Congrats to Bruce on his Canadian first re: Cave Swallow. Regarding the 3 Cave/Cliff swallows on the 12th. I was personally willing to bet (if I were a gambling man) they were Cave Swallows, BUT (ah, the but) shadowing at that distance was just off enough for me NOT to be able to clinch the ID. I recall a sighting from some coastal location during a pervious Cave Swallow invasion in which Cliff Swallows were positively identified..so, if correct, means all that glitters isn't necessarily gold- but it keeps you on your toes! Given that there was a moderate easterly wind on the 13th, it's not too outlandish to think the 3 swallows at Cardinal on the 12th had moved a few miles west to shelter of the colossal grain elevator at Johnstown.
Sorry for not posting yesterday 14th. As Langis said, I met himself and Tom at Johnstown grain building yesterday in fine weather. No sign of Cave Swallows. I guess it was somewhat hit or miss on the 13th (and perhaps yesterday too) with the swallows potentially disappearing into the building or perhaps just being on the opposite side of it? I spent around 15 minutes watching the building on the 13th in the rain without success and about 2 hrs yesterday, which I guess is about my limit for staring at grain elevators in any weather. Sorry for the rant. Sightings from yesterday 14th : The SNOWY OWL had swapped position being on the first island mid-river just east of the international bridge. There was also a CACKLING GOOSE among about 400 Canada Geese by the Canadian shore in the small bay just to the west of the bridge. Good birding to all, Gerard On 11/15/08 6:31 AM, "Bruce Di Labio" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Everyone > Just a quick update on the Cave Swallows that were at Johnstown near Prescott. > Yesterday, November 13th I observed 3 CAVE SWALLOWS flying around the large > grain elevators just west of the international bridge. The swallows spent most > of the time fly-catching and occasionally would disappear into the building. I > watched them until 1:05 pm and they were still flying around despite the rain. > No reports from yesterday, Nov.14th. These birds are part of a major > north-east North American fallout. Birds have been recorded around the Great > Lakes, most of the New England States, the Canadian Maritime provinces, > including Newfoundland. The weather conditions still look good for a few more > days but the cold weather will be moving into our area early next week. If you > have an opportunity to look for Cave Swallows in eastern Ontario, I would > recommend spending a few hours along the St.Lawrence River between Ivy Lea and > the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at Cornwall. Also I would like to thank Gerard > Phillips for posting his observation of Cave/Cliff Swallows on November 12th. > I'd been looking for a week from Cornwall to Prince Edward Point. My first > for Canada. > good birding & good luck, Bruce > > > Di Labio Birding Website > Courses and Field Trips > http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/ > > Bruce Di Labio > 400 Donald B. Munro Drive > P.O. Box 538 > Carp, Ontario, K0A1L0 > Home (613) 839-4395 Cell (613) 715-2571 > _______________________________________________ > ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial > birding organization. > Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org > For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit > http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php > ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at > http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
