From the Earth to the Sky

This year I thought I'd attempt a Big Day!  This is where you bird from dawn to dusk on a specific day, ebird set it as October 11 this year.  I was going to go south to Pelee, as I hadn't birded that area since May, but considering the checklists and the fact that we have good birds here in Lambton, I thought I'd bird my home county. I mentioned it to my friend Deryl Nethercott as he is the expert on birding Lambton, especially Canatara Park.  He gave me some great tips and almost a heart attack as he jumped out of a bush in the dark as I was walking around Lake Chipigan!  He says, "Eva!  I'm gonna help you!"  After I recovered and my heart slowed down, I showed my appreciation and we settled in for a 2 hour walk around the park.   The weather was a bit brisk, not as cold as it had been at 8C and overcast.  The first bird that I heard was the Rooster at the Animal farm!  Then the Hermit Thrush and soon many many White Throated Sparrows!...

 Saturday, Oct 4 was a gorgeous, sunny but hot early autumn day at Rondeau PP.  Our fearless leader Peter Sproule led me and 12 other OFO members on a trip around Rondeau.  We started at the visitor centre and walked the beach.  Our first bird of the day was a gorgeous Peregrine Falcon, followed by a Cooper's hawk and Merlin!  Raptor morning!  There were many gulls out on the sandbars, Ring billed and Herring Gulls.  We were pleased to see a juvenile Red headed woodpecker perching high up on a dead tree.   The beach was gorgeous, the water still and placid, and I was surprised to see White Tailed Deer tracks leading into the water, maybe they went for a swim, or  a drink!  It was getting warm at 15 C already and we knew we were in for another unseasonably hot day.  With enough water and sunscreen to get us through, we headed back into the bush where Peter led us on South Point E trail, apparently one of the best birding trails ...

trip report  This past weekend, Sept. 19, 20 and 21 was the Ontario Field Ornithologists Annual Convention and AGM.  This time the southern Ontario version  was in my home community of Lambton County. the northern version was in Timiskaming at Hilliardton Marsh  I was so excited that it was coming here as we have so many wonderful birding opportunities and excellent birders here.  The Ontario Field Ornithologists are a group of amateur and professional ornithologists (birders) who gather together to provide field trips and webinars on the subject of, you guessed it, birds!  Every year at the AGM they honour a Distinguished Ornithologist, this year it was Doug McCrae, very well deserved!  The meeting also hosts a special guest speaker, and of course the meeting.  I must admit I am more interested in the field trips, as I'm not a late night person, but once a year is doable!  They fed us well Friday night at the Dante Club with yummy burgers an...