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Today's Topics:
1. Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending October 27, 2005.
(Fred Helleiner)
2. Gull, Owl and Duck workshops at the U of Guelph Arboretum
(Chris Earley)
3. Marsh Monitoring Program Orientation and Training Sessions
(Kathy Jones)
4. Ottawa: Red-throated Loon & Black Scoter (Bruce Di Labio)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 23:21:25 -0400
From: Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending October
27, 2005.
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
In many ways, birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park this week has taken
on the characteristics of winter birding, in that most of the sightings
have been of water birds, and land birds are concentrating around the
bird feeders, although even a good many of those moved on last night.
As well, the number of birders taking advantage of the opportunities
that the Park has to offer is much smaller than it was a month ago.
Nevertheless, there is still plenty of evidence that the fall migration
is far from over.
On the offshore waters, Common Loons and Horned Grebes can still be
found in decent numbers. After a period of almost two weeks with very
few Double-crested Cormorants, there was a sudden influx of hundreds in
the outer reaches of Presqu'ile Bay on October 26 and 27, and a
corresponding increase in the number of gulls that took advantage of
their presence to engage in a "feeding frenzy". Single Great Blue
Herons have been seen three times this week, once near the lighthouse,
once in the marsh, and once just outside the Park gate. Three noisy
Tundra Swans flew over on October 26. There are hundreds of
White-winged Scoters far out in Lake Ontario, best seen from campsite
333, just west of Chatterton Point. A flock of about thirty Black
Scoters has been in Popham Bay since October 22, in precisely the same
location as a flock of similar size that spent some time there last
November. Flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers are appearing in large
numbers, perhaps outnumbering all the other ducks.
A movement of raptors taking place along the north shore of Presqu'ile
Bay on October 27 was close enough to allow identification through a
scope from Bayshore Road. It included 90 Turkey Vultures and two
immature Golden Eagles, a species not often seen at Presqu'ile.
With the exception of Greater Yellowlegs that are frequenting the mud
flats in the marsh, most of the remaining shorebirds (Black-bellied
Plovers, Sanderlings, and Dunlins) are around Gull and Sebastopol
Islands. Before long, the first of the Purple Sandpipers for which
Presqu'ile is noted should be arriving. Among the many Bonaparte's
Gulls that have suddenly arrived, there was at least one Little Gull on
October 25 and two on October 26. A Lesser Black-backed Gull was off
the beach at the start of the Owen Point trail on October 25.
Black-capped Chickadees have been by far the commonest land bird at
Presqu'ile this week. Flocks of them were passing through a week ago,
and good numbers remain. As yet no one has reported a Boreal
Chickadee. Another species that may be on birders' minds in the next
few days is Townsend's Solitaire, since it was exactly four years ago
that one of these western birds showed up in the Park. The only other
thrushes still present are a few Hermit Thrushes and American Robins. A
late Gray Catbird has been feeding on berries behind 85 Bayshore Road,
where there was also an Eastern Towhee and a Fox Sparrow. Several dozen
Snow Buntings on Gull Island dispel any doubt about the forthcoming
season. Three Evening Grosbeaks, the first of the season, were in a
tree on Bayshore Road on October 27.
To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton.
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid
that is available at the Park gate. Visitors to Gull Island should be
prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there is often a swift
current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. It should also be noted
that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and
part of the calf pasture are not available for bird-watching on those
days.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 08:46:12 -0400
From: Chris Earley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Ontbirds]Gull, Owl and Duck workshops at the U of Guelph
Arboretum
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Hi, everyone,
This post was approved by Mark. The Arboretum, University of Guelph,
has space in the following interactive bird workshops. For more
workshop details, please go to our website at www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum or
e-mail me privately. Many Ontbirds members have benefitted from these
workhops - you can, too!
Note: You must preregister for all workshops - call 519-824-4120 ext.
52358.
Gull Workshop
Friday, Nov. 18, 2005, 9am - 4pm, $70 (includes a field trip to the
Niagara river on Saturday, Nov. 19) - note: please preregister by
Friday, Nov. 4, if possible.
Owl Workshop
Friday, January 13, 2006, 9am - 4:30pm, owl prowl 6pm - 8:30pm, $70
Duck Workshop
Friday, March 31, 2006, 9am - 4pm (includes a field trip to
Mountsberg C.A., Saturday, April 8), $70
Cheers, Chris Earley :)
--
Chris Earley
Interpretive Biologist / Education Coordinator
The Arboretum, University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1
Canada
phone: (519)824-4120 ext. 52201
fax: (519)763-9598
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
website: www.uoguelph.ca/arboretum
"The chief aim of interpretation is not instruction, but provocation."
- Freeman Tilden
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 10:50:41 -0400
From: "Kathy Jones" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Ontbirds] Marsh Monitoring Program Orientation and Training
Sessions
To: <ontbirds@hwcn.org>
Message-ID:
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Hi Everyone
Mark Cranford has approved this posting.
Bird Studies Canada, in conjunction with Lake Simcoe Region Conservation
Authority, the Grand River Conservation Authority and the St. Lawrence
River Institute, has scheduled three Marsh Monitoring Program Orientation
and Training Session across Ontario. Two Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring
Program sessions will be held on 3 November 2005 at the Brant Rod and Gun
Club near Brantford, ON and on 12 November 2005 at the Scanlon Nature
Centre north of Bradford, ON. Anyone interested in learning more about
these sessions should contact Kris Dobney by e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
for a registration package.
A third session for the Marsh Monitoring Program Ambassador Initiative of
Eastern Ontario will be held on 20 November 2005 at the Cooper Marsh
Visitor Centre near Cornwall. Anyone interested in the Cornwall session
should contact Jordan Kevan by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] To learn
more about the St. Lawrence River Institute visit www.riverinstitute.ca.
Funding for these sessions have been provided by TD Friends of the
Environment and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Kathy Jones
Aquatic Surveys Volunteer and Data Coordinator
Bird Studies Canada
P.O. Box 160, Port Rowan ON N0E 1M0
Phone: 1-519-586-3531 ext. 212 Toll Free: 1-888-448-2473 ext. 212 Fax:
1-519-586-3532
E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Web Page
www.bsc-eoc.org
____________________________________________________
Understand Appreciate Conserve
From time to time, BSC may send you information regarding our programs,
special issues, membership, and other correspondence. If you would prefer
not to receive this information, please contact us by mail at the address
above or e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you.
Au cours de l'année, Études d'Oiseaux Canada envoie de la documentation
concernant ses programmes, ses activités ou autres. Si vous désirez ne pas
recevoir cette information, faites-nous parvenir un message par la poste
ou par courrier électronique à [EMAIL PROTECTED]
------------------------------
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 28 Oct 2005 12:02:09 -0400
From: "Bruce Di Labio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Ontbirds]Ottawa: Red-throated Loon & Black Scoter
To: "ontario birds" <ontbirds@hwcn.org>
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Hi Everyone
Did a quick check along the Ottawa River this morning off Dick Bell
Park
and Andrew Haydon Park. I observed 4 large flocks of Black Scoters
totaling
600+ (mainly males) and 2 Red-throated Loons. The scoters were very
restless
flying around, breaking up into smaller flocks, gaining altitude, then
descending back to land on the river. Also noted 2 Red-necked Grebe, 7
Horned Grebe, 27 male White-winged Scoter and 11 Long-tailed Duck.
good birding
Bruce
Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O.Box 538
Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0
(613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell
Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/
Directions: Andrew Hayden Park: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west, turn
north on Bayshore Drive, continue to Carling Ave. Turn left (west) on
Carling Ave. Proceed along Carling Ave. and watch for Andrew Haydon Park
Water Park on your right.
Dick Bell Park is located just west of A.H.Park along Carling Ave.
------------------------------
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End of ONTBIRDS Digest, Vol 20, Issue 39
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