Strong northerly winds persisted for most of the week creating favourable conditions for migration on certain days. On October 23, the Tip crew experienced the busiest day of the season so far banding an impressive 404 birds of 27 species.There have been some moderately busy morning flights and diurnal migrations throughout the week on favourable north-west winds with primary comrpsied of winter finches, American Robins and a mix of other goodies The seven best locations at Long Point to observe these flights are (west to east): The Coves, BSC Headquarters in Port Rowan, Big Creek National Wildlife Area, the Dyke at the Old Cut Research Station, the Long Point Provincial Park - Turtle Dunes Campground, Breakwater (restricted access), and the Tip ( access only). See the <http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbt&lang=EN> Long Point Birding Trail for location details.
Large numbers of waterfowl continue to in the area with about 40-50,000 ducks on Long Point's Inner and Outer bay at any given time. Best viewing sites are the Inner Bay look outs in Port Rowan and the Causeway. Early mornings flights of mostly Redheads and Canvasback (currently 15-20,000) leaving the Inner Bay to roost on the open lake can be observed at the Old Cut Research Station or Long Point Provincial Park. Raptors continue to frequent the shorelines on favourable winds and owl migration has just started to pick up at the stations with 22 Northern Saw-whet owls banded at Old Cut on October 24. Visitors are always welcome. Daily birding hikes depart the Old Cut Research Station one hour after sunrise, and banding demonstrations occur all morning until November 15. Owl banding takes place each night (weather permitting) and begins one hour after sunset. LPBO's Old Cut Research Station is located at 15 Old Cut Blvd, Port Rowan, ON N0E 1M0 Follow @LongPointBirdOb on Twitter, on Facebook at fb.com/LPBO, or Instagram @longpointbirds for daily updates on banding and birding at Long Point. Highlights: Snow Goose - Seven (6 white, 1 blue) were observed at the Long Point Provincial Park - Turtle Dunes on October 19 (AE, KGB). Brant - Twelve birds were observed flying off the Tip October 18, and 3 were observed on October 19 (SDS, JBF). Tundra Swan - A high count of 120 were observed October 25 on the Outer Bay (LPBO). American Wigeon - Many thousands continue to congregate on the Inner Bay (LPBO). Redhead - High count of 18,000 flying over Old Cut on the morning of October 25 (LPBO). Scaup - Approximately 25-30,000, primarily Greater, are frequenting Long Point's Outer Bay. Some thousands of Lessers can be found in more sheltered waters (LPBO). Scoters - White-winged, Black and Surf scoters have been regula-rly observed in large numbers in the Outer Bay and at the Tip (LPBO). Long-tailed Duck - Decent numbers are now frequenting the area, primarily in the Outer Bay and off the Tip. Ruddy Duck - Up to 5,000 can be found on the Inner Bay and off Long Point's south shore. Horned Grebe - A high count of 53 were observed at the Tip October 25 (LPBO). Red-necked Grebe - Scattered sighting off the Tip this week including two October 25 (JBF, SDS). Ruby-throated Hummingbird - A late individual was observed in the Long Point Provincial Park on October 21 (SAM). Virginia Rail - One was observed crossing a channel at Big Creek NWA on October 26 (BN) American Golden Plover - One was observed flying over the Long Point Provincial Park - Turtle Dunes on October 19 (AE). A young bird was observed at the Tip on October 21 - 22 (JBF). Common Gallinule - A late bird was seen at the BSC Headquarter's October 22 (SAM). Dunlin - A high count of 100 were observed at Turkey Point October 20 (SAM). Little Gull - Three were observed at the Tip October 18, another October 21, and two in the Outer Bay October 25 (JBF). Red-throated Loon - Numerous indivduals were observed throughout the period with highs of 3 at the Tip October 18 and the Long Point Provincial Park October 21. American Bittern - One was observed in the Long Point Provincial Park October 24 (SAM). Bald Eagle - An impressive 33 birds were seen flying past Tip and over the lake October 17 (LPBO). Northern Goshawk - One was observed flying over Old Cut October 24 (HBM). Broad-winged Hawk - A late bird was observed over Old Cut October 23 (Friends of LPBO). Red-shouldered Hawk - A young bird was observed at the Long Point Provincial Park October 19 (AE), and an adult bird was seen floating flying past Old Cut October 22 (Friends of LPBO). Golden Eagle - A young bird was observed flying over Old Cut October 18 (KGC, PCD), two at the Long Point Provincial Park - Turtle Dunes October 19 (AE), and an adult at the same location October 24 (SAM, RR). Northern Saw-whet Owl - Nightly monitoring continues at both stations until November 15. Eastern Screech Owl - A young bird was banded at Old Cut on October 20 and another was recaptured at the Tip on October 24 (LPBO). Short-eared Owl - One was observed at the Turtle Dunes in the Long Point Provincial Park October 19 (AE), and another at the Big Creek National Wildlife Area October 26 (SAM). Long-eared Owl - One was heard during owl monitoring on October 24 at Old Cut (PCD, MED). Red-headed Woodpecker - Two birds were observed at Old Cut, single birds at the Tip (DR, JBF), and Long Point Provincial Park October 21 (SAM, APT, RR). Red-bellied Woodpecker - Twenty were observed migrating past the Long Point Provincial Park - Turtle Dunes on October 19 (AE). Northern Shrike - The first of the season was observed at Old Cut October 19 and another October 21(LEB). The Tip has had regular observations this week including a young bird banded October 21 (LPBO). Red-eyed Vireo - Two late individuals were seen this week. One was photographed on a private residence on October 20, and another was observed October 21 at Turtle Dunes (KB, AT, SAM). Common Raven - One was seen on HWY 45 near West Quarter Line October 22 (TA). Bank Swallow - 10 late individuals were observed at Old Cut October 22 (PCD, MED, MIB). Barn Swallow - Two were observed flying past the BSC headquarters October 23 (SAM). Cliff/ Cave Swallow - An unidentified light-rumped swallow was observed flying past the BSC headquarters October 23, however the bird was suspected to be a Cliff. (SAM) Tree Swallow - Double-digit numbers were observed throughout the week. Red-breasted Nuthatch - Large numbers continue to migrate through the area. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - A late individual was observed at the Tip from October 23-25 (SDS). Eastern Bluebird - Impressive numbers have been seen this fall at the main visible migration spots. American Robin - A high of 1,126 were observed at the Long Point Provincal Park - Turtle Dunes on October 21 (SAM, RR). Brown Thrasher - A late bird appeared at the Tip October 21-24 (LPBO). Northern Mockingbird - One made a brief appearance in the garden at the Tip October 24 (SDS). American Pipit - This species has been actively moving through the area. A high count of 91 was observed flying over Long Point Provincal Park - Turtle Dunes October 21 (SAM). Evening Grosbeak - Two birds were observed at Turtle Dunes October 21 (SAM). Winter Finches - Large numbers of Purple Finches, American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins are still moving through the area. Snow Bunting - The first of the season showed up at the Tip and Long Point Provincial Park October 21 (LPBO, SAM), a high count of four birds were seen October 22 (SVS, JBF). Lapland Longspur - Two birds were observed at the Tip October 24, this sighting represents for the first of the season. (JBF) Vesper Sparrow - A high count of 22 birds were observed at the Tip October 21 (LPBO). Rusty Backbird - Large numbers continue to pass through the area. Listen carefully in those flocks of blackbirds to observe this species. Icterids - Large numbers of Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds can be observed flying through the region in the multiple tens of thousands. The Tip experienced a fallout during a passing thunderstorm October 23 that involved ~12,000 individuals landing on the beach and in the garden. (LPBO). Approxiamtely 250,000, primarily grackles, were observed flying into a roost at Big Creek National Wildlife Area October 26 (SAM). Warblers - Several late and lingering species have been observed in the area throughout the week including American Redstart, Blackpoll, Common Yellowthroat, Magnolia, Nashville, Orange-crowned and Tennessee Warblers. possible Hermit Warbler - Some very compelling photos were taken of this bird at the Long Point Provincial Park October 18 (AE - available here: https://ebird.org/canada/view/checklist/S49281961). There has been some debate over the identification of this bird, but Hermit Warbler seems to be the most likely candidate at this stage. The investigation will continue, but ultimately the final decision may rest with the Ontario Rare Bird Record Committee (OBRC) and ebirder reviewer commons. If accepted by the OBRC, this will be Long Point's second record. The first was observed at Old Cut May 2, 1982. However, this record was not accepted by the OBRC despite only one vote to not accept. The species is not currently on the official Long Point Checklist. Rose-breasted Grosbeak - An adult male was seen at Inasphere Wines October 20 (JRA, CC). Indigo Bunting - A late individual was observed this week at Turtle Dunes October 19 (AT, SAM). Observers - Jody Allair (JRA), Anonymous eBirder (AE), Tim Arthur (TA), Michaela Berdough (MIB), Lucas Berrigan (LB), Kathryn Boothby (KB), Claire Cowan (CC), Peter Denyer (PCD), Maddie Davies (MED), Anonymous eBirder (AE), Brett Fried (JBF), Kyle Cameron (KCG), Jesse Lewis (JBL), Stu Mackenzie (SAM), Hugh McArthur HBM), Brandon Norman (BN), Dan Riley (DR), Sachi Snively (SDS), Adam Timpf (AT), Ron Ridout (RR), Ross Wood (RWW), Friends of LPBO and Long Point Bird Observatory staff (LPBO). Explore the <http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbt&lang=EN> Long Point Birding Trail. You can help contribute to sightings in the Long Point area by submitting your sightings to <http://www.ebird.ca/> eBird or by sharing them with us at <mailto:l...@birdscanada.org> l...@birdscanada.org. For more information on the research, education, and training programs of LPBO <http://www.bsc-eoc.org/longpoint/index.jsp?lang=EN> select this link and check out the <http://www.bsc-eoc.org/library/LPBOreport.pdf> 2017 LPBO Program Report. 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 at the LPBO Shoppe and BSC headquarters. Contact me off-list if you'd like to be a part of the LPBO Bird Alert Group (requires a mobile phone and WhatsApp) which is the front-line for birds of interest in the Long Point area, but birds of provincial significance will also be posted to Ontbirds. Good birding, Stu _______________________________________________ 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
