On Saturday, May 24th I lead nine members of the Ontario Field
Orinthologists on the scheduled outing to the Opinicon Forest and Amherst
Island. Both locations are near Kingston. Although the weather was rainey
all day, nevertheless we were dressed for it, and since it was calm and a
mild 15C, we all managed well. When it rains on a mild day, I always take
heart when I remember Chris Grooms simply saying: "Hey, it's only water.
Why worry?" A good philosophy.
During the morning at Opinicon, we saw and heard singing most of the target
species: Cerulean Warblers, Golden-winged Warblers, Indigo Buntings,
American Redstarts, Baltimore Orioles. Heard Warbling Vireos and the
flute-like "ee-o-lay" of a nearby Wood Thrush. The close and lengthy view
of a male Golden-winged Warbler was perhaps the most outstanding I have
personally ever seen. Nice views of Common Loon and Hooded Mergansers.
Nevertheless, the rain prevented us locating Red-shouldered and Broad-wing
Hawks, Cuckoos, and Yellow-throated Vireos, Scarlet Tanagers.
Tape-decks used properly at the right time/place are useful to birders. But
tape-decks always entail some fumbling to get the correct tape loaded, plus
very time-consuming shuttling of the tape to find a desired birdsong... so
very frustrating when rainey! However, two OFO members demonstrated to all
of us that any birdsong could be found and played in seconds by using a tiny
palm-computer to store many birdsongs. In the near future, such technology
should permit a hearing-impaired person to sample even unheard birdsongs,
then electronically the palm-computer could determine the species. With
such a device, a beginning birder could also identify bird songs just as
well as an expert, merely by pressing a sampling button. Ah... the future!
Being a "gizmo guy", I was indeed impressed and I thank the OFO members for
their time to develop the S/W and for the great demos they gave us! As
thanks, I'm sending out a roll of Duct Tape.
During our afternoon on Amherst Island we saw Bobolinks (many), Meadowlarks,
Savannah Sparrows, Blue-winged Teal, Horned Grebe, Spotted Sandpipers, Least
Sandpipers (many), some Semi-palmated Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers,
Sanderling (both breeding and winter plumages), Dunlin, Short-billed
Dowitchers, Wilson's Snipes. Bonaparte's Gulls, 6 Ruddy Turnstones, and
Caspian Tern. Best highlights were: a Snowy Egret and an amazing 16
Wilson's Phalaropes (a memorable view of five walking just 4 meters ahead of
us, like a pack of puppies).
Despite rainey weather, we observed 65 species and I was surprised by the
number of birds singing in the rain. I was also pleased to note the
resilience of all the persons who attended... they were all happy being
there, and they turned dull weather into a joyful day together!
Best Pishes,
Ken Kingdon
KINGSTON
PS - for next year, we are thinking of adding a second day to go "birding by
bike" on a beautiful and flat trail through the Opinicon Forest to see more
specialty species. For cyclists who might be interested, please let me know
by private e-mail so that we can consider this option.
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