Touring Southwest Middlesex

Today my aunt and I went for a tour of Southwest Middlesex. I had a goal of trying to find the Western Meadowlark within Middlesex County bounds, but it was not to be. I even made several passes of where it was in Lambton with no success! I think that the melting of the snow exposed a lot more open ground for which the meadowlark to feed, so it was no longer restricted to right beside the road.

Lots of driving today (we spent about three hours going up and down roads!) with few photos. A couple highlights which were not photographed include several Rough-legged Hawks (seemed weirdly abundant), as well as my first Killdeer and Tundra Swans of the year. I was hoping to cross paths with a Lapland Longspur, but it was not to be.

Down near Glencoe, we came across an adult Golden Eagle while cruising down Watterworth Road. Not great photos, but my best ones of the species. No flat tires today!

A little bit later, we came across a Northern Shrike, also my best photos of the species. I have enjoyed seeing shrikes this past winter (this was my fourth individual, usually I am lucky to see one!)

After spending nearly three hours going in circles, we called it quits and headed back to London. We stopped into Strathroy, where we saw the Snow Goose which has been around for a few days. I managed to see it a few days ago, but it had been back in a field, so was nice to see it close. I didn't feel like getting out of the car, so no photos :)

My aunt hadn't seen the famous Harlequin Duck in London yet, so we went to visit him. His molt is progressing nicely. I wonder how long he'll stay around. 

Afterwards we went to go check out the Spotted Towhee. I heard it call once, but it never came out into the open. Oh well, it'll probably be around for awhile yet.

MODO hanging out

A good day! 

Rondeau Christmas Bird Count 2018

This past Sunday was the Rondeau Christmas Bird Count. Once again, I joined Blake Mann on his route south of the Visitor Centre.

We started with a lakewatch. We tallied some ducks, including Black and White-winged Scoters, scaup, mergansers, and about 30 Re-throated Loons. Apparently the previous CBC record for Red-throated was two, so that was easily broken.

South Point trail was dead, other than 12 more Red-throated Loons. I think that is the quietest I have ever seen that trail be!

The most interesting sighting came when a Herring Gull dropped a fish. I went over to find this, an American Gizzard Shad.

We next walked from South Point to the Visitor Centre along Lakeshore Road, then back again down Harrison. Also very quiet, though I think that, at least from my observations over the last two years, is that Harrison usually is.

We finished up the walk earlier than anticipated, so went and did another quick lakewatch at Dog Beach. Saw some more Red-throated Loons.

Ring-billed Gull

We missed the Gray Catbird that had been hanging around on our first pass, but on our second time coming up Lakeshore Road, we found it.

After lunch at the Visitor Centre, where we had some White-throated Sparrows and a flock of Pine Siskins, we went to the campground. It was a very nice and unseasonably warm day, so walking was quite easy with the lack of snow. The oddest sighting of the day was an Eastern Comma. No photo unfortunately, but certainly unexpected on a Christmas Bird Count.

Blake went back down to South Point, and I continued to check a few spots in the north end of the park. I was hoping for the White-eyed Vireo or Great Kiskadee, but was unable to find them. The vireo ended up being seen on the count, but the kiskadee wasn't.

Down near the Pony Barn there were a few birds.

White-throated Sparrow

Some plants because the birds were slow.

Round-headed Bush Clover

Oriental Bittersweet

Wild Yam

I also went to check the Marsh Trail where I saw the kiskadee back in September, just in case. The bay was mostly frozen, and there were several hundred Canada Geese and some Tundra Swans. Also a couple of Bald Eagles.

I went to Keith McLean Conservation Area after, hoping to maybe chance upon a lingering Nelson's Sparrow or something, however that was not to be. I did however find many Song (one leucistic), Swamp, and American Tree Sparrows. Also one Savannah Sparrow.

The biggest surprise came when I turned the corner and flushed three Killdeer from a mudflat. I soon relocated them with two others in a muddy part of the field.

I then decided to go to Erieau, which proved to be a crucial mistake, as I would soon learn about a Barred Owl in Rondeau. Ah well, can't win them all, though it kind of sucked to miss!

Not much at Erieau. Just a couple eagles and a Snowy Owl near the rail trail.

Photo by Dad

Afterwards, we went to the compiling at Keith Burk's, where we shared a wonderful meal and swapped stories and sightings from the day. I believe we ended up with an incredible 114 species. The highest ever tallied in one count was 115 I think. Also seen today was a Baltimore Oriole, which seems to fall within the count week period. Although it seemed slow, I guess the birds add up! The White-eyed Vireo was a new count record, and other highlights include the Barred Owl, Northern Waterthrush, and large numbers of Red-throated Loons.

Overall a great day, I had a bunch of fun. Certainly the best CBC in Ontario ;-)

St. Clair Sightings

Today I went down to Wallaceburg with family to run some errands. Afterwards we went to check out the St. Clair National Wildlife Area and the surrounding fields for migrating waterfowl. 

Heron Line proved to be most productive. I managed to see my first Killdeer of the year pretty quickly in a flooded field.

We soon came across a huge flooded field, filled with waterfowl, including my first Tundra Swans of 2018. There were well over a hundred!

As I was scoping out the field, I quickly got on a Greater White-fronted Goose! These geese have been showing up all over the place as of late. In all I counted 14, but there were no doubt more hiding in among the corn stubble.

I was also pleased to find two Sandhill Cranes, another first for the year, in the field.

Ducks, including Mallard, Northern Pintail, Redhead, and Ring-necked Duck, were quite numerous. At one point they all got up and flew around a bit.

After scanning the field until nothing new could be found, we went and checked out the St. Clair NWA. I didn't walk the whole thing, in interest of time, but I did walk the first portion of the trail. I found things such as Northern Shoveler, American Coot, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Cackling Goose, and some more Canada Geese.

Hooded Merganser

Canada Goose (apparent "Giant" subspecies)

Red-winged Blackbirds were singing throughout.

On our way home, we found a cooperative Sandhill Crane on Town Line Road.

As we were driving down Belle Rose Line, my grandma said "was that an owl?"

Sure enough, it was a Snowy Owl, my first for Chatham-Kent (finally!)

I was very happy with the outing! Spring is coming!

Spring Migration is a Go!

With the recent warm weather we've been having, it's no surprise that there has been a recent influx of migrants returning and resident species starting their mating rituals.

American Robins have started their "cheery-up" song

My first Red-winged Blackbird of the year was seen on the 18th down at the local park. I didn't see any for a of couple days, but then on the 21st, there was a group of 10 that flew by. In the following days, I found about 8 or so singing males.

While this species isn't unexpected at this time of year, the numbers in which they are being reported is quite unusual. Here is the eBird map for the month of February (red is within the last 30 days).

Grackles are also starting to come back, and on the 24th I saw at least 19 at Virginia Park.

They usually aren't around in large numbers until mid-March. Again, here's the eBird map for February.

Killdeer are also starting to appear.

There are numerous records of Killdeer in February, but as with the Red-winged Blackbirds, the numbers in which they are being found are exceptional.

American Woodcocks are also returning. In fact, they've already started displaying.

Turkey Vultures are migrating in small numbers, and I'm sure we'll start seeing them regularly in the next couple of weeks.

Perhaps one of the best early records so far this year was a Greater Yellowlegs near Long Point in Norfolk county.

www.njaudubon.org

In fact, it's a PROVINCIAL record early by about a week.

So far, 2017 looks like it's going to be one hectic year!

A Moment in Mitchell

I felt like going to the West Perth Wetlands in Mitchell, so that's what I did yesterday afternoon.

When I got there, I was surprised to see that it was very dry. Last year this area was covered in water.

I saw a Green-winged Teal in this area last year.

Shorebirds weren't around in as large numbers like last year, aside from the Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Last year's eBird checklist: August 25, 2015

Yesterday's eBird checklist: August 6, 2016

Interestedly, I saw the same shorebird species as last year, despite the lower water levels.

Lesser Yellowlegs outnumbered the larger Greater 6 to 1.

Killdeer were the second most numerous shorebird.

I managed to find a juvenile with it's parent.

Semi-palmated Plovers look sort of like small Killdeer. I saw a total of four.

Comparison of the two species...Killdeer on the right and Semi-palmated on the left.

Least Sandpipers were the most common peep (a small shorebird). A couple Pectoral and Semi-palmated Sandpipers could be found with them.

Similar to the yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpipers were around as well.

Butterflies included Orange Sulphurs, Cabbage Whites, Black Swallowtails, and Monarchs.

I didn't focus too much on botany, but here's some Chicory!

Other birds included Goldfinch, Northern Flicker, Wood Duck, and Green-winged Teal.

I can't wait for shorebird migration to really pick-up!