Waterloo Region Nature Outing to Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area, Huron County, ON

06 May, 2025

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Participants: Miriam Bauman, Alice Buehrle, Dave Collins, Mary Collins, Heather DeYoe, Lynne Elliot, Bob Fraser, Steve Georffy, Tiffany Grant-McIntosh, Victoria Ho, Dale Ingrey, Leon Linseman, Curtiss MacDonald, Kuldip Malhotra, Selwyn Tomkun

     We had been thwarted by unfavourable weather on our last two attempts to visit Hullett Marsh so we were happy to get relatively pleasant weather this year - at least it was dry!

     As usual we all met at SpruceHaven in St. Agatha to carpool from there. Miriam and I arrived first and were happy to do a little birding around the pond.

     Several American Yellow Warblers (Setophaga aestiva) were active, sometimes appearing in full view.

     Marsh Marigolds (Caltha paulstris) stirred sentiments of delight, as they always do.

     Myrtle Warblers (Setophaga coronata) were very smart in their finest breeding attire.

     Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica) have returned for yet another breeding season in the old barn that has yielded so much pleasure as we have monitored these birds through the breeding phase of their lives.

     Willows (genus Salix) are delicate yet robust, and almost whimsical in their featheriness. 

     Common Grackles (Quiscalus quiscula) were very dapper.

     As soon as everyone arrived we set off in a joyful cavalcade of happy birders looking forward to a great day together.

     Hullett Wildlife Area covers a huge expanse, and we explored the trails familiar to us. Miriam and I will try to get back there later in the season to explore a few new pathways into the wetlands. 

     The first order of business was a group picture.

Lynne, Alice, Kuldip, Selwyn, Dave, Victoria, Mary, Bob, David, Steve, Curtiss, Leon, Heather, Tiffany, Dale

     The trail beckoned.

     Many channels meandered hither and yon, all humming with life and replete with emergent vegetation.

     A Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) home awaited occupancy.

     Our ears were ringing with the sonorous cadence of bird song; we first heard a Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) in full voice, and then spotted it for all to see.

     It seemed at times that every Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) was trying to out-compete every other. 

     There is, after all, the serious business of mates to be found.

     All the trees were clad in green and reached towards the sun.

     Beaver meadows proliferate throughout the wetland, with snags aplenty.

     There was no shortage of convenient perches for a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) bent on securing breakfast.

     A Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) was doubtless fattening up before continuing his voyage to the Arctic.

     A pair of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) had chosen the marsh as home for the season and were scouting for a suitable tree cavity or convenient nest box.

Photo: Dave Collins

     A Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) knifed through the air above us.

Photo: Dave Collins

     F. H. Kortright says of Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis), "These ducks nest on the ground near the marshy creeks, sloughs and ponds of the prairie regions of Canada." Perhaps this pair has decided that an eastern wetland will serve equally well.

Photo: Dave Collins

     I don't remember seeing an American Wigeon (Mareca strepera) at all, but Dave got a picture of a male.

     I think it's safe to conclude that a female was not far away. 

     A couple of poikilothermic Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) hauled out to catch the warming rays of the sun.

     This Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) appeared to be foraging in an old nest (or squirrel drey) for insects and their larvae.

     It is entirely appropriate that we should acknowledge the undisputed beauty of the much maligned Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).

     Dung Flies (genus Scathophaga) were active; this individual has seized prey.

     Muscoid Flies (super family Muscoidea) were also exploiting their environment.

     I am quite entranced by willows. Perhaps you are too.

     Early settlers who brought Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) to enhance the flavour of their food had no idea of the problem they were creating.

     This conspicuously invasive, rampantly dominant plant is virtually impossible to eradicate once established.

     It is our practice to take coffee and Miriam's muffins for our mid morning break. Take a close look at this blueberry treat. This is the real thing, a blueberry muffin actually loaded with blueberries. Wild, organic blueberries at that.

     The last time I had a commercial blueberry muffin I was convinced that they waved a blueberry over the baking tray!

     From time to time the skies threatened a little, and we had a few spots of rain. Mostly, however, it stayed dry and by mid afternoon was actually quite sunny.

     We were all thrilled when an immature Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) sailed majestically overhead. No doubt ducks scurried for cover.

Photo: Dave Collins

     Based on the detail captured in Dave's excellent picture, I would say that this is a one-year old bird.

     In a repeat of our earlier experience at SpruceHaven, American Yellow Warblers and Myrtle Warblers dominated the parulid parade.

Photo: Dave Collins

Photo: Dave Collins

     A Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) was occupied on the ground, securing either moisture or minerals.

     Many nesting boxes have been erected at Hullett Marsh and Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) were attentive.

     Common Blue Violets (Viola sororia) have the capacity to make you stop and stare to drink in their delicate beauty.

     When it was time for lunch we enjoyed the fare brought from home.

    Bob had forgotten his lunch so everyone pitched in to offer a little of theirs, and I think he wound up with the best lunch of all; certainly the greatest variety. From my tray he snagged a little cheese and a fig.

     While having lunch we heard the constant refrain of an Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythropthalmus) and it was Heather's sharp eyes that finally spotted the bird chortling from a conifer.

Photo: Dave Collins

     I found this Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) tree beautiful beyond words.

     The beauty was only enhanced by a Baltimore Oriole seeking out the sweet nectar nestled within the

corollas.

 

     A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was no less diligent in exploiting this rich source of food, often snipping off the flower in the process.

     True Sedges (genus Carex) furnish a fine green oomph in the wetland.

     Hullett is one of the few locations that I am aware of where Tree Swallows still breed in natural cavities.

     Dave took a fine series of pictures of this seldom seen activity.

     Miriam captured this shot of a bird carrying nesting material. 

     Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) were all around, with males ardently inveigling females with song.

Photo: Dave Collins

     All of the Common Grackles we saw were males. The females are perhaps already incubating eggs.

Photo: Dave Collins

    Dave pointed his camera with its long lens at a distant Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) and came up with a very acceptable result.

     He was no less successful with a Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps), equally distant and frequently diving out of view.

     In classic affirmation of spring, we saw several families of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), a sight often seen yet never to be met without wonder.

Photo: Dave Collins

     To add to the sensory saturation of the day, a Northern Azure (Celastrina lucia) landed on the ground in front of us, and actually stayed there for thirty or forty seconds!

     Trilliums (Trillium grandiflorum) are dear to the hearts of every Ontarian.

     Kuldip got down to renew his acquaintance with this floral treasure.

     A Smooth Yellow Violet (Viola eriocarpa) is even more pleasing than Bob Fraser's smile!

     Our eyes caught sight of a tiny Midland Painted Turtle (Chrysemis picta marginata) instinctively lumbering on its way to water.

     It still had a long way to go, especially by tiny turtle standards, so, despite its vigorous protestations I picked it up to deliver it closer to its destination.

Photo: Dave Collins

     Without a doubt, in retrospect, he will thank me for the helping hand! If turtle grandfathers ever knew their grandchildren he would be recounting the tale ad nauseum!

     Northern Shoveler (Spatula discors) is a very handsome duck, and a species I seem to see in smaller numbers every year.

Photo: Dave Collins

     An Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) remained aloof and kept its distance.

     Our keen-eyed group scanned and probed, peered and searched - nothing that moved would escape our attention!

     Selwyn and I, dedicated as always, anxious to serve the common good, made the arduous trip back to the parking lot to retrieve the scopes that we should have brought with us in the first place. Such is the nature of devotion.

     Greater Plantain (Plantago major) may fail to cause many of you to convulse with delight, but Miriam and I are quite fond of it.

     Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) are probably a little more to your liking.

Photo: Dave Collins

     It always evokes euphoria in me to see a Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens), especially a very young one. 

Photo: Dave Collins

     Amphibians the world over are in very serious trouble, many species having already become extinct, and others teetering precariously on the brink.

     I cannot help but be reminded of Kathleen Dean Moore's masterpiece of irony, "An Ethos of Return begins by renouncing the claim of human entitlement to use all of creation for human ends. By what right, one might ask, do humans take it all? I can't think of any good answer. One might argue that God gave Creation to human beings, but why would he? What reasonable Being would specially create the exquisite spring chorus of frog song, then invite humanoids to bulldoze the marsh, destroying the frogs and their songs? Surely, on these terms, this taking, this endless taking, is a theft of the sacred - literally a sacrilege."

     A distant Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) has only recently arrived from South America, to be welcomed in Canada with open arms and joyous greetings.

     We were especially pleased to hear a symphony of Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), to witness their fluttering flight across the meadows, and to see them perched for us, albeit far away, but no less satisfying.

Photo: Dave Collins

     As we drifted back to our vehicles it seemed an entirely appropriate end to a very fine day of birding that a chorus of Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) permeated the air, and sailed over our heads in a vision from the distant Pleistocene, stretching back far beyond the insignificant period of human existence on our planet.

Photo: Dave Collins

     It is something we all need to remember.

     Now, it will be quite apparent to all of you that Dave Collins needs to enlist as an official photographer on our excursions into nature. Please add your entreaty to mine and let him know that no excuses will be accepted. Mary, if you have to stop making his favourite pies, that is the price he will have to pay.

     At the end of this Hullett Marsh trip it has become a tradition that we visit a country store where Curtiss buys an ice cream for everyone, and we looked forward to the pleasure.

     It's such a treat. Let's do it again next year!