Winter Solstice 2025 Trip to Lambton Shores

 This year it has seemed like winter came early. We have had our share of snow and freezing rain and extreme wind chills!  Today it was -7 with a windchill of -14 with NW winds of 22/31 when my new friend Ronny and I set out for Lambton Shores.  I run into Ronny the Rooster occasionally in the field and I mentioned at one time that I was interested in the Pine Grosbeaks that have been sighted, but that I hadn't been able to get a photo of.  He had never seen one before and he was keen on accompanying me.  

I have seen the PIGR twice this year, the conditions were not right and I was not fast enough for a photo.  It is an irruption year for winter finches, Pine Grosbeaks, Red Crossbills, White Winged Crossbills, Pine Siskin, Evening Grosbeak, Bohemian Waxwings and earlier the Red Breasted Nuthatches moved south quite a bit. An irruption is when the cones and seeds in the north are not good and they follow the food south where our cone crop has been excellent.  The PIGR were a lifer for me before I saw them at the MNR parking lot in Ipperwash in October.   I have been going back every weekend since to see if I could get a photo, and it is just a magical place.  I told Ronny that it was not guaranteed and that Mother Nature holds no promises and he gets that.  

We headed out from Reece's Corners, scanning the fields for Snowy Owls (it is a good year for them this year as well, as they had a good breeding season). Snow buntings and other birds.  

Our first stop was Kettle Point where we saw at least 8 Bald Eagles on the ice shelf.  It is a different place in the winter and we did mostly car birding, though Ronny who is an awesome wildlife photographer, went down to the waters edge to get some video.  He has given me permission to use some photos from his video for my blog.

Ronny's from vid

Next we went to the MNR parking lot which was very icy.  We travelled along the Winterberry Holly trail where the Pine Grosbeak have been seen.  It is a gorgeous trail and well worth the walk.  We didn't see the birds there but we saw 3 gorgeous Robins having a munch on the berries.

Ronny's from vid

Ronny's from vid

We walked the beach as their had been sightings of Bohemian Waxwings there.  It was very windy and it seemed like all of the birds were hunkered down!  We went on our way to Pinery Provincial Park.  We went to the Visitor Centre where I bought my annual pass, and just so happened to run into the best birder in Lambton County and his wife and dog.  We had a nice chat and watched the birds at the feeder. The chickadees near the visitor centre are very bold and habituated to people.  When we walked up the boardwalk the chickadees were landing on my head and camera.  I asked Ronny to take a photo with my cell phone of me with the chickadees, but the moment had passed, I still like the photo. 

Ronny's from my cell

Ronny's still

 We then moved on to Beach 9 where we were hoping to get some Bohemian Waxwings.  We watched the sweet Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Nuthatches and I heard a Winter Wren.  Again we headed down to the beach and it was pretty quiet.  It was getting later in the afternoon and we thought we'd head home.  Ronny wanted to check Kettle Point again and we were pleased to see a large flock of Common Goldeneye!  Ronny said that this was the best video of Goldeneye that he's ever shot.  He videoed them from take off to flying, circling and landing.  All of this while a loose German Shephard was barking at him (we were on the public road by Pat's Point but the dog thought we were too close)  Ronny's patience and persistence and instinct for what would  make an awesome natural history moment paid off.  He was patting the dog at the end!  Kettle Point is a 1st nation reserve and we all need to respect and show grace when we visit there.  There have been times when birders do not seem welcome there, but Ronny has a good relationship with the locals and there were no issues.  We did not go out onto the shoals, just the edge of the road and the area across the road from the Elder's Lodge.  

Ronnys video

Ronny's from vid

KP Elder's Lodge

Ebird trip report