[Ontbirds] Indigo bunting in Waterloo
Kudos to my non-birding husband for spotting (and correctly identifying!!!) an indigo bunting along the GeoTime trail in west Waterloo. The trail is off of Columbia St. West in the Clair Hills subdivision. We accessed it by parking on Zurich Street, and entering the trail by the nearby access point at the corner of Zurich and Winterburg Walk and hanging a right. I can't remember exactly but I think we saw the bird a few minutes' walk past the big sundial where the trail runs between the woods and the back yards of the houses. Good Birding, Lisa Den Besten Waterloo. ___ 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] Red-necked Phalarope - Alfred Sewage Lagoon and other Eastern Ontario Lagoons
Hello Ontbirders This afternoon at 3 pm at the Alfred Sewage Lagoons I found 1 female Red-necked Phalarope in summer plumage swimming in the eastern cell. Also of interest at that location was 1 Snow Goose, 2 Wilson`s Phalaropes, 20 Redheads, 50+ Ruddy Ducks, 1 Lesser Yellowleg, approx. 10 Semiplamated Sandpipers, a Pied-billed Grebe, along with several Moorhen, Coot, Gadwall, Shoveler and Widgeon. As opposed to previous years, the western cell does not have any cattails this summer and both cells have high water levels with little vegetation. Of interest at other eastern lagoons I visited : St-Isidore Lagoons - 6 Ruddy Ducks, 1 American Bittern, 3 Moorhens and 2 Pied-billed Grebes. Other birders indicated to me that they had heard and seen a Virginia Rail which I did not get. Casselman Lagoons - approx. 35 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5 Least Sandpipers, 5 Dunlin, and few ducks, as water levels are very low in both cells. Embrun Lagoons - Approx 150 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5 Least Sandpipers, 20 Semipalmated Plovers, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, 20 Dunlins, 2 Wilson`s Phalaropes. Most shorebirds were in the NW cells offering great views. Directions to the different sewage lagoons can be found on Neilyworld.com (http://www.neilyworld.com/) Good Birding Richard Killeen, Ottawa ___ 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 OFO Trip
Forty-five OFO members and guests found many of Carden's specialty birds on today's annual field trip. Most target species such as the Loggerhead Shrike and Sedge Wren were seen. Loggerhead Shrike: We saw a distant Loggerhead Shrike in the morning on the east side of Wylie Road between bluebird boxes 3 and 7 a little north of the large White Birch. This year shrikes are not being seen west of bluebird box 10. After a picnic lunch at the Kirkfield Lift Lock, we had much better views of a Loggerhead Shrike on south side of McNamee Road opposite the gated unnamed road running north, two concessions east of Wylie Road. Recently a shrike was seen on the Cameron Ranch from the parking lot. Scan the tops of hawthorns and dead branches for shrikes in areas grazed by cattle. A scope is a big help. Wrens: Several Sedge Wrens were singing at Sedge Wren Marsh and we had excellent views of two birds. Best area is the northeast corner along the road where grasses and sedges predominate. Caution: There was a Marsh Wren singing from the cattails just west of the marsh bridge. Later we saw and heard many Marsh Wrens at the Prospect Road Marsh. House Wrens were singing at several spots along Wylie Road. Upland Sandpiper: We saw and heard several along Wylie and McNamee Roads. Watch for its flickering wing beats and listen for its curlew-like song and calls. Wilson's Snipe: A few snipe were winnowing in flight and calling at wet areas along Wylie Road. Rails: Both Sora and Virginia Rail are more common this year. The group heard both at the Sedge Wren Marsh and both at Prospect Marsh where we had close views of a Virginia Rail. We haven't heard Yellow Rails at the Sedge Wren Marsh this May. They may not like the slightly higher water level in the marsh this year caused by a beaver dam, but the wetter conditions seem to be favouring Soras and Virginias. American Bittern: Two were seen briefly in flight at the Sedge Wren Marsh. Osprey: Three nests with adults on them were observed at Canal Lake. Black-billed Cuckoo: At least two birds were seen and heard. Cuckoos and Baltimore Oriole numbers are up this year associated with a moderate outbreak of Eastern Tent Caterpillars. Cuckoos and orioles are among the few birds that eat the hairy larvae. Just how cuckoos and orioles know that there are abundant caterpillars and move into Carden is unknown. Flycatchers: One singing Alder Flycatcher was observed at the Sedge Wren Marsh. Least Flycatchers were singing at many spots and are more common this year. No Willow Flycatchers were heard. We also saw Eastern Kingbirds, but numbers seem down. We had a close view of a Great Crested Flycatcher and heard others. Golden-winged Warbler: The group had great views of a singing male at the top of a dead tree along Wylie Road south of the Sedge Wren Marsh. Grasshopper Sparrow: We saw several singing birds perched on rocks and shrubs along Wylie Road. A scope is helpful. Clay-colored Sparrow: We heard and eventually saw a singing bird on the west side of Prospect Road about 2 km south of Eldon Station Road. Other good sightings today included two close Common Loons in breeding plumage on Canal Lake; calling Common Ravens lent a northern flavour to the alvar; Eastern Bluebirds; several singing Brown Thrashers; two singing Field Sparrows; a close Eastern Towhee sang and called beside Wylie Road, but it stayed out of sight in the thickets; and many Eastern Meadowlarks were seen and heard among the group's 70 bird species. Non-bird sightings included a large basking Blanding's Turtle and a Bullfrog at the Great Blue Heron colony pond east of Shrike Road and south of McNamee Road. Large areas of Prairie Smoke, Carden's signature wildflower, and Balsam Ragwort brightened the alvar meadows. Many of the group remarked that most birds were seen very well today. DIRECTIONS: A Carden Alvar birding site guide is on the OFO Website. Print guide and map for use in the field. http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/cardenalvar.php Birder's World magazine lists the Carden Alvar as a North American birding hotspot. http://bit.ly/cardenalvar It was a pleasure having Sean Smith, Visitor Experience Manager of Trent Severn Waterway, Parks Canada, on the outing. I thank Ron Pittaway, Ron Tozer, Eleanor Beagan, and Rick and Kim Brown for ensuring that the group had great views of birds. Jean Iron Carden Alvar Trip Leader Toronto 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] Hudsonian Godwit, and 2 N. Hawk-Owls, Hearst
Hey Birders, A few of us checked out the Hearst Sewage Lagoons this afternoon and were not disappointed. The highlight was a breeding plumaged Hudsonian Godwit feeding with a Lesser Yellowlegs. A Northern Hawk-Owl was also at the sewage lagoons. Lots of waterfowl were present at the lagoons, including a female White-winged Scoter and Wood Duck. 2 Least, 14 Semipalmated Sandpipers and 12 Dunlin were also seen (suprisingly there isn't good shorebird habitat). Anorther Northern Hawk-Owl was seen along the Trans Canada (hwy. 11) about 10km west of Kapuskasing. North of Kapuskasing: 2 (a pair) of White-winged Scoters, 5 Double-crested Cormorants and 13 Tern sp. (either Common or Arctic) were seen at the Little Long Reservoir about 70km north of Kap today. At least 2 Connecticut Warblers have been found in the area. Flocks of White-winged Crossbill's are sporadic, but one flock today consisted of close to 50 birds. A Marbled Godwit was seen from May 19-21 at a location along the Mattagami River about 90km north of Kap. Good Birding, Ken Burrell Directions: email me privately for directions to birds north of Kap (it is pretty hard to get to and I wouldn't recommend to anyone who is using their personal vehicle). Hearst Sewage Lagoons; turn south on Gaspesie off Hwy 11, turn left on Begin Road, the lagoons are about 1km south on your right (west), there are four lagoons. _ 30 days of prizes to be won with Hotmail. Enter Here. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9729709___ 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] Great Egret, White-winged Scoters at Ottawa
Hi Ontbirders: At Petrie Islands along the Ottawa River east of Ottawa, A Great Egret was fishing in the marsh area to the left of the first causeway as you cross onto the island. On the north side of the island looking about halfway across the Ottawa River towards Quebec, there was a flock of seven White-winged Scoter. Good birding Peter Hall Directions: From Ottawa, head east on Highway 174 until Trimm Road. Turn left at the lights here and follow over the causeway stopping to view the marsh. Then proceed to the end of the road where there is a parking lot. ___ 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] Reesor Pond Retraction
Well it was great to believe that for 5 days I was seeing a Black Scoter at Reesor Pond but today it transpired that the bird in question appeared to have developed the submerging tactics of a Grebe and lo! - there was a faint stripe across its face - okay - sorry - but the bird is the female Ruddy Duck I had imagined it to be in the first place - thanks Frank! ___ 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] Reesor Pond
30.05.10 - 6am - the female Black Scoter continues to frequent the pond and takes patience to find - shorebirds still trickle through with a flock of 24 Semi-palmated Sandpipers and one Greater Yellowlegs showing this morning. Among other shorebirds, two Stilt Sandpipers went through this past week. Reesor Pond lies just north of Hwy 407 on Reesor Road in Markham. ___ 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/
