Early January 2026 outings

 New Year's day dawned clear and cold. It was the date for the annual St. Clair NWA Christmas Bird Count. As usual, my territory started at SCNWA, along the northwest berm that is normally off limits to visitors which I have permission to access. It is very much out in the open, subject to wind. Since the day started off at about -13C and a wind chill making it to about -23C, it was not easy going, especially since I have to hike about 2 km or more, carrying a tripod and 'scope along with binoculars. 

This is what I encountered from a landscape perspective:

...and this was the adjacent St. Luke's Marsh a bit to the north.

 The vast majority of the wetland was frozen, not surprisingly given the recent weather, but as is often the case, there is a small area at the extreme NW part of my route which has open water. And  there are many individuals of waterfowl making use of it, hence the need for the 'scope. The birds were packed in so it was difficult to pick out anything unusual, but there were many hundreds of Mallards and Canada Geese with a few Tundra Swans and American Black Ducks there as well.

Some readers will be aware that the NWA was closed to public access for three months while some trail/bridge alterations were made. It re-opened just before the end of December, fortunately for the CBC. Here is the new bridge structure...

...and the view from the bridge looking generally south:

After covering this part of my territory I went elsewhere, and fortunately came across a few more things, such as a few Dark-eyed Juncos coming to a feeder....

...a few Northern Cardinals along a roadway...

....and four Wild Turkeys scattered well out in a field

An Eastern Screech Owl was cooperatively sitting out in plain view.

At another spot, a small amount of corn was present at the roadside, and the birds found it. There were several Horned Larks, which are sometimes hard to get photos of. As it turns out, the American Birding Association has declared the Horned Lark to be its featured Bird of the Year.

A few other winter birds were also making use of the corn availability, including a species that is always fun to see.

Snow Bunting

 

Mourning Dove

Elsewhere, there were always crows to see!

 I 'managed' to get to Rondeau on a couple of occasions a few days later. While birds were not abundant where I hiked, I got a few photos of things. This sub-adult Bald Eagle was surprisingly tolerant along the east South Point Trail on my way out...

...but on my return had decided to move a little farther away, on a white pine branch right at the edge of the forest.

A Fox Sparrow is not common at this time of year, but I got a few photos of this one along the north end of Harrison Trail.

 Northern Cardinals are scattered about....

...as are Red-bellied Woodpeckers.

On another occasion I walked the west side of the SPT. A wind storm had knocked over a dead American Beech tree across the trail. No doubt as American Beech trees continue to be affected by the deadly Beech Leaf Disease, this will become a more regular occurrence. I brought this to the attention of park staff, and was advised the next day that the trail had been cleared.

The view from the very south end of the trail is always intriguing as the shoreline with ice and waves are constantly causing change.

A quick trip to Erieau had a fair variety of water birds to see, but most were too far to attempt a photo. However American Coots are usually fairly close by.

 

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"Only" birds here and there

 In spite of the winter, there have been opportunities to get out, go for a long walk, explore and even get a few photos to feature the season.

A recent eBird post indicated a Snowy Owl had been seen not far from St. Clair NWA. Since I was heading out somewhere anyway, I decided to swing that way since it was only a couple of hours later. Unfortunately, even with slow and careful viewing, the owl was not to be seen. It wasn't reported by anyone else either. But I did get photographs of a few other things while I was in that vicinity.

Sub-adult Bald Eagle

As I crossed over a wide creek, I noticed this Great Blue Heron standing on the ice, waiting for....something. Maybe spring????

A little further down the channel, was another one. At least it was standing in some water. I am amazed that in spite of standing in almost freezing water, on ice, it apparently doesn't seem to bother them. And even farther down the channel was a third heron.

In a field nearby, were 7 Sandhill Cranes.....

...and a few Tundra Swans flew overhead.

But no Snowy Owl to be seen.

An outing at Rondeau and area didn't produce a lot to photograph, but there always seems to be something. 

White-throated Sparrow

It was bright/heavy overcast, which didn't produce great lighting for a mostly dark House Finch perched on a branch against the sky. It seemed to be busy feeding on the numerous berries of some of the Red Cedars in the campground.

A Hairy Woodpecker was busy searching for insects.

American Tree Sparrows are relatively common, or at least somewhat regular at the moment. They often travel in small flocks.

A single photo gives a good view....

In other odds and ends, there are often Canada Geese somewhere around...

...or a Ruddy Duck...

...or even a Red-tailed Hawk.

No butterflies, insects, or plants to photograph these days, but at least there are a few birds!

 

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Roaming around at the end of autumn, including some Bald Eagle news

 Well, winter finally arrived, although the last couple of weeks have at times, seemed more winter-like than some winters!

I'm always looking for an opportunity to go for a long, brisk hike at Rondeau, and now that the snow and ice have almost completely disappeared, there is so many of the roads and trails that are less icy to walk on briskly. I haven't found an abundance of things to photograph, but there is always something.

The east beach was always a guarantee to find Canada Geese, but now that the beach was laden with ice piled up, they were typically out off shore a little ways. 

I often walk what I call the central block, which includes both Rondeau Rd and Harrison Trail, and includes both Bennett Ave and Gardiner Ave. It is a nice woodland walk of ~5 km or so. This Destructive Pholiota fungus which I have been watching come and go over the last couple of months, was in surprisingly good condition in spite of the recent weather, at least based on appearances.

Another fungus that was still in fairly good shape was this Fan-shaped Jelly Fungus.

Next is a general photo taken along Harrison Trail. I like looking at the variability in trees, etc.

Wild Turkeys were a little shy, likely due to the shooting that took place during the two deer culls in recent weeks. But this one didn't appear too worried as I drove by, and even stopped with my lens pointed at it.

One of the things I was glad to see was a new nest of Bald Eagle. It was well out along the west edge of the woodland, and there were too many branches, etc., to bother with a photo, but it will be interesting to keep track of it, at least while the trees are leafless.

And more on the Bald Eagle topic, I noted that the eagles at the south end of Fargo Road, just a bit north of Shrewsbury, seemed to be building a new nest. I think this is the fourth nest I have seen along this narrow stretch of woodland, with two already having come down. The first photo shows an adult clutching some twigs and small branches to add to the nest.

The second photo show it down in the nest, working on getting the twigs positioned comfortably,

Continuing with Bald Eagles, I encountered this bird at the edge of St. Clair NWA. It appears to be a 3rd year bird.

 A bit north of the SCNWA, I checked some Wood Duck boxes, and noted an Eastern Screech Owl sitting quite visibly in one.

 Elsewhere in the former Dover Twp, I came across these: Crows, of course. The usual tens of thousand are scattered here and there. They are fairly tolerant if a vehicle keeps moving but when you stop and point something out the window, they tend to move on rather quickly.

At the very north end of the former Dover Twp is a spot I check out periodically, especially for waterfowl and sunset photography. There had been enough of a current to keep the water completely open, but there was not a bird to be seen, not even a gull or a crow, let alone a duck or goose. The wetland across is at Walpole Island First Nation.

Elsewhere there were groups of Rock Pigeons settled onto a hydro wire, with feathers fluffed up trying to keep warm even in the sunshine.

Birds in this part of the upcoming SCNWA Christmas Bird Count seem to be quite scarce. There were a few birds hanging out at the water treatment outlet along the Thames River, at the west end of Chatham, including these:

 A single Herring Gull....

...the usual couple of dozen Mallards....

...and the ever present Canada Geese.

Being that Christmas is almost here, I often include some type of Christmas message. Rather than re-do it here, I will link you to my other blog, Life Is A Journey for some Christmas thoughts. It is a new blog that I started last June, and some people who are on the list to get Nature Nuggets, also get Life Is A Journey. I started this blog due to the challenging things I have had to deal with over the last couple of decades, and especially over the last couple of years. The journey posts essentially start with my early years, and in bits and pieces, go through the decades to what I am dealing with now. It is linked to Nature Nuggets.

Here is the link. Check it out if you like, and all the best as the Christmas season arrives, and the New Year is just around the corner!

 

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