A flock of Eastern Bluebirds

I stopped by Holiday Beach this afternoon hoping to see some late migrant raptors. I had a chance to meet this years official hawk counter - Maryse. She was a really nice person! One of the highlights this afternoon was a flock of 16 Eastern Bluebirds which landed in a tree next to the hawk tower. 

Sadly - my photos are poor - the lighting this afternoon was a little crappy. I couldn't seem to get decent photos--- but even still - I've shared a few with various crops and contrast adjustments. 

Seeing a flock of Bluebirds definitely a treat for me. Other good birds seen today were Red-shouldered Hawks, Winter Wren, Belted Kingfisher. 

Good Birding!

Basic Seasonal Sightings Oct-Nov 2019

Over the last two months, I worked almost daily (after work) on completing a basement rental apartment. This killed much of my time for nature observations - but still I occasionally got out for a nature walk - if only to my back-yard, the odd pelee trip (I had a small operation in Leamington) and just this past weekend, I even attempted to go to Holiday Beach in hopes of seeing some good raptor flights. Luckily- that basement revovanion project is officially over and I am now back to a regular work week.

This past weekend of Nov 17th - I drove around the Harrow-Amherstburg area. Lots of raptors were visible. most of them were Red Tailed Hawks - but the occasional Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Bald Eagle, and Red Shouldered Hawk were seen.   I was hoping to see a rough-legged hawk but none were seen in my brief outings so far.

Other nice birds at Holiday Beach included a Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Common Gallinule, Hairy Woodpecker, and Ruddy Ducks.

In October, I had to have a small operation in Leamington, and afterwards, I simply went for a walk along west beach in the afternoon. Some nice birds included Blue Headed Vireo and Winter Wren - which are expected at this time but still nice to see.

I hope I can catch up a little on my nature walks soon and hopefully see some end of year migrant rarities that are showing up all over the province. Even if I just seen the most common birds - its still great to get some fresh air and some exercise that nature observation brings. But still, I would love to find a Harris's Sparrow, or a Black throated Sparrow as they have been found in other parts of Ontario in the last month or so. Red Phalarope showed up in Blenheim during a mid-week snow storm... this would have been a lifer but I guess I will just save some birds for retirement.  I guess some birders have amazing luck and talent!!

Its almost time for the end-of-year summary ... but we are in mid-november so there is no time to sit around and be reflective yet. I need to get out and discover something!

December Target Bird:  Rough Legged Hawk

Good birding!

Catching Up

Over the last month or two - I've been working on a home renovation project (basement project video 1, 2 ) - which has prevented me from doing more natural history exploration. Work and coaching obligations have piled up as well but even still - I have had some interesting highlights:

Little Yellow Butterfly - at McGeechy Pond near Erieau Ontario.
















King Rail - new life bird. I have read about this endangered bird on so many occasions over the last ten years of birding - so to finally cross paths with one was very special.  This photo below shows a juvenile bird. I left the area soon after seeing this bird so as to not disturb it. What a special part of our great lakes wetland ecosystem habitat and natural history. Hopefully more wetlands can be restored and give this species a chance at not becoming extirpated or worse - extinct.

Bottle Gentian - Seen while walking though Ojibway Tallgrass Prairie (provincial reserve). I looked for Fringed Gentian this year but did not find a single specimen.

Great Plains Ladies Tresses - Great story here - I had posted a photo of this species to Inaturalist a few years ago, and I had assumed I was photographing the more common nodding laddies tresses. I was informed that the great plains tresses species has a nice vanilla smell - and with this sighting - I was able to make note of the scent.

Backyard Warblers - Occasionally over the last month, I have been in my back yard and noted warblers (Palm and Nashville) in the hedgerow behind my back yard fence.

Swamp White Oak - I was at a playground on Windsor's east end with my kids and we walked through a short pathway that dissected a tiny forested area. One Oak tree had its branches hanging over the pathway and I plucked a leaf from the branch - I was interested in identifying the leaf by using I naturalist.


 

Black throated Green Warbler - Side on a sidewalk - most definitely caused by a window strike.

Two interesting articles / videos:

• Conservative Government in Ontario reduces environmental restrictions for gravel mines:   https://ontarionature.org/pits-and-quarries
• Youtube video: 10 reasons why birding is awesome   https://youtu.be/4QsDG_JyVXA 

Good Birding, Botanizing and Naturing
Dwayne



Life List Update
 Western Screech Owl 453 (AZ)
 Scaled Quail 454  (AZ)
 Graces Warbler 455  (AZ)
 Painted Redstart 456  (AZ)
 Yellow Eyed Junco 457  (AZ)
 Blue throated Hummingbird 458 (AZ)
 Elegant Trogon 459 (AZ)
 King Rail 460

Birding Holiday Beach on Labour Day Weekend + Black Witch at Point Pelee

I birded Holiday Beach for an hour or two this afternoon. It was cloudy and started raining, but I figured I would go for a walk with my umbrella!

As always - Labour Day Weekend is a great time to go birding in Essex County - with southbound warbler migration in full swing. Today, I had over 10 species of warblers at Holiday Beach. There were many birds to sort through and many went un-identified.  Blackburnian Warblers were abundant and seemed to greatly outnumber all the other species present.

I think I photographed an Olive sided Flycatcher - although I might be mistaken on its ID. It was a little more in the interior canopy than I am used to seeing them!

Rick from Leamington informed me on Saturday that there was a Black Witch Moth being seen at the Barn Swallow Canopy by the tip of Pelee. I was unable to twitch this moth but Rick was gracious in sharing his photo with the blog readers.  Thanks Rick!

Good birding!
-Dwayne