[Ontbirds]Blue-winged teal at Rattray Marsh, Mississauga
A quick walk around Rattray Marsh on the evening of April 23 revealed 3 pairs of blue-winged teals feeding in the river that drains into the main marsh area. Good birding Jacques Giraud Rattray Marsh is in Mississauga. From the QEW exit at Southdown Road, travel south to Lakeshore Road (old Highway 2). Turn left (east) and drive through Clarkson Village. Turn right (south) on Bexhill Road (just past the 5th or 6th stop light east of Southdown). Park at the bottom of the street near a laneway access to Rathway and walk south to the trail intersection. Walk west along the boardwalk until you come to the bridge over the river and scan the edges of the riverbank for ducks. Jacques Giraud Principal Work: +1 416 617 4142 Mobile: +1 416 617 4142 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesgiraud http://www.linkedin.com/in/jacquesgiraud Concentrated Consulting 69 Harborn Road http://maps.google.com/maps?q=69+Harborn+Road%2CMississauga%2CON+L5B+1A 5%2CCanadahl=en Mississauga, ON L5B 1A5 Canada See who we know in common http://www.linkedin.com/e/wwk/2398228/ Want a signature like this? http://www.linkedin.com/e/sig/2398228/ ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Chimney Swift - Wheatley, ON
Hi Folks This morning while working in the yard I had my first CHIMNEY SWIFT of the season flying overhead. A female NORTHERN CARDINAL is already sitting on eggs here as well. Otherwise regular late April species such as YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER are present. For directions to my home, please see the link below. Good birding. Tom G Tom Hince Wild Rose Guest House RR 1, 21298 Harbour Road Wheatley, ON N0P 2P0 Canada home: (519) 825-9070 mobile: (519) 981-5994 E mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: www.netcore.ca/~peleetom/webdoc11.htm ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]HSR: Beamer Conservation Area (23 Apr 2008) 16 Raptors
Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 23, 2008 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 1 1 Turkey Vulture 8 2659 5347 Osprey 1 38 38 Bald Eagle 0 21 55 Northern Harrier 1100125 Sharp-shinned Hawk 3 1653 1727 Cooper's Hawk0 72120 Northern Goshawk 0 2 3 Red-shouldered Hawk 0290628 Broad-winged Hawk1 1858 1858 Red-tailed Hawk 1 1005 2112 Rough-legged Hawk0 26 58 Golden Eagle 0 3 8 American Kestrel 0 87102 Merlin 1 8 9 Peregrine Falcon 0 5 7 Unknown Accipiter0 1 4 Unknown Buteo0 14 21 Unknown Falcon 0 2 3 Unknown Eagle0 0 1 Unknown Raptor 0 28 33 Total: 16 7873 12260 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 5 hours Official Counter:Bob Curry Observers: Visitors: Graeme Jones, Tom Reavley, Brian Hawthorne, Colin Horstead, Ron Pittaway, Jean iron, Eric, Sue and Brandon Holden, Paul Roche. Weather: Sunny with light high clouds until thunderclouds by about 1 pm. Winds light and variable. Raptor Observations: Extremely poor flight. Non-raptor Observations: Report submitted by Bob Curry () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/ Site Description: Beamer Conservation Area is located on top of the Niagara Escarpment above the town of Grimsby, Ontario. The site is 1km south of the south shore of Lake Ontario, 20km east of Hamilton, 40km west of Niagara Falls. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. © 2008 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Yellow-headed Blackbird
There is curently a Yellow-headed Blackbird male at 2nd Marsh in Oshawa. It is being seen in the area of the GM platform. We are watching it eating on the grassy area along the small pond just east of the platform. Brilliant yellow colour on the head and white wing patches easily seen. 2nd Marsh is located at the GM headquaters at the end of Col. Sam Drive. Exit the 401 at Harmony Rd going south and then easy on Col Sam. Jim Dixon. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Yellow-headed and Brewers blackbirds, Little Gulls )shawa Second Marsh
Oshawa Second Marsh 7am to noon Highlights: 85 Species 1 Male Yellow-headed Blackbird. This bird is wary (at least when I am around) and the 3 times I saw it, it was foraging on the ground in short grass between the marsh and Colonel Sam Drive behind the GM platform. It flies ne towards the 401 but returns within 5 minutes 1 Brewer's Blackbird in the open area near the swallow house adjacent to the lake in the south east corner of the marsh. 45 Little Gulls They came in late this morning from the Bonaparte's flocks(1580 birds) that are foraging on ghost midge hatch in the Lake off The Second Marsh 1 Iceland Gull 1 Red-throated Loon and 69 Common Loons in the lake 22 Species of Waterfowl including Northern Pintail, Common Goldeneyes, American Wigeon, both teal, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, and Wood Ducks American Coots, Common Moorhens, Virginia Rails, a Sora and a American Bittern 4 species of Shorebirds Marsh, House and Winter Wrens 5 Species of Warblers (Yellow-rumped, Palm, Pine, Black and White and Ovenbird) 7 species of Sparrows and an escaped White Cockatiel flying eastwards towards Darlington Provincial park. Direction: Oshawa Second Marsh Exit from the 401 at the Harmony Rd. Exit(419) in Oshawa. Go south on Farewell St. Colonel Sam Drive. Turn East onto Colonel Sam Drive and follow to the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. The east (GM) platform is visible from the NW corner of the lot. For a trail map of the Oshawa Second marsh area visit www.secondmarsh.com and check the link for a trail map of the area. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands -Migration, etc. this week ( so far ) - Long-eard Owl, more Bohemian Waxwings, etc.
Good day all Tues., April 22 - Great Egrets, Common Loons, Caspian and Common Terns overhead, Canvasbacks, Wood Duck, Turkey Vultures, Cooper's Hawk, a Guinness World record 22 Downy Woodpeckers ( well maybe not world but my record anyway ), 44 N. Flickers, Purple Martins, Winter Wrens, 52 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. 30 Hermit Thrushes, 4 Pine Warblers, 4 E. Towhees, Field, Song, Swamp and White-throated Sparrows, 16 N. Cardinals, plus the usual birds to be found at this time of year. Long-tailed Ducks, Goldeneyes, Buffleheads and Chickadees are all way down as they all seem to have headed north. Thurs., Apr. 24 - Common Loons, Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Canvasbacks, White-winged Scoter, Cooper's Hawk, Caspian and Common Terns, Long-eared Owl, Y-B Sapsucker, 16 Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpecker, 46 N. Flickers, Purple Martins, 43 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, Blue-headed Vireo, 2 Yellow warblers, Palm Warbler, 21 Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tree, Chipping, Field, Savannah, Song ( 43 ), and White-throated Sparrows, Juncos, E. Meadowlark and House Finches singing up a storm. The number of Tree and Barn swallows are increasing with a big reduction of Buffleheads and even though Long-tailed ducks were very few on Tues. we seemed to have had an influx of a couple of hundred birds today with most off Gibralter Point. All these nice birds were of course not just because I found them but because of the good company and eyes of Alfred Adamo, Margaret Liubavicius, Ian Cannell and Freda Papoff, Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS ( Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km ) - Now on the Spring Schedule. To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If your on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). There is a fee for using the island ferries ( $6.50 adult / $4.00 for seniors and students ( all fares are return ) ) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. There are washrooms on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks or check on line. The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:15 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. If arriving in early am ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and / or 25 cent coins before you arrive at the docks as there is no place to get change and the machine does not make change. (There is a change machine (up to a $10 bill) there if you want to chance it). There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner and they are open early. Food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drinks $3.00. If you are birding from Wards the soft drink machine beside the fire station sells juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.00.and $1.25. For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm PS - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side. - The drinking fountains have been turned Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON Sils mordent, mords les ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, April 24, 2008 With four species of warblers arriving this past week at Prince Edward Point, the tension among birders is growing as binoculars get tuned up in anticipation for the Big Day when shrubs and trees will be seething with these little butterflies of the bird world. The first BLUE-HEADED VIREO of the spring was banded on the 19th and two more were trapped on the 23rd. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS are still in low numbers with a peak of 12 on the 20th. A PINE WARBLER was banded on the 23rd and the first BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was seen on the evening of the 23rd. The only other warbler seen so far was a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH on the 19th. Up to five COMMON LOONS are seen going over Prince Edward Point daily and the DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT numbers offshore have built up to about 150 and will continue to increase. Small groups of up to 15 TURKEY VULTURES are going over daily and can be seen kettling over the point. The only CANADA GEESE that were moving were 30 on the 19th while an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK flew over with MALLARDS on the 18th. Duck numbers offshore have been disappointing so far with only 50 or fewer WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS being seen daily. LONG-TAILED DUCKS numbered 1000 on the 19th but are usually 500 or less in a day. The BUFFLEHEAD flock has decreased from 70 down to about 10 now and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS are starting to increase with a maximum of 35 seen in a day. An OSPREY flew over in the afternoon of the 20th and a late dark morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on the 22nd. Eight RED-TAILED HAWKS were kettling among 15 TURKEY VULTURES on the 24th. A SANDHILL CRANE flew gracefully by on the 19th. Up to 400 BONAPARTE'S GULLS are feeding offshore and should increase now that the midges have started to appear. The first CASPIAN TERN appeared on the 19th and has been seen most days since then. Two NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were trapped on the 21/22nd and three were trapped the following night. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER was seen on the 18th and has been noted most days since then. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS have been scarce and a flicker intergrade was trapped on the 22nd. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS are more numerous now and the CLIFF SWALLOWS arrived in force on the 20th when 40 were seen attending the nests on the lighthouse. The EASTERN TUFTED TITMOUSE, banded last week, was found again on the 19th and a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are being seen daily. BROWN CREEPERS are decreasing and only the odd one is now being seen. WINTER WRENS continue to move through and the first HOUSE WREN was trapped on the 24th. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS are scarce with few females being seen yet, meanwhile male RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS are moving through in good numbers with a peak of 100 on the 20th. The first BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was banded on the 20th. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen on the 18th and 19th and BROWN THRASHERS arrived on the 20th and up to three are now singing daily. The local EASTERN TOWHEES arrived on the 20th and 8 were seen on the 21st. The last AMERICAN TREE SPARROW was seen on the 19th, while CHIPPING SPARROWS peaked at 40 on the 20th. One or two SWAMP SPARROWS are being seen most days and WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are moving with up to 35 a day being seen. DARK-EYED JUNCOS are decreasing and only a dozen or so are being seen now. The first NORTHERN CARDINAL of the spring was trapped on the 21st. RUSTY BLACKBIRDS are mostly being seen in low numbers but a flock of 21 flew over on the 24th. PURPLE FINCHES are moving back north in good numbers and 130 were present on the 20th. A late COMMON REDPOLL was banded on the 21st and occasional PINE SISKINS can still be found around the feeders. A male EVENING GROSBEAK frequented the feeders for three days from the 19th to the 21st, and finally at least three different HOUSE SPARROWS, a rare species at the Point, have been seen around the Observatory during the week. EVENING GROSBEAKS have turned up elsewhere too across the region. One showed up at a Thurlow feeder north of Belleville, and another was at a feeder along Glenora Road during the week. The influx of PURPLE FINCHES moving through the area was reflected in individuals appearing at feeders at 23 Sprague Road, and along Glenora Road. RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES are still visiting feeders in Bloomfield, Glenora and Cape Vesey. As though reinforcing that spring is here, at one Bloomfield backyard, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER appeared there at a bird bath. Both WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and isolated numbers of later appearing WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS are present in many backyards and CHIPPING SPARROWS have all but replaced AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS at most area feeders, although a few feeders have had both of the latter species. A COMMON RAVEN was heard at Cape Vesey on the 23rd. The first SAVANNAH SPARROW of the season showed up at Trenton on the
[Ontbirds]Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending April 24, 2008.
There were no real surprises for birders at Presqu'ile Provincial Park during the past week, if one disregards the misidentifications (subsequently rectified) and possible misidentifications that have become all too frequent. The need for caution cannot be over-emphasized. There are enough interesting birds around even before our imaginations play tricks on us. Waterfowl have almost all moved on, except for 50-60 Mute Swans and a few dozen Canada Geese and diving ducks. With the fishing season about to open, the remaining ducks will likely be chased out of Presqu'ile Bay by the boat traffic. Among the species still present in and around the Park today are Wood Duck, Redhead, White-winged Scoter, and Common Goldeneye. There are still good numbers of Red-throated Loons and Common Loons in the offshore waters. The first American Bittern of the year was noted in the marsh on April 21. Up to five Great Egrets are sometimes visible on their nests on High Bluff Island. Black-crowned Night-Herons are probably also nesting there, but the only two seen this week were on Sebastopol Island, where they used to nest. The first Common Moorhen of the season was in the marsh today. A few early shorebirds can be expected within the next week. In the meantime it is encouraging that a Wilson's Snipe was heard winnowing twice this week at opposite ends of the beach. Common Terns (up to four) have been at Owen Point every day since April 21. A Great Horned Owls was being mobbed by American Crows near the Park store, and two Barred Owls were calling to each other in Jobes' Woods. An excellent imitation of a Barred Owl not far from the lighthouse on April 18 did not fool the other birder who responded in kind, though the response may have fooled the original perpetrator. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have become almost a daily occurrence in the eastern end of the Park. Two Blue-headed Vireos on April 23 and, on April 22, a reported Warbling Vireo for which no details were available were also in that area. The early morning Blue Jay migration over the lighthouse, which reaches its peak in late May, appears to have begun already. The Tufted Titmouse mentioned in last week's report has not been seen since April 18, but there are daily observations of Carolina Wren within a kilometre of the lighthouse. Both House Wren and Marsh Wren have returned to their usual haunts. Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers were present for at least three consecutive days, beginning on April 18, when a pair was located not far from where they nested last year. A Northern Mockingbird was singing at the calf pasture on April 18. Brown Thrashers, many of them very vocal, have taken over Presqu'ile: seeing half a dozen in a morning has been normal this week. The long-awaited warbler migration is well under way, albeit confined to few species. The majority are Yellow-rumped Warblers, but Pine Warblers are in places where the habitat is suitable. Two Palm Warblers were near the lighthouse this morning. Without further information, one is inclined to question the identification of a reported Magnolia Warbler on April 18. There has been a good variety of sparrows seen in the Park, including Eastern Towhees, Field Sparrows, a Savannah Sparrow, a report of two Grasshopper Sparrows at the lighthouse, a Fox Sparrow, many Swamp Sparrows, but as yet no White-crowned Sparrows. A Rusty Blackbird was seen on April 20, and another on April 21 that was originally misidentified by two experienced observers (this scribe being one of them) as a Brewer's Blackbird, a similar-looking species. In retrospect we both feel chastened and hope that the sobering experience will deter others from letting enthusiasm override caution. 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. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Greater Snow Geese in Eastern Ontario
A check of the Riceville-Fournier area today failed to turn up any Snow Geese, although there were still scattered flocks of Canada Geese in fields across a broad area. The South Nation River is back within its normal channel and with over a week of warm weather, the birds may have moved on. If anyone has seen any Snow Geese anywhere in the region this week, please let me know the location and estimated number so I can document the latest report. Brian Morin Cornwall ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]WNY Dial-a-Bird 24 Apr 2008
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 04/24/2008 * NYBU0804.24 - Birds mentioned -- Please phone in rare sightings for update Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com Thank you, David -- LAUGHING GULL AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER BLACK VULTURE YELLOW-THR. WARBLER SANDHILL CRANE BALTIMORE ORIOLE Common Loon American Bittern Green Heron Red-br. Merganser Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Red-tailed Hawk [dark morph] Rough-legged Hawk Wild Turkey Greater Yellowlegs Lesser Yellowlegs Solitary Sandpiper Upland Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Dunlin Wilson's Snipe Bonaparte's Gull Caspian Tern Chimney Swift Belted Kingfisher Bank Swallow House Wren Winter Wren Bl.-gr. Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Blue-headed Vireo Yellow-r. Warbler Bl.-thr. Green Warb. Pine Warbler Palm Warbler La. Waterthrush Fox Sparrow White-cr. Sparrow - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 04/24/2008 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report:Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Website: www.BOSBirding.org Thursday, April 24, 2008 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. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received April 17 through April 24 from the Niagara Frontier Region include LAUGHING GULL, AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER, BLACK VULTURE, YELLOW-THR. WARBLER, SANDHILL CRANE and BALTIMORE ORIOLE. From Chautauqua County, April 23 at Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie, a LAUGHING GULL on the east breakwall. Later in the day, the LAUGHING GULL was not found, but a very rare in spring AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER in flight over the harbor. Also at Barcelona, 72 CASPIAN TERNS and 2 COMMON LOONS. Two rare reports at Amherst State Park this week. A BLACK VULTURE on April 22, soaring over the meadows with 9 TURKEY VULTURES. On the 23 and 24th, a YELLOW-THR. WARBLER in the spruces north of the tennis club. In Cattaraugus County, 2 SANDHILL CRANES the morning of April 18, in a yard in the Town of Machias. In Amherst, and early BALTIMORE ORIOLE April 23 in Eggertsville. BLUE-HEADED VIREO at several locations this week, starting April 19 in the Town of Elma. Other first reports this week - HOUSE WRENS at Beaver Island State Park and Tifft Nature Preserve in Buffalo with BL.-GR. GNATCATCHERS, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 9 HERMIT THRUSHES and 1 FOX SPARROW. Arriving CHIMNEY SWIFTS and BANK SWALLOWS were noted, and WHITE-CR. SPARROW singing in the Town of Newfane. Warblers - April 23, BL.-THR. GREEN WARB. and PALM WARBLER at Amherst State Park. PINE WARBLERS continue, a count of 7 in the Town of Wilson at Greenwood Cemetery and Wilson- Tuscaurora State Park. At Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park, singing and soon to be breeding, LA. WATERTHRUSH, PINE WARBLER, YELLOW-R. WARBLER and WINTER WREN. Expect more warblers every day. More first reports - AMERICAN BITTERN at Tifft Nature Preserve. GREEN HERON in Chautauqua County. SOLITARY SANDPIPER in Porter. Two UPLAND SANDPIPERS at the Tillman Wildlife Management Area in Clarence. And, LEAST SANDPIPER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and DUNLIN with GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS and WILSON'S SNIPE at Kumpf Marsh in the Iroquois Refuge. April 20 at the Hamburg Hawkwatch - almost 500 raptors of 11 species including a rare dark-morph RED-TAILED HAWK, plus 9 OSPREY, BALD EAGLE, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, 225 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK. Visitors are welcome at the daily watch at Lakeside Cemetery on Camp Road, or the alternate site, the nearby ball fields on Rodgers Road. At the north end of Grand Island, OSPREYS nest building on the platform at Buckhorn Island State Park. In the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, OSPREYS are tree-nesting at Cinnamon Marsh, accessed by hiking the trail at the red gate, east of Meadville Road near Bartel Road. Also this week - 3 WILD TURKEYS in residential Eggerstsville in Amherst. At Sturgeon Point in Evans, RED-BR. MERGANSERS, BONAPARTE'S GULLS and a pair of BELTED KINGFISHERS. And this is the first week since last fall that COMMON REDPOLLS have not been reported. Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, May 1. 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 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by
[Ontbirds]Cedar Waxwing
I was taking pictyures at the wetlands on Centre street and Yonge area in Thornhill and saw wood ducks and to my surprise, a whole tree full of Cedar Waxwings. I had no clue what they were until a coworker told me today when i showed him my pictures but i was so impressed by the birds! i got GREAT pics! Bryan Weiss ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Algonquin Park birding update: 24 April 2008
This week saw the ice disappear from all the smaller Highway 60 lakes (although it is still in the bigger ones such as Opeongo, Two Rivers and Smoke). Only small patches of snow remain now, and they are in very shaded conifer stands. The first spring ephemerals (Spring Beauty) are coming into bloom, as is Trailing Arbutus. New migrants this week included Lesser Scaup, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Bittern, Sandhill Crane, Blue-headed Vireo, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Pine Warbler. FINCHES: Common Redpoll: One or two were at the Visitor Centre feeder early in the week, but appear to be gone now. Evening Grosbeak: About six were at the Visitor Centre feeder this week, and a few others were reported in other parts of the Park. BOREAL RESIDENTS: Spruce Grouse: Females responding to playback and males doing flutter flights were seen in the bog bordering Opeongo Road north on April 23. Black-backed Woodpecker: Males excavating holes in utility poles were seen at km 53.5 and km 23 on Highway 60 on April 23. Gray Jay: Opeongo Road north of the Costello Creek culvert is still the best area to check. Boreal Chickadee: Try Spruce Bog and Opeongo Road. NOTEWORTHY THIS WEEK: House Sparrow: A male was at the Visitor Centre feeder on April 19. Algonquin Park is one of the few places where this species is appreciated in southern Ontario, due to its rarity here. BIRDERS: Please let us know the date, number and location of birds you observe when you visit Algonquin Park. This information is stored in the Algonquin Visitor Centre database, and will help us to assist other birders here. Good birding. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, Ontario Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings and information. Exhibits and restaurant are open daily, 10 am to 5 pm, starting on April 26. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
