Spring arrivals continue

Almost every day brings new migrants into the area. It is a wonderful time of year for many reasons, but the arrival of birds is certainly high on many people's list. Recent trips to Rondeau Provincial Park have been rewarding.

I got my first of year (FOY) Gray Catbird along the South Point Trail.

I also came across Blue-headed Vireo for the first time this season along that trail. I ended up with several on the day, and they were all fairly high in the trees.

Palm Warblers have been around in greater numbers in the last few days.

Not a FOY, but a bird that doesn't often give a nice clear photo op was this Eastern Towhee.

A Baltimore Oriole showed up on the Tuliptree Trail.

Indigo Buntings are always a crowd pleaser, and two showed up at the beginning of the Tuliptree Trail and at the feeder area of the Visitor Centre. Only males so far to my knowledge.

Other FOY birds included: Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat and Warbling Vireo, but no photos this season yet.

Birds nice to see but aren't FOY have provided photo ops from time to time, including things like Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. They are busy little rascals and don't often give a clear shot.

One or two Rose-breasted Grosbeaks showed up a few days ago, but now they are quite common, with females around as well.

Savannah Sparrows are relatively common now in the open grassy areas.

You don't often see American Woodcocks in the middle of the day, but this one was carefully dipsy-doodling across Lakeshore Road. There wasn't any other traffic in sight so it gave me time for a few photos, before it disappeared into the roadside vegetation.

Earlier today I got my FOY Northern Mockingbird at Fletcher Ponds, a small conservation area very few people ever visit. It is located on the west side of Merlin Road, between Merlin and Fletcher. It wouldn't let me get a photo, however. (Note: Merlin was originally called Smith's Corners. When the post office there opened in 1868, since there was another place in Ontario which already had that name, the community was renamed Merlin. One rumour has it that the name came from a village in Scotland, but another rumour is that it was named after Merlin the falcon, which had been seen in that area.)

There will be lots more in the days ahead (and hopefully we won't be deluged with brisk NE or E winds)!