Mid May to late July Sightings

 This Common Nighthawk was seen sleeping along the edge of Black Oak Heritage Park. Its symbolic of your blogger - sleeping on the job of regular postings!

A few noteworthy sightings from mid to late May include the following:

Canada Warbler at Black Oak Heritage Park

Cerulean Warbler at Black Oak Heritage Park

Red Headed Woodpecker at Black Oak Heritage Park

Olive sided Flycathcer(s) at Springarden area within the Ojibway Park Complex

In terms of mid-summer sightings, I didn't see too many noteworthy birds, but --- I did note a Brown Thrasher which may have been a local breeder from my back yard!

Some interesting Lep sightings (these three featured are endangered or threatened species) around my yard include the following:

• Dukes Skipper (Dukes’ Skipper | ontario.ca)
• Little Underwing (Species Little Underwing  - BugGuide.Net)
• Connubial Underwing (Species -Connubial Underwing - BugGuide.Net)

Little Underwing (Vulnerable) - This moth flew into 
our house in early July after my son opened our back sliding door. I caught it with a glass and a greeting card!

Connubial Underwing (endangered)

Duke's Skipper (endangered)

During the last week of July, I went to St John New Brunswick, as well as Portage River New Brunswick - and noted Black throated Green Warblers at a few different spots.  I didn't bird as much as I normally do as the trip was more about my family --- but it was cool to hear and see those warblers while hiking around various areas. An Alder flycatcher caught my attention as well while hiking along the Bay of Fundy Scenic trail.  The two photos provided were simply from my cell phone. I had no camera or binoculars!

I'm going to make an effort to bird around Windsor (S. Cameron Woodlot area) during the fall migration. I have seen some great birds, just by sitting on my back porch and observering in the mornings or evenings. 

 Good Birding (and naturalizing) !

Golden-Winged Warbler + Olive Sided Flycatcher - May 12th Ojibway Park

This morning, I was heading out toward Black Oak Herritage Park and I was driving along the northern boundary of the Ojibway Park Forest. I drove slowly, listening for anything interesting - and sure enough, a Golden Winged was singing his heart out!

Later at Black Oak Heritage Park , an adjacent park that I like to frequent - I had a decent morning --- one of my highlights was an Olive-sided Flycatcher!

Both of these birds are sadly becoming more and more endangered, at risk. 

On Saturday, I had attempted to bird at Point Pelee for a bit. Someone had reported a Cerulean Warbler in Cactus Field - and sure enough, it was being seen by many upon arrival. Another Highlight was seeing some Hummingbirds nectar from Eastern Redbud Tree Blooms. 

Its the most beautiful time of year. 

Good birding,

Dwayne

 

I took tonnes of photos of the Cerulean Warbler here - but sadly, my White balance was set to "indoor" so the colours are not the best.  Still - this is not bad for 25m away and 20 meters up.

Early May Migrants

 

Its been an interesting Spring Migration so far!  Every year brings a random showing of birds and this year has been no different. For example, I don't think I have seen an Eastern Phoebe this spring yet --- which is strange because I see them quite easily most years.

Even though I am working - I try to go out daily during the month of May. 

Amazingly, my back yard even gives me good birds occasionally- and the other night while eating dinner, I noticed a Hermit Thrush in my back yard! I also hear White throated and White Crowned Sparrows singing from the hedgerow behind my house. 

I had a really nice walk at Black Oak Heritage Park in Windsor on May 2nd with a nice showing of about 6 warbler species along with singing Brown Thrasher and singing Yellow throated Vireo!

Anywho - all the best in your birding and nature appreciation efforts!

-Dwayne

Cerulean, Yellow-throated Warblers at Ojibway!

A local birder and bug enthusiast - Brad Hamel was birding at Ojibway this morning and found a Cerulean and Yellow throated Warbler. There seemed to be a huge bug breakout because the area was crawling with birds. List and Photo Dump below. Congrats to Brad for a great find and posting to WEPBIRDS and Ontbirds!

Karen H. and Brad hung out and helped me get on the target birds while we picked out migrant after migrant passing through this bug breakout. All the birds below (except raptors) were in one of three contiguous trees. Amazing!

Some birds seen at Ojibway tonight:

Cerulean Warbler (First for Ojibway!)
Yellow throated Warbler (First for Ojibway!)
Chestnut sided Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black throated Green Warbler
Yellow Warbler (Malden Park)
Yellow Rumped Warbler (Malden Park)

Rose breasted Grosbeak
Yellow throated Vireo
Blue headed Vireo
House Wren
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Tufted Titmouse
Bald Eagle
Sharp shinned Hawk
Green Heron (Malden Park)

Ebird Checklist: https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S45196690

It seems migration has finally started!

May 11 & 12th Highlights - Kirtlands, Cerulean, Golden winged and More

On Wed May 11th, I went to Point Pelee after work as the daily report hinted that it was an excellent day to be at Pelee. Some birders hinted that it could have been the best day in ten years. It was good but I don't know if it was any better than a good day from last year. On Wed, I caught up with a Cerulean that was report at the Northwest Beach parking lot. Later, I went to the West beach footpath and had really close views of a Kirtland's Warbler! The Kirtlands was skulking around in some low lying dwarf juniper plants. Occasionally it would pop into view -at point blank range - then go into skulking mode again.

I took the day off on today, May 12th and had a pretty good day. I stopped off at Hillman first - and there was not much around in terms of shorebirds. So I went to Pelee. I had to park at Delaurier - and walk the anders footpath to tilden. Today was excellent for birding but of course, yesterdays volumes of birds were not present.

I saw this Northern Parula at eye level near Cactus Field. It was singing its heart out in the early morning light. Its so small, it took me a few moments just to find it.

I then took the tram to the tip - in hopes of finding a Cerulean and Yellow billed Cuckoo. The Cerulean was amazingly close to the trail, and singing its heart out. I took boat loads of photos but they were poor as the lighting was terrible.

Next- I ended up trying to go to "Dunes" which had a recent sighting of Golden Winged Warbler! I took the tram back to the VC and walked---- 2km??? Birding is great exercise isn't it? I was able to find the Golden Winged and later I ran into J.B. and Jeremy Bensette who were looking at YB Chat!

I birded with Jeremy and Tim(?) for the remainder of the afternoon. We attempted to see the Kirtlands again this afternoon but couldn't find it. Along west beach footpath, our consolation birds were: Wilson's, Cape May, Scarlet Tanager, and Morning Warbler!

Good birding!

Dwayne