On an Autumn birding drive Oct 28th 7, we were a little dissapointed by the lack of inactivity but the spectacular autumn scenery made up for it. We hit the McGregor Park’s Observation platform where we spotted quite a nice bunch of bird species of which: 2 Kingfishers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 4 Greater Yellowlegs, a pair of Short Billed Dowitchers, 1 Pied Grebe, a pair of Wood Ducks. Not bad!
As we drove to our fave place (a barn) towards Hwy 21, looking for the Northern Shrike we’d seen there before, turned not to be there this time. However further along crossing Hwy 21, he spotted some Horned Larks, I didn’t see them so it doesn’t count. On the same corner we did see a bunch of Pine Siskins and a whole lot of American Tree Sparrows. I hope they’ll come to my feeder this winter. On our way home towards The Bruce we spotted several Harriers flying and hovering over fields and as we drove onto my fave ‘not winterized’ road towards Hwy 6, I spotted a very unusual ‘Cat Bird’ turning out to be a Rusty Blackbird. The yellow eye and various coloured wing markings gave it away. We ended up at Sauble Beach where I took command of my SUV and proceeded to drive my partner crazy as I flew through all the runoffs, creating such a spray of water that my dogs in the back got soaked. Out of nowhere we spotted 5 beautiful little Plowers which I determine are Semipalmated in their winter plumage. Wow what a find! Getting back home we have our usual suspects as in Woodpeckers, Downy and Hairy and the Fox Sparrows are back as are the Nuthatches, White and Red Breasted and so on. If anyone is interested in joining us on another jaunt around the Bruce ... email me.
