Monday we birded a few local areas around Hamilton where Nelson Sparrows are usually found around this time but there were no little orange-faced sparrows hopping about. We knew we were likely early but we are also excited to add another bird to our list so checking these places does not hurt. In the afternoon we did a lake watch as the winds were right and strong but alas nothing much happened. We had views of one Parasitic Jaeger but nothing else.
Mid week was caregiving and more caregiving and household chores that we have ignored for months.
Friday we headed to Keith McLean Conservation Area near Rondeau PP because Nelson Sparrows were finally reported the day before. This is a traditional area for them and it is where I expected to get one this year. We stood around the meadow area for 4 hours hoping to catch a jump up or fly through but again, nothing. Nelson Sparrows are a very skulky bird and so they take patience and time to see one and even more patience to get a picture. It was not helpful that an active Northern Harrier was hunting through the marsh every 15 minutes or so and I am sure was a big reason that we did not see one. The Harrier went right over my head at one point so we got nice photos and video as a consolation prize. This was our 5th attempt to catch up with this species at 5 different spots.
Saturday Jude found a Nelson’s at the spot we had checked on Monday but we had a full day of watching grandkids, caregiving and dinner with friends so we would try Sunday morning.
Sunday morning we were at the spot Jude had it the day before at 8:25 and we stood and waited, looking, tried a bit of phishing but nothing was moving. We moved a bit up the trail and Jerry spotted a sparrow, as we got bins on it he said Swamp but the sun hit it just at that moment and we both could see the orange on the face! It was the Nelson’s, a very pretty sparrow, that quickly flew back into the reeds. Jerry was a bit upset he had not taken a pic of the bird instead of using bins. We had talked about that being our strategy but we were also a bit frazzled and stressed as we were getting calls from his Mom while we stood there. She was confused and in the middle of a delusion and so I walked away to try and calm her leaving Jerry to try for a picture. He got a great picture with gorgeous detail doing the splits holding on to grass stalks. Another birder showed up, saw the bird but was trying to get a picture too. We ended up seeing the bird many times as it flew back and forth close to the trail and left shortly after to head to his Mom’s. Bird #324.
Only 12 weeks left in the year and there are only 3 expected species left – Brant, Black-legged Kittiwake and Purple Sandpiper. With 362 birds seen in Ontario this year, including those three, I am really hoping for more rarities to show up. I will chase some “expected rarities” by continuing lake and hawk watches and hope we can get lucky at some point. We are still in first place in Ontario with the closest birder at 314, 10 birds behind us. We have seen 89.5% of the birds reported this year and have just crossed 40,000Kms driven and 1,000km walked while birding so far.
Monday the forecast winds look good for a lake watch in Sarnia on Lake Huron so I think we will be heading there to see what that will bring and get a checklist in one more County.
Week 40 one more species added #324 E&J