[Ontbirds] Ravens in Northmberland County
Josh's post on a possible fish crow on the west side of Port Hope, reminds me that Ravens have not only moved south but are now a regular feature of the avifauna of Northumberland County. Today I had a raven fly over Hwy. 2 in the Welcome area, immediately west of Port Hope. In the last week I have also heard and/or seen Ravens in Brighton (one remaining of a family of four that has lived south-east of twon for over a year), Grafton north through the Vernonville area, and a number in the Northumberland County Forest and Nature Conservancy Canada lands immediately north of Centreton. Ravens for a number of years have been resident north of the Centreton area but they have now moved south (only 10 kilometres)to the Hwy 2/401 area and are regular. Perhaps this week will be a Raven and two crow day in Brighton. ___ 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 Apr 2012) 268 Raptors
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Apr 16, 2012 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 2 4 Turkey Vulture 50 2303 5703 Osprey 7 38 42 Bald Eagle 0 11 46 Northern Harrier 4 36 58 Sharp-shinned Hawk 145521854 Cooper's Hawk7 44105 Northern Goshawk 0 0 2 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 17584 Broad-winged Hawk 44107107 Red-tailed Hawk 3410 1762 Rough-legged Hawk0 9 33 Golden Eagle 1 4 8 American Kestrel 3 21 37 Merlin 1 6 14 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 4 Unknown Accipiter0 8 10 Unknown Buteo0 4 17 Unknown Falcon 1 1 1 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 2 5 12 Total: 268 3549 9403 -- Observation start time: 07:45:00 Observation end time: 17:00:00 Total observation time: 9.25 hours Official Counter:John Stevens Observers:Bouwe Bergsma, Carol Horvat, Verne Evans, stuart Laughton Visitors: Jack and Linda Homer, Andy Morgan of Burlington, Brian Hawthorne, Josh Kaell of Toronto, Murray ? Weather: Very strong SW winds preventing use of hats not tied on. Hot for the date. Great sky for watching until the last half hour when it went all blue. Band of thick low clouds between 1 and 2 EST that blew away within 30 minutes. Raptor Observations: Most birds were skimming the treetops or in the case of sharpies, coming through the trees. No birds above height 2 and most of those didn't stay there. Local CH brought an American Robin in toward the nest site in the pm. Another good Osprey flight but the buteos didn't like the wind. Non-raptor Observations: Sandhill Crane going east (sideways in the wind), two Wild Turkeys flew across into woods, one later emerging on the ground by the stinkhouse before flying west right over the tower. Predictions: Cooler and less windy but looks like all the BWs went east today so may not be much left for us. Report submitted by John Stevens () 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. © 2012
[Ontbirds] Colonel Samuel Smith Park spring arrivals
This morning Jeremy Hatt, Andrew Keaveney, David Hallett and I spent about three hours birding park. Highlights: 1 Forester's Tern, 12 Yellow-rumped Warbers, 40 White-throated Sparrows, 10 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and smaller numbers of Field Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-belled Sapsucker, Eastern Towhee, Fox Sparrow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Brown Thrasher. There are still about 150 Red-necked Grebes, 15 Horned Grebes and a couple of Pied-billed Grebes in the area. Directions: The park is located of the south end of Kipling, through Colonel Samuel Smith Park Drive (south of Lakeshore Boulevard). Wayne Renaud (278-828-0043) ___ 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] Red-throated Loons and Little Gull at Rattray Marsh Conservation Area, Mississauga
This afternoon David Hallette and I birded Rattray Marsh for 3 hours and found three Red-throated Loons, all in full breeding plumage, riding some massive waves about 150 m off the mouth of Sheridan Creek where it drains out of the marsh into Lake Ontario. Also a Little Gull was seen flying south fairly close to shore. The woods were fairly quite (and very windy) but did manage to find seven species of woodpecker including Red-bellied (3), Pileated (2) and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (2). Warbler wise: 1 Yellow-rumped, 1 Nashville and 4 Pine. Directions: Access the center of the Conservation area at the south end of Bexhill which runs south off Lakeshore Boulevard between Erin Mills Parkway and Mississauga Road. 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] yellow throated warbler@Rondeau PP
The yellow throated warbler was seen again at 3.10 at the cottage at 17372 Lakeshore Rd. IT was feeding at the same feeder as last year. Ric -- Ric McArthur PO Box B1 Morpeth, Ontario,Canada N0P 1X0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricmcarthur ___ 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] Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher Prnce Edward County
Just returned from a few hours of birding where the Scissor Tailed Flycatcher is present actively feeding throughout the field across from address 419 Potter Road. See link for pic. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/6938807076_db311eb169_c.jpg http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7053/7084882127_74ea550e54_c.jpg Directions: From Belleville, take Highway 62 for about 14 km south past Mountain View and turn left onto C.R. 14 (Demorestville Road) directly across from an abandoned service station. Follow C.R 14 east for 9 km to the Stop sign in Demorestville, then proceed straight ahead through the village, and at the next Stop sign, continue straight ahead on Potter Road to Civic Address 419. >From Deseronto and points east, take the Quinte Skyway Bridge at Deseronto, >and then an immediate right onto County Road 15 and follow to Demorestville. At the top of the Demorestville hill, turn left and follow to the next Stop sign, and then straight ahead onto Potter Rd. Paul O'Toole Kingston ___ 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] Scarlet tanager and more at Pelee
At 1:20 this afternoon, Karen and I saw a male Scarlet Tanager on the Chinquapin trail at Point Pelee. We saw the bird just before the seasonal trail that circles the big pond on the Tilden Trail. Other noteworthy birds were the male Hooded Warbler seen by others at the Sparrow Field, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, and a Blue-headed Vireo on the Tilden Trail. ___ 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] Rondeau Prov Park yellow throated warbler
Scott asked me to forward this as he is not sure if his post went through. A Yellow-throated Warbler made an appearance at the Rondeau Visitor Centre feeders at noon today. First spotted by James Telford and Brennan Obermayer, the bird reappeared at the feeders five minutes ago. Numbers of other migrants have picked up since last week with the fair weather and south winds including Yellow-rumped, Pine, Palm, Black-throated Green, and Black and White Warblers, Yellow-throated and Blue-headed Vireo, Blue-grey Gnatcatchers, larger number of Tree Swallows, and a mix of sparrows. Also of note for those who like insects – thousands of Red Admirals in the park and surrounding area. Good birding, Scott Taylor A\Natural Heritage Education Specialist Rondeau Provincial Park Directions to the park: Take exit 101 from Highway 401 and drive South 16km on Chatham Kent Rd 15. Turn right and follow the signs to the park. The Bird Sightings Book, Bird Sightings Board and other relevant information are located at the Visitor Centre (open on weekends in April from 10am – 4 pm, and daily starting May 3 from 7am – 5pm). -- Ric McArthur PO Box B1 Morpeth, Ontario,Canada N0P 1X0 http://www.flickr.com/photos/ricmcarthur ___ 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] Bohemian Waxwings and Eastern Bluebirds at Ottawa
Hi Ontbirders: Yesterday afternoon, I had a flock of about 20 Bohemian Waxwings in the Burnt Lands Provincial Park west of Ottawa. They were high up in scattered dead conifer snags off Golden Line Road. In the same area, three Eastern Bluebirds were in a singing duel from the tops of conifer snags. They are clearly establishing territory and periodically tried to chase each other off. Plenty of dead hollow trees for them to establish nests. Good birding Peter Hall Directions: From Highway 417 west of Ottawa, exit at March Road (#44) and proceed west about 10 km to Golden Line Road. Turn south and the reserve is on the left-hand side. ___ 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] Scissor-tailed flycatcher - yes - Prince Edward County
The beautiful scissor-tailed flycatcher is still present in Prince Edward County. He has about half a dozen mostly low perches along the shore of Fish Lake. Go to the old oak by the shore, then look for the flycatcher. He is active and it is open enough that he is very visible. Directions (thanks to Terry Sprague): >From Belleville, take County Road 62 for about 14 km south past Mountainview >and turn left onto County Road 14 (Demorestville Road) directly across from an >abandoned service station. Follow County Road 14 east for 9 km to the stop >sign in Demorestville, then proceed straight ahead through the village. At the >next stop sign, continue straight ahead on Potter Road to #419. >From Deseronto and points east, take the Qinte Skyway bridge at Deseronto >(Highway 49) then an immediate right turn onto County Road 15 and follow to >Demorestville. At the top of the Demorestville hill, turn left and follow to >the next stop sign, then straight ahead to 419 Potter Road. Either way: the flycatcher is in the field opposite 419. We have permission to enter to field. There's a small open gate. Then walk down to the old oak near the shore of Fish Lake. ___ 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] Many birds in Wet Woods, Tommy Thompson Park
White-throated sparrows, Eastern Meadow Lark, Eastern Towhees, Brown Thrashers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Swamp,Fox, American Tree, and Song Sparrows, Yellow-rump Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow Bellied Sapsuckers, Wilsons Snipe, winter wrens plus other usuals are filling the Wet Woods. Watch your valuables and think how we can deal with the "homesteaders" who are destroying the habitat and accosting birders. The Wet Woods is at the base of Tommy Thompson Park where Leslie St meets Lake Ontario 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] Ottawa Area: Bohemian Waxwings
Hi Ontbirders, Yesterday morning, Ben and I saw a late flock of 75+ Bohemian Waxwings at the corner of March and Huntmar Road. Good birding, Bruce and Ben Directions: From Hwy.417 take March Road exit and follow west to Huntmar Road. 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 ___ 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/
