Saturday, March 23, 2024

Spring Things and Arrival of Winter (?)

 The past number of days have been quite cool, unlike many of the winter days.  This past Wednesday   I went for a walk at Reid CA again.  With the cool weather this week, things have slowed down.

I looked for Harbinger of Spring again, a bit tough to see with a bit of snow on the ground.


Purple Cress, another spring plant is starting to peak through.


At one point in my walk, I came across some impressive galls.  These are a result of a wasp and called Oak Rough Bulletgall.



Thursday was sunny but cold, and I had no idea what to do.  I ventured over to Middlesex County to walk a couple of TTLT properties and a trail within Skunk's Misery.  Nothing of note!  This groundhog was keeping close to its home.



I did not see Golden Eagle this visit, but a pair of Bald Eagles were tussling about in the air.



Last walk was at Wardsville Woods.  Even though Easter is coming, this was not an Easter egg.  The property was once a golf course, so the odd golf ball may be found!


Friday, winter returned with a vengeance.  At least in my area where we got up to 12 cm of snow!  I had already put away the snow shovel, so had to get it out again.  Oddly, there was absolutely no snow down Rondeau way!  It was probably the worst snow storm for the whole winter here.

Today, I went to the balmy south to get away from the snow. It was still cold, but at least it was sunny as I walked south point trail and the campground.

Changes are afoot on south point trail, as the shoreline has finally reached and washed out the trail.  It was inevitable!

Over the years, we have seen the shoreline shrink here.  Here are some views of the same area.

Fall 2017

The above photo shows that mysterious concrete structure beginning to show in the fall of 2017.  There was once a campground office here well back from the shoreline!

Over the years, erosion continued in this area.



Later that year.........

December 2022


The trail late fall 2023



The same view today..........




The mysterious concrete structure is getting farther and farther out!




Amazing the power of waves and wind!

I checked out Erieau later.  Thousands of ducks to look at, but I could not find any anomalies.





After tomorrow, we should see some warmer weather.


Sunday, March 17, 2024

Some Harbingers of Spring and Other Notes

 A walk at Reid CA this morning revealed some early signs of spring.  Wildflowers and other plants are popping up through the leaf litter.  Although quite cool, I was lucky to have the sun out during my walk.

Notably, Harbinger of Spring is already out!  It was early April last year that I first saw these delicate plants.


They are in a couple of locations at Reid.  This plant is found mainly in rich upland woodlands and is on the endangered list and is considered imperiled.



Trout Lilly is starting to peak through, and some Virginia Springbeauty is about to bloom.


Wild Leek, a member of the onion family, is coming up now as well.


Along the way, I noted some members of the fungi family.  This one is quite pretty, similar to turkey tail.  It is known by its scientific name, Stereum lobatum.



I find quite a bit of splitgill mushroom at Reid.  This specimen is one of the more attractive ones I have found.























Another fungus, this one may be hypoxylon canker, not too common it seems.


With rain overnight, the vernal ponds in the woods are doing well.


There are always some interesting things to see within Reid CA.  This large maple tree split in half at its base a few years ago.


This tree grew with quite a twist back in the day!


A ramble at Reid is not complete without seeing a mussel or two.






                                Mapleleaf

















A few days ago, I checked out some spots locally and found some Tree Swallows.  Probably some of the earliest arrivals I have ever seen.  These were both at Mitchell's Bay and Peers Wetland.


Just over a week ago, a pair of Black-billed Magpies was found at the east end of Rondeau Bay.  Later, they were seen (assumed to be the same birds) on Fargo Road north of Shrewsbury. No doubt they are attempting to nest there, as they have been observed gathering nesting material!

I stopped by a couple of days ago and took a quick photo of the pair under gloomy skies.


One has to wonder what is going on with these creatures!  Last year, there were multiple sightings in SW Ontario, especially in Elgin County towards St. Thomas.  Were a bunch of birds released?

There has been incursions from the west in the past (eg. 1973), but the pattern does not fully fit the criteria.

Black-billed Magpies have been known to be kept in captivity with some either escaping or being released.  Perhaps some were let go the last year or two.

There are legitimate wild birds up in the Rainy River District which I have seen on visits there.  Once in a while one may be seen in southern Ontario.  Back on May 15, 1999, I found one at Rondeau Park.  It was later seen the next day by several birders, but this one clearly had a band on one leg.  Easy to discount that as a wild bird!

Later, I also took some time in Rondeau Park.  Eastern Phoebes have started to trickle in already  Two or three were seen that morning.



Yesterday, I needed a change in scenery and went down to Hillman Marsh. I did the long walk around the dike.  Lots of ducks to look at!  I always scrutinize them for European imports, namely Eurasian Wigeon or Eurasian Green-winged Teal (Common Teal).  One year, I found both!  However no dice this visit.


Wood Ducks

A Northern Shrike has been wintering in the area there, and was still present.  Soon, it will head north.


It is the time of year one must be on the lookout for Loggerhead Shrike. Occasionally one shows up in our area, like the one north of Erieau last year.

Some cool weather the next few days, but more spring arrivals will be in our midsts!

During my down time, I do a lot of reading.  Currently, I am checking out books written by Adam Shoalts.  He is a survivalist and adventurer that has done many extended canoe trips throughout Canada.  He lived at St. Williams, near Long Point at one time.  Adam is a very popular speaker and his talks sell out quite quickly.  A couple of years ago he was guest speaker for the Sydenham Field Naturalists annual spring banquet.

The book I am currently reading is the trip from Long Point to the Arctic in northern Labrador.  A 3400 km journey!





Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Random Scenes and Wildlife

Little in the way of subject matter the last few days, as things have been slow at my end. 

Sunday was crappy weatherwise, and we had a bit of snow on the ground in the morning.  Here is a photo of one of two White-throated Sparrows that were in the yard.  I had one all winter, but did I miss one?


Monday turned out fairly nice, but there were no new birds around as I checked out Rondeau and area.  The wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was at the Park Store, so it wanders widely!  I was unable to get a photo though, as I only caught sight of it briefly.

I spotted the Eurasian Wigeon again from the same spot, but it was farther out this time.

Tuesday, I took an early morning walk at Reid CA.  I ended up walking almost 4 km within the property, and that was only part of it!  I rarely go to Reid for birds, as there are lots of other things to look for.

At the start, the adjacent field was full of American Robins.  No doubt migrants working their way through.


Here are some scenes on my walk.  Included is one of my favourite spots, as seen in the current header of this blog.

High point on the property

Random Forest View

Scene in the old river course at the north end

Today, promised to be a warm sunny day, though it started out a bit cloudy, cold and quite windy.  I wanted to walk out marsh trail, but it was just too uncomfortable first thing.  I drove around at dawn and heard or saw a few American Woodcock before they went quiet for the day.

I then went for a walk on south point trail (east).   Certainly no new birds were in.  Some things were moving on the lake including White-winged Scoters and Horned Grebes.

By the time I finished this walk, it was warm enough to head out marsh trail.  Again, nothing new, except I encountered a Brown Thrasher at one point.  I would assume it wintered somewhere nearby.

I guess it was a day of exercise, as there were not all that many birds, and nothing new much to my disappointment.

This afternoon was just too nice and warm to stay home, so I went for a walk at Reid CA.  Some insects were out in the 20 deg weather.

Twice-stabbed Lady Beetle

yellowjacket

Oddly, with regards to butterflies, I only encountered one Eastern Comma which did not co-operate very well either!


Lots of Chorus Frogs were singing, but they are difficult to actually see.  They go quiet when one gets anywhere near them.  Leopard Frogs are more co-operative, as this one did not move.


This small Hop-Hornbeam tree had the gall to get in my way at one point (!).


Several American Beech trees are quite rotted out, and it is amazing that they are still alive.


Mosses are another thing to look at in the forest.  This one is common, which I believe to be Ohio Haircap.




Here is another at the base of a hickory tree which I have not determined yet. iNaturalist cannot ID it!




The next few days I hope to see tree swallows or phoebes.  They have been reported elsewhere.  I had hoped to see one or two today, but that did not happen!