Canatara Creature and a Rondeau Rodent

 Today was bright and sunny after a dusting of snow overnight.  Roads were a rather wet and salty, so I stayed in for a while until I could not stand it!  Just my luck, I had washed my car yesterday, so I did not want to get it dirty.  So much for that idea! Never fails.

It was too nice to stay in, so I headed up to Sarnia to look for the Yellow-throated Warbler.  This creature was found by the Nethercott's over a couple of weeks ago and has stuck in the same area around the animal farm.  

I did attempt to see it a couple of days after it was found, but with no luck.  Today seemed to be the day to find it.  Actually, I was not going to leave until I did see it!

It was seen earlier in the day, and a couple of other birders were looking upon my arrival.  One left, and the other was walking away when I found it.  I heard the characteristic chip notes and it took a minute or two to find it.  It was at the peak of the barn in the animal farm picking at spider webs!

Since it was a sunny day, I managed to get decent photos, including the one for the header of this blog.

There are a handful of records for Lambton County, including the one at the west side of Canatara Park at the end of April 2023.  I managed to see that one for my first Lambton record.

Yellow-throated Warbler is an annual regular rarity in Ontario, usually in the spring.  I have seen several at Rondeau Provincial Park, including the year that a pair likely nested.  Several of us saw one of the birds gathering nesting material, but it was never confirmed as nesting.  It would have been Ontario's first nesting record if proven.

Yesterday, I went down to Rondeau since it was a calm day for a change.  I started at dog beach for a lakewatch even though winds were not conducive for a good passage of birds.  There was not much to see, so I left that spot after one half hour.

I checked out south point trail.  There were a few birds, including a decent mixed flock of birds at one point.

Bald Eagle

Next walk was the campground.  A few birds kept up my interest, but nothing of note.

I also walked the old maintenance loop.  There were a few birds, but most interesting was a Red Squirrel.  It is likely the same creature that was here the last couple of years.  Not known to inhabit the park, this chattery critter likely came in via someone's camper.

I stopped for a walk at Keith McLean C. L. before heading home.  There were lots of birds there just past the parking lot.  Nothing in the noteworthy department though.

The big pond area is essentially dried up, but what little water is there was frozen.  Up to seven Killdeer were slip-sliding on the ice, wondering what the heck they were doing there.

Christmas Bird Counts are less than two weeks away already.  Where has the time gone?

Some Nice Winter Finches and More

 Looks like winter is here to stay this week.  It will be interesting to see what kind of winter we get.  There is talk of a "real" winter!  Maybe there will be ice on the St. Clair River, but not like in the old days when it froze smooth.

Uncle Murray's iceboat at Sombra

This past week, birds were fewer and farther between as one would expect.

Last Sunday, I ventured up to Ipperwash and area to look for winter finches and other birds.  In particular, I wanted to see Bohemian Waxwings, but my usual bad luck prevailed and I did not see any!  Everyone else seems to come across them though.

I stuck it out and finally came across three Pine Grosbeaks feeding on winterberry.  They were in a very difficult position, so as usual I could not get good photos.  These chunky finches are always nice to see!

Certainly my favourite species of finch.

I spent a little time at Ausable River Cut CA where there were no birds to look at, but there were mussels of course.

Three-ridge (most common)

Spike

On the way home, I encountered a female Ring-necked Pheasant.  These creatures are difficult to find anymore.

Tuesday I went to Rondeau, but it was extremely quiet for birds!

Thursday, a Fox Sparrow showed up in the yard.  It is still present at time of this writing.  Would be a nice winter bird, if it decides to stay.

Friday, it was back to Rondeau.  There were more birds, but not many, and nothing of note.  My camera was acting up again anyway!

Today, it was finally calm after some brutal winds this past week.  I went to Hillman Marsh first thing for a walk.  Lots of mud showing!  Hillman Creek has dried up!

Eighteen Sandhill Cranes were near the the Mersea Rd. 2 west bridge.

I then joined an Essex County Field Naturalist outing at Wheatley Harbour.  It was just a nice and different thing to do on a gloomy day.

There was nothing of note, but nice to join in with some people I know.  Lots of gulls, but no Short-tailed!

The old Sombra ferry is still in the harbour at Hike Metals.  Not sure what the deal is, but they have done some work on her in the past year.  It is supposed to serve Bob-lo Island.

Here are some old photos of the Daldean, which was my grandfather's pride and joy.

Morgan Dalgety working on the ferry at Erieau.  Other photo at Sombra during winter

Here is one photo of it being built at Erieau I found in an old family album.

Winter birding season starts on Monday, so we will see what it brings.

November Notes and a Novelty!

 This past Tuesday I went down to Rondeau and area for some birding.  Turned out to be rather quiet everywhere!

Campground was first stop, then about a 2 km walk out marsh trail.  I only went out the two kilometres since it was so quiet for birds.

A stop at Keith McLean C. L. revealed the Western Cattle Egret.  I was not really looking for it, but it suddenly flushed up alongside one the new ponds!

I also checked out Erieau's marsh trail and McGeachy Pond.  I do not think I have ever seen that much beach alongside McGeachy pond dike.

Low water levels have certainly changed the scenery everywhere.

First thing Wednesday morning I went to Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing of note, but it was quite calm making for a nice morning to view the lake.

A few birds were along the trail, including some Cedar Waxwings.

Thursday, it was back to Rondeau!  It was dead calm and one could hear things a long way off.  I checked out the campground first thing.  It was a little better than the previous visit, but not by much!  Highlight, I guess, was a Redpoll flyover.

It was a good day to walk out the marsh trail.  I ended up with 52 species to the half way point, and there was enough to keep one quite interested.

Not far out, I encountered a group of birds.  Up popped a novelty in the form of a Warbling Vireo!  I was unable to get good photos (as usual...stupid camera).  I will provide them here anyway.

I soon lost sight of it.  At least I knew what it was, although not thinking that Warbling Vireo had been split into western and eastern species.

This was certainly record-late for the area, and one of only a few November records for the province.

This caused a bit of a stir in the birding world.  Recently, Warbling Vireo was split into Eastern and Western.  Given the time of year, there were thoughts this might be the western version.  Due to my poor photos and observations, I just assumed it was an Eastern (which turned out to be correct).

The difference between the two is subtle!  Some minor differences can be noted, and apparently the song is a good indicator.  However, they cannot be reliably separated by photos alone.  DNA certainly comes in handy in this case!  When one looks at good reliable photos of a Western, it is rather obvious.

Luckily, the next day, Josh Vandermeulen and Jude Szabo ventured out the marsh trail (to the very end) and were able to re-locate the vireo.  They obtained decent photos which were subsequently posted on the Ontario Discord, as well as eBird.  After some discussion, it was concluded that this bird was an Eastern Warbling Vireo.  A good find indeed.  Much appreciation goes to those guys for getting photos, which certainly put the issue to rest!

Anyway, I had a good walk to the half way point of marsh trail and back.  I encountered an Eastern Phoebe at one point. (another eastern bird!).

A Common Yellowthroat was not too unusual at this date, since some attempt to winter.

On the return walk, I found a Midland Painted Turtle.  It was alive, but not in good shape.  Not sure how I missed it on the way out.

Several Isabella Tiger Moth caterpillars were decorating the trail.

Friday was a nice day to head to Sarnia and check out Canatara Park.  Recently, a Yellow-throated Warbler was frequenting the area around the animal farm.  My usual luck prevailed, and it was not present! I put in a valiant effort looking though.

Canatara is a good spot for birds dropping in or flying over, along the lake.  I managed to spot two Evening Grosbeaks at one point.  About eight Redpolls flew over during my stay.  Virtually all in a westerly direction.

Today I checked out Mitchell's Bay first thing, but it was extremely quiet for birds.  I then spent the rest of the morning finishing up a long-overdue project at home.

After lunch, I went for a long walk at Reid C. L.  Although it was a cool day, there were still some grasshoppers around the back field! (no photos).

I looked at some mosses in the woods. Not sure of ID.

Another week in the bag....what will next week bring?

November Gales, Tales and Swales

 Been here and there the last few days trying to find things of interest.  November is an interesting time of year no doubt for birds as well as ship history.  Lots of windy days lately, as November often brings us. Gales of November are upon us.

This past Friday I went northward to Ipperwash in hopes of seeing some finches.  It is an irruption year for northern finches, so that fact has made birding interesting.  Not the biggest irruption we have ever had, but all the finches have made an appearance to some degree.

Best spot is the old MNR parking lot at Ipperwash.  There are adjacent sand barrens and a trail winding through the 'swales'.  The swales harbour lots of winterberry holly, which is quite attractive to Pine Grosbeaks.

Some of these attractive grosbeaks were seen the previous day, but I could not come up with any this visit.  However, I did manage to check off practically all the other finches!

Just out of the car, some Evening Grosbeaks flew over.  I heard the odd Redpoll (all one species now!) go over, as well as lots of Purple Finches.  Some Pine Siskins were mixed in.

Later on, a White-winged Crossbill flew over (then another shortly thereafter) much to my delight.  There have not been many crossbills in this particular irruption, so it was a bonus.

Although I did not get any Pine Grosbeaks, I was happy with the morning's results.  As well, several birders I know were around, so as always, it was a social event too.

Next day I did not go too far from home.  Stopped by Mitchell's Bay first thing (yes, I am still hopeful for a goodie there!).  Water levels are still dropping, exposing lots of mud here and elsewhere.

Of note, a late Greater Yellowlegs was feeding on the mud.

An preening!

Later on, I went up to Reid C. L.  I noticed that they have started some 'improvements' by trimming down some of the thick stuff in hopes of making it more suitable for the Northern Oak Hairstreak.  The "open" area was getting quite overgrown, and fewer and fewer nectaring sources each year were available.  Some things such as hemp dogbane will be planted there.

I was out basically just for a walk in the woods, which I love to do.  Best bird was an Eastern Towhee which did not come out to face the camera!

It was quite warm in the afternoon, so some insects were out.  This member of the long-tailed aphideater complex was on one of the last flowers in the garden.

Sunday, was forecast to be sunny with a very strong NW wind.  You guessed it, I headed up to Lake Huron, namely Ipperwash, for a lakewatch!

There were not many ducks, but lots of gulls.  I missed an adult Black-legged Kittiwake that was seen (adults are very rare on the Great Lakes), but did see a Parasitic Jaeger.  A jaeger is good on any day it seems!

It was too windy for land birding, even though I tried for a bit.  I did finally see a couple of Pine Grosbeaks though.  Hopefully I can go back for some better looks someday.

Today, I had little ambition to go anywhere, so finished cleaning up the yard in the morning. In the afternoon, it was nice and sunny, so went for a walk at the "go-to" place.

A couple of scenes:

This date in the past is notable for some marine history facts.  I have written about these in the past, but are always significant to my eyes.

On November 17, 1972, the Michipicoten broke in two in the Gulf of St. Lawrence whilst being towed overseas for scrap.  I remember well seeing this ship at Port Lambton in the summer of 1972.  So much so, my dad commissioned a line drawing for me as a Christmas gift.

line drawing by Frank Crevier

It was originally built in 1905 as the Henry C. Frick.

An identical ship built in 1905 was the William E. Corey. It was eventually renamed the Ridgetown and retired in 1969.  As many of you know, it still exists today!  However, it is now a rusty old breakwater at Port Credit.

(I once found a Western Grebe here!)

Tomorrow will be the 67th anniversary of the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley on Lake Michigan.  A very tragic event indeed.

The husband of my father's cousin sailed on her at one point, so there is a family connection there.  He took these photos, among others, which I possess.

Don and Dorothy Langridge

So, this month is memorable for me in many respects.

Point Pelee Tip lifering (when water came up and washed it away)