[Ontbirds] Ottawa: Gyrfalcon(s)
Ontbirds Subscribers: Eric Baldo just sent images of today's (January 11th) Gyrfalcon; it is a different bird to the continuing adult grey morph, which was first seen by Tony Beck and Nina Stavlund in early December. Today's bird is a juvenile grey morph! So, two Gyrs are hunting along the Ottawa River, from Bate Island to the East to Deschenes Rapids to the West. Today's sightings, kicked off thanks to Tom Hanrahan, were from Britannia Filtration Plant. Birders have mentioned that the morning and "lunch hour" is the best time to look for the Gyr(s). Photos of the Gyrfalcons may be seen here: http://eontbird.ca/?p=12048 Good luck this weekend, Jon ___ 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] POresqu'ile Bird Report for 4-10 Jan 2019
Presqu’ile Bird Report for Week of 4-10 January 2019 By Doug McRae HIGHLIGHTS: LESSER SCAUP, BROWN THRASHER, SONG SPARROW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD Its pretty quiet in the Park but the annual mid-winter Waterfowl Survey helped boost the sightings a little. Ten species of waterfowl were seen within Presqu’ile during the Lake Ontario mid-winter waterfowl survey on 6 Jan. The totals were as follows: CANADA GOOSE 74, MUTE SWAN 4, GREATER SCAUP 284, LESSER SCAUP 1, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 8, LONG-TAILED DUCK 2214, BUFFLEHEAD 20, COMMON GOLDENEYE 704, COMMON MERGANSER 9, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER 9. There was a fair amount of wave action, plus a 30 minute blizzard that wiped out visibility, so totals might have been higher in calm conditions. In addition several species were seen near the Murray canal in eastern Presqu’ile Bay including TRUMPETER SWAN, MALLARD, CANVASBACK and REDHEAD that were missed in Park waters. The LESSER SCAUP was unusual and was seen with Greaters at Salt Pt. Usually I don’t celebrate low counts but the 4 MUTE SWANS is wonderful news for this nasty invasive species. Only 120 were seen in the whole section, which goes from Barcovan in the east to Wicklow Beach in the west, which is most likely due to an abundance of open water and little reason to concentrate. We have had as many as 900 in some years so a year with 120 feels good. A side benefit of doing the survey was that one party got to see 2 RIVER OTTERS on the ice by Presqu’ile Parkway. Outside of the survey a few other waterfowl sightings were of interest. Three MALLARD were seen on 8 Jan, and CANVASBACKS were noted several times with 7 on 4 Jan, 3 on 8 Jan and 1 on 9 Jan. 16 REDHEAD were noted on 4 Jan and one on 8 Jan. WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS are seen daily near Salt Pt. with a maximum of 12 on 10 Jan. A single male COMMON MERGANSER was spotted on 5 Jan. Several Bald Eagles were seen this week with a high of 3 on 8 Jan. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen at the Birdhouse Nature Store feeders on 8 Jan and a COOPER’S HAWK visited the same feeders on 4 Jan. Another COOPER’S HAWK was seen at feeders along Bayshore Rd on 10 Jan. A RED-TAILED HAWK was soaring around the gate on 9 Jan. Large numbers of HERRING GULLS have been roosting in dense groups on the ice of Presqu’ile Bay but so far out that it is hard to pick out other species. A high count of 25 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS was recorded on 4 Jan. Up to 21 MOURNING DOVES were seen at one Bayshore Rd feeder on 10 Jan. Both SNOWY and BARRED OWLS were seen throughout the week. NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen in the Calf Pasture on 7 Jan. We have reached a point where in the dead of winter COMMON RAVEN may be more frequently seen than AMERICAN CROW – an unimaginable state of affairs 20 years ago. The long staying but infrequently seen BROWN THRASHER was noted at a Bayshore Rd feeder on 7 and 10 Jan. Small numbers of EUROPEAN STARLINGS were seen several times including one bird perched on a treetop on High Bluff Is. on 6 Jan. A knee-deep wade yielded 40 SNOW BUNTINGS flying around Gull Is. on 6 Jan. The only sparrow of note was a SONG SPARROW that was at the Birdhouse Nature Store feeders on 4 Jan. Up to 9 NORTHERN CARDINALS were seen at one feeder on 7 and 10 Jan (BG). A RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD was also at the Birdhouse feeders on 4 Jan. A COMMON REDPOLL visited a feeder on 7 Jan which is the only finch, other than AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, reported this week. Directions: Presqu’ile Provincial Park is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario, just south of the town of Brighton. It can be reached from either Hwy. 401, or Cty. Rd. 2 and is well signed. A Park map can be found in the information tabloid available at the Park gate. Presqu’ile’s two offshore islands – Gull and High Bluff – support a large multi-species colonial bird nesting area and access is not permitted during the breeding season (10 March-10 September). Doug McRae P.O. Box 3010 Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0 613-475-5014 H 613-243-4161 C ___ 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] December 26 Pakenham-Arnprior CBC results
Cold temperatures preceding the Pakenham-Arnprior CBC held on Boxing Day resulted in all still water being frozen. Count day was also cold but relatively calm, which allowed the 46 field observers to ascertain that the lack of birds being heard in the woods was due to a lack of birds being present in the woods. The 15 feeder watchers contributed greatly to the count total. Total Species: 51 (ten-year average = 55) Total Individuals: 5,542 (ten-year average = 7,221) Notable absences were: gulls, Great Horned Owl, American Robin, crossbills, blackbirds. Only 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet and 4 Brown Creepers were tallied. Notable high counts were: 5 Northern Goshawks (one shy of the record 6 in 1984); 128 Hairy Woodpeckers (new record); 37 Pileated Woodpeckers (new record). Notable species were: Hooded Merganser (6th record); Merlin (10th record); Long-eared Owl (4th record); White-crowned Sparrow (6th record). The four Snowy Owls were nowhere near the record 15 tallied in 2013, but still constitute a good number for this Count. Finch numbers were generally low, with only one Purple Finch recorded (at a feeder with House Finches). Other finches were: 20 Pine Grosbeaks, 20 House Finches, 155 Common Redpolls, 2 Pine Siskins, 142 American Goldfinches, and 79 Evening Grosbeaks. House Sparrows continue their decline, with 91 being tallied (the record stands at 2,011 in 1984). Happy Birding! Michael Runtz compiler ___ 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] Algonquin Park Birding Report: 3 to 10 January 2019
The apparent movement of winter finches through Algonquin Park that has been observed during this late fall/early winter may have largely ended. Numbers and species reported are fairly consistent now. However, the arrival of more finches later this winter is still possible, especially if food sources to the north diminish. Boreal Residents: SPRUCE GROUSE: a female was seen between posts 2 and 3 on the Bat Lake Trail (Jan 8); Spruce Bog Boardwalk (especially from the entrance to the long boardwalk across the Sunday Creek Bog) is still the best place to search for this species. BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER: one was found along Spruce Bog Boardwalk (Jan 7). BOREAL CHICKADEE: from one to three birds were seen and heard at Spruce Bog Boardwalk this week; and singles were 200 metres north of the winter gate on Opeongo Road (Jan 6), along Bat Lake Trail (Jan 8), and heard calling in response to “pishing” near the feeders off the Visitor Centre deck (Jan 8). CANADA JAY: regular at Mew Lake Campground, the Spruce Bog Boardwalk suet feeder, the Visitor Centre suet feeder, along Opeongo Road from the winter gate northward, and along the Logging Museum trail. Winter Finches: EVENING GROSBEAK: seven were counted at the Visitor Centre feeders early in the week but there was only one over the last four days. PINE GROSBEAK: from ten to 35 were noted daily at the Visitor Centre; and others continued to be observed along the highway. COMMON REDPOLL: observations of five or fewer birds occurred at the Visitor Centre feeders, Spruce Bog Boardwalk and Opeongo Road. RED CROSSBILL: three were noted flying over the parking lot near the winter gate on Opeongo Road (Jan 5). PINE SISKIN: a single bird was at Spruce Bog Boardwalk (Jan 7). AMERICAN GOLDFINCH: five continued to be seen each day at the Visitor Centre. 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, bookstore and restaurant at km 43 are open on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm. The Visitor Centre is also open with limited services on weekdays 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 Ron Tozer, Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired), Dwight, ON. ___ 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] Not getting and alerts
I have not got a alert lately, can you make sure I am on the list please. Thanks ___ 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
