There's no question that the bird migration is slowing down, at least for songbirds and shorebirds. For waterfowl, that is another story as those numbers continue to build. And for the crows.....there is no question that they are just getting started, at least here in southwestern Ontario.
There are still a few of the songbirds around. In the warbler family, the main ones of recent days have been Blackpoll and Yellow-rumped, with a few other species mixed in just to keep things interesting.
An occasional vireo, such as this Red-eyed Vireo, lingers.
While the peak of raptors has passed, there are still lots to go through, although nothing like the tens of thousands of Broad-winged Hawks. Nonetheless, there still are a good number of hawks to be seen on a good migration day. The falcon group is always of interest. American Kestrels have been passing through in a steady stream....
...and there have been quite a few Peregrine Falcons, which is a real treat compared to not many years ago when it was highly unusual to see any of this
Endangered species. We watched this particular individual, a first year bird below, harass a group of shorebirds from time to time at the Keith McLean Conservation Lands. It was not successful that we saw, so we weren't sure whether it was really trying to catch something or just practising its predatory behaviour.
At one point it even started chasing a Belted Kingfisher, again unsuccessfully, but it was interesting to see the chase, and hear the kingfishers alarm rattle calls. At one point the falcon flew right at us, low down, and we weren't able to get the cameras on it quickly enough before it darted away.
Shorebirds are dwindling at the shallow water mud flats of the KMCL. A small diversity continues, and it seems there is a different mix of shorebirds every few days as the birds arrive, feed and rest for a few days, and then depart for places farther south. This Semipalmated Sandpiper, shown next, has been around for a few days. Notice its leg, broken or at least twisted so that it is not functional. It just dangles behind, but the bird seems to be able to get around. It is not unusual at times, to see a shorebird missing a leg entirely, and just hopping around on one leg. It is hard to say what the future is for this individual.
Black-bellied Plover are hard to find these days, but one or two show up from time to time.
Long-billed Dowitcher, which always occurs in very small numbers, is more or less gone now, although there is an occasional report still coming in.
Least Sandpipers are almost gone, with an occasional one still around......
....and the same can be said for Stilt Sandpiper.
By far the most common shorebird around these days is Dunlin. There have been upwards of 40 individuals regularly occurring at the KMCL lately, and I expect a few to continue to be around for another few weeks, depending on the weather.
An Hudsonian Godwit was a very brief visitor a couple of days ago, but I didn't get to see it. It was only around for a 2-3 hours before something spooked it and it left. Perhaps a passing Peregrine?
Not a shorebird, but the always photogenic Great Egret can still be seen occasionally. There were three individuals around not so long ago, but that isn't to be expected for much longer.
There are still a few Monarchs passing through, but the numbers are rapidly dropping.
On sunny days like today, other butterflies may be out an about, such as this Red Admiral.....
.....or this Common Buckeye.
A few other members of the Lepidoptera group can be seen, but not in flight! While looking for pollinators at a lingering patch of goldenrod, I came across this caterpillar. It is a Smeared Dagger Moth caterpillar, and will likely overwinter as a larva.
This Black Swallowtail caterpillar was on some dill in our garden a few days ago. By now I expect it has formed its overwintering pupa, and if it survives, will emerge on some sunny, warmer day next May.
While the flowering period for most plant species is long gone, there are still a few late bloomers, such as Fringed Gentian. On a cloudy day, they will be closed up like this....
....waiting for a sunny day to open up like this.
A late season goldenrod in woodlands is this Zig-zag Goldenrod, named for the zig-zag of it stem.
A sharp-eyed observer may see something like this although it is not quite fully out. It is the leaf of a somewhat rare orchid called Puttyroot. Its leaves are most obvious from about now until next spring, when they will then wither up as a flowering spike develops.
Berries are more noticeable, such as these Winterberries. But like so many berries, they won't be around long, as the remaining migrant songbirds will be quickly gobbling them up.
No comments:
Post a Comment