Smith's Longspur at South River
On Monday afternoon October 13 we checked out a small flock of Horned Larks behind the South River Water Treatment Plant. Our attention was drawn to a longspur skulking in the grass. We had good looks with binoculars and telescope. After consulting a number of references over the next couple of days we have concluded the bird was a Smith's Longspur. Compared to the larks it was a warm brownish colour, with fine streaking on a buffy breast and white eye ring. Other field marks noted aided in concluding that it was a Smith's Longspur. The area has been checked daily since but has not be relocated. The location is at 48 Howard Street in South River. South River is halfway between Huntsville and North Bay on highway #11. At the only traffic light take Ottawa Avenue east. Ottawa Avenue turns into Howard Street and past the second curve the water plant is on the right. The birds were in the short grass area to the east of the plant. Steve O'Donnell, Sundridge Martin Parker, South River [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Martin Parker" <[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.
WNY Dial-a-Bird 16 Oct 2003
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 10/16/2003 * NYBU0310.16 - Birds mentioned \\ Please phone in any rare sightings so they may be shared via the DAB telephone update system, and submit email contributions directly to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thank you, David / ELEGANT TERN RUBY-T. HUMMINGBIRD NELSON'S SHARP-T. SPARROW SANDHILL CRANE Eared Grebe Great Egret Greater Scaup Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-br. Merganser Bonaparte's Gull L. Black-b. Gull Red-br. Nuthatch Eastern Bluebird Veery Hermit Thrush Wood Thrush Northern Mockingbird Brown Thrasher Shrike species Yellow-r. Warbler Pine Warbler Field Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow White-cr. Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Purple Finch - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 10/16/2003 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report:Same Compiler: David F. Suggs ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Transcriber: David F. Suggs Thursday, October 16, 2003 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and this answering system was donated by the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings and use this system. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received October 9 through October 16 from the Niagara Frontier Region include ELEGANT TERN, RUBY- T. HUMMINGBIRD, NELSON'S SHARP-T. SPARROW and SANDHILL CRANE. October 15, the highlight of the week, month, and year or more, was an ELEGANT TERN, closely observed on the sand at Woodlawn Beach State Park, on Lake Erie, off Route 5 in Hamburg. The tern was seen at 4 PM, about 100 yards south of the creek at the north end of the beach. Extensive searching by multiple observers on the 16th did not re-locate the bird. ELEGANT TERN, a Mexican species, has never been recorded in the Niagara Frontier, and probably not many other locations in the eastern United States. There were two backyard reports of lingering RUBY-T. HUMMINGBIRDS this week. October 12, on Center Road in West Seneca, and October 14, on Stillwell Avenue in the Village of Kenmore. Any hummingbird observed during October should be carefully identified and reported. In the Town of Amherst, the most recent report of the NELSON'S SHARP-T. SPARROW along the bike path was October 12. On October 9, two SHARP-T. SPARROWS were reported at this location, in a wet ditch near the overflow channel, about one-half mile along the path. SHARP-T. SPARROW was also reported October 12 at the Iroquois Refuge, at the back of Cayuga Pool, accessed from Feeder Road. The BOS October count was conducted on October 12. One of the highlights was a SANDHILL CRANE, circling but not landing, over Cayuga Pool. The count section including Grand Island, Niagara Falls, Wheatfield and Pendleton reported 71 species. Nine waterfowl species were highlighted by 900 GREATER SCAUP and several each of HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER and RED-BR. MERGANSER. Eight sparrow species - CHIPPING SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, VESPER SPARROW, SAVANNAH SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, WHITE-THR. SPARROW and WHITE-CR. SPARROW. Also, 68 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 L. BLACK-B. GULLS, VEERY, WOOD THRUSH, 6 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, BROWN THRASHER, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and only one warbler species - YELLOW-R. WARBLER. DARK-EYED JUNCOS were also noted arriving at several feeders this week. The section from Olcott to Shadigee along Lake Ontario reported 60 species including 22 RED-BR. NUTHATCHES, PINE WARBLER, 4 HERMIT THRUSHES, 128 WHITE-CR. SPARROWS and 3 PURPLE FINCHES. October 12 at the Batavia Waste Water Plant, there were 3 EARED GREBES along with a GREAT EGRET marked with a red leg band from the Motor Island heronry. And at Knox Farm State Park in East Aurora, over 20 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were counted along the fences. Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, October 23. Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird. - End Transcript D Suggs <[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.
Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending October 16, 2003.
The past week has seen a steady flow of migrants through Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Both water birds and land birds have provided many opportunities for interesting birding. Almost every day this week, one or two Red-throated Loons have been patrolling the waterfront between Salt Point and the lighthouse, giving excellent views of a species that is often seen only far offshore. The best place for viewing Horned Grebes this week has been Popham Bay, where seeing 15-20 at a time is not unusual, but a group of over a dozen were swimming off the south side of Gull Island on October 16. This has been a week of interesting geese at Presqu'ile. Three Snow Geese, including one blue-phased, were on the beach on October 16, and a Brant that was first seen off Owen Point on October 13 has subsequently, at least until today, been lounging on the shore of Gull Island. In addition to the usual dabbling ducks, which are plentiful in the marsh, there has been a build-up of diving ducks on all sides of the peninsula. Among others, there were at least four Black Scoters near the lighthouse on October 16, and Buffleheads have appeared in small flocks since October 14. A late Osprey was seen at the calf pasture on October 12, and a Merlin was chasing the shorebirds around Gull Island on October 14. Other hawks have been less evident than in previous weeks. The first Rough-legged Hawk of the season can be expected any day now. A Ruffed Grouse in a birder's yard near the lighthouse was unexpected. There are still several dozen shorebirds in the Park, mostly Dunlins, but several species are lingering later than normal: Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated Sandpiper, and Least Sandpiper. With water levels dropping fast, it is not surprising that a number of Greater Yellowlegs and perhaps some Lesser Yellowlegs have appeared in the marsh. Up to two and possibly three Little Gulls were in the Owen Point/Gull Island area from October 12 to 14. An unidentified tern was seen in the distance on October 10. Campers in the High Bluff campground heard Great Horned Owls nearby on two consecutive nights last weekend. Thanks to a noisy group of Black-capped Chickadees, a well-hidden Northern Saw-whet Owl was revealed to a passing birder on October 13 and stayed in the same spot throughout the day, much to the delight of a good many interested passers-by, both birders and others. Eastern Phoebes and Blue-headed Vireos were among the few remaining insectivores during the past week. A Gray Catbird and a Brown Thrasher were weekend visitors at 83 Bayshore Road. The tally of warblers is down to four species: Nashville, Orange-crowned, Palm, and the ubiquitous Yellow-rumped. They have been replaced by sparrows and their allies, including at least three Eastern Towhees on October 13, a Vesper Sparrow on October 10, and two Lapland Longspurs on Gull Island on October 16. An Eastern Meadowlark was seen on October 10, and the first Pine Siskin of the season briefly visited a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road on October 16. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Visitors to Gull Island not using a boat should be prepared to wade through knee-deep water in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not available for bird watching on those days. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, R.R. #4, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Fred Helleiner <[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.
HSR: SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark (16 Oct 2003) Raptor counts (total=3702)
SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2003 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 1 1 Turkey Vulture3201 40698 42554 Osprey 0 34238 Bald Eagle 3 69149 Northern Harrier34651907 Sharp-shinned Hawk 243 5458 9930 Cooper's Hawk 62389519 Northern Goshawk 1 4 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 25 80 80 Broad-winged Hawk4 13570 87358 Red-tailed Hawk124508611 Rough-legged Hawk0 4 4 Golden Eagle 0 6 6 American Kestrel 5721 2282 Merlin 0 16 76 Peregrine Falcon 0 37 78 Unknown 0 9 9 Swainson's Hawk 0 8 12 Total:3702 62263 144818 -- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter: Calvin Brennan Observers:John Elliot, Raburn Howland Visitors: Darlene Friedman Jim Maki Pat Mulawa Weather: Early morning cloud and light winds made for a very slow beginning to the count day. Some more frequent sunny breaks and more consistent strength in the winds jump-started the birds finally in the late morning hours. Observations: Along with another excellent TV flight, today saw the best movement of Buteos so far this season as well as the continuation of the Accipter flight. Coopers Hawks seemed to be particularly abundant today and another juvenile Northern Goshawk was seen. Report submitted by Calvin Brennan ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.smrr.net/ The primary site used by Southeastern Michigan Raptor Research (SMRR) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area can be used during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log on to www.smrr.net The stipend for the 2003 season counter was provided by DTE Energy. Visit www.dteenergy.com to learn more! [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.
Cattle Egrets in Picton on 16 October
David Okines reports that a group of 13 Cattle Egrets are feeding in a small pond beside the No Frill's Grocery store in Picton, Prince Edward County. Birds were seen at 3:30 pm on 16 October. The No Frill's store is located on Main Street (Highway 33) on the western outskirts of Picton. posted by Audrey Heagy for David Okines. "LPBO Coordinator" <[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.
NO DICKCISSEL; but Goshawk, GOLDEN EAGLE, PINE SISKINS among great birds at Cranberry Raptor Watch, Whitby--Oct.16
Very many visitors came to see if the DICKCISSEL would be around for a third day--but, up to 2PM this wonderful immature male bird had "flown the coop". Among 103 raptors seen over 5 hours on a north-northwest windy day were 1 immature GOLDEN EAGLE, a low-flying N.Goshawk, a very late BROAD-WINGED, 2 RED-SHOULDEREDs, 60 Turkey Vultures, 9 Red-taileds, 8 Sharpies, 11 Kestrels and 2 Merlins. A female Towhee showed herself many times on the path below us, with 4 species of Sparrows. At 1 PM 2 PINE SISKINS came in to sit in the alder tree right at the platform. 3 SNOW GEESE flew in from the lake and back , unaccompanied by Canadas. 10 BONAPARTE'S GULLS were noted. Cranberry is near the foot of Hall's Rd., accessed from Victoria St., 1 block east of Lakeridge in southwest Whitby, ON Doug Lockrey, coordinator CMRW "Doug Lockrey" <[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.
HSR: Cranberry Marsh (16 Oct 2003) Raptor counts (total=103)
Cranberry Marsh Whitby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 16, 2003 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 60744889 Osprey 0 13120 Bald Eagle 0 19 28 Northern Harrier 6103157 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8885 1658 Cooper's Hawk1 29 55 Northern Goshawk 1 2 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 9 12 Broad-winged Hawk1181276 Red-tailed Hawk 9 64136 Rough-legged Hawk0 3 3 Golden Eagle 1 1 1 American Kestrel11228548 Merlin 2 21 47 Peregrine Falcon 0 11 28 Unknown 1138183 Total: 103 2451 4146 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Doug Lockrey Observers:Colleen & Mike Boudreau, Dan Kaczynski, Dennis Barry, Karl Jennewein Visitors: perhaps 20 came to see the "fled-the-scene" Dickcissel Weather: medium WNW winds all morning; sunny becoming overcast by noon; steady BP Observations: 60 TVs, 6 N.Harriers, 8 Sharpies, 1 Cooper's, 1 low-flying Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldereds, a late Broad-winged, 9 Red-tailed, 1 juv. GOLDEN EAGLE (our first), 11 Kestrels, 2 Merlin After a 2-day presence the DICKCISSEL not seen; female Towhee with 4 Sparrow species , Yellow-rumped Warblers, 3 SNOW GEESE, 2 PINE SISKINs, 10 Bonaparte's Gulls Report submitted by John Douglas Lockrey ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Cranberry Marsh information may be found at: http://www.gtrw.ca [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.
Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report - Thursday, October 16th, 2003
At 10:15am, Thursday, October 16th, 2003, this is the Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report. The Hotline is normally revised on Thursday, unless an unusual bird turns up in the Hamilton area. It was a great week for rarities in Ontario, but not in the Hamilton Area. Case in point, a NORTHERN WHEATEAR was located near Moose Factory in the James Bay area. Further south, a DICKCISSEL was reported from Cranberry Marsh, a DEMOISELLE CRANE was seen from Holiday Beach Migration Observatory and WHITE-EYED VIREOS turned up in Toronto and Harriston, which is north of Kitchener. Closer to home, local reports include FOX SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH and HERMIT THRUSH at Courtcliff Park, ORANGE-CROWNED WARLBER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, and WINTER WREN at the Waterdown North Wetland Trails, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, BALD EAGLE, HUDSONIAN GODWIT, DUNLIN, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, KILLDEER, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SWAMP SPARROW and BONAPARTE'S GULL at Cootes Paradise, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, HERMIT THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER at Shoreacres/Paletta Park, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON on the Waterfront Trail, plus BELTED KINGFISHER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and BROWN CREEPER at Jordan Hollow (in Jordan Harbour). It was a good week for yard reports too, with BROWN CREEPER, AMERICAN ROBIN, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, and NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD in Beamsville, HERMIT THRUSH and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET on the Mountain Brow, as well as RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD in south Burlington. Reports of interest from outside of Canada include the 8,988 TURKEY VULTURES counted on Sunday at the Lake Erie Metro Park in Detroit, and the ELEGANT TERN which turned up yesterday at Woodlawn Beach State Park in New York State. Last but not least, in defiance of the weatherman and the changing seasons, a pair of RED-NECKED GREBES are still feeding young at Bronte Harbour. Be sure to let us know about your sightings. Leave your name, telephone number, as well as the time and date of your call. Sightings can also be reported by e-mail. GOOD BIRDING! Keith Dieroff C/O Hamilton Naturalists' Club Birding Hotline Report Hamilton, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hamilton Naturalists' Club Tel: (905) 381-0329 www.hamiltonnature.org __ Post your free ad now! http://personals.yahoo.ca Keith Dieroff <[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.
HSR: Hawk Cliff (15 Oct 2003) Raptor counts (total=731)
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 15, 2003 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 545 5557 5715 Osprey 0 22107 Bald Eagle 0 52 83 Northern Harrier 4716 1057 Sharp-shinned Hawk 70 4115 6401 Cooper's Hawk 11255296 Northern Goshawk 2 5 5 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 7 7 Broad-winged Hawk0 2236 5310 Red-tailed Hawk 4126126 Rough-legged Hawk0 2 2 Golden Eagle 1 1 1 American Kestrel79 1730 4347 Merlin 13 41 86 Peregrine Falcon 0 49 82 Unknown 2 52 64 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 2 Total: 731 14967 23691 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 15:00:00 Total observation time: 6.5 hours Official Counter: Keith Sealy Observers:Su Ross, Tom Bolohan Visitors: Thanks to Jim Longhurst for helping out with spotting the birds today. Weather: Now this is more like the typical fall day...windy, cool and lots of cloud cover. Winds were very strong and NW all day...the perfect kind of day for hawkwatching at Hawk Cliff. Temp only made it to 12. Observations: FINALLY...the first GOLDEN EAGLE for this fall...and I know there's many more to come! Just wish I could've beent there to see it :) A couple more Goshawks today and 13 Merlins...but not a single Red-Shouldered Hawk. Predictions: Looks like winds from the W and not as strong...but lots of sun and cool temps. After such a good day of strong NW winds today, tomorrow could provide some nice surprises like more Red-Shouldered Hawks or Golden Eagles. Report submitted by Dave Brown ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch: Oldest Hawkwatch in Ontario - since 1931 - located just east of Port Stanley on the cliff overlooking Lake Erie [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.
