Don Sands here...
McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve Observation Highlights for June 27, 2007
8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Orchard Oriole singing. It flew to various locations within the reserve.
Black Crowned Night Heron at South-East end of Second Marsh
Caspian Terns, 10+, flying eastward along shore, single individuals.
Location:
http://www.satsig.net/maps/satellite-photo-image-viewer.htm
Latitude = 43.87348851925308, Longitude = -78.80222797393799
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To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
From: John Tyacke <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 17:25:05 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Lesser Yell and Least Sand - Holland Landing
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Thursday 28 June, noon to 1.30 pm.
Male Indigo Bunting in the trees just inside the gate.
4 Lesser Yellowlegs and 2 Least Sandpipers with 15 male Green-winged
Teal. [Also one Spottie and ten Killdeer]. All in the fourth lagoon.
Ron Pittaway's directions copied below:
Directions: About 50 km north of Toronto. From Highway 401 go north
on 404 to Green Lane (last exit). Go west on Green Lane to 6th
traffic light. Turn right on Yonge St. and go about 1 km and exit to
Holland Landing Road. Follow winding road (no turns) through Holland
Landing for 5.6 km. Turn right on Cedar St. to lagoons. If you get to
Queensville Side Road you've gone about 1 km past Cedar St. Do not
block gate. Also do not climb the new gate. Last year the old gate
was broken off its hinges because people climbed it. Go to small
opening at left of fence to old road. Walk 15 steps to orange stake.
Walk short distance past large white pine to lagoon road. Wear long
pants because of poison ivy. Last summer I met York Region staff at
the lagoons several times. They were always friendly and even looked
through the scope. Our good behaviour will ensure access continues.
John Tyacke and Julie Berger
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From: "Terry Sprague" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Thu, 28 Jun 2007 19:33:25 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 28th
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WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA
for the week ending Thursday, June 28, 2007
It may be a chaise lounge and a coke or a beer for us on these hot, sultry
days of summer, but for local birds, the common garden variety backyard bird
bath is still king! This week, we have an outstanding series of photos
accompanying the online edition of this report from Thomasburg by
photographer Russ Kitchen, of birds caught in the act of being themselves.
Almost every e-mailed submission this week focussed on birds at the bird
bath as clients did what they could to cool themselves off. Our own 4 bird
baths in our backyard have to be cleaned and refilled daily, and birds are
seemingly lined up, waiting their turn, at a small waterfall in our water
garden.
One Belleville area resident commented that their time refilling the bird
bath could be better spent if they could somehow teach the birds how to use
the garden hose. A Picton resident reports daily bathing by CHIPPING
SPARROWS, AMERICAN ROBINS, BLUE JAYS, COMMON GRACKLES, and even some bees
that come to obtain moisture. At Thomasburg, where this week's photos were
obtained, one bird bath, actually a backyard pond, is doing double duty by
providing some nearby mud for an AMERICAN ROBIN in the process of building a
nest. They also noted from their theatre seat on the back deck, another
robin trying to encourage her young one to bathe in the pond, flying from
one side of the pond to the other, dipping her belly and wing feathers into
the water while in flight, landing on the other side, and calling to her
chick to give it a try. Finally, after giving the young bird a gentle shove,
she gave up and left the young bird to scowl over the revolting substance in
the pond, a response not unlike that from many children.
Elsewhere, the oppressive heat and dry conditions have left birds in a
"fowl" mood. Incredible noise and commotion at a residence along Picton's
Ridge Road attracted the attention of residents who noted a posse of
AMERICAN ROBINS, EUROPEAN STARLINGS, a HOUSE SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS
and an EASTERN KINGBIRD, all mobbing an AMERICAN CROW that was attempting to
pillage a robin's nest. On the same property, another incident involved 3
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS squawking on a fence, all worked up about an AMERICAN
ROBIN and a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD entangled in the protective netting
over a strawberry patch. Along County Road 1, a motorist there noted several
smaller birds putting the run on a TURKEY VULTURE who was flapping
vigorously at tree top level in an effort to shake off the strange pests.
East of Picton, a young COMMON GRACKLE, apparently abandoned by its parents,
spends day and night in a backyard, sleeping in a cedar house feeder, and
avoiding contact with the rest of the backyard residents.
We can only presume it is also the heat that was responsible for other
bizarre behaviour, reported during the week. The owner of Belleville's Sam
the Record Man left an e-mail about a pair of MUTE SWANS that had attempted
to build a nest in a wetland area near his Point Anne home. Three eggs were
deposited, then seemingly abandoned. A few days ago, he witnessed a GREAT
BLUE HERON rolling over the eggs as though they were her own. Next day the
swans showed up, led by a single young CANADA GOOSE, but never went near the
nest. After the swans left with their adoptee, nine other swans showed up,
and they too, went into the small bay, but never went near the nest, staying
for a few hours, then leaving. Must be the heat.
While many people claim it is too hot to eat, bird feeders however would beg
to disagree. Hummingbird and oriole feeders are being regularly patronized
by - hummingbirds and orioles, of course. One Maitland Drive resident at
Belleville tallied up no fewer than 14 species of birds and mammals, all
with young stumbling around the back yard, many of which are regulars at the
feeding station. HAIRY WOODPECKERS are regulars to a feeder on Barker Street
in Picton; at Glenora Road, many ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, 5 WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES, 10 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 2 PURPLE FINCHES and 4 CHIPPING
SPARROWS are regulars at a feeder there. To add even more colour to the
scene, a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is also feeding its young in a tree not far
from a feeder where it was a regular during the entire winter.
Other sightings during the week to put in an appearance, but with little
fanfare, was an UPLAND SANDPIPER a week ago at Mountain View. A CLAY-COLORED
SPARROW was heard singing by a Marsh Monitoring Project volunteer along
South Big Island Road last week. Abandoned farms in recent years have
created ideal habitat here for this species, and finding the birds is a case
of following them all over the place as they abandon former sites and
establish themselves in more ideal settings. Across the county border, three
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen near the Smithfield Experimental Farm, east of
Brighton yesterday.
This is a condensed version of the Quinte Area Bird Report, containing only
the significant sightings for Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. The
full version can be found on the NatureStuff website, under BIRDING from
the Main Menu.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.naturestuff.net
