[Ontbirds] Eight BALD EAGLES at Glenora
I saw eight BALD EAGLES in just 10 minutes on the afternoon of Dec. 24th at Glenora, ON. The best views were from atop nearby Lake-on-the-Mountain, where 3 flew right past. A spotting scope was required for the others that were sitting on ice at a distance of 1 to 3 km east, down the Adolphus Reach. DIRECTIONS: Glenora (where the ferry channel is located) is 10km east of Picton, ON. Best Pishes, Ken Kingdon _ Windows Live: Keep your friends up to date with what you do online. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9691815___ 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] WNY Dial-a-Bird 24 Dec 2009
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 12/24/2009 * NYBU0912.24 - Birds mentioned - Please phone in rare sightings for update Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com Thank you, David - AMERICAN AVOCET NORTHERN GOSHAWK Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Tundra Swan Canvasback Redhead Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup White-winged Scoter Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Hooded Merganser Common Merganser Red-br. Merganser Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Wild Turkey Great Horned Owl Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Horned Lark Common Raven Red-br. Nuthatch Golden-cr. Kinglet Eastern Bluebird American Robin Northern Mockingbird Northern Shrike Amer. Tree Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Snow Bunting Red-w. Blackbird - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 12/24/2009 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, December 24, 2009 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and 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. First, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to the callers and readers of the Dial-a-Bird report. My thanks to the contributors who help create a weekly sketch of the birdlife in the great Niagara Frontier region. Highlights of reports received December 17 through December 24 include AMERICAN AVOCET and NORTHERN GOSHAWK. December 24, at Dunkirk Harbor on Lake Erie, the AMERICAN AVOCET was still present at the west end of the harbor. The AVOCET has been lingering since December 12. Waterfowl in the harbor have included 3 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, plus CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER and RED-BR. MERGANSER, plus PIED-BILLED GREBE, HORNED GREBE and BALD EAGLE. December 20 in the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area, a juvenile NORTHERN GOSHAWK was reported on Bartel Road. In the Iroquois Refuge, BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIER, ROUGH- LEGGED HAWK and AMERICAN KESTREL. Along the Feeder Road, a GREAT HORNED OWL was observed after sunset. Highlights from one section of the December 19 Wilson-Lake Ontario Plains Christmas Count included PILEATED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SHRIKE, 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, 3 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS and 300 SNOW BUNTINGS. On the December 20 Buffalo Count, one section reported 27 WILD TURKEYS, FOX SPARROW, 2 SONG SPARROWS, SWAMP SPARROW and 6 WHITE-THR. SPARROWS. From Chautauqua County this week - at the mouth of Cattaraugus Creek, BALD EAGLE, BELTED KINGFISHER, NORTHERN FLICKER, AMERICAN ROBIN, AMER. TREE SPARROW and WHITE-THR. SPARROW. On Empire Road in the Town of Hanover, 43 AMER. TREE SPARROWS, 31 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, plus RED-BR. NUTHATCH and NORTHERN FLICKER. And, at Saint Columbans in Sheridan, 5 GOLDEN-CR. KINGLETS. Other reports this week - In Genesee County, on McLernon Road in Bethany, 45 HORNED LARKS and 4 SNOW BUNTINGS. At a feeder on Francis Road in Bethany, 3 female RED-W. BLACKBIRDS. In Allegany State Park, 6 to 8 COMMON RAVENS on Wolf Run. PEREGRINE FALCON over Main and Bailey in Buffalo. And on the west branch of the Niagara River off Grand Island, 200 TUNDRA SWANS. Dial-a-Bird will be updated Wednesday evening, December 30. Please call in your sightings by noon Wednesday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird. - End Transcript ___ 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 Dec. 24, 2009
Last week all three accipiters visited the Bedford Mills yard that regularly reports the goings-on in the Devil Lake area. Still north of the city, the original 10 Trumpeter Swams at Chaffey's Lock have increased to 21. There were also 5 Bald Eagles and 4 Wood Ducks there on the 19th. The Tufted Titmouse is still visiting a feeder at Wilstead and the Bath feeder now has two of them. Almost as if to signal the winter solstice, Great Horned Owls were calling on Wolfe Island and at Camden East at the beginning of the week. The Kingston Christmas Count was held last Sunday. Preliminary results tallied 98 species. High counts included 15 Mute Swans, 411 Tundra Swans, 8025 Redheads, 1850 Red-breasted Mergansers, and 9 Common Ravens. Unusual sightings included 2 Cackling Geese, 1 Barrow's Goldeneye, 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 2 Carolina Wrens, an American Woodcock and a Tufted Titmouse. Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year, 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] Bald Eagle Jordan Harbour
At 3:18pm. this afternoon, there was a full adult Bald Eagle flying along the the Lake Ontario shoreline in an easterly direction. It landed in a tree on the south side of the QEW opposite The Beacon parking lot. It may still be there as it seemed quite comfortable when I left. If not it may be continuing towards St. Catharines. Take the QEW to Victoria Ave. or Jordan and take the north service road to the Beacon parking lot and look across the QEW. Barb Wright Beamsville,On sa...@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] Strathroy Area Christmas Bird Count
The 14th Strathroy Area Christmas Bird Count was held December 23, 2009. Weather conditions were about a good as you could expect for Christmas week in southwestern Ontario, with temperatures ranging between -8 to -4 C. There was just a small amount of snow on the ground. 17 field observers and 5 feeder watchers tallied 16,705 birds of 63 (a new high) species. New for the count Red-headed Woodpecker (1) Record highs Red-tailed Hawk (104) Wild Turkey (260) Rock Pigeon (590) Long-eared Owl (3) Downy Woodpecker (201) Pileated Woodpecker (11) Tufted Titmouse (4) Brown Creeper (30) Yellow-rumped Warbler (36) Brown-headed Cowbird (277) Other interesting observations Northern Pintail (1) Bald Eagle seen during count week Short-eared Owl (6) Hermit Thrush (2) Fox Sparrow (2) Red-winged Blackbird (1) Thanks to all those who helped with this count. Dave Skinner Strathroy, Ontario ___ 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] Yellow-throated Warbler at Bronte Harbour 3:40 Dec. 24
Sue and I found a Yellow-throated Warbler foraging for dead insects on the docks at the Bronte Outer Harbour Marina this afternoon. Directions: Exit the QEW at Bronte Rd. (Oakville) and go south to Ontario St. and turn left (your only option). Park near the Lighthouse restaurant. Gavin Edmondstone Oakville, Ontario ___ 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] Algonquin Park Birding Update: 24 December 2009
Cold temperatures prevailed this week, sealing Algonquin Park firmly in winter's grip. Snowshoes are now required for getting around off trails and roads. Birders were busy elsewhere and so little reporting occurred. The White-throated Sparrow lingering at the Visitor Centre feeders survived until early this week, and may still be present. The large flock of American Goldfinches continued to come to the Visitor Centre feeders. Boreal Species: -Spruce Grouse: No reports. Check Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road. -Gray Jay: There were two at the Visitor Centre and three at the Opeongo Road gate on December 21. -Boreal Chickadee: Five were seen along the Opeongo Road, 1.1 km north of the gate, on December 21. -Black-backed Woodpecker: A male was just past the first fork in the Western Uplands Backpacking Trail (km 3 on Highway 60) on December 21. Mammals: -Pine Marten: Two continue to be fairly regular at the Visitor Centre. THE VISITOR CENTRE WILL BE OPEN DAILY (10 TO 4) FROM DECEMBER 27 TO JANUARY 3. As always, we would appreciate receiving your observations for our Visitor Centre records. Good birding and Happy Holidays. 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 near 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, feeders, and information. Access to the building through the service entrance to observe the feeders is usually possible on weekdays. Hot and cold drinks and snacks are available in the restaurant this winter on weekends, but not full meal service. ___ 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] Blenheim/Rondeau CBC
The Blenheim/Rondeau CBC was held Sunday December 20. The total number of species seen/heard was 115. This ties our all time high which we had previously set last year. The weather was absolutely beautiful which seems to not happen very often on this count! There was 1 new species added which brings the count total to 182 plus 3 CW. Highlights are: Common Loon 2 Turkey Vulture 2 Virginia Rail 1 Sandhill Crane 2 Killdeer 8 Dunlin 1 Wilson's Snipe 2 Great Horned Owl 57 -- new high Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Red-headed Woodpecker 4 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 American Crow 9552 -- new high House Wren 1 American Robin 32 -- new high Northern Waterthrush 1 -- new for count Common Grackle 420 -- new high Evening Grosbeak 1 Many thanks to all who participated and to my mother for a wonderful dinner! Jim Burk for Keith It is interesting to note that over the last 2 years there has been 133 species recorded on this count. ___ 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 Birding Report for Week Ending December 24, 2009.
As an indication of the birding potential of the relatively small area covered by Presqu'ile Provincial Park, five observers were able to find 49 species last Sunday. Although the days are getting longer (!), it is unlikely that those numbers will be increasing soon, at least for a few weeks. Three species of swans were in Presqu'ile Bay on Sunday and a TRUMPETER SWAN was still there today. If one can locate a flock of GREATER SCAUP (whose location on any given day depends on the wind direction and the resultant ice cover in Presqu'ile Bay), a careful scan will reveal a smaller number of REDHEADS among them. A flock of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS that has been off the west end of the day use areas for several days numbered close to 100 on Sunday. A BALD EAGLE was off Owen Point on Sunday and two (an adult and an immature) flew over Presqu'ile Bay on Monday. A NORTHERN HARRIER was again seen on Gull Island. An ICELAND GULL was near the lighthouse on Wednesday. Another "white-winged" gull was identified as a "NELSON'S GULL" after being examined at close range and photographed. Analysis of the times and locations of the 14 or more BARRED OWL sightings on Sunday indicated that there were at least eleven individuals. Just outside the Park, a NORTHERN FLICKER came to a feeder on December 24. Perhaps it will find its way to Presqu'ile, where there often is one in winter. Four PILEATED WOODPECKERS were in the Park on Sunday, and two were seen today. Two NORTHERN SHRIKES were found on Sunday, one at the beach 3 entrance road and one at the calf pasture, which is a favoured spot for them in winter. Three HORNED LARKS were on Gull Island on December 20. The somewhat elusive CAROLINA WREN has visited feeders at 83 and 115 Bayshore Road within the past five days. A count of 31 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS indicates that this species winters in good numbers in the Park. Single WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS visited two feeders this week, one at 83 Bayshore Road and the other at the Park office. SNOW BUNTINGS continue to be plentiful on Gull Island. The most recent sighting of the ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK at the feeder at the group campground parking lot was on December 23. A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was on Bayshore Road on Sunday. Two PINE SISKINS were found among the dunes near the marsh boardwalk entrance. 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 should be prepared to wade through knee-deep water in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven. Hip waders are essential, even when the water is calm, and may be inadequate when the water is rough. Most recently, the channel was ice-covered, but the ice, while appearing to be thick, does not support the weight of a human. The surrounding shoreline can be very slippery. With hip waders one can walk to Sebastopol Island from Gull Island, but wading to High Bluff Island is not possible. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there. -- -- 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Dec 23rd - Northern Pintails, Long-eared Owl, Wigeon X Mallard hybrid - Toronto Waterfront & Whitby Harbour
Hello Birders, Myself and Kyle Holloway went searching for the Greater White-fronted Goose at Whitby Harbour yesterday - No luck, but lots of birds were moving out to feed in nearby fields and the White-fronted could have been amongst them. We did find, however, four NORTHERN PINTAILS off the Pringle Creek bridge. We later had a look at the Lakefront near Humber Bay Park West, just going down (east) Superior ave. There were many GREATER SCAUP, REDHEADS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS interspersed with the usual suspects. If you're a photographer - some of the Long-tails, including some very nice males, came very close for nice shots. There were also four TRUMPETER SWANS. We later went down to Colonel Sam Smith Park, where we found a peculiar and very neat looking MALLARD X AMERICAN WIGEON hybrid. It looked like a Mallard but had a green iridescent stripe down the sides of the head in the manner of a wigeon, a white spot on it's cheek, some buff on the forehead, and the bill was a mix between the two species, almost blue. We also saw a MINK, a female AMERICAN KESTREL and flushed a LONG-EARED OWL. Directions to Goose/Pintails (Ron Tozer): Take Highway 401 to Whitby and go south on Brock Street to the harbour. Good Birding & Happy Holidays! Lev Frid Maple, 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] Roadkilled Turkey Vulture north of Trenton
Greetings Ontbirders, I was surprised to find a roadkilled Turkey Vulture this morning on Wooler Rd, where Cold Creek crosses the road, about 5 km N of Hwy 401, northeast of Trenton. Sadly the bird was completely wrecked and could not be salvaged for the ROM. This is still (in my mind) a very rare bird in December in these parts. There was no sign of another roadkill which might have attracted it. On a side note, the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Presqu'ile PP was still at the feeder (Pioneer trail parking area) yesterday morning. It has a bum wing and one wonders how long it will survive before cold takes its toll. Cheers, and happy holidays Doug McRae ___ 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/Gatineau 24 Dec 09 - weekly update
Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 24 December 2009 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Rare bird alerts are now included in the introductory message Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis hagen...@primus.ca At 7:30 am, Thursday December 24, 2009 this is Chris Lewis reporting. The local Christmas Bird Counts began with the Ottawa-Gatineau count on December 20th. All of the species totals have yet to be confirmed. Preliminary results indicated that it was a generally slow day with low numbers, but it was not a day without several highlights. Interesting waterfowl included a few lingerers such as WOOD DUCK, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and RING-NECKED DUCK. Three BARROW'S GOLDENEYE (2 males and 1 female) were seen again on the Rideau River off Riverain/Strathcona Park. 23 WILD TURKEYS were a record high for the count, and a very late GREAT BLUE HERON was found near Ogilvie Rd. and the Aviation Parkway. Thirteen BALD EAGLES were counted among the various sectors, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK first reported on the 13th was still in Aylmer , Quebec on count day, and a grey morph GYRFALCON was a great find near the Carlington quarry. Two PEREGRINE FALCONS were seen; one each on the Ontario and Quebec sides. Gull numbers were low overall within the count circle - only 8 ICELAND and 8 GLAUCOUS GULLS were reported; larger numbers were found just two days before at the Trail Rd. Landfill along with a 1st winter THAYER'S GULL. A nice surprise was a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER along a trail off Ogilvie Rd.and the Aviation Parkway on the 20th. Four NORTHERN SHRIKES were found among the count sectors, and 124 COMMON RAVENS was in impressive record high. A CAROLINA WREN that has been visiting a feeder near a small park adjacent to Rue Millar in Hull, Quebec was seen on the 20th, and a HERMIT THRUSH and SWAMP SPARROW in the Britannia sector were both good finds as well. The COMMON YELLOWTHROAT discovered on the 19th at Strathcona Park showed up for the count and was still hanging in as of the 23rd. On the 18th six GRAY PARTRIDGE were found in what has become a traditional wintering area in Kanata along Maple Grove Rd. near the Sensplex arena, and on the 23rd two large flocks of WILD TURKEYS were reported - 23 along Prince of Wales Dr. near Barnsdale Rd. and 30 at Corkstown Rd. off March Rd. Good numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS and BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS are still around, and several flocks of SNOW BUNTINGS were seen in the Ste-Rose area east of Ottawa on the 20th. The dearth of finches certainly reflects reports from elsewhere in the province - HOUSE FINCH and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers were very low on the Ottawa-Gatrineau count, and only 1 PURPLE FINCH, 3 COMMON REDPOLLS, and 3 EVENING GROSBEAKS were reported on the 20th, all in the Quebec sectors. Thank you - and Happy Holiday Birding to all! ___ 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/
