[Ontbirds] Common Nighthawks, Terns, Osprey Rockport ON
On the St. Lawrence river at dusk tonight at Rockport, ON I observed 23 common nighthawks catching insects. Earlier in the afternoon 5-7 common terns were fishing off the waterfront, and at least two Caspian terns joined in briefly. 3 osprey were patrolling the shoreline as well. Directions: The 1000 Islands Parkway runs between Gananoque and Brockville, ON...Rockport is near the halfway point... or take exit 661 from the 401 to Hwy 137, then east on the Parkway a couple of clicks. John Haig Gananoque, ON ___ 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] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, September 4th, 2009
On Friday, September 4th, 2009 this is the HNC Birding Report: SABINE'S GULL BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE PARASITIC JAEGER LONG-TAILED JAEGER Surf Scoter Common Loon American White Pelican Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Osprey Peregrine Falcon Sandhill Crane Semipalmated Plover Lesser Yellowlegs Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Red-necked Phalarope Bonaparte's Gull Black Tern Common Tern Olive-sided Flycatcher Eastern Phoebe Warbling Vireo Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Black-and-white Warbler Wilson's Warbler Its quality and not quantity this week in the Hamilton Study Area. East winds have favoured us and Hamilton's specialty birds have not disappointed. Last Friday a spectacular show of LONG-TAILED and PARASITIC JAEGERS and SABINE'S GULLS dazzled those who came out. A number of juvenile and adult Long-tailed Jaegers were seen throughout the day peppered by a smattering of immature SABINE'S GULLS. Two PARASITIC JAEGERS made an appearance with more to come. Other noteworthy birds were Black Tern and Surf Scoter. On Wednesday, the show continued and the ratings got better with the appearance of two adult and a few immature SABINE'S GULLS, three immature BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES, Bonaparte's Gulls and Common Terns. This is only the second record of adult Sabine's Gull in the Hamilton Area. The BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES continued to be seen into Thursday and jaegers were seen on the water out on the lake. A really neat experience for some keen observers was a trip in a zodiac boat out onto the lake. Spectacular views of gulls and jaegers at a close distance in addition to many Red-necked Phalaropes offshore has made these pelagic fruitful. An adult PARASITIC JAEGER was photographed yesterday chasing gulls out on the water. An adult SABINE'S GULL was also seen at a close distance. Many Common Loons were seen out here as well. A search for Buff-breasted Sandpipers on the sod farms in south Hamilton have not turned up the beasts. Other shorebirds seen in the sod fields this week include Semipalmated Plover, Semipalmated, Least and Pectoral Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs. On the North Island off Eastport, Least and Semipalmated Sandpiper and Sanderling were seen on Wednesday. Out in the Dundas Marsh, water levels continue to be too high for shorebirds. Great Egrets, Great Blue, Green and Black-crowned Night Heron were all seen. A Peregrine Falcon buzzed over the marsh. Ospreys continue to be seen flying over the marsh. At LaSalle Park in Burlington, a Green Heron continues to stalk fish on the shoreline. Migrant passerines seen here this week include Warbling Vireo, Magnolia, Yellow and Black-and-White Warbler. Out near Brantford, Sandhill Cranes continue to be seen near Glen Morris. Migrants out here include Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Nashville, Black-throated Blue and Wilson's Warbler. This time of year is always good for catching migrant Common Nighthawks. These have been reported over Dundas, Brantford and Hamilton. This exodus is sure to continue the coming week. In the odds and sods this week an American White Pelican made a flyover of Port Credit last weekend. A Great Egret was seen at the stormwater ponds at Brittania and the 407. That's the news for this week. Keep an eye on the winds this weekend, they are predicting east. Please forward your sightings! Good Birding, Cheryl Edgecombe HNC Hotline 905-381-0329 ___ 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] Kingston area birds to Sept.4, 2009
The very pleasant weather of late has led to ideal conditions for birding but has not generated any mass movements nor precipitated any major fall-outs. An excellent variety or raptors was noted this week; Am. Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk and N. Harrier on Amherst Island and 3 Red-shouldered and a Broad-winged Hawk at Bedford Mills on the 30th. Merlins were seen on Amherst, at Bedford Mills and at the Amherstview sewage lagoons. Four Peregrine Falcons (probably the family from downtown Kingston) were seen near the Queen's campus headed for Wolfe Island last Monday. Shorebirds continue to put on a good show. There were 10 species on Amherst last weekend including 4 Black-bellied and 10 Semipalmated Plover as well as a single Red Knot. There was a Baird's among seven species of shorebird at the sewage lagoons last Sunday. The number and variety in the Wilton Creek near Morven is diminishing. Warbler movement has picked up somewhat. Highlights were a N. Parula and a Canada at Elginburg, a Wilson's at Camden East and 13 species at Bedford Mills including Orange-crowned, Canada, Blackpoll, and Bay-breasted. Philadelphia Vireos were also at Bedford Mills and Camden East. Other noteworthy sightings were 300 Bonaparte's Gulls at the sewage lagoons and 4500 Tree Swallows (the flock included at least 6 Chimney Swifts) on Amherst last Sunday and a Whip-poor-will, still calling on Wednesday, at Bedford Mills. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 ___ 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] Common Nighthawks over Cabbagetown
I was just out on my deck in Cabbagetown enjoying a glass of wine about 6:45PM and noticed several Common Nighthawks feeding over Cabbagetown near the farm. There are at least 5-6 birds along with the Chimney Swifts and RB Gulls. Cabbagetown is roughly at Carleton St. and Parliament Ave. west of the DVP. Bob Cumming ___ 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] HSR: Holiday Beach (04 Sep 2009) 54 Raptors
Holiday Beach Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 04, 2009 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Turkey Vulture 0 4 4 Osprey 0 3 3 Bald Eagle 1 4 4 Northern Harrier 7 22 22 Sharp-shinned Hawk 21 87 87 Cooper's Hawk2 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 12101101 Red-tailed Hawk 3 17 17 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 5 7 7 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 3 3 3 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 54262262 -- Observation start time: 06:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter:Bob Pettit, Jack Boxer Observers:Claude Radley, Jack Boxer, none Visitors: Rich Carr from Leamington, ON helped with the high spotting. Weather: Hot 29.6C Wind started NNE between 0-4 mph become calm and started SSW and ended WSW 0-4 mph. Some fog early with clear sky overhead and some cloud at W and S horizon. When wind shifted to on shore small to medium cumulus clouds move northward and hawks were spotted against the white but they were very high up. Cloud bottoms were estimated to be 2400 feet using dew point and air temps. As early afternoon continued the clouds dissipated and so did the hawks. Raptor Observations: Harriers, sharp-shinned, Cooper's, broad-wings, kestrels, and 3 peregrines are the headliners. Some low most high. Non-raptor Observations: 25 Monarchs, 50 swallows, 30 cedar waxwings, very few warblers, fair finch numbers. Predictions: Partly cloudy 79 F. Wind is anyone's guess. Report submitted by Bob Pettit (redk...@earthlink.net) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ Site Description: Holiday Beach Conservation Area was formerly a Provincial Park, but is now administered by the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA). It is strategically located at the extreme southwestern tip of southern Ontario. The park is on the eastern end of a large freshwater estuary known as Big Creek. (Specifically the site is 1.1 miles south of the junction Highway 20 (old 18) and Essex Road 50, Town of Amherstburg). Southwestern Ontario has a funneling effect on migrating raptors due to the geography of the nearby lakes and the reluctance of most raptors to cross large bodies of water. Birds gain altitude over the flat farmland to the north and east, rising easily with the thermals that such areas provide in abundance. As the birds head south they meet Lake Erie and, reluctant to cross it , turn west. With appropriate wind and weather conditions, birds pile up along the lake shore and move west until they reach the narrow crossing at the Detroit River (or island hop within the river mouth). ___ 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] SEP.3, 4/09 AT CRANBERRY, SW WHITBY, ON--37 MIGRATING RAPTORS, LEAST BITTERN, WOOD DUCKS, several Warblers
Cranberry Marsh sw Whitby, Ontario, Canada--south roadside parking area on Hall's Rd. Thursday, Sep.3/09 (SEP.4 RESULTS ARE BELOW) Observation time: 0830-1400 EDT Official Counter: Doug Lockrey Observers: Jim Skene, Ron Stephenson, John Stirrat, Jody Melanson, Murray Shields, Walter Fisher, Tyler Hoar, Eric & Blair Dirken Weather: sunny; light NE winds, Bar.pr.102.3 falling, TUV=2, 25C The bright sunny skies made it difficult to spot birds in flight. The Central Lake Ontario Conservation Auth. sponsored its FAMILY DAY at our CMRW site---it was a great success, as at least 175 visitors arrived. Conditions were not conducive to much of a raptor flight, but everyone enjoyed themselves, particularly when 1 of 30 did come through. Migrating Raptor Observations: 4 turkey vulture, 3 osprey, 14 Sharp-shinned, 4 N.Harrier, 2 Cooper's,1 Am.Kestrel, 1 Peregrine, 1 UF. Non-raptor Observations: least bittern, wood ducks, N. mockingbird, marsh wren, rose-breasted grosbeak, many hummingbirds, Wilson's warbler, chestnut-sided warbler, black-and-white warbler. From the 401 eastbound, exit at Salem Rd. in Ajax, south to Bayly, then east through LakeRidge Rd. to the first street beyond--Hall's Rd.--south toward the lake to the second roadside parking area. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - For Sep.4 -- Between 0800 & 1100EDT we had only 7 migrants--- 3 TV, 1 OS, 1 SS, 1 AK and 1 ML. Among non-raptors were--Philadelphia vireo, gnatcatcher, b&w warbler - - - - - - - - Raptor SpeciesSep.3 & 4 Month Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 7 17 31 Osprey 4 15 79 Bald Eagle 0 0 11 Northern Harrier 4 1225 Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 29 56 Cooper's Hawk2 4 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk 0 1 14 Red-tailed Hawk 0 0 16 Rough-legged Hawk 0 0 0 Golden Eagle0 0 0 American Kestrel 2 4 16 Merlin 1 2 5 Peregrine Falcon 1 22 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 0 4 Unknown Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 2 Total: 37 88275 Doug Lockrey, coordinator CMRW, Whitby, ON ___ 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 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 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] Ottawa: Great Egret, Yellow-throated vireo and migrants
Hello Ontbirders Spent a few hours yesterday birding along the Ottawa River from Andrew Haydon Park to Constance Bay. There was lots of activity with 15 species of warblers including numerous Wilson's, Canada, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue and Magnolia Warblers. At Shirley's Bay along the road 5 species of vireo's were observed including 1 Yellow-throated, 2 Philadelphia and 3 Blue-headed. With the recent sunny weather and no rain, the water levels along the Ottawa River are finally dropping. There is a little mudflat/sandbar at Andrew Haydon Park, and Shirley's Bay has a bit at the mouth of Watts Creek. A Great Egret was resting in a tree off the dyke. Lots of other land birds including Golden-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Baltimore Oriole, Scarlet Tanager, and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Further up river at Constance Bay there was some mudflats with a few shorebirds, Greater Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Sandpiper. The breeding Red-headed Woodpeckers were successful again and 2 juvenile birds were observed at the "Old Burn Site" This is the 8th consecutive year the woodpeckers have bred. The woodpeckers were fly catching and easy to see. If you require additional information, please email me privately. good birding, Bruce Directions: Shirley's Bay: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Moodie Drive exit and turn north (right) on Moodie Drive and continue to Carling Ave. Turn left at Carling Ave. and follow Carling to Rifle Road. Turn right (north) on Rifle Rd. Park at the lot at the end (boat launch). Walk back to the road, and continue through the gate on the Department of National Defense property. There is a trail on your right (clearly marked with vehicle "No Entry" signs) which heads into the woods, and, eventually to the dyke. There is lots of POISON IVY along the dyke. PLEASE NOTE YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE DYKE AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the dyke area for birding. 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/
