Week 17 Pink Feet!
Monday we decided to go to Pelee in the hopes we could add a substantial amount of birds in one place rather than traveling around from place to place adding 1-2 birds at a time. There was rain in the morning so we took our time and arrived at 10:30 just as the sun was coming out. We worked our way to the tip walking through Woodland trail and started adding birds – Eastern Towhee, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Green Heron. We were happy that it looked like it was going to be a good day! When we got out to the Tip there were many tourists walking out. During bird migration people are asked not to go out to the end until after 10am to allow birds time to rest and birders opportunities to see the birds. It was well after 10 so we also walked out to the end and took the obligatory selfies at the most southern point of Canada.
By the time we made it back from the Tip to the Visitor Center it was after 2 and we had added 10 species. We sat to eat our lunch and Rick (Pelee ambassador extraordinaire) joined us for a chat. He commented on how relaxed we looked compared to how we looked last year while doing our Ontario Year, haha. We had to agree! This year has a totally different feel partly because of the external issues we had last year and also because I’ve made it just the 400 goal. He also told us that there were two vireos at the Tip which we had somehow missed seeing. So after our lunch we took the tram back down and walked up the east side of the beach again where there were a number of warblers moving around. Sure enough we eventually found the Blue-headed Vireo and a White-eyed Vireo. Awesome looks at both of them as they moved along the beach and Jerry got some lovely pictures. It turned out to be a 3-Vireo day.
We had to leave because the last tram left at 5pm and I did not want to add another 2.5 kms of walking to our total of 13.4 km. At the end of the day we had added 16 species to our Canada and Ontario lists, had some great looks at birds and Jerry took some great pictures.
On Monday reports floated around on Discord that a very rare Burrowing Owl had been photographed on Sunday somewhere in Wellington County and apparently intrepid local birders took the day driving around trying to find it since no one was sharing where it had been seen. Late in the afternoon someone managed to find it! A few local birders got the first calls and got out to see it. I got the location a bit later but there was not enough time to get there before dark. I expect to see this owl out in the grasslands in Saskatchewan and we have seen them before in a few places so it was not a lifer but I figured it would be a good Ontario bird to get. By late evening the OBA and OFO decided since the location was being shared like wildfire that they try to at least enact some protocols for viewing. It was posted where to park, to keep quiet, to only view from a certain area away from where the owl had been seen, to be courteous with the locals and of course to bird with respect and integrity. Owl sightings are notorious for bringing out the worst in birders and photographers and most sightings seem to end up with some drama and confrontations. I have kinda stopped going to many of the major sightings because I just don’t feel good about it. I don’t like to think that I am contributing to the problems, but of course we are just by choosing to go and see the bird. Against my better judgement, I decided the Burrowing Owl was worth it. We arrived at 6:45am on Tuesday and there were maybe 20 cars with more arriving every minute. Many people were spread along the road with scopes and cameras. The wind was very strong and it was cold! Not really conducive to a small owl from the south coming out to enjoy the day I thought. We spent 30 minutes chatting quietly with birders and searching the grasses a long way away but no sign of the tiny owl. We decided to leave and return when it was sunnier and warmer later in the day, if it was seen. It was not seen again.
When we left we decided to check out the Glen Morris Pond, as we have been for the last week or so, hoping Virginia Rail and Sora had arrived. As soon as we opened our windows we could here the kid-dik, kid-dik calls of the Rail. We stopped for a bit and Jerry got out to see if he might get a picture but the Rail flew up and then back down before he could get his camera up. We heard 2 Gallinules as well but no Sora yet. As we headed home we stopped at a small wet area in a farm field and did a quick scope and found another species to add to the list, a Solitary Sandpiper.
Jerry had a dentist appointment in the afternoon so I went along and we stopped at the Desjardin Canal to add a Black-crowned Night Heron to the list. Before we left a report of a Rock Wren at Pelee had come in but again we will get that species in BC so I don’t have to rush for it as I would have had to last year. A few hours later though a report came in of a Yellow-throated Warbler at Pelee, exactly where we had our lovely vireos yesterday. Ugggh! The vagaries of this hobby! That is the second Yellow-throated Warbler I have missed and there are not that many in any given year.
Wednesday we decided to take our youngest grandchildren out of school and do a birding outing to Long Point. Yes, we wanted to be in close proximity to any potential rarities but also we wanted to spend some time with them before we leave for the west. We visited the banding centre and had a good time seeing all the birds close up. Hannah felt very sad for the birds in the net but they both were happy to follow a netted Blue-headed Vireo patiently through the banding process until it was released again.
Thursday morning we were up at 5:30am and in Dundas by 6:30 to make our 3rd attempt at the Louisiana Waterthrush. We carefully walked the trail along the stream and after about 20 minutes we heard the familiar song! It continued for the next 20 minutes while we attempted to actually find the singing bird in the trees across the stream. It is so frustrating, It sounded like it was coming from directly in front of us but despite scanning with our bins and looking for any movement we could not find it. For the moment it will go in as a “Heard Only”. We headed back home, changed quickly and were on our yoga mats for class just after 9am. The temperature continued to rise and we opted to stay home and get our porch set up for summer with our mosquito curtains attached and the furniture all placed.
Late Thursday (they always arrive late in the day) a report came in of a Blue Grosbeak up near Lake Simcoe so we were ready in the morning to leave as soon as it was confirmed to still be there. On Friday we were on the road just after 7 and arrived at 9:30am. We met up with Margaret who had just seen it and gave us detailed instructions for viewing this skulky bird. It had been flushed many times by people, dogs and vehicles so we tried to stay back. We did manage to find it deep in the shrubs and tangles but it was quite a while before it came out onto the grass to feed and allowed everyone to get great pictures. A group of school kids on a field trip were heading to the area the bird was so I went over to explain what was happening and asked for the their cooperation in not flushing the rare bird. They were very curious and we ended up letting kids use our bins, Jean got out her scope and we had a little impromptu class on bird migration and Blue Grosbeaks!
We decided to head home but stop on the way for a reported Least Bittern in a park in Mississauga. Like all the rails, they tend to be heard but not always seen so I was hoping we would get a chance to see it in a small pond where it was likely very hungry from its flight over the lake. I brought out our scope and scanned all the reeds along the edges but could not see anything. Then I scanned again, and again and saw a slightly darker colour that did not fit the reed colour. It was the back of the Bittern. It moved around a bit but did not give us great views. We waited, scoped and scanned. Finally, it ventured out of the reeds for a full look at it in the scope and Jerry was able to take a picture. Within a minute or two it disappeared back into the reeds.
Saturday the phone was pinging as people got out on a blustery cold Saturday with lots of good birds being found: Summer Tanager, American Avocet, Golden-winged Warbler, and Hooded Warbler. We stayed local and added a Bank Swallow on a quick stop at the Storm pond on our way to see Babi. Our plan was to head to Pelee Sunday and Monday since south winds were in the forecast for a prequel to the big two week adventure starting the following week. I wanted to prepare some food and pack but at 3:00 the “ping” was a Pink-footed Goose 2.5 hours away near Wasaga. We didn’t go for the Ottawa one as I hoped to get the species out in Newfoundland but with one that close we had to go for it. We were in the car in about 5 minutes and arrived at 5:20. It was windy, really windy, and raining. There were a few birders huddled with scopes between cars so we joined them and got our first glimpses of a Pink-footed Goose! A lifer! Henrique found the bird and stayed around helping everyone get onto the bird. Thanks so very much Henrique! It was very far back in the field and not the most satisfying looks but at one point, once I had it in my own scope, it stood up and stretched its wings and I had a lovely view of the bird for a few seconds. Unfortunately, we did not get to see its incredible pink feet! Jerry tried to take some pictures but the rain and distance made it difficult. Hopefully, we will see the Newfoundland bird and get a nice picture then, pink feet and all.
Sunday morning we arrived at Pelee at 8 am and walked through Tilden because a road race had blocked off the Woodland Trail and the tip until noon. We were hoping to refind a Kentucky Warbler and get a picture of a Louisiana Waterthrush. We did a few loops and heard Louisiana as well as Northern Waterthrush. There are subtle differences between the two and there is often controversy over what species people are seeing. We had it on good authority that there was a Northern and Louisiana showing together in a wet area but by the time we got there only the Northern could be seen. Jerry got pictures and then we waited patiently until we saw another small brown warbler with very white underparts. Unfortunately, it was a quick look and no picture just like last year. We will try many times over the coming weeks to see if we can get a picture. We ended up seeing 4 White-eyed Vireos, a bird we added on Monday’s trip to Pelee. Jerry managed great pictures again.
We headed back to the visitor centre and passed a birder we spent lots of time with at the tip last year and he let us know that a Chat had been found. We had to work around the closed area for the race, found the footpath and waited with another group of birders for another skulky bird to show itself. It only took about 10 mins and the Yellow-breasted Chat popped up. Jerry was down the path and there was a second where I thought, “do I call him?” Of course I would never! So I whisper-shouted immediately and he got back in time to see it and to get some pictures. We will get Chats out in BC but they are sometimes hard to find out there too so anything I can do to limit what I have to find in the heat of June/July is good. A report then came in that the Kentucky Warbler had been re-found in a spot we had walked by twice today so we headed back to that spot and waited again, patiently. After about 10 minutes it popped up a bit further away but everyone waiting got on it and we saw it multiple times as it worked its way across in front of us. Two very good, tough birds to get, and we had them – it was a good day! And Jerry got pictures!
After that things got quiet. We walked 13.8km total for the day. We headed to our hotel around 4 and went out for some yummy Mexican food at our favourite spot in Leamington (Salsa Caliente) with Jude, who also got the Chat and Kentucky for his Big Year. South winds predicted for tonight so hope we start week 18 off with a bang!
Week 17 30 species added 232 species E&J