Saturday, March 14, 2020

Purple Sandpiper at Rondeau - Pie Day Birding




Happy Pie Day Everybody!  Today, I had read on the Rondeau Birding What App group that the Purple Sandpiper that had been found by Craig Anderson and Katie Bond (back on March 8th) was still there!

I had heard that the walk to see this bird on the south beach of Rondeau was an 8KM walk one way!

I tried my luck as - this is such a rare and awesome shorebird in my opinion.

Special thanks to Blake as well as the Rondeau Birding WhatsApp Group - as well as the original finder.


PS: This is only the second time I've seen this bird. The first time was back in 2013!
https://dwaynejava.blogspot.com/2013/01/purple-sandpiper-and-glaucous-gull-nice.html


Good birding!
Dwayne
















Monday, March 9, 2020

Beautiful Bluebirds at Ojibway Park in Windsor





This past Sunday morning - I went for a bikeride to several areas within the Ojbway Park complex in West Windsor - and I was pleasantly surprised to see several pairs of Eastern Bluebirds in three different areas!

In all three locations, their song gave them away long before seeing them. 

There is something indescribably beautiful about bluebirds and I don't think I could ever get tired of seeing them. They are peaceful, they are beautiful, they have a warbling song that somehow sounds like a depressed warbling song. 


There is a vantage point from the Brighton Beach area which gives views to the Detroit River and Zug Island across from West Windsor. The air is stinky from all the industrial pollution from both sides of the river.  I couldn't help but notice huge mountains of black powder just meters away from the detroit river and great lakes ecosystem. I believe the chemical is called PETCOKE!  If you google "Windsor Star Petcoke" you can find lots of articles about this controversial chemical waste product of oil refining. One such article is here - https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/local-concerns-renewed-after-detroit-oil-refinery-applies-to-leave-petcoke-uncovered/


One last side note - I have been trying to listen for American Woodcocks in my backyard over the last week or so, and this morning -March 9th at 7am -before sunrise - I heard Woodcocks flying overhead as I was leaving for work. Amazing. Spring is here!


Good birding,
Dwayne








Saturday, March 7, 2020

Carolina Wren Finally Added to Yard List





This morning was a sunny, crisp and downright too beautiful to be indoors. So I went into my backyard just to look at my garden area and just be outside.

In the distance - a Carolina Wren was clearly heard. Hearing this distinct bird song always induces a smile on me. One usually hears this at Point Pelee, Holiday Beach, or Ojibway Park - but to hear one today from my back yard blew my mind! I have been living at my current house for 4-5 years and have seen and heard many great species - but it was only today that I distinctly sensed one for the first time!

I grabbed my camera and binoculars and went for a walk behind my house. I walked in the direction of the bird song and soon was at the edge of a field and forest-scrub habitat. Sure enough, two Carolina Wrens - most likely a breeding pair were skulking around nervously in their wren-like fashion.

While I was out there, I also heard my first of year Song Sparrow singing. It was being shy but I was able to find him along a ditch/drain that cuts through South Cameron Woodlot in Windsor.

For those who have followed my blog over the last few years, its interesting to know that I've seen and heard some great species in this natural area. Some include:  Wood Thrush (breeder), Eastern PeeWee (Breeder), Red bellied Woodpecker, Downy, Hairy (rare), Red Headed (rare) and too many others to name here.

As I walked by to my house through a field, I noticed many American Robins skulking around on the field 20 perhaps which are no doubt northbound or soon to be taking up territory in a residential area near you.



Another great bird seen today was a pair of Eastern Bluebirds in the Pleasant Valley area of Essex County.  My family and I went to John R Park Homestead along the shore of Lake Erie, and while coming home, I drove through that area in hopes of seeing a bluebird and luckily - my target bird was found.  While out in the county, I saw several Killdeer as well. Its always nice to see them and hear them as they return from their winter migration. Spring is here!

Dwayne








LinkWithin

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...