The migrants will move very quickly at this time of the month.

Blackpoll Warbler female

There was good variety and I ended up with about 21 species of warblers.

Cape May Warbler

Blackburnian Warbler

I went as far as the "washout" area where there has been severe erosion over the past few years.  The trail used to be way out in the lake here!

Layers of Time

There were still lots of Swainson's Thrushes.  I had close to 40 today.  It has been a banner year for them in migration.

Later, I checked out maintenance area, then Bennett.
I walked the maintenance loop "extension", a trail we used to do often many years ago.

A few birds were back in, including several Canada Warblers.

On the way home, I stopped by Blenheim Lagoons.  Water was high in the sprinklers, but there were lots of small shorebirds on the pipes.

Perhaps over 300 birds were present, the bulk of which were Dunlin, with some Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers and at least 4 White-rumped.

A male Wilson's Phalarope was in the back.

There will still be some birds moving through in the next ten days, but the bulk of them have gone north.

Rondeau Remnants