Snowy Egrets at Big Creek in Amherstburg

I went birding this afternoon at Ojibway Park and met up with Kit. We walked the tallgrass prairie area but other than a brief pocket of warblers it was pretty quiet. I did get really good looks at a Southbound Canada Warbler which was nice. I think it might be my first southbound Canada Warbler at Ojibway. Canada Warblers are my favorite Warbler Species! Common Nighthawks were noted flying overhead at Ojibway.

After our walk, Kit asked if I had seen the Snowy Egrets in Amherstburg. We headed out and sure enough we saw our target birds - two Snowy Egrets! We were hoping to pick out a Little Blue Heron but no, none were seen. Kit mentioned he still hasn't seen a Horned Lark, and along concession 7, just outside of Holiday Beach, I found some in a recently ploughed farmers' field.

Canada Warbler at Ojibway Park

False Smooth Foxglove at Ojibway Park

Good birding!
Dwayne

Blackburnian Warblers and other Neotropical Migrants at Point Pelee

Had a great afternoon at Pelee today. The footpaths along the east side of the tip gave amazing views of warblers this afternoon. Magnolia, Blackburnian, and Chestnut sided along with others were foraging at eye level along the pathways. At times, you might have two Blackburnian warblers, and a Magnolia in the same small tree... amazing.

Happy Mother's Day to all those mama's out there...
Good birding!

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14079734

Indigo Buntings at Ojibway

A recent twitter post from Ojibway Park indicated that Indigo Buntings were back on territory at the park, so I figured I would go and see if I could find some. As luck would have it, one of the first trees I inspected had several males chasing each other (possibly in an effort to set up breeding territory). I stood by quietly watching and noticing the birds would often perch on a nearby side tree out in the open. How awesome. I got 'smashing' views of these gorgeous birds with such little effort!

I walked away from these indigo beauties and then looked up into another large Oak in the Ojibway Prairie and again... stood by the tree in amazement. A non-birder may have just walked by this large tree, but to a birder, it was thriving with activity. A close inspection gave nice views of Cedar Waxwings, Orchard Orioles, Chestnut sided Warblers, Swallows, Eastern Kingbird and ... more Indigo Buntings! Not bad!

I also saw a fresh Black Swallowtail as well as a Six spotted Tiger Beetle, which is a pretty common bug you might notice on a nature path that always seems to stay 10 feet ahead of you as you walk.

The Tallgrass Prarie was a nice walk as well with songs of Wood Thrush, as well as many other birds filling the air. I had a brief view of a Canada Warbler... this bird has eluded me this year! Three brief views but no photos.

Good birding!
Dwaynejava

St Clair NWA and Rondeau Birding Pt 1 of 3

As mid-May rolled around, I figured I would spend a day at Rondeau to change things up a little from the normal Pelee routine. I woke up super early and headed out to Rondeau... but at the last minute, I tried to see if my new GPS knew where St Clair NWA was. My query was quickly answered with both good and bad news. Yes, it new the spot, but a surprise was that it took alot of time to get there and then get back to Rondeau. Almost doubling the trip time. I did not see too many noteworthy birds at St Clair NWA... but I was only there for 30-40 minutes. I saw American Coot, but did not even see a single Great Blue Heron ... I did see a Black Crowned Night Heron outside the Nature Reserve in an irrigation ditch.

One nice thing about the trip was the discovery of a new observation tower. One has been missing for over two years.

I later made my way to Rondeau and paid a good part of $20 to simply enter the park. Is it me or is that a little expensive??? Rondeau was extremely quiet on the morning that I visited. Spicebush trail netted almost nothing other than RB Grosbecks and yellow warblers. Tulip Tree trail produced a single Swainsons Thursh and distant sounds of what must have been Pileated drumming.

 This Purple Finch was with a few females. Sadly, his other eye seemed to be impaled/diseased.

 Pine Siskin have been refered to as American Goldfinch in Camoflage.

A Mourning Warbler was spotted, and later a Black Billed Cuckoo thanks to some photographers that caught my attention as I was leaving the park.

I left Rondeau before noon to maybe try my luck at Hillman/Pelee.

Good Birding,
Dwaynejava

Prothonotary Warbler!

#239

Just a brief posting today. I got up very early today and headed out to Point Pelee with high hopes. It was a little bit of a let-down! I did not see many birds today... well I did, but not as much as one would expect on May 7th. Let's just say that I didn't walk into the visitor center with my 100 species list demanding my 100 species pin! :^)

One nice highlight for today was the Prothonotary Warbler on Woodland Nature Trail. A well known birder, Mr. Pike kindly pointed it out to me at about 10 AM. This golden bird was only 6 meters from me, but was behind a vast network of branches.This bird is endangered in Canada, (SW ontario is on the northern fringe of its range) due to loss of habitat. (Read ROM article)

Some notable birds seen today:
Red Headed Woodpecker
Warbling Vireo
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Baltimore Oriole
Red Breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Red bellied Woodpecker
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut Sided Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Blue Grey Gnatcatcher
Least Flycatcher
Sandhill Crane (noisy fly-over)

Eastern Fox Snake near the Delaurier Homestead path

Earlier this week:
Ojibway Park provided some regulars for the week on earlier walks:
*Eastern Bluebirds
*Palm Warblers

 I guess the new Ojibway Nature Center is open. This is great news! A quick walk today netted few birds. I guess the skulking Rose breasted Grosbeak was a highlight.

I actually left Point Pelee at noon-ish... I just wasn't feel'in it today.


Good birding,
Dwaynejava