Late November and a late Warbler!

The well-named Yellow-throated Warbler, continues to hang out in Canatara Park. It has been almost 2 weeks since it was first found! It spends its time high in the tree canopy zipping around and looking for food. We had blue skies on Friday and I got "warbler neck" in November trying to photograph this little guy!

He spent time searching for food under tree bark. In the above photo, he appears to have caught a spider! Yellow-throated Warblers eat insects such as beetles, caterpillars, and flies. They creep up branches near the top of the canopy and probe into crevices, pine cones, and clusters of pine needles for insects. During the nonbreeding season (when they are supposed to be in Central America), they forage on insects attracted to agave and coconut palm flowers.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-throated_Warbler/lifehistory

Another bird sporting a bright yellow colour is the Golden-crowned Kinglet. The bright yellow cap on the top of his head was visible as he scratched his chin.

One of MANY Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillars found earlier this year. The caterpillars use their hairs for defense. The hairs are barbed, easily detach, and can become embedded in the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes of potential predators.

When Hickory Tussock Moths spin their cocoons, the caterpillars incorporate the hairs into the silk so that the cocoons are also protected!

https://extension.psu.edu/hickory-tussock-moth-caterpillar

Redheads in flight over Lake Huron. Flocks of ducks have been airborne over Lake Huron recently because of hunters on the Michigan side of the Lake.

Black Scoters are coastal seaducks, but during migration they can often be found on the Great Lakes. This individual was viewed off Canatara Beach on Lake Huron.

Hooded Merganser taking a break along the shoreline.

On Friday, there were at least 25 Hooded Mergansers on Lake Chipican, along with Redheads, a Ring-necked Duck and a pair of Buffleheads. By Saturday, the lake was frozen and the birds had all gone elsewhere.

Lake Huron on Friday, looking NE. We had sunshine while areas north of Grand Bend received over 40 cm of snow.

Recent Sunrise!