[Ontbirds] Pt. Pelee May 23, 2009
A quick trip through Woodland Trail produced the following (2 hours) Male and Female Redstarts (Lots) Canada Warbler (male) Blackpoll Warbler (male) Blackburnian Warbler (male) Yellow Warbler (Lots) Yellow Bellied Fly Catcher White Eyed Vireo Mourning Warbler (male) Northern Water Thrush Louisiana Water Thrush Oven Bird Gray Cat Bird Black Billed Cuckoo Eastern King Bird Tree, Barn Swallows Chimney Swifts Song Sparrow and the usuals (grackles, RWBB m f , House sparrows, Gold finch) Good Birding Bruce Patterson B and B's Bed and Breakfast 216 Erie St. South Wheatley (around the corner from Pt Pelee) Ontario N0P2P0 800-851-3406 519-825-8008 (local) www.mnsi.net/~brucep www.bandbsbandb.com ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] NO may 24 2009 Breeding plumage Whitby Hudsonian Godwit- 1
the Hudsonian Godwit was or has not bin seen this moring out at Halls rd north .. but the Great Egret is stll in the pond on the southeast corner of Thickson Rd and Conlin Rd. Best Viewed from Conlin Rd approx 200 yds. east of Thickson Rd in north Whitby. sa of 7:15 am Craig McLauchlan - Original Message - From: craig mclauchlan c...@sympatico.ca To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Sent: Saturday, May 23, 2009 5:29 PM Subject: [Ontbirds] Breeding plumage Whitby Hudsonian Godwit- 1 the Hudsonian Godwit IN Breeding plumage was still their as of 5:15 this after noon , it is on the west side of Halls rd north and vary eyesy to find this is one nice bird and thanks to both Gaff and Rayfeld for getting the word out so fast . Craig McLauchlan C B McLauchlan Running Robin Ranch Ont., Canada, World Excuse my spelling and Grammer I am Dyslexic Thank You . ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Durham and Carden birding May 23rd
On my birdathon (team = Terrie Smith, Tony Bigg and Peter Daniel Hogenbirk) we found 163 species in Durham and Carden Alvar. Thx for all who offered advice along the way and in particular to Rayfield Pye, Margaret Carney and Tyler Hoar for specific tips that helped us out greatly. Highlights included: Hudsonian Godwit (thx for posting this for me Rayfield) on Hall's Road north of Hwy 2 Red Knot and 4 turnstones + 4 other spp at Darlington barrier beach Short-billed Dowitcher + a Pectoral Sandp. + 4 other spp of shorebirds at Port Perry 2 Red-thr Loons off Courtice Rd + WW Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks Red-necked grebe off the foot of Hall's Rd at the lake + Common Golden-eye Another golden-eye at Second Marsh + 2 at Port Perry sewage lagoons (don't forget your permit) Ruddy Ducks at Port Perry + one at McLaughlin Bay Red-headed Woodpecker on McNamee Rd (Carden) + 2 Merlins, many Sedge Wrens, Golden-winged Warblers, Cay-coloured Grasshopper Sparrows, nighthawks, whip-poor-wills at Carden 10 cuckoos at Carden (eight Black-billed and two Yellow-billed) Purple Martins at Port Perry (the town) - are these the last surviving martins in Durham Region? 4 owl species (Great Horned, Screech, Long-eared Barred) Black-poll warblers everywhere If you need any specific directions pls email. Geoffrey Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Warblers at Toronto Nacropolis/ Riverdale farm
Just returned from a short morning walk to the Toronto Nacropolis and Riverdale Farm. Most of the action was along the hillside between the two. Just follow the extension of Winchester Ave into the Farm grounds and down the hill . Most of the warblers were singing which helps find them in the heavy foliage: Tennessee(2-3) Cape May Blackpoll (many) American Restart Yellow-rumped Common Yellow-throat Yellow Blackburnian Others: Swainson's Thrush, Baltimore Orioles, Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Virio, gray Catbird no sign of the light coloured Song(?) Sparrow The Toronto Nacropolis/riverdale Farm can be accessed at the end of Winchester Ave. east 4 blocks off Parliament St. just south of Wellesley Ave. Bob Cumming Home ph. (416) 9260944 Cell ph. (416) 7276640 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Snowy Plover and Smith's Longspur near Thunder Bay
A SNOWY PLOVER was found and photographed May 22 at the mouth of the Wolf River, by Susan Fagan. It was still present last evening, seen by myself, Brian Moore, Brian Ratcliff and Al Harris. On Wed May 20 a male SMITH'S LONGSPUR was found and photographed at the same location, it wasn't seen yesterday. Directions: from Thunder Bay, take Hwy11/17 (trans-Canada highway) east 50 minutes to Dorion, take first right after crossing the Wolf River (small brown sign for Hurkett Conservation Area), drive straight down the dirt track to the end, park and wade down the shore of Black Bay to the sand spit at the river mouth. Rubber boots required. Nicholas G. Escott M.D. 650 Alice Ave. Thunder Bay Ontario P7G 1W9 Canada ngesc...@shaw.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile P.P.: Purple Sandpiper
Hi Everyone The shorebird watching was excellent this morning along Beach 1-3 and Owen Point. The highlight was a breeding plumaged Purple Sandpiper at Owen Point first spotted by Bill Gilmour. It was on the gravel point with Dunlin between 9:15 a.m to 9:50 a.m. Other species noted included 8000+ Dunlin, 60+ Whimbrel, 6 Red Knot, 30+ Black-bellied Plover, 14 Short-billed Dowitcher, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper and small numbers of Semipalmated Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Sanderling and Semipalmated Plover. Most birds were on the move north but some large flocks were resting on the gravel bar, Gull Island and along the beach. Good birding, Bruce Directions: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. Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] 1 Mourning Warbler, 1 Great Egret - Etobicoke
Other species/numbers of interest: 1 Herring Gull, 3 Alder Flycatchers (all singing), 5 species of swallow, 5 Swainson's Thrushes, 3 N. Mockingbirds, 11 species of warblers including 1 Black-throated Green Warbler, 5 Blackpoll Warblers, 1 Scarlet Tanager, 2 Pine Siskins. 4 hours birding, 63 species recorded. All species recorded in Pine Point Park and Resources Road Ravine, on the west side of the Humber River immediately north and south of Hwy. 401 respectively. __ Connect with friends from any web browser - no download required. Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger for the Web BETA at http://ca.messenger.yahoo.com/webmessengerpromo.php ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Hudsonian Godwit YES Hall's Rd Whitby
Maureen Smith and I just ended our day of birding at Hall's Rd in Whitby. The Hudsonian Godwit was present at 5:00 pm and gave great scoped view. It was in the same location as I saw it yesterday at the north end of the pond. Anne Anthony Peterborough. Direction: From 401 go north on Brock STREET in WHITBY. Turn west on Rossland and the south on Hall's Rd. You could also go west on Dundas (Hwy2) but there is no left turn. So turn left on Dunlop and then go north on one of the side streets. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Amherst Island - Brant Marbled Godwit
Maureen Smith and I birded Amherst Is from 10:00 - noon this morning mostly at the KFN property. We saw over 1600 Brant fly east long the south shore of the island and then head north. There were 10+ Wilson's Phalarope. 25 Shorth-billed dowitchers, Least Semipalmated Sandpipers, Semipalmated Plovers '00's of Dunlin in the pond. In the first field there was a Marbled Godwit which flew across the road and we lost sight of it. We could not relocate it. Directions the KFN property is located at the east end of Amherst Island. You must be a member of the club to access the property for liability reasons. Anne Anthony Peterborough ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Simcoe County Birdathon
Simcoe county (west of Lakes Couchiching and Simcoe) offered some excellent birding for my team's annual Baillie Birdathon yesterday. We usually do our birdathon within the boundaries of York Region but decided we'd give Simcoe a try this year and it was excellent. We (Kevin Shackleton, Keith Dunn, Art Needles and I) observed 141 species. Highlights of the day included Golden-winged Warblers (and one Brewster's backcross) near Matchedash Bay, Piping Plover at Wasaga, Merlin in Midhurst (thanks, Scott, for your tip on this bird), SB Dowitchers and Dunlin in Minesing, Ravens and Purple Martins at Collingwood Harbour, BB Cuckoo at Stayner, plus Clay-coloured and Grasshopper Sparrows, Whip-poor-wills, Snipe and Cm. Nighthawk. Despite our decent species total we dipped on several target birds including Upland Sandpiper, Red-headed Woodpecker, and the Yellow Rail observed by Tyler Hoar at Matchedash Bay last weekend. With the right weather and good fortune it's clear that 150+ would not be out of the question in this area. Our team looks forward to birding Simcoe county again next year for the Baillie Birdathon. To those who sponsored us and/or graciously provided information, thanks sincerely. I will send you a fuller report later in the week. To others who'd still like to support this worthy endvour, it's not too late to do so! Please e-mail privately if you'd like to make a pledge. Ron Fleming, Newmarket ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Marbled Godwit Presqu'ile May 24
At Presqu'ile today, Sunday May 24, I found a breeding-plumaged Marbled Godwit feeding at the grassy edge of the spring pond at the junction of Beaches 34 at 4pm. Unfortunately it was spooked by passersby on the beach and was not refound later, in spite of an intensive search by several birders. There were still thousands of Dunlin all along the beaches and hundreds of Semipalmated Sandpipers, even though thousands of birds had been flying north all day. There were smaller numbers of Sanderling, Semipalmated Plovers and Black-bellied Plovers. Only 1 Whimbrel by this time, 1 griseus Short-billed Dowitcher, a few Red Knot, White-rumped Sandpipers and Ruddy Turnstones. The trilling of all the Dunlin was a spectacular sound! Both Cobourg and Port Hope harbour breakwaters also had thousands of shorebirds today, mostly Dunlin, but in Cobourg several hundred Semipalmated Sandpipers formed small pods of 50-60 birds among the larger Dunlin. Directions: To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton, Exit 509 from Hwy.401. Margaret Bain Cobourg mjcb...@sympatico.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Prairie Warbler - Rock Point Prov. Park
Today at Rock Point (Ontario), Betsy and I clearly heard the song of a PRAIRIE WARBLER twice but never could get a view of the bird. The location was very close to the stairs that go to the beach in the southeastern corner of the park. Take Reg. Road 3 from Dunnville south (or east?) and follow signs to the provincial park. There was a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at the same spot. On the shore were 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES, as well as a few Dunlin, Least and Semi. Sandpipers. Another Ruddy Turnstone was at Morgan's Point but other than that, the only shorebirds we had were Killdeer and Spotty despite checking several beaches between Rock Point and Fort Erie. Not a single Whimbrel! There was also a male GREATER SCAUP at Rock Point. A RED-HEADED WOODPECKER was at the foot of Stonemill Road, which comes off of King's Highway 3, a little east of Ridgeway. At the Lewiston, NY plateau we had two singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. The plateau is in Artpark State Park and is accessed from Portage Road in the Village of Lewiston. Good birding! Willie -- Willie D'Anna Betsy Potter Wilson, NY dannapotterATroadrunner.com http://www.betsypottersart.com ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] 24 May 2009: Col. Samuel Smith Whimbrel Watch
The TOC Whimbrel watch continued today with spectacular results: between 5:30 am and 8:00 pm a total count of 1814 were counted. Those who came in the morning were not disappointed with this grand spectacle. Again the primary observers were Don Barnett, Jean Iron and I and helped considerably by experts such as Ron Pittaway, Don Perks and Richard Jus and host of others. In spite of early scattered showers, flocks started arriving at 6:12 am and built in flock frequency and size until around 11:30 when two large flocks totally approx. 500 were seen. None passed through the afternoon until 3 more flocks passed between 6:37 and 7:45 pm. Several thousand Dunlin passed through ... peaking in mid morning and in early evening with 800 passing in 4 minutes around 7:00 pm. Also seen were smaller numbers of Sanderling, Ruddy Turnstone, Short-billed Dowitcher, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Black-bellied Plover and Semipalmated Plover. The watch continues until 28 May weather permitting. Directions: The park is locate south of the intersection of Kipling and Lakeshore ... the parking lot a very end of Col. Samuel Smith drive. The is an exit off the QEW but if you miss it go to Islington then down to Lakeshore and turn right. Wayne Renaud ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Brighton Constructed Wetland
Greetings: This report comes on behalf of Keith (Tiny) Lee. The Wetland was open Friday (May 22) evening and this morning (May 24). When I got out of my car Friday evening a Black-crowned Night Heron was by the little stream. This was the first of the season for the wetland. It reappear in the north cell this morning, much to the thrill of the four of us standing together. Other Herons of note are the Green and Great Blue. The illusive Sora that has been heard by numerous individuals was actually seen by Rod Lee Friday evening. Anyone wishing to see one (or more) of the Virginia Rail need only walk with Tiny. Tiny is Rail magnet. He is capable of spotting this magnificent little bird with, what appears to be, great ease. Tiny observed two Rail preening each other today. Hopefully that is a sign that they will start getting down to business and give us little Rails. The shorebirds have been interesting also. There have been many Dunlin, Lesser Yellowlegs, a Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper and Least Sandpipers. We have seen an increase in the number of Killdeer too. The Osprey continue to nest. We have not seen anything yet. However it was June 1, 2008 when three of us noticed a little white bundle of fluff in the nest. This morning a woman asked if it was possible to see a Sedge Wren at the Wetland. I do not know the answer to her question, so I am hoping that someone out there will be able to answer that question for us. Tiny will post when the Wetland will be open again. Maureen Brighton is located at exit 509 (Highway 30) south off Highway 401. Follow Highway 30 into Brighton. Highway 30 becomes County Road 64 after a sweeping curve in the road. The Wetland is located on the south side of the bend. Please use caution when approaching the Wetland. The speed limit increase to 80k/m about 100 metres before the Wetland. _ Windows Live helps you keep up with all your friends, in one place. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9660826___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Arctic Terns - Constance Bay near Ottawa
Hello Ontbirders, A flock of 10 Arctic Terns flew upriver (west) today at around 3:30 pm. We were on the beach at the Point at Constance Bay. There is a Common Tern colony nearby so be aware that both species are possible. The Arctic's were migrating but more could go through in the next few days. Directions: Take March Road from Hwy 417 at Kanata. Turn right on Dunrobin Road. Follow past Dunrobin and Woodlawn then turn right on Constance Bay drive. Turn left at the Ottawa River and follow this to The Point Bar. Park near here and walk west along the beach to the Point. Good birding, Jeff Skevington e-mail: jeff_skeving...@yahoo.ca __ Yahoo! Canada Toolbar: Search from anywhere on the web, and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now http://ca.toolbar.yahoo.com. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Brant, Whimbrels and Dunlin at Salmon Island, Lake Ontario, Kingston
This morning between 625 and 745, I observed about 480 Brant (in 4 flocks), 60 Whimbrels and 150 Dunlin from Salmon Island. The Dunlin were feeding along the shore of the island; the others flew westward over/near the island. Directions: Take the Sir John A. McDonald Parkway south off Highway 401 at Kingston. Turn right on Bath Road. Follow it to/toward the Kingston Airport. Just before the airport, Lake Ontario will be visible off to your left. Scan the waterstraight out about 2 km will be a small island -about 10 m wide and 100 m long, oriented North-South. This is Salmon Island. Chip Weseloh Canadian Wildlife Service - Ontario Region 4905 Dufferin St. Toronto, Ontario M3H 5T4 O - 416-739-5846 Fax - 416-739-5845 Cell - 416-518-4329 email - chip.wese...@ec.gc.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] OFO Outing: The Spit
Hello Ontbirders: Today, 44 OFO members, guests, and future members, walked the Spit and Baselands ( Toronto's Urban Wilderness) on the annual OFO Outing. A total of 85 species were seen; along with 6 butterfly species. A highlight was two large flocks of Whimbrel: the first flock, seen at approx 10 am, was distant; the second flock at noon (of 140 to 175 birds...numbers vary according to observers of a wheeling flock) was well-observed as it wheeled and turned over the Eastern Endikement. Other highlights included two Black-billed Cuckoos (one in the Baselands wet woods; the other at Embayment D); 16 species of warblers (most in the wet woods) including Mourning and Canada. Blackpolls were seen and heard in most wooded areas. Least, Willow, Alder, and Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were observed in the wet woods. Many thanks to all those who participated. To those who didn't: come next year, to see how wonderful a day on The Spit can be. Cheers John Carley (also co-chair of Friends of the Spit ) www.friendsofthespit.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
