Peers Wetland Wallaceburg

Recently, a significant piece of land on the edge of Wallaceburg was preserved through various individuals and agencies. Affectionately known as Chicken Island by local residents, it is now called Peers Wetland in memory of Francis Peers who owned the land in the area.
The island part is now connected due to the diking of Otter Creek decades ago.  It really was an island by itself surrounded by marsh and open water in the old days.

Mid 1990's (note open water)

Years ago it was a 'must' of young Wallaceburg folk to hike to Chicken Island.  I even did it with friends when I was about ten years old!  There was nothing special about it, but it was the thing to do.
There was always an open patch of water where ducks and other waterbirds congregated.  In the winter it was a place we went to skate and play hockey.
By 2000 things got a little drier and vegetation started growing in.  Unfortunately the surrounding marsh almost dried up and trees started growing.

Before that in spring and fall migration I noted shorebirds there from time to time.  For example, I extracted from my notes the following:
May 18, 1999:  Chicken Island.  30 Short-billed Dowitchers, 90 Dunlin, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 12 Semipalmated Plover, 10 Semipalmated Sandpiper and Killdeer.
Also had a Ring-necked Pheasant.
I still see pheasants there, one of the few places left to find them in the area.

There is still some good cattail marsh where Marsh Wrens and Common Yellowthroat nest.  The island itself has a pretty good variety of trees and shrubs according to Larry Cornelis.
Recently Ducks Unlimited has done some dyke work to stem the drainage of the wetland.  Now it will be preserved and maintained.

Sarnia Birding

I spent a little time around Sarnia this morning.  The weather was crappy but on I went! As I drove up the Kimball Sideroad, I kept my eyes open around the few pasture areas that remain.  Finally an Upland Sandpiper revealed itself.

A Typical Upland Sandpiper Scene

First stop was the old Blackwell Landfill on Blackwell Road.  It is open to the public for walking.  Last year lots of grassland birds were there including Dickcissels.  Not as many this year!  It is not a 'dickcissel year', so it was no surprise none were present.  Lots of Savannah Sparrows, but no Grasshopper Sparrows within.  Only a couple pairs of Eastern Meadowlarks.  I was hoping for a Western though.

As I pulled out of the parking lot, I heard the buzz of a Grasshopper Sparrow.  Turns out there were a few along the road at the solar farms.  There are massive solar farms around there.  Although they are virtually devoid of life, the edges seem to be good for things like Grasshopper Sparrows!

Grasshopper Sparrow

I decided the next stop would be the Dow Wetlands, but I drove a bit of the south end of the First Nations Reserve.  At one point I heard a Canada Warbler singing, and an American Restart.
At Dow, lots of ponds are here, but there are also extensive grasslands.  An Upland Sandpiper popped up at one point.  Meadowlarks are here too, but I did not hear any of the western type.  No sign of a Northern Bobwhite either!

I then headed up to Canatara Park which hold some nice breeding birds and is certainly a significant migrant trap.  It is an oasis within the city of Sarnia.  The weather was less than ideal to encourage birds to sing, but I did come up with a pair of American Redstarts, a Chestnut-sided Warbler and a Pine Warbler.  Pine Warblers do nest there in the pines. Yesterday Eric Marcum saw a Black-and-white Warbler in the park, but I did not find it today. Other common birds present as well.
Over at the scrubby area near the North Slip at Sarnia Harbour, I heard another American Redstart singing away.

I headed south on Waubuno Road as there are some really good pastures along there.  I did not come up with anything unusual though.  I stopped at Moore WMA and saw the resident Blue-winged Warbler. One is here every year it seems, but beware, I have seen Brewster's there as well.

The afternoon turned out quite nice with warmth and sun (go figure), but it was a time for relaxation!

Summer Layup for you ship buffs!

Elusive Warblers and Other June Birds

I did quite a bit of driving around today.  I started at Rondeau early a calm and clear morning finding the usual breeding birds and summer residents.  Both cuckoos were heard, the usual flycatchers and some warblers including Ovenbird and Redstart.
As I drove through the park, I heard the Acadian Flycatcher calling on spicebush trail.

I walked out south point trail and the south beach a ways.  The lake was dead  calm, which was nice.  However, hardly anything was out there!  Lots of cormies (no little ones!).  I was hoping the Western Grebe had stuck around, but it looks like it was a two day wonder only.  One was reported at Headlands Beach directly across the lake in Ohio today, so it may be our bird!
Shorebirds included many Spotted Sandpipers, five 'latish' Sanderlings, and two Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Lots of undecided Bonaparte's Gulls were around.  They were sitting on the fence (at dog beach).

Around 8 a.m. I met Steve and Allen near the VC and we spent some time looking for the Yellow-throated Warblers.  They are extremely elusive birds!  Never saw one, but heard one singing a bit in a pine tree.  Several people have spent time to find conclusive evidence of nesting and breeding, but maybe it is just not going to be confirmed.
We first saw the pair on April 20, and on May 10 I described the one we saw gathering nesting material.  One would think fledglings would be around now, assuming there was a successful nesting.  Some possible nests have been sighted, but no activity around them by Yellow-throated Warblers.

After getting bored with not seeing the birds (!), I headed out of the park.  South of Morpeth, I noted three Northern Pintail flying by over the lake.  Speaking of ducks, Steve saw a Long-tailed Duck at Erieau this morning!

After lots of driving here and there, I ended up towards Strathroy again.  This time I did locate some Grasshopper Sparrows and heard one only Upland Sandpiper.  There are lots and lots of good pastures up that way especially along Walker's Line.  Napier Road is another good spot where I heard a couple of Grasshopper Sparrows.

No Dickcissels around here this year, yet.

(last year's)

As the county line forest was not far from there, I headed over to the Crown Land along Watterworth.  I went in for a walk, but of course early afternoon was rather quiet.  I had Hooded Warbler and Acadian Flycatcher right away, then one more of each farther in.

That place has really grown in since I was first in there 20 (!) years ago. Quite impenetrable in spots, but it still has good birds.  That is where the Magnolia Warbler was last weekend.

Not many butterflies today, but Least Skippers are out.

A New Grebe At Rondeau!

Got home from work today and was surprised to see a message about a Western Grebe at Rondeau.  But it was seen yesterday.  Is it still there?  I was tempted to head down, but first sent a message to Jim Burk.  He was heading out to look and shortly afterwards I got word that he and Steve saw it.
My best bet was to head to Erieau.  I was at the pier in about 50 minutes and spotted the subject grebe in the distance right away.  Although walking out south beach would have afforded better views, it was identifiable by scope from Erieau.  It did move a little closer as I stood there.

Allen Woodliffe soon joined me as well as Keith Burk.  Allen had just been out south beach to view the bird.
Local birders were happy on this day for one reason.  It is a new bird for the Rondeau checklist!  It may be difficult to believe, but this species has never officially been recorded for Rondeau.  It was long overdue and year after year we have talked about a Western Grebe.

So, congrats and kudos to Pauline Catling who photographed and reported on this fine bird!  A bonus while doing turtle surveys!  Link to her photo:
Western Grebe Rondeau

I have missed a few over the years, not by much.  The one this past winter on the St. Clair River was a disappointing miss.
This is only my fourth ever seen Western Grebe, but back on November 18, 2006 my self-found one was off Pinery Park.

On another note, what is with all these Caspian Terns lately?  I saw at least a dozen while at Erieau.  Could be up to 20 in the area today.