The area around Holiday Beach Conservation Area at the western end of Lake Erie is a birding hotspot, especially during the fall migration. We spent two sweltering days nearby in comfortable (air conditioned!) accommodations when the daytime temperature was well above 30C. We managed the excessive heat and humidity by going out first thing in the morning and later in the day. A breeze off the lake sometimes helped to make it more bearable.
We stayed on a narrow spit of land with Lake Erie on one side and a sizeable marsh on the other.
Even in summer, the area was alive with birdlife. In our short time there, we tallied 33 species of birds.
Of course, Canada Geese were ever present. There were Mute Swans nesting in the marsh.
Wading birds were at home in the marsh as well.
Both Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls soared over the lake and sometimes landed in the marsh.
A Belted Kingfisher patrolled the marsh.
We were happy to see so many aerial insectivores – Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Purple Martins and Chimney Swifts. From our balcony, we had a good view of Barn Swallows as they swooped into their nests under docks to feed their young. Tree Swallows occasionally landed in trees or overhead wires. A few people in the neighbourhood had erected martin houses and these were fully occupied with chattering young and the occasional House Sparrow. We regularly saw and heard three Chimney Swifts in flight in the evening, but could not determine which chimney they were occupying.
The only flycatcher we encountered was this handsome Eastern Kingbird.
A Killdeer had nested in a gravel driveway close to the road. The owner kindly placed a protective block in front of the nest. The adult became alarmed when we first walked past the nest and immediately attempted to draw attention away from the nest with its broken wing display. We gave the nest a wider berth from then on.
Red-winged Blackbirds foraged in the marsh, sometimes walking across lily pads to find insects. Immature European Starlings and Common Grackles had started to gather in noisy flocks, sometimes accompanied by adults. In the far right photo, the adult at the bottom right seems to be less than amused by the clamour.
We didn’t get good photos of many of the birds we saw in the waining light, but there were other attractions in and around the marsh.
A Muskrat carrying a lily pad which it took underwater near the bank, presumably to its feeding hut. Cottontail Rabbit, Midland Painted Turtles.
American White Waterlilies were in bloom.
Dragonflies were in flight. When this photo of the Eastern Amberwing was cropped, we noticed an unusual insect at the bottom of the lily bud. iNaturalist identified it as a member of Milky Backswimmers with the added information that these insects spend their time at the water’s surface. They use their abdomen and legs to cling to the underside of the surface tension and swim upside down looking for prey.
Elegant Blue Dashers never fail to delight.
Other plant life in and around the marsh.
Although Purple Loosestrife was once highly invasive, it is now considered to be a model for biological pest control since it is well managed by a number of beetle species that use it as their natural food source. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/61321-Lythrum-salicaria
Osprey Update
In only a few days, the Osprey chick is no longer a fuzzy chick. It now sports black and white stripes on its head and a white racing stripe down its back. The youngster is now stronger and more active, reaching up for food at feeding time and managing to waddle a few steps in the nest. Potty training is well established:-=).
Click here for a recent video of Osprey life.
The 2024 Audubon Photography Awards: Winners and Honourable Mentions
Click on the chickadee to see the entire gallery.
Songs with “River” in their Titles
Rivers take on many purposes in songs, a destination, a journey, or a metaphor. I added some fragments of lyrics to the end of the page.
And a bonus tune: “Up on Cripple Creek” from the movie of The Band’s farewell concert, “The Last Waltz”.
Lyric Fragments
WARNING: The fragments are not in the same order as the playlist.
We’d go down to the river
And into the river we’d dive
Oh, down to the river we’d ride
Then I got Mary pregnant
And man, that was all she wrote
Oh, I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Yes, I will sail my vessel
‘Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
Yes, I’ve got many rivers to cross
But I can’t seem to find my way over
Wandering I am lost
As I travel along the white cliffs of Dover
As I went down in the river to pray
Studying about that good old way
And who shall wear the starry crown
Good Lord, show me the way!
I don’t know why she treated me so bad
After all the things that we could have had
Love is a notion that I can’t forget
My sweet sixteen I will never regret
Well, take me back down where cool water flows, y’all.
Let me remember things I love.
Stoppin’ at the log where catfish bite,
Walkin’ along the river road at night,
Barefoot girls dancin’ in the moonlight.
I love you baby like a flower loves the spring
And I love you baby like a robin loves to sing
And I love you baby like a schoolboy loves his pie
And I love you baby, river deep, mountain high