Swamp Candle You Say? (31-May-2020)

    Second time out of the county since Covid-19 started and you can imagine where I headed... Long Point! Backus Woods to be precise! Me and my friend Liam (see his blog Thorne-othology here.) to find a bird that neither of us have ever seen before; Prothonotary Warbler!

    We both got there around 08:15-08:20 and so the search started. Going down the main trail we both heard both of the most common flycatchers in southern Ontario (Great Crested Flycatcher and Eastern Wood-Pewee). A little ways down the path we both realized we were outnumbered by chipmunks by at least 5 to 1, it seemed like every time we turned around there was another one. As for birds the walk towards where the warblers were last seen was decently quiet (just your typical Red-eyed Vireo and Cedar Waxwing). 

    Once we got to the pond they were last spotted we stayed there for a while but the only birds we seen/heard was a Black-throated Blue Warbler calling from the tree tops and a mother Wood Duck with 3 ducklings (and of course the plethora of Common Grackle). There was another birder looking for the warblers as well and he tipped us off on a Northern Waterthrush up the trail and in a little pond not too far the other way, so we continued on and said we would come back. 

    A little ways up the trail we heard some interesting calls, what I call the basketball shoe squeak, Rose-breasted Grosbeak. We heard a quite a few of them but always missed seeing them, until we got to the pond where the Waterthrush was calling from, there was a gorgeous male right above our heads! The pink breast stuck out on the background of white and black of the rest of the bird. Then, all of a sudden, there was what Liam describes as a Squeaky Toy call, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker! Neither of us realized this bird bred this far south and most of the individuals we've both seen this time of year were much farther north (Mine just south of North Bay and his in Gogama). A real interesting find. 

    On the way back through we seen a quite a few snakes which makes sense with the amount of food they have kicking around with the chipmunks! After a little bit of a struggle with a real aggressive one Liam got himself bit, thankfully it was only a Garter because it got him pretty good, but like a typical dedicated birder he said we should just push on and put pressure on it to stop the bleeding. 

    Finally back to where the Prothonotaries were last seen.. it was quiet. The Black-throated Blue Warbler had moved on and the Grackles were finished chasing each other, but we were dedicated (or stubborn) we both wanted this lifer, and wouldn't stop until we seen it! Lots of waiting, lots of listening, then I pulled out my phone to listen to exactly what their call sounded like, the call must have triggered a territorial behaviour in the bird because we got an answer! And the best part was, it was almost right in front of the 2 of us! A little more playback and all of a sudden we had one bird calling to the left of us and another hopping around the branches right in front of us! This was it, the bird we have been searching for, and was it ever amazing! Strikingly bright and the grey back just seemed to make the whole bird stick out like a sore thumb! That is definitely a moment I don't think either of us will ever forget! After snapping a couple of pictures, and a lot of celebration, we started back towards the path with the excitement of a lifer flowing through our veins! I will never not have that feeling when I see a life bird! 

    Just as we thought the day was over, we got a little treat for our ears as a Northern Parula was buzzing its trilly call throughout the forest, been a while since I've heard one of those and man was it amazing! 

    After we said our goodbyes we both headed home, but as for me I made a little stop to an Eco Center not far from where I live. I have always thought of stopping there and just checking it out, it was super small, about 10-15 mins to walk through the whole thing but it didn't stop the Cedar Waxwing and Yellow Warbler from calling everywhere! These 2 social species made this place just a pleasure ear-wise as they were both calling non-stop. I even snagged a nice photo of a trio of Waxwing drinking out of a small puddle. All in all I think it was a pretty good day. 

    Bird of the day - Prothonotary Warbler - these bright little birds breed in wet forested areas and unfortunately are an endangered in Ontario. Nicknamed the "Swamp Candle" for their bright upper plumage they are common breeding birds in Backus Woods near Long Point and are consistently viewable through the breeding season there, as long as you keep your distance. Would definitely suggest going to see these wonderful birds. 

30 Species - 123 Individuals

What cool life bird Prothonotary Warbler - Norfolk ON

An American Robin jumping around the grass - Haldimand ON

These Cedar Waxwing seemed a little parched on this sunny day - Haldimand ON

Kayaking and Blackbird... not a bad day if you ask me! (30-May-2020)

    Started the day out by birding on my Kayak. Brought a couple of non-birders with me but still got some cool birds! 

    Started out pretty chilly so we wore windbreakers to keep us a little sheltered. Now, the key to kayaking is start against the current and go back with to make so your muscles aren't killing you by the end! We started in Cayuga and headed up stream towards Ruthven. This was going to be great for me, it's been almost 2 months. 

    To start the day was an amazing flyover of an Osprey, and then all of a sudden 1 turned into 2, more than likely the same pair I seen last weekend, still amazing to see them! The very next bridge after the one crossing into Cayuga was just teeming with Cliff Swallow, an awesome bird that breeds off that bridge! After almost getting stuck (twice) and a little bit of shoulder strain, I heard a pair of Spotted Sandpiper and Tree Swallow flying low over the water. By the time we got to Ruthven it was sunny and the birds had piled up including a Red-eyed Vireo singing and 2 Warbling Vireo not far afterwards, and the Cedar Waxwing were just everywhere! 

    Kayaking past Ruthven brought back some fond memories of banding and a little disappointment that I missed out on the season (especially the Cerulean Warbler). Then I heard something, kind of like a croaky trill.. Yellow-billed Cuckoo! A bird I thought I was going to miss this year because of Covid-19, but man was it amazing to hear that bird again! And, to top off our trip by Ruthven, nothing other than another pair of Osprey flying high above the mansion and more than likely scanning for fish in the river. Just a few amazing birds to find! 

    The remainder of the trip consisted of a lot of drifting and relaxing! Nice to get back out on the water!

    The afternoon saw me taking my first trip out of the county in months! Hamilton, Van Wagner's Beach by Hutches. This is where a Yellow-headed Blackbird has been calling home for last couple of days, and I was determined to find it! It was a lot of searching.. I'm walking about  hours of walking. I search and searched without any luck! But, I was determined, I wanted that bird! That stubbornness eventually paid off! Yellow-headed blackbird!  

    Once the day was all said and done I got a pair of new species: 

• Yellow-billed Cuckoo (195)
• Yellow-headed Blackbird (196)

    Bird of the day - Yellow-headed Blackbird - This western vagrant has showed up twice this year that I know of and I missed the first one. This is not a life bird for me though, I seen one in Drumheller, Alberta when I was younger, just amazing. 

44 Species - 313 Individuals

This is a 1st year male Yellow-headed Blackbird and that striking yellow head is the key ID factor, these western birds are just a little larger than our Red-winged Blackbird and are definitely a treat! - Hamilton ON

All rained out (29-May-2020)

    Birding was a no go tonight. The rain decided to show up so I had to do some window birding today unfortunately. Not much around but still need to talk about 1 thing: 

The bird of the day! 

This bird is not one I seen today but wanted to give it a little shoutout since it was a while ago I seen it - Whimbrel! - These aren't the rarest birds but man are they by far one of my favourite shorebirds (behind Short-billed Dowitcher mind you)! Their unique long, curved bill is amazing to witness and a pleasure to see in the spring migration and off of Lake Ontario they migrate in massive numbers, a friend of mine, Liam Thorne actually found over 250 in a single day! Amazing! 

I seen this Whimbrel earlier this year and it has officially been my screen saver ever since I took it! - Haldimand ON

This is my all time favourite shorebird, Short-billed Dowitcher. They plunge their whole bill into the mud to get those hard to get bugs burried deep within it! - Haldimand ON

Is it all over? (28-May-2020)

    It's starting look as though the end of Spring Migration is upon us. Lately nothing too rare on the radar (except a Willet at Lakeland in Hamilton), but for the most part it seems a though the whole birding world is coming to a flatline. New species are few and far between and the locals are starting to pair up. 

    As sad as it is to see it end it won't last too long for us Eastern North Americaners. The fun of Fall Migration will start back up in a little less than 2 months with the arrival of Shorebirds! And within the common Shorebirds are the vagrant pleasures such a Wilson Phalarope and maybe an American Golden-Plover or two! 

    As for my night, you can tell the end of May is here. Very little birds (besides the Yellow Warbler) and the species variety goes from 70+ to 40. Rock Point is usually a great place to find migrants and this fall it should work out great for me, but tonight was subpar to say the least. The birds were few and far between and not too long into the trip the fog rolled in so thick I could barely see over the water. Looks like no wandering birds over the water for me today! 

    Even though my main purpose was birding but the best part of the day was right at the beginning, a young male White-tailed Deer had a small stare down. The little buttons on the top of his head covered with velvet. This particular deer was born this spring so it is crazy how fast they get big! 

    Bird of the Day - Ring-billed Gull - These common gulls are everywhere in Southern Ontario all year round and even though most non-birders find them annoying and tend to air on the side of hating gulls, they are cool creatures! It is astonishing how well they can fit into any place people are, and on top of being our clean up crew they are the clean up crew of any water body! 

In between the lack of birds was a single new bird for the year: 

• Bank Swallow (194)

32 Species - 212 Individuals

This American Robin sat night and pretty while I took some pictures of it - Haldimand ON

This Subadult Ring-billed Gull was gliding around and I was luckily able to snap a shot of it! - Haldimand ON

Ring-billed Gull were everywhere today and got some amazing pictures! - Haldimand ON

This is the button buck I stared down. Just a surreal feeling! - Haldimand ON

Heat 3: Search for Shorebirds (27-May-2020)

    Three days in a row of heat that feels like over 30°C... crazy, and even more crazy the birds are starting to feel it too. 

    Decided instead of going to Selkirk Prov. Park for the 3rd consecutive day, I decided to take a little trip and find some shorebirds. Now, the thing about the shorebirds around here is that the majority of them migrate though here in the fall, not the spring. Don't get me wrong we still have some great birds come through in the spring like the Whimbrel I seen 2 weekends ago and the White-rumped Sandpiper I refound last weekend. That being said the numbers I get on the days I got to find shorebirds are much smaller than when I go out for Passerines. 

    One of the best places around to find these long-beaked birds is Townsend Sewage Lagoons, which even if it sounds pretty gross, is a goldmine at certain times of the year. The problem was that this was not that time of year...

    Getting into the lagoons it started off like normal, Killdeer making a huge fuss over someone invading their regular area and Red-winged Blackbird calling in every which direction. By this point the heat was tolerable (even if I was regretting wearing jeans again). The first cell was pretty much a ghost town, just the Killdeer and a pair of Spotted Sandpiper bobbing along, also not enjoying me being there. This was routine, the first cell is usually pretty dead except for Least Sandpiper typically. 

    The farther I went the more I realized, this whole place was empty, except of course the 300+ Canada Geese making it very clear that they can see me. The 4th cell (the farthest from the entrance) is where last May I spotted a good size gathering of Red Knot and a small flock of Dunlin, today, nothing... oof, definitely making me question my decision here. With the shorebirds nowhere to be seen I scanned the pond and didn't find much, some Mallard were hanging around towards the middle and 4 Ruddy Duck were at the very back. 

    The next cell was pretty empty, besides the overflow of Geese, but there were 2 mother ducks (Wood Duck and Mallard) leading along their young in the pond. Unbothered by my presence. Love the little guys though, so cute! 

    The other cells did a little better, one Least Sandpiper, a pair of White-rumped Sandpiper and a quite a few Semipalmated Sandpiper as well! Unfortunately the Ruddy Turnstone I was hoping for was not there. 

Just one new bird for the year today: 

• Semipalmated Sandpiper (193)

    Bird of the Day: White-rumped Sandpiper - these vagrant Sandpipers winter all of the way in South America and make a long trip all the way up to Nunavut for their breeding season. Non a common sight in these parts of Ontario, they typically go around our area in more of central North America so they're a pleasure to see! 

26 Species - 440 Individuals

This male Red-winged Blackbird let me take some photos before he took off to chase a female - Haldimand ON

Red-winged Blackbirds are notorious for lifting their tail when they call, its a little action you may miss if you don't watch - Haldimand ON

Lots of Killdeer around, surprised I couldn't find any little ones - Haldimand ON

This is just one of the 300+ Canada Geese that were present today - Haldimand ON

Heat, Heat, and more Heat!! (26-May-2020)

    How can the heat be worse than yesterday??? Well... it was. Thankfully I swapped out my long boots for my hiking shoes, and jeans for shorts!

    The birds definitely got the memo of the weather still being hot, less birds around than yesterday for sure! The walk towards the back seen almost no birds and migrants were few and far between. 

    The back of the park was a little better, a few warblers, mostly Yellow and Wilson. There was a single female American Redstart nestled in between the thorns but there was nothing else nestling around, even the Magnolia Warblers were nowhere to be seen. Crazy slow, even the remainder of the park was slow. The lake had the typical swallows, and the Gnatcatchers were still screaming at me all over. 

    Not much to tell about today unfortunately, slow day, that starts to happen this time of year! 

Bird of the Day - Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - These little birds breed in the southern part of Ontario and always seem angry (especially the males). Their constant screams are a common call throughout late spring time and into early summer. I also find they are some of the hardest birds to photograph, always moving and almost never sitting still, they definitely help you learn patience while taking photos! 

51 Species - 233 Individuals

This female Blue-gray Gnatcatcher stayed still just long enough for me to snap a quick picture! - Haldimand ON

Looks like the birds were keeping out of the heat...why wasn't I? (25-May-2020)

    29°C... What was I thinking on going out? Well, more or less that I was hoping the birds were going to be good even with the heat, but most of the birds were staying away, like I should have been!

    Back to the Prov. Park - after a good morning the other day I was hoping to find the Canada Warbler that was hanging around and get a better picture. The front loop seen a little Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was hopping through the trees but not too much else through the rest of the loop unfortunately, I'm thinking the heat's gotten to them. The bridge was abnormally quiet as well, the Red-winged Blackbirds were all staying out of the sun, and not a single Common Grackle was hanging around either. 

    The other side of the bridge was pretty quiet for the most part as well, that was until I got to the marsh! Coming from the cattails was a Virginia Rail! The call was only cut by a pair of Marsh Wren calling from within as well. Part of me hoped the Rail would stick around for breeding, and then I could possibly find it in my kayak a little later in the year! 

    All the marsh birds were really great but the real pleasure was a little bit of a brain teaser... a little warbler with some odd black breast markings on a wash of yellow. This says 1 of 3 warblers; Canada, Magnolia, or, the least likely and the one that would have been insane, Kirtland!! First... looked at the eye ring, all 3 birds have it but only the one has a complete eye ring (Canada). It's broken, bye bye Canada. Then moving to the breast streaks, not uniform at all, very blotchy. This doesn't help too much, and Merlin's suggestion was a Kirtland, but I couldn't buy it, a Kirtland Warbler would be too rare. So move on to asking for some help. After a couple of minutes the conclusion; Magnolia. The reason? It was the wing - the white on the wing was in a unique pattern, definitely a little detail to look at again for future reference! 

    After my little run in with the odd bird, I kept pushing through the rest of park, sweating hard and my feet killing me! Nothing through the willows or the pines, crazy how the heat effects the rest of the birding world! 

    The lake was a lot cooler to be around and the birds were feeling it as well. Lots of gulls out a little farther into the lake and a pair of Tern flying over the lake, much better than the lack of birds through the rest of the park, and the Swallows circling around and dipping and diving around the water made my day. Nothing takes your breath away like the shear acrobatics of a Swallow. 

    The final bird I found was a bird I thought I had completely missed coming through, a Great Egret! This big white Heron only migrates through here and breeds farther north, and usually through early to mid May, but this one seems like it was a little lost, moving south and in late May?? Weird, but definitely a nice little flyover! 

Did get a new bird of the year though: 

• Great Egret (192)

Bird of the day: Virginia Rail - This sly bird is hard to find but very easy to hear. In most wetlands you'll hear this bird and they breed in this area, so it makes it even more fun, and an interesting hopeful find during a kayak trip! 

53 Species - 283 Individuals

This little Great Crested Flycatcher was flying around and calling constantly! - Haldimand ON

This the latest Great Egret I have ever seen, and headed in the wrong direction... - Haldimand ON

This is the "Mystery Bird", Magnolia Warbler - Haldimand ON

Found a little Turkey Vulture roost, definitely pretty cool to see nine in the same tree! - Haldimand ON

This Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was dipping and diving all around the trail - Haldimand ON

A Little Catch Up After This Weekend

20-May-2020
   Little walk through the provincial. Got a quite a few thrushes again (7 Swainson, 2 Gray-cheeked, 2 Wood, and 4 Veery). The warblers are still pouring in even with the end of May dawning on us all. Spotted the first male Orchard Oriole of the year. The walk ended on a beautiful Eastern Kingbird. Wonderful bird to end the day with in my opinion! The day also seen 2 new year birds:

• Blue-winged Warbler (187) 
• Orange-crowned Warbler (188) 

   Bird of the day: Veery - Lots of them around this year and I am really enjoying their presence this year, hopping along the ground and in the underbrush, just amazing to watch! 

60 Species - 306 Individuals

21-May-2020

   Yet another walk through the Prov. Park, COVID-19 is definitely not doing good for my diversity this year! That being said it was a pretty nice walk, not too many warblers out but there were a quite a few Indigo Bunting and definitely got a nice surprise when I found a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest in one of the willow trees in Area 4. Not too many birds out and about but still a good walk, and it also showed a Sharp-shinned Hawk sneak into a tree right above my head! Even got a cool pair of late Common Goldeneye! 

   Bird of the day: Indigo Bunting - this little blue bird is a breeding bird in the area. Hearing their call in mid to late May bring joy of summer and nicer weather (especially on this crappy year). 

58 Species - 288 Individuals

22-May-2020

  The rain kept me away from my usual hotspots and I ended up just doing some birding from a porch swing. A couple of Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a few Baltimore Oriole gave me a nice light on a dark and dreary day, but most of the day consisted of angry Tree Swallows and Song Sparrows out the windows. 

   Bird of the day: Ruby-throated Hummingbird - this little bird is a lot of people's "spark bird" or the bird that gets them into birding. It's hard to believe they even exist, a bird that's wings move so fast you can even see them moving? Definitely unthinkable! 

19 Species - 56 Individuals

23-May-2020

   Starting my day with Rock Point PP around the lake with the hope of some shorebirds but all I was able to dig up was a few Spotted Sandpiper, unfortunately. The Yellow Warblers are still taking over the park (52) and a pair of Black-throated Blue Warbler calling brightened up the lack of shorebirds! 

   Moving onto Selkirk PP definitely improved my day! Lots of warblers moving through with 6 Blackburnian Warblers, 3 Wilson Warbler males and even a Canada Warbler! The vireo took over the other side of the park with 5 Red-eyes and 6 Warbling!

   Moving on to the Townsend Sewage Lagoons hoping for it to make a few more shorebirds for the year and... disappointment. Did get a late Bufflehead and a White-rumped Sandpiper but the best part of this visit was the mother and 6 ducklings! 

The great birding today allowed me to get 3 new species for the year! 

• Philadelphia Vireo (189)
• Canada Warbler (190)
• White-rumped Sandpiper (191)

  Bird of the day - Black-throated Blue Warbler - These little warblers are amazing! Love these little guys and their buzzy call, definitely worth looking forward to when birding in the Spring and Fall! 

81 Species - 889 Individuals

24-May-2020

  Went for my first Kayak ride of the year! Didn't get out last year but it was awesome to finally get on that water. The best part of birding from a kayak is getting to those spots the birds can get to but we cannot, like the little straits around the Grand River. We went to Cayuga and got around the bridges to find some cool swallows, like Cliff and Northern Rough-winged, and for some reason whenever I kayak I get a good amount of Cedar Waxwing, definitely an interesting observation. Though I got a little more than I expected, a pair of Osprey! Flew right over the kayak, definitely wish I had my camera! Didn't get too far but it was still nice to get out. 

Bird of the day - Osprey - These fish eating raptors are always amazing to find, a little smaller than eagles with massive talons these birds are by far one of the best raptors to watch with their fishing talent! 

33 Species - 98 Individuals

Swainson Thrush - Peering back at me, probably wondering why I pointing a giant lens its way! - Haldimand ON

Swainson Thrush - Foraging for bugs in the mud - Haldimand ON

This Veery stayed still for a little while so I could snap a picture of it - Haldimand ON

This Eastern Wood-Pewee was bobbing around in the trees, barely stayed still long enough for me to snap a picture of it! - Haldimand ON

A cute little Lincoln Sparrow hopping along one the logs downed on the trail in the Prov. Park - Haldimand ON

Black-and-white Warbler picking at a bug on a mossy tree - Haldimand ON

Best picture of a Blackburnian Warbler I have ever gotten! Stayed still just long enough for me to snap a picture - Haldimand ON

This Canada Warbler was a great surprise! Been a while since I've seen one. - Haldimand ON

Caught the Canada Warbler dropping from branch to branch - Haldimand ON

Lots of these little Dunlin move through at this time of year so keep your eyes on the fields! - Haldimand ON

The Great Crested Flycatcher was bobbing around the lakeshore calling all in the midst - Haldimand ON

The mom Wood Duck is moving around her little ones - Haldimand ON

Finally caught a glimpse of a White-rumped Sandpiper! Lifer for me - Haldimand ON

Hopping around the ground was this little Yellow Warbler, lots of that happening lately - Haldimand ON

Victoria Day..or Warbler Day? (May 18th and 19th)

A new idea of mine, I'm going to up the amount of posts I am making since the birds are becoming much more abundant with migration and breeding season.

May 18, 2020
Monday was a very rainy day but I was still able to get out after the rain settled and so glad I did! Got out to Rock Point PP and what a night, 14 Species of Warbler and in good quantities as well (13 Tennessee Warbler was an awesome treat). I only did a little walk around the lake shore and when I heard it was very birdy in Rock Point I was not expecting this! Along with the 70+ swallows flying everywhere along the shoreline I could not find a single place that did not have warblers and migrating birds! The most notable birds were the many many Cape May Warbler flitting around the canopies but I also got a good view of an amazingly bright male Scarlet Tanager! Also got some new birds of the year:

• Red-eyed Vireo (181)
• American Redstart (182)
• Bay-breasted Warbler (183)
• Wilson Warbler (184)
• Scarlet Tanager (185) 

Bird of the day: Red-eyed Vireo - definitely a nice bird to find this time of year, just awaiting being bombarded with them breeding in the area soon! 

51 Species - 939 Individuals 

May 19, 2020

Tuesday was a little slow at the beginning, did not find my local Ovenbird, looks like it took a trip north, but with that there was a huge bombardment of Swainson Thrush that moved through the last few days. The Prov. Park was buzzing with lots of Warblers as well with American Redstart and Chestnut-sided Warbler every time I turned around, and a pair of Common Yellowthroat calling at the entrance to the trail, but what was the amazing part was the pair of Black-throated Blue Warbler rustling around in the underbrush by the entrance and the numerous Bay-breasted Warblers jumping around in the trees above me and a beautiful Blackburnian Warbler along with them! I checked the willows as well but the only birds I found were a pair of male Brown-headed Cowbird and a pair of pretty grumpy Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, apparently there did not like me being there. The day was completed by another new year bird: 

• Common Nighthawk (186)

Bird of the Day: Bay-breasted Warbler - the shear abundance of these birds astonished me and made me amazed with how energetic and flitty thee birds are. I also figured out how difficult they are to photograph! 

67 Species - 358 Individuals

Female American Redstart, these little birds jump around in the brush and are often around eye level, which makes them the perfect photo subject - Haldimand ON

Male Bay-breasted Warbler, this male has a tasty treat in his mouth, but he is still looking for more! - Haldimand ON

This male Bay-breasted Warbler was nice enough to sit still and let me photograph him - Haldimand ON

Gray-cheeked Thrush, these guys migrate through southern Ontario but breed farther north, they are much more common in the fall so lucky to find this little guy! - Haldimand ON

This Osprey is actually making a really good come back in Ontario so I am definitely starting to see a lot more of them! - Haldimand ON

This Veery will most likely stick around here to breed, and there have been a recent influx here in Haldimand, I remember how hard they used to be to find but they are now a more common and pleasant find on my walks - Haldimand ON

Back on Track! (Week 20 May 11th to May 17th)

This has been the most unreal (and stereotypicallly May) week yet this year!

The week averaged 62 species over the 4 good days (one night was completely rained out) and walked a total of 25.87 km. The best day was by far Friday night with 80 species including 9 new for the year and my first 2 hummers of the year! It was a lot of fun seeing all of the birds returned to the area and the calling of them was just as special as ever. The warblers and vireo were buzzing and a lot of flycatchers were flitting about in the trees. It was what some people call peak birding and this is definitely something I would love to have again and again.

Tonnes of migrants this week as well with 24 new species for the year in 1 week (180 as of Saturday) including 7 species of Warbler and this means lots of photo attempts (and some good ones too). this is the dream of any birder and I wouldn't think the week could get any better than the 80 species I seen on Friday, until my Big Day on Saturday apparently.

Saturday, my Big Day, and a big day it was!
Starting out on the property and it was a crazy morning with 84 species! The same area close to where the owls were nesting was just buzzing with the same Swainson Thrush and Ovenbird and it was amazing to see. The Ovenbird I seen was just hopping along the floor of the forest and what a treat to see a pair of Swainson Thrush along with it. From there I moved on down to find just a burst of Yellow Warbler and a pair of Yellowthroat calling from within the bushes. Around the one pond there were 3 Willow Flycatcher and a Eastern Kingbird in the mix as well. These were all fantastic finds but what hit hard was when I got to the willow trees. I counted about 6 species of Warbler within them and seen my first Chestnut-sided of the year! A few Blackburnian were in the mix as well, it was phenomenal to see the amount of Warbler in such a small area.
From there I moved onto the Sewage Lagoons in Townsend and found a quite a few shorebirds, including my very first Whimbrel and a pair of Short-billed Dowitcher. Along with a lot of Least Sandpiper and about 11 Semipalmated Plover. Such a treat to finally see my first Whimbrel!
From there I moved on to Rock Point PP. That was a lot of fun, warblers were buzzing and I found my first Black-and-white Warbler for the day, which is my favourite bird. Lots of Yellow-rumps and the Yellows were definitely the highest counts of the day!

Weekly Totals: 
Species: 121
Individuals: 3,264

Dunlin - Haldimand ON

Lesser Yellowlegs - Haldimand ON

Short-billed Dowitcher

Semipalmated Plover - Haldimand ON

Whimbrel - Haldimand ON

Least Sandpiper - Haldimand ON

Cape May Warbler - Haldimand ON

Yellow Warbler - Haldimand ON

Yellow-rumped Warbler - Haldimand ON

Blackburnian Warbler - Haldimand ON

Chestnut-sided Warbler - Haldimand ON

Great Horned Owl - Haldimand ON

Ovenbird - Haldimand ON

Black-throated Blue Warbler - Haldimand ON

Warbling Vireo - Haldimand ON