OFO Lambtons Shores trip 2025

 It was a rainy, extremely windy sw (28Km/h with gusts of 39 and 52 in the afternoon).  We were all sent emails the previous day to gauge interest, 13 of us out of 24 still wanted to brave the conditions.

We met our fearless leader Dana Latour and her Dad Tony at the Sobey's parking lot in Grand Bend.  It had been raining off and on since 6am.  We gathered for a group photo and decided not to check out the brush behind the store as in past years it has been good for sparrows.  Sean and I head and saw a commotion, a group of crows were mobbing a grey blob in the tree.  The bird was flushed, a blocky grey raptor, a Great Horned Owl!  Our 1st good bird of the day!

We grouped up to car pool and I brought another birder and we ventured to the Grand Bend Beach. It was pretty quiet with some Bonaparte's gulls along with the regulars.  

We moved on to Kettle Point.  The shoals were pretty quiet and we were getting pretty blasted by winds.  We decided to move down to Elder's lodge where we got some good looks at some pretty decent peeps.  3 Wilson's Snipe, Sanderling, Dunlin, Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpiper, along with a lifer for me White Rumped Sandpiper!  The shorbs were Black bellied Plover, Killdeer and Greater Yellowlegs!  We spend a great deal of time on what we thought was a White Rumped Sandpiper (it wasnt) as it was the only very tiny peep with white underparts, as it was dull and rainy and the bird wasn't moving much, it was challenging.  James was there at the same time (according to his checklist) and he didn't see it, so not sure if it will be accepted, though the entire group got good looks. We could not locate the Trumpeter Swans that he did, so he likely went to different spots.  There was a bush beside this area that was loaded with sparrows! American tree, Chipping, Swamp, White throated and Song, all seen and heard by the group.  I decided to leave my camera in the car as the conditions were so poor, though others may have gotten some photos?



By then we all needed a break so it was decided to head to the Timmie's in Forest.  As my partner and I approached we noticed that it was closed, only open for take out as it was being renovated.  We made the executive decision to head into town to the Library.  We both only needed to use the facilities,  I have fond memories of this library as I worked there for a couple of years pre Covid, and my old friend Jess gave us a warm welcome and let us use the loo.  The library looks very different, it used to have alot of history and warmth but now it looks very corporate.  



I let Anita know that I used to walk to the sewage lagoons before my shift as you can access it from the LSNT trail behind the library.  Today we chose to drive around to Brush line to access it.  What a surprise for us when we saw hundreds of gulls on the fields and on the road on Brush line.  I slowed so we could get some good looks and were pleased to see some Lesser Black backed Gulls along with the Herring and Ring Billed!  Our best bird of the day!  We walked on the lagoon road and ate our lunch as we waited for the rest of the group.  I checked my phone and Dana let me know that after the Timmie's fiasco the group decided to go back to the Pinery and not visit the Lagoons at all!  What a shame as they missed an excellent birding opportunity!  Hundreds of ducks and other waterfowl!  We only stayed a little while, but we got on Ruddy Duck, Northern Pintail, Mallards and lots of Canada Geese.  I really wish Dana was with us she is excellent at identifying waterfowl.  I left my scope in the car as we were only making a short visit.  Oh well.




Back to the Pinery and I picked up Dave's speaker that he left behind during the Convention.  We made it to the VC just as the group was leaving!  We went with them to the beach were we did a Lakewatch.  Lots of moving Greater Scaup going south!  The rain had lessened then stopped, but the winds intensified.  It was nice to gather at the end of the day before we all dispersed.  

All in all, considering the conditions, it was a good day!  And its always good to meet new friends and see some familiar faces!  Now home for a hot shower!

ebird trip report

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