Beachcombing For Shorebirds

For any birder, spring migration is the greatest time of year. The sight of so many birds moving through one area on route to their breeding grounds is truly remarkable. I consider myself a shorebird fanatic and particularly enjoy searching area beaches for the wide variety of these birds that make their way across Southwestern Ontario each spring.

IMG 4221 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — **Whimbrel** **are** **a large shorebird with long legs and a long down-curved bill.**

Last week, I devoted an entire day to finding and photographing as many shorebirds as I could with hopes of locating one of my favourites, the Whimbrel. Whimbrel typically move through our area around the Victoria Day Long Weekend give or take a few days and are regularly found on beaches, piers, and breakwaters along the north shore of Lake Erie.

IMG 4106 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***A Dunlin foraging in the shallow water of the shorebird cell at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area.***

I planned my day in advance and decided to begin at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area east of Leamington, Ontario. After completing a hike around the conservation area, my idea was to drive east along the Lake Erie shoreline to Port Stanley, Ontario making several stops along the way at various ports, harbours, and other points of access to the lake. The light south breeze off the lake forecast for this day would not only provide comfortable birding conditions, it should also help propel shorebirds down the lake making for an excellent day.

IMG 4002 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Several muskrats were observed feeding on vegetation as I made my way around the conservation area.***

Arriving at Hillman Marsh shortly after 8 a.m. I was greeted by the sounds of a Grey Catbird, several Yellow Warblers, and a Red-eyed Vireo. After grabbing my camera, binoculars, and applying insect repellant I made my way to the shorebird cell located within the conservation area. Scanning the shallow pond with my binoccualrs, I could see an assortment of shorebirds probing their bills into the mud as they foraged away. Shorebirds noted here were:

Dunlin
Black-bellied Plover
Least Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper

IMG 4052 Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Loud splashes could be heard as Carp were busy spawning in the various ponds.***

Several species of waterfowl were also observed in the shorebird cell and included:

Canada Goose
Mallard
Northern Shoveller
Blue Winged Teal
Gadwall
Trumpeter Swan

IMG 4021 Edit 2 - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Great Egret***

Satisfied with my observations, I decided to walk the roughly 5 km trail encompassing the conservation area to see what else I could find. In the back section of the property, I observed a juvenile Bald Eagle as it landed in a mature tree located on the water’s edge. From a tall viewing tower a Great Egret was seen wading in front of the emergent vegetation on the far side of the pond.

IMG 4142 - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Sandhill Cranes flying high overhead.***

Songbirds present in good numbers at Hillman Marsh were Eastern Kingbirds and Common Yellowthroats. Of course, no visit to any wetland in May would be complete without observing dozens of Red-winged Blackbirds. As I made my way back to my car, a pair of Sandhill Cranes passed by overhead.

IMG 4241 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Whimbrel* *were among the many shorebirds* *observed on the beach at Wheatley Harbour.***

Having completed the trail at Hillman Marsh, I drove east along Lakeshore Dive to Wheatley Harbour. Parking on the east side of the harbour I slowly made my way out to the beach. Mixed in with a large flock of Ring-billed Gulls I could see three buff, long-legged, shorebirds, with long down-curved bills, key characteristics of Whimbrel. Not wanting to spook the birds, I stayed low and did not approach too closely.

IMG 4177 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Whimbrel*** ***are*** ***similar in body size to a Ring-billed Gull with long legs and a long bill.***

By this time it was late morning and the sun was positioned high in the southern sky which meant I would be shooting directly into it. It’s always best to have the sun at your back when taking photos, but with roughly 60 miles of lake in front of me, my options were limited. In order to properly expose the Whimbrel and avoid silhouettes, I increased my exposure compensation to +1. Lake Erie was a beautiful shade of turquoise blue on this day providing an excellent background.

IMG 4449 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Sanderling on the beach in Wheatley, Ontario***

After capturing several images of the Whimbrel a fish tug entered the harbour from out on the lake. As the boat reversed hard at dockside, the diesel engine roared scaring the flock of gulls and three Whimbrel from the beach, At first it looked like the Whimbrel were going to land on the rock breakwater just offshore but instead continued in a westerly direction out of sight. With the beach now void of birds, it was time to head back to the car for a sandwich and wait and see if more shorebirds would show up.

IMG 4205 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — **Several flocks of shorebirds including these Semipalmated Sandpipers were observed making their way along the north shore of Lake Erie.**

Following a quick lunch break, I ventured back out on the beach hoping for more shorebirds to arrive. To my delight, a small flock of mixed shorebirds containing Dunlin, Black-bellied Plover, and Ruddy Turnstones made their way past. Shortly after that, a flock of Semipalmated Sandpipers flew by. Unfortunately, none of these birds landed but I managed a few images as they flew past.

IMG 4467 Edit Edit 2 - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***Remarkable views of this Ruddy Turnstone were achieved at Wheatley harbour.***

As I was getting ready to leave and continue on to my next location, several Sanderling landed within a few feet of where I was sitting on the beach. I watched as these birds foraged and bathed where the water met the sand. Seconds later a Ruddy Turnstone landed joining the group of Sanderling. With my camera still set to +1 exposure compensation, I enjoyed fantastic views and captured several images of these beautiful shorebirds.

IMG 4404 Edit Edit - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — **Whimbrel in flight.**

As it was now afternoon, I decided it was time to carry on as I still had several locations I wanted to check on my indirect way back to London. While walking across the beach to my car a small flock of 14 Whimbrel passed by. Shortly thereafter, a much larger flock which I estimate to be well over 100 birds made their way toward the beach. These Whimbrel were looking to land amongst the large flock of Ring-billed Gulls, which were now positioned further east down the beach after being dispersed by the fish tug. It was evident that these birds were wary of my presence and reluctant to land. Some touched down briefly while others kept circling without landing. Knowing how far these birds travel during their migration and that they were likely hungry and exhausted, I could not watch them circle any longer, so I vacated the beach hoping they would land. Before I could make it to my car the birds disappeared out of sight to the east.

IMG 4502 - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***This large flock of Whimbrel was observed in a cornfield west of John E. Pearce Provincial on Lakeview Line.***

Leaving Wheatley, I continued east following the Lake Erie shoreline making several stops along the way. At the various beaches, more shorebirds were observed. As I made my way down Lakeview Line just west of John E. Pearce Provincial Park, I noticed a large flock of birds out in a field. Recognizing that these birds were too small to be Canada Geese and knowing that geese are typically paired off raising young at this time of year and not found in large flocks, I pulled over for a closer look. With the aid of binoculars, I could see this was a large flock of Whimbrel, perhaps the same flock I had seen earlier in Wheatley.

IMG 4641 Edit 2 Edit 3 - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***In breeding plumage, Dunlin* *are* *easily identified by their rusty backs and black bellies.***

Next stop was Port Stanley, Ontario. As I searched the main beach and pier area, I was treated to great views of Dunlin. Having had an excellent day birding and the fact it was approaching the dinner hour, I packed up my gear and headed back to London.

IMG 4628 Edit Edit 1 - Beachcombing For Shorebirds — ***This Dunlin was forced to take flght as a small wave broke on shore.***

Even though the big flocks of shorebirds have already moved through our area, great views can still be achieved at area beaches. The north shore of Lake Erie is obviously one of my favourites, but similar success can be achieved along any of the Great Lakes throughout the first few weeks of June. If you can, plan your visit on a weekday before school ends, which will result in beaches that are less crowded resulting in more shorebirds.

In Southwestern Ontario, we are fortunate to be surrounded by the Great Lakes and their beautiful beaches. Birding on these beaches can be quite rewarding and now is the perfect time to get out there and take advantage of these opportunities.

Good birding,
Paul

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Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands

When it comes to shorebirds many species begin their fall migration in late June with Least Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs being the first to make their way south. As summer progresses, shorebird numbers steadily increase throughout Southwestern Ontario and by August shorebirds can be found in large concentrations throughout our area. Consequently, this is when I begin my search of area drainage ponds, sewage lagoons, and wetlands hoping to observe and photograph these long distance migrants.

pect - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **This Pectoral Sandpiper was among the many shorebirds I recently observed at the West Perth Wetlands**

One of my favourite places to observe shorebirds is the West Perth Wetlands located in Mitchell, Ontario. A series of shallow ponds and exposed mudflats provides an ideal habitat for shorebirds looking to rest and feed as they migrate south. Navigating around the wetland is quite easy thanks to a network of meticulously maintained mowed grass trails that sit on top of the berms surrounding each pond. Not only does this make for easy walking, it also provides an excellent vantage point for observing and photographing birds and other wildlife readily located along the edge of each pond. Naturalization of the sloping banks from the top of each berm to the water’s edge has occurred consisting of variety of grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs all of which attract a nice mix of both songbirds and butterflies.

gggggg - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **Lesser Yellowlegs were by far the most abundant shorebird I observed on a recent visit to the West Perth Wetlands.**

After checking eBird and seeing that good numbers of shorebirds had been reported at the West Perth Wetlands, I grabbed my binoculars and camera and made the one hour drive from London hoping to observe some of these birds. Upon arriving at the wetlands, I could hear the echoing calls of several birds coming from the other side of the berm as I strapped on my camera and binoculars. Following the trail from the parking lot up onto the berm the first pond came into sight, and so too did a large flock of shorebirds.

kd - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **Shorebirds at the West Perth Wetlands are always on the move, providing excellent opportunities for flight shots.**

Raising my binoculars and scanning the first pond, it became evident that Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs were the most abundant of the shorebirds as dozens of these birds could be seen foraging on the large mudflat in the centre of the pond. After observing these birds for several minutes, I began to circle the pond in hopes of locating more shorebirds.

chick - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **While some shorebirds have already started to migrate, others including Killdeer are still raising their broods. This young Killdeer was one of three observed.**

As I made my way down the trail I observed a lone Killdeer watching over three small chicks. In my opinion, you can’t find a cuter baby bird than a Killdeer. These tiny balls of fluff were a treat to watch as they foraged in the mud and waded in the shallow water.

gbh - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **Great Blue Heron**

Coming to the end of the pond, I scanned through the abundance of vegetation with my binoculars and counted the heads of four Great Blue Herons. I decided that if I made my way to the other side of the pond I would be able to get an unobstructed view of at least three of the birds. As I rounded the corner a fifth heron flew in from the east. I raised my camera and captured several images of the bird before it landed in the middle of the pond.

shorebirds - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — This image demonstrates the wide variety of shorebirds I observed at the West Perth Wetlands. From front to back are Spotted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, and Lesser Yellowlegs. In the upper left corner of the frame just in front of the green vegetation is a Least Sandpiper.

Continuing east deeper into the wetland, I came to the second pond. As I looked down at a small section of mud bank in the near corner of the pond, I was treated to an extraordinary view of four shorebirds perfectly lined up from smallest to largest. Fortunately these birds were not moving around too much and I was able to capture several images of this unique scene. As mentioned, Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs were the most prevalent shorebirds present on my visit, but I was also treated to exceptional views of Spotted Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, and Solitary Sandpipers.

cy - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **This male Common Yellowthroat was one of two warbler species observed.**

The West Perth Wetlands is a great place to bird and not just for shorebirds. Songbirds are also plentiful in the mixed habitat within and surrounding the wetland. Warblers including Yellow and Common Yellowthroat were both observed. Other notable species observed included an Eastern Meadowlark, Chimney Swifts, and two Green Herons. Cedar Waxwings and American Goldfinches were plentiful in the row of evergreens located at the southeast end of the property.

mobo - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **Monarch Butterflies were the most abundant butterfly observed around the wetland.**

A collection of butterflies were also observed, and to my delight Monarchs were the most abundant. Swallowtails, Viceroys, and both American and Painted Lady were all photographed. Dragon and Damselflies were present in good numbers with a variety of each observed.

drag - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **This male Widow Skimmer was one of the many dragonflies observed at the West Perth Wetlands.**

The West Perth Wetlands really is an impressive place to get out and enjoy nature. Whether you are searching for birds, insects, reptiles or amphibians there is something for everyone. One non nature observation I made that I think is worth sharing is that of a gentleman using an electric mobility device to get around the wetland, demonstrating that the well-maintained grass tails are accessible to everyone. If you are searching for a fully accessible location for birding, the West Perth Wetlands is a great option.

killll - Shorebirds Abound At The West Perth Wetlands — **This Killdeer was one of dozens recently observed at the West Perth Wetlands.**

Throughout August and September, look for shorebird numbers to increase further in Southwestern Ontario as they make make their way south. Area wetlands, sewage lagoons, and stormwater management ponds area all great places to observe shorebirds as they are drawn to these habitats to rest and feed. If you are looking for a place where great views of an abundance of shorebirds can be obtained, I highly recommend a visit to the West Perth Wetlands.

Good birding,
Paul

Good Birding Report: London, Ontario
April 21 – 29, 2016

yrw - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the first of the warblers to return to our area each spring**.

Late April and early May is my absolute favourite time of year to get out birding. It is an exciting time of year as spring migration starts to pick up, and we birders see an incredible number of first of year species. Each time I venture out, I know there is the possibility to see a bird that I have not seen since last fall. This is what motivates me, and can often keep me out in the field for hours at a time. This past week did not disappoint, as I observed many first of year species, and of course many of the ones I had previously observed this year.

pw - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Late April and early May is when many migratory birds return to our area including the Palm Warbler**.

The week started out with my first warbler of the year. It came as no surprise it was a Yellow-rumped. These birds have the shortest migration distance to reach our area of any warbler and are always the first to return each spring. Other warblers observed this past week included: Pine, Yellow, and Palm. All in all it was a pretty good week for warblers given it is still the end of April. Expect the number and variety of warblers to increase substantially over the coming weeks. The lack of leaf cover currently on the trees makes finding and photographing these small, fast moving birds less of challenge.

tree - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **I have been observing Tree Swallows in our area for several weeks now, including this pair I photographed today** .

Other than Tree Swallows, I had not observed any other swallows to date until this week. I am happy to report that Northern Rough-winged, Bank, and Barn Swallows have all returned to the Forest City. It is especially great to see Bank and Barn Swallows as these birds are currently listed as at risk in Ontario. The quick aerial maneuvers of any swallow are a treat to watch as they capture insects on the fly.

rws - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Northern Rough-winged Swallow in flight**.

Other first of year species for me this week were the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Blue-headed Vireo. Blue-gray Gnatcatchers can be a tricky bird to locate, but fortunately their nasally zee call will help give away their location. If you hear their call, look up as these birds typically forage on insects high overhead. Blue-headed Vireos are the first of the vireos to return each year and can be found in the same deciduous habitats as warblers and gnatcatchers.

gc - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **For me listening for the call of the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is the easiest way to locate this bird**.

Watermark - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Among the vireos, the Blue-headed Vireo is the first to appear in late April**.

A few first of year shorebirds were also observed this past week with the Spotted Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs added to my list. While many shorebirds tend to be found along the beaches of the Great Lakes during migration, others are equally at home along small ponds and rivers. Pay close attention to muddy or sandy shorelines along any body of water if you wish to find these birds.

spot - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **The Spotted Sandpiper, a small shorebird, can be found along riverbanks and pond edges throughout our area**.

I am still waiting to see my first Baltimore Oriole and Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the year. I have heard several reports of them in our immediate area, but they have eluded me so far. If you haven’t already, make sure both your oriole and hummingbird feeders are out, and the nectar is fresh. These birds will show up in good numbers any day now. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, another spring favourite of birders and non-birders alike, have been reported in our area, but I have not laid eyes on one yet. Grosbeaks are particularly fond of both black oil sunflower and safflower seed, so keep your feeders full. Like orioles and hummingbirds, grosbeak numbers will increase any day now.

Saturday looks like a beautiful day to get out birding and there are many great places within the city to bird. Remember a few things before you head out. Most of these returning birds consume insects, so look for them where food is abundant. I have the greatest success locating these birds in protected areas out of the wind, where there is the highest concentration of insects. Birds are most active first thing in the morning, making this the best time to head out.

palm - Good Birding Report: London, Ontario <br> April 21 - 29, 2016 — **Palm Warbler**

Birds typically migrate at night, with many of these migrants actively feeding at first light to replenish spent energy after their long journey. With this in mind, carefully plan your route before heading out. If you have the option to, start at the east end of the trail and walk west. This will put the sun at your back, illuminating the birds and avoiding silhouettes. This makes observation and identification much easier, and provides the best light for photographs.

We are in for some great birding action over the coming weeks. If you get the opportunity, head to your favourite park, ESA, or other natural area, and take in the beautiful sights and sounds of spring migration.

Good birding,
Paul

Migration Underway As Shorebirds Move Across The Area

Despite the fact that fall is still more than seven weeks away, it is time to start thinking migration. Many birds, including shorebirds, begin to migrate across our area as early as August. Several sightings have been reported already from around the area; I personally have noticed an increase in Yellowlegs within London, making now the perfect time to get out and search for these early migrants.

With shorebirds having already begun their journey south, there are several locations in and around the Forest City where they can be readily observed. The Coves, located only minutes from the city’s core, is an excellent place to view shorebirds as they stop over to rest and feed. With the lack of rainfall this summer, water levels are currently low; this provides shallow water and exposed muddy flats, the perfect habitat for shorebirds. Spotted Sandpipers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, as well as Solitary Sandpipers are among the species readily observed at The Coves.

Great Egrets frequently stop over at The Coves during August, making it one of the best locations in the city to view these beautiful birds. I recommend weekly visits to The Coves this month, as more birds will show up as the season progresses. To access The Coves, turn onto Greenside Avenue from Springbank Drive. Parking is available at the side of the road. From there, it is a short walk back to Springbank Drive where excellent views of The Coves can be taken in from the sidewalk on both sides of the street. There is a traffic light at the intersection of Greenside Avenue and Springbank Drive, making crossing the four lanes quite easy and much safer.

Solitary Sadpiper - Migration Underway As Shorebirds Move Across The Area — This Solitary Sandpiper was observed from Springbank Drive in London, Ontario as it foraged in the shallow water of The Coves.

Several of the newer subdivisions in the city have stormwater management ponds within them. These too are excellent areas to locate shorebirds within the city. Take a look at a map of London for some of these newly created ponds mostly on the corners of the city. A short car ride to these locations can often yield great results. One pond in particular that seems to attract a variety of shorebirds, herons, kingfishers, and even egrets is located behind the Canadian Tire store on Wonderland Road. Be sure to make these small, man made ponds, a part of your fall birding, as they can provide a temporary home for several species.

Venturing out of London can also be very rewarding for observing shorebirds. One of my favourite locations is the Port Stanley sewage lagoons. This area is birder friendly with two observation towers overlooking the four ponds. Several species of shorebird can be observed foraging along the muddy banks from the elevated towers. Birds at this location are not viewed as close as at other locations, so be sure to take binoculars or a spotting scope. To get to the Pot Stanley lagoons, follow Highway 4 south to the town of Port Stanley. Once you arrive in town, turn right on Warren Street (the first street on your right at the baseball diamond). Proceed through the four way stop (here Warren Street turns into Lake Line). Continue on Lake Line to the top of the hill, and make a right on Scotch Line. Follow the bend in the road and you will see the first of the two observation towers on your left.

Lesser Yellowlegs - Migration Underway As Shorebirds Move Across The Area — Lesser Yellowlegs are one of the most abundant shorebirds observed in our area during migration.

Other popular area spots for observing shorebirds, although longer drives, are the sewage lagoons located on Pike Road in Strathroy, Ontario and the West Perth Wetlands on Frank Street in Mitchell, Ontario. The West Perth Wetlands often attract the widest variety and less common shorebirds, making it well worth the one hour drive from London.

Having success locating shorebirds is very much dependent on water levels. These birds require shallow water with exposed mud or sand for feeding. Too much water and shorebirds simply will not be present. As mentioned previously, water levels at many locations are currently ideal for attracting shorebirds. Having said that, venturing out to find shorebirds after a moderate rain can be quite successful. As the fresh rain is absorbed into the muddy flats, many of the invertebrates that shorebirds feed on are forced to the surface creating a feeding frenzy.

Great Egret - Migration Underway As Shorebirds Move Across The Area — Great Egrets can be observed while searching area ponds for shorebirds.

Shorebirds are among the most difficult when it comes to identification. Many birders struggle to identify the different species that make up this group of birds. Adding to the confusion at this time of year is the addition of juvenile birds, as well as those transitioning from breeding to winter plumage. Remember to observe the subtle differences in field marks when trying to identify shorebirds. Pay close attention to size, leg colour, bill length, as well as any distinct plumage features to assist with identification. Managing a quick photo, even a low quality one, can often lead to proper identification upon returning home. If you have a photo of a bird you are having difficulty identifying, feel free to contact me. I am always happy to help fellow birders with identification.

Although it does not garner quite as much hype as spring migration, fall migration is an exciting time of year. Large concentrations of birds can be observed in rather small areas, providing excellent views and photographic opportunities. If you are like me and keep a life and year list, the large number of shorebirds can boost your totals fast. With their long legs and bills, plus their unique behaviour, shorebirds are among the most interesting birds to observe. Take the time this month to get out to some of these area hotspots, and enjoy the beautiful shorebirds that are passing through our area.

Good birding,
Paul