[Ontbirds] Brown Thrasher still coming to feeder in 2010 (since Nov 15/09) - Sault Ste. Marie, ON
Hi folks, The Brown Thrasher that I first reported back on Dec 6th, 2009, was counted during the recent CBC and has made it into the New Year. It continues to come to a feeder in town (86 Essex Lane in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario ) where it consumes meal-worms, beef suet, seeds, nuts and oatmeal. It has been feeding at this backyard location since the middle of Nov 2009. It primarily feeds first in the morning and just before sunset under a garden Trellis/Bench combo. It takes refuge in the Cedar hedges that surrounds this residence. It may be possible to observe this bird in the hedge at the north-west corner of the Emmanuel United Church parking lot. Sault Ste.Marie is located 3 hours west of Sudbury. Essex Lane is located in the east end of Sault Ste. Marie, west of Boundary Road just off of Chartwell Drive. Ken McIlwrick Sault Ste. Marie, 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] Algonquin Park - Summer jobs for keen naturalists
-Posted with permission of Mark Cranford, ONTBIRDS mailing list coordinator- Algonquin Provincial Park's Natural Heritage Education Program is now accepting applications for summer 2010 Seasonal Park Naturalist positions. This is a unique opportunity for keen naturalists, particularly those in high school, college or university studies (applicants must be at least 16 years of age by June 2010). Successful candidates have the opportunity to: vastly augment their field-naturalist skills by working in a huge natural area; work with - as well as learn from - others who share similar interests; and develop their communication skills through interacting with the public. To learn more about this opportunity, visit the official Park website: http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca and look for 'Seasonal Employment in Algonquin Park' under the News Bulletins column at right. The job information poster can be downloaded from that page. Cheers, Justin Peter Park Naturalist Algonquin Provincial Park Ontario, Canada 613-637-2828 justin.pe...@ontario.ca www.algonquinpark.on.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] Carden Alvar CBC on Saturday, January 2, 2010
Carden Alvar Christmas Bird Count January 2, 2010 The 12th annual Carden Alvar Christmas Bird Count was held on Saturday, January 2, 2010. The day was cold and clear with temperatures from -21 0C to -17 0C. Most of the water was frozen with only a few patches of fast moving open water. A total of 12 field observers and 16 feeder watchers tallied a total of 30 species of birds and 2281 individuals. They also counted 7 species of mammals and 81 individuals. All of Alvar Road and Wiley Road were covered by observers on foot and on skis but with few birds being observed. There were no new species of birds for the count but a new high total of 63 Common Ravens up from 53 in 2003. There were no owls or gulls reported and low numbers of hawks and finches. Best birds were a red-winged blackbird and a red-bellied woodpecker both observed at feeders. American Black Duck – 2, Mallard – 5, Common Merganser – 2, Bald Eagle – 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk – 2, Red-tailed Hawk – 2, Ruffed Grouse – 5, Wild Turkey – 59, Rock Pigeon – 28, Mourning Dove – 83, Downy Woodpecker – 23, Hairy Woodpecker – 40, Red-bellied Woodpecker – CW, Pileated Woodpecker – 2, Blue Jay – 150, American Crow – 63, Common Raven – 63, Black-capped Chickadee – 779, Red-breasted Nuthatch – 4, White-breasted Nuthatch – 30, Brown Creeper – 2, Golden-crowned Kinglet – 1, Northern Shrike – 3, European Starling – 61, Northern Cardinal – 5, American Tree Sparrow – 45, Dark-eyed Junco – 20, Snow Bunting – 422, Red-winged Blackbird – 1, Purple Finch – 4, American Goldfinch – 374. Thanks to everyone who took part in this interesting count this year. Bob Bowles, compiler ___ 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 CBC
The 88th Hamilton C.B.C. was held Saturday December 26th 2009. There were 66 participants including birdfeeder watchers. Temperatures on the day ranged from a morning low of +1 and by late afternoon it had climbed to +4. Overnight and early morning rain put a dent in the owling activity, and held back a few of the early starters. We recorded a total of 98 species, slightly above the 10 year average count of 96. The total number of birds counted was 76,396. The ten year average count is 72,599. The highlights this year were: Two Brant - equaling the previous record of two. A pair of Common Ravens. Good numbers of diving ducks, with the added sightings of a King Eider, and a Barrow's Goldeneye. New record for Wood Duck 6 (previous record 4). Red-breasted Merganser 589 (previous record 502). Mourning Dove 2,173 (previous record 2,052). Carolina Wren 51 (previous record 40). Winter Wren 37 (previous record 23). There were low numbers for Black Ducks, Mallards, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, and Common Merganser. With lots of open water around the region, these birds could have been scattered, and not yet starting to concentrate in our area as is usual when a freeze sets in. Low counts were had for Iceland Gulls, Belted Kingfisher, American Crow, Eastern Bluebird, American Robin, American Tree Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, and House Finch. Misses this year - American Wigeon (c.w.), Horned Lark, White-crowned Sparrow. Count Week species - Red-throated Loon, Turkey Vulture, American Wigeon, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Gray Catbird and Pine Siskin. I would like to thank all those who made the 2009 count a success. Best Regards..Tom Thomas. ___ 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] Bronte Harbour Yellow-throated Warbler: Probably Seen
While out for a walk on the Bronte pier this afternoon at 4 PM I spotted a warbler-sized bird as it crossed my path from the rocks on the lake side to the rocks on the marina side. This was about half way between the far end of the pier and the area where the walkway widens (i.e. about a quarter way back from the end). Even though I saw exactly where the bird went in I could not relocate it and did not see the bird well enough to make an identification but how many warblers are living in those rocks? Although there is some snow there is still good access to gaps between the rocks. Directions: Exit the QEW at Bronte Rd. (Oakville) and go to the lake. Park near the end of Bronte Rd. before it turns left and becomes Ontario Street. Go out on the walkway on the pier on the east side of Bronte Creek and then go left just before the lighthouse. Sue Edwards 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] Haldimand - Short-eared Owls - Pipits - Horned Larkes Longspurs
Hi all Spent some time this afternoon east of Hagersville, looking for the longspurs pipits horned larks reported earlier. Lots of Water Pipits (40 plus) along the Walpole 10th Con Rd, both east and west of Cheapside Rd some distance south of Regional Rd 20 out of Hagersville. They seemed to be spread out along the road for some distance and often disappeared into the roadside thickets rather then staying in sight in the open fields like the horned larks. There were quite a few of the larks but only 4 Lapland Longspurs, just east of Cheapside Rd. on 10th Con Rd. (aka Conc 10) and they made only a very short appearance. There were also lots of Tree Sparrows feeding on the 10th, just to confuse the issue. Snow Buntings were seen along County Rd 9 ENE of County Rd 20. When heading home, I stopped,just off of County Rd. 20 on County Rd. 9 to watch 3 Northern Harriers hunt over the large fallow field on the north corner of that intersection. About 4:20 pm 4 Short-eared Owls made their appears in the same field so that at times all 7 birds were in sight. Directions below from, Mike Street's earlier e-mail. Don't confuse County Rd 9, which runs ENE off of County Rd 20 across from the junk yard, with 9th Concession Rd which runs east-west across Cheapside Rd. From the traffic light in Hagersville follow Reg. Rd. 20 toward Nelles Corners. Cheapside Rd. starts and runs south off Reg.Rd. 20 just before the 'Hagersville Junk Yard'. Concession 9 is the third cross road. Turn right (west) and look for the birds near a small pine plantation. Please be careful - these birds are slow to get out of the way of moving vehicles. Paul Smith Flamborough (Hamilton), 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] Late report of American Woodcock south of Peterborough
Hello, all - a friend of mine reported today that she had seen an American Woodcock in her driveway on Dec. 24. She is not a fanatic birder, but she is very interested and observant of birds, and I would be confident of her ID; she says she sees them regularly in the summer and she was very close to this one. I would assume it would not be found again, but if anyone wishes to try, the location is north on County Road 28 one concession north of the Millbrook road, then 1.5 km east. Cheers, John __ Get the name you've always wanted @ymail.com or @rocketmail.com! Go to http://ca.promos.yahoo.com/jacko/ ___ 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/
