Birds of Chatham-Kent, Then and Now, Part IV

 

Great Black-backed Gull

Then: it was not considered hypothetical, but Wood had only seen this species on one occasion, and made no reference to it any earlier.

Now: Clearly things have changed. Great Black-backed Gull was considered mainly a north Atlantic region species, but over the years, the species found at least the lower Great Lakes to its liking. It was first recorded on the Blenheim/Rondeau CBC in 1948. Beginning in 1965 it has been seen on every count, with typically up to a dozen or so recorded during the first couple of decades following. The numbers kept increasing, but fluctuated greatly depending on the seasonal weather and the conditions of the day. The maximum number recorded on this CBC was 380, in 1991.

This species is a 4-cycle one, meaning it doesn't attain full adult plumage and breeding until its fourth year. Therefore sub-adults can be found in C-K almost any time of the year, especially if there is some open water. The two photos above show a full adult first, with a sub-adult, likely a first winter bird, below. Both photos were taken in the Jan/Feb period.

Herring Gull

Herring Gull nest, 1987

Then: Herring Gull was considered a common transient and winter visitor, with numbers of non-breeding birds remaining in the summer. Even during the early winter, when numbers were most commonly recorded for the CBC, the maximum number was about 200 in 1939.

Now: Herring Gull is a large, fairly aggressive gull, eagerly defending its food against even other members of its kind, as the first photo shows. The numbers have increased considerably since the writing of Wood's manuscript. Since the early 1960s, seldom are there less than 100 birds recorded on a Christmas Bird Count, and typically there are several hundred. In the last 15 years, the numbers have averaged almost 900 birds, with as many as 3779 recorded in 2008. One of the reasons for this increase may be due to the presence of Ontario's largest landfill just a short flight away.

Herring Gull has become an occasional breeding species as well. When the water levels of Lake Erie are such that the south beach of Rondeau is a good breeding site, gulls can occupy parts of it, as the above photos show. The middle two photos were taken in June, 1987, while the fourth photo was taken in May, 2013. The latter one wasn't on the south beach, but was taken from my kayak while I was exploring some of the exposed small islands at the south end of the marsh.

Ring-billed Gull

Then: Ring-billed Gull was considered a common spring and fall transient and a summer and winter visitor. Up to 30 birds were reported periodically in spring and fall, with late fall being the time when the largest numbers were recorded. Up to 75 birds were recorded for the first few Christmas Bird Counts.

Now: as with the previous two gull species, the numbers have changed considerably. It is typically the most abundant gull species most of the year. The same CBC in the last 25 years has averaged over 3300 birds, with a high of 12510 recorded in 2001. One of the reasons for this increase may be attributed to Ontario's largest landfill just a short flight away.

When conditions are suitable along the south beach of Rondeau as a nesting site, they will use it as the above photos show. The first and third photos were taken in July, 1983, while the middle photo was taken in June, 1987. 

Forster's Tern

Then: Forster's Tern was considered to be formerly a common summer resident at the St. Clair flats, but at the time of writing (1945), a very rare visitant. There was only one record for this species at Rondeau, that being May 13, 1946.

Now: It is a regular, but not abundant migrant present in spring, summer and autumn. When the marsh water levels are suitable, it has been known to nest, with the first known nesting occurring in about 1980. The nesting photo above was taken in July, 1981. Forster's Tern is generally considered a mid-western species, but with some local habitats in the vicinity of Lake St. Clair showing similarity to the tallgrass prairies and wetlands of the mid-west, this species and others have been known to occur and breed in C-K with some regularity. With Rondeau being a bit farther east, such mid-western species are generally less common either as migrants or breeders.

Common Tern

Then: Common Tern was considered a common summer resident, breeding in colonies on a sand spit in the McGeachy Pond area near Erieau, as well as being fairly abundant in the marshes along Lake St. Clair. Flocks of two hundred were seen foraging along the water. However in several cases some of the eggs have been lost to Herring Gulls, Bonaparte's Gulls and skunks.

Now: While Common Tern is quite regular and sometimes fairly abundant in Chatham-Kent, nesting has diminished substantially. I have seen an occasional nesting attempt along the south beach of Rondeau a few decades ago, but no one has reported them nesting anywhere in recent years. There were no confirmed breeding records in C-K in either of the first two OBBAs, although they did rank as 'Probable' in two squares at Rondeau. The changes are likely the result of three things: (a) a large increase in gulls, which are predatory; (b) the higher water levels of Lake Erie, making nesting sites less available; (c) the increased usage of boaters illegally using the south beach, causing disturbances.

Black Tern

Then: Black Tern was considered a common summer resident, breeding in all the large marshes of the county. An average of about eighty birds were reported at Bradley's marsh in the early part of last century, and was considered more abundant than Common Tern.

Now: In the Rondeau/Erieau area it is regular, but not common at any time. The two photos showing Black Tern nesting were taken in the late 1970s and very early 1980s. The upper one was taken at McGeachy Pond; the lower one was taken at the south end of Rondeau. The water levels at McGeachy Pond used to naturally fluctuate, allowing for functional habitat, but about thirty years ago, a water control system was put in, so the habitat has declined. 

In some of the larger marshes along Lake St. Clair, it is more common, but certainly not abundant. Eighty birds would be a huge increase nowadays! During the second OBBA, there were 5 squares in C-K that had this species 'Confirmed' breeding. There are likely several reasons for the overall decline: (a) high water levels thus reducing cattail habitat; (b) a huge increase in the extent of highly invasive Phragmites, choking out some of the high quality habitat Black Terns prefer; (c) some relatively minor loss of habitat due to farming.

American Barn Owl

Then:  The American Barn Owl was considered a permanent resident, and the first Ontario nesting record was at Charing Cross. Wood goes on to give details of other records of them nesting, being shot, or being observed, at many locales in C-K.

Now: a very scarce, very occasional resident. I have seen it on a couple of occasions, once at Shrewsbury in 1973 and near St. Clair NWA a few years ago where one was seen periodically by various people over the course of about three years (2006-2008). We managed to get it on the St. Clair NWA CBC those three years. I do not have any photos, other than in my memory. In spite of searches, its roosting spot was never determined. There have been a few other records in C-K over the years, but details have been kept quite secret due to the potential disturbance by numerous birders who would descend on them in order to add the species to their life list.

Snowy Owl

Then: Considered an irregular winter visitant, but the numbers fluctuate. Even as recent as in the first part of last century, birds of various species were shot for the taxidermy trade, or whatever, and this owl species was a common target. Wood goes on to say that the winter of 1945-46 was the heaviest visitation in recent years, and " Twenty birds were definitely known to have been shot in the vicinity of Chatham and hunters told of many others killed and left in the fields." An unfortunate entry.

Now: up until recently the species was still considered an irregular winter visitor due to the cycle of breeding success, which in itself, was based on the population of lemmings and other rodents available to them during the nesting season. Abundance of food was a critical factor in the courtship display and therefore nesting activity and success. When larger numbers of young were raised, more would migrate south to survive the winter. Those cycles continued, more or less, up until 2010, where for the St. Clair NWA CBC, 1-3 birds would be seen in successive years, and then missing them for one or two years. However beginning in 2011, Snowy Owls have been seen each year, with sometimes a dozen or more birds being counted. The 2022 CBC had an incredible all time high of at least 23 owls recorded. The Blenheim/Rondeau count has shown a similar trend, although overall in smaller numbers except for an amazing 26 birds reported in 2014. This trend begs the question of what changes occurred in their breeding territory to presumably make their food source more readily available.

Short-eared Owl

Then: This species was described as an irregular winter visitant and very rare summer resident. However there were some incredible numbers given for them at times, as about 50 were reported at St. Luke's Marsh (immediately to the north of SCNWA) in March of 1940, and in January of 1943, there were about 100 birds reported there! There was only one confirmed nesting record known at the time, in June 1944, in a large pasture in the former Raleigh Township.

Now: While Short-eared Owls continue to appear in late fall, through the winter and into early spring, it is rare to see even one bird without a lot of effort during those times. Clearly their numbers elsewhere have fallen off so that there are few to appear in C-K during these non-breeding seasons. Getting 1-3 birds is at best, the norm for CBCs in the area, and in some years one does not get them at all. There have been some blips in these numbers, as an amazing 24 were tallied on the Blenheim/Rondeau CBC in 2010.

There is breeding habitat present, especially in the vicinity of the larger marsh complexes associated with Lake St. Clair. The amount of pasture or hayfield habitat elsewhere in C-K has declined in the last few decades, although some remains. However there have been no breeding records at any level for either of the first two OBBAs.

Chuck-will's-widow

Then: considered hypothetical, based on a single encounter in a woodlot in the former Raleigh Twp in 1920.

Now: Currently a very rare species, although in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was heard and seen annually at Rondeau. Indeed on one occasion there were up to 7 birds calling at various places along Harrison Trail both north and south of the Visitor Centre. It is believed that at least some of those birds were the progeny of the previous year or two. However in spite of efforts to try and locate any nesting evidence, this very cryptic species was never confirmed. There have been occasional records since that time, but very rarely, and almost entirely in May/June.

Whip-poor-will

Then: Considered as a common spring and fall transient and a rare summer resident.

Now: It is a regular spring migrant, but never common. A few can be heard under the right circumstances at Rondeau, for a couple of weeks in late May/early June. On occasion one or more will continue well into the breeding season, as they can be heard from the wooded ridges east of the Marsh Trail as well as along Harrison Trail. No doubt some have attempted to nest, perhaps successfully, although confirming this crepuscular creature would be difficult. The above photo was taken on Nov 4, 2012, of a bird high up in a White Pine along the South Point Trail. It is late in the season for an insect eating bird!
  

Common Nighthawk

Spring migrant

Autumn migrant

Then: it was considered an abundant summer resident, commonly nesting on flat, tarred and graveled roofs in cities and towns.

Now: while it is a regularly occurring species, it is anything but abundant. The open pine forests they breed in farther north are not available to them in C-K, so any attempts at breeding would still require the flat, tarred and graveled roofs. One used to be able to detect their 'boom' in the evening in cities and towns but not recently. Undoubtedly a few spring arrivals remain to at least attempt to nest. There were several atlas squares in both of the first two OBBAs recording them up to the 'Probable' level, but no 'Confirmed' records. Common Nighthawks are typically a bit more common in the autumn as they migrate southward from more productive breeding grounds.

 

Birds of Chatham-Kent, Then and Now, will continue in a future post.

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Late season orchids, shorebirds, etc

I'll take a short break from all the mothing posts, although be warned...there is more to come! But I haven't abandoned some of the other interesting elements of the season.

Actually while I was out getting ready for an evening with moths recently, I had about a dozen Common Nighthawks swooping back and forth not far away, but generally heading south while presumably hoping for a snack along the way.

 Shorebirds have been fairly predictable so far in the area, and that isn't likely to change too much in the next few weeks, but who knows?

Pectoral Sandpiper

 Lake McLean at Keith McLean Conservation Lands continues to be attractive to shorebirds. Probably the best shorebirds in recent days have been as many as 5 Long-billed Dowitchers. I've only stopped a couple of times and did not catch up with any of that species. But their shorter billed relatives have been there, along with a Stilt Sandpiper or two.

Short-billed---Stilt---Short-billed

 This next photo shows a nice comparison between the larger, stockier and longer billed Short-billed Dowitcher and the smaller, more slender and shorter billed Stilt Sandpiper.

Orchids have a fascination all of their own, but most people don't realize how many native orchids there are in Ontario. Even at Rondeau, there are 18 species of native orchid growing there. One of the most abundant orchids at Rondeau and similar habitats this late in the season is the Great Plains Ladies'-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum). It is fairly large for a Spiranthes, with fairly large flowers which smell a bit like vanilla to some, or a bit like hot plastic to others. Most Spiranthes don't have any fragrance at all, but this species does. I measured an individual at Rondeau the other day, and even though it was not completely in full flower it measured just over 40 cm tall (16").

The rows of individual flowers may be fairly straight, as in this next photo....

 ...or they may be somewhat spiralling, as in this next one.

 Regardless, the individual flowers have a fairly long lower lip, with slightly yellowish centres.

Recently I went out to a spot with a couple of friends, to look at another, smaller, Spiranthes. It is quite rare in Ontario. It is Yellow Ladies-tresses (Spiranthes ochroleuca). The individual flowers are shorter and more hump backed than the previous species, and their lip isn't quite as long, although it, too, has a slightly yellowish centre.

While we were out looking at this Spiranthes, we came across a peculiar growth form of another, and not just of one individual, but of at least 14 individuals in a scattered group.

We initially thought it might be a different species altogether such as one of the really rare, small flowered ones. However after sending the photos to a Spiranthes specialist at the New York Botanical Garden, who did his Ph. D. on revising the Spiranthes cernua group, the explanation goes something like this: at some point in ancient history, a subspecies of Spiranthes cernua hybridized with Spiranthes magnicamporum somewhere in the Great Lakes region. As a result, the progeny of that hybrid is often apomictic, which means it doesn't need to cross-pollinate but can produce viable seeds through self-pollination. The result is that such small, closed flowers are not all that uncommon, and since it continues to produce viable seed through self-pollination, the entire group of 14 or so that we saw is of this growth form. This species has been named Spiranthes incurva.

Another fairly uncommon orchid is this next one: Autumn Coralroot (Corallorhiza odontorhiza). It is small, barely 15 cm tall, and the flowers often droop or don't even open, so this is about as showy as it gets. It used to be considered quite rare in Ontario, but that is mainly because it is so hard to find, even when you know where it is. It typically occurs in forested areas, so the dappled light on the forest floor makes it even more difficult to see.

I was recently out at a high quality savanna in Lambton County, where one of the only three known populations in Canada of White Prairie Gentian occurs.

 Many readers are likely familiar with the Closed or Bottle Gentian, shown next.

 On occasion, a white colour form of Bottle Gentian occurs, which can really get one's attention, hoping for it to be the endangered White Prairie Gentian. However even though this white colour form of Bottle Gentian is uncommon, an easy way to tell the difference is that Bottle Gentian has little fringes at the tip of its petals whereas White Prairie Gentian is not fringed. What makes things a bit more challenging is that both species occur at one of the 3 sites of White Prairie Gentian, leading to some interesting hybrid colour forms, so checking the flower tips is critical to determine which species it really is.

There is, however, a species of blue gentian with very obvious fringes, as shown below. This is called, appropriately, Fringed Gentian. While I photographed this individual on a cloudy day, the petals weren't as open as they would be on a bright sunny day.

On one of the sunnier days I was out at Rondeau, I decided to look along the east beach for some regular, but seldom seen, occupants. It is the Hairy-necked Tiger Beetle. They were really quite common, but only if you were looking intently. I saw perhaps three dozen of them in less than 30 minutes, but they are difficult to approach, and you don't really see the hairy neck without close focusing binoculars, or a good telephoto camera lens and then look at them on the computer. If you click on this image, it should show up larger if you want to see them.

There are some late season wildflowers that are good for attracting late season butterflies and other things. New England Aster is popular, as are other aster and goldenrod species.

Blue-stemmed Goldenrod

 While photographing some butterflies at this patch of asters, I noticed something else. It was a moth, a day-flying one known as Corn Earworm. That is my token moth photo for this blog :-).

Viceroy

Painted Lady

 There are still quite a few Monarchs around, but diminishing as the days go by. I do have one in a chrysalis in my yard, but it is getting darker and will emerge in the next day or so.

 There is the occasional Peck's Skipper still around. I also saw a Common Buckeye a couple of days ago but since I only had my macro lens on the camera, was not able to get a photo of it.

 Goldenrods, if they are still in good flower, can be quite busy with insects. Wasps especially are searching out nectar. This final photo shows a wasp look-alike but is actually a long-horned beetle type known as a Locust Borer.

Neotropic Cormorant, Whimbrel, Franklin's Gull and other late May highlights

May birding has come to an end, but there are still some northbound migrants trickling through. In fact by the time the northbound migrants have finished passing through this area, it is likely that some of the earliest northbound species that attempted to get to the arctic breeding grounds for an early start, might have had failed nests and are already returning to southern Ontario to feed and rest up, awaiting the urge to return to their wintering ground later this year. So for a very short period, the spring and fall migrants may overlap.

This post will feature some of my favourite bird photos that I took this month that I haven't yet posted, as well as some of the more unusual species that I have caught up with quite recently.

One of the highlights was to have one or more Common Nighthawks using a quite visible branch for their daytime roost along the north part of Rondeau's Harrison Trail. It was seen for several days in a row, and while the mostly cloudy condition at the time did not give a great background for photographic documentation, on one occasion I came across this one with a pleasing blue sky.

 The bird was relatively settled in, but once in awhile do a 180 degree turn on the branch, or open an eye to check out the birders watching it. Maybe it was keeping track of how many people came along, adding us all to its people list.

 An Eastern Screech Owl got a lot of attention. It was nice that it was facing the Bennett Ave road, and a safe distance from folks who stuck to the road.

 Gray Catbirds have been fairly abundant, but do not often pose long enough away from the usually dense shrubbery where they are found.

 Lincoln's Sparrows are not commonly seen, and even when they are, are often furtively poking around some wet shrubby areas. This one was busily foraging on an almost submerged log at the log pond.

 Indigo Buntings, always a delight to see in bright sunlight due to their rich indigo colour, are occasionally seen in shrubby openings, or along shrubby forest edges.

 Red-belllied Woodpeckers are common residents, but are becoming quieter in the forest since they have already established a territory and are busy with nesting activities. This one occurred in a quite open area along Warbler's Way.

 Eastern Kingbirds were very abundant for a few days, and there will often be a few along forest edges such as near the cottage community.

 Scarlet Tanagers are more often heard than seen in the forest, as they are typically fairly high and at least partially obscured by the newly emerged leaves.

 The Wood Thrush is one of my favourite woodland species. Spending time in woodland areas on a quiet evening will usually result in hearing their melodious, flute-like song. Unfortunately due to a decline in the quality of woodland that this species requires, as well as other factors, Wood Thrush is now officially a Species At Risk in Ontario being designated as Special Concern.

Cuckoos are not very common. This next photo is of a Black-billed Cuckoo, easily identified by its dark lower bill and the lack of large white spots on the underside of its tail which are found on the Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Of course while out looking for birds, one encounters other things along the way. Eastern Chipmunks are quite abundant and briefly visible as they scamper about the forest.

 On the occasional warm, sunny day, one may find a Five-lined Skink basking on a boardwalk or log. The southern Ontario, or Carolinian, population of this reptile is officially Endangered.

Shorebirds are passing through in good numbers these days, and likely will be for the next couple of weeks. Since many of them nest in the high arctic, they wait as long as possible for the conditions at that latitude to be most favourable for their breeding activities. The shores of the lake, at sewage lagoons or, especially this year in flooded fields, are the best places to find them. The Keith McLean Conservation Lands is a good place to check out, since there are several acres of flooded fields with varying water level depths. Rarer shorebird species such as Willet and Black-necked Stilt, mentioned in earlier posts, have been found there not long ago.

Short-billed Dowitchers have been present at the KMCL in small numbers.

 A dozen or more Semipalmated Plovers have been seen there quite recently.

 Solitary Sandpipers are usually solitary, and like shallow water in grassy fields.

 Spotted Snadpipers are found in almost any medium sized to large size wetland edge. The local sewage lagoons often have a few.

 Dunlin are present in fairly large numbers, at any of those shallow wetland habitats or lake edges. Sometimes as many as one hundred can be seen at one of these sites.

One of the shorebird highlights of the spring is the arrival of Whimbrel. This large shorebird species with the distinctive long, down-curved bill,  doesn't stay around for long.

Green Herons, which often look almost black depending on the light they are seen in, are present in or near wooded wetlands.

In the latter part of May and into June, is a good time to see less common gulls. Certainly that has been the case again this year, as several less common species have been found in the Erieau/McGeachy Pond area. Several Franklin's Gulls (FRGU) as well as a Laughing Gull (LAGU) have been seen irregularly. FRGU usually have more white in their wingtips, and LAGU wingtips are typically solid black. Hence a bit of initial confusion on the bird in this next photo. But after checking a bit further, a first summer FRGU will have all dark wingtips. So that, as well as lacking a larger, slightly drooping bill and having fairly wide white eye-crescents, seen better in the second photo, all point to this being a FRGU.

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the first summer LAGU, as I just saw it at quite a distance through the scope. But on that occasion, at least, the overcast conditions gave better light and no heat haze to contend with.

An almost full adult Lesser Black-backed Gull was noted in the onion field with other gulls, although it didn't stay very long.

Last, but certainly not least, was this Neotropic Cormorant, one of the very few records for the Rondeau area. It was first found by Jim Burk a couple of weeks ago, and then disappeared for a short while. In the last week or so it had been seen roosting in the willow trees on the far side of the Erieau channel. My first attempts at a photo did not turn out well, due to the lateness of the day but more so due to the very white/gray sky, making a black bird really difficult to photograph. A day or so later, when the sky was blue late in the day I got more satisfactory photos. The bird is on the left, and is distinguished from the larger and super abundant Double-crested Cormorant by being smaller, about 2/3 the size, having a smaller pale throat patch and a white chevron of feathers at the base of the mouth parts. At some angles, the eyes look a little more 'bug-eyed', but that characteristic is not visible in this photo, which was taken and then greatly cropped so that the final result is the equivalent of about 95X.