Late May Meanderings

 Things are winding down with regards to migration, but there are still goodies to find.  Some good birds have been found, but unfortunately, I am usually in the wrong place or just do not have the luck others do!

The holiday Monday I went back to Rondeau.  More flycatchers were in including lots of Alder.  Finally I added Yellow-bellied to the year's list.

Many Canada and Wilson's Warblers were singing in the shrubbery with most unseen.

We spent some time watching the lake.  White-winged Scoters have been in unusually high numbers lately.  We observed over 60 in the short time we watched.

One lucky birder saw a King Eider just after we departed!  Very rare for Rondeau!  In all those thousands of mergansers in the fall, we always hoped to see a King Eider.  No such luck!

I was busy during the week, but got out to Reid one evening.  Four-spotted Skimmers were out and about.

In three weeks, Oak Hairstreaks will be out!

Friday was certainly a washout!  Brutal NE winds and rain most of the day kept us at bay.  I drove around endlessly for lack of anything else to do.  One of my last stops was Erieau, where I watched the beach and lake at Laverne Kelly Memorial Park.  Wish I had been there earlier, as there was lots of action!

Dozens of shorebirds were on the sand, scurrying around.

Gulls and terns were on the move including a couple of Little Gulls.

Today, I went down to Rondeau under sunny but cool skies.  The wind was still brisk out of the NE.  I wanted to get out to the south beach, so I went anyway!

There were fewer shorebirds than previous visits. Knotta Knot!  The 31 knots I had over a week ago was actually a record high count for Rondeau.  I knew it was significant at the time.

Nothing unusual, but several Least, Semisands, Semiplovers and Dunlin were out there.

Semipalmated Plovers are in high numbers this year.

More gulls were out there, as expected.  I managed to count five Little Gulls in the mix.

Along the trails, lots of Wilson's Warblers were chattering in the shrubbery.

The only other migrant warblers I came across were 3 Magnolia, 3 Canada, a couple of Mourning and a Northern Parula.

The usual mix of flycatchers was evident, most of which were breeding birds.

I saw quite a few dragonflies, including this Painted Skimmer.  It did not co-operate for a good photo!

Nearby was another skimmer with twelve spots.

I stopped by Keith McLean Conservation Lands around 1 p.m.  I took a good look around and nothing unusual struck my eye.  A few common shorebirds were at the back.

The pair of Osprey were busy in nesting mode.  Nice to see some finally nesting on that platform!

On to another day...

Weekend Tours: Pelee/Strathroy/Skunk's

Saturday I decided to take a run down to Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee again.  The Hillman shorebird cell is being drained, as per usual this time of year, so I wanted to get one last look for shorebirds, etc.
A few ducks were present including up to ten Gadwall, a Northern Pintail (male) and other common species.

Shorebirds included White-rumped, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlin and Semipalmated Plovers.

Two Sandhill Cranes were present--a regular occurrence anymore.

Moving on to Point Pelee, I started at the VC and walked to the Tip.  Just as I was getting out of the car, a smallish raptor quickly flew over which struck me as a Mississippi Kite (sub-adult).  Unfortunately it disappeared behind the trees before I got a good look.  With the northerly wind, it was a good possibility.  One of those that got away......

Even though the wind was northerly, the Tip had some activity.  There were lots of gulls and terns.

Three Sanderlings and two Dunlin were working the sand the whole time.

At least three Common Loons were around.

Further up the west side, a lingering Horned Grebe was close to shore.

I walked up the west beach trail and came across a meadowlark.  It was certainly out of place for the time of year, and thoughts of Western crossed my mind.  However, it seemed to be an Eastern and certainly never vocalized.

With few tourists in the park, I checked out Tilden's, Cactus Trail and De Laurier.  Nothing in the way of migrants.
Since it was a dismal day (forecast wrong again!), there was not much in the way of butterflies.  I did come across this Common Sootywing at Northwest Beach.  They are not too common within the park.

Common Sootywing

I stopped by Hillman on the way back, but it was quieter than before.

A look at Blenheim lagoons was also on the agenda.  A few common sandpipers were present, as well as a Lesser Scaup (only one when I was there!).

Sunday was nicer weatherwise.  Just the opposite to what the forecast said all week.  Saturday was supposed to be sunny (but was cloudy), then Sunday 80 % rain (not decided until Saturday).  After a nice sunny morning, it did rain heavily around lunch on Sunday though, but I was done what I wanted to do anyway.  (same old stuff!).

I did my annual run up Strathroy way, then down to Skunk's Misery.

Napier Road had the usual Clay-colored Sparrow buzzing away, and the pasture birds.

An Upland Sandpiper along Calvert was nice to see since they are becoming scarce anymore.

Clark Wright CA was very quiet this year, and Strathroy lagoons did not produce much.  A lone Ruddy Duck stood out at the lagoons.

Wood Ducks were plentiful there.

Down Watterworth Road, the usual Hooded Warbler was at the Crown Land, but no Acadian Flycatcher.  Perhaps one was further in.

Off Sassafras Road, a couple of Blue-winged and Hooded Warblers were singing away.

A tardy Wilson's Warbler was along the trail.

I came across about 13 singing Hooded Warblers along the roads and trails in Skunk's.  They certainly like the Mosa Forest!  Most remained unseen, but were heard well.

One just drives the roads, stopping at various points.  There are several trails to check out.

It is a good place for insects (not to mention mosquitoes).

Common Whitetail

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Hobomok Skipper

I also checked out Wardsville Woods, another favourite stop of mine.  The 'annual' Blue-winged Warbler was here again.

Some Peck's and Tawny-edged Skippers were out today.

Tawny-edged Skipper

Wardsville Woods was a former golf course, so watch out for balls!

Another One at Rondeau

As I often do on weekends, I headed down to Rondeau Park early this morning.  It was one of the coldest days of the year so far, but I joined Steve and Aaron Charbonneau for a lakewatch at the famous dog beach.

Sunrise at Rondeau November 11

It was not a day for gulls, but lots of ducks were moving.  Included were some White-winged Scoters.

We did see a representative of all three scoter species today.
Duck of the day was Red-breasted Merganser.  There were a few thousand moving around, and they continuously went by all morning.  A single Common Merganser was mixed in with one flock.

Some Dunlin were seen as well as a few Sanderlings.  Of course, no Purple Sandpiper or Red Phalarope!

Loons were on the move today, with many Red-throated.  Perhaps a dozen or so were seen in 1.5h at dog beach.  More of these pass by here than one would think!  Where the heck is that Pacific Loon??

Being chilled to the bone after 1.5h, I moved on to south point trail to warm up.  Not many birds were there.  I did hear one Yellow-rumped Warbler, and near the "washout", about five Eastern Bluebirds were moving around.

Jim Burk came along and we walked back to the parking lot.  We talked about some good warblers that might be around, including Townsend's.  Jim found a late Wilson's Warbler in the campground earlier.

We met up again in the campground, and while I was looking at some Fox Sparrows, the Wilson's Warbler popped up!

I really did not think I would find it, but there it was.
Two years ago, November 14, I found one on south point trail which was record late by 15 days then.  Last year, I found one December 4, 2016 at McGeachy Pond dike.

Wilson's ass-end

There were no other warblers in the campground.

We parted ways and while I was at maintenance, Jim phoned me about a Townsend's Warbler he had just found in Bate's Subdivision!  I rushed out of the park to Second Avenue and found Jim looking for the warbler.  He had lost sight of it, but then we soon found it.

Townsend's ass-end

We had good looks at the bird as it worked the cedars.  It chipped a few times.

Rondeau seems to be the destination for many Townsend's Warblers.  Although today's bird was just outside the park, there have been five other park records.  I have seen two previous Townsend's Warblers in the park.

It was a nice surprise for today's outing, and thanks goes to Jim Burk for getting the word out quickly!

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