Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the week ending JULY 3, 2003
Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the week ending JULY 3, 2003 Fall Migration has started for shorebirds. On the evening of July 1st, 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 29 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS were foraging in the marsh. On July 3rd there were 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 21 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS. The Yellowlegs were primarily foraging in the nw area of the marsh in newly vegetated shallow water. CASPIAN TERNS attempted nesting on the gravel island. However by July 1st both nests appeared abandoned. COMMON TERNS numbers are increasing with non or failed breeders using the marsh in addition to the existing colony. A large roost of immature BONAPARTE'S GULLS is building in the Second Marsh with 263 birds there June 26. The first adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS have returned with 3 present July 3rd. Also, 1 to 2 immature LITTLE GULLS are mixed in with them. Several young waterfowl families have appeared in the marsh over the last 10 days. Most are MALLARDS, however WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER and NORTHERN PINTAIL families can also be seen. Several species of moulting males are increasing. These bachelor flocks consist primarily of MALLARDS(150+), GADWALLS(40+), AMERICAN WIGEONS(20+), BLUE (20+) and GREEN-WINGED TEAL(10+) and NORTHERN SHOVELERS (20+). Loitering waterfowl observed almost daily include LESSER SCAUP (2), GREATER SCAUP (1), BLACK DUCK (2), HOODED MERGANSER (2) and REDHEAD (2). On June 17 there was a pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Lake Ontario off the marsh. The Swan flock has appeared to have now moved to Lake Ontario off the western edge of Darlington Provincial Park. 51 Mute Swans were present there July 3. A family of COMMON MOORHENS was seen on June 26th and July 3rd. The GREAT EGRET was last reported June 18th. Also on that day a LEAST BITTERN was reported. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are increasing as they disperse from their colonies; 7 were observed on July 3rd. The resident pair of COOPER'S HAWKS in Darlington Provincial Park are roaming further from their nest site to feed their growing family. They can regularly be seen foraging over the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. An OSPREY has been a regular around the Second Marsh lately. It was last seen June 27th hunting over the marsh. Passerines on territory in the Oshawa Second Marsh and McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve area include MOURNING WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW, MARSH WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ORCHARD AND BALTIMORE ORIOLE, BOBOLINK, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, BROWN THRASHER, GRAY CATBIRD, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Our thanks for this week's contributors: Brian Brasier, Durham Rare Bird Line, Tyler Hoar, Ray Laughlin, Jim Richards, Keith Sharp, and Wioletta Walancik. Please send sightings reports to the attention of Tyler Hoar, (e-mail) [EMAIL PROTECTED] no later than Thursday morning each week. For a trail map of Second Marsh visit www.secondmarsh.com There is a link on that site that will take you to a trail map for McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. Directions Exit from the 401 at the Harmony Rd. Exit (419) in Oshawa. Go south on Farewell St. to Colonel Sam Drive. Go east on Colonel Sam Drive to the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. The east platform is located here. To see the Lake Ontario waterbirds proceed along the path from the parking lot south to the lakeshore. Tyler Hoar [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
Ottawa Peregrines et al
Our 2003 Falcon Watch closed last evening, and Solitaire is now our first native-hatched female peregrine to survive her initial fledging period! During the Falcon Watch we watched as our adult male, Connor, chased off 2 Common Ravens and an as yet unidentified buteo. We also saw 3 Double-crested Cormorants circling together overhead (downtown Ottawa) and heard a couple of Common Nighthawks flying around in our area just after shutting down for the evenings. Cheers, Eve -Eve Ticknor Coordinator, OFNC Peregrine Falcon Watch 38-9 Gillespie Cres. Ottawa, Ontario, K1V 9T5 Canada (613) 737-7551 [EMAIL PROTECTED] The great opportunity is where you are... Every place is under the stars, every place is the center of the world. eve ticknor [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
sharp-shinned hawks at Niagara Falls
While visiting Niagara Falls on Tuesday July 1, I saw two sharp-shinned hawks put on a terrific display of flying and mock-collisions out over the gorge about 100 yards from the base of the falls. It's not the rarity of the birds, but the length of the display, the extremely public location that struck me as interesting and I wondered if they are living nearby and do it on a regular basis. The birds flew overhead, at eye level and below us as we watched from the railing. At one point, one of them tucked his wings in and divebombed at a 45 degree angle towards the falls, pulling up just short of the spray. After about 10 minutes, they landed on the roof of the old power plant just below Table Rock. If you're taking visitors to Niagara Falls this summer, have a look for them. We also saw many Baltimore orioles in Queenston and Niagara-On-the-Lake and the usual turkey vultures. Take the Queen Elizabeth Way to Niagara Falls and follow the signs. Parking at the falls is $12 (!!). Follow the road beside the river out of Niagara Falls (it turns into the Niagara Parkway) for Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Kathryn Mills [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
Wilsons Warbler at Pelee
Dear Ontbirders... Noteworthy at Pelee yesterday (July 3rd) was a male WILSONS WARBLER seen along the south side of Delaurier Trail. Certainly not a bird one expects at Pelee in the first week of July. Also of note was a singing male ALDER FLYCATCHER in the same location. Also at least eight YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS in Delaurier fields and a nest of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO with two chicks and one egg (plus lots of other heard YBC). Good Birding! Tom Tom Hince Wild Rose Guest House On the web at: http://www.netcore.ca/~peleetom RR#1 (21298 Harbour Rd.) Wheatley, ONT. (gateway to Point Pelee National Park) N0P 2P0Canada (519) 825-9070 (phone/voice)(519) 825-9169 (fax) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tom Hince [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
Great-tailed Grackle in St. Catharines
A bird identified as a great-tailed Grackle was seen late yesterday afternoon in north St. Catharines. The bird is associating with a number of Common Grackles and the group is moving around the backyards of a residential area. The sighting yesterday was near the corners of Grantham Road and Bessborough Road across the road from Grantham Road Park. If you choose to look for the bird and are successful in refinding it, please telephone one of the following with the details: John Black - 905-684-0143, Alan Smith - 905-937-7891, Kayo Roy-905-892-4433. Directions: Exit the Niagara bound QEW at Niagara Street in St. Catharines. This exit will fork, you need to take the left fork to the lights at Welland Ave. Turn left, go under the QEW to the second light which is Grantham Avenue. Turn left here and go past the next three lights (Facer St, Carlton St, Scott St)Grantham Road Park will quickly be on your left. Opposite the north end of the park is Bessborough Road. Start your search here but the bird could be anywhere in a fairly wide area. Good luck. Kayo Kayo Roy 13 Kinsman Court Fonthill, ON. L0S 1E3 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Diane and Kayo Roy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
more on Niagara Falls sharpies
I have received some suggestions that my sharp-shinned hawks might have been peregrine falcons, which have been known to nest nearby. I'll be interested to hear if anybody else sees them and can confirm what they are. Kathryn Mills [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
Great-tailed Grackle in St. Catharines
The GTGR seen yesterday in North St. Catharines was a no show today. If the bird is refound over the week-end, we will make sure a message is sent out immediately on ONTBIRDS. Kayo Kayo Roy 13 Kinsman Court Fonthill, ON. L0S 1E3 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Diane and Kayo Roy [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
