LPBO Sightings Board 30 September to 10 October The October floodgates opened last week with a significant movement of temperate migrants accompanied by the last of the tropical ones. Diversity and numbers of Waterfowl, Raptors, and other waterbirds continued to build and there was a great mix of shorebirds throughout the week. The activity began October 5th as thousands of Yellow-rumped Warblers funnelled onto the point accompanied by more than 20 other warbler species, most vireos, thrushes, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. By the end of the week the mix had shifted almost entirely to temperate migrants with kinglets dominating the woodlot along with Hermit Thrush, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-crowned, White-throated, and even the season's first Fox and American Tree sparrows. 2,631 birds of over 60 species were banded at LPBO this past week.
Highlights: Tundra Swan - The first three of the season were observed October 10 and 11 (LPBO). Redhead - As many as 4000 have been making near daily flights from the Inner Bay to Lake Erie throughout the week (LPBO). Red-throated Loon -One was observed flying south over the Tip on census October 6 (DLL). Horned Grebe -A raft of 300 were observed off the Tip October 10 (LPBO). Double-crested Cormorant - 5,000 were observed at the Tip October 7 (LPBO). Great Egret - One was observed flying west over the Tip October 4 (ACC, FHC), five were observed flying over Old Cut October 5 (JJC), and a single at Old Cut October 10 (LPBO). Golden Eagle - One first basic was observed 5 km southwest of Simcoe October 5 (SAM). Hudsonian Godwit - One was observed at the Tip October 3 (DLL, SMS). Dunlin - The first of the season was observed at the Tip October 1 (SMS, ELC) and others were observed throughout the week (LPBO). Baird's Sandpiper - A lingering individual was last observed at the Tip October 1 (LPBO). Parasitic Jaeger - A first basic dark phase was observed at the Tip October 2 (DLL, NMR, SMS). Bonaparte's Gull - Numbers have been increasing throughout the period with 2,000 observed at the Tip October 7 (LPBO). Little Gull - Two were observed at the Tip October 7 (DLL). Laughing Gull - A definitive basic bird was observed at Port Dover on October 4 (TL). Lesser Black-backed Gull - A first basic bird was observed at the Tip October 3 and 7 (LPBO). Yellow-billed Cuckoo - High numbers were observed at the Tip with 16 and 15 observed at the Tip on October 5 and 6, respectively. Northern Saw-whet Owl - The first of the season for Old Cut was banded October 9 and small numbers have been banded at the Tip and Old Cut since (LPBO). Eastern Whip-Poor-Will - One individual was observed on census at Old Cut October 4 and one bird was flushed from the Tip October 4 & 5(LPBO) and one was banded at the Tip October 10 (LPBO). Red-headed Woodpecker - Individuals were observed at Old Cut and the Tip October 9 (LPBO). Northern Flicker - A high of 263 were observed at Old Cut on October 9 (LPBO). Peregrine Falcon - One was banded at the Tip October 11 (LPBO). Warbling Vireo - A late individuals was observed in the new provincial park October 6 (BF, BC). Philadelphia Vireo - A late individual was observed in the new provincial park October 6 (BF, BC). White-eyed Vireo - First of the season was observed on census at the Tip October 1 (SMS). Purple Martin - One was observed at the Tip October 8 (DLL). Tree Swallow - Two were observed October 8 (SMS), and 30 were observed at Old Cut October 11 (SAM). Hermit Thrush - 259 were estimated to be at the Tip October 9 (LPBO). Wood Thrush - One was observed south of Delhi October 5 (MF). Orange-crowned Warbler - Numerous individuals were observed and banded throughout the period (LPBO). Hooded Warbler - One individual was observed October 8 and a first basic male banded October 9 at Old Cut (LPBO). Northern Parula - A significant push moved through the area this last week with numerous banded and observed with a high of 15 observed at Old Cut and the new Provincial Park October 6 (SAM, BC, BF). Yellow-rumped Warbler - Tens of thousands moved through Long Point this last week with highs of 830 and 968 at the Tip and Old Cut on October 8 and 9, respectively (LPBO). Warbler Hybrid (Pine x Myrtle) - A first basic bird was banded at the Tip October 5 (LPBO). American Tree Sparrow - First of the season was observed at the Tip October 4 (SMS). Vesper Sparrow - One was observed at the October 3 to 5 (DLL, LPBO). Nelson's Sparrow - An individual was observed at the Tip October 6 and 10 (SMS, NMR, DLL). Scarlet Tanager - Individuals were observed at Old Cut and the new Provincial Park October 5 and 6 (SAM, BC, BF). Indigo Bunting - A large push moved through the area on October 5 with over 20 observed at Old Cut (SAM). Rose-breasted Grosbeak - A late first basic male was observed at Old Cut October 5 (SAM). Bobolink - 5 late individuals were observed at Old Cut October 5 (SAM). Eastern Meadowlark - The first migrants were observed at Old Cut October 5 and 6 (SAM, JJC). Rusty Blackbird - Small flocks have been flying past Old Cut daily with a few birds residing at the Tip since October 1 (LPBO). Purple Finch - Low numbers persisted throughout the period (LPBO). Pine Siskin - Numbers continued to build throughout the period with 108 and 73 on October 5 and 8, respectively (LPBO). Observers: Angela Caguazango (ACC), Barb Charlton (BC), Janice Chard (JJC), Emma Cushnie (ELC), Myles Falconer (MF), Brett Fried (BF), FlorHernedez (FHC), Dayna LeClair (DLL), Tim Lucas (TL), Stu Mackenzie (SAM), Jim Mackiewicz (GJM), Linda Mackiewicz (LHM),Nancy Raginski (NMR), Shawn Sullivan (SMS), Adam Timpf (APT). Season to Date Banding Totals: Old Cut - 2,652 Tip - 2,730 Breakwater - 1,331 Countdown to 1,000,000 = 945,809 ! Explore the Long Point Birding Trail<http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbt&lang=EN>. Updates of the birds in the area can be viewed through eBird<http://www.ebird.ca> on LPBO's main web-page<http://www.birdscanada.org/lpbo>. You can help contribute to sightings in the Long Point area by submitting your sightings to eBbird<http://www.ebird.ca> or by sharing them with us at l...@birdscanada.org<mailto:l...@birdscanada.org>. The Old Cut Research Station is open to the public every day until November 15. For more information on the research, education, and training programs of LPBO select this link<http://www.birdscanada.org/lpbo> and check out the 2013 LPBO Program Report<http://www.bsc-eoc.org/library/LPBOreport.pdf> or LPBO E-news<http://www.birdscanada.org/download/LPBOenews.pdf>. Your best source for information about the birds and birding sites around Long Point can be found in A Birding Guide to the Long Point Area by Ron Ridout available here<http://www.bir dscanada.org/shopping/shop.jsp>. Directions to Long Point can be found here: - http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbovisit&lang=EN Good birding, Stu __________________________________________________________ Stuart A. Mackenzie Motus Wildlife Tracking System Manager LPBO Program Manager Long Point Bird Observatory - Bird Studies Canada/Etudes d'Oiseaux Canada PO Box 160, 115 Front Rd. Port Rowan, Ontario. N0E 1M0. (519)-586-3531 X 162(office), Fax:586-3532, Mobile:820-6040 smacken...@birdscanada.org<mailto:smacken...@birdscanada.org> www.birdscanada.org/lpbo www.motus-wts.org _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
