Mega Rarity - Thedford Ontario

I was able to get to the Thedford Sewage Lagoon in Lambton County, May 4, 2022 to view the Mega Rarity Marsh Sandpiper.  It was found by birder James Holdsworth. It was at the far north end of the lagoon feeding with the Lesser Yellowlegs.  The Marsh Sandpiper is paler than the Yellowlegs with a long thin bill.  I didn't see it in flight.  It was feeding like crazy.  I had a good view through my scope but too far away for a photo.  The Marsh Sandpiper has never been seen in Ontario or even Canada.  It's common in Europe and Asia and migrates to Africa, India and Australia. 

Later during the time I was there, a fog developed over the lagoon and it was impossible to see it plus all the other birds.  There were some Green-winged Teals, Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs, and Trumpeter Swans which is all I can identify as the fog got worse.   

Trumpeter Swans

Lesser Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

The fog (Green-winged Teals)

May 5, 2022 - Kains Woods

Skunk Cabbage

Yellow Trout Lily

This is my first butterfly of the season (May 5)

Cabbage White

The Coves and Uplands North Wetland - London, Ontario

Last week, I went to the Coves to see what was around.  A nice row of Wood Ducks were on a fallen tree.

Wood Ducks

Double-crested Cormorant

There were 5 Great Blue Herons.

Great Blue Heron

Solitary Sandpiper

I also saw Mallards, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, American Goldfinches, Black-capped Chickadees, and a White-breasted Nuthatch.

I checked out Greenway Park.  It is still hard to see the river from all the trees and bushes but I found one little opening to see a Great Egret.

Great Egret

At Uplands North Wetland, the water is very low.  There is a large mudflat which the Killdeers, Least Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs like.  A lot of Mourning Doves were on the trees.  At one point, they all took flight and I noticed a Cooper's Hawk came flying in.

Cooper's Hark

I have seen up to 14 Great Egrets together in the middle of the swamp.

Great Egrets

Some shorebirds were also around.  Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeers, and Least Sandpipers.

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs 

As the morning sun warmed the wetland, Painted Turtles started crawling out of the mucky water.  I counted up to 12 at one time.

Green Heron