June has just come to an end, and as such we have come to the approximate halfway point of my "Middlesex Biggish Year". I ended up seeing two new species for my year list, putting me at 226, which I think is pretty swell! This beats my total from last year, and becomes the second or third highest year list total in Middlesex history (recorded, anyways), and we're only 6 months in! The one bird I was kind of hoping to find this month was Marsh Wren, and I actually went out to the sewage lagoons on a few occasions to try and find the ones that were sporadically reported, but no luck. I will have to cross my fingers for the fall!
The breakdown:
Code 1: 129 species
Code 2: 60 species
Code 3: 23 species (1 new)
Code 4: 9 species (1 new)
Code 5: 4 species
On June 11th, I saw one of my most sought after breeding species for the year, a Prothonotary Warbler in southeast London. We thought that the habitat looked pretty good, but the next day, it was gone. Who knows how long it had been there before it was reported.
My other new addition for the month was a code 4. On June 1st, the day right after I had wrote I was giving birding a break for a bit, I got an alert for a Common Tern in south London. I skedaddled right over there, and found that it was actually a Forster's Tern, which was soon joined by a second while I was there. Despite being a bit more expected, it was a new Middlesex species for me, so I was happy anyways! I'm up to three tern species this year in Middlesex, which is pretty nuts. Still time to make it four...or five.
I'll more than likely not be in Middlesex much over the next couple of months, so I will take this up again in September! The only thing I can think of maybe missing (barring rarities) would be Baird's Sandpiper, just because of how unpredictable they are in the county to begin with. I guess time will tell!
Yesterday I ventured further afield to Lambton county. There was been an absolutely stunning Pacific Loon in the Sarnia Bay over the past few days, and I wanted to check it out. I have only ever seen the species once prior, and it certainly did not give views like that!
My dad and I arrived early on. It was a gorgeous day, and with the sun to our backs, it really lit up the bay. A Common Loon was present upon our arrival.
After a little bit of searching, the target species popped up, quite literally!
With that bird out of the way, I wanted to check out Canatara Park. It was the birdiest morning I had had all year, even if diversity was relatively low. Seems like today was really good, and some nice birds popped up (including a Kirtland's Warbler, which I have never seen)! I had nine species of warblers, including my first of year Magnolia and Orange-crowned. Just to give testament to how slow the spring has been, that Magnolia literally took my breath away when I spotted it! My other first of the year was a Gray-cheeked Thrush. Almost seems early, even though its late! I haven't had a Swainson's Thrush yet.
After Canatara, I opted to head south to Sombra. I stopped in at a few places along the way. At Guthrie Park there were a couple Common and Forster's Terns. Cathcart Park proved to be quite birdy! The place was covered with Yellow-rumped and Palm Warblers, as well as many swallows. A few shorebirds in the form of yellowlegs and Spotted Sandpipers were sprinkled throughout, along with some mergansers and terns of three species; Black, Common, and Forster's.
Not too much along the Sombra riverfront, but there were a few Purple Martins and a Forster's Tern.
My next stop was the Sombra Sewage Lagoons. Lots of birds to sort through! There was a great number of shorebirds, including Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Sanderling, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Least Sandpiper.
Also a great number of Black Terns, I counted 76. It was amazing to see.
A Peregrine Falcon ripped through a few times, and kept the terns and shorebirds on their toes.
Some Common Gallinules were calling nearby. Additionally, I also had my first Bobolinks of the year. Dad spotted a Red-tailed Hawk nest nearby.
I cut inland from Sombra, and went to the Sydenham River Nature Reserve. I had a few birds here, including a singing Yellow-throated Vireo. My main target here however was the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). I saw some last June when I was here for a breeding bird blitz, but they were well past their prime. Seems I caught the peak this time around!
False Mermaidweed (Floerkea proserpinacoides) was also abundant.
I picked up a few birds on the drive between there and Strathroy, including Eastern Bluebird, American Pipit, and House Wren. I made a quick pit stop into the Strathroy lagoons. A few lingering ducks and a couple rails, both Sora and Virgina.
In the evening, I went to check out a population of one of my favourite wildflowers, the Wood Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum). This is a very rare plant in Canada, with only two known populations, both in Middlesex county. A nice ending to the day.
I wasn't really doing a big day, but still managed 109 species. Probably could have made it 110 with American Woodcock, but I was too tired to bother!
Today was quite good, and we got our first big push of migrants in a week and a half.
First things first...I missed the White-winged Dove.
Okay, now that that's out of the way....
Today my dad and I checked out a few locations in southern Ontario, starting with Rondeau Provincial Park. The day started with American Robins, American Woodcocks, and a Fowler's Toad on the road.
Continuing along Rondeau Rd., we added Wood Thrush, chickadee, and White-throated Sparrow to our list. Mammals include White-tailed Deer, Raccoon, and Virginia Opossum.
South Point Trail was one of the best stops of the day. Pine Warblers were singing first thing, and soon I found a Yellow-rumped Warbler. FOY Common Yellowthroat as well.
There were some birds braving the insane east winds and waves. I wouldn't doubt a few of the swallows perished today in the harsh conditions of Lake Erie.
My first "good" warbler of the day was a singing Blue-winged Warbler. After following it in the brush for a while, I got some photos that I'm happy with.
There were a decent amount of Eastern Towhees around today.
I saw three Red-headed Woodpeckers today. This one came in when I was looking at the Blue-winged Warbler.
There were a few Blue-headed Vireos around. I heard a White-eyed a bit later.
There was a decent movement of Common Loons today, and I saw close to 40.
On the way back, a fellow birder found a Yellow-breasted Chat, which was a lifer. Unfortunately, just as I was to take a picture, auto-focus decided it liked the leaf in front of the chat better than the bird. What I was left with was a yellow blob (if you stare at it long enough you can kinda see a YB Chat).
The VC feeders are always a great place to check out, and today it was quite busy.
Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Carolina Wren
White-crowned Sparrow
There were a couple of birds near the start of the Tulip Tree Trail, but other than a FOY Gray Catbird, it was a very quiet walk.
Baltimore Oriole
Black-throated Green Warbler
Spicebush Trail was also fairly quiet, however there were some birds to be seen, including a pair of Wood Ducks, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, White-throated Sparrows, and a Black-and-white Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Dutchman's Breeches was a plant that I've always wanted to see...I saw it.
Maintenance loop was dead except for the first Eastern Phoebe of the trip.
The Pony Barn and Log Pond revealed my first Yellow Warbler of the trip, some House Wrens, and a pair of Gray Catbirds.
Yellow Warbler
Gray Catbird
Finally, we checked out the docks, where we found some FOY birds like Purple Martin, Bonaparte's Gull, Forster's Tern, and Palm Warbler.
Purple Martin
Red-breasted Merganser
Forster's Terns and Bonaparte's Gull
Palm Warbler
Forster's Tern and Bonie
After checking ONTBIRDS from Tim Hortons, we decided to forgo Blenheim Sewage Lagoons and make a beeline for Hillman.
When we got there, the American Avocets and godwits were nowhere to be found, but a nice group of 50+ Willets and a Stilt Sandpiper were a nice consolation prize.
Willets
Stilt Sandpiper...uncommon spring migrant
Willets are becoming increasingly common in Ontario, and I'm sure it won't be long before they regularly breed here.
There were some other birds at Hillman too, including a pair of Trumpeter Swans.
Dunlin
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Caspian Tern and Bonaparte's Gulls
Bonaparte's Gulls
For the final stop of the day, we went to Tilbury Sewage Lagoons in pursuit of the Black-necked Stilt, which is a very good bird for Ontario, and their numbers are increasing.
With the help of another birder, I was able to find the stilt soon after arriving. What a beaut!
The final bird of the day was this American Kestrel with a mouse.
It was a pretty good day, considering the conditions. I can't wait to get out again!
