Homebound Northbound

Migrants have been slow to trickle through, but when they are moving, we don't have to go far to see them!

I have much enjoyed spending time around home looking for birds. On clear mornings, I like to sit in my backyard and count birds as they fly over. The highlight is always Common Loons. In the past week I have counted a total of over 180 loons migrating over my house, 124 in one day!

All the loons have been northbound, except one, which was in basic (non-breeding) plumage. That one was heading south. A bit odd if I do say so myself!

Loon going the wrong way

With the loons, there are occasionally small flocks of Double-crested Cormorants that go by.

I've even mananged to get a couple yard birds out of it! The most surprising was probably Eastern Meadowlark (I live in a subdivsion), which was also a new neighbourhood bird.  I also had a couple American Wigeons this evening.

Broad-winged Hawks are moving through in small numbers. I have had a few over my yard.

As well as in one of the local woodlots.

After the morning watches are over, I try to go on a walk around the neighbourhood. A few days ago an American Bittern was found at a wetland near me. This is the second bittern I have seen there, the first being one I found in 2018. American Bitterns are surprisingly rare in the county! I saw it again today.

The Virginia Rail I found last weekend now has a friend. The habitat isn't great, but is sufficent, so one has to wonder just how long they'll stick around. Other wetland birds are moving in, such as this Green Heron.

Odds and ends include my first of year Northern Rough-winged, Barn and Bank Swallows, as well as my first Fox Sparrow of the year. Funny enough I has just been thinking about Fox Sparrows when this one popped up!

Word is on the street that tomorrow is looking good for birds...we shall see.

Long Point Adventure

Yesterday I took a little trip down to the Long Point area. We started in Old Cut, where it was apparently a slow day for banding. The only birds I saw banded were Baltimore Oriole, Gray Catbird, Veery, and an American Redstart. Bird life around the station was present, but not abundant. A Cape May was the only warbler other than the redstart.

Cape May

There was a family of Green Herons in a Blue Spruce near the Old Cut marsh.

Olive-sided Flycatcher was one of the better birds.

I caught and tagged my first Monarch of the season...although she looks a bit weathered, I am being optimistic. It was great to practice the procedure of tagging.

We spent a couple hours at Old Cut, then went to Big Creek NWA where we found a vocal Virginia Rail.

After lunch, we went to the Port Rowan Wetlands. The target here was Common Gallinule (formally known as Common Moorhen), which called as soon as we got there. Pied-billed Grebes and Blue-winged Teal were also present.

Pied-billed Grebe

After about an hour of searching I finally found a group of about 10 gallinules. Many juveniles were with them.

A Least Bittern caught me off guard when it flushed from the side of the wetland. I managed to get one blurry photo as it disappeared into the reeds.

Hahn Marsh was somewhat of a disappointment, however I still managed to find 17 Sandhill Cranes.

I caught this little Eastern Gartersnake at Hahn Marsh as well...quite feisty!

Another visit to Old Cut was due to try for the King Rail. Despite waiting (and waiting, and waiting), it never did vocalize. The 15,000+ swallows made up for it, however. The majority were Bank Swallows, but Barn, Tree, Northern Rough-winged, and Purple Martin were mixed in as well.

At one point a fairly large group of Great Egrets flew over. On eBird, anything over 6 is flagged!

The Green Heron nestlings were equally entertaining.

Despite missing the King Rail, I was still happy with what I saw. It was a great trip (despite being bitten by a Dog Tick)!

RBG and Some Shorebirds

Yesterday I decided to see what the Royal Botanical Gardens had in store, so I headed there for the day. There are some good birding opportunities within the properties, and I had the most luck at the Arboretum. I also checked out Hendrie Park, The Rock Garden, and the RBG center.

One could find a lot of Cabbage Whites, Monarchs, Black Swallowtails, bees, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in with the flowers.

The woodland trail at the back of Hendrie park provided my first Vireos and Warblers of fall migration. Eastern Wood-pewees could be heard.

After Hendrie Park, it was off to the Arbor-thingy for lunch. Chickadees and Cardinals were looking for handouts.

The Marshwalk Trail is quite hilly, but worth it. This Eastern Comma is the first one I have seen this year.

Although the observation tower may be small, the number of birds is big. Great Egrets and Caspian Terns are all over the place.

I managed to find an adult and two immature Black-crowned Night-herons.

A Bald Eagle, Osprey, Coopers Hawk, and Red-tailed Hawk were the raptors seen.

Three Great Blue Herons flew in. Mute swans were swimming and flying around.

On the way back, I spotted a Northern Flicker and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

Next stop was the Rock Garden, which used to be a quarry. I didn't take any photos at this location.

After the Rock Garden, I went to the shore of Lake Ontario to look for some shorebirds. No luck with the Red-necked Phalaropes at the Tollgate pond, but I did find an immature Sanderling.

The best bird at Windermere Basin was the Juvenile Marbled Godwit. It was way in the back, and I barely saw it on 60x magnification, let alone get a good picture. this is what birders call  a "record shot", or what non birders call a "horrible photo".

Other birds I saw while at Windermere included Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Baird's Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover (FOY), Caspian Tern, Double-crested Cormorants, and a Night-heron. Also seen were about 15 peeps (small shorebirds) that I did not bother with. Apparently a Buff-breasted Sandpiper came in when I was there, but I didn't see it.

The last stop of the night was back at the Hamilton Harbour, where I managed to find the Red Knot.

Can you find the Red Knot? Hint: It's a Juvenile

Today I was back Hamilton way, and I wanted to try for the Red-necked Phalaropes again, so I stopped by the Tollgate ponds, but they were no where to be seen. I did however find a Whimbrel (FOY) and a couple Lesser Scaups.

Another one of those record shots

Windermere Basin was next, and I managed to find the actual viewing area! The shorebirds were not all that different from yesterday, but I did find a few new ones such as Short-billed Dowitcher, Semi-palmated Plover, and Dunlin. The Marbled Godwit didn't make an appearance.

Green Heron

Well, my fun little weekend on the shore of Lake Ontario is at an end, but fall migration is just starting to pick-up. Stay tuned for more on shorebirds and other migrants!

Yesterday's eBird checklists:
RBG Hendrie Park
RBG Marshwalk Trail
Tollgate Ponds
Windermere Basin
Hamilton Harbour

Today's eBird checklists:
Tollgate Ponds
Windermere Basin



Did you find the Red Knot?

Photos from Peers

I was back in the Wallaceburg Area yesterday, so I checked out Peers Wetland for a little more than an hour. I was quite pleased by the species of both birds and bugs that I saw. Here are a few of the photos from my walk. View the eBird checklist here.

Summer Crescent

Eastern Pondhawk

Headless Owl (Downtown Wallaceburg)

Viceroy

Silver-spotted Skipper and Jewelweed

Green Heron

Green Heron

Muskrat

Monarch

Monarch (compare to Viceroy)

Green Heron and Imm. Night-Heron (note size difference)

Immature Black-crowned Night-heron

Adult Black-crowned Night-heron

Ruby Meadowhawk

Blue Dasher

Common Checkered Skipper

I will be in Hamilton (Royal Botanical Gardens) tody, and I am hoping to get a little bit of shorebirding in!