A Southern Bird and Christmas Bird Count Notes

 Yesterday, December 18, was the Point Pelee Christmas Bird Count.  Weather was not very good (what's new?), but as we dedicated birders do, we persevere.  There are always some surprises on these counts, and yesterday was no exception.

While covering Wheatley Provincial Park, Pete Read and Peter Kelly somehow discovered.......wait for it.......a Limpkin!  Certainly on nobody's radar.  But, these things happen.

Local birders rushed to the scene to catch a glimpse of this out-of-place rail-like bird.

Today saw nicer weather, and myself, along with many other birders, went to see the bird.  It was tucked in, so photos are not all that great.

There was a northward movement of Limpkins this year, and a few were seen in Ontario.  Not being a "chaser" of rarities farther away, I thought I would never see one.  But that changed this morning.

This bird will not likely survive, it looked cold and did not move much during my observation.  It certainly does not have the strength to fly back south.  It did move around today though, apparently.

Wheatley Provincial Park has always been a nice birding place, but it has been quite a while since I have been there.  Today, there were other birds, such as Yellow-rumped Warblers, Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes and others.

Included was a hardier type of waterbird.

After getting my Limpkin fill, I headed over to Erieau to check out the marsh trail.  Seven Killdeer are still working the mudflats.

This past Sunday was the Blenheim/Rondeau Christmas Bird Count.  Weather was absolutely horrible, and I am not hesitant to say it was the most disappointing count I personally have ever done.  It was very windy, with rain or drizzle most of the day, and the roar of the waves breaking onshore made things difficult to hear.  Perhaps I got the short end of the stick, as my area was just too exposed, and it was too uncomfortable to do a long lakewatch.

I spent the first hour and a bit doing a lakewatch.  Not too much was moving, but I heard that a little later it was much better for movement.  I did get a couple of Red-throated Loons as a highlight.  Simply put, I did not want to stand there in the wind and rain for a long time!

I walked the south point east trail, and there were practically no birds.  I then walked back in along a slough where I did find a nice pocket of birds at one point.  It was quite a mixed group with robins, a couple of Purple Finches, a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, chickadees, and a Hermit Thrush, among others.

Random scenes:

I like these walks way back in.  One always can find some birds, and see some interesting scenery.

I usually walk northerly till I hit the old Dillon trail, but I completely overshot it by quite a ways!  It is getting too unrecognizable back there anymore.

Here is a scene later when I walked back the old Dillon for a while.

Note, Prothonotary boxes

The Dillon was actually a drivable road that connected the east side with the west side of south point trail.

The count did exceptionally well considering the weather and quiet year for birds.  Unofficially, 109 species were tallied, but I do not know the final results.  As always, there were some highlights such as the Purple Sandpiper out south beach, a House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, among others.  The Audubon's Warbler was seen as well.  

Ending my day (earlier than usual), I walked the north end of the campground and saw the Audubon's in less than 20 min.!

A few days ago, I had a nice walk at St. Clair NWA.  With the open water, thousands of waterfowl were present. I saw nothing unusual though!

A couple of Marsh Wrens were heard/seen along the dike, but are indeed expected.

Feeder operations have been slow this year.  Just too mild.  This White-throated Sparrow showed up here late yesterday.

Next CBC locally is Wallaceburg on the 27th.  I sure hope the weather is decent....

Birding May 5-8: A SNOW and some Snow

Spent Monday and Tuesday at Point Pelee.  Not surprisingly, it was very cold except for Tuesday afternoon. I did not find many birds which seems to be my usual luck there.  It was tough finding where some birds were on those days.
I stopped first thing at Hillman Monday and noted a single Long-billed Dowitcher.  The other shorebirds of note had left from the previous day!

At the park, I came across an Eared Grebe early morning on the west side south of midway of West Beach Trail. Water was calm and lighting was somewhat good for a decent photo.

Around mid-day I walked Woodland Trail with the Groves.  Two Hooded Warblers were at the head of the trail, the Yellow-throated Warbler was at its usual neighbourhood and a Louisiana Waterthrush was at the south boardwalk.  Not much opportunity for photos this day.

Blame this poor photo on my shivering....lol.

Louisiana Waterthrush

In mid afternoon, I checked out the Smith's Longspur spot.  One has to go into that field to find them.  I saw a female up close.  For some reason I did not lug the camera along!

I camped at Wheatley PP the two nights in my usual spot. As expected, both Sora and Virginia Rail were calling at the old lagoon site as I went to sleep.  Also heard Great-horned Owl.  During the night, a coyote or some member of the canine family kept me awake for a while!

Tuesday at Pelee was sunny for a change, but very cold to start.  By later in the afternoon it was quite pleasant and no need for jacket inland.  First thing we found a Bobolink perched in a tree at the Tip.  Not the typical habitat, but often seen like this when they first come in.
A fresh arrival was a Warbling Vireo at the Tip.

It was once again tough finding many birds.

Later afternoon was the annual pot-luck at White Pine where a number of friends gather for some good times.  This is the second I have been able to attend and it is quite enjoyable.  A special presentation (plaque of appreciation) at the end of the dinner was given to Alan Wormington for his hard work over the years in for his writings contributing to ornithological records in Ontario.  (A surprise to Alan!). Congratulations!

Back at Wheatley PP, I found a Solitary Sandpiper in the' usual' spot.  There is one here every year at this time!

For Wednesday, I decided to go back to Rondeau.  As usual, the weather was poor!  However there was a good number of birds (esp. warblers) on Spicebush Trail.  Included was a male Golden-winged.
At first light, hundreds of warblers were streaming north at a fast pace.  Seems to be the trend lately!  As a result, not many were left in the park.

In the afternoon I ventured outside the park to look at the Snowy Owl (SNOW) reported the previous day at Erieau.  Latest I have ever seen one!

There is a late June record for Erieau though.

While in the vicinity, I checked the first part of Marsh Trail (aka R/R track trail) and found a number of birds out of the wind.  At one point I thought I was hearing a Golden-winged Warbler, but due to the gale force wind (yes, again!), I was not sure.  Sure enough, a bird came alongside the trail singing.  A Brewster's Warbler!  It even sang a Blue-winged song at one point.

McGeachy Pond edge still had a bit of remnant snow.  Rondeau's marsh trail also had some leftover snow on this day.  One would think it was March with the weather, snow and Snowy Owl!

Up at Blenheim Lagoons (I never did go in), the Franklin's Gull that was found by Steve Charbonneau a couple days earlier, was in a field with bonies.  It is an immature bird.  Too far away for a photo though.

By nightfall, a thunderstorm rolled in.  There were several storms during the night and one very intense.  A lot of rain fell.
By first light Thursday morning, the clouds were disappearing and the sun came out for a nice.  Actually the nicest day we have had yet.  It bode well for birding, as hundreds of birds dropped in during the night.  However, hundreds were quickly streaming north out of the park once again.
Steve Charbonneau and I stopped at Bennet and Rondeau Roads first things and noted lots of birds, most of which were heading north at a good clip.
We decided to counter them at maintenance.  A good choice as we spotted around 18 species of warblers, plus many tanagers, orioles, and vireos.  Best warbler was a Golden-winged that flitted briefly right in front of me for a few seconds.  No time for a photos on all these anxious birds!

Scarlet T.

Nashville Warblers won the lottery for numbers today, but Ovenbird, Black-and-White were close behind.
Thrushes were in good numbers (we had FOY Gray-cheeked) as well a White-throated Sparrows.  We spent a lot of time along Rondeau Road.  Still no Kenucky or Hooded there!
At one point we had Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush and Swainson's Thrush close together in one binocular view.  A Wood Thrush was singing in the background.  Was not till later we saw a Hermit Thrush!

Birds were all over the park and it was nice to finally see some numbers.  As I left this afternoon, warblers were quietly working the sloughs.

My yard here even had a good number of migrants....finally.

Tomorrow looks pretty good as well.

Pelee Sachem and Gray Hairstreak Invasions!

With time on my hands, I spent Wednesday and half of Thursday at Point Pelee and found a butterfly bonanza.  Pelee lived up to its fame with a fabulous showing on Wednesday, and fewer butterflies on Thursday.
I was out on West Beach by 09:00 Wednesday and the butterflies were immediately evident.  I found several Sachems (certainly the target species of this trip!).  During my stay I noticed several were in pairs, mating was likely an occurrence.

Sack-ems!

Most of the Sachems were at the north end of the beach, south of West Beach parking lot.  I walked all the way to the Tip and back, alternating between beach and trail.  I notice many Gray Hairstreaks south of the solar panel on first pass.

After a break, I did the same route, and by this time it was warmer and sunnier.  I kept tally the whole time, trying not to count twice, but with the sheer numbers, it was a challenge.  Around and south of the solar panel things got interesting.  Gray Hairstreak galore!  It was quite a chore to count them.  I conservatively came up with 32 along in that area!  Most I have ever seen on one walk!  Total for the park that day ended up at 41 which is a new daily high.

Horace's Duskywing

Other highlights included Horace's Duskywing and Common Sootywing.  I think that is the first sootywing I have seen in the park!  Not common there anyway.

Common Sootywing (not a snout!)

By this time it was after lunch and some nourishment was needed.  I checked out that new place just outside the park gate.  An interesting luncheon indeed.
After lunch, I checked out Black Willow (south) and Northwest Beach (south).

Next stop was Wheatley Provincial Park.  I decided to camp there for the night anyway.  It was actually quite pleasant as I chose my usual site at the north end of Highlands.  No people around in the immediate area and the weather was nice.  I like that area because it is quiet and there is an old lagoon site just behind that I always walk.
There I found five more Sachems among other things.

I then went over to Hillman Marsh.  More butterflies and I got Dainty Sulphur (8) for the day. Lots of checkered skippers needless to say.  Also added a Peck's, something that almost never shows up within Pelee Park for some reason.  I had the last one about 3 year's ago or so, and previous to that there was one in 1996 I believe.

Peck's Skipper

The evening was nice at Wheatley with lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches around.  Many moving now.  Screech Owls heard during the night.

Hillman Dainty

Next morning I did the same route at Pelee, but noticed fewer butterflies.  The wind had stiffened and switched to the SW.  At the Tip parking lot I met Alan Wormington.  We started at the Tip where we met up with Jeremy Hatt.  He was leading some friends around, but could not join us.  Too bad he missed yesterday! LOL.
Alan and I walked up West Beach Trail discussing other possibilities of butterflies along the way.  There are many potentials this year such as Whirlabout, Clouded Skipper, Long-tailed Skipper....

Another Sack-em!

This morning I walked De Laurier first thing and noted quite a few migrant warblers.  An early White-throated Sparrow was chipping in the underbrush, but I did not see it.  Things are getting too thick there with grape vine, etc.!

Following is a list for this trip:

August 15:
WEST BEACH TRAIL/BEACH south of West Beach P. L.:
Common Sooty-Wing (1)
Horaces's Duskywing (1 immaculate female)
Common Checkered-Skipper (25)
Fiery Skipper (13)
Sachem (16)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (37) --32 of those were in the area south of the
Solar Panel!! (conservative number!)

White-lined Sphinx Moth near Black Willow

BLACK WILLOW south beach:
Common Checkered-Skipper (5)
Common Gray Hairstreak (2)
+White-lined Sphinx Moth

NORTHWEST BEACH south of P. L.:
Common Checkered-Skipper (4)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (2)

HILLMAN SHOREBIRD CELL:
Common Checkered-Skipper (55)
Fiery Skipper (4)
Peck's Skipper (1)
Sachem (2)
Dainty Sulphur (8)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (2)

WHEATLEY P. P. -old lagoon site at north side
Common Checkered-Skipper (1)
Fiery Skipper (2)
Sachem (5)

August 16:
WEST BEACH TRAIL/BEACH south of West Beach P. L. (including south of solar
panel):
Common Checkered-Skipper (13)
Fiery Skipper (7)
Sachem (8)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (19)

NORTHWEST BEACH south:
Common Checkered-Skipper (2)
Fiery Skipper (2)
Sachem (1)

V.C. PARKING LOT:
Fiery Skipper (3)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (1)