The season is getting noisier, and busier!

 As the days go by, it is definitely becoming more spring-like in the world of nature. Butterflies are more evident, as I saw several of these Eastern Commas flitting about on a sunny, warm day recently. Some paused long enough to land and soak up a bit of sun, so I managed to get a few photos.

The trails sometimes had amphibians out and about. I saw half a dozen of these out on the Rondeau Marsh Trail a short time ago.

Leopard Frog

Killdeer are showing up in increasing numbers. I saw at least 7 along the Erieau Marsh Trail. It is possible that due to the mild winter weather, some may never have left, but they are more abundant now than during winter, such as it was.

Red-winged Blackbirds are quite abundant anywhere there are wetlands...

....they are often singing, as only Red-wings can sing, clearly trying to establish territories. I have seen them in conflict with other males fairly frequently.

Sandhill Cranes are more frequently seen now, but more often heard first. I had at least 7 along the Rondeau Marsh Trail, some of which were paired up, and making themselves heard.

Even though this is a pair, take a closer look at the one on the right. It is missing its right eye, but other than that, seemed to be acting and sounding quite normally.

American Robins are increasingly abundant, and they provide easy targets for the photographer. Mostly the males at this point, although I think I have seen the occasional female.

Northern Cardinals are more apt to be singing, although often they are partially obscured in a coniferous tree or some other tangle making it hard to photograph them.

Almost all of the waterfowl species are back, and getting paired up. With so much open water, many of them are not often in good photo range, but these three Northern Shovelers cooperated reasonably well.

Some waterfowl are becoming notable by their absence. There are very few Tundra Swans around now, as most have begun their northward journey.

Pileated Woodpeckers can be more often heard these days, as their distinctive drum roll tapping becomes apparent as they re-affirm their territories, which presumably were much more flexible over the winter. It won't be long before they are getting down to some serious egg-laying!

Red-bellied Woodpecker, another year-round resident, can be found more easily.

Wild Turkeys have been harder to find lately. Of course up until there was an Ontario re-introduction program established in about 1984, they were impossible to find. But after 1984, the population in Ontario expanded rather nicely. However in the last few years, they are less frequently seen in fields or at the edges of wooded areas. I suspect it is partly because the warm dry weather last autumn allowed many landowners to till the soil rather than leave it in stubble that the turkeys would forage in. I also suspect that the increase in coyotes over the years has taken its toll on the turkeys and their ability to nest and raise young. So it was nice to find a good-sized flock of about 62 birds widely scattered in this grassy field in between a couple of woodlots.

Of course Eastern Screech Owls are also year-round residents, and on occasion one will be quite evident as it looks out of its wood duck nest box that it over wintered in.

There are other things going on. While walking some of the roads and trails of Rondeau, I noticed this Raccoon, wandering around. It was walking rather erratically in the middle of the day. Not a healthy sign for this species. It had no fear of me, and as it got closer and I was able to get this photo, I could see its right eye was non-functional, and even its left eye showed some cloudiness. Quite likely it was suffering from distemper, which happens regularly with raccoons on a 3-4 year cycle. When they get to this stage, not much can be done about it, and so this individual's fate is likely sealed.

On a brighter note, at least from a native mammal point of view, the Eastern Chipmunks have been quite active in the last week or so, and occasionally one will stop long enough at a suitable distance to allow for a photo. They are always a crowd pleaser.When their population gets quite large, one sees more road-killed chipmunks. So far I haven't seen any road kills, but then the park visitation hasn't been all that abundant yet.

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Late autumn migrants, including some rarities

 The fine autumn weather continues, but that is going to change soon! Birds have been lingering, perhaps reluctant to continue their sometimes hazardous journey to points far to the south. Or at least they have the opportunity to explore areas in southwestern Ontario that normally would not be on their southern trek route. For example, a Franklin's Gull, a western species, appeared at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons for a short visit. This species can show up either spring or fall, but not every year, and typically only one is recorded even then.

Here is a Bonaparte's Gull, a sometimes abundant migrant, for comparison. There were several hundred of them to sort through at the lagoons, in the search for the Franklin's Gull.

While perusing these lagoons, a lingering Spotted Sandpiper, has been seen fairly regularly. It is a regular breeding species, but is typically long gone by now. It looks healthy enough, and can fly quite well, so poor health doesn't seem to be a problem.

Not quite as western as the Franklin's Gull, but certainly more abundant there than in the Hudson Bay region of northern Ontario is Hudsonian Godwit. One or more birds has been seen either at the lagoons, or the Keith McLean Conservation Area. Usually it is well away from easy viewing and photographing, but on the day I encountered it, it was in one of the smaller ponds near where the recent habitat construction activity has taken place. The excellent light, along with telephoto lens, resulted in some very satisfying photos.

Much more typical are Dunlin...

...while Pectoral Sandpipers, usually gone by now but lingering perhaps due to the fine weather, have been occasionally seen.

Tundra Swans are starting to appear, an indication that more wintry weather is not far off. Some may stay all winter, depending on the severity. While one or more Trumpeter Swans have been reported at the KMCA, and I was originally hoping these might be them, a more careful look concluded that they are indeed Tundras. The yellow spot on the lores of the bill, the more pinched look of the black area near the eye, the rounded white feathering at the top of the bill (as opposed to a more pointed white feathering arrangement for Trumpeter) and the shorter black bill all point to Tundra.

For the last few days, a Cattle Egret has been seen mingling with a small herd of cattle along the Bisnett Line, just north of Erieau. All too often it is partly obscured or too far away to get a satisfactory photo. On one occasion I was there, I got the next photo.

A relatively quick trip out in the former Dover Twp did not turn up anything unexpected, but I got a few things, including some that were present at the Owen/Bishop Cemetery, where Owen Line is closed. I got my first of the fall season American Tree Sparrow....

...a number of Dark-eyed Juncos, also recently arrived.....

....a few American Goldfinches that are transitioning to their winter plumage...

...and a few Rusty Blackbirds, a species that is a 'Special Concern' designated rarity.

Rusties are probably the most abundant this time of year, as they continue their migration to the southern US and into Central America or beyond. It is not uncommon to see a few on most outings, such as this one of a small group along the Marsh Trail of Rondeau a few days ago.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are fairly abundant, but with their propensity to be constantly on the move and typically in shrubbery, getting a clear photo is a challenge.

Checking feeders can be a good spot to check for birds. This White-breasted Nuthatch, a resident species, was scooting back and forth regularly, heading off to a tree with some food in its mouth, hiding it for leaner times.

Its close relative the Red-breasted Nuthatch is less common, but at the moment fairly regular.

Blue Jays have staged a rather large exit from Ontario, but some will still be found.

 Of course at feeders one will typically find other creatures enjoying what they can find.

On the topic of migrants, I came across an uncommon butterfly just a couple of days ago. It is a Common Checkered Skipper, a small butterfly that shows up in late summer and early autumn from points south of the border. This one looks like it has been around for a little while, as it is rather faded.

I also saw at least 12-15 Eastern Commas, almost certainly the most I have seen in one day this late in the season. They will overwinter.

There has been the occasional Common Drone Fly around. It is not native, but spread far and wide. It is a honeybee mimic.

And while walking along the east South Point Trail I came across this raccoon. It was alert enough to know I was there, although I am not sure it could see me very well.

A closer photo shows an unhealthy looking eye. Undoubtedly this individual is suffering from distemper, a disease that occurs periodically and is devastating to things like raccoons. Once the animal gets to this stage, it will not recover, and there is not much that can be done. In some municipalities where there are rescue crews to deal with this, the animal is usually euthanized to prevent a slow, agonizing death. It was about 3-4 years ago when this disease was readily apparent in raccoons at Rondeau last time.

And finally, a Snow Goose has been hanging out at the Ridgetown Sewage Lagoons as of late, and on occasion is close enough for a photo.

Snow Geese are sometimes quite abundant in eastern Ontario, as they travel to their wintering area along the Atlantic coast, but here in southwestern Ontario, we will only occasionally see one or perhaps a few mixed in with the much more abundant Canada Geese flocks.

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