Back to birds, mostly

First of all, a Life on a Sandspit update: it is currently available from the Friends of Rondeau bookstore at the Visitor Centre. The selling price is $27. Part of that, of course, goes to support the Friends. I am working on having the books also available at other local outlets in southern Chatham-Kent. There may be an option to make them available by mail, so stay tuned.

So many cooperative birds to photograph! I likely will have another wildflower post in the near future, as they continue to appear on the landscape, but this is prime birding season, so it is back to birds for this one.

I've spent a bit of time at St. Clair NWA, as it is fairly close to home. One of the highlights of my most recent visit was seeing about 7 Palm Warblers right along the trail. They aren't always the easiest bird to photograph so I was pleased with this opportunity. Most of the time they were on the ground, but on occasion they would get up and grab on to a plant stem.

Chipping Sparrows were here and there.

A few goslings were out exploring their wetland with their parents.

There is often an American Coot or two seen....

....and always a few Red-winged Blackbirds which pose for a short time.

I have heard Soras there from time to time, but they seldom show themselves. I'm hoping that Virginia and King Rails might be heard on a future visit, and also see or at least hear American and Least Bitterns. They are undoubtedly there now, but aren't easy to see.

A little farther up the edge of Lake St. Clair, there are good spots to see terns. This pair of Forster's Terns were getting right into the mating season.

There were lots of Painted Turtles, as usual, but I only shot this Northern Map Turtle, a species at risk.

I stopped at the Blenheim lagoons briefly on one occasion, in between showers. Lots of Ruddy Ducks were there although most were well out from the edge......

....and due to the cold weather, there were hundreds of swallows, mostly of the Tree Swallow type, but a few Barn Swallows, one of which is shown next. They are always a challenge to photograph as they swoop erratically in their chase for an insect to devour.

A short visit to the Erieau Rail Trail turned up a few warblers and others things. I did not get to see the Yellow-throated Warbler that showed up for a day, but I did see some dowitchers. The only one I got a photo of was a Short-billed. The other one that was a little farther away might have been a Long-billed. Both have been reported over the last few days.

Tree Swallows are always around, and occasionally take a rest on a branch.

Rondeau is where I have spent a little more of my birding time. There is always something to see, even if sometimes there is lots of distance between birds, and even more distance between birds to photograph. Black-capped Chickadees were quite abundant not that long ago, but most seem to have moved on....

....and most Dark-Eyed Juncos have also moved on. I was surprised to see three along Tulip Tree Trail recently.

Downy Woodpeckers are less vocal via tapping than a week or two ago, so they must be into nesting mode.

While an occasional Brown Thrasher had been seen not that long ago, it seems to be more abundant lately.

I managed a shot or two of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher as it flitted continuously and erratically at ground level searching for bugs in the rain.

Eastern Phoebes are scattered around on established territories.

Eastern Towhees are more often heard than seen, but this one cooperated for a few minutes in a tree by the trail.

House Wrens are fairly common, singing loudly and frequently.

Killdeer are in nesting mode, and sometimes faking it.

Northern Flickers are common, but are skittish when a birder is around. I guess they feel safer high up in a tree.

A Northern Waterthrush entertained a few birders near the Log Pond on one occasion.

The feeders at the Visitor Centre always attract birds and birders....and sometimes even in broad daylight this normally nocturnal critter just couldn't resist.

Along the trail, there are still some Hermit Thrush, although they are dwindling in number....

...a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks are always enjoyable to see....a real crowd pleaser!

A recent highlight was to see this Red-headed Woodpecker at a distance, but at eye level.

 Another highlight was while I was exploring a little used trail. I noted a Pileated Woodpecker fly in nearby. It seemed a bit more silent than usual and I watched it fly to a dead tree that was full of holes. It gradually moved up and poked its head into one that looked fresh, and then backed out. Almost immediately the male dove out, and headed straight towards me before veering off! I don't think it was intentional.

The female then headed back to the hole and got in.

I plan to keep an eye on this nesting pair, as the several pair that call Rondeau home are not often nesting in somewhat of an accessible location. Fingers crossed!

This Solitary Sandpiper was busily hunting for food in the vicinity of the Log Pond.

White-breasted Nuthatches are always fun to see as they meander up a tree trunk.

As I was walking down Harrison Trail, I heard an unfamiliar chirp. I eventually tracked it down to this Wood Thrush. Every year one has to re-familiarize oneself with bird calls, songs, etc.

Yellow Warblers will soon be by far the most numerous warbler encountered at Rondeau and area.They are always fun to see.

Not that long ago a Black Vulture was seen at a couple of places just outside of Rondeau. I wasn't there that day, but I have seen that species on several occasions over the years. But I have paid a bit closer attention to vultures I have seen, including this pair of Turkey Vultures perched on this tree trunk just outside the park, which lent themselves nicely for a photo op.

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More exploration of local woodlands and wetlands

 I will get back to the Birds of Chatham-Kent, then and now, series before long, I hope, but as spring slowly and steadily unfolds nearby, featuring my current travels and discoveries is more relevant.

McKerrall Woods is an interesting woodland only a few kilometres from home. I included it in my Natural Areas of Chatham-Kent series awhile ago, and for more information on it, check out this link. It is not well known, but a nice representative upland/lowland woods a little way off the gravel road, and other than when I led a spring wildflower hike to a few folks several years ago, I have never seen anyone there during my visits that I make several times a year. I enjoy the peace and quiet of natural areas, so especially if I think the more well-known natural areas will be busier, I retreat to areas such as McKerrall Woods.

So on a nice, sunny, warmish day on a weekend a short time ago, I set out for McKerrall Woods. As usual, I had the place to myself, other than the normal woodland creatures. Wood Frogs were chortling, and woodpeckers were drumming or otherwise making them selves known. I got my first ever Pileated Woodpecker for this site. I tracked it down, but was not able to get a good photo, so I have delved into my archives here.

Other than that, I got about 20 of the usual species, and had a pair of Turkey Vultures soaring a little above the tree canopy. I have seen them here before, not surprisngly, and thought I had discovered a nest last year but it turned out not to be. Maybe this year I will be more successful.

I've been to Thamesgrove Conservation Area a few times, but mainly when the weather doesn't look all that great for going very far away. It isn't terribly birdy yet, but there is always something, and occasionally I even get a photo or two, such as of this first of season Hermit Thrush.

Even closer to home is Paxton's Bush, which I get to several times a week. I came across my first Bloodroot flowers of the season.

Brown Creepers continue to be in woodlands on their northerly migration, and even our yard on occasion.

If I get a decent chance for a photo of Downy Woodpecker, or any other regular species, I will try to benefit from its cooperation.

Red-breasted Nuthatches are a little more abundant now, as they get into migration mode.

The local Great Horned Owls have utilized this laundry basket nest again this year. The ear tufts of the adult are visible, and a close look indicates there are two fluff balls present.

I include a trip to Rondeau as often as I can, although lately it has never been more than twice a week. That will change soon, I expect. Lots of walking will invariably bring one across a nice variety of both flora and fauna. 

Frogs are plentiful and I have heard Spring Peepers already. Leopard Frogs are calling everywhere, and show up on trails and roads.

On a warmish day, snakes can be seen slowly roaming about, like this Eastern Gartersnake.

I've had a few butterflies, including this Eastern Comma, as well as a couple of Mourning Cloaks that were constantly on the move, so no photos.

Spring wildflowers are appearing, such as this Sharp-lobed Hepatica. Due to the cooler water surrounding the park, winds keep the unfolding of spring a little slower than inland, so it is always nice to see the first native spring wildflowers. There are some non-native species that have already appeared, such as Snowdrops, Siberian Squill and Colt's-foot. They are usually close to cottage lots, so undoubtedly were brought in by the leaseholders.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

I came across my first migrant warblers of the season at Rondeau, a Yellow-rumped Warbler, looking crisp and clean compared to the more drab overwintering individuals of this species.

 

I also encountered my first of the year Eastern Bluebird....

.....and an Eastern Towhee that enabled me to get this photo.....

.....as well as one of three Fox Sparrows I noted along the Black Oak Trail.

  One has to be on the lookout for trail 'hazards' as well as the flora and fauna along the trail. Coyote scat is fairly regularly seen, but this one doesn't seem to be coyote since there is no hair or fur in it. I suspect it might be from a member of the weasel family.

 

This next item is a pupa of some overwintering moth species, as near as I can tell. It was wriggling slightly so maybe it will emerge.

I've checked out some wetlands along Lake St. Clair from time to time as well. Beaver are becoming more plentiful in recent decades, and one sees evidence of their huge houses from time to time.

As I was starting out along the Mitchell's Bay South Nature Trail, I saw my first of the year Barn Swallow, preening on the wire in the vicinity of 4 Tree Swallows.

When I started down the trail, I was interested to see the huge number of Midland Painted Turtles out basking in the sun. In my first time past this group, and close to the beginning of the trail, I counted 77 individuals. As I continued down the trail, I tallied a total of 142 individuals, quite a remarkable number.

On the return, I took a closer look at this first bunch and noted that more turtles had emerged to sun themselves. When I recounted, I found that there were at least 20 more, bringing the overall total to about 162! I was hoping to find a Blanding's Turtle in with them, but all were painted.

Double-crested Cormorants are not uncommon at all...

...nor are Song Sparrows.

Golden-crowned Kinglets were present in small numbers, flitting and feeding amongst the shrubbery.

There were several Great Egrets, not surprisingly, but they don't often cooperate for a camera. One has to peer through the taller Phragmites vegetation to have any hope of a relative clear photo.

Bald Eagles, such as this sub-adult, are frequently seen from a distance. The partial back lighting didn't make it any easier to get this photo.

Happy Easter, everyone!

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