OFO Grand Bend, North Lambton

I joined a Field Ornithologists event in North Lambton last Sunday. A group of 20 birders visited the Grand Bend Beach, Kettle Point, Forest Lagoons and Pinery Provincial Park. These Pectoral Sandpipers were flying at the Forest Lagoons.

The Pectoral Sandpipers spooked easily, but continually returned to their feeding station. They are currently migrating to South America for the winter and this stop was a food fueling station for them. Since their breeding grounds are in easternmost Russia, across Alaska and into northern Canada, some Pectoral Sandpipers make a round-trip migration of nearly 19,000 miles (30,500 kilometres) every year!

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

Northern Harrier flying low over Lake Huron at Kettle Point.

Turkey Vulture flying high above us at Kettle Point.

Ring-billed Gulls relaxing on Grand Bend Beach: Scientists have discovered that migrating Ring-billed Gulls use a built-in compass to navigate. When tested at only 2 days of age, chicks showed a preference for magnetic bearings that would take them in the appropriate direction for their fall migration. The gulls also rely on landmarks and high-altitude winds to provide directional cues.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ring-billed_Gull/overview

Common Drone Fly - nectaring on Goldenrod in a sheltered part of Grand Bend Beach.

Winter bird food! Juniper berries.

Kilally Meadows, London

Environmentally Significant Area

We explored the 10 km of trails at Kilally Meadows, located in north-east London. The 146 hectare property stretches along the North Thames River and Meander Creek, between Adelaide Street and Highbury Avenue.

https://thamesriver.on.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024-KilallyESA-brochure.pdf

An estimated 60 Cedar Waxwings were spotted. We found them in several corners of the property.

Berries such as those found on Juniper trees were an attractive food for the Cedar Waxwings. (notice the berry in its beak in the lower photo)

Fall Colour!

Meander Creek

A Belted Kingfisher was heard long before I actually located it as it cruised up and down the river channel!

The camouflaged bark of Sycamore Trees always adds variety to the landscape.

Sycamore Leaves

Although only one was spotted, White-tailed Deer are common in the area. The diversity of habitats along the river corridor meets the needs of many mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects/butterflies!

 Canatara Birds in October!

On recent sunny days, there has been a fair bit of birding activity in different pockets of Canatara park. At one of the usually active locations I was surprised to see that everything was quiet. Then I noticed a distant lump on the Willow Tree. A Cooper's Hawk was waiting in the shadows, well camouflaged in the branches. They are considered to be among the bird world's most skillful fliers. Cooper's Hawks are common woodland hawks that fly through cluttered tree canopies in high speed pursuit of other birds.

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

The underside of leaves are used as hiding spots for many insects. Birds including this Nashville Warbler have learned to search for food in those locations.

Swamp Sparrows have longer legs than some other sparrows. This adaptation allows it to wade into shallow water to forage for food. It sometimes will stick its head under water to try to capture aquatic invertebrates!

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

Swainson's Thrushes are sometimes called "mosquito thrushes" for their flycatching habit of eating flying insects.

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

White-crowned Sparrow, adult male

White-crowned Sparrows (immature or female, above) eat mainly seeds of weeds and grasses but also consume considerable numbers of caterpillars, wasps and beetles during the summer months. Using their large feet, they vigorously scratch among the leaf litter in search of food. This motion creates a rather loud scuffling sound on the forest floor.

https://cwffcf.org/en/explore/resources/encyclopedias/fauna/birds/whitecrowned-sparrow.html

 

Eastern Phoebe

Energetic Ruby-crowned Kinglets are VERY busy flitting amongst the trees and shrubs. Sometimes they pause on low branches long enough for a closer look. The ruby crown is usually only visible when the bird is agitated.

4 Wood Ducks in a row! A very handsome group!!

A Yellow-rumped Warbler was walking along sticks floating just under the duckweed. It reached down several times to grab unsuspecting aquatic insects.

A Winter Wren popped up onto a fence with a spider in its beak! This species usually holds its tiny tail straight up and bounces up and down.  It can be challenging to get a good view of a Winter Wren as they hop and scamper on the forest floor among plants and fallen logs in their quest for insects to eat.

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

 North Bay, Final Day!

Sunset park, on the shores of Lake Nipissing. At the right time of day with sunny conditions, the sunsets are likely spectacular!

American Crows, out for a stroll.

American Pipit - The best look I've ever had of this species! 5 of them were running around on the rocks near me.

Ring-billed Gull

Wooly Alder Aphids: When wooly aphids feel threatened, they do a “Boogie-woogie” dance, swaying their bodies back and forth. Although I was close to them for this photo, temperatures were a little too chilly for them to perform their dance.

Red Squirrel waiting for food delivery at an empty feeder.

Ross's Goose! Deryl made the discovery which was one of the best bird finds of the OFO weekend! Ross's Geese breed in the arctic and migrate west of the Great Lakes. Finding one in Ontario is a treat! They resemble a smaller version of the Snow Goose with a stubbier bill and shorter neck.

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

Great Black-backed Gull, immature.

Arrowhead Provincial Park, Huntsville

We made a stop at Arrowhead Park on our way home. Photo of Arrowhead Lake was taken from the main park road.

When we visit Arrowhead PP, we like to make the time to walk the 2 km trail to Stubb's Falls. The moderate hike passes through a hardwood forest which is home to a variety of tree species including sugar maples, basswood, yellow birch and hemlock. Stubb's Falls is on the Little East River.

These rocks are an unusual sight in the area. They were carried here from hundreds of kilometers away by the last glacier to advance over Arrowhead Provincial Park.

Stubb's Falls: There is a lack of vegetation and soil around the river. The dirt was swept away by the meltwater of the glacier. During that time, a much larger waterfall scoured and polished the bedrock.

Views along the trail!

 Cache Bay

During the OFO birding convention, we had to drive between our morning and afternoon hiking locations. This time allowed us to explore some scenic roadside locations.

A quick pullover provided stunning views of the new lighthouse at Callander Bay.  The lighthouse was completed in 2024 and replaced one that was destroyed in a summer storm in 2006. The light on the old lighthouse was no longer functioning, but the new one projects a light out into Lake Nipissing to guide boaters to Callander Bay.

While at the Lookout, a trio of Common Ravens were navigating the skies! We didn't seen any tricks from these 3, but Ravens often perform aerobatics, including sudden rolls, wing-tucked dives and playing with objects by dropping and catching them in midair!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Raven/lifehistory

Another road sign for a scenic stop led us to a beautiful, terraced waterfall that was not visible from the highway. We ate lunch at the bottom of Dueshaney Falls, then hiked the rugged "trail" to the top.

More views of Dueshaney Falls

Afternoon in Cache Bay

Cache Bay is located at the North-west end of Lake Nipissing and can be a good location for migrating waterfowl. A Great Blue Heron, Wood Ducks, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-necked duck and Lesser Scaup were spotted.

Reeds and Arrowhead at the Bay

Song Sparrow resting in the sunshine.

Everyone on the dock! Scopes were definitely a necessity to view the distant birds!

Cache Bay Beaver Lodge.

Verner Lagoons

Our final stop of the afternoon was at the Verner Lagoons. Because of limited parking, several of us parked at the roadside and walked to the lagoons. It was a windy day, but I did see some Autumn Meadowhawks enjoying the sun. A few Orange Sulphurs and Cabbage Whites were flying but they didn't come close enough for photos.

40 Sandhill Cranes had been spotted at the lagoons druing the previous few days. Our large group of walkers appeared to startle the Cranes and they flew off. Perhaps the Cranes were more tolerant of vehicles, than people on foot.

A few ducks could be seen at the Verner Lagoons including Northern Shoveler, Lesser Scaup, Mallard and Green-winged Teal.