[Ontbirds] A. Avocets
Still being seen . Twenty-four Avocets with similar number of Caspian Terns at foot of Water Street, Deseronto. Occasional lift off due to vehicle movement. Also a juvenile Bald Eagle in the area. Sent from my iPhone ___ 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] Willets Near Wheatley Harbour
The Willets have moved from the Wheatley Harbour beach to the flooded field behind 257 Cotterie Park Road. Good Birding, Ryan Leys Sent from my iPhone ___ 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: 18 to 25 April 2019
Significant rainfall and higher temperatures this week reduced the snow cover dramatically but there is still lots of it in shaded areas. More open water encouraged the arrival of several overdue water birds, but lakes are still mainly ice-covered except where rivers and creeks flow into them. Due to the persistence of winter-like conditions, the arrival of the following species was later than the average first record here by 9 to 20 days: Fox Sparrow (April 18); Ring-necked Duck (April 19); Common Goldeneye (April 20); Green-winged Teal (April 22); Killdeer (April 23); and Tree Swallow (April 25). The following were within one week of the average first date: Broad-winged Hawk and Common Loon (April 20); Greater Yellowlegs, Wilson’s Snipe and Pine Warbler (April 22); and Double-crested Cormorant and Swamp Sparrow (April 25). Noteworthy observations included: a rare (last two records were in 2009 and 2017) female HOUSE SPARROW at the Visitor Centre on April 23; a somewhat late SNOW BUNTING photographed at the Visitor Centre on April 24; an early FIELD SPARROW at the Visitor Centre on April 22; and an increasingly scarce here VESPER SPARROW photographed on Opeongo Road on April 21. Observed along Opeongo Road were a male SPRUCE GROUSE on April 23 and a female BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER on April 21. Two BOREAL CHICKADEES were found on Bat Lake Trail on April 21. CANADA JAY was reported fairly regularly on Opeongo Road. EVENING GROSBEAK sightings were one (April 18) and three (April 22) on Opeongo Road, and two at the Visitor Centre (April 22 and 25). A late PINE GROSBEAK was along the highway near Lake of Two Rivers on April 20. PURPLE FINCH (one to three) and COMMON REDPOLL (up to seven) were seen daily at the Visitor Centre this week. A single WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL was noted at Opeongo Access Point on April 20. Eight PINE SISKINS flew over the Visitor Centre on April 22. 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 daily from 9 am to 5 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 ___ 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] American Avocets Deseronto April 26th
Hi all; There are presently 26 Avocets along with 22 Caspian Terms at the foot of Water st. at .3:15 . Directions:401 exit 570 to hwy #2 turn right to Water street. Cheers Mike and Diana Williamson ___ 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] Presqu'ile Report for 19-25 Apr 2019
Presqu’ile Bird Report for 19-25 Apr 2019 By Doug McRae HIGHLIGHTS: RED-THROATED LOON, CATTLE EGRET, LAUGHING GULL, CAROLINA WREN, SNOW BUNTING There were several days with good numbers of migrant passerines arriving although we still haven’t had a “big” day yet. Waterfowl numbers have thinned out considerably although most species are still around. The beach showed signs of life with several species of shorebirds seen this week. A single CACKLING GOOSE was seen on 23 Apr within a bigger push of 750 CANADA GEESE that flew over the gate in the morning. A pair of SURF SCOTERS was off Beach 4 on 25 Apr. RED-THROATED LOONS have returned to Popham Bay where eight were found on 22 Apr, followed by 5 on 23 Apr and 5 on 25 Apr. These birds, mostly in non-breeding plumage, are best searched for on calm mornings with a scope from the Beach. A RED-NECKED GREBE was with 7 HORNED GREBE off Owen Pt on 25 Apr. The nesting GREAT EGRETS on High Bluff Island can be scoped from the beach where 30 were noted on 23 Apr. A single BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON could also be seen this way on 24 Apr with 3 the next day. A rare CATTLE EGRET was a one-day wonder just outside the park on Huff Rd on 23 Apr. An adult BALD EAGLE was seen on 21 Apr. On 20 Apr one observer watched a female NORTHERN HARRIER chase and rob a MERLIN of the small bird it was carrying. The first VIRGINIA RAIL was heard from the Marsh Boardwalk on 21 Apr and the first COMMON GALLINULE in the park was seen 19 Apr. Shorebirds are starting to appear. Apart from the resident breeders – KILLDEER, AMERICAN WOODCOCK AND WILSON’S SNIPE – there were several sightings of GREATER YELLOWLEGS with one on 21 Apr and one on 25 Apr. Just outside the park four were seen on 20 Apr in the flooded areas near the south end of Huff Rd. On 24 Apr a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was seen on Huff Rd. The first two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS were on Owen Pt. on 25 Apr and a DUNLIN on the natural beach the same day was also the first. BONAPARTE’S GULLS remain scarce with 4 on 25 Apr being the only report this week. A superb rarity – a breeding-plumaged LAUGHING GULL - spent a brief time on Beach 1 on the morning of 24 Apr. Two GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS – rare in breeding season since botulism killed-off the resident breeders - were on the gravel bar between Owen Pt. and Gull Is on 25 Apr. CASPIAN TERNS are back in numbers at their nesting areas on Gull Is. and the first two COMMON TERNS were seen on 21 Apr. AMERICAN KESTERLS, which have not bred in the Park in several decades, were seen at least five times this week at various locations. The final three swallows – CLIFF, BANK and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED - arrived this week on 20 Apr, 24 Apr, and 20 Apr respectively. A BROWN CREEPER nest was discovered on 25 Apr. The first HOUSE WREN arrived on 19 Apr followed by another on 25 Apr. A CAROLINA WREN was heard at the Lighthouse on 23 Apr. A female BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was at Calf Pasture on 21 Apr. All week a male EASTERN BLUEBIRD, occasionally joined by a female, was at the Birdhouse Nature Store, just outside the gate. A very late SNOW BUNTING was on Beach 2 on 25 Apr. The third warbler of 2019, after YELLOW-RUMPED and PINE that arrived last week, was PALM WARBLER on 22 APR. Two AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS on 25 Apr are a bit on the late side. A SAVANNAH SPARROW was seen on 22 Apr. What may prove to be the last FOX SPARROW of spring was at a feeder on 19 Apr. PURPLE FINCHES were seen on 19 Apr and 22 Apr. Two PINE SISKINS were noted on 21 Apr. Last and least, a HOUSE SPARROW – often rare in the Park – was seen on 22 Apr. 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] Marbled Godwits and Willets - Wheatley and area
I counted 31 Willet in Wheatley Harbour and there is 15 Marbled Godwit on Mersea Rd 21 near Hillman Marsh Rick Brown Harrow Sent from my iPhone ___ 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] OFO Peterborough Outing tomorrow
For those attending the OFO trip on Saturday April 27, starting out at 8 am at Peterborough Zoo, you are asked to bring rubber boots for one of our hikes. Dave Milsom Sent from my iPhone ___ 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] 19+ American Avocets
There are 19+ American Avocets at the dead end of Water St, 80 meters south of Yacht Club Rd Deseronto On. Directions: Hwy 401 exit 570 Deseronto, turn South to county Rd 2, turn right. Sent from my iPhone ___ 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] Toronto Islands-Grasshopper Sparrows, etc.
Yesterday April 25th Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Islands but not in the all day sunny weather forecast but in the usual now of March weather but we did find some nice birds including the following. Common Loon, Horned Grebe, Wood Ducks, Gadwalls, Canvasbacks, Lesser Scaup, White-winged Scoters, Turkey Vultures, Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Broad-winged Hawks and a nice close overhead Northern Goshawk, Virginia Rail, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpipers, Caspian and Common Terns, 100+ Chimney Swifts, Belted Kingfisher, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flickers, Eastern Phoebe, Tree, Barn and Cliff Swallows, White-breasted Nuthatches, House and Winter Wrens, both Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrashers, a flock of Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 4 Pine Warblers, Chipping, Field, Song and White-throated Sparrows and 2 close encounters with 2 Grasshopper Sparrows on the green grass right in front of us. We also missed some birds reported to us by others such as Blue-headed Vireo, Black-throated Green Warbler, Eastern Towhee and Savannah Sparrow. Migration is slowly moving along despite the weather and hopefully most of the migrants don’t end up flying right over and past Southern Ontario to catch up. PS – We also checked the beach on Hanlan’s and no Piping Plover yet, at least we didn’t find any. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON Sent from Mail for Windows 10 ___ 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
