Strathroy Stuff and Sydenham River Nature Reserve Stuff

 Wednesday was brutally cold and windy, so my activities were limited.  It was a little drizzly in the morning, so I just checked out some spots along the St. Clair River.  I later went for a short, but uncomfortable walk at Reid CA just looking at plants.

Kidneyleaf Buttercup

Largeflower Bellwort

Dwarf Ginseng

Early Blue Cohosh

Red Trillium

Large White Trillium (with a pink hue!)

Today was calm and sunny, but cool!  Looks like the weather has settled down and it will get quite warm this weekend.  Watch for lots of new birds!

I went to Strathroy this morning, first stopping at the lagoons.  A Black-necked Stilt has arrived for the third year in a row!  Its mate should be arriving soon.

There was lots to look at and I spent over an hour and a half there.  Another notable bird was an early Eastern Kingbird.  Probably the earliest I have seen one.  Unfortunately, I was unable to get a photograph.

Other migrant shorebirds included six Greater Yellowlegs, two Lesser Yellowlegs, and a dozen Pectoral Sandpipers.  But, they were distant and a scope was necessary.

I also checked out Strathroy Conservation Area.  This was only the second time I have ever been there.  Not much in the way of birds, but this Eastern Screech-Owl was keeping an eye on things.

The place has an abundant supply of Eastern Skunk Cabbage.

And Marsh Marigold in the wet areas.

Next stop was Clark Wright CA on Walker's Line.  A Pine Warbler has already arrived on territory there.

I then drove some roads, but it seemed too early for Upland Sandpiper yet, or at least I could not find any!  They should be around starting now.

The next stop was Sydenham River Nature Reserve, where a planned outing of Lambton Wildlife was to take place.  I arrived over an hour early, so looked around on my own at the end of Buttonwood Road in Middlesex.

This a premier place to see Virginia Bluebells, an endangered plant.

Most were not in full bloom yet, but it is impressive the amount that is there, especially on the other side of the creek.

Generally, the SRNR is not open to the public, as it is a reserve owned by Ontario Nature (ON).  That is a good thing, as there are many rare and precious things there.  But, we often have special planned outings there, as I have covered in the past.

In the retired field acquired in recent years by ON, Mark Buchanan spotted a small butterfly.  It turned out to be Meadow Fritillary!  It is a bit early, but they can be seen this time of year.  It was another species not on the list.  I had difficult time trying to get a photo.

We also spotted  a Juvenal's Duskywing.

I noticed various insects, and randomly photographed this one.  It is an Eastern Catkin Fly, which is vulnerable in Ontario.  Another one not on the SRNR list, although I am sure they have been there.

Another insect was a Six-spotted Tiger Beetle, a common beetle.

There is a beaver dam along the little creek, that has the water backed up.

One could cross the creek here, as there is little water downstream of the dam.  There is some shale exposed here, and within that I found a brachiopod of some sort.

Here are some other views of the area.

Some birds included Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers (they nest here), Wilson's Snipe, and a Greater Yellowlegs.  The yellowlegs was a new one for the bird list here.

It was a productive day with some decent finds!

Some Long Walks and This and That

 Not really much to report recently, but things are coming along.  Did not have much to photograph the last few days!

Friday I spent time at Rondeau, but it was terribly quiet for birds, and the weather was not very nice.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

I did see my first Blue-headed Vireo of the year, but like most birds I encountered, it was not photogenic!

Saturday, I had the urge to head down into Essex County.  I did the long walk at Hillman Marsh.  Just the usual stuff, but one is always hopeful for something of interest.

I also visited Kopegaron Woods west of Wheatley.  I seldom go there, but it is sometimes a hotspot for birds.  Also good for forest wildflowers, although I did not take time to photograph much.  It was quite gloomy at the time!

Wood Anemone

I then spent an hour sitting at Wheatley Harbour, where there was quite a bit of action.  Only thing of note was an immature Little Gull that flew east with some Bonaparte's.

It was cloudy all morning, but by the time I got up to Mitchell's Bay, the sun was out and it was quite warm.  I walked the south shore nature trail.  A Bald Eagle was motionless in a tree the whole time, allowing a photo op.

Monday, was a calm sunny day, so I had to take advantage of it at Rondeau Park.  It was still very quiet for birds, but some first-of-years were tallied.  I walked about 6 km out marsh trail.  Rails are in, including Virginia and Sora.

I had hoped to come across a Least Bittern, but it was not to be!  Certainly some are out there.

Common Gallinules are in, and I encountered three.

One of the White-throated Sparrows posed quite nicely at one point.

Lots of American Painted-Lady were fluttering by.  This one appeared a bit faded though.

It was a day of long walks!  I figured I walked about 22 km in the park.  

I ended up going out south point trail west, and out the south beach as well.  A Piping Plover had been discovered out south beach, so I had to go take a look.  We kept our distance though, as always.

Yes, this bird was favouring its left leg.  Apparently that was noted in Florida, and it healed to some degree.  The bird seems to get around OK.

Most Piping Plovers we see are banded, so their origin can be traced.  This one apparently nested at North Manitou Island, Michigan (Sleeping Bear Dunes) last year.  It spent the winter in Florida.

They nested on the Rondeau beaches historically, and too bad that could not happen again.  There are too many threats out there in this day and age (mainly human).

As with many of these, they are given names.  Our current plover is a female, named LeVel.  Hopefully she makes it safely to a nesting site!

Today was uneventful for the most part, depending where one was situated.  So, nothing to report at my end!

While out south beach, I noted a number of freshwater mussels, as always.  The specimens here are quiet worn and bleached due to wave action.

Most were Fatmucket, which I alluded to before as the most common there.

I noted another, which is Wabash Pigtoe.  Not much of it left, but enough to determine ID.

Wabash Pigtoe is a considered a vulnerable species in Ontario.

Also, I might mention, that a few years ago I picked up a fossilized mussel.  I do not remember where now, but it was obvious at the time as to what it was.

Once we get through this current weather, things should really pick up by this weekend!

Recent Bird and Plant Sightings and Other Things

 Spring is in full swing.  Leaf-out in Wallaceburg and area is quite advanced already, unlike the way it was 20+ years ago it seems! 

Scene at Reid Conservation Area April 19

I have been visiting the usual locations this past week, but I did get to Point Pelee on Tuesday.  I first started at Hillman Marsh and did the long walk.  Unfortunately, nothing exciting crossed my path.

At Pelee, the usual early stuff was around.  

Phoebe from the East

A Pine Warbler at the Tip was quite obliging.

Lots of Red Admirals and American Painted-Lady butterflies were throughout the park.

There were no bears at Point Pelee, but some Bearberry plants were coming into bloom.

After wearing out Pelee, I headed home via the lakeshore to Erieau.  Some shorebirds in a low wet spot along Erieau Road included some early American Golden Plover.  Nice to see those in numbers, as it seems they are not as plentiful as I remember.  The recent heavy rains filled this area, but apparently the farmer's pump had failed helping in that regard.

Wednesday we had a bit or rain with sunny breaks, so I stayed close to home.

Rondeau was on the agenda for Thursday.  I had high hopes of seeing lots of birds, but it was actually very quiet.  An odd first-of-year bird was a Red-breasted Nuthatch.  I have never gone this long without seeing one!  Usually I have one or two at the feeder all winter, but they did not show this past season.  And, certainly they were scarce this past winter all over.

Highlight was not a bird, but a rodent.  A Red Squirrel has been hanging around the back fence of the maintenance yard in the park.

The critter is not normally found around this area in present day, but quite possibly it got caught up in someone's trailer and was accidentally transported to the park.  Only speculation.....

I saw one once before in the park back in the summer of 1999, I believe it was.  No photo at that time though!  Ironically, it was just a little ways down Harrison from this location.

I also visited Erieau marsh trail and McGeachy Pond.  That area, too, was quiet for birds much to my disappointment.

The usual Blanding's Turtle was out sunning along the marsh trail.  My favourite type of turtle.

Today started out rainy/drizzly much to my dismay.  I drove around a bit first thing.  Only thing of note was a pair of Spotted Sandpipers at Roberta Stewart Wetland, for first-of-year.  Expected by this time though.

Eventually the drizzle stopped, so I headed out to Mitchell's Bay where I really intended to go today.  However, on the way, a big rain cloud came in as I headed that direction!  I ended up sitting at the waterfront for 40 minutes until it mostly stopped.

I then headed over to the south shore nature trail.  It was still a bit miserable, but eventually the weather settled down again.  It turned out to be quite birdy, so I stayed about 1.5h where I had the trail to myself!

For warblers, there were quite a few Yellow-rumped (16) and three Pine Warblers.

I saw the female first, and it took me a few seconds to realize what it was (lol!).  It was still quite miserable weatherwise at that time, so that is my excuse.

A couple of House Wrens were chattering away unseen, as a first-of-year tally.  There were lots of Great Egrets, but no small white ones!

The same two Forster's Terns were on the dock as last time.

Highlight was a flyby of a male Yellow-headed Blackbird, but unfortunately no photo. Kind of expected in this area!

I visited Peers Wetland as well.  Yesterday there were ten Yellow-rumped Warblers there, and likely all were still there today.

A pair of American Coots was swimming around.

Of note, a couple of Purple Martins finally arrived at the housing structure.  I had seen none until today!

The afternoon was sunny and quite warm.  You guessed it, I headed up to Reid CA!  I looked for plants, as I find it quite interesting to see what I can find.  I want to seen how many different species I can document.

Two plants I specifically looked for today included Twinleaf and Largeflower Bellwort.  

Largeflower Bellwort

Of course, the Twinleaf is a ways off from flowering, but it is one of my favourite plants.

Here are some other:

Red Trillium

One of the many types of violets

Dwarf Ginseng

Wild Geranium

Jack-in-the-Pulpit

I actually found a couple more sites for Harbinger of Spring.  There seems to be quite a lot at Reid when one gets looking.  No doubt more to be found!  Flowers are long gone at this point of course.

The usual butterflies were fluttering about, including this comma.  I never got close, but I think it is a Grey.

Some nice birds have been reported the last day or so by various birders.  Some quite early!  So, things will be happening fast and furious soon.  Once again, it has begun......