[Ontbirds] Greater Snow Geese in Eastern Ontario
I must have had thoughts of warblers in my head when I mentioned late last night that the first Greater Snow Geese arrived on May 11 (should be March 11). That would be closer to a departure date. I checked with my contact at Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in upstate New York this morning and they have a full complement of the birds there now and likely within a few days more of the geese or possibly even the main flocks will head down the St. Lawrence towards Quebec. They also have an early Greater Yellowlegs. There is no single location to expect to see any this weekend and it is early in the migration yet but flooded fields north of Hwy 401 near Ingleside can be checked, as well as on the river along Hwy 2 at Long Sault. East of Cornwall, immediately east of Williamstown is worth checking as is Cty Rd 34 north of Hwy 401 to Green Valley, then both south and north of Hwy 401 along the service roads from Lancaster to the Quebec border. The St. Lawrence is opening up in sections and it will likely be another week before there is much open water. For those familiar with the Long Sault Parkway which runs from Ingleside to Long Sault, the Parkway is closed while construction is being completed but you can still cross the causeway at Long Sault and go onto the first island. Brian Morin Cornwall ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Greater Snow Geese in Eastern Ontario
To further Brian Morin's post earlier today, I first observed a large flock (500) over the Finch-Chesterville corridor on March 11. The past few days the Snow Geese have been prevalent on the South Nation River east of Chesterville at the confluence of Kirby Creek. The field on the west side of Kirby Creek is flooded and they have been mixed in with the Canada's. Snow Geese numbers have stabilized in this area this week, but the Canada Geese numbers have exploded in this area. Many portions of the South Nation River will surely be open after this weekend. Another spot where Snow Geese are prevalent is along the South Nation River north of County Rd. 9 (Berwick Rd.). Finch and Chesterville are located along the Highway 43 corridor east of Winchester. Josh Mansell ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Snow Goose subspecies morphs - attached pdf
With reports of Greater Snow Geese in eastern Ontario I thought there would be interest in an article published in Ontario Birds which explains the differences between Lesser and Greater Snow Geese and the Blue Goose (blue morph) which was considered a separate species until 1973. The vast majority of Greater Snow Geese are white morph birds whereas the Lesser Snow Geese breeding in northern Ontario and the migrants seen in southern Ontario are mostly blue morph birds. Find out more including morph genetics in the link. http://www.jeaniron.ca/2010/snowgooseRF.pdf The Greater Snow Goose migration spectacle in eastern Ontario rivals the Tundra Swan migration in southwestern Ontario. Ron Pittaway Minden, Ontario ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Toronto islands - Tues Today - Red-throated Loon, Snow Goose, etc.
I checked out The Islands early migrants this week and below are some of the birds I found. Red-throated Loon, Greater Snow Goose, Double-crested Cormorant, Wood Duck, Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, both Scaup, White-winged Scoter, all 3 Mergansers including many Common Mergansers, Cooper’s Hawk, Killdeer, Brown Creeper, Hermit Thrush, Song Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird and Pine Siskin. The Loon flew past me at eye level just about 50 meters out off of the boardwalk on Ward’s Island, The Snow Goose was overhead with a large flock of migrating Canada Geese, the Cormorants, 13 of them together flew past overhead and seemed to be heading to the Leslie Street Spit,or not, most of the waterfowl were in the Trout and Lighthouse Ponds on Gibralter Point and there was a large flock of Lesser Scaup in the Toronto Harbour off of Snake Island with an even larger flock of Greater Scaup just to the west of them and the Hermit Thrush has been seen off and on all winter near the east end of the boardwalk. There are quite a few Robins, Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds on The Islands now with more flying past overhead all day today. Now is the time to check overhead for migrating Waterfowl and Raptors and look carefully at the migrating Canada Geese flocks. Norm Murr Directions- TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus or streetcar. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block or so west of the ferry docks. THERE ARE NO BOATS TO CENTRE ISLAND PER USUAL OR HANLANS POINT (This is new this year) IN THE WINTER If arriving in early am ( before 7:30 ) you must obtain your ticket from a machine just outside the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and / or 25 cent coins before you arrive at the docks as there is no place to get change and the machines do not make change. ( BE SURE TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY ). There is coffee shop ( Treat’s Café ) across from the ferry docks in the building on the northwest corner ( opens before 6:30 am on week days but only opens at 9 am on the Saturdays that it doesn’t rain ). You may also purchase do-nuts, etc. here. A new Second Cup Coffee Shop has opened in the southeast area of Bay St. and Lakeshore Blvd and opens at 7 am 7 days per week. Also just a little east on Queen’s Quay ( less than a block ) there is the Kitchen Table and they are open at 6 am - 7 days per week. Besides coffee you may also buy food and beverages at the Kitchen Table if you forget a lunch. There are no concession stands open on The Islands. The drinking fountains through out are turned off until Spring. Washrooms are also located at the fire station and on the north side of Centre Island just west of the gardens. TORONTO ISLAND - FERRY FARES AND DAILY SCHEDULES http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm Notes: - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side ferry dock. - The Ward’s Island washrooms are now open. - The ticket booths are being renovated at this time so the ticket machines have been moved inside the terminal and to get to these or the ticket booth keep to your right past the hoarding (follow the arrows) and go around and approach the booth from inside the terminal. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to
[Ontbirds] Fw: Toronto islands - Tues Today - Red-throated Loon, Snow Goose, etc. ---- Mon. not Tues
-Original Message- From: Norm Murr Sent: Thursday, March 17, 2011 4:00 PM To: ONTBIRDS Subject: [Ontbirds] Toronto islands - Tues Today - Red-throated Loon,Snow Goose, etc. Correction Should have read Monday and Today not Tues and Today. Norm Murr ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Turkey Vulture--Toronto
At 4:30 p.m., a Turkey Vulture flew low over the hospital where I work, Humber River Regional Hospital. This is near the junction of Hwy 401 and Hwy 400 at Jane Street. Good Birding, Nancy Barrett Toronto http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturegirl99/ Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (16 Mar 2011) 35 Raptors
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 16, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 7288288 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 16 16 Northern Harrier 0 2 2 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 7 7 Cooper's Hawk0 10 10 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 6 23 23 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 20189189 Rough-legged Hawk1 6 6 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 0 0 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 35546546 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter:Sandra Horvath Observers:Frank Horvath Visitors: Cody Law spent 4 hours in the tower helping to spot incoming birds. Doug Gee visited as well as Bill Davis and his grandchildren, Emma and Wil. Weather: Rain and fog prevailed during the morning hours. Mid-afternoon gave a brief period of sun and clear skies before the clouds moved back in. Raptor Observations: The count was very low due to the weather. Non-raptor Observations: Report submitted by Sandra Horvath () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ Site Description: Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All counting is 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 cold days, particularly in 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 publicly 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 seven day's worth of observation data 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. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, 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 report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] WNY Buffalo Bird Report 17 Mar 2011
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 03/17/2011 * NYBU1103.17 - Birds mentioned --- Please submit email to dfsuggs localnet com --- [NOTE - the Science Museum phone line is out of service again.] [UPDATE- Plan two weeks ahead for the next BOS Field Trip, led by Willie D'Anna, to the Lake Ontario Plains, on Saturday, March 26. Meet at 8 AM at the Tops Market in Wright's Corners, on Route 78 at Route 104, north of Lockport. Bring a lunch, and visitors are always welcome.] SLATY-BACKED GULL GOLDEN EAGLE SANDHILL CRANE HOARY REDPOLL Horned Grebe Tundra Swan Snow Goose Cackling Goose Green-winged Teal Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-sh. Hawk Cooper's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk American Kestrel Peregrine Falcon Iceland Gull L. Black-b. Gull Glaucous Gull Short-eared Owl Northern Shrike Snow Bunting Eastern Meadowlark Common Redpoll - Transcript Hotline: Buffalo Bird Report at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 03/17/2011 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report:Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs localnet com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Website: www.BuffaloOrnithologicalSociety.org Thursday, March 17, 2011 The Buffalo Bird Report 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. Highlights of reports received March 10 through March 17 from the Niagara Frontier Region include SLATY-BACKED GULL, GOLDEN EAGLE, SANDHILL CRANE and HOARY REDPOLL. March 16, one of the rarest gulls in North America, the SLATY-BACKED GULL, was found in the Niagara County Town of Porter, on the north side of Youngstown-Wilson Road at Braley Road. Just the fourth record in the BOS archives, the SLATY-BACKED GULL was with a flock that included ICELAND GULL, L. BLACK-B. GULL and GLAUCOUS GULL. There are numerous large fields in this area where gulls congregate from Lake Ontario and a nearby landfill. Early hawk flights are into full motion. March 15, a flight high over the mounds at Tifft Nature Preserve, on the Buffalo waterfront, was highlighted by an adult GOLDEN EAGLE, plus 2 BALD EAGLES, over 70 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 4 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS, COOPER'S HAWK and over 400 TURKEY VULTURES. At 1 PM, an unexpected SHORT-EARED OWL flew over the mounds and out over Lake Erie. At the Hamburg Hawkwatch on the 15th, almost 800 TURKEY VULTURES, 3 BALD EAGLES, NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SH. HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, 15 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, 93 RED-TAILED HAWKS, AMERICAN KESTREL and PEREGRINE FALCON. The watch is conducted daily at Lakeside Memorial Park on Camp Road in Hamburg. Visitors are always welcome. Also at the watch - an EASTERN MEADOWLARK on the 12th. COMMON REDPOLLS continue at feeders, bringing a HOARY REDPOLL with 63 COMMON REDPOLLS in the Town of Colden and up to three HOARY REDPOLLS with 20 COMMON REDPOLLS in Wilson. NORTHERN SHRIKE still in the Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area on Owens-Bartel Road. And, 1100 SNOW BUNTINGS on Niagara-Orleans Countyline Road south of Route 104. Three SANDHILL CRANES reports this week - one landing on the flats north of Oak Orchard Rdige Road in the Iroquois Refuge, another over the Tillman Wildlife Management Area in Clarence, and a third report of SANDHILL CRANE in a back corn field on Cedar Street in the Town of Newstead. Waterfowl are filling in the newly opening waters across the region. March 13, formerly very rare and now regularly occurring - 37 CACKLING GEESE at Johnson Creek Road and Hartland-Somerset Townline, and at least 4 CACKLING GEESE on Fletcher Chapel Road, east of Route 63 in the Town of Shelby. Small flocks of SNOW GEESE and TUNDRA SWANS from Genesee to Niagara County. In the Town of Alexander in Genesee County, first report of GREEN-WINGED TEAL. And at the Batavia Waste Water Plant, at least 14 waterfowl species plus 5 HORNED GREBES. Other reports this week - on the Niagara River at the north end of Grand Island, wintering waterfowl dwindle, but still number in the thousands. BALD EAGLES incubating on the Cayuga Pool nest in the Iroquois Refuge, and four other BALD EAGLES in the refuge and Tonawanda Wildlife Management Area. And a PEREGRINE FALCON at the historic Central Terminal building in Buffalo. The Bird Report will be updated Thursday evening, March 24. Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting. - End Transcript ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the
[Ontbirds] Email sent from handhelds
Birders It looks like more and more birders are carrying smart phones and other portable email devices. Timely messages are very much appreciated however on most days a number of messages sent to Ontbirds fail because they were sent from unrecognized email addresses. If you are using a new or different device make sure that your Ontbirds message is sent from an email address that is subscribed to Ontbirds. -- Mark Cranford ONTBIRDS Coordinator Mississauga, Ont. mark.cranf...@ofo.ca 905 279 9576 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Common Nighthawk South of Ottawa
Hello, I apologize for emailing twice in one day but I couldn't believe my ears when I heard a Common Nighthawk calling on my property tonight around 9PM. It was calling steadily for the half an hour I was out there and I could hear a second bird calling in the distance. Both birds were located in the forest at the back of my yard in South Mountain. It seems a bit early but maybe the 10 degree weather is giving them a jump start on the season! Cheers Sarah Matheson ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending March 17, 2011.
The outlook for this weekend's Waterfowl Festival at Presqu'ile Provincial Park looks very promising, in terms of the weather forecast, the ice conditions in Presqu'ile Bay, and, most importantly, the thousands of ducks and other water birds that are now in the bay. In addition, there is a multitude of spring birds to replace the disappearing winter birds, and more are arriving every day. Thousands of CANADA GEESE have been moving over the Park in the past few days, and it seems like just a matter of time before someone scanning those flocks notices one or more SNOW GEESE among them. Four TUNDRA SWANS called noisily as they flew in on Monday morning, almost certainly not the same birds that were wintering in the bay. Among the ducks seen in recent days were several WOOD DUCKS, the first EURASIAN WIGEON of the season (at dusk this evening at the tip of Salt Point - the same date as the first of that species last year), several NORTHERN PINTAILS, a GREEN-WINGED TEAL, lots of CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, and RING-NECKED DUCKS (among which optimistic birders are forever hoping to find a TUFTED DUCK), a few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE at the lighthouse. The latter bird, likely the same one that wintered there, had disappeared for four days but was found again on three consecutive days, most recently on March 14. Also of interest in Presqu'ile Bay are PIED-BILLED and HORNED GREBES and an early DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT on March 15. A TURKEY VULTURE flew over on March 12, apparently the earliest arrival date on record for that species at Presqu'ile. The most recent BALD EAGLE sighting was on March 12. Other spring birds in recent days include numerous AMERICAN COOTS, KILLDEERS, a WILSON'S SNIPE just outside the Park, and AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. Both ICELAND and GLAUCOUS GULLS were seen this week. If this report is a little later in being sent out this evening, it is because the writer was called away from his computer to hear a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL calling at the entrance to the fingers. Stopping shortly afterwards (by this time almost nine o'clock but under a nearly full moon) near the bird sightings board to listen for a BARRED OWL that the original observer had also heard, the writer heard a second NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL. Anyone coming to the waterfowl festival might stand a good chance of hearing both of those species in the evening or before dawn, given that the moon will still be nearly full. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at the bird sightings board feeder, a BOREAL CHICKADEE near the government dock, a CAROLINA WREN seen twice briefly at 186 Bayshore Road and again this afternoon at 83 Bayshore Road, a flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS on March 12, and the WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at 83 Bayshore Road must be thought of as remnants of the winter bird life. Four EASTERN MEADOWLARKS on March 14, while not quite a record, were still early. A possible TREE SWALLOW, had it been seen more than very briefly, would also be very early. A few COMMON REDPOLLS are still lingering in the Park. 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. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. 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. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca. -- 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (17 Mar 2011) 211 Raptors
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 17, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 134422422 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 16 16 Northern Harrier 3 5 5 Sharp-shinned Hawk 7 14 14 Cooper's Hawk3 13 13 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 13 36 36 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 47236236 Rough-legged Hawk3 9 9 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 1 1 1 Merlin 0 0 0 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 1 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 3 3 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 211757757 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter:Sandy Darling Observers: Visitors: 24 visitors for whom I have names and a number of others Weather: Above freezing, but wind from south was force 3 or 4 all day. Raptor Observations: 8 species. Birds were low necause of wind, and there were probably more below the escarpment. Non-raptor Observations: 39 Tundra Swan, a number of Killdeer, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Wikd Turkey, 1 Great Blue Heron, 11 Northern Pintail Predictions: Ovder half the birds were seen in the last two hours, so there could be a good count if the weather cooperates. Report submitted by Sandy Darling () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ Site Description: Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All counting is 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 cold days, particularly in 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 publicly 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 seven day's worth of observation data 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. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, 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 report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] York Region - Meadowlarks, Bluebird, etc.
The biggest day for spring arrivals in York Region (so far) was today - March 17. As green beer flowed for St. Patrick's Day, so too did streams of northbound birds. Bruce Brydon and I crossed paths at the north end of Bathurst to check what is traditionally the best local area for returning ducks and geese in spring. We were pleased to see that warm temperatures have finally thawed the snow-covered fields there, attracting hundreds of Canada Geese and ten duck species to the huge vernal ponds. Swimming contentedly on the west side of Bathurst (north of Queensville Sdrd.) were: MALLARD (100+), N. PINTAIL (30+), BLACK DUCK (15), N. SHOVELER (2), BUFFLEHEAD (4), CM. MERGANSER (6), HOODED MERGANSER (2), AM. WIDGEON (1). CM. GOLDENEYE (1), and RING-NECKED DUCK (1). At Kortright Conservation Area near Kleinburg today Lev Frid had the first EASTERN BLUEBIRD of the spring (a singing male sitting on a nestbox) and a BELTED KINGFISHER. This past Saturday (March 12) I had my earliest ever KILLDEER for this region - it was flying overhead and calling in the Holland Marsh fields west of Newmarket. Today Killdeers seemed to be calling everywhere I stopped! On Sunday morning I finally found my first Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, and American Robins of the spring along the still-rural stretches of Leslie Street in Richmond Hill. Like the Killdeer, these species were ubiquitous today. At the Robinson forest tract east of Aurora I also had a flock of 10 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, a BROWN CREEPER, and a fly-over COMMON RAVEN on Sunday. West of King City that same day Craig Corcoran had a NORTHERN FLICKER at his property. Searching in vain for lingering Snowy Owls along Ravenshoe Road on Monday afternoon I instead observed a dark-morph ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK (last of the winter?) and a male NORTHERN HARRIER (first of the spring). The first TURKEY VULTURES of the season (for this area) were reported by Mike Williamson on Wednesday - six of the skinheaded scavengers were tilting northward near Bayview Road in north Richmond Hill. Also on Monday, Joan Love had two EASTERN MEADOWLARKS near the corner of Teston Kipling near Kleinburg - a welcome sight for birders seeking proof of spring! Adding to this vernal promise were two pairs of HOODED MERGANSERS and a SONG SPARROW observed by Lev Frid in south Maple that same day. Two local NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS were also present in Lev's local patch just east of Hwy. 400. Graham Leonard and Glenn Steplock both counted 9 GREAT BLUE HERONS on territory in northeast Richmond Hill Tuesday - good arrivals for the ides of March. A lingering NORTHERN SHRIKE was still present at Seneca College's King City Campus when I drove by on Tuesday. A second shrike was present at the north end of Bathurst Street near Holland Landing today and third shrike (yer out!) was observed by Lev Frid at Kortright Conservation area. Another winter visitor still making local cameos is the COMMON REDPOLL. Gene and Charlene Denzel had a flock of 25 at their feeder in Thornhill Sunday morning. At dusk today my dog, Samwise, and I walked the northern section of Yonge Street in Holland Landing (Silver Lakes golf course area) and were pleased to hear two AMERICAN WOODCOCK peenting from the swampy area on both sides of the road and doing their chip-chup vocalizations during flight displays (which are very hard to actually see due to the fading daylight). We toasted the memory of Keith Dunn, who loved this annual vigil at Silver Lake and was traditionally the first to report the dance of the timberdoodle each spring. Ron Fleming, Newmarket York Region is north of Toronto and south of Lake Simcoe. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Correction- American Woodcock
Hello, I wanted to thank everyone that emailed to correct me on my nighthawk/woodcock confusion. Being a young birder of only a few years I've only catalogued the typical sounds for each species in my brain and I guess when I didn't hear the other display sounds that I associate with the woodcock I jumped the gun to nighthawk, even though it seemed strangely early. Many of you offered some great tips on how to tell the two apart during the mating season and I really appreciate all your advice. Next time I'll double check my song mp3's before spreading rumours across the province! Thanks Sarah Matheson ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 17 March 2011
Karl Konze's earlier post is an excellent summary of most of the species reported here this week. A few additional birds were as follows: Bald Eagle: On March 15, an adult perched for 20 minutes near the deer carcass along Sunday Creek below the Visitor Centre deck. The deer was placed there on March 14 and was completely consumed by ravens and wolves as of March 16. Red-winged Blackbird: The first of the spring were one at Clarke Lake and two at the Visitor Centre on March 16. Pine Siskin: One was at the Visitor Centre feeders today. Evening Grosbeak: Up to five were at the Visitor Centre feeders on March 16 and nine were there today. A flock was in Whitney as well. Please report your sightings for our records. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON 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. The centre and restaurant are open daily from 10 am to 5 pm during March Break (March 12 to 20). Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
