[Ontbirds] Reesor Pond - southbound shorebirds
02.08.10 - 7.45 at Reesor Pond - a pair of Black-bellied Plovers - adults in remnant breeding plumage - showed up for about 15 mins this am - this typical of the incidence of southbound shorebirds these last ten days with a pair of Short-billed Dowitchers showing at 5pm last night and gone by morning and first Semi-palmated sandpiper arriving last week - also five juvenile night herons, 1 American Bittern, Black Ducks, Green-winged Teal and Hooded Mergansers also showing for the first time since end of June. Both Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, seen swimming, are being mistaken for Wilson's Phalarope and correct me if I'm wrong but southbound, juvenile Greater-Yellowlegs, seem to have significantly shorter bills than adults? cheers - S ___ 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] James Bay Shorebirds, Ontario #3
This is Jean Iron's third report by satellite phone on 1 August 2010 for the period 23 July to 1 August 2010 from Longridge Point on southern James Bay. Jean is a volunteer surveying Red Knots and other shorebirds under the direction of Mark Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto. On 31 July four more people arrived at camp and one there departed. Don Sutherland of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Mike McMurtry (OMNR), Doug McRae (ROM volunteer) and Ray Ford (writer) arrived and Christian Friis (Canadian Wildlife Service) left. Mark Peck, Lisa Pollock (Trent University/OMNR) and Jean Iron are staying until the survey ends about 15 August. Seven people are in camp. SHOREBIRD MIGRATION CHRONOLOGY: Most (not all) southbound shorebirds migrate in three waves: females first, males second, juveniles last. Females depart soon after the young hatch leaving the males to raise the young. The males depart about 2-3 weeks later when the juveniles have grown. Then juveniles migrate after the males. SHOREBIRD OBSERVATIONS About 7000 shorebirds are currently in the Longridge Point area. There are no Peregrine Falcons to disrupt their feeding. Best day for high counts was 29 July after a storm. For most species only the high count day is given below in checklist order. Black-bellied Plover: 21 molting adults on 29 July. American Golden-Plover: 2 adults on 25 July. Semipalmated Plover: 97 on 29 July. Killdeer: 26 on 29 July. Spotted Sandpiper: 9 on 31 July. Greater Yellowlegs: 209 (1/2 juveniles) on 29 July. Lesser Yellowlegs: 437 mostly juveniles on 28 July. Whimbrel: 51 on 23 July. Hudsonian Godwit: 392 molting adults on 29 July. Marbled Godwit: None. Ruddy Turnstone: 415 adults on 29 July. RED KNOT: The high count of 1143 molting adults was on 29 July. The extensive tidal flats of southern James Bay are an important stopover area for knots. 120 marked individuals have been observed with several birds seen over a period of 12-14 days indicating a long stay. Mark Peck and shorebird researcher Lisa Pollock are sampling the foods eaten by the knots. They noted that the knots are plump and in excellent condition. These knots will likely fly nonstop to South America. Migrating knots that fail to gain adequate weight suffer reduced survival. Sanderling: 20 molting adults on 25 July. Semipalmated Sandpiper: 4338 mostly adults on 31 July, first juveniles (a few) on 30th. WESTERN SANDPIPER: 2 on 29 July seen by Mark Peck. Least Sandpiper: 126 mainly juveniles on 31 July. White-rumped Sandpiper: 2450 molting adults on 31 July. A few are still in almost full but heavily worn alternate plumage. Pectoral Sandpiper: 520 adults (not molting) on 29 July. Dunlin: 34 adults still in full worn alternate plumage on 26 July. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: 1 on 25 July seen by Lisa Pollock. Short-billed Dowitcher: 2 juveniles on 24 July, 5 juveniles on 29th. Wilson's Snipe: 4 on 28 July. Wilson's Phalarope: 1 juvenile previously reported on 21 July, 1 adult (probable male with cinnamon on sides of neck) on 29th, 1 juvenile on 30th. A sparse population breeds at James Bay. Red-necked Phalarope: 1 molting adult on 29 July. SEA LEVEL RISE: Sea levels could rise one metre by 2100 and will continue rising. Ontario's low flat coastline of James Bay is extremely vulnerable. Rising sea levels will inundate or change vital shorebird habitats. OTHER SIGHTINGS Birds: Black Scoter, a few seen but not the big flocks of molting males seen last summer. Red-throated Loon. 92 American White Pelicans on 1 August. Yellow Rail, 6 ticking on 1 August. Osprey. Northern Harrier. Northern Goshawk on 1 August. Merlin. An adult Great Black-backed Gull is regular. Little Gull, 1 adult of 23 and 29 July was in wing molt. Bonaparte's Gull, 356 on 30 July with some adults in wing molt, first juveniles on 23 July. Bonaparte's and Little Gulls in wing molt suggest that some birds of these species undergo prebasic molt close to the breeding grounds. Arctic Terns seen daily including a pair feeding 3 young on 27 July. Common Tern, 2 on 31 July. Adult light morph Parasitic Jaeger on 29 July. Short-eared Owl observed doing a food drop to young in the grass. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on 1 August. Rusty Blackbird. Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos. Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Blackpoll Warblers. Le Conte's and Nelson's Sparrows still singing, Nelson's nest with 4 young. 1 Purple Finch. White-winged Crossbills daily. Common Redpolls regular. Mammals: Black Bears are seen daily including a female with two cubs and a female with one cub. No problem bears around camp. A dead young Beluga (White Whale) washed up on shore. It could be the calf of the adult that washed up earlier. Young Snowshoe Hare around camp. Short-tailed Weasel regular at camp. Striped Skunks 2. Butterflies: New since the last report are Atlantis Fritillary and American Lady. FOREST FIRES: There are currently very few forest fires
[Ontbirds] Warblers and Shorebirds -Ottawa [Iain and Robin]
My buddy Robin from Newmarket and I took a tour of Mud Lake (Britannia) and Shirley's Bay on Sunday to see what was on the wing. It seems it is getting to be a tradition as he visits close to my BD each year.In 4+ hours of leisurely birding we got 70 species with a few challenging warblers and peeps. Mud Lake and area produced Night-herons, Green Heron, Pied-billed Grebe and on the ridge there were small flocks of migrants; Red-eyes and Warbling Vireos, Magnolia, Yellow, Redstart and Bay-Breasted. The BB occupied us and another troop of birders for quite awhile given the fall plumage.There was one Great Egret on the Quebec side of the river and one possible Caspian Tern on a rock in the river but we never got a good look. At Shirley's Bay there were both shorebirds and warblers. The usual crew of Yellowlegs, Pectoral, Solitary, Least and Semi-palm in small numbers on the flats. There was one Western which also took a lot of effort but after looking at many pics on the net and seeing the several clear diagnostic markings we concluded it was a Western. Also saw another Egret. The dyke had a fair number of warblers; Yellow-rumped, Nashville, and Yellows. We witnessed a Merlin fly in, cause panic and it looked like it got one bird after a 90 deg turn, possibly a peep. In the distance we also picked up a Harrier. On the way back we saw one possible Least Flycatcher, but with poor light in the woods and no calling there is doubt. Any day birding is a good day! iain and robin, DSBC (NC) ___ 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 - Stratford
There is a single Great Egret in the newly constructed cattail marsh at the east end of Lake Victoria in central Stratford. Harald Scholz found it last Thusday and it has been seen daily since then. Today it had the close company of a Great Blue Heron. The cattail marsh has proved popular with resident and migrant birds and is a good place to look if you happen to be in Stratford. Steve Thorpe Directions: From Ontario Street (Hwy 7/8) travel north on Queen Street to the lake. Turn right on Lakeside Drive and park on your right. Walk east to the Festival Bridge and observe the marsh to the east. ___ 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] White-tailed grackle
We had a white-tailed grackle at our feeder with a group of other grackles July 20 2010. It had all the regular attributes of a grackle except it's tail was completely white. Charlene Buckley - Orangeville 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] Red-headed Woodpecker - Constance Bay, Ottawa
Hi Ontbirders, Norma Mooney and I drove out to the old burn area near Constance Bay this morning, 2 August, to look for the Red-headed Woodpecker. About 1020 AM we observed a fledged juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker and an adult in the old burn area. We were on the sand trail fifty to a hundred yards past the intersecting trail that goes into the burn area, but in a spot that allowed a relatively open view of the burn area, which is now getting quite filled with new growth. Happy birding, Peter Campbell Ottawa Directions: From Ottawa take the Queensway (Hwy 417) west to exit 138 (March Road). Follow March Road to the T-intersection (traffic lights) at Dunrobin Road and turn right. Follow Dunrobin Road through Dunrobin and Woodlawn to the Constance Bay Road (right turn). On the Constance Bay Road, take the first left onto Allbirch Road and follow it to its end. Turn left at the T-intersection and follow the road onto Bayview Road into Buckham's Bay. Look for Ritchie Ave. on the right and take it to its end at the intersection with Whistler Rd. Park and walk the sand trail from that intersection a few hundred yards until the old burn area appears on the left side of the trail. ___ 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] Prairie Warblers on the move in Georgian Bay
I had the opportunity to spend the last four days on a private island on Twelve Mile Bay near Georgian Bay Islands N.P. Many warblers and vireos were aggressively feeding on the 2.8 acre site. Amongst them were several Prairie Warblers, both adult and immature. Friday July 30th - 2 immatures seen feeding with mixed flcok of warblers Saturday, July 31st - 2 adults and 3 immatures (at least) - two flew off to the SE and did not return - unknown age class Sunday, August 1st - 3 adults, 2+ immatures - 2 flew off to SE and did not return - unknown age class Monday, August 2nd - 1 immature feeding with mixed flock of warblers. Twelve Mile Bay is located off hwy 400 south of Parry Sound. Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com ___ 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 area : Caspian Tern
Hello Ontbirders, Today, August 2nd, 2010, my son Ben and I observed 13 Caspian Tern along the Shirley's Bay dyke between the first and second island. The main bulk of the birds were resting on exposed rocks to the NE of the second island. Also numerous were flying and feeding around the same general area. 15 Common Tern were also observed within the Shirley's Bay area. At the base of the dyke, we saw 84 juv. Least Sandpiper, 3 juv. Lesser Yellowlegs, and 14 ad. Semipalmated Plover. A dark female Merlin was harassing the shorebirds. And thank you Nicholas von Maltzahn for telling us about the birds out on the dyke. Good Birding, Bruce and Ben 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/
[Ontbirds] Scissor-tailed flycatcher at Luther Marsh
John and Michelle Tomins, Donna and I birded Luther Marsh today, 2 Aug. At about 2PM we sighted a scissor-tailed flycatcher sitting on the hydro line at teh Montecello section of the marsh. This area is the first road north pf the main entrance, turn right at the first intersection and it was about 150 meters from the intersection. Gord Cassidy ___ 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/
