[Ontbirds] 435 Whimbrel at Rondeau Provincial Park
Apologies. This bounced back for some reason... This afternoon a remarkable 435 Whimbrel flew in and touched down at the south-east beach at Rondeau Provincial Park. Two flocks congregated south of the 'light tower' between 1430-1530h. This trail accesses the furthest south part of the beach off of Lakshore Rd. Rondeau Provincial Park can be reached from hwy 401 at RR 15 (Kent Bridge Rd.). Head south to the Park (or follow the signs from the highway). Many other goodies there on the passerine front too... Good birding, Christian ___ 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] Lots o' Warblers at Tommy Thompson today...
Greetings! After not seeing the Least Bittern and not seeing much else we decided to go and not see something at Tommy Thompson. Well, we were wrong. There were at least 15 species of warblers - the best being a Wilson's, a Blackpoll, and 3 pairs of Bay Brested. They were swarming the woods and didn't care if we were there. There were a number of Flycatchers, Vireos, and such. Cheers, Bernie http://www.newlight.ca http://www.flickr.com/photos/berniemonette ___ 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 - Whimbrel Watch - Col. Sam. Smith Park - 24 May
In 12.5 hrs. of continuous observations we had a total of 1553 Whimbrel migrating through Col. Sam Smith Park in Toronto today, May 24. There were 17 flocks ranging from 1 only to 250 birds. This brings our year to date total to 1977 birds. The first flock came in at 0456 EST and the last flock was seen at 1510 EST. The last two flocks of 250 each were about five minutes apart and a few minutes later were observed by Wayne Renaud to join together in one flock and, seaching for a thermal, flew as a single flock to the north-west. A good migration on the traditional Whimbrel Day. Past and present tracking of Whimbrels with satellite transmitters can be accessed at 'http://www.seaturtle.org/tracking/?project_id=369'. Other shorebirds: Dunlin (202 in 12 flocks ranging in size from 1 to 55); Semipalmated Sandpiper: 1 flock of 35; Ruddy Turnstone: flocks of 1, 2 and 16; Sanderling: one flock of 45. Two flocks were a mix of Dunlins and Ruddy Turnstones. The flocks of Dunlins and turnstones seen on the headlands in mid to late afternoon were all resting or feeding on algae or insects on the rocks at various locations. Directions: Col. Sam Smith Park is located at the south end of Kipling Avenue, below Lakeshore Road. The Park is an artificial land-fill immediately south of the Humber College campus. Parking free of charge is at Student's Parking Lot at the south end of the Park. The Toronto Ornithological Club is again co-operating with the Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, in monitoring the Whimbrel migration observed during the period of May 19 to May 30 at Col. Sam Smith Park in Toronto. Daily observations are conducted during that time period at the South Peninsula of the Park at co-ordinate location 17624795E and 4833443N. Peak migration dates are May 24 and 25 with peak hours expected at 06:00 and 08:00 EDST. Wayne Renaud (289-828-0043) ___ 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] Fifty Point--Whimbrel, Brant May 24th 2011
Hi all, Today from 9:30-2:30 I birded Fifty Point in Grimsby . I had a great 5 hours. Highlights included a WHIMBREL, BRANT, PRARIE WARBLER, and CANADA WARBLER. George Holland and his friend (Whose name I did not get) stopped by from 11:30-1PM while I was Lake Watching. Shortly before he arrived, I thought I had heard a Whimbrel calling. Just after he had arrived, I spotted one sitting on a rock directly at the tip of Fifty Point. The bird was still present when I left the Tip around 1:40PM. Also seen here were White-winged Scoters, a Black Scoter, Ruddy Turnstone, Spotted Sandpiper. George Holland told me that he was trying to see some Brant while he was there. Unfortunately for him, 30 minutes after he left, a flock of 36 BRANT's flew from East-West close to shore. On the way in to the park in the morning I observed a CANADA WARBLER. While leaving the park I observed a PRARIE WARBLER in a bush with a Red-eyed Vireo and Blackburnian Warbler. I also observed Blue-headed, Philadelphia, Red-eyed, and Warbling Vireo's. Yellow, Blackpoll, and Blackburnian Warblers. American Kestrel and one of the local Red-tails were also seen. Most Warblers were seen in the woodlot West of the Ball Hockey arena and East of the small Pond. Fifty Point Conservation Area in located in Grimsby, Ontario. http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=fifty+point+conservation+area&aq=&sll=49.891235,-97.15369&sspn=30.510813,86.572266&ie=UTF8&hq=fifty+point+conservation&hnear=&z=12 Cody ___ 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] Whimbrel - Wheatley Harbour
Just after noon today there were 2 Whimbrel, over 2 dozen Ruddy Turnstone, 15 Dunlin and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper on the rock pile just off the mouth of the Wheatley Harbour in Wheatley, ON. The only shorebird at the Hillman Marsh Shorebird Cell, which I visited on the way to the Wheatley Harbour, was 6 Semi-palmated Plover. No sign of the previously reported Western Sandpiper. Wheatley Harbour is located at the south end of Chatham-Kent Road 1. Todd R. Pepper 36 Cherrywood Avenue Leamington, ON, N8H 4Z9 pepper_t...@yahoo.ca "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin" William Shakespeare ___ 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] Connecticut Warbler Wet Woods at 3 pm
The bird was low in the Red Osiers near the narrow channel. I had a good look and although it didn't sing it had all the normal field marks- large warbler, grey hood , white eye ring, walking. I'm still waiting to hear it sing or see it again. Wet Woods is at the base of Leslie Street in Tommy Thompson Park 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] Whimbrel flight, Parasitic Jaeger, Arctic Tern Darlington P.P./Oshawa Second Marsh
Whimbrel lakewatch along beach from Oshawa Second Marsh into Darlington Provincial Park 5:40- 7:50am. Visibility only about 1km offshore due to fog bank. 6 Flocks totally 282 birds. The first flock flew inland in a NW direction over the Mclaughlin Bay barrier beach(6:07am). The next five flocks flew west along the lakeshore (6:15-7:14am). Flock sizes ranged between 3 and 86 birds. The flock of 3 briefly landed on the beach only 150 feet from my seat. Shorebirds (9 species 80+ birds) feeding on the beach included Ruddy Turnstone, Sanderling, and Dunlin. Parasitic Jaeger Between 6:02am and 6:20am I had a light phase jaeger checking out the 100s of Ring-billed gulls streaming west from the large St mary's cement colony. Arctic Tern 1 bird foraging off the barrier beach from 7:35am and still present when I left. It sometimes would perch on a red marker buoy offshore. Other birds include: Red-throated Loon, 10 Common Loons, white-winged Scoters, Red-breasted Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye. On the way back to the GM parking lot I checked out Cool Hollow and the Oshawa Second Marsh area. In the marsh itself 2 Least Bitterns, 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, Tundra Swan, 12 Wood Ducks, 1 Ruddy Duck, 15 Black-crowned Night Herons and at least 2 Common Tern nests. Cool Hollow area had 2 Clay-coloured Sparrows, 5 species of warblers including Golden-winged and Blackpoll, and 3 Orchard Orioles Direction: The McLaughlin Bay Barrier beach can be accessed from either Oshawa Second marsh (west access point) or Darlington provincial park (east access point) Oshawa Second Marsh Exit from the 401 at the Harmony Rd. Exit(419) in Oshawa. Go south on Farewell St. Colonel Sam Drive. Turn East onto Colonel Sam Drive and follow to the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. The east (GM) platform is visible from the NW corner of the lot. To the Barrier Beach head south to the lake and then east along the shoreline For a trail map of the Oshawa Second Marsh area visit www.secondmarsh.com and check the link for a trail map of the area Darlington Provincial Park borders the east side Oshawa Second Marsh/McLaughlin Bay Nature Reserve. To access the campground and park store area from the east.Take the Courtice road exit from the 401 and follow the park signs. There is a small parking lot at the gatehouse. Park here and walk the trail to the south. This will take you into the campground area. The park store is just south of the main office past the main gate. For the Barrier Beach park at the beach parking lot (picnic area 2) and head west along the maintained beach. Tyler Hoar Oshawa ___ 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] Ottawa/Gatineau - 24 May 11 - weekly summary
Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 24 May 2011 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario,W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis hagen...@primus.ca, or sighti...@ofnc.ca A very busy week, with flocks of BRANT beginning to move through on the 20th, as well as small numbers of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS on the Ottawa River and elsewhere. Eight LONG-TAILED DUCKS were in Britannia Bay on the 23rd, and a single RED-NECKED GREBE was below the Deschenes rapids the same day. It's long been suspected that BALD EAGLES might be breeding (or attempting to) in the Shirley's Bay area - a pair was confirmed at a nest near the GREAT BLUE HERON colony on the 22nd. RED-SHOULDERED and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS were noted in forests where they traditionally breed, however a PEREGRINE FALCON sitting in a bare field north of Navan was an odd sight on the 22nd. Reports of single SANDHILL CRANES again came from the Constance Bay and Mer Bleue areas on the 19th and 21st. SHOREBIRD numbers remain low - a couple of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were at the Carp River floodplain in Carp on the 18th, and a few SEMIPALMATED and LEAST SANDPIPERS were outnumbered by SPOTTED SANDPIPERS at the Casselman and St. Albert lagoons on the 22nd. Three UPLAND SANDPIPERS were found in a long-time breeding area north of Smiths Falls on the 20th. On the 23rd, 2 CASPIAN TERNS appeared on the Ottawa River at the Deschenes rapids and another was at the Moodie Dr. quarry pond, along with 9 COMMON TERNS and 2 BLACK TERNS. BLACK TERNS were also seen at Petrie Island and a couple of the eastern sewage lagoons over the past week. The first local report of YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO came from Gatineau Park near the Champlain lookout trails on the 23rd. RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS are back for the 10th consecutive year in Constance Bay -- please be reminded not to approach or disturb sensitive breeding species. Lots of news in the songbird world! An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at Lac Fortune in Gatineau Park on the 18th, and a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER at Britannia on the 20th were 1st local reports. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES are now well-established, as are ALDER, LEAST and GREAT-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS and EASTERN KINGBIRDS. PHILADELPHIA VIREOS are no doubt back among the multitudes of RED-EYED VIREOS in Gatineau Park. A SEDGE WREN was reported from Vanier Rd. north of Vernon Rd. in Aylmer , Quebec on the 23rd. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was a one-day wonder in the Beacon Hill neighbourhood of Ottawa on the 20th, and all of the expected THRUSHES and MIMIDS are in full territorial voice. AMERICAN PIPITS and CEDAR WAXWINGS were noted on the weekend. WARBLERS began to thin out in the migrant traps as the week went on, though many TENNESSEE and BLACKPOLL, and a few BAY-BREASTED WARBLERS were still around as of the 23rd. Prime breeding areas such as the Carp hills, the Larose forest and Gatineau Park are now alive with song - 15 species were well-represented in Larose and Gatineau on the weekend, and the highlight of recent visits to the trails between the Champlain and Western lookouts in the Park were a couple of CERULEAN WARBLERS first reported on the 21st; at least one was heard on the 23rd. Nine species of SPARROWS were present south of the international airport on the 23rd. LINCOLN'S and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were noted in diverse locations last week. INDIGO BUNTINGS and BOBOLINKS are now widespread, a late RUSTY BLACKBIRD was at Constance Creek on the 17th, and a feeder in Pakenham was mobbed by a flock of 35 - 40 PINE SISKINS on the 19th. Thank you - Good Birding! ___ 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] Hillman marsh - western sandpiper
Lots of shorebirds present at hillman this morning shortly after sunrise, including an adult western sandpiper and at least one white-rumped. The dunlin numbers are down with the majority of the birds being peeps. Good birding, Josh Vandermeulen ___ 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/
