Warblers in North Lambton!!

First warblers of the year! We found 2 Yellow-rumpled Warblers at Pinery Provincial Park on Saturday! They were our first warblers of the year, but one warbler was found in the area back in January. It’s hard to say if they are early migrants, or if they spent the winter in the park.

Juniper berries were the food of choice. Hopefully they will be sustained on the fruit until insects begin to immerge from their winter slumber.

We saw an interesting selection of birds including a Fox Sparrow on the Riverside Trail.

We heard the high pitched Ki-Ki-Ki of a Merlin. Upon scanning for the bird, we found this perched individual, but it was not the one that was calling. It wasn’t long before the second Merlin noisily soared past us. Merlins are the second smallest of the 4 Falcons found in Ontario. They are larger than Kestrels, but smaller than Peregrine Falcons.

The bird feeders were well stocked at the Visitor Centre so an abundant number of song birds were in the area. They definitely associate people with food and landed nearby in a constant parade of seed grabbing! It was fun to have close up views of a Red-breasted Nuthatch!

The ever adorable Tufted Titmouse!

White-breasted Nuthatch

Overlooking the Ausable River Cut, a Bald Eagle scanned the assortment of ducks below his perch. Perhaps he was meal planning for later in the day, as no attempts to grab a meal occurred while we watched.

Many handsome Blue Jays were also eager to have an easy snack of seeds. Blue Jays are known for their intelligence and complex social systems with tight family bonds. Their fondness for acorns is credited with helping spread oak trees after the last glacial period.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Blue_Jay/overview

Walking a marked trail through the Dunes, towards Lake Huron.

Our next stop was at the Lambton Heritage Forest where we had views of a flooded farm field. We found 22 species of birds including 300+ Tundra Swans, 3 Woodpecker species, and lots of ducks including American Wigeon, Wood Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, and even a pair of Sandhill Cranes!

Beaver Lodge visible within the Lambton Heritage Forest. A Bald Eagle flew into a tree nearby and virtually disappeared into a well-hidden nest!

 

Curious Red Squirrels were found at a few locations throughout the day. We walked over 13 km in our quest for birds and wildlife. Happily the sun came out in the afternoon for a very successful and enjoyable day!

 Butterflies are Flying!!

Temperatures reached 17 degrees C on Monday. It took some patience, but after a 90 minute search, I found 3 Mourning Cloak butterflies which brought a big smile to my face! (Ten days later than last year, but this was an exceptional winter for our area!) Mourning Cloaks overwinter as adults, tucked into a crevice in a log, under leaf litter, or other sheltered location. This type of hibernation is known as diapause. Food sources in the early spring include sap dripping from Yellow-bellied Sapsucker holes. Or if they happen to be in a Sugar Bush, March is the season for sap collection where sap drips from tapped Sugar Maple Trees! 

Butterflies survive the cold by making their own glycerol which acts like a type of antifreeze to lower the freezing point of bodily fluid. The glycerol prevents ice crystals from forming in cells which would kill the butterfly.

https://extension.usu.edu/swaner/naturalist-news/amazing-butterflies.pdf

The warm temperatures woke up a Wooly Bear caterpillar who spent the winter at the larval stage. Glycerol production also allows caterpillars to survive the winter without freezing.

Half-ringed Acleris Moth, an early flyer in the spring, and a new species for me!

I found my first Fox Sparrow of the year this week! Fox Sparrows spend a lot of time on the ground, using their sturdy legs to kick away leaf litter in search of insects and seeds. They rarely venture far from cover. This individual had been on the ground, along with another Fox Sparrow and flew into the tree as I walked past on a trail.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Fox_Sparrow/id

A Visit to Lake Erie

This is possibly the first calendar year in which we found a Red-throated Loon prior to finding a Common Loon! This Red-throated Loon spent the winter in the St. Catharines area. I was surprised to learn that this species takes flight from the water more easily than other loons. It often takes off without a running start and can even take off from land!

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-throated-loon

A pair of American Robins enjoyed a bath in a puddle at Port Weller.

At Crystal Beach, a noisy Killdeer was likely having second thoughts about early migration after landing on the icy shore of Lake Erie.

Crystal Beach looking across Lake Erie towards Buffalo.

Rain droplets on a Pussywillow Bud

Snowdrops blooming on a rainy day!

 Getting Ready for Spring!

Mallard Pair staking out their territory, even before the ice melts!

Canada Geese announcing to the world that this is their space!!

Despite birds searching for mates and territory, the ice continued to Pile Up on Canatara Beach on March 5th.

Iced Cube! (About 18 inches square!)

Ice crystals photographed with macro lens

Layers of Ice!

Just 3 days after finding the large ice build up on Lake Huron, I found my first Painted Turtle of the year, taking advantage of sunny skies in a sheltered area. March 8, 2026.

Cecropia Moth cocoon. The first one I’ve found this winter with no visible signs of predation. Other cocoons have had holes chewed through the layers.

Foggy day over Lake Chipican. The fog rolled in and out 3 times that day.

The only Snowy Owl I saw this winter, camouflaged in a distant field.

 Mish Mash of Birds!

We headed out on a sunny Monday morning in search of some rare Geese that have been spotted in different locations around west Lambton. We started at the Suncor Trail. We didn't find the geese but did find a lovely male Northern Pintail. Although we saw 3 Pintails earlier in January, this is the first time we have seen one at the site since then.

About 40 American Crows were in the field on the north side of the Suncor Trail. A few flew into nearby trees, then all left at once. We thought they had found a predator to chase, but they seemed to just be having a noisy party!

Despite the mild temperatures, it may still be awhile before the hard packed snow drifts melt.

American Tree Sparrow lurking in the reeds.

We heard a report that the Ross's Geese had landed at Hiawatha Race Track so headed there once we had completed walking the Suncor loop. Luckily for us, they were still at the race track upon our arrival! However, 10 minutes later, hundreds of Canada Geese, 9 Cackling Geese, and the Ross's Geese made a quick exit when a Bald Eagle flew past.

A diminutive version of the familiar Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose is also white with black wingtips, but it has a shorter neck, stubbier bill and a more rounded head. The 2 species seem to be hybridizing more frequently as a warming climate allows their breeding ranges to come into contact. Based upon an inflight photo (not shown), it is possible that one of the birds is a Ross's X Snow Goose Hybrid. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Rosss_Goose/overview

Back at Canatara Park, some fluffy Cattail Seeds were blowing in the wind!

On Lake Huron, off shore of Canatara Beach, some Canada Geese were spotted standing on thin ice!

Female Purple Finch at Camp Saredaca.

American Robins have been digging for bugs in the thawing ground surface.

The iridescent colours on a Common Grackle glowed as he worked on defending his territory.