[Ontbirds] Slaty-backed Gulls, London

[Quinten Wiegersma via ONTBIRDS]

Unfortunately just the messenger...

A little late for any action today, but just putting out this list with a 
couple Slaty-backed Gulls from the Westminister landfill site south of London, 
at the corner of Westminister drive and White Oak drive. Access to the actual 
landfill is limited (I have never gone in), but the gulls often loaf in the 
adjacent fields.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S62277499

Tomorrow is the London Christmas Bird Count, and the landfill just so happens 
to be an area that I will be checking out, probably around midday, depending on 
how the morning goes, so will definitely update if seen again. Please update if 
you see it, people will want to know :)

Good birding,
Quinten Wiegersma
London, Ontario


Sent from my Bell Samsung device over Canada's largest network.

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[Ontbirds] Varied Thrush

[rpope--- via ONTBIRDS]

Seen easily today at 3pm.
Bark Lake Drive is ca. 8 km west of Gooderham at Irondale. Centre is 4.5 km
north of County Rd. 503 on Bark Lake Drive.
Only the one feeder. RP

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[Ontbirds] Kingston Area Birds: 7th - 13th December 2019

[Mark D. Read via ONTBIRDS]

Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN) maintains records in a 50km radius of
MacDonald Park, Kingston. Birders using eBird are encouraged to share their
sightings with 'Kingston FN'. Alternatively, please email or send records
directly to me - contact details below. Please note that some sightings may
require review and remain unconfirmed unless stated otherwise.

 

Highlights:

It was another slow week in the area though the Spotted Towhee continued to
draw visitors. Flip-flopping temperatures with snow squalls, then rain have
both birders and birds somewhat confused. Here are the highlights of the
last week:

 

TRUMPETER SWAN - thirty four birds were seen at Chaffey's Locks on 8th.

TUNDRA SWAN - birds are still being reported (though in lower numbers) from
a number of locations. Wolfe Island and Cataraqui Bay, Kingston, are
currently the best places to see them.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 2 male birds were seen in Sydenham today (13th).

HARLEQUIN DUCK - two female birds were seen at Prince Edward Point on 11th.

RED-SHOULDERED HAWK - an adult bird was seen near Gananoque today (13th).

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK - this is not looking like a favourable year for this
species with just 2 birds seen this week, 1 near Verona on 9th and 1 on
Wolfe Island on 11th.

SNOWY OWL - it's hard to get a handle on the numbers this year, with birds
moving around/through. Ten birds were counted across Wolfe Island on 11th.
Three birds were seen on Amherst Island on 7th.

NORTHERN SHRIKE - there was just 1 record this week from Prince Edward Point
on 12th.

TUFTED TITMOUSE - a single bird was seen near Tar Island (1000 Islands)
today.

NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD - 2 birds were seen at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour,
Kingston, on 11th and 13th.

SNOW BUNTING - it was a better week for this species (enjoying the snow no
doubt) with better numbers (max 75) seen mainly on Wolfe and Amherst
Islands.

SPOTTED TOWHEE - this long-staying, brightly-coloured, male continued to be
seen at Prince Edward Point this week, though was at times somewhat elusive.

RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD - singles were seen at Prince Edward Point on 7th and
Gananoque on 10th.

COMMON GRACKLE - 1-2 birds continued almost daily at Prince Edward Point
this week, with others noted at Button Bay, Wolfe Island on 7th and 8th, and
Glenburnie on 

YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - a single bird was seen on Bur Brook Road, north of
Kingston, on 11th, with as many as 9 in the general area of Prince Edward
Point over the week.

PALM WARBLER - a nice winter find, a single bird was seen at Portsmouth
Olympic Harbour on 12th.

 

In order to minimise disturbance to wildlife and property in the recording
area, Kingston Field Naturalists has adopted the KFN Sensitive Sightings
Policy
 . Please note that you must be a card-carrying
member of Kingston Field Naturalists (KFN), or be accompanied by a member,
to access both the Martin Edwards Reserve and Amherstview Sewage Lagoons.

 

As always, a big thank you goes to all those who have submitted sightings
directly or via eBird.

 

Mark.

 

Mark D. Read

337 Button Bay Road,

Wolfe Island,

Kingston, Ontario

K0H 2Y0

Canada

 

Mobile: +1 (613) 217-1246

Email:   markdr...@gmail.com

eBird Guidelines for Reporting Sensitive Species
 

 

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[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - May be of interest to Toronto Winter listers

[Norm Murr via ONTBIRDS]

1 Black Scoter – on the Toronto Harbour close off Snake Island
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull – adult – on Long Pond (lagoon) between Mugg’s 
Island and The Sanctuary – best seen from Hanlan’s Point if you are not using a 
scope.
2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets – along The Boardwalk

Lesser Interest

3 Trumpeter Swans
1 Peregrine Falcon over the ferry dock

Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON

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[Ontbirds] Ontbirds Owl Policy

[Mark Cranford via ONTBIRDS]

Birders

The Ontario Field Ornithologists, sponsors of Ontbirds, have a Code of 
Ethics with respect to field birding and reporting 
http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/aboutus.ethics The first and key point 
of the Code of Ethics is the welfare of birds come first. That principle 
must guide any and all reporting to Ontbirds.  If a report of a sighting 
might interfere or threaten the safety and welfare of birds then that 
report should not be submitted to Ontbirds.  In the case of Owls 
reported to Ontbirds all posts with the owl in the subject heading are 
held for review before release to the list.  Both posts yesterday were 
reviewed.


In the case of the first post I relied on the account itself,  my 
personal experience and use of satellite imagery on Google maps to make 
a call that a report to Ontbirds would not harm the bird. A bird that 
was obviously known to private networks that I lack access to.  A mix of 
birders and photographers is far more preferable to exclusive access by 
semi-professional photographers.


In the case of the other post about the consequences of reporting 
locations of owls,  I accept and agree with everything the writer said 
about the potential danger that reporting owls may present. However I 
don't believe that a blanket prohibition of sensitive species is the 
answer. As coordinator for Ontbirds I recognize that reporting of 
sensitive species especially during periodic irruptions of northern owls 
is a concern to many.  Ebird and implicitly its Canadian partner (Bird 
Studies Canada) has a policy of not disclosing checklists or records of 
designated sensitive species 
https://support.ebird.org/en/support/solutions/articles/48000803210-sensitive-species-in-ebird 



As Ontbirds coordinator I plan to continue to trap and review owl 
reports and will only release reports to Ontbirds that meet safety and 
welfare concerns based on our Code of Ethics.


Mark Cranford
Ontbirds Coordinator
Toronto, ON




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[Ontbirds] Fw: Barrie lake Shore outing Dec 7th 2019

[James Coey via ONTBIRDS]

Jim

 

   - Forwarded Message - From: James Coey To: James 
Coey Sent: Saturday, December 7, 2019, 04:09:41 p.m. 
ESTSubject: Barrie lake Shore outing Dec 7th 2019
 !8 very hardy souls met at Dock Road in Barrie on a cold minus 8 degrees but 
sunny December morning with at least 10 centimetres of fresh snow. The lake is 
still ice free. Barrie waterfront has incredible accumulations of wildfowl at 
this time of year and today did not disappoint. 
Among the many hundreds of Canada Geese we had 7 Cackling Geese at Dock Road. A 
late Belted Kingfisher posed for pictures in a tree at Minet's Point and 
earlier in the morning at Dock Road..Common mergansers were all over the bay 
with one spectacular raft of many hundreds  off Centennial Park. A Northern 
Pintail was present with many Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye. Mallards were 
abundant at each of our stops.  We had a total of 21 Black Ducks and 5 Hooded 
Mergansers. Two Tundra Swans with no tags flew past at Minets and there 4 
unidentified Swans at Johnson's beach
There were 18 Greater Black -backed gulls , with many Herring, Ring-billed and 
a 1 first winter Glaucous Gull at Barrie Docks. There was a Double-crested 
Cormorant at the marina.  There was a Raven, an American Robin and a Cooper's 
hawk at Minet's Point and 2 American Goldfinch and two White-breasted 
Nuthatches at Dock Road. 
Previously seen  during the week a Snow Goose and Red-throated Loon regrettably 
 did not show.
Many thanks to all participants for making this a great outing and thanks to my 
compiler and assistant Chris Evans . List are posted to Ebird.

Jim Coey


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