Pinery Pinery Provincial Park

  Early November!

Forest birds and winter finches were few and far between on two recent visits to Pinery Provincial Park. Birds located near the water were much easier to find. A pair of Canada Geese were visible from the Boardwalk along the Riverside Trail.

Looking at Heritage Trail deck from across the channel.

Other Birders paddled down the Ausable channel in their kayaks.

A pair of American Crows strolled down the mostly deserted beach. 

An Asian Lady Beetle took shelter behind a stone from the Lake Huron winds.

Looking South-west towards Kettle Point from Dunes Campground beach.

Another strolling bird - Herring Gull

Mixed flock of Mallards and Double-crested Cormorants

A few Black-capped Chickadees expressed interest in sunflower seeds.

Juniper berries, although abundant on this branch, are not nearly as plentiful elsewhere.

Falling oak leaf suspended in spider silk.

Canoes stored for the winter.

Park Map

 End of October Things!

Dark-eyed Juncos have returned from their summer breeding grounds. They spend a lot of time at ground level, but this individual found a feast of seeds on a Goldenrod flower head. Dark-eyed Juncos are one of the most common birds in North America and can be found across the entire continent. They are easy to recognize in flight by the bright white outer tail feathers.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Dark-eyed_Junco/overview

Merlins are small, fierce falcons that use surprise attacks to bring down small songbirds and shorebirds. Merlin populations have largely recovered from twentieth-century declines thanks to a ban on the pesticide DDT and their ability to adapt to life around towns and cities. The name 'Merlin' comes from esmerillon, the old French name for the species. Merlins used to be called 'pigeon hawks' because in flight they look somewhat pigeon-like.

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

The Merlin was not able to eat his prey in peace (Song Sparrow in the talons) due to constant harassment from a Blue Jay.

Black-capped Chickadees are commonly found hanging upside down from clumps of dead leaves in the fall. The leaves often house overwintering insects and the chickadees know that food can be found in the clumps. This chickadee appears to have extracted a snail from the leaf clump!

A Winter Wren also found food within a clump of leaves. This tiny ball of energy is plump and round with a stubby tail that it usually holds straight up. It delivers its song with 10 times more power than a crowing rooster, (per unit of weight)! They are rather weak fliers that hop and scamper among fallen logs, inspecting upturned roots and vegetation for insects.

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

On a windy day, a Great Blue Heron chose a perching location that was blocked from the force of the wind. With its varied diet, it can spend the winter farther north than most herons, even in areas where most waters freeze.

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-blue-heron

Hermit Thrush - It should be heading south soon.

An irruption year has been predicted for winter finches due to low food sources further north. More Pine Siskins (and other winter finches) than usual are expected to visit Southern Ontario this winter. Pine Siskins can temporarily store seeds totaling up to 10% of their body mass in a part of their esophagus called the crop. The energy in that amount of food could get them through 5-6 nighttime hours of subzero temperatures!

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

Winter is the time to look for Snow Buntings in southern Ontario. They can be found in fields amongst crop stubble and also along lakeshores. The Snow Bunting, above, stopped on the steps at Canatara Beach on the shores of Lake Huron on November 29th. Snow Buntings are also restless during the winter and fly to a new spot every 10 minutes or so.

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

With their enormous bills, Evening Grosbeaks can crush seeds that are too large for Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins to open. These smaller birds often seek out the grosbeaks and eat the food scraps they leave behind.

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

Painted Turtle surrounded by fall colours: It was taking advantage of one of the last basking days of the season. The sun helps them to digest food more quickly. Stored food helps turtles survive the winter in mud beneath the water.

 A 'Life Bird' and other 'Wings'!

A directionally challenged bird! Many birders from across the Province "flocked" to the North shore of Lake St. Clair to view a Gray Kingbird, normally found in Central America. It spent most of its time hunting for dragonflies and other insects from the wires, but occasionally flew into a bush or tree. Across the Caribbean basin, they are common yard birds, known for their bold behaviour, loud voice and consumption of pesky insects from backyard gardens. Like other Kingbirds, they have a large head and heavy bill.

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

The Kingbird was spotted just outside the entrance to the St. Clair National Wildlife Area.  The property is closed until the end of the calendar year while reconstruction of a foot bridge leading to the trails is completed. The SCNWA is located 19 km west of Chatham and lies within the extensive marsh habitat that spreads from Mitchell's Bay to the mouth of the Thames River, along the SE shore of Lake St. Clair. Lake St. Clair and adjacent marshes are the most important staging area for waterfowl in Ontario, south of James Bay. The wetlands consist mainly of cattail marsh encircled by constructed dykes that mimic natural water-level changes. This area is located at the transition between two major migratory routes; the Atlantic and Mississippi flyways.

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/national-wildlife-areas/locations/st-clair.html

The presence of a Bald Eagle caused stress for the ducks below!

Hundreds of Canada Geese erupted in flight.

5 Sandhill Cranes flew overhead, bugling as they traveled!

Red-winged Blackbirds were gathering in very large numbers and could regularly be heard vocalizing.

American Bittersweet: The orange fruits are poisonous to humans when eaten, but are loved by birds.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/64538-Celastrus-scandens

Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen in high numbers, zigging and zagging across our path as we walked along the road boundary of the St. Clair National Wildlife Area. One stopped on the road for a snack hidden under the gravel.

Several Autumn Meadowhawks were in flight. They are a good source of food for the Gray Kingbird!

5 Greater White-fronted Geese had been reported the day before. We spent some time searching for them but it wasn't until later in our visit that we finally found them. We believe they had been resting in a neighbouring field before flying back to the wildlife area. They are stocky, brown geese found across the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, they are found mainly west of the Mississippi River.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_White-fronted_Goose/overview

Mallards: We spotted a total of 50 bird species, including 9 species of ducks.

Northern Pintail

Tundra Swans

In our quest to find a picnic table after our morning birding adventure, we headed back to Mitchell's Bay and ate at the waterfront. Many Mute Swans could be seen in the distance in Lake St. Clair. Three easily startled Killdeer flew from one muddy area to the next. I don't think I've ever watched a Killdeer completely submerge its head before! Perhaps there was a good smorgasbord of food in the mud?

Local Finds!

Butterfly finding weather is rapidly disappearing. But on sunny days in sheltered areas, some surprises can still be found. While visiting Rock Glen Conservation Area, two Eastern Commas fluttered around the rotting apples at the top of the stairs. One of them landed on a top railing with fall colours in the background. This species will overwinter as an adult, tucked into crevices in logs.

An (uncommon) Common Buckeye flew past me on October 21st. at the Suncor Trail. Luckily I was able to follow it until it landed. This species has been difficult to find in 2025. I only saw 2 or 3 in all of 2025.

Suncor Trail on October 21st: The Suncor Nature Trail circles the perimeter of a Stormwater Management Pond. The pond temporarily stores water during rainfall events and releases it at a controlled rate, helping to reduce flooding and erosion. Stormwater management ponds also provide the habitat needs for countless species including many birds and butterflies.

https://www.sarnia.ca/stormwater-management-ponds/

Golden-crowned Kinglets are always very active as they search for food, but two of them bounced around at the trail edge, allowing for a few photos!

Golden-crowned Kinglet hanging upside down by his feet - a good way to find bugs on the underside of leaves!

Ruby-crowned Kinglet: Both Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets are smaller than Black-capped Chickadees!

Wawanosh Wetlands C.A. trail

Autumn Meadowhawk, sunning on a leaf.

Yellow-rumped Warbler - one in a migrating flock of 8 warblers.

Great Blue Heron on a lookout perch!

While walking through the Canatara beach parking lot, a Red-tailed Hawk flew past me and landed on a lamp post.

The hawk then flew to a nearby wooded area for a more protected hiding spot and a better chance of finding his next meal. However, Blue Jays quickly found the predator and noisily told the rest of the forest animals that a hawk had arrived!

Rusty Blackbirds can be identified by their squeaky call in the spring when their feathers are black. In autumn, the rusty coloured feathers make them easier to identify by sight.

A flock of 6 Wood Ducks circled lake Chipican, landed for about 60 seconds, and then continued on their way. 

A Mallard hen sat on the base of a fountain in the animal farm pond. She was enjoying "being in the spotlight"! The bright light was possibly providing some warmth.

Fall Colours in Canatara.

There's a new Alpaca at the Canatara animal farm! She was born on October 7th and has been named Tilly, short for Matilda.

Video: Tilly at play!