Hi,
This morning (8:30 a.m.) I was surprised to heard a dove call that
wasn't a Mourning Dove. I heard it at the intersection of Inverness
Drive and Balmoral Drive in the northeast part of Guelph. More
specifically, it was heard calling from the backyard of the house
immediately west of the path that goes to Waverly Drive Public
School. Not knowing the calls of other dove species too well, I
wasn't sure what species it was. I did think of Eurasian Collared
Dove but as soon as I got to work, I promptly forgot to look into it
any further. Later in the afternoon (3:10 p.m.), my wife happened to
pass by the same spot and heard the bird calling again. She also saw
the bird and noted a black collar. However, she didn't have
binoculars or knew how to separate Eurasian Collared Dove from Ringed
Turtle Dove. Later still, around 6:00 p.m. I returned to the location
but heard and saw nothing.
At home I looked on the internet for sound files for the two species
but could only find one for Eurasian Collared Dove. Although my
memory is already failing me (yes, less than one day!), I would say
it was a three part song that resembled the Eurasian Collared Dove.
It didn't seem too loud but was given continuously for the several
minutes I was there. I'll have to ask my wife later what she remembered.
Anyways, perhaps someone else can be on the look out for the bird.
I'll be away this long weekend.
Good luck,
Karl Konze
Guelph, Ontario
PS. If you can direct me to a song file for the Ringed Turtle Dove I
would be grateful to check that out too.
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Date: Thu, 17 May 2007 22:24:52 -0400
From: Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending May 17, 2007.
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In many respects, mid-May represents the peak of the birding year at
Presqu'ile Provincial Park, and the past week has been true to form.
Although plenty of birds have been seen every day, some days have been
better than others. After Tuesday's overnight rain, a fallout of
warblers and other passerine birds occurred at the lighthouse, providing
great views as the birds foraged low in the shrubbery. Perhaps visitors
to the Warblers and Whimbrels celebration this coming weekend will have
similar opportunities. If the weather permits, the bird banding
operation on Saturday and Sunday mornings near the Owen Point Trail
parking lot will allow people to have some close-up views of birds in
the hand.
Brant have been seen every day since May 13. Late Common Goldeneyes
were seen on May 12 and 14. Only one Ruddy Duck was left on May 13 of
the flock that had been present since mid-March, and recent searches
have not located any. No Red-throated Loons have been reported since
that date either.
Green Herons were seen on two different dates, and a Black-crowned
Night-Heron was at the calf pasture on May 14. An Osprey seen in the
Park on May 11 may have been one of the birds that are nesting on the
opposite side of Presqu'ile Bay. Soras were encountered on each of the
past two days. While scanning for American Bitterns on the morning of
May 11, two birders were surprised to observe a Sandhill Crane standing
in the marsh.
Shorebirds have begun to appear along the beach and on the offshore
islands. Among others, there have been up to five Black-bellied
Plovers, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, and several Ruddy
Turnstones. Despite the advance billing provided by the Warblers and
Whimbrels title, it seems a few days early for the first Whimbrels to
appear. Both Wilson's Snipe and American Woodcock were found on May
14. Two Black Terns were at the woodpile marsh on May 16.
Usually cuckoos return to Presqu'ile before Common Nighthawks, but this
year three of the latter were seen over 83 Bayshore Road on May 15,
though none of the former have yet been seen. A Red-headed Woodpecker
was at the lighthouse on May 14, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers have been
seen there and elsewhere almost every day. Several early flycatchers
appeared on May 16, one each of Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder
Flycatcher, and Willow Flycatcher. An unprecedented six species of
vireos were present on May 16, including a rare White-eyed Vireo that
had first been found two days earlier, a Yellow-throated Vireo, and a
Philadelphia Vireo. A flock of 27 Blue Jays migrated over the
lighthouse on May 15, just before the storm. For the second consecutive
week, a Common Raven was seen in the eastern part of the Park, this one
on May 17. The previously reported Carolina Wren was still heard on May
11 and 12 and might still be present in the area between the Park store
and the bird sightings board. Marsh Wrens are vocal in the marsh these
days. Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers have built a nest along Paxton Drive.
Thrushes of various species have been numerous this week, but no
Gray-cheeked Thrush has yet been reported.
It has not been too difficult for a keen observer to find twenty species
of warblers in a day during the past week. Indeed one observer achieved
or surpassed that goal on three consecutive days. Twenty-seven species
in total were recorded at Presqu'ile in the past seven days, and 28 for
the season. Among the recent highlights were Blue-winged Warbler,
Golden-winged Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, and
Mourning Warbler.
Scarlet Tanagers have been seen daily and might be as much of an
attraction as the warblers for those who will be visiting the Park this
weekend expecting to see colourful birds. Not as colourful are the
sparrows, of which a Clay-colored Sparrow, Field Sparrows, a Savannah
Sparrow, and several Lincoln's Sparrows have been seen in the past
week. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, and Orchard Orioles
have been plentiful and will likely remain so for a few more days.
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. Access to the offshore islands is
restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there.
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.
