Field Trip Reports

Twenty-nine OFO members and friends congregated at the entrance to Spirit Rock Conservation Area along highway No. 6 just north of the Town of Wiarton at 8:00 am for what became a low flying trip up and down the Bruce Peninsula. While waiting for everyone to arrive several species of warblers were seen or heard on territory along with Cedar Waxwings and several other species.

Our first stop was just off the highway on the way into Issac Lake. Here a pair of Eastern Bluebirds flitted back and forth on one side of the road while on the other side there was a co-operative Eastern Phoebe. The bluebirds were just the beginning of the many bluebirds we were to encounter for the rest of the day. Just down the road a Red-eyed Vireo called constantly in the tops of the trees lining the road.

At the beginning of the Issac Lake marsh meadow we stopped. Here a Common Snipe buzzed the group when not high in the sky winnowing. Two Black Terns working the small ponds flew within 20 feet of the group on several occasions. Using a lure tape a Virginia Rail came within five feet of the group and completely out in the open. In the background a Willow Flycatcher called constantly. At the bend in the road by the goose pens a female Northern Harrier was spotted sitting on a fence post across the meadow. The winnowing snipe could be heard constantly. Amongst the numerous swallows a couple of Cliff Swallows were spotted.

At the Issac Lake boat launching ramp a Common Loon was on the water. Several male Bobolinks were on the hillside on the north side of the parking lot. A Green Heron was spotted flying by while an Osprey was seen sitting on a nest platform. Along the road to Red Bay west of Marr we stopped to inspect the drumlin field. At Sky Lake a Pied-billed Grebe was in a small bay. Numerous Marsh Wrens were calling. Some members spotted an American Bittern. Approaching the West Road a Black-crowned Night Heron was seen heading south.

We stopped at the Petrel Point Reserve to admire the the display of flowering plants including several native orchids which were slightly ahead of season. Here a Yellow-rumped Warbler was heard and seen. While waiting on the road for one member, who was busy photographing the flowers on the boardwalk, a Pileated Woodpecker flew low over the group.

Proceeding along the shoreline road we stopped at Sucker Creek. Here several Wood Ducks were along the rushes in the pond. A Caspian Tern flew by. On the lake side a Common Tern was sitting on the rocks while nearby was a Spotted Sandpiper.

Retracing our route we headed inland along the Howdenvale Road and up the West Road. At Sucker Creek good views were had of a male Indigo Bunting sitting on top of a dead branch out in good light. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was spotted sitting nearby. Also in the same immediate area a calling Alder Flycatcher kept popping up. Several Mourning Warblers were calling alone the wood edge. Just up the road, numerous Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows were observed flying into a barn. At least the Barn Swallows did while the Cliff Swallows swooped up under the eaves of the barn. Here a Red-shouldered Hawk was spotted high in the sky and a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Proceeding north we turned east on the Pike Bay Road out onto the Ferndale flats. Here 3 Brewer's Blackbirds were quickly spotted along the roadside on the fences and the hydro lines. In the distance Ravens could be heard calling. As we wound our way through the flats we saw many Bobolinks and Savannah Sparrows flying off the fences.

Our next stop was at Black Creek Provincial Park. Here we walked back through the middle of old beaver ponds. A Red-breasted Nuthatch was heard and seen high up in a dead tree. An American Woodcock flushed from along the trail. Walking into a beaver pond a female Hooded Merganser was seen. Here an Eastern Kingbird nest was spotted on top of a stump standing 4 feet out of the water in the pond. On the way out a Broad-winged Hawk flew over.

Back at the cars we took a few minutes for lunch. Here several members peeled off the group and perhaps will regret the decision to leave so soon, as the next stop just a couple of miles up the road produced our best bird of the trip. As we were proceeding past an old beaver meadow a dark cap on an angle was noticed on top of a dead tall tree stump. Closer examination revealed it to be dark grayish feathers with bright yellow eyes - a Great Gray Owl! This bird was very co-operative allowing the group to observed it and for some to take photos. It flew once 10-15 feet to another dead tree. Just before we left, our only Red-tailed Hawk for the day passed over. Some locals stated that the owl had been there for some time.

On the side road east of the Miller Lake general store, as we were getting back into the cars after looking at some Male Fern, a Cooper's Hawk was spotted high in the sky. It disappeared into the woods after performing a spectacular stoop. We walked around on the alvar at the Dyer's Bay junction examining the vegetation on the dry exposed limestone, including the Green and Maidenhair Spleenworts. Our only Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was heard here. On an outcropping along the highway on the way to the Crane River picnic grounds the group was shown a small group of Purple-stemmed Cliffbreak. At the picnic grounds we examined the "fern" wall with its several species including Slender Cliffbreak. A few Nodding Trilliums were found nearby. Proceeding towards the sparrow fields west of Lark Whistle we stopped to see the Wal Rue Fern.

A couple of stops before the sparrow fields produced Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Downy Woodpecker. One wood lot had several examples of the small undergrowth shrub known as "Rubber Tree" with it flexible branches. Here also were good views of butterflies including White Admirals and Tiger Swallowtails.

At the sparrow fields an Indigo Bunting was chasing a couple of Purple Finches around. Field Sparrow were heard calling and in the distance the "buzz" of Clay-colored Sparrows. We walked the fields and some members got a glimpse of the Clay-coloreds. On our way back to the cars a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard.

Proceeding through the hamlet of Dyer's Bay some keen-eared members picked out the calls of a Northern Parula. Along the shoreline on the way out to Cabot's Head besides the spectacular scenery a female Common Merganser was sitting on the rocks while a couple of Common Loons were further off shore. A little further along the road a female Oldsquaw in breeding plumage was a surprise  swimming close to shore while overhead an expected Northern Rough-winged Swallow flew by. 

After a walk around the lighthouse we proceeded back and along the Dyer's Bay Road to the East Road (known locally as the 40 Hills Road) and headed south. The lead car heard a Sora call from one of the road side marshes and had a Black-billed Cuckoo fly by. Stopping in Lion's Head for a bit of supper Chimney Swifts were noticed cruising over the village. Emerging from the restaurant we picked up our 108th species for the day, House Sparrow!!.

Our last stop was at the waterfront at Colpoys Bay. Here were several Common Mergansers including one female, with 8 ducklings, that kept driving away two other females from her brood. As we were heading back to the cars in the gathering dusk to go our separate ways a Northern Cardinal was heard calling from behind the houses, our 110th species for the day.

John Miles reports: Ten vehicles and around 20 OFO members and friends assembled at the entrance to the St. Clair National Wildlife Refuge for a 7 a.m. start. Shortly after the appointed time the group set forth along the dyke walking trail. The heat and high humidity created heat distortions which made distant birds hard to distinguish for the whole day. Numerous Common Moorhens were seen along the edges of the various pools while the calls of Pied-billed Grebes came from deep in the marsh. Numerous Least Bitterns were heard calling and several were seen sitting on or flying over  the cattails. One bird flew in and disappeared into the cattails within 40 feet of the group by the lookout tower. The complete dyke trail was walked and then the group returned to the parking lot by walking the road along the south side of the marsh and back via the refuge access road. No Yellow-headed Blackbirds were detected this year. On the whole walk only one tern was seen, one solitary Black Tern. Warbling Vireos were very common calling from the willow trees. A Gray Catbird was spotted acting like a mockingbird singing from the top of a house on the TV antenna.

We left the refuge and headed to the coffee shop in Tilbury, where several Chimney Swifts circled overhead. Once the group reassembled we headed towards Wheatley harbour.  Here we were reunited with our president who had gone on ahead and had the gulls already scoped. There were many Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, a few Herring and one Great Black-backed Gull on the rocks and the beach. However the haze made it difficult to determine if any Little or other kinds of gulls were present. A Great Egret put on a good show near the road by the north west corner of the Hillman Marsh.

We continued on towards Point Pelee National Park. The group had lunch at the Sanctuary Picnic grounds. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard by several members. After lunch we headed to the parking lot of the DeLaurier Trail. As we were walking south out of the parking lot an Adult male Orchard Oriole landed near the lead portion of the group and then headed south. In the thickets south of the trail several Yellow-breasted Chats and a Willow Flycatcher could be heard calling but the access birding trail to the south has been closed and we were unable to spot the birds. On a walk around the main portion of the trail another Least Bittern was heard calling from the marsh,  an immature male Orchard Oriole was seen and a Black-billed Cuckoo was heard. In one tree an adult male Orchard Oriole put on a good display while in a tree beside it a co-operative Yellow-billed Cuckoo was plainly seen sitting on a branch out in the open. As we approached the north exit of the trail a White-eyed Vireo was heard calling from the brush while overhead a family of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers could be heard. Several members of this family were finally spotted high up in the tall trees.

Back at the parking lot many members headed their own ways but the diehards headed for Rondeau. At the south east corner of the Hillman Marsh another Great Egret was wading in the shallows. Many, many Double-crested Cormorants were in the trees on the north side of the pond. A male Lesser Scaup was in the water near the parking lot. At Rondeau a Red-headed Woodpecker flew around the snack bar as we had a bit to munch on. While driving through the woods towards the Tulip Tree trail a dead young Fox Snake was spotted alongside the road. Several new species were added to the day's list. Most notable was a calling Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Veery and from back up a slough  came the half-hearted calls of a Prothonotary Warbler from the tangles of the numerous trees that had fallen in last summer's wind storm. We broke up around 7:30 pm after finding 85 species on perhaps the hottest day of the year.