August 30th 2016
Location: Robertson Tract & Hilton Falls
Weather: Pleasant sunny day, with little or no cloud (27C)
| | The fall warblers just keep on coming. First stop today was back to Robertson Tract where the Black & White & Magnolia were spotted, then over to Hilton Falls CA for the remaining birds. The Black-throated Blue Warbler was the highlight of my day for sure. During my 1.5 hours there, I also spotted several other warblers etc, that would peek out for a split second from the dense undergrowth, but not far enough into the open for an ID, or a photograph for that matter. Likely the last entry for the month of August. |
August 29th 2016
Location: Robertson Tract, Halton Region
Weather: Another super day. Sunny but not overly hot
| | Roberson Tract has been one of favoured locations for several weeks now, and although the birds were a tad skittish here, there wasn't much of a shortage on variety. Redstarts, Magnolia Warbler, Yellowthroats, Red-eyed Vireos, Great Crested Flycatcher, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Pewee, Nashville & Black-throated Green Warblers were either seen or photographed . From here we headed to Watson Road, and although not much around we did see Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and a fleeting glimpse of a Black-throated Blue Warbler. |
August 26th 2016
Location: South of Milton area
Weather: Sunny and pretty hot
| | First stop this morning was Robertson Tract, which has been quite productive for me over the last couple of months. This morning was a little quieter than usual, with only a couple of Redstarts around. On my way to my next stop I spotted a Red-tailed Hawk with prey (cool!!) My last stop of the day was Watson Road. Here I had a couple of Chestnut-sided Warblers and a Magnolia Warbler visit for a short time. |
August 23rd & 24th 2016
Location: Algonquin
Weather: Mainly sunny with a little cloud both days (high of 28C)
These, approximately, same dates I was in Algonquin this time last year and had a very productive few days chasing warblers. This year was as good and if not better. I have found that one of the better places to go in Algonquin is the Mizzy Lake Trail along the rail bed section, and of course this is where I headed early Tuesday morning. I had left Kitchener just before 03:00 for the 4 hour drive to the Park. I usually park at the west end of the rail trail which is accessed at the end of Arowhon Road, but still a good 3km hike into the lake section, but better than the alternate 6 or 7 km hike from the Mizzy Lake parking lot.
Almost immediately I was seeing small flocks of Yellow-rumped & Blackburnian Warblers, but like a lot of fall warblers they were more intent on feeding than checking me out. On Tuesday the predominent species were Black-throated Green Warblers and the Yellow-rumped Warblers, but on the Wednesday there was no sightings of the former, and the predominent birds were American Redstarts and Red-eyed & Blue-headed Vireos, neither of which I had seen the previous day mmmm!!
As you can see from the upper galleries there was a good selection of song birds and others sighted ... some photographed some not, but that's how it works sometimes. Only LIfe Bird of the trip was a multiple sighting of Black-backed Woodpeckers (I had two in the same tree along with a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker). The scenery as always was spectacular and I even tried my hand at Milky Way photography which was marginally succesful. Next time I try night sky photography I hopefully will have learned from my mistakes.
August 20th 2016
Location: Milton area
Weather: Slow start to a hot & sunny day
| | I headed out to check a spot that I had good luck at, a month or so back - Hilton Falls. I arrived at 7:00 am to find the gates closed (apparantly they open up at 8:30 (I'm not amused). Anyways to kill an hour I headed to Robertson Tract a couple of miles away and was pleased with the variety of birds - Canada & Magnolia Warblers, Yellowthroat, Redstart, Red-eyed Vireos and the inevitable Catbirds. At 8:30 I headed back to Hilton Falls and again the "Birding Gods" were with me as I was visited at my stakeout by Mourning, Black & White & Blue-winged Warblers, Redstarts and what a lot like a Prothonotary (unlikely, but I'm 90% sure) ... now I'm forced to go back over the next few days :) |
August 15th 2016
Location: Tobermory
Weather: Hot again (I like it)
| | You have to love road trips... I had never been to Tobermory, so why not. The underlying thought was that some of the returning migrants will be on their way so I was "heading them off at the pass" so to speak. Although there were plent of birds there wasn't much variety. Black-throated Green and Redstarts were the predominent species, followed closely by Balck & White Warblers. Almost without exception the birds were skittish and wouldn't allow me to get close enough for quality images, so had to make do with what I got ;) |
August 14th 2016
Location: Silvercreek Conservation Area
Weather: Do you need to ask ... yes HOT
| | Another location, that was based on notes from last year, had me return. Last year at this time I had (based on clues from ebird) found a Black-throated Green Warbler. This year (I get less & less surprised by this) I found a small group of same. As well we had Common Yellowthroat, Red-eyed Vireo, American Redstart and an unphotographed Blackburnian Warbelr. |
August 11th 2016
Location: Milton area (Hummingbirds my back yard)
Weather: Hot (what else ;) )
| | Last year at this time I had a good day on Watson Road, so, as I've always maintained that birds are generally, predictive, I went back to try my luck. I found very quickly a Chestnut-sided Warbler (Last year at this time I found a nest same area)... it pays to keep notes I suppose. When I came home I noticed the hummers were pretty active in my back yard.. I have Trumpet Vines and the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are partial to them. |
August 1st 2016
Location: From Puschlinch to Grimsby
Weather: Continuing hot!
Weather: Continuing hot!
| I've been documenting this blog now for 3 1/2 years and find myself using the history to help decide on where I should be visiting in the ongoing search for wildlife subjects.eg Here are the last (3) Augusts 08/15: http://grenfell.weebly.com/grenfells-blog/archives/08-2015 08/14: http://grenfell.weebly.com/grenfells-blog/archives/08-2014 08/13: http://grenfell.weebly.com/grenfells-blog/archives/08-2013 | Out & about... Started off at Hespeler on Blackbridge Road looking for Kingfishers (nothing), then Gore Road (at Fletcher Creek Ecological Preserve), then down to Grimsby Sewage Lagoons and finally Urquart Biutterfly Gardens in Dundas. As you can see from the pics not much happening. Sunrise was taken on the 4th August just off Gore Road. |
