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BIRDS ON THE MOVE
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
At Rondeau on Saturday, I noted all the usual sparrow species plus Dark-eyed Juncos by the hundreds. Fox Sparrows finally appeared in large numbers, seemingly a little later than usual. In my travels I probably had 25, so no doubt lots more were around.
Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers were still hanging around as well. Other warbler species included a single Orange-crowned and a single Nashville.
Northern Shrikes are appearing, and I saw one east of Blenheim at a reliable location.
Blenheim Lagoons held about five species of shorebirds, but nothing unusual for this time of year. The Black-crowned Night-Heron is still calling the lagoons home!
Butterflies were even out this past weekend despite the recent cold weather, with a very ragged Buckeye at Blenheim, an Eastern Comma and Monarch at Erieau and many of the two sulphur species. On Sunday, we noted a Painted Lady near Kettle Point on Lake Huron.
Three Brant Geese, rare for the Rondeau area, were reported at Erieau on Sunday by Jim Burk.
I spent time birding with a group at Pinery and Kettle Point area on Sunday. That area is always interesting in the fall. The weather was too nice, so not many birds were about. Like I always say, the crappier the weather, the better the birding is!
We did notice a couple of White-winged Crossbill flocks, not uncommon for that area this time of year. Lots of duck variety in various locations, and several Horned Grebes. A few Red-throated Loons were noted off Grand Bend. A lone Cackling Goose was interesting at the Bend Sewage Ponds.
This week's weather is too warm for this time of year, so birding might be slow! It is Cave Swallow season, so will we have one of those by next weekend?
The photo here shows another sunrise at Rondeau this past Saturday, while a Mockingbird is depicted from the Erieau marsh trail.
