This morning when I posted I lamented how, despite excellent conditions, the rare birds were just not showing up at the Tilbury lagoons. I did have an American Avocet there early in July, but ever since then the rarest birds have been the regular Long-billed Dowitchers.
It seems that for today at least, the curse was slightly broken. While no rarities were found, there was a huge change in the numbers and diversity at Tilbury with a few interesting birds mixed in. Beforehand, let me mention that the quality of the photos leave something to desire. The birds were a little too far away for me to use the 300mm, so I resorted to digiscoping with my 18-55 lens.
My coworker, Matt, and I took a break from work and made the quick trip over to the lagoons. One of the first birds we saw was this Horned Grebe, hanging out with a couple of Pied-billed Grebes. What a weird sighting! I have never seen one at the lagoons. It almost seems that an Eared Grebe would have been more likely.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZcyMNxA4l-mjDnd-5Xmi_e1Cc-lGErTSnL8yj6eIh2YQgnfAyjQzblNRqvCWw8v-QT95Y75I2cj-QmuA8vB0n3jsYGNXBftr_hMM3JD0JrfF4MuvAeNbc0F-jgEqsZXRy8kyVuaZqu5ee/s640/DSC_0014.jpg) |
Horned Grebe - Tilbury lagoons |
Around this time, another car pulled in and I realized it was my friends Ken and Mike Burrell. They were doing a big loop of the southern Ontario shorebird spots and had already seen an Upland Sandpiper at Mitchell and 2 Red-necked Phalaropes at Exeter. Together, the 4 of us scoped the "shorebird cell" at Tilbury with a few highlights.
This juvenile Red-necked Phalarope stood out and was one of the first birds I looked at. I nice surprise, and a new one for my Tilbury list (as well as Ontario year list, but who's counting).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf_qMsg_w-MtcCQyStk3KYexbala1Ari20CW55wKtL03ouyjA3VaRZ5fAB5xl9kIK0nbUL_qExemzoeT0VGonV5TPQdf4h8CSguORrVfKJPPH854-PRDSDoZ29luZ7QEipCwUG4eqsGDFG/s640/DSC_0035.jpg) |
juvenile Red-necked Phalarope - Tilbury lagoons |
Stilt Sandpipers had arrived. Earlier in the fall I had seen 1 or 2 adults, but today 3 juveniles were present. Neat looking birds, and one of my favorites.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3gE_U369Q79dKtrj1zmgsGyOE4MGqf5DeZZLS8F-6z3pjqMBJtmV_P4jCbG_p1khpjUW_fHg62ObKbgW4BWKLtzQEzBrF2zWLyNcz3dDhEctj-VH7ntPDidUO0GbCkGael4WE2luLcri/s640/DSC_0047.jpg) |
juvenile Stilt Sandpiper - Tilbury lagoons |
I was happy to finally see a few Baird's Sandpipers at Tilbury - the first ones of the fall for me here. They were both juveniles.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNoMScd4QMuI7Cy6FlAcxwCtCs9YA1YMI4CQh02m5SFoT5wIgrxi78pGB7DwWwyR7MCJvVLxcx52HqoIDyDQUJsNhRuVFs0FwLvfmwUqT_lhyWCbDPthAXiM5_X5dLz5dGmm81bCk7niV/s640/DSC_0057.jpg) |
juvenile Baird's Sandpiper - Tilbury lagoons |
Of course there were still Dowitchers - 3 adult Long-billed, and the rest juvenile and adult Short-billed. Some of the Long-billed Dowitchers were quite far along in their prebasic molt. No pics today.
Other birds seen include 14 Great Egrets (a lot less than the 40 Blake had!), 2 Black-crowned Night-herons, both species of Teal, 5 Northern Shovelers, and 8 Wood Ducks.
This afternoon I brought my camera into the field with me in case I came across any butterflies. I found a few Fiery Skippers and an un-IDed Duskywing. My guess is Wild Indigo.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ02tLeMZZJfx3eKJGXbPfbHXtaz64phO7GzoNrOyOTyIi0SOS4MdYpN4BdNAivQBCG7FVEC-liCLCdlMzMfS2SaybrPfJVatzi4gFGxPFcXtzhuK0Q_ezTLMFMH_EaDtBCCjHn_2XS3V3/s640/DSC_0099.jpg) |
female Fiery Skipper - Turkey Creek, Windsor |
I kind of like this shot of a Viceroy on the gravel path.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyckcI_YZJ87MIp_6HvCAy4cGgozagsJyRvTLAI9N2vG_BXbMPY9ynvrnNZ1P2oIy_XDGw99wHClffQGjZ3cDmdfZnX2-4kPxG2Cx3PRnJdA-KiYyjH-hbbbEeXc0nV-vLxhGR8G-nQERU/s640/DSC_0129.jpg) |
Viceroy - Turkey Creek, Windsor |
This mama and her two fauns kept an eye on me as I approached.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRnX_9NIGSiUwbH7QbIsHOf9oWycyQr-fpN29vK4qKUFMwmW51RHHPJPxC0ggK9SNAXc6Ss86i1oIJqhETa9RgEBdifx3R_CrljG80IOdLz7Jj49moHg5jLBbff39kdWWs95IkA1AEUHKJ/s640/DSC_0090.jpg) |
White-tailed Deer - Turkey Creek, Windsor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwpLQvrmerWlTOBf5j19DMSbnOCzi9WA_X216K2ETnLCeI_eb90iukaCUh7qSlRFjEmY0vPeyaM_bsdEzfkhXO87oUcXYqgld44nzy52-2W8Yrki2PKMsmX-MZm0TJK7tK-K8Q_tNhYvCh/s640/DSC_0081.jpg) |
White-tailed Deer - Turkey Creek, Windsor |
That's all for now. I am hoping to go to Pelee first thing tomorrow, or at the very least Tilbury again.