Saturday April 30, 2022 - London Area Birding

 It was a cool morning and the sun was out when we started birding this morning.

Our first stop was the North Toyota Wetlands.  This is a huge tract of marsh about 10 minutes from Susan's house.  Our first bird there was Cedar Waxwings.  They seemed to be everywhere and we estimated about a flock of 100.  We proceeded down the trails and one of us spotted two flying big birds.  First thought was Double Crested Cormorants, then Jane said 2 American Bittern flying.   fWe did not see them land, they flew over.  

We also saw one of the most troubling birds to see each spring the first time.  It makes on think.... I have seen this one before but what is it.  Yes the female Brown Cowbird.  One our way back we heard and saw Savannah Sparrow.  It had a very bright yellow at the lores.  One last bird here was the Horned Lark in the muddy then grassy area.   

We then drove to the Fanshaw Lake and Golf Club.  From a lookout over Fanshaw Lake we saw two Bald Eagles.up in the sky.  The lake was pretty quiet with several ducks and Double Crested Cormorants swimming around.  

We then headed to the Fanshaw Conservation Area.  This a large area which includes Lake Fanshaw and the hydro electric power dam.  We drove to several areas to look for birds,  We saw an Eastern Phoebe flycatching.  The park had lots of people driving and hiking as it was a perfect spring day.

We went on to the London Flying Club near the London Airport.  There was a Northern Mockingbird reported and we saw it pretty quick.  From here we went to Westminister Lagoons where we saw some ducks and a Common Loon.  From here we drove to the Strathroy area to Kerwood Road off Winter Rd to search for a Upland Sandpiper.  The bird was not found but we saw two Wilson's Snipe flying around.  Our last stop of the day was at the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons where we saw Virginia Rail, American Coot, Sora, Warbling Vireo, Green winged Teal and an Eastern Kingbird.  In this nice day we could literally see the trees go into leaf.  It has been so good that so far there have been few leaves on the trees as it makes it so easy to spot the birds.  Maybe there only a few days left before everything comes into leaf.  

It was a full day of birding with a very last stop to pick up some Shwarma food for supper.   Also there was Kathy from the London Field Naturalists Club and we had met her at the American Woodcock display Thursday night.  Small world.  Our supper was delicious.  We have 94 bird species so far on this trip.  Pretty Sweet.