Sunday, July 29, 2018

West Perth Wetland, Mitchell, ON

28 July 2018

     Our good friend John Sanderson recently had hip replacement surgery and is recovering nicely. In order to give his hip a test drive, so to speak, we accompanied him and Geraldine to one of their favourite birding areas. John did well and his mobility has improved immeasurably since before the surgery. He didn't want to push it too much, however, so went back to the car to rest while we carried on with our birding.
     When shorebirds are migrating West Perth Wetland is a magnet for a number of species. Adult peeps (mostly Least (Calidris minutilla) and Semipalmated Sandpipers (Calidris pusilla) were present - and they were too far out to identify other species if there were any - with hatch year birds to follow soon.


      In addition to the birds there was an abundance of Grove Snails (Cepaea nemoralis) and much as we tried to avoid stepping on them it was at times impossible, and whenever we heard a crunch underneath our feet we knew another had met its demise.


     Of ducks we saw many Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) but a lone female Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) joined the parade too.



     Both of these species breed at Mitchell and it will be another couple of months before the migratory ducks from the north begin to arrive.  
     Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) was far and away the most common shorebird, as it generally is at this time of the year. It may be familiar but it is a handsome bird indeed and merits a full measure of our appreciation.



     We probably saw several Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) but they never stayed put long enough for us to be sure. There is no doubt about this one, however.


     A Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) and a couple of Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) seemed content to loaf around watching the sandpipers frantically gathering food.


     West Perth Wetland can deliver some lovely surprises from time to time (the first time we ever went there a Red Knot (Calidris canutus) in breeding plumage) and today we were treated to the wonderful sight of several splendidly attired Short-billed Dowitchers (Limnodromus griseus) feeding away with their signature stitching motion.





     One might have wished for them to be a little closer, but we had great looks through the scope. It just wasn't as good as it might have been for photographs. Actually had Franc been with us, with his equipment, he would have had some wonderful captures.
     Semipalmated Sandpipers fed a little closer to shore.




     Least Sandpiper too.


     As much of a delight as the dowitchers was a Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) still retaining vestiges of its breeding plumage. This is a bird that can be found each year, but not without some diligent searching.



     On the way back to the car a group of Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) let us know that they had a successful breeding season.


    When we shared our sightings with John he was delighted at our success. Next time we go to the wetland I have no doubt that he will be able to join us for more of the circuit and he too will have the kind of sensory top up we had.

     And now, if I may, let me address something totally unrelated, a topic that has been much on my mind of late. It is the use (misuse is more appropriate) of single use plastics. The sheer complacency of people now that I have been deliberately taking note is staggering. We seem to be hardly making a dent into this problem and we continue to flood both the earth and the oceans with this nearly indestructible detritus.
     It has to become an individual responsibility to reduce and ultimately eliminate it. 
     I am reminded that many years ago, when companies sent their management people to motivational seminars, I attended such an event in Calgary, AB where Ziz Ziglar was the featured proselytizer. Most of what he evangelized about was utter nonsense it seemed to me, but I do remember one point that left its mark. It was the concept of always measuring the inevitable secondary result of any action you take. He illustrated the point like this. He asked everyone in the audience to raise their hand if they had a piece of the pie served for dessert the previous night. There was a great show of hands. He then asked how many people were ten pounds or more overweight, and there was another great show of hands. He then said, "Well, when you made the choice to have the pie you made the choice to be overweight." One logically follows on the other. And so, when you continue to use single use plastic you are making a conscious decision to pollute the environment.
    So stop doing it. It is probably impossible to achieve 100% success but you can come close to it.  Let me give you one simple illustration of how great strides can be made easily. The other day I went to the store to buy red and green peppers, apples, bananas, green onions,  and a red onion. I took a cloth bag that Miriam made and put everything in that bag. Some shoppers put each item in its own plastic bag - the red pepper in its bag, the green pepper in its bag...and so on. That represents six plastic bags and then they go to the checkout and pay 5 cents for a plastic shopping bag to carry off the six other plastic bags. It boggles the mind. But this behaviour is repeated over and over again. When water in plastic bottles is on sale at the store shoppers leave with cart loads full. I see consumers pick up meat which is already on a styrofoam tray enveloped in plastic wrap, then place it in another plastic bag.
     Instead of buying individual little plastic containers of yogurt why not buy a big tub and use your own containers? Tell restaurants that use plastic straws that you will no longer take your business there if they continue to do so. Find coffee shops that will fill your own cup. 
     I shop at Costco and they are always shoveling food samples at everyone, served in little plastic containers with a plastic utensil provided, all of which are immediately thrown away. I cannot buy produce there. If I want to buy tomatoes, for example, they are prepackaged in a plastic box. Grapes are also in a plastic box, apples are in a plastic box or bag...and so on.
     The airlines have to start to address this problem and as consumers we can be influential. Think of the amount of disposable items used on every plane throughout the world every day. Our politicians need to change their habits. Each time a cabinet meeting is shown on television there is a plastic bottle of water at every chair. Do you all remember Trump's clumsy efforts to drink from a plastic bottle at the podium? Why couldn't that be replaced with pitchers of water and glasses?
     I could go on, but I am sure the point is made. There are countless ways you can stop using single use plastic and if we all do it there will be a very significant reduction. I hope the day will soon come when drinking from a plastic bottle will be as uncouth as spitting in a spittoon. Remember, that was once socially acceptable too.
    

    
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

35 comments:

  1. My city banned single use plastic bags for shopping some time ago. A small step in the right direction. With strides needed.
    Loved wandering the wetlands with you - and hooray for John and his recovery.

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  2. Sadly, I think that more and more of this is going to have to be done by legislation. I am not sure that enough people want to do the right thing.

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  3. I do my little part for the world --hardly anyone here carries their own bags in when they buy groceries. I do and I also try to recycle everything I can. It is a small effort but I do believe that every little bit helps. Our coffee shop will fill a coffee cup if you bring one in.

    Those are great pictures and I am glad that your friend's hip is healing nicely. Diana

    ps-I sat through Zig Ziglar's spiel twice....lol.....(two different seminars over the years).

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    1. When you say recycle do you mean that you recycle it at home or put it out for recyclyling by your municipality? If the latter, much of it is never going to be recycled.


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  4. Hari OM
    Oh I don't know about the absence of Franc - I have really enjoyed Miriam's offerings today!

    I've been on that plastics bandwagon for about ten years, but it is really gathering momentum around the world this year - thanks to Sir David (Attenborough) and the wonder Blue Planet 2. Here in the UK there have already been some significant changes, but we have oh so very far to go... YAM xx

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    1. The biggest change that is needed is the reaction of individual citizens who need to seriously change their habits. I saw a little item on the news recently about the number of disposable cups and plastic lids that are tossed away in London and it was staggering. Multiply that by towns and cities throughout the world and you start to get some idea of the scope of the problem - and that is only disposable drinking cups.

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  5. Hi David - so glad John's hip has been successful ... mine has made such a difference to me; lovely photos - though Franc does a tremendous job .. but he has, as you say, all the equipment to help him.

    Plastic one certainly doesn't want to use it ... one of those unintended consequences of chemical brilliance ... which sadly we don't need today - so yes I do what I can ... cloth bags, not buying new things ...

    Thanks for the reminder ... as we can all do more - I don't buy water, or use plastic bottles ... it is endemic, very sadly ... cheers Hilary

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  6. Bonjour David.
    Toujours de fabuleuses rencontres chez toi. Comme j'aimerais t'accompagne parfois.
    Le plastique est la mort de la terre avec la déforestation. L'homme marche, pietine, écrase, tue....
    Merci d'en parler !!!
    Bises et bonne journée

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    1. Come on over, Nathalie. We will take good care of you and show you lots of birds.

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  7. Thoroughly enjoyed the little tour of the Wetlands with you. I have grave concerns like yourself and do as much as I can but you are so right we do need to make better choices.

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  8. Precioso reportaje David y preciosas fotos. Me alegro de la recuperación de cadera de John. Respecto al problema del plástico tienes toda la razón, hace mucha falta que los gobiernos se impliquen de lleno en este tema para evitar en lo posible mucho de esos envases y sobre todo concienciar al consumidor del problema tan grave que representan, si no se toman medidas drásticas y urgentes llegaremos tarde para solucionar tan grave problema. Aunque creo, que ya estamos actuando tarde para dar una solución.
    Un abrazo amigo David

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  9. It's always heartening to hear of someone recovering from successful remedial surgery, David. I hope that John gets decades of benefit from his.

    Lindsay and I are trying to do our bit to eliminate plastics from out lives, particularly as far as food and drink are concerned. However, this is quite severely limiting our shopping options - too much stuff is pre-packaged irresponsibly. I think the answer is legislation. Leave it to individuals and it will never happen - my guess is that 90% of individuals in UK don't give a shit about the environment or their fellow humans. It also seems that, sadly, a significant amount of stuff we put out for recycling gets shipped off to foreign lands to be disposed of in an unmonitored fashion. The tide is turning - but far too slowly. Hopefully, the work on finding more environmentally-friendly packaging materials will gather pace and help provide the solution.

    There was a time when milk was delivered by electric-powered vehicles to every household in glass bottles, the empties of which were then collected the following day! Now there's food for thought!!

    My love to you both - - - Richard

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    1. Milk is a good example, Richard. Most people here buy it packaged three plastic bags inside another plastic bag, fastened with a plastic tag. When we are seriously trying to find ways to colonize Mars we can surely find a better way to package milk. Love to you and Lindsay.

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  10. Hi David.

    Beautiful series of birds shows you.

    Progress is rarely thought about what to do with the waste.

    Terribly.


    Groettie from Patricia.

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  11. Some lovely waders, I still struggle with wader ids at times especially with the different plumage!

    Shops here all have big issues with plastic bags and packaging, some do seem to be making small steps towards changing this, though it's better than doing nothing it's nowhere near enough!

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  12. Nice to hear about your friend's recovery, David.
    Here it's still very usual to use plasticbags. The shops rise the cost to buy them, but people don't care. I use shoppingbags that I can use over and over again. We all need to do the small things we can do to help the nature around us. Thank you for the reminder!

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  13. Hello, my sister recently had her left hip replaced in June. I was surprised the hospital only kept her 23 hours. Medicare will not pay for overnight unless there is a problem. Thankfully she is doing well and even driving now. I love all the shorebirds, especially the Dowitchers. The female wood duck is pretty. I agree about the problem and over usage of plastics. Enjoy your day and new week!

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  14. Great outing and gad John is still out there in spite of his recent surgery! go John!! Right on about the plastics, I don't buy one use bottles, and I take my bags along almost religiously paper is no longer provided but at one local IGA. Our communities are beginning the ban on plastic bags and I hope straws too..but a complete ban world wide is what I want to see! Thanks for spreading the word.

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  15. Pleased that your friend John's hip operation has been successful.

    I enjoyed seeing all of the photographs in your post.

    Thanks for the reminder about plastics.

    All the best Jan

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  16. It's good to see all those North American waders David. We see them so rarely but as you know, it's every British birders wish to find one. Glad I was able to help with the smartie info. The plans look very adaptable for a one off.

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  17. Beautiful images, everyone Semipalmated Sandpipers till Eastern Kingbirds, fantastic David.

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  18. Interesting to see your wetland birds. Lovely photos! On the subject of plastics,the tide is turning and could gain momentum more quickly than we think. I'm ever optimistic!

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  19. Bra skrivet om vår plastanvändning och vårt individuella ansvar. Jag får nog erkänna att jag är något uppgiven över mänsklighetens förmåga att ändra sina vanor till det bättre. Vi bor i en kommun som ligger långt framme när det gäller sopsortering, hemma sorterar vi allt avfall och vår kommun har fantastiska anläggningar dit man kan föra sina sopor, allt för att underlätta. Men oavsett hur väl det är anordnat så slängs kylskåp, plaster, däck, burkar och gamla soffor längs vår skogsväg för någon annan att ta hand om. När jag ser detta, alldeles för ofta, så tappar jag min tro på mänskligheten, vi får det vi förtjänar så småningom.

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    1. Your experience in Sweden is pretty much replicated here, Gunilla. Expecting humans to do the right thing is a pretty forlorn hope.

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  20. Hi David,
    The advantages of plastic are clear, but these days people get more and more aware of the disadvantages. When you travel through Africa for instance you see unfortunately pretty often plastic bags blown by the wind around the villages. Look at the pollution of the seas with all the risks for animals. We ourselves in the modern world are also polluting the environment, not just by transporting goods. Tiny plastic particles are for instance included in toothpaste. You don't see or notice it, but they are there polluting water in a sneaky way. Consumers have to be aware of the way they are using plastics, the industry and government as well. When you have used plastic the best you can do is bring it to recycling depots as much as possible. Anyway, measures have to be taken!
    Greetings, Kees

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  21. great place for birding :) Many good species. This dry summer has made wetlands compleately dry. So, no waders around. Nice to see yours.

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  22. Great series of pictures (and content about plastic) - waders can be a nightmare here in the summer - long distances and heat haze are not a good combination.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  23. I enjoyed the wonderful stroll through the wetlands and seeing the photos. As for the use of plastics, I totally agree with you. My wife has made bags so we can carry our produce home, we have backpacks for the bigger items and we bring our own containers to the butcher for our purchases there. If people use the plastic bags from the grocery stores, they charge 22 cent for them. It's not perfect here but it is getting better. I think they should stop providing the bags even if people pay for them.

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  24. Hello David,
    A wonderful array of the birds in the Wetland!
    Beautiful species.
    I also totally agree with your position on plastic!!
    I do my very best. If I go to the grocery store, I use an old-fashioned wicker basket! Every little bit helps.
    Recently I heard: it is possible to make lemonade straws of avocado seeds!!! that would be great!
    Best regards, Maria

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  25. The birds are always wonderful but those snails are a fun surprise. I love the shells and that's a great shot. It looks like a good day and I'm glad your friend is doing much better!

    Thanks for coming by!

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  26. Good morning dear David.
    Great that your friend is doing so much better!!
    In Holland we have a good recylingproject with plastic. I am shocked about the amount of plastic that's collected once in the 2 weeks. But we people are forced to accept the plastic. When I go to buy some sliced salami ore ham they don't want to help me when I bring my own storage box. Between every slice there is plastic. Vegetables are packet in plastic with gas to keep it fresh longer. Where are the times when I was young (I am 60 now). We even did not have a fridge. And we were never sick!!! Discusting to see what a carbidge people leave at the beaches at the end of the day. People don't seem to care anymore about nature. I had tears in my eyes seeing another garden end up in a container and got paved compleetly. This people should be not aloud to get a house with a garden. I wrote a letter to the town to make
    a law that's it's not aloud to pave the whole garden. With this climatechanging with long hot periods and huge amounts of rain after this periods the streets are floading very easy because there are only a few small gardens left that can soak the water. Let's pray that people are going to think about what they are cousing.
    I am sorry for my complains you can't do anything about it.
    Have a wonderful day David.
    Hugs Marijke

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    1. Hello Marijke: Until people started to comment about this practice of covering small gardens with concrete I was totally unfamiliar with the practice. It seems inconceivable to me that one would pave over the last bit of green space. Why do people do it? To park cars? It is quite sad whatever the reason.

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  27. nice captures of the shorebirds, i wonder what happened to mr. wood duck, i hope he did not meet his demise. i like the look of the snail shells, i'm not sure i have ever seen those before!!

    i try so hard to be mindful of recycling, i am 59 and i did not grow up with it as a habit. but i see all the same things you do and wonder "what in the world are we doing'!!!

    the reusable heavy plastic bags have been tested and the bottoms of many are contaminated. right now, i use canvas bags that can be washed between uses so there is no contamination. i always use an eco-friendly flask for a drink while i am out. i think the world is trying, the younger generation in my area is doing better than we are. we are getting there, i am still learning!!!

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  28. The Semipalmated Sandpipers looks gorgeous, I think it or Short-billed Dowitchers has never seen here in Finland.

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We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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