Ontbirders, This is my second and summary report for the period 7 to 13 August 2018 from Longridge Point (51.798942N, 080.69204W) on the southwest coast of James Bay in Ontario about 910 km (565 mi) north of Toronto. This report pertains only to Longridge. The vast tidal mudflats make James Bay one of the most important shorebird stopover sites in North America.
LINK to 10 pages of photos and videos. http://www.jeaniron.ca/2018/JB18/p1.htm SHOREBIRDS: We recorded 26 species of shorebirds from 31 July to 13 August. Notable counts since last report: Black-bellied Plover: 154 adults on 11 August American golden-Plover: 7 on 10th Semipalmated Plover: 100 on 9th and 10th Hudsonian Godwit: 636 on 12th Ruddy Turnstone: 956 on 12th Red Knot: 361 on 11th Sanderling: 340 on 12th White-rumped Sandpiper 4600 on 12th Pectoral Sandpiper: 80 on 12th. First juvenile on 10th Semipalmated Sandpiper high count: 2679 on 10th Wilson's Snipe: 35 on 11th Greater Yellowlegs: 65 on 12th Lesser Yellowlegs: 182 on 10th OTHER SPECIES Black Scoter: 775 on 9th American White Pelican: 5 on 12th Rough-legged Hawk: 1 on 11th Sora: 3 on 8th Sandhill Crane: 45 on 11th Bonaparte's Gull: 1135 on 12th Little Gull: 1 adult on 9th, 10th & 11th, and 3 on 12th - adult and 2 juveniles (Doug McRae took photos) Caspian Tern: 1 adult on 12th Arctic Tern: 1 adult on 12th Common Nighthawk: 1 on 9th Olive-sided Flycatcher: 1 on 8 and 9th Blackpoll Warbler 10 on 12th LONGRIDGE CREW: 7 crew members were Isabel Apkarian, Jean Iron, Doug McRae (crew lead), Michael Runtz, Hannah Shinton, Riley Walsh and Ross Wood ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Surveys are under the direction of Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment and Climate Change Canada) with partners Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Trent University, and Bird Studies Canada in conjunction with a larger conservation initiative involving James Bay First Nations and Nature Canada. We look forward to James Bay receiving recognition as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway Toronto, Ontario on 22 August 2018 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
