[Ontbirds] Winter Finch Forecast 2011-2012

[Jean Iron]

WINTER FINCH FORECAST 2011-2012

This winter’s theme is that cone crops are excellent and extensive across
much of the boreal forest and the Northeast. It will not be a flight year.
Finches will be spread thinly over a vast area from western Canada east
across the Hudson Bay Lowlands into Quebec and the Atlantic Provinces, New
York and New England States. White-winged and Red Crossbills and Pine
Siskins should be widespread in low numbers. A small movement of Pine
Grosbeaks is probable because mountain-ash berry crops are variable and some
are of poor quality in the boreal forest. Evening Grosbeak numbers are
increasing as spruce budworm outbreaks expand in the boreal forest so some
may show up at feeders in southern Ontario and the Northeast. Redpolls are
unlikely to come south because the dwarf birch crop is bumper in the Hudson
Bay Lowlands. See individual finch forecasts below for details. Three
irruptive non‐finch passerines are also discussed.

PINE GROSBEAK: Small numbers are likely in southern Ontario because the
mountain‐ash berry crop is variable with some poor quality crops in the
boreal forest of Ontario. The crop is generally very good to excellent in
Atlantic Canada, New York and New England. Pine Grosbeaks wandering to
southern Ontario will find average berry crops on European mountain‐ash,
good crops on Buckthorn and average crops on ornamental crabapples. Expect a
few at sunflower seed feeders.

PURPLE FINCH: Purple Finches will be uncommon in Ontario, but probably in
higher numbers in Atlantic Canada, New York and New England where cone crops
are excellent. A few may frequent feeders in southern Ontario. The Purple
Finch has declined significantly in recent decades. Some suggest it declined
due to competition with the House Finch. However, the drop in numbers began
before House Finches were common in eastern North America and also occurred
where House Finches were absent. A better explanation for the decrease is
the absence of large spruce budworm outbreaks that probably sustained higher
Purple Finch populations in the past.

RED CROSSBILL: Red Crossbills should be widespread in Ontario in very small
numbers, but much more frequent in the Northeast where cone crops are
excellent. This crossbill comprises at least 10 “call types” in North
America. Some types may be separate species. Most types are almost
impossible to identify without recordings of their “flight calls”.
Recordings can be made using your iPhone. Send recordings to be identified
to Matt Young (may6 at cornell dot edu) at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Most Red Crossbill types in winter prefer pines, but they also use
introduced spruces and European larch. The smallest‐billed Type 3 prefers
the small soft cones of hemlock and white spruce. It may occur in the
Northeast this winter drawn to the excellent crops on hemlock and white
spruce.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL: Good numbers of White‐winged Crossbills are
currently widespread in the Hudson Bay Lowlands where the white and black
spruce cone crops are bumper. They may remain there this winter or some
could wander to the Northeast where spruce and hemlock cone crops are
excellent. A few should be in traditional areas such as Algonquin Park where
spruce and hemlock cone crops are better than last winter. Unlike the Red
Crossbill, the White‐winged Crossbill in North America has no subspecies
and call types.

COMMON and HOARY REDPOLLS: Redpolls in winter are a birch seed specialist
and movements are linked to the size of the birch crop. Redpolls are
unlikely to come south in numbers this winter because the dwarf birch crop
is bumper in the Hudson Bay Lowlands. Those that wander south of the boreal
forest will be stopped by a fair to good seed crop on white and yellow
birches in the mixed coniferous/deciduous forest region north of Lake
Ontario.

PINE SISKIN: The nomadic siskin is a spruce seed specialist. There are
currently large numbers of siskins in Yukon including a high proportion of
hatch year birds. They will move because the spruce crop is average in Yukon
and Alaska this year, possibly coming to the East. Siskins are expected to
be widespread across Ontario this winter. Good numbers are likely to be
drawn to the excellent spruce and hemlock crops in Atlantic Canada, New York
and New England.

EVENING GROSBEAK: We can expect another good showing at feeders similar to
last winter in central Ontario and probably elsewhere in the Northeast.
Highest breeding densities are found in areas with spruce budworm outbreaks.
Grosbeak numbers are increasing as spruce budworm outbreaks expand in
Ontario and Quebec. However, current populations are still much lower than
several decades ago when budworm outbreaks were widespread and extensive.

THREE IRRUPTIVE PASSERINES: Movements of these species are often linked to
the boreal finches.

BLUE JAY: There will be a moderate flight, much smaller than last year,
along the north shorelines of Lakes Ontario and Erie. Hazelnut crops were
averag

[Ontbirds] HSR: Holiday Beach Conservation Area (23 Sep 2011) 4 Raptors

[reports]

Holiday Beach Conservation Area
Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2011
---

SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Turkey Vulture   0202202
Osprey   0117117
Bald Eagle   0127127
Northern Harrier 1307307
Sharp-shinned Hawk   2   5074   5074
Cooper's Hawk1249249
Northern Goshawk 0  0  0
Red-shouldered Hawk  0  0  0
Broad-winged Hawk0  41793  41793
Red-tailed Hawk  0 61 61
Rough-legged Hawk0  0  0
Golden Eagle 0  0  0
American Kestrel 0   1036   1036
Merlin   0 55 55
Peregrine Falcon 0 12 12
Unknown Accipiter0  4  4
Unknown Buteo0  3  3
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Falcon   0  3  3
Unknown Raptor   0  5  5
Swainson's Hawk  0  1  1

Total:   4  49049  49049
--

Observation start time: 13:45:00 
Observation end   time: 16:00:00 
Total observation time: 2.25 hours

Official Counter:Stephen Kolbe

Observers:

Visitors:
Members of the ERCA Board of Directors visited Holiday Beach today.  They
visited the bird banding lab, the hawk tower, and the new HBMO office.  It
was a little wet, but that didn't dampen anyone's spirits.


Weather:
Steady rain for the majority of the day delayed the opening of the count. 
Rainfall finally ceased mid-afternoon.  West/northwest winds. 

Raptor Observations:
A few migrants after the rain let up.  The local Bald Eagles were hanging
around the marsh, as was a pair of Osprey.  

Non-raptor Observations:
A small flock of warblers and vireos were flitting around the base of the
tower this afternoon.  



Pied-billed Grebe 30, Double-crested Cormorant 40, Great Blue Heron 15,
Great Egret 2, Mute Swan 70, Canada Goose 15, Wood Duck 20, American Black
Duck 1, Mallard 75, Northern Pintail 6, Blue-winged Teal 8, Northern
Shoveler 4, Gadwall 2, American Wigeon 2, Common Moorhen 2, American Coot
100, Killdeer 2, Spotted Sandpiper 2, Ring-billed Gull 20, Herring Gull 2,
Caspian Tern 1, Mourning Dove 1, Chimney Swift 14, Ruby-throated
Hummingbird 1, Belted Kingfisher 2, Downy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker 1,
Tree Swallow 200, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 100, Barn Swallow 100, Blue
Jay 320, American Crow 1, Black-capped Chickadee 4, Carolina Wren 1,
American Robin 1, Gray Catbird 3, Cedar Waxwing 8, Philadelphia Vireo 1,
Red-eyed Vireo 1, Tennessee Warbler 1, Nashville Warbler 1, Northern Parula
1, Magnolia Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, Black-throated Green
Warbler 1, Bay-breasted Warbler 1, Blackpoll Warbler 3, American Redstart
2, Common Yellowthroat 1, Wilsons Warbler 1, Northern Cardinal 5,
Red-winged Blackbird 5, American Goldfinch 5.



Monarch 1. 

Predictions:
Sunny breaks tomorrow with a slight chance of a few sprinkles.  Winds light
and variable with a high of 18 C. 



This Saturday and Sunday, we are hosting the Festival of Hawks here at
Holiday Beach.  Come on out and enjoy some fun activities and watch some
hawks!   

Report submitted by Stephen Kolbe (kolb...@gmail.com)
Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at:
http://hbmo.org/



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[Ontbirds] HSR: DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark (23 Sep 2011) Raptors

[reports]

DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Sep 23, 2011
---

SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0  0  0
Turkey Vulture   0235235
Osprey   0 41 41
Bald Eagle   0 68 68
Northern Harrier 0 83 83
Sharp-shinned Hawk   0   1683   1683
Cooper's Hawk0 62 62
Northern Goshawk 0  0  0
Red-shouldered Hawk  0  2  2
Broad-winged Hawk0 192967 192967
Swainson's Hawk  0  5  5
Red-tailed Hawk  0 66 66
Rough-legged Hawk0  0  0
Golden Eagle 0  0  0
American Kestrel 0340340
Merlin   0  8  8
Peregrine Falcon 0  4  4
Unknown Accipiter0  4  4
Unknown Buteo0  0  0
Unknown Falcon   0  2  2
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Raptor   0  1  1

Total:   0 195571 195571
--

(No count conducted today)



Weather:
The rain fell down.

Raptor Observations:


Non-raptor Observations:


Predictions:
The potential for more rain remains. Only a 30 percent chance tomorrow,
though. Winds look to be light out of the north to start and then will
shift to the southwest and south later. 

Report submitted by Greg Norwood (greg_norw...@fws.gov)
SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at:
http://www.drhawkwatch.org 


Site Description:
The primary site used by the Detroit River Hawk Watch (a joint venture of
the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge and it's Friends group, the
International Wildlife Refuge Alliance) is the Boat Launch at Lake Erie
Metropark located approximately 20 miles south of Detroit, Michigan. A
secondary site, the Headquarters of Pointe Mouillee State Game Area is used
during certain wind conditions. When staffing is available, both sites can
be used at the same time. The season begins on the first day of September
and concludes on the final day of November. For details and directions, log
on to www.drhawkwatch.org

Directions to site:
Lake Erie Metropark:

>From I-75, exit at Huron River Drive (exit 27). Continue east on Huron
River Drive. Turn left on West Jefferson and proceed a few hundred yards to
the entrance of Lake Erie Metropark. After paying the entrance fee, follow
the signs to the Boat Launch.




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[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, September 23, 2011

[Cheryl Edgecombe]

On Friday, September 23, 2011, this is the HNC Birding Report:

SABINE'S GULL
PARASITIC JAEGER
LONG-TAILED JAEGER


American Wigeon
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
White-winged Scoter
Red-breasted Merganser
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Lesser Yellowlegs
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Common Nighthawk
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Nashville Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Parula
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Wilson's Warbler
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Migration continues here in the area with many things to report this week.
VanWagner's Beach although slower this past week still had some good birds.
Last weekend SABINE'S GULL, LONG-TAILED and PARASITIC JAEGER were all being
reported from here.  Today a couple of PARASITIC JAEGERS were seen in the
morning with one of them going after a SABINE'S GULL.  Other birds reported
here include American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Greater
and Lesser Scaup, White-winged Scoter and Red-breasted Merganser, Sanderling
and Lesser Black-backed Gull. 

Shorebirds are still in the news as well.  Last night a Long-billed
Dowitcher was a good find at the Valley Inn.  The bird is still present
today.  Windermere Basin had Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plover and one
Buff-breasted Sandpiper as of yesterday.  The Red Hill Stormwater Pond seems
to be a good place for Lesser Yellowlegs but short on other birds. Out on
the sod farms behind the former school house on Unity Road in Mount Hope,
American Golden Plover, Buff-breasted, Bairds and Pectoral Sandpipers were
all found last weekend.  Out in the Dundas Marsh the mud flat seen from the
Marsh Boardwalk trail of the Royal Botanical Gardens produced Black-bellied
and Semipalmated Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin, Semipalmated, Least,
Stilt, Pectoral and White-rumped Sandpiper.  Great Egrets are increasing in
number in the marsh with a tagged individual being found yesterday.

Lakeshore woodlots have been busy with passerines this week.  At Forty Mile
Creek in Grimsby Eastern Wood-Pewee, Yellow-throated Vireo, Brown Creeper
Winter Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrush, Gray
Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Nashville, Magnolia Warbler, Northern Parula,
Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted,
Blackpoll and Black-and-white Warbler, American Redstart, Ovenbird and
Wilson's Warbler.

Moving west from there, Edgelake Park had a Blue-headed Vireo and Ovenbird
to report.  Confederation Park last weekend was a stopover for
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Nashville, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue,
Black-throated Green Warbler, American Redstart, White-throated and
Lincoln's Sparrow and Rose-breasted Grosbeak. 

At Shoreacres in Burlington, birds seen this week include Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker, Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson's and Gray-cheeked Thrush, Gray Catbird,
Nashville, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green,
Black-and-white Warbler and White-throated Sparrow.

In the odds and sods this week.  Common Nighthawks continue to filter
through with reports from south Burlington, Dundas and over the Valley Inn.
Over the course of the week on clear nights Veery, Swainson's and
Gray-cheeked Thrush could be heard flying over.  Unfortunately a couple of
casualties of Gray-cheeked and Swainson's Thrush were reported as well.  

Now is the time to clean up those feeders.  October is a good month to help
birds along.  If there are any late hummingbirds into the month of October,
please don't hesitate to email me.  Hummingbirds into October can be a
totally different species than our Ruby-throated.

Have a great week.
Cheryl Edgecombe
Hamilton Naturalists Club.









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[Ontbirds] Presqui'le Point Shorebirds - Red Knot - White Rumped Sandpipers etc.

[Peter McParland]

Wednesday and Thursday Bill Smith and I birded Presqui'le Point.  The
shorebirds were concentrated at Owens Point and Gull Island in several large
mixed flocks which were kept on the move both days by a very active Merlin.
Viewing conditions were ideal, sunny and warm with a light breeze. We saw
the following 14 species of shorebirds included in the 51 species overall.
16 Black-bellied Plover
1 American Golden Plover plus a flock of 8 which arrived, circled, landed
briefly, checked out the Merlin and left.
65 Semipalmated Plovers
1 Greater and 2 Lesser Yellowlegs
6 Ruddy Turnstones
1 Red Knot (juvenile)
225 +/- Sanderlings
20/40 each Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers
12 White Rumped Sandpipers (adults)
2 Baird's Sandpipers (juveniles)
7 Pectoral Sandpipers
1 Dunlin (FOS)
Also seen among the 37 other species of Ducks, Terns, Gulls and migrating
Song Birds observed  were a Common Loon, Winter Wren, American Pipit ,
Horned Lark and a Horned Grebe.
Peter McParland
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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] Long Point Update - September 23 - Purple Sandpiper

[Stu Mackenzie]

Ontbirders,

 

The latest sightings from Long Point are now available on the LBBO Sightings
Board available at
http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbosight

&lang=EN .

Highlights from this past week include Purple Sandpiper, Connecticut and
Hooded Warbler. 

 

For more information on the research, education, and training programs of
LPBO visit us at www.birdscanada.org/longpoint and check out the 2010 LPBO
Program Report  .  It's not
too late to support LPBO in the Baillie Birdathon by sponsoring a member of
the LPBO Cygnus Crusaders. Select this link
  to do
so. Please send all your noteworthy bird sightings to l...@birdscanada.org
or share them with LPBO through E-bird www.ebird.ca username: Long Point.
Your best source for information about the birds and birding sites around
Long Point can be found in A Birding Guide to the Long Point Area by Ron
Ridout available here  .

 

Cheers,

 

Stu

 

To get to Long Point follow Hwy # 59 south from the 401.

 

 

 

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birding organization.
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[Ontbirds] Peregrine Falcon, Ivy Lea

[John Haig]

There was a peregrine hanging out around the Canadian span of the 1000
Islands Bridge at noon today. I watched it soaring between the suspension
towers and perching on the top of the North suspension tower.  There are
ample rock pigeons that roost on the structure so it may well be sticking
around.

The 1000 Islands International Bridge is at the end of Hwy 137 via the 401
(eastbound exit 661) or from the 1000 Islands Parkway from Gananoque or
Brockville. There is a toll to cross to Hill Island, Ontario.

John Haig
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[Ontbirds] Ottawa: Sabine's Gull

[Bruce Di Labio]

Hi Everyone
The juvenile Sabine's Gull was still present this morning at 9:50am off 
Britannia Point spending most of its time loafing on the water. 
Good birding, Bruce

Directions:  Britannia Point is accessible from Britannia Water Filtration 
Plant 
Deschenes Rapids: Take Champlain Bridge north and turn west on Lucerne Blvd.. 
Follow to Vanier Road and turn left and then right on Martel. Park at end on 
right and walk down trail to rapids. . 


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 Cell 613-715-2571
 
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birding organization.
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[Ontbirds] Osprey, Merlin...Lansdowne ON

[John Haig]

This morning I watched an osprey hunting over the St. Lawrence River at the
Glen House Resort, 9km east of Gananoque on the 1000 Islands Parkway.  On
the 21st I watched a Merlin chase an unidentified passerine over Charleston
Lake, a couple of km north of the Charleston Lake PP boat launch (County
Road 3 north 11.5 km from Lansdowne ON to Woodvale Road, follow signs)

John Haig
Gananoque
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[Ontbirds] Kingston area birds to Sept. 23, 2011

[Peter and Jane Good]

Warbler migration continues with good numbers and variety, although the number 
of Yellow-rumped is on the increase. Lots of vireos were seen this week with 
Blue-headed being the most abundant and widespread. Ruby-crowned Kinglets were 
reported from four different locations and sightings of sparrows have taken an 
upturn. A Lincoln's was at Elginburg most of the week, 3 Vespers were seen on 
the Warburton Road north of Lansdowne on the 18th and another was at 
Harrowsmith on the 22nd. A White-throated was north of Millhaven last Friday 
and another 15 were on Amherst Island on Sunday. A flock of a dozen Dark-eyed 
Juncos was near Perth Road Village last weekend. Fifteen Am. Pipits on Amherst 
last Sunday was the largest group reported so far this fall.
Shorebird numbers are holding up. The bar on Amherst had 30 Black-bellied and 1 
Am. Golden Plover as well as 8 Sanderlings among other more common species last 
Sunday. The Long-billed Dowitcher is still at the lagoons and the Wilton Creek 
near Morven had 2 Pectoral Sandpipers on Wednesday.
Noteworthy waterfowl sightings included a Ring-necked Duck at the lagoons on 
Sunday and Tuesday, a Pied-billed Grebe, also at the lagoons on Tuesday and a 
Common Loon on Devil Lake yesterday.
Other unusual sightings were a Black-billed Cuckoo on Amherst on Sunday and 2 
Common Nighthawks at Elginburg on Tuesday.
Cheers,
Peter Good
Kingston Field Naturalists
613 378-6605  
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