Guthrie Park: The Go-To Place in Mid-Winter

We are in a deep-freeze and most of the St. Clair River is full of ice now.

Port Lambton

 

The past couple of mornings I spent quite a bit of time at Guthrie Park on the St. Clair River.  It is the go-to place this time of year!  Very little open water farther south due to ice build-up, so ducks and gulls and are concentrated here.

Friday morning was fairly good and the highlight was when I spotted a Harlequin Duck.  It was quite distant, so I thought it was another female, since one had been at Cathcart Park the last few days.  Later, other observers thought it was likely a young male, which can look similar to a female at a distance.

Lots of Canvasback and Redhead were in close, among other things.

Many of the ducks have resorted to eating gizzard shad.  Even the Mallards!

Numbers of goldeneye had dropped, but I still had hopes of finding the Barrow's Goldeneye that was found last Sunday.  No dice this day!

Lots of Mute Swans here, but a Trumpeter Swan showed up earlier this week.

An oddball duck has been frequenting the area for the last week or so.  We are not sure what it is, but almost looks like some Ruddy in the mix.  Even scaup seems to be involved, especially in the spread wing.

Drove back roads on the way home and saw lots of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings.

Today I went back to the river since there was not much else to do.  With the price of gas now, I did not want to go too far.

Ducks were in good and close today as ice had built up in the river.

Some goldeneye had congregated in midriver, but I could not pick out a Barrow's early on.

At one point, several goldeneye flew in close due to an Algoma tanker moving downbound.  I watched closely, and sure enough I spotted the Barrow's Goldeneye.  Darrell Parsons saw it simultaneously as well!  We both got out of our vehicles to get a better look.

It came fairly close allowing us to get good looks to make sure it was not a hybrid look-alike.

Eventually it went back out to midriver.  The last Barrow's I saw on the river was back in 2015, so we do not get them every year.  Tufted Duck is long overdue on the river!  Back in 1994 one stayed at Sombra for some time.

Some White-winged Scoters were in the vicinity as well.  I only saw two immatures yesterday, but three adults were here.

We observed a pair of Common Goldeneye getting a head start to the breeding season.  I was a bit late with the camera...lol.

Bald Eagles are always numerous on the river, mixing things up.

Some open water remains at Cathcart Park, but I did not spot a Harlequin Duck there today.   It was a good day though.

Good "Winter" Birds and More Duck Mania

 Friday, it was down to Rondeau again.  As usual I started with a lakewatch at dog beach as the sun rose on this hazy day.

Gulls have thinned out, so it was mainly ducks to watch.

As usual, Red-throated Loons have increased in numbers.  I counted over 40 in the time I was there.  Hopefully some will be around next Sunday for the CBC!

South point was somewhat quiet.  In the finch department, a couple of Common Redpolls flew over.

It was quite mild, and this Green Frog was out and about.

The campground was interesting in one spot as numerous species of birds were taking advantage of a puddle.

At least ten Yellow-rumped Warblers are wintering in the area, but no other warblers! (yet)

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. outside the park where a couple of decent "winter" birds are hanging out.  Firstly, the Least Sandpiper seems somewhat content there.  Good thing it will be mild this week.

A couple of days ago, a Nelson's Sparrow was found.  Quite likely it is one that has been there all along, as it was at the back of the big pond where not many birders trek.  It was tough to find, but we did see it.

A number of Savannah Sparrows are working the grounds as well.

It will be nice if these birds stick around and show up on the CBC next Sunday!

Today, on International Mountain Day, I headed down to Point Pelee.  No mountains in our area, but I recall a family trip out west just before I turned 13. (Wish I was into birding then!)

After touring Alberta, we took the train from Calgary through the mountains to Vancouver.  Unfortunately the train was over 3h late getting into Calgary, so much of the ride was during the night!

Anyway, I was at Pelee this morning before the winds really picked up.  The woods were quiet due to the wind, but the Tip was not too bad.  It was duck mania at the Tip!  Tens of thousands of scaup dominated the scene.

White-winged Scoters have descended en masse.  There were at least 1400 around!  Most I have ever seen at one time.

The AlgoCanada was at anchor east of Pelee for some reason.

Maybe some noteworthy duck was out there, but it did not appear on our watch.

Bonaparte's Gulls have been scarce of late, but I found where they hang out!  On my way to Pelee, I stopped by Wheatley Harbour and found 400+.  100% Bonaparte's though!

I stopped on my way back, and nary a bonie to be found!

These three Sandhill Cranes were in Mersea Road 21 fields this morning.

Brutal winds today, so we will see what tomorrow brings....

Lambton Wanderings to Pelee Wanderings

The last couple of days I have been checking out various haunts.  With Rondeau Park being closed the last couple of days, unfortunately for me, it allowed me to visit some other places not too far away.
Friday I went to north Lambton.  Since I always like doing a lakewatch this time of year at least once a week, I went to my favourite spot at Ipperwash Beach.  It turned out to be a good loon day (just the two usual species).
Here is my list for there:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61838769

After getting chilled to the bone, I went on up to Ausable River Cut CA.  It was disappointing with respect to birds!
Going back, I stopped by Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales for a short walk.  I knew it would be quiet, but I did find quite a few Black-capped Chickadees.
One spot had quite a few shrubs of winterberry holly.

I continued on with a drive around Kettle Point which did not produce anything.  It sure looks different than many years ago since the water level is so high.  There used to be a "point" that we could walk way out.  There is absolutely no sign of it anymore!
Here is an old photo taken from way out on the "point" looking towards land.

A stop by Forest Sewage Treatment Ponds proved fruitful.  Right at the the entrance, a Snowy Owl greeted me.

(taken through windshield)

A variety of ducks was present. The oddity was a Long-tailed Duck, not often seen in a small sewage lagoon.
While standing near the platform, I heard the soft chips of a Common Yellowthroat.  It saw it well, but it did not co-operate for a decent photo.

The Snowy Owl did not move the whole time despite traffic on the laneway directly below.

I did stop by Perch Creek Habitat, but it was very quiet.

One last stop was at Moore WMA on Bickford Line.  Right at the parking lot, a number of birds were flitting about, including three Yellow-rumped Warblers.  They have always wintered here in various numbers. I have been going to this place since the early 1990's.

Today, I headed in the opposite direction, to Point Pelee.  There was a stiff east wind, not the greatest for a Tip Watch, but it was actually quite busy with ducks.

Very few bonies...the trend this fall.

Duck-of-the-day was White-winged Scoter where I counted well over 400.
Thousands of scaup were rafting offshore on both sides, but I did not pick out anything of note.

Eastern Scaup

Western Scaup

A few Common Loons and Horned Grebes were around, but none of the rarer cousins.

A few birds were out of the wind on the west side as Kory Renaud and I walked up to the famed serengeti tree.  We did see a late Turkey Vulture way in the distance to the north.
Along the trail was some sort of shrew, deceased.

I checked some other areas including west beach parking lot.  A couple of Chipping Sparrows were in the grass, among other species.

The only Yellow-rumped Warbler I encountered was at Pioneer.  While I was at Dunes, I got word from Kory that a Northern Saw-whet Owl was at Sparrow Field. Might as well go see it....although I had no idea where to look.
Turns out I found it instantly!  I could only get this photo without disturbing it.

These tiny owls are difficult to find in Essex County, so it is a treat to see them.  This one is at least the fourth I have seen in Point Pelee over the years.
Still in the Pelee circle, but in C-K, I recall one in Wheatley Provincial Park while birding with the 'afternoon shift'.  It was deceased, but strangley, it was still clinging to a branch, upside down!  I wish I had taken a photo of it.

My list for Pelee today:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61869988

A stop by Hillman Marsh, produced little, except a late Great Egret.  Not the latest I have seen in Essex though.

The shorebird cell was devoid of birds again, except for a single Mallard.

Not sure what will happen tomorrow, but weather looks horrible.  Every time one looks at the forecast, it changes for the worse.  You never know what will happen since there seems to be little accuracy to weather forecasts anymore! It is the weekend though!