[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 1 March 2018

[Ron Tozer via ONTBIRDS]

There were a few more early signs of spring again this week. First sightings of 
Canada Goose, Herring Gull and European Starling were notably early. Northern 
Shrikes at km 38 (February 22) and the Western Uplands Backpacking Trail 
parking lot (February 27) may have been individuals moving back northward. And 
Blue Jays and Pine Siskins were observed courtship feeding.

 

Tomorrow (March 2) will be the winter’s fourth (and probably last) Bird Feeder 
Friday when feeders at the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre are broadcast live on 
the internet from 9 am to 4 pm. Multiple views allow you to watch for common 
bird and mammal species (perhaps including a marten). This live video feed is 
brought to you by The Friends of Algonquin Park. A special thanks to Wild Birds 
Unlimited Toronto for providing bird feeders and seed for the Visitor Centre. 
To see the broadcast, tune in to: 
http://www.algonquinpark.on.ca/virtual/webcam/feeder_friday.php

 

Here are some locations where birders observed the listed species during the 
past week:

-Spruce Grouse: a displaying male and an as yet disinterested female were near 
the register box along Spruce Bog Boardwalk on February 24, and one was 
reported on that trail on February 27.

-Ruffed Grouse: seen regularly below the Visitor Centre feeders, at Spruce Bog 
Boardwalk, and on Opeongo Road.

-Wild Turkey: the nine birds that came daily to the Visitor Centre parking lot 
feeder during January were down to four by this week, perhaps reflecting 
mortality through predation and starvation in a winter environment that is 
harsh for this species.

-Black-backed Woodpecker: reported on Opeongo Road (including drumming heard) 
and Spruce Bog Boardwalk on several days.

-Canada Jay (Gray Jay): researchers had located the start of nests by five 
pairs as of February 26. Good places to see this species are Spruce Bog 
Boardwalk, Opeongo Road and the Logging Museum trail.

-Boreal Chickadee: no reports again.

-Pine Grosbeak: the only observation was of three at the cliff of the Two 
Rivers Trail on February 24.

-Purple Finch: regular along Highway 60, on Opeongo Road and at the Visitor 
Centre feeders.

-Red Crossbill: widespread; small flocks on the highway, especially after 
sanding/salting, and regularly seen off Visitor Centre viewing deck.

-White-winged Crossbill: not as plentiful as Red Crossbill but numerous; many 
singing during display flights.

-Common Redpoll: a single bird was observed at the Visitor Centre on February 
24.

-Pine Siskin: widespread. 

-American Goldfinch: common. 

-Evening Grosbeak: about 20 came to the Visitor Centre feeders, and about the 
same number were observed near the winter gate on Opeongo Road.

 

Ron Tozer, Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired), Dwight, ON.

DIRECTIONS: Algonquin Provincial 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). The Visitor Centre exhibits and restaurant at 
km 43 are open on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm, and are also open with limited 
services through the week from 9 am to 4 pm. Get your park permit and 
Information Guide (with a map of birding locations mentioned above) at the East 
Gate, West Gate or Visitor Centre. Locations are also described at: 
www.algonquinpark.on.ca

 

 

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[Ontbirds] Ottawa-Gatineau-recent sightings to March 1, 2018.

[gkzbitnew via ONTBIRDS]

Ottawa Field Naturalists’ Club 
Sightings in the Ottawa-Gatineau area (50Km radius from the Parliament 
buildings)
Week ending March 1, 2018
sighti...@ofnc.ca
Compiled by Gregory Zbitnew

It was a very interesting week in the region. Persistent and unusually mild 
weather resulted in many early arrivals.  In that sense, the whole week was a 
highlight. 

Among the WATERBIRDS, SNOW GOOSE, most recently at Britannia on the first, and 
CACKLING GOOSE, most recently at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 28th, were the 
first of the season. 2 TRUMPETER SWANS were at Carleton Place on the 23, and an 
unidentified SWAN, probably a TRUMPETER, was at the Moodie Drive ponds on the 
1st.  A BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was at Deschenes on the 26th. 

Other firsts of the season include:

1.  NORTHERN HARRIER at Burnt Lands Provincial Park on the 28th.
2.  RED-SHOULDERED HAWK in Dunrobin on the 22nd.
3.  Multiple sightings of TURKEY VULTURE starting on the 27th.
4.  EASTERN BLUEBIRD near Almonte on the 27th.
5.  RUSTY BLACKBIRD in Kanata on the 26th and in Russell on the 27th.

Other interesting sightings included:

1.   GOLDEN EAGLE on Greenland Road on the 27th and on Chemin Therrien on 
the 24th.
2.  BELTED KINGFISHER in Dunrobin on the 25th.
3.  The RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS continue in Constance Bay as of the 1st.
4.  NORTHERN FLICKERS in Fitzroy PP on the 25th .
5.  BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER north of Kemptville on the 23rd.
6.  LAPLAND LONGSPUR in Luskville on the 24th.
7. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES are now more or less widespread in 
small numbers.8. 2 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at Lac Meech on the 23rd.

Thanks to everyone who submitted bird observations. 
We encourage everyone to use eBird for the benefit of the entire Birding 
Community.

Good birding





Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.
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[Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending March 1, 2018.

[Fred Helleiner via ONTBIRDS]

Spring-like weather at Presqu'ile Provincial Park for the past week has 
brought out many birders, most of whom have not been disappointed with 
the variety of newly arrived migrants, especially waterfowl.


Several flocks of CANADA GEESE were migrating overhead yesterday.  In 
previous years, such flocks occasionally include SNOW GEESE, which will 
again be keenly anticipated in the coming weeks.  Seven TUNDRA SWANS 
flew over yesterday, and after that was written, late this afternoon, 
another flock of about 40 flew over.  The first WOOD DUCK of the season, 
a male, appeared on February 25 and was still present two days later.  
At least a dozen GADWALLS, 45 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, over 100 MALLARDS, 
up to seven NORTHERN SHOVELERS (one of which on February 27 broke the 
record early date established last year by one day), and 85 NORTHERN 
PINTAILS have made for exciting dabbler watching in the past two days.  
In terms of numbers, those have been overshadowed by thousands of diving 
ducks, mostly REDHEADS and GREATER SCAUP, but also including over 100 
CANVASBACKS, dozens of RING-NECKED DUCKS, a few LESSER SCAUP and 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS.  RUFFED GROUSE 
were found in three different parts of the Park.  The ever-present WILD 
TURKEYS have been seen again, and a lone AMERICAN COOT was present on 
February 24 and 26.  Both ICELAND GULL and GLAUCOUS GULL were on the ice 
of Presqu'ile Bay yesterday as well as six GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS, all 
of which have been scarce this winter.


One or two BALD EAGLES were still present as recently as Tuesday.  The 
only other hawks seen this week were a COOPER'S HAWK and a RED-TAILED 
HAWK.  However, owls were prominent.  Two GREAT HORNED OWLS were calling 
in "the fingers", a SNOWY OWL sat on a cottage roof all one morning, and 
a BARRED OWL was in the deepest part of Jobes' Woods.  RED-BELLIED 
WOODPECKERS were seen at two different locations.  A NORTHERN SHRIKE was 
seen twice at the calf pasture.  One observer found four COMMON RAVENS 
in the Park.  Two HORNED LARKS flew over on Sunday.  A half-heartedly 
singing WINTER WREN was in "the fingers" on February 24.  There was an 
unconfirmed second-hand report of a PURPLE FINCH.


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. Visitors to Gull Island not using a 
boat should be aware that if there is ice between Owen Point and the 
island, itmay or may not support the weight of a human. Birders are 
encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightingsboard 
provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ilePark 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
K0K 1H0
613-475-5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park

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Re: [Ontbirds] GWGG Garden Hill March 1

[Mike Petrucha via ONTBIRDS]

What are GWGG and GWGO?


Mike Petrucha


Harleys roar under pressure, other bikes whine.



From: ONTBIRDS  on behalf of Margaret Bain via 
ONTBIRDS 
Sent: Thursday, March 1, 2018 3:14 PM
To: Ontbirds
Subject: [Ontbirds] GWGG Garden Hill March 1

Most of the 9 GWGO found yesterday at Garden Hill pond are still very close by 
in a flooded cornfield on Beech Hill Road at the west end of the village.
They are hard to see in the muddy furrows but at present are feeding with 
Canada's and several Cackling Geese in the NE corner of the wet area.

>From the junction of County Roads 9&10 drive west through Garden Hill and just 
>as the road takes a steep rise Beech Hill Road goes south/left.

Margaret Bain

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] Sandhill Crane in Stratford

[Carol Berney via ONTBIRDS]

Sandhill Crane flew right over me near the stormwater pond site off Lorne 
Avenue in Stratford this afternoon. It was headed northeast, ahead of the 
approaching storm coming from the south. I posted a couple of blurry photos to 
Ontario Birds Facebook group. 
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[Ontbirds] Geese at Morrisburg

[Brian Morin via ONTBIRDS]

There were three species of geese at Morrisburg today – The number of
Canadas is substantial, many thousands from east of town to further west.
There was a small flock of about 60 Greater Snow Geese and 2 Cackling
Geese. The river is wide open here with a bit of shore ice which the birds
like to stand on. There has been a major Canada Goose movement in the last
few days along the St. Lawrence with thousands moving further north.


Brian Morin
Cornwall
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[Ontbirds] Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (01 Mar 2018) 20 Raptors

[reports--- via ONTBIRDS]

Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 01, 2018
---

SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total   Season Total
-- --- -- --
Black Vulture0  0  0
Turkey Vulture   6  6 18
Osprey   0  0  0
Bald Eagle   2  2  2
Northern Harrier 0  0  0
Sharp-shinned Hawk   0  0  0
Cooper's Hawk0  0  0
Northern Goshawk 0  0  0
Red-shouldered Hawk  0  0  1
Broad-winged Hawk0  0  0
Red-tailed Hawk 12 12 30
Rough-legged Hawk0  0  1
Golden Eagle 0  0  0
American Kestrel 0  0  0
Merlin   0  0  0
Peregrine Falcon 0  0  0
Unknown Accipiter0  0  0
Unknown Buteo0  0  0
Unknown Falcon   0  0  0
Unknown Eagle0  0  0
Unknown Raptor   0  0  0

Total:  20 20 52
--

Observation start time: 09:45:00 
Observation end   time: 13:45:00 
Total observation time: 4 hours

Official Counter:Sandy Darling

Observers:

Visitors:
None


Weather:
What a difference a day makes! Temperatures down to low single digits. 100%
cloud, which made spotting easy. NE winds giving lift from the escarpment
so migrating birds were high for early March.

Raptor Observations:
First day of official season (March 1 to May 15). Vehicular traffic into
park is restricted in March because of construction on site, but one can
park at the gate. Two Bald Eagles, plus a year 4 Bald Eagle that appeared
four times - 2 west and two east - so it was not counted as a migrant.
Visitors welcome.  Open House March 30 (Good Friday). 

Non-raptor Observations:
24 Tundra Swans

Predictions:
With a storm coming in tomorrow morning will not be good.

Report submitted by Sandy Darling (darli...@cogeco.ca)
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area information may be found at:
http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/


More site information at hawkcount.org:  
http://hawkcount.org/siteinfo.php?rsite=389

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. ©2018 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch



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For 

[Ontbirds] Eurasian Wigeon in Stephensville continues along with GWF Goose.

[Luc Fazio via ONTBIRDS]

Hi all
   I have yet to see any update, but YES the Eurasian Wigeon on Sodom Rd , 
Stephensville, Niagara area continues as of today. See directions from Marcie 
below. There was some Tundra Swans, one Greater White-fronted Goose, Pintails, 
etc as well. 
   Notice that it is very windy and snow is coming.
Luc Fazio 

Sent from my iPad

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Marcie Jacklin via ONTBIRDS 
> Date: February 25, 2018 at 6:01:20 PM EST
> To: Marcie Jacklin 
> Cc: "birdalert@ontbirds.ca" 
> Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Eurasian Wigeon in Stevensvillle
> Reply-To: Marcie Jacklin 
> 
> Hi 
> 
> Sorry about the hasty posting. I was leading a group and it seems like I need 
> to contact people in a variety of ways now - text, phone, ontbirds, facebook 
> etc. Drive for 5 mk and look on the left for house number 14671, the next 
> driveway is for the St. Johns Stevensville United Church. We do have 
> permission to park in the parking lot but please be respectful and don’t 
> trespass into the fields. 
> 
> Regards
> Marcie Jacklin
> 
> Direction to the drake Eurasian Wigeon. Take the QEW to Exit 16 which is the 
> Sodom Road/RR 116 exit in Niagara Falls. Turn south on Sodom Road/RR 116.
> 
>> On Feb 25, 2018, at 2:00 PM, Marcie Jacklin via ONTBIRDS 
>>  wrote:
>> 
>> Eurasian Wigeon in Stevensville. Use the parking lot of St Johns 
>> Stevensville United Church next door to 14671
>> ___
>> 
> 
> ___
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> provincial birding organization.
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> https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
> 
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[Ontbirds] GWGG Garden Hill March 1

[Margaret Bain via ONTBIRDS]

Most of the 9 GWGO found yesterday at Garden Hill pond are still very close by 
in a flooded cornfield on Beech Hill Road at the west end of the village.
They are hard to see in the muddy furrows but at present are feeding with 
Canada's and several Cackling Geese in the NE corner of the wet area.

>From the junction of County Roads 9&10 drive west through Garden Hill and just 
>as the road takes a steep rise Beech Hill Road goes south/left.

Margaret Bain

Sent from my iPhone
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[Ontbirds] White-fronted Geese, Beachville, March 1

[James Holdsworth via ONTBIRDS]

Hey,  

I had 18 Greater White-fronted Geese at Beachville high pond this afternoon. 
The birds were only in the flooded fields for a few minutes before disappearing 
rapidly westward. Lots of diurnal movement nearby as well, with 4 Sandhills 
cranes very high, a 2nd cycle Iceland Gull following the Thames and a bunch of 
early (for Oxford) waterfowl at pittock lake - 10 redhead, 22 Ring- necked 
duck, 8 greater scaup.  

The beachville pond is worth rechecking, as birds often return after 
disappearing. The pond is halfway along Zorra line, between highway 2 and 
Ingersoll road.  

Cheers, James H

Ps - blame any and all crappy punctuation and formatting on Apple

Sent from my iPhone

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[Ontbirds] Ross’s Goose, Alliston

[John Schmelefske via ONTBIRDS]

Currently viewing a Ross’s goose along with 300 Tundra swans just down from
my house.  It’s on the east side of the Adjala/ Tecumseth townline just
south of the 12th concession directly south of Alliston.  Take King St
south out of Alliston. It turns into the townline.  The bird is about 5 km
south of town.
-- 
John Schmelefske
# 7360
RR # 4
Alliston,
Ontario,Canada,
L9R 1V4

Email: j.sc...@gmail.com
Watercolour Gallery:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2001214=1051632050=ea990bf4ce
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