[Ontbirds]Gyrfalcon at Holiday Beach

[LMohawk]

Sunday Dec 4 at 8:45am. Holiday Beach Conservation Area located about 20 km 
south and west of Windsor where the Detorit River flows into Lake Erie.

My wife Rachel, another Banding Assistant Lee and I were at Holiday Beach 
Conservation Area this past Sunday taking down our passerine nets and closing 
the 
station for the season.  At about 8:45am we all saw a large, white bird fly 
over at about 20 feet up.  It was a white, adult Gyrfalcon. We all noticed the 
tapering wings that ruled out a Buteo.  There were dark ends to the primaries 
with an all white body and underwings.  No sign of a belly band.  

Rachel and I have spent thousands of hour banding passerines and hummingbirds 
and observing raptors at Holiday Beach.  We are very familiar with the 
species of hawks that migrate through the area.  I have also seen a Gyrfalcon 
when 
one appeared in Dearborn, Michigan a few years ago so I have some understanding 
of the way this species looks and behaves.

The bird was flying around the area for at least 45 minutes and afforded us 
numerous good views.  We had to finish closing the station and could not search 
the other areas of the park to see if it stayed around.  The park is closed 
this time of the year so we had to walk the approximately 1 km from the 
entrance to the station and of course I did not have my camera.

Carl A. Pascoe
Passerine & Hummingbird Bander for HBMO
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Thread-Topic: Northern Pintails, DC Cormorant - Hamilton
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Northern Pintails, DC Cormorant - Hamilton
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Today at the Red Hill Creek, where it crosses under Eastport Drive and
heads towards Windermere Basin were 1 Double-crested Cormorant and at
least 5 male Northern Pintails - along with assorted other waterfowl.

Eastport Drive north of Burlington Street, Hamilton.

Glenn Barrett
Burlington, ON

[Ontbirds]Five Snowy Owls east of Ottawa

[Jacques Bouvier]

Late this afternoon (4 pm to 4:30 pm) I observed 5 Snowy Owls east of 
Casselman.
Two dark birds were on Conc. 20 and a third dark individual was on Conc 19. 
All were on top of hydro poles west of Ste-Rose Road.  A pure white male 
that was seen earlier today by Christine Brunet was on a Hydro pole along 
St-Isidore road while another possible male (too far away too be sure) was 
in a tree in the middle of a field off St-Isidore Rd.



DIRECTIONS: From Hwy 417 east of Casselman take exit 58 and proceed north 
on
Cty Rd 8 for about 1 km until you come to Concession 20 in the middle of 
the
long curve.  Turn right (east) on Concession 20. Concession 19 is 
immediately north of and parallel to Conc 20.
To get to St-Isidore Road (Conc 10 Rd) turn left (north) on Ste-Rose Rd from 
Conc 20.  At Ste-Rose turn right (east) on Cty Rd 3.  Continue to the 
municipality of St-Isidore and once you cross Cty Rd 9 (Ste-Catherine St.) 
Cty Rd 3 becomes St-Isidore Rd.  The pure white Snowy Owl found by Christine 
Brunet was near house 1441 and the other possible male was in the field 
north of house 1951.


Jacques Bouvier
Fonds pour les habitats humides
Wetland Habitat Fund
Ottawa, Prescott/Russell & Services en français
CP/Box 184
St-Isidore, ON K0C 2B0
(613) 524-1154
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.wetlandfund.com

[Ontbirds]No Black-headed Gull South of International RR bridge

[Jerry Lazarczyk]

I looked for the Black-headed Gull this afternoon just south of the 
International RR bridge.  I went in the only way that I knew, walking the River 
Walk from the Bird Island parking.  It was  a long walk.  After two hours at 20 
degrees and light winds I figured I paid my dues looking for the gull.   It may 
have been interesting to know if the gull was first winter or an older bird.  I 
did notice two other sets of people tracks that approached from the north and 
followed them enough to find that they came in from the Army Corps of Engineers 
entrance on Niagara Street to the River Walk.  However, I did notice a serious 
driveway entrance just south of the RR bridge over Niagara Street that 
eventually went over the swivel bridge (that part was definitely iffy) over the 
Black Rock Canal.  That looked a  little like a construction site but I 
persisted because the driveway was so nicely paved and done.  It led to the 
back entrance to the Squaw Island Sewage Treatment plant AND the Squaw Island 
Park which has parking adjacent to the River Walk AND parking very nearby the 
International RR bridge AND very close to where the Black-headed Gull was seen 
just south of the RR bridge.  Most of the gulls are Bonapartes.  Less than 10 % 
are RingBilled gulls.  About 1% are Herring Gulls.  Why are they there?  The 
sign says the treatment plant processes 150 M (million?) gallons of sewage 
every day.  Since no sludge leaves the plant by truck or train, where does it 
go?  I suspect that the sewage becomes sludge then the sludge and treated 
liquids (that means add some chlorine (no fluoride needed here)) is going into 
the river.  That is what I could not see but I think what the gulls are 
feverishly eating.

Jerry Lazarczyk
Grand Island NY
The only thing different that I heard about today was a BLACK-HEADED GULL
seen feeding on the Buffalo side of the river from Fort Erie, Ont.  It was
just south of the International RR bridge.  The female HARLEQUIN DUCK at
Niagara-on-the-Lake was seen again this morning.  I don't believe the Purple
Sandpipers were found today.  White-winged gulls seemed more difficult to
find today, especially above the falls.
 
Good birding!
Willie
--
Willie D'Anna
Betsy Potter
Wilson, NY
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 

[Ontbirds]Peregrine in Mississauga

[matt pariah]

There is a Peregrine Falcon hanging around the open park on the west side 
of Hurontario about 1 km south of the 401 in Mississauga. It has been sitting 
on the tops of the light poles and small trees edging the park. I have seen it 
as recently as today ( carrying a rat ) and as far back as late September.
   
  Matt Fidler
  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
   




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Date: Mon, 5 Dec 2005 10:19:50 -0800 (PST)
From: Anthony Zammit <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Northern Shrike and Cooper's Hawk - Cambridge
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On Saturday, Dec. 3, a single northern shrike and 2
Cooper's hawks showed up behind my place no doubt
looking for easy pickings.  The treed hedge rows are
usually populated with with northern juncos, American
tree sparrows, house finch, gold finch, white-breasted
nuthatch, and downy woodpecker.

There is a public trail along the western edge of the
hedge row which can be accessed from Greengate Blvd or
Maplebush Drive. Both streets are located 1 block from
the intersection of Franklin Blvd and Dundas St (Hwy
8) in south Cambridge.

Tony Zammit, 
Cambridge

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Subject: [Ontbirds]Prince Edward County Birds
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Good day of winter listing with Kurt Hennige today and Justin Ripley
yesterday.  On Dec. 4th, Justin and I found at least 8 LITTLE GULLS flying
together at the northeast end of East Lake.  There were 12 MUTE SWANS also
at this location.  In Hillier 1 GREAT BLUE HERON and 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK
flew across the highway and in Wellington by the LCBO we had 1 BELTED
KINGFISHER.
Today with Kurt at Prince Edward Point we had 50 HORNED GREBES, 1
RED-NECKED GREBE, 15 TUNDRA SWANS (South Bay), 3 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS,
100'S of GREATER SCAUP, LONG-TAILED DUCKS and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 1 SURF
SCOTER, 6 BLACK SCOTERS, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK and 1 FOX SPARROW.  At the
Glenora Ferry we had 2 adult BALD EAGLES circle overhead.
Other notable birds in the Kingston area include 4 MUTE SWANS at
Adolphustown Park, 5 NORTHERN SHOVELERS just west of Conway along Hwy. 33, 3
CANVASBACKS and several AMERICAN WIGEON and REDHEADS in Elevator Bay near
Dupont and finally 1 COMMON MOORHEN (Dec. 4th) swimming among the cattails
in the creek off Bath Road east of Collins Bay Road and 1/2 km. west of the
overpass.  This bird was located initially about one month ago.

Happy Holidays
Bruce Ripley
Amherstview
613-384-6392

To find the East Lake boat launch follow the signs to Sandbanks PP from
Bloomfield. At the intersection of Cty Rds. 12 and 18 continue on 18 rather
than following 12 to the park gate. The entrance to the boat 

[Ontbirds]Ottawa/Gatineau 04Dec05... Northern Hawk Owl, Greater White-fronted Goose, Barrow's Goldeneye, Gray Partridge, Red-headed Woodpecker

[Gordon Pringle]

- RBA

* Ontario
* Ottawa/Gatineau
* 04 December 2005
* ONOT0512.04

- Birds mentioned

Tundra Swan
Cackling Goose
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Snow Goose
Ring-necked Duck
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Northern Goshawk
Golden Eagle
GRAY PARTRIDGE
Wild Turkey
Snowy Owl
NORTHERN HAWK OWL
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
Horned Lark
Carolina Wren
Bohemian Waxwing
Snow Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Pine Grosbeak
Common Redpoll
Evening Grosbeak

- Transcript

hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
date: 04 December 2005
number: 613-860-9000
for the status line : press 2
for rare bird alerts: press 1
to report a sighting: press #
coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Can. Nat. Capital Reg.), E.Ont., W.Que.
compiler   : Chris Lewis  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
transcriber: Chris Lewis  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
internet   : Gordon Pringle  [EMAIL PROTECTED]

THE OFNC BIRD STATUS LINE @ 8:00 pm, SUNDAY DEC. 4, 2005.

This is Chris Lewis reporting.

Interesting birds in the Ottawa area over the past week included
the following:

A GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in a field along French Hill Rd.
east of O'Toole Rd. on the 28th, and another at the large (and now
mostly frozen) pond on the east side of Moodie Dr. south of Trail
Rd. on the 3rd. Small numbers of Snow Geese were still present
both east and west of Ottawa, a single Cackling Goose was at the
west end of Andrew Haydon Park on the 3rd and 4th, and a Tundra
Swan was in the Moodie Dr. pond, and also seen flying south toward
Bankfield Rd. on the 3rd.  A male Ring-necked Duck was on the
Ottawa River at Andrew Haydon Park on the 4th, and a few very late
scoters - single Surf and White-winged Scoters and 2 female Black
Scoters - were reported from this location from the 30th through
the 4th. Two male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the Ottawa River (one at
Bate Island and one at Lemieux Island) were reported on the 1st. A
single male Barrow's was on the Rideau River behind the Rideau
Tennis Club on the 2nd and the male Common X Barrow's hybrid was
still on the Rideau, approx. 200 m. south of the Tennis Club on
the 4th.

Bald Eagles have been noted along the Ottawa River almost daily, a
male Northern Harrier was seen along Earl Armstrong Rd. on the
2nd, an immature Northern Goshawk was flying close to the
shoreline of the Ottawa River along Grandview Rd. on the 3rd, and
a sub-adult Golden Eagle flew over Shea Rd. on the 3rd as well.

Ten GRAY PARTRIDGE were seen near the intersection of French Hill
and O'Toole Rds on the 4th, and flocks of Wild Turkeys were seen
along Russell Rd. east of Ottawa the same day - 10 east of
Carlsbad Springs, and 14 west of Bourget. A Snowy Owl was again
reported from the Eagleson Rd. / Akins Rd. / Shea Rd. / Brownlee
Rd. area southwest of Ottawa on the 1st and 3rd.  The NORTHERN
HAWK OWL discovered last weekend was still present near the
intersection of Innes Rd. and Frank Kenny Rd. on the 4th.

The RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS in the village of Constance Bay are
evidently settling in for the winter - one adult and 3 juveniles
were seen here on the 1st. Numbers of Horned Larks and Snow
Buntings were still feeding in agricultural fields east of the
city on the 4th. Two previously reported Carolina Wrens are now
visiting feeders in Carp and in Embrun. Bohemian Waxwings continue
to be reported in the Dunrobin area near Woodlawn. A Red-winged
Blackbird and a half-dozen Brown-headed Cowbirds were at a feeder
on Russell Rd. east of Carlsbad Springs on the 3rd.  Small numbers
of Pine Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls continue to be reported
across the region, and increasing numbers of Evening Grosbeaks are
arriving, with over 100 birds seen at the periphery of the Larose
Forest and Bourget on the 4th.

The Dunrobin-Breckenridge Christmas Bird Count will be held on
Saturday Dec. 17 - please contact Bruce Di Labio at (613) 839-4395
or email [EMAIL PROTECTED]   The Ottawa-Gatineau count is
on Sunday Dec.18 - to participate on the Ontario side, please
contact Eve Ticknor at (613) 737-7551 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ;
for the Quebec side, please contact Daniel St-Hilaire at (819)
776-0860.

Thank you - Good Birding!

- End transcript

[Ontbirds] Fw: Varied Thrush Batchawana Bay (north of Sault Ste. Marie)

[Sandra Eadie]

Hi,
I am forwarding this to ONTBIRDS with the sender's permission.

Sandra Eadie

Ontario Field Ornithologists
Director, Web Site Coordinator
www.ofo.ca
[EMAIL PROTECTED]


- Original Message - 
From: g.e.hill 
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2005 10:32 AM
Subject: Varied Thrush


I want to report to you that we have a Varied Thrush eating from feeders in our 
yard. We live at Batchawana Bay, On.  It is approximately 45 miles north of 
Sault Ste. Marie. The bird has been here for about two weeks now. You can 
e-mail us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or telephone at (705) 882-1063. I hope this 
information gets to you and those interested. 


Yours truly

 Garry Hill  
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Red-bellied woodpecker; St.Catharines
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A female red-bellied woodpecker was seen in Burgoyne Woods park in
St.Catharines on saturday, December 3rd around 3pm along the upper loop
pathway, pecking at an oak...
Take Glendridge Rd. to Edgedale Rd. which goes straight into the park.

Steve Gillis and Karina Dykstra

[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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[Ontbirds]Northern Shrike

[Vivian Bessel]

This morning, Monday December 5th around 10:00 AM at Scarborough Bluffs,
there was a Northern Shrike found below the schools at Brimley & Kingston
Road.  A Northern Flicker was also found at the bottom of Chine Drive in the
ravine located 1 block west of Brimley & Kingston Road.
 
 
Gunnar Bessel
Scarborough, Ontario
M1L 3Y3
e-mail: vivian.bessel @ sympatico.ca

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