[Ontbirds] birds in Bradford, Holland Ldg. area

[peterbethwukasch]

Mon. March 29 2010
From: Peter Wukasch
Today at 4:30 pm I had to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting a Ruffed Grouse 
as it sped onto the road and stopped midway across. It tempted me to wonder, 
Why did the grouse cross the road? Perhaps to prove their former nickname, 
"fool hen" (more often used for the Spruce Grouse I believe). This was on 
Bathurst Street just before Hochreiter Rd. by the cedar swamp. Also, the Bald 
Eagles are again setting up residence in the heron colony north of Ravenshoe 
Rd. although the nest is most easily seen from the east end of the 13th Line of 
Bradford-West Gwillimbury
by looking in a southeasterly direction across the mouth of the Holland River. 
My friend, Dan Antonio's son has photos of a pair of eagles at the nest site 
atop one of the trees amongst the tamaracks with a heron nest below it. I guess 
the herons have hired bodyguards!! He also spotted a flock of 10 Tundra Swans 
in the same general area. The small population of Sandhill Cranes should also 
be in the same vicinity soon. Hopefully we'll actually locate the 
nest(s) this year.
Peter Wukasch
Follow Hwy. 400 n to Bradford exit. Head east towards Hwy. 11 (4 corners in 
Bradford). Turn left up Hwy. 11 to the 13th Line and turn left, proceeding to 
the end of the road.
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[Ontbirds] HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (29 Mar 2010) 100 Raptors

[reports]

Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 29, 2010
---

SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0  1  1
Turkey Vulture  70949949
Osprey   0  0  0
Bald Eagle   0 34 34
Northern Harrier 0 20 20
Sharp-shinned Hawk   7111111
Cooper's Hawk1 65 65
Northern Goshawk 0  7  7
Red-shouldered Hawk 11339340
Broad-winged Hawk0  0  0
Red-tailed Hawk  9973975
Rough-legged Hawk0 15 15
Golden Eagle 0  5  5
American Kestrel 0  4  4
Merlin   1  7  7
Peregrine Falcon 0  5  5
Unknown Accipiter0  2  2
Unknown Buteo0  5  5
Unknown Falcon   0  0  0
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Raptor   1  3  3

Total: 100   2545   2548
--

Observation start time: 08:00:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 8 hours

Official Counter:John Stevens

Observers:Bouwe Bergsma, Ian Smith, John Niewiadomski, Mike Kirchin

Visitors:
Nadine Litwin had a class of 14 from Niagara College on a fauna
identification excursion.  Jennifer Brenton from St. Catharines and Jim
Dowall from Hamilton.  Assisting with the count for short periods were Ian
Smith, Bouwe Bergsma, Mike Ketchen and John Niewiadomski.


Weather:
Heavily overcast to begin but clearing around noon and thereafter a mix of
sun and cloud.  Winds mainly NE and light to moderate.  Only a modest
temperature rise over the day (4 to 8.5 degrees).

Raptor Observations:
As many as 7 local TVs were quite active before 1:30 EST.
Local CH seen in am and male about 3:30 EST.  An immature in former owl
tree in morning for 30+ minutes wasn't counted as its departure went
unnoticed.  Last 2.5 hours were vey slow despite warmer temperature,
more sun and same wind.

Non-raptor Observations:
A pair of Wood Ducks seen four times and two Great Blue Herons.  Others
included Purple Finches, Carolina Wren, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Fox
Sparrow and Tufted Titmouse.

Predictions:
Similar winds and slightly warmer but no clouds.  Good luck.

Report submitted by John Stevens ()
Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at:
http://www.hwcn.org/link/niaghawk/


Site Description:
The hawk migration at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area is conducted by
the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). The counting is all done by
volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a
member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but
other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. 
Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For
wind protection on the cold days of March, a black plastic wind guard is
installed around the tower�s platform. This platform easily accommodates
ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would
be on it.  

The site lies within a publically accessible property owned by the Niagara
Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. The
tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the
outer edge. This provides lots of room to park vehicles (along the road)
and set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are
present.  During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to
display the day�s observations for the public. The box enclosing the sign
contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin
boards with news and historical sighting records.

Photos courtesy of Mike Street and Barry Cherriere

 

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 

[Ontbirds] possible golden Eagle- Warsaw Caves

[Saw-whet]

At the entrance to the Warsaw Caves parking lot at about 2.45 pm  
today. as I was drive by the entrance.  (West to East)


A large bird in the size range of a Golden Eagle lifted off the road  
with its back to me.


Before it turn away I noticed a yellow beak.

The standard Dark Brown and White colourations were vary visible.

Did not have time to use my camera, for a back up proof.  Plus the  
car behind me was tail gating me too close.


The beak was yellow.

The head was the same colour as the body.

This was what first got my first eye sight.

Wing span was close to six foot, as it lifted off road kill and  
escaped into the trees.


I did not have the time to return and watch for it.

Trust some one else can can firm it.

Robbie
Kawartha Field Naturalists

Robbie Preston
611 Rogers St. Unit 28
Peterborough,Ontario
K9H 1X7

705-876-9571




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[Ontbirds] Ottawa area: Tundra Swans

[Bruce Di Labio]

Hello Ontbirders
The 5 Tundra Swans were still present today just south of Ottawa along Hwy 416 
north of the Dilworth Road exit 42. The swans have been present since last week 
on the east side of the highway in the flooded fields. Also present were 100+ 
Northern Pintail and 2000+ Canada Geese. There was a Northern Shrike along 
Dunrobin Road at Woodlawn today and an early Virginia Rail was heard calling 
along Riddell Road yesterday. 
Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy 416 south to Dilworth exit and then Hwy 416 
north and watch for the swans on the east side of the highway. 

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

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[Ontbirds] Bald Eagles Durham Region Mar.29th 2010

[Mike Williamson]

Hello Ont. Birders

Today at roughly 3:45 DST (2:45 EST ) I had two Juv. Bald Eagles flying 
together N.E at the intersection of Hwy #7 & the York/Durham town line, 
regional road # 31.

Cheers
Mike Williamson 


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[Ontbirds] York Region Birds

[RON FLEMING]

Bird activity has slowed down a bit in York Region since the balmy March 
Break.  The vernal ponds of Hochreiter Road and Bathurst Street northwest of 
Holland Landing came and went quickly this year, as did the migrating 
waterfowl.  I had a single WOOD DUCK and six COMMON MERGANSERS in Holland 
Landing Friday but that was it for me and ducks.  Bruce Brydon had better luck 
at the south end of Cook's Bay on Saturday (the only section of open water in 
this part of Lake Simcoe at this point); he observed over 500 COMMON MERGS, 
100+ LESSER SCAUP, 3 HOODED MERGS, a single REDHEAD, and a GLAUCOUS GULL. 
 
Lorena Campbell had a TURKEY VULTURE flying over Keswick Monday afternoon while 
Bruce Brydon had an EASTERN BLUEBIRD on Bathurst St. north of Morning Sdrd. on 
Wednesday and a PURPLE FINCH at the Holland Landing Prairie Reserve Friday.
 
On Saturday morning I observed a PILEATED WOODPECKER and a NORTHERN SHRIKE at 
the Cawthra Mulock reserve while Bruce found a dozen GOLDEN-CROWNED 
KINGLETS there the same day.  In north Holland Landing Kevin Shackleton had two 
AMERICAN WOODCOCK displaying at dusk on Earth Day, as well as a vocalizing 
GREAT HORNED OWL.  Craig Corcoran had the first EASTERN MEADOWLARKS of 
the season (that I'm aware of anyway) northeast of Nobleton on Saturday.  On 
Sunday Bruce B. had the first WILSON'S SNIPE of the year at the west end 
of Hochreiter Rd.  
 
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
 
York Region is north of Toronto and south of Lake Simcoe.
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[Ontbirds] Breeding Bird Survey volunteers needed

[Audrey Heagy]

Surveyors needed for Breeding Bird Survey routes in Ontario

Skilled birders are needed to survey Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) routes in 
Ontario.  Volunteers must be good at birding by ear, have a reliable vehicle, 
and be able to survey their route in June or early July for several years.  
Detailed information on the BBS program can be found on the Canadian BBS 
website.

In southern Ontario, routes are currently available near Chatham, Gore Bay, 
Espanola, Bancroft, and Cornwall.   There are also several routes available 
across northern Ontario.  Surveyors covering priority routes in northern 
Ontario may be eligible for financial assistance for travel expenses.

For more information contact Audrey Heagy, Ontario BBS Coordinator, at 
ahe...@bsc-eoc.org or 1-888-448-2473 x 166.

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[Ontbirds] Rondeau Provincial Park

[RIC MCARTHUR]

First towhee of the season heard this morning near the visitor centre

Take exit 101 off the 401 and follow the signs to Rondeau
-- 
Ric McArthur PO Box B1   Morpeth, Ontario,Canada N0P 1X0
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricmcarthur
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