[Ontbirds] Brighton Constructed Wetland
Greetings: Mayor Walas's motion to bring forward a motion to invetiagte having a company to run the Waste Water Department was defeated last night in Council. I have been informed that even Mayor Walas and Councilor Martinello voted against their own motion that could have seen Ontario Clean Water Agency running everything that could have closed the contsructed wetland to birding. I will purchase my 2012 pass in January 2012 and will do my best to report the happenings in the constructed wetland as early as possible in 2012. I think I can speak for all those involved when I thank everyone for their support. Most sincerely Maureen Campeau ___ 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 - 04 Oct 11 - recent reports
Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 04 October 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 The past week was dynamic for both weather and bird activity. More SNOW GEESE are arriving - groups of 25 or more appeared in a wide variety of locations, and the first seasonal reports of CACKLING GEESE came in since the 29th. Increased numbers of puddle ducks and diving ducks are showing up. It's getting late for GREEN HERONS but no real surprise that at least one was still at Mud Lake in Britannia on the 2nd. BALD EAGLES were again seen on early every visit to the Ottawa River, especially Shirley's Bay, along with both MERLIN and PEREGRINE FALCON. There was lots of action on the shorebird scene. The High Falls Conservation Area in Casselman hosted 7 species on the 27th including SANDERLING and STILT SANDPIPER. A cold front with rain and northeast winds brought at least 14 species to the mud flats west of the Shirley's Bay causeway on the 2nd and 3rd. Numbers varied with the time of day and the presence of predators, but many observers reported at least 10 BLACK-BELLIED, 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN and up to a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, as well as several LESSER YELLOWLEGS and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS, perhaps 60 WHITE-RUMPED, 1 BAIRD'S, 50 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and 30 DUNLIN. More exotic visitors were 31 HUDSONIAN GODWITS and a RED PHALAROPE that spent most of the 3rd feeding and dodging falcons, and a MARBLED GODWIT was also reported from this location but was not seen after 9:00 AM. Back on the 29th a juvenile LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was still at the Richmond lagoons off Eagleson Rd. but has not been reported since. On the 2nd the Deschenes rapids of the Ottawa River hosted 5 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and single LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULLS were found at the large quarry pond on Moodie Dr. and at Shirley's Bay. The picture of passerine migration is also changing. A major movement of BLUE-HEADED VIREOS, WINTER WRENS and GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS was noted in the past few days. ORANGE-CROWNED, NORTHERN PARULA and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS were found among the YELLOW-RUMPED flocks. The first seasonal reports of FOX SPARROW, DARK-EYED JUNCO and SNOW BUNTING came in since the 30th, and an unusual visitor to a feeder in Pakenham was a FIELD SPARROW on the 1st. 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] Hudsonian Godwits, Long-billed Dowitcher Shirley's Bay
Good morning. I stopped into Shirley's Bay on the way to work this morning. There are still lots of shorebirds but we could not find the Red Phalarope. Here are the wader numbers from this morning: 31 Hudsonian Godwits, 2 Long-billed Dowitcher, 92 White-rumped Sandpipers, 1 Baird's Sandpiper, 60 Pectoral Sandpipers, 10 Dunlin, 10 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 5 Black-bellied Plover, 7 Semipalmated Plover, 1 Killdeer, 20 Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Greater Yellowlegs. Directions from Bruce's post: 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. Good birding, Jeff -- Jeff Skevington, Research Scientist Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 960 Carling Avenue, K.W. Neatby Building Ottawa, ON, K1A 0C6, Canada Phone: 613-759-1647 FAX: 613-759-1927 E-mail: jhskeving...@gmail.com or jeffrey.skeving...@agr.gc.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/
[Ontbirds] Orange-crowned Warbler, Pine Siskins, Highland Woods, London, Oct 4th
Ontbirders, This morning between 9:15 and 10 AM,I observed an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER actively feeding on insects in a small patch of Goldenrod. There was also a small group (11) of PINE SISKINS feeding in a small pine at the entrance to the woods. They were eventually scared off by the mowing machine of a lawn maintenance company. Best, Len Manning London, ON 519-937-0542 Highland Woods is located in south London,and sits south of Commissioner's Road, and east of Wharncliffe, and borders the Highland Golf and Country Club. For directions from your specific location, contact me privately. ___ 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] Passerine Migration in the Danforth Area
There is a nice little flock of CFW¹s (Confusing Fall Warblers) in Phin Park and the adjoining playing field of Eastern Commerce High School. As far as I can tell, there were kinglets, vireos, at least 5 warbler species. AlshI o, a flock of unknown accipiters passed overhead heading west. (This is a flight path for Hawks, and Turkey Vultures in the fall.) To reach the park, you must use the walkway between Eastern Commerce H.S., and its playing field. The majority of the birds were in the trees on the left side of the park, bordering the Eastern Commerce playing field. The park is off Chatham Avenue which is one block south of Danforth Avenue, and Donlands Avenue. (Donlands Avenue ends at Danforth, and Euston Avenue is on the opposite, or south side. ) Happy Birding, Angela Monette ___ 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] ideal conditions at noon on Oct.4 brought 463 raptors through Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch
Many thanks to Gerry Ball, Eleanor Beagan and Alan Woods for waiting until excellent conditionjs arrived at CMRW--medium winds, rising BP and good thermals. Of the 463 hawks counted up to 2:30pm 382 were Turkey Vultures, they streaming through from Thickson Pt. 5 Red-shouldereds and 1 N.Goshawk were highlights. Among non-raptors--2 Trumpeter Swans with 5 young, white-crowned sparrow, many white-throated sparrows, yellow-bellied sapsucker, n.pintails, n.shovelers, n.gallinule, great egret, rusty blackbirds, hairy woodpecker. Doug Lockrey, Whitby ___ 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] Reesor Pond Snow Geese
04.10.11 - 4.30 : 3 Snow Geese in the mix - Greater Yellowlegs only shore birds around - Trumpeter Swan - Ruddy Ducks etc - high water levels covering spits - 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 birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] 4 Bald Eagles were missed in my Oct.4 Cranberry report.
To see highflying eagles moving slowly across the skies is thrilling. I neglected reporting them among the 463 migrating raptors at Cranberry today. Doug Lockrey, Whitby ___ 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: Holiday Beach Conservation Area (04 Oct 2011) 1712 Raptors
Holiday Beach Conservation Area Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 04, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Turkey Vulture1104 6443 7010 Osprey 3 24179 Bald Eagle 3 9154 Northern Harrier25152534 Sharp-shinned Hawk 367 3488 10302 Cooper's Hawk 27100455 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 2 2 Broad-winged Hawk 99933 43427 Red-tailed Hawk 21 58132 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 1 American Kestrel54 3073 4539 Merlin 3 8 95 Peregrine Falcon 0 13 51 Unknown Accipiter0 0 12 Unknown Buteo3 3 8 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 5 Unknown Raptor 1 2 10 Swainson's Hawk 0 1 2 Total:1712 14309 66918 -- Observation start time: 06:30:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9.5 hours Official Counter:Stephen Kolbe Observers:Chris Craft, Jim McCoy, John Craft, Mike Malone Visitors: Visitors today included two school groups, and a few others. Weather: A beautiful day today with blue skies and warm temperatures. Light winds out of the northwest early shifted to the southwest in the afternoon. Temperature ranged from 10-20 C. Raptor Observations: Slow in the morning, but activity picked up as the day progressed. Due to the blue skies, light winds, and warm temperatures, raptors were up very high in the afternoon. Sharp-shinned Hawks dominated yet again. Northern Harriers and Turkey Vultures also went through in good numbers. Non-raptor Observations: Bird of the day today was a Hudsonian Godwit that flew quickly over the marsh heading west. A single Sandhill Crane was heard a few times throughout the day and seen once. American Goldfinches were moving in numbers today (842), with Pine Siskins (36) mixed in. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was hanging out with a flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers; seems a bit on the late side. Blue Jays (7400) trickled by throughout the day. Four Horned Larks flew over, as did one American Pipit. Five Horned Grebes were hanging out in Lake Erie. Pied-billed Grebe 60, Horned Grebe 5, Double-crested Cormorant 88, Great Blue Heron 25, Great Egret 10, Mute Swan 80, Canada Goose 23, Wood Duck 30, Green-winged Teal 4, American Black Duck 7, Mallard 200, Northern Pintail 3, Blue-winged Teal 5, Northern Shoveler 7, Gadwall 1, American Wigeon 5, Sandhill Crane 1, American Coot 200, Killdeer 9, Hudsonian Godwit 1, Greater Yellowlegs 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1, Pectoral Sandpiper 1, Ring-billed Gull 100, Herring Gull 25, Great Black-backed Gull 1, Caspian Tern 11, Rock Pigeon 6, Mourning Dove 2, Common Nighthawk 2, Chimney Swift 5, Ruby-throated Hummingbird 4, Belted Kingfisher 1, Downy Woodpecker 3, Northern Flicker 3, Eastern Phoebe 1, Horned Lark 4, Tree Swallow 75, Northern Rough-winged Swallow 10, Blue Jay 7400, American Crow 9, Black-capped Chickadee 5, Carolina Wren 1, House Wren 1, Golden-crowned Kinglet 20, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1, American Robin 13, Gray Catbird 4, American Pipit 1, Cedar Waxwing 11, European Starling 1000, Nashville Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 31, Palm Warbler 1, Blackpoll Warbler 4, Common Yellowthroat 1, Northern Cardinal 6, Song Sparrow 1, White-throated Sparrow 10, Red-winged Blackbird 534, Rusty Blackbird 3, Pine Siskin 36, American Goldfinch 842. Wandering Glider 1, Black Saddlebags 2, Common Green Darner 4, Monarch 7, Common Buckeye 3. Predictions: Clear in the morning, then partly cloudy. High of 25 C. Winds from the NE at 5-15 km/h. Report submitted by Stephen Kolbe (kolb...@gmail.com) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands today -
Good afternoon folks. Today I spent a half day birding Ward’s and Algonquin Islands with Bill Smith, Margaret Liubavicius and Peter McParland but left early them to continue on with out me. It wasn’t as busy as Saturday but it was a good day to be birding down there and we were busy enough and following are some of the 66 species of birds that we saw together plus the ones that Bill, Margaret and Peter saw after I abandoned them. Common Loons, Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Duck, White-winged Scoters, Hooded Merganser, Turkey Vultures, N. Harrier, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, 25+ Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, E. Phoebes, 900+ Blue Jays, Brown Creepers, Winter Wren, both kinglet species, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, A. Pipit, Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireos, 14 warbler species including Orange-crowned, Cape May, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green, Palm, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers, and N. Parulas, E. Towhee, Chipping, Song, Swamp and White-crowned Sparrows, 100+ White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos, Rusty Blackbirds and 70+ Pine Siskins. Good company as usual - Thanks Peter, Margaret Bill. Directions:- TORONTO ISLANDS - FALL 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. TORONTO ISLAND - FERRY FARES AND DAILY SCHEDULES There is a fee for using the island ferries ( $6.50 adult / $4.00 for seniors and students ( all fares are return ) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193 or check the following web site http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/fallschedule.htm There are washrooms and drinking fountains on the islands and on the city side ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks. The 1st boat to Ward’s Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday and Holidays. ( Note:- On Sundays the first ferry to Ward’s is at 7:45 am ) The 1st boat to Hanlan’s Point is 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 am Monday to Friday. The 1st is at 8:15 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. 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. 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. Food and beverages on The Islands when open are very expensive i.e. soft drinks e.g. $3.20 plus and Hot Dogs $4.25. There are washrooms and water fountains through out and a washrooms is also located at the fire station. PS - There is a map of the Islands at each of the Island side ferry docks and the City side and a small brochure is now
[Ontbirds] Black-billed Magpies - NW Ontario
Posting for my mom who is in Ear Falls - on the drive up today they had 2 Black-billed Magpies, one near Egli's Sheep Farm which is 21km west of Dryden on Hwy 17, the other ~40km from Hwy 17 on Hwy 105 toward Red Lake. Good luck to anyone who looks! -David ___ 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: DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark (04 Oct 2011) 2618 Raptors
DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 04, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture2141 9872 10389 Osprey 1 5 74 Bald Eagle 9 35132 Northern Harrier 9 31133 Sharp-shinned Hawk 216823 3234 Cooper's Hawk 59132231 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 4 6 Broad-winged Hawk 84589 195805 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Red-tailed Hawk 78139217 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel11155559 Merlin 0 0 11 Peregrine Falcon 1 1 14 Unknown Accipiter2 5 19 Unknown Buteo2 6 6 Unknown Falcon 0 0 2 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 1 2 6 Total:2618 11799 210843 -- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 9 hours Official Counter:Jonathan Stein Observers:Fred Kirn, John Elliott, Patrick Mulawa, Rodney Laura Visitors: Thanks so much to the lively and highly effective group of spotters that turned out today. In addition to our regular observers, Paul Cypher, Mark Wloch, Andrew Sturgess and Greg Smith all helped out immensely. More than 25 others were in and out throughout the day. Weather: Couldn't have asked for a nicer day at the park. After enduring so much wet, windy and altogether wretched weather of late, we were finally given a full day of completely sunny skies. There was a slight chill to the morning hours but once the sun began to warm the ground and the raptors began to fly, that was quickly forgotten. There was a light breeze out of the northwest for most of the day. Raptor Observations: Fun day today with raptors pouring out of the sky in waves after the 11 o'clock hour. Clear skies and a warming sun led to many birds circling way up high, which meant a lot of neck-craning was necessary to spot the many raptors overhead. Red-tailed hawks had their first big push of the season. Broad-winged hawks continue to be seen sporadically in small wandering groups. And a few red-shouldered hawks, making an appearance for the first time in a while, came low enough to provide great looks and an opportunity for our many photographers to snap a few candid shots. Turkey vultures again ruled the last hour of the watch as several largish kettles slowly wound their way past the viewing area. Non-raptor Observations: There were a lot of songbirds around in the morning. American goldfinch and American robin were particularly abundant. Mixed in with the goldfinches were a few pine siskins. A red-breasted nuthatch called a couple times and flew overhead. Two horned larks were detected. Our warbler-magnet spruce gave us nice looks at a tiny flock of cape may warblers and also a lone pine warbler. Later in the day, a spotted sandpiper flew by low along the water just in front of the boat launch. A couple wood ducks gave us a fly-by later as well. Predictions: Like today, it's going to be sunny and clear. Light winds will again be out of the northwest. Come on out and enjoy the wonderful weather by the boat launch. There's a pretty good chance you'll get to see a lot of migrating raptors if you do. Report submitted by Jonathan Stein (jonathanjst...@gmail.com) 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.
[Ontbirds] Warblers Shorebirds at Rattray Marsh Conservation Area, Mississauga: 4 October 2011
I birded the marsh and all the trails of the Rattray Marsh Conservation Area for 3 hours this afternoon. Good diversity of warblers: Black-throated Blue:12; Yellow-rumped; 11; Magnolia: 2; one each of Orange-crowned, Black-and-White, Pine, Palm, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush. The high Hemlock and Oak forest along upper Sheridan Creek (off Meadwood Road) contained 100+ Golden-crowned Kinglets, 15+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 3 Purple Finches and 7 Pine Siskins. Shorebirds on the mudflats of the marsh include 5 Killdeer, 2 Solitary Sandpipers and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper. There were at least 400 Red-necked Grebes feeding far out in lake off the marsh. The only flycatcher was one Eastern Phoebe. Directions: the heart of the Conservation area is best accessed at the south end of Bexhill Road which runs south of Lakeshore Boulevard between Mississauga Road and Erin Mills Park; park anywhere along Gatehouse Road. There is large sign with a trail map at the bottom the hill or download a map off the Credit Valley Conservation Area web site. 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/
