[Ontbirds] chimney swift roost
Hi Ont birdersLast night, August 13th David Gascoigne, John Litchy and myself monitored the Dickson school Chimney Swift roost site in Cambridge. Swift numbers have been building from 66 on August 2nd to 336 on August 12th. Gail Hill and Genie Berger counted 66 on August 2nd. Last nights activity was very different from previous nights as the swifts circled the chimney for a longer period and most only went in close to dusk. It was quite a spectacle to see between 200 to 300 swifts flying in the air at the same time. The majority ( about 75% ) went in over a 3-4 minute period. This made it difficult to count them. Our total was 366. We also had 4 Common Nighthawks. On previous nights they arrived over a 1 hour period and went in the south chimney in small groups which made it easier to count them. Our peak count last year was 326 on August 27th. We did not start monitoring until August 26th last year ( 300 on the 26th ) so it will be interesting to see how the numbers build over the next week and a half. This school is a heritage building and is apparently slated to be condominiums after the next and last school year. Bill Read Directions: From Highway 24 (Hespeler Road/Water St.) go to Concession Street. Turn west on Concession, cross the bridge, and turn north on Grand Ave. Turn left at the second street on the left, St. Andrews. The school is located at 65 St. Andrews St. Access the parking area (and chimney), by driving past the school, turning left on Fraser St., then left at the first street. This dead ends at the school. Great parking available, bring a lawn chair for comfortable viewing. Arrive about 1.5 hours before dusk to watch the birds circling the building, before they dive into the chimney. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] red headed woodpecker
Hi Ont Birders1 adult RHWP on a hydro pole on Burt Road, north of St.George. From the main intersection in St. George go noth to the first intersection which is Howell Road, turn right and go about 1 Km to Burt Road then turn left or north and watch for it on the hydro poles. This is the same location where I had adults with young last year. Bill Read ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] great egret
Hi Ont Birders I observed 9 Great Egrets in a large pond near the Cambridge Tim Horton camp around 5.30 pm today. There were 2 Solitary Sandpipers as well. Go south on Hwy 24 from Galt ( Cambridge ) Go past the cut off to Glen Morris ( which veers off to the right ) and go up the hill. When you get to the top of the hill you will be turning left on Glen Morris Road, It is not marked but I believe there is a sign to the Tim Horton camp. Go about 1 km just past the Tim Horton camp and the pond is on the left or north side. Bill Read ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Lindsay Sewage Lagoons - phalaropes
I birded the Lindsay sewage lagoons on Monday and there was lots of activity. Red-necked phalarope Least sandpiper Solitary sandpiper Spotted sandpiper Killdeer Wilsons snipe American Bittern Pie-billed grebe Common gallinule Redhead duck Wood duck Mallard Canada goose Bonaparte's gull Caspian tern Double-crested cormorant Marsh wren Swamp sparrow Happy birding Kim Clark The Lindsay sewage lagoons are open Mon-Fri from 7 am - 3 pm. Go to the large building and sign in. Directions: From Highway 7, go north on Highway 36, turn left on Wilson Road then left again on Lagoon Road - follow this around through the gates. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Chimney swifts at Ashbridges Bay
I noticed 12-18 chimney swifts flying incredibly low over the southeast finger of Ashbridges Bay. I don't recall seeing swifts at the Bay before and, at times, they were flying with the swallows. This was at 1 PM and pre-rain. I haven't seen my residental East York swifts for a bit - not sure if they're making their way south and this is why I saw a gathering at Ashbridges Bay. Also observed were a few yellow warblers, blue-grey gnatcatchers. Heard were: one kingfisher, baltimore oriole, an off-shore grebe (too far to be observed) Ashbridges Bay is at Coxwell south of Lakeshore in Toronto ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
