The Past Week: New Arrivals

 We are now in the midst of the exciting time of year with migrants coming in (and some rarities!) and new growth.

Last Wednesday, I went down to Point Pelee.  Although a nice day, it was just my usual luck that it was very quiet for birds.  Some first-of-year birds included both waterthrushes on Woodland trail.

On the way home I stopped by the south trail at Mitchell's Bay as I often do.  Highlight was a White-eyed Vireo that was too busy to come close as it was feeding.

Forster's Terns were occupying the dock, a little upset that I came along.

A Green Heron (as seen on the header) was busy looking for food.

Many turtles, constituting four species were basking in the sun.

Blanding's

Map

A couple of very large Snapping Turtles were present.

The next day, I went for the long walk out Rondeau's marsh trail to Long Pond.  It was quite busy with birds on the way out with many Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers.

On the way back, they were all gone!  Goes to show that early morning is most active.

Lots of  "spring" Azures along the way.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk in the woods at Reid CA.

Many familiar spring plants were coming along.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

Red Trillium

Saturday was winter-like with high winds and cold temperatures under cloudy skies.  I went on an outing to Skunk's Misery that was organized by Thames Talbot Land Trust.  Very quiet for birds!  However, another good social outing.

An Eastern Red-backed Salamander was noted under an old log at one point.

In the afternoon, I was bored enough that I went for a walk at McKeough CA.  I checked out the Twinleaf patch just out of curiosity!

Sunday was a fine day, and I went up to Sarnia's Canatara Park.  It was quite birdy along Lake Chipican, but mainly with only two species of warblers.  Palm and Yellow-rumped warblers were quite numerous.

I joined in an outing organized by the Breeding Bird Atlas.  It was a great social event!

First-of-year birds included Black-and-White Warbler, Chimney Swift, Broad-winged Hawk, Great-crested Flycatcher and Blue-headed Vireo for me.

Unco-operative Vireo

I did not miss anything, as birding was slow everywhere that day.

Today, it was down to Rondeau again on a nice day.  And yes, the winds had an easterly component!  Somewhat quiet for birds (again!), but It was good to be there.

A very bright Blue-winged Warbler was a new year bird.  It was very active, so I was not able to get a decent photo.

On the way home, I stopped by Blenheim lagoons.  The were lots of shorebirds, but virtually all Lesser Yellowlegs.  About 80 of them!  Long time since I have seen that many in one place.

Gulls were almost absent, but a few Bonaparte's were swimming around.

In the afternoon, I had to take advantage of the nice weather at Reid CA.  It was almost birdless, but I just wanted to go for a walk in the woods.

Large-leaved Bellwort

Spotted Geranium

Wood Anemone

Tomorrow may be good for birds with the change in weather!  We always hope.

Early March.... errr, May Birding

 Cold and wet has been the theme this week.  Migrants are only at a trickle so far; certainly the slowest spring in recent memory.  There have been some decent birds, though, popping up if you are in the right locale or want to chase them.

A few days ago, a Yellow-throated Warbler was found in Canatara Park, Sarnia.  Remarkably, it was the third sighting in Lambton this year!  I ventured up early Sunday morning and managed to see it foraging at tree-top level.  It was a new 'Lambton' bird for me, as well as most other area birders.  I was not able to get decent photos though.  Just happy to see it.

The first Lambton record was in late April 2020 at the very same spot!  

Working my way home, I spotted a Yellow-headed Blackbird along Blackwell Road.  However, it was on the move.  A decent sighting in Lambton.

The day before I went to Rondeau.  Very few birds, but a couple of first-of-year birds were tallied.  This Northern Waterthrush was singing behind the maintenance yard.

We walked out marsh trail for lack of anything else to do.  Rails were showing/calling well, including this Sora.

Virginia also made an appearance, and a heard-only King Rail rounded out the rail situation.  King Rails are more often heard than seen, but once in a while you get lucky.  This one was from a few years ago.

A White-eyed Vireo was a nice surprise, but difficult to photograph.

Yesterday I went to Point Pelee, but as usual, it was the wrong day to do so!  Nothing of note.  Some shorebirds were seen at Hillman Marsh, including a couple of nice Willets.  Unable to photograph them though.

I have done quite a bit of driving around lately for lack of anything else to do, and nothing to show for it.  These Sandhill Cranes posed nicely near the road today.

Weather looks good for next week though, so the dam should break with a big influx of birds.

Another big tree at Reid CA (Burr Oak)

Recent Rondeau Ramblings as NE Winds Prevail

 Migration has been a virtual trickle the last few days with the prevailing east winds.   East winds have been the usual winds this time of year the last number of years for whatever reason.  This year, has been the worst!  However, we persevere.

Thursday evening, I decided to go and see the White-faced Ibis at Erieau in case it was not seen again.  However, it was still there today! The bird was originally spotted by Jeff Tunstall.

It is only the second one I have seen in the Rondeau birding area.

Friday I was at Rondeau bright and early, or at least early since it was a dull day.  I started with a watch at the entrance to the marsh trail where birds stream out first thing, especially on NE winds.  As usual, hundreds of blackbirds, swallows and a few warblers were streaming out.  Nothing special.

Before leaving, Steve and I walked a bit down marsh trail.  We did not get far when some funky shorebirds, six of them, quickly flew by.  Steve was sure they were American Avocets, but turned out they were cousins, namely Black-necked Stilts!  There was no time for a photo.

Craig Anderson was nearby on Water Street, and ran out just in time to see the tail end of them in the distance.  We figured they must have headed for Keith McLean C. L., so Craig rushed out to see them in the field to confirm ID.  However, they quickly took off never to be seen again!

Likely the best species of Rondeau Park so far, at least for us!

We checked other areas later, but it was dead!

We came back to the marsh trail and headed out but were stopped when we spotted the Henslow's Sparrow that was found the previous day by Kevin Gevaert.  We saw it well, but it did not co-operate for photos during our watch.  We were going to head farther out, but as usual, rain was on way to coincide with the weekend.

This is the second Henslow's found in the park this year!  We usually go years without one.

A Chestnut-sided Warbler was hopping on the ground at our feet, in desparate search for food.

Today was sunny and clear much to our amazement (it was Saturday!).  Rain was forecast a couple of days ago, but then, long-range forecasts are usually 100% wrong.

We again stood at marsh trail at sun-up.  Thousands of swallows were streaming north, but no warblers.

With lack of any other ideas, Steve and I decided to walk down the west side of south point trail.  Very few birds, but some were at the end.  A White-eyed Vireo was showing nicely in the morning sun.

The celebrity of the park was again showing off on marsh trail, so we went down to see the Henslow's Sparrow.  It was virtually at our feet crawling like a mouse through the vegetation, as they typically do.

Not much was seen the rest of our stay in the park, except for a couple of Little Gulls on the Bay.  Those were seen in a feeding frenzy from the marsh trail dock.

East winds are forecast the entire week strangely enough, so we will see what happens.  There is certainly a big back-log of birds somewhere down south, many of which should already be here by this date.

Some Tuf(ted) Birding

 Been cold the last two days!  Not much new has come in since last Sunday due to the weather.  Some of the birds we are seeing lately probably came in last Sunday. Some tough days of birding!

I went down to Rondeau early this morning.  There was not much to sort through and hardly any warblers.  I did get some FOY birds such as Sedge Wren, White-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, Hooded Warbler and later Grasshopper Sparrow.  All did not want to be photographed!

Swainson's Thrush

During my time at Rondeau, I heard that a Tufted Duck was at Point Pelee.  Since Rondeau was virtually dead (again), I headed that way.  I did not rush, and took a leisurely pace.

After arrival, I took the tram to the Tip, and had a nice chat with Paul Pratt.  I then headed up the west side, and soon noted a Yellow-throated Warbler working a tree.  I watched it for ten minutes.  As easy find.

Quite a few of these creatures have been around southern Ontario so far this spring, but not one at Rondeau (yet).  Nice to see that one!

I heard that the Tufted Duck was still being seen, so I headed up that way.  Eventually I got good looks at it in the distance.  It was a new Pelee bird for me!  It was tuf tough to see as it quickly moved around.

It is the third one I have seen in Ontario, the last being.....way back....in the winter of 1994 at Sombra!  Long time coming.

A couple of White-eyed Vireos were in the vicinity as well.  Again, I had no luck in photographing one!

Been quite a few of those around recently.

I walked back to the VC via Woodland Trail.  For some reason I keep missing a Louisiana Waterthrush!  Been a nemesis this spring!

I did get a co-operative Prothonotary Warbler though.  A FOY.

Nothing else for the rest of the day, except a FOY Eastern Kingbird.

A good day, but better days are ahead!

Floodgate Opens and FOY Birds

 Tuesday April 27 looked good for an influx of spring migrants, and indeed it was!  The floodgates had finally opened after a somewhat slow spring.

I decided to delay a visit to Rondeau until today, April 28, as I had other things to do.  There was not much evident in my area, but some shorebirds did drop in.

Near the workplace, I have Roberta Stewart Wetland.  This spring we have a good mudflat, unlike a year ago.  Shorebirds have been taking advantage.  

I took a quick look in the morning and saw some shorebirds in the wetland.  One caught my eye as a phalarope.  Although Wilson's was most likely, that, it was not!  It turned out to be a Red-necked!  We do not see too many of these in spring migration.  Unfortunately, I did not have a camera on hand, and the cell phone was useless.

I heard reports of many birds, and some good ones throughout the day along Lake Erie.

Locally I stopped by Peers Wetland late in the afternoon.  A couple of Palm Warblers were present, including a "Yellow" (my third for the location!).  There was a regular Palm as well.

(Western) Palm Warbler

Today I headed down to Rondeau fairly early, but not early enough for nightjars such as Whip-poor-wills. Turns out I managed to see one in my travels today, as if flushed off the side of the trail!  

No need to get up early and get one for the year!

Anyway, I started on south point trail as we often do this time of year.  It was a decent morning with many first-of-year (FOY) birds.  Red-headed Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Sedge Wren, Blue-winged Warbler and Orchard Oriole were notables among other FOY birds.

Unco-operative White-eyed Vireo

I then walked Tulip Tree trail which was virtually dead!  I continued on up Harrison trail where I found a few birds, including three Black-and-White Warblers at the group campground.

Swainson's Thrushes were also seen.

I ended up walking all the way around back via Rondeau Road.  A bit of a mistake, as nothing was along Rondeau Road except a FOY Common Yellowthroat.

Yellow-rumped Warblers were few and far between today.

While on the walk, I heard about a Prairie Warbler near maintenance, so I headed up in that direction.  No such warbler on my visit (someone I know had one on their property yesterday in Lambton!), but we did have Black-throated Green and Blue-winged Warbler.

Highlight was another White-eyed Vireo which was on the move.

I decided to head out of the park and over to Hillman Marsh to take advantage of the shorebird arrivals.

Upon arrival, many American Avocets were visible.

Willet to left

My favourite shorebird!  I even saw one pair copulating, so that is good breeding evidence for Essex County (LOL!).

With them was a single Willet, better than none, but not as good as the ~100 seen yesterday.

Also present were about twenty American Golden Plovers, always nice to see.

It started raining so I went back to the car to wait it out.

I went back to find a few Avocets had left as well as all of the plovers.  No godwits were seen today as far as I know.  Hopefully more of those to come.

All in all, a decent day with about 20 FOY birds!