[Ontbirds] OFO New Year's Day Outing

[dave milsom via ONTBIRDS]

15 birders attended our annual OFO outing on January 1st .
Despite the icy conditions, 40 species were recorded . Temperatures ranged from 
-1 to -3 c.
Best finds were 70 Bohemian Waxwings close to the Otonabee River just south of 
Lakefield; 70 Evening Grosbeaks at various feeders near Petroglyphs Provincial 
Park; 2 flocks of Common Redpolls in the Peterborough area, 2 Red-breasted 
Nuthatches,  a Northern Shrike off University Road, American Kestrel at the 
airport, several Common Ravens, 2 Bald Eagles at Lake Katchewenooka near 
Lakefield, 3 Red-tailed Hawks, Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Great Horned and 
Northern Saw-whet owls in the Peterborough area.
Many waterfowl included a long-staying male Wood Duck at Lakefield lagoons, 2 
Redhead in a large flock of Greater Scaup, Black Ducks, Long-tailed ducks, 
Bufflehead  and Red-breasted Mergansers at Port Hope.
Many thanks once again to my able co-leader, Matthew Tobey.

Dave Milsom
milsomd...@hotmail.com

___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit 
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
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[Ontbirds] 98th Hamilton Christmas Bird Count (CBC) Results

[Rob Porter via ONTBIRDS]

The 98th Hamilton Christmas Bird Count (CBC) was held on Wednesday,
December 26, 2018 in Hamilton, Ontario.

The Hamilton CBC count circle centres upon Dundurn Castle, and is bounded
in the west by Christie Lake, in the east by Lake Ontario, in the north by
Lake Medad, and in the south by Hamilton International Airport. It includes
two Important Bird & Biodiversity Areas (IBAs): West End of Lake Ontario
(WELO) IBA, and Dundas Valley & Dundas Marsh IBA.

The weather on count day was quite novel for the Hamilton CBC, in that the
weather was decent for once! With partly sunny weather and a high of 2°C,
and light winds from the WSW, no counters had major complaints about the
weather.

Eighty-nine counters broke into fourty-seven parties, spending just under
318 hours-effort (a historic high) exploring sixty zones to net 96 observed
species on count day, plus another 5 during the count week, totaling a
result of 101 species countable. This is 4 below the 25-year average, but 2
above the 50-year average.

This count saw efforts from two forms of transport not seen in the count in
recent memory: by bike, and by canoe. Much of Hamilton downtown core on
count day was covered by bicycle, while an even warmer day during the count
week netted a count-week species in Cootes Paradise by canoe.

The sum of all birds counted on the count day was 45,306 individuals. This
is 7,896 below the 10-year average, 18,331 below the 25-year average, and
19,392 below the 50-year average.

While overall population numbers are below average, this was a
record-setting year in a surprising number of ways. As a consequence of all
the new set records included within, this may very well be a count report
of record-setting length...

An exceptional thirteen historical high species count records were either
set or tied, including two new species never seen before in the count. This
translates to roughtly one in every eight of species seen this year had a
historic record-high year, in a nearly century-long count!

First off, 20 Pileated Woodpeckers were counted, breaking the 2004 record
of 14. Five of them were noted in one zone, and the rest as singles and
pairs spread across forested areas. It is very good news to see this
species on the incline, as individuals of this species require large
amounts of mature forest.

Belted Kingfisher saw a tie in the 1971 record of 13 counted. No doubt the
lack of ice in the waterways so far this winter has allowed more of these
birds to fish in the local streams and waterways with ease.

A total of 58 Eastern Bluebirds were observed, breaking the 2011 record of
52.

A record 25 Cooper's Hawks were observed, beating the 2010 record of 23
counted.

Cackling Goose has seen a new high of 8 counted, though it has only been
considered a species seperate from Canada Goose for just over a decade so
it does not have as long of a history to compete with as other species do.

Turkey Vulture saw a record of 3 individuals seen, all flying over the
Dundas & west Hamilton area.

For the second year in a row we have set a record of Bald Eagles observed,
with a total of 14 counted.

Double-crested Cormorant hit a count of 140, beating the 2015 record of 110.

Once again the Carolina Wren has set a record, with 111 individuals
counted. This species showed up in big numbers in many zones, as well as
being present at many feeders and new zones this year.

Two Gray Catbirds were found, one which had been known to be in Mt Albion
Conservation Area for a while, as well as another in Stoney Creek.

Two Orange-crowned Warblers were found in separate locations, setting a
record count for this rare winter warbler.

The final two record highs are single individuals, both also being new
species to our count: Fish Crow, and Eurasian Collared-Dove. Remarkably,
both represent species that are expanding their range into Southern Ontario
and are not happenstance vagrants like most new species added to the list
usually are.

In addition to these historical records set, two 25-year records and five
10-year record highs were set.

Great Blue Heron was counted at 21, and House Sparrow was counted at 3,030
-- both being 25-year highs.

Ten-year records broken include: Snowy Owl (3), Bufflehead (529), Rock
Pigeon (3,951), White-breasted Nuthatch (280), Hairy Woodpecker (97).

Some record lows of note were set as well.

Much like many other Ontario Christmas Bird Counts this year, there was a
dearth American Tree Sparrows; furthermore to that however, we have set a
historic low of 106.

Other lows of note: Trumpter Swan (52, 10y low), American Kestrel (4, 50y
low), Northern Flicker (2, 10y low), European Starling (2,212, 50y low),
Dark-eyed Junco (602, 10y low).

It should also be noted that native passerines (perching birds) in general
saw a 10-year record low, with only 6,170 counted.

In addition to the above records, a couple milestones of note were met:
this year saw us count our 1 millionth waterfowl since the standard circle
was introduced

[Ontbirds] Snowy Owl, Orange-crowned Warber, Colonel Sam Park

[Mark K via ONTBIRDS]

OCWA at North end of marsh near walking path, SNOW on docks in the bay.
Colonel Sam park is at the base of Kipling Ave. in Etobicoke.
Mark Kubisz
___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit 
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
Posting guidelines can be found at 
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Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists

[Ontbirds] Another Great Blue Heron

[Steve Kinsley via ONTBIRDS]

 
  In a completely different area, but for winter birders as well, yesterday I heard from some other birders that there is also one in the Holland River near the Newmarket Town Offices just north of Mulock Drive.
  Steve Kinsley, RD (College of Dietitians of Ontario: Reg. # 1083)Nu Connexions: Your partner in nutrient analysis, Canadian food labelling and photography serviceshttp://www.nuconnexions.com/http://www.nutritionlabels.ca/http://www.purspectivephoto.com/Tel:(905) 478-8915P.O. Box 269Queensville, ON L0G 1R0Canada
  
   -- Original Message --From: Tom Miller via ONTBIRDS Date: January 1, 2019 at 11:17 AMI just had two Great Blue Herons here at Riverside Park in Cambridgesent from Tom's Android deviceOn Tue, Jan 1, 2019, 11:00 AM Douglas Reberg via ONTBIRDS  Winter listers may want to keep an eye open for a great blue heron, seen> yesterday, aloft, heading for trees east of Cooper-Standard Automotive> (where C.H. Meier turns into Douro St. near Festival Marketplace.>> Happy New Year and Good Birding.>> Doug Reberg> Stratford> ___> ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the> provincial birding organization.> Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca> For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit> http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup> Posting guidelines can be found at> http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide> Visit the OFO Facebook page> https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists>>___ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization.Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.caFor information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetupPosting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguideVisit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
  
  >
 


___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
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Re: [Ontbirds] Stratford Great Blue Heron

[Tom Miller via ONTBIRDS]

I just had two Great Blue Herons here at Riverside Park in Cambridge

sent from Tom's Android device

On Tue, Jan 1, 2019, 11:00 AM Douglas Reberg via ONTBIRDS <
birdalert@ontbirds.ca wrote:

> Winter listers may want to keep an eye open for a great blue heron, seen
> yesterday, aloft, heading for trees east of Cooper-Standard Automotive
> (where C.H. Meier turns into Douro St. near Festival Marketplace.
>
> Happy New Year and Good Birding.
>
> Doug Reberg
> Stratford
> ___
> ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the
> provincial birding organization.
> Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
> For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit
> http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
> Posting guidelines can be found at
> http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
> Visit the OFO Facebook page
> https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
>
>
___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca
For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit 
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
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Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists

[Ontbirds] Stratford Great Blue Heron

[Douglas Reberg via ONTBIRDS]

Winter listers may want to keep an eye open for a great blue heron, seen 
yesterday, aloft, heading for trees east of Cooper-Standard Automotive (where 
C.H. Meier turns into Douro St. near Festival Marketplace.

Happy New Year and Good Birding.

Doug Reberg
Stratford
___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
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[Ontbirds] Townsend's Solitaire, Kitchener.

[Michael Hallett via ONTBIRDS]

Just had the TOSO behind 81 Forfar Ave in Kitchener, calling as well.

Directions: exit Hwy. 85/86 onto Hwy. 7/Victoria St. east (towards Guelph).
Take Hwy. 7 east to Forfar Avenue, where you'll turn right. I'd suggest
parking at the junction of Forfar Court and just walking the neighbourhood.
___
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the 
provincial birding organization.
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