[Ontbirds] Waterfowl on the Grand River, Brantford - continuing Eurasian Wigeon
Today (3 March 2020) was a very good day for waterfowl in Brantford. 16 species were observed on the Grand River upstream of Wilkes Dam. All of these were noted from the Brantford Golf & Country Club overlook or from the lookouts along the S.C. Johnson rail trail below. I cannot recall such a diverse assemblage of waterfowl on one day within the City. The highlight was the continuing Eurasian Wigeon that was observed on three occasions: at 8:50 a.m. by Sarah Lamond and Kathleen Gardiner; at 10:00 a.m. by Mike Hallett and Barb Charlton; and it was heard calling at 6:43 p.m. by Bill Lamond when it was quite dark. So the bird is still there but elusive. Several of the species were obvious migrants as they had not been seen anywhere in the County all winter. Tundra Swan - 42 were observed sitting on islands by Kathleen Gardiner and Sarah Lamond at 7:30 a.m. They were joined by eight others at around 11:00 a.m. The flock remained there until 5:20. Just before this, they all became agitated and called frequently and waded into the water, all facing upstream, and then one took flight and the rest followed. It was a treat to see this happen and I was able to watch them fly away for about 10 minutes as they flew almost due west towards the setting sun. Mute Swan - one bird (has been here all winter) early in the morning with the Tundras Canada Goose - Lots of the many noisy residents. A migrant flock of 52 birds was noted about 5:00 p.m. Mallard - only a few in daytime but upwards of 100 at dusk. Black Duck - at least 14 noted. Wood Duck - three (2 males and one female) flew in at 5:00 p.m. and stayed until dark (migrants) Greater Scaup - one observed between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. but not later (migrant) Ring-necked Duck - a male was seen about 10:30 and was not noted after 1:30 p.m. (migrant) Canvasbacks - a male and female were noted after 11:45 a.m. and stayed until dark. (migrants) Common Goldeneye - about 330 were noted at dusk. Goldeneyes fly in to roost here and these high numbers have been observed at other times this winter at dusk. Bufflehead - about nine observed at dusk. Long-tailed Duck - a continuing female that showed up on river in early February. Red-breasted Merganser - two ad. males were observed by Mark Jennings between 11:45 and 1:30 but not observed subsequently. This is a rare species on the Grand River - not annual (migrants) Common Merganser - about 35 were observed at dusk. Hooded Merganser - one female noted after 4: 30 p.m. - birds have wintered at the Grand River this year. Also of note was a calling flock of Tundra Swans that flew over St George St in Brantford at 6:45 p.m. (Sarah Lamond). Bill ___ 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] Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area (03 Mar 2020) Raptors
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 03, 2020 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 1 1 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 0 1 1 Northern Harrier 0 0 0 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 1 1 Cooper's Hawk0 0 0 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0 0 0 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 0 3 3 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 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: 0 6 6 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 12:30:00 Total observation time: 4.45 hours Official Counter:Chris Escott Observers: Visitors: A couple of dog walkers and one small group of chaperoned children passed by, the children making a quick trip up the observation tower. Weather: On arrival the site was fogbound, visibility 200 m at most, with no breeze at all. This continued through 10:00 AM after which the fog became thicker (visibility down to 100 m) and a light rain started falling. Conditions continued to deteriorate as the thick fog continued and rain became heavier around the noon hour. By 12:30 PM the rain had almost stopped but a check of weather radar showed a wide band of heavy rain due to set in for the remainder of the afternoon, so the count was terminated early. Raptor Observations: No raptors, migratory or local. Non-raptor Observations: Very few birds of any sort, best being a singing Carolina Wren early in the count. Predictions: The weather forecast for tomorrow shows mild(ish) temperatures with possible rain mid-day (although weather radar suggests that rain is unlikely) but a strong breeze from the west all day. Counts from upstate New York are showing very low numbers of birds but decent variety (Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Bald Eagle). Based on this one might assume tomorrow at Beamer will be a slow day with a chance of one or two interesting observations. Report submitted by Chris Escott (ch...@escott.ca) Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch - 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
[Ontbirds] Fwd: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford - seen this morning
Hi All, Mike Hallett and I just watched the EUWI fly west past us along the river, gaining altitude as it flew. We did not see it land but who knows? Thanks Mike for pointing out where the bird was when I arrived! Barb Charlton -- Forwarded message - From: Bill Lamond via ONTBIRDS Date: Tue., Mar. 3, 2020, 9:21 a.m. Subject: Re: [Ontbirds] Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford - seen this morning To: ontbirds birdalert Sarah Lamond saw the bird a bit before 9:00 a.m. after being there for over an hour. It then flew upriver an unknown distance and has not been seen since but it could be right there hugging the bank. For people concerned about no trespassing sign at Brantford G&CC, they can park at Glenhyrst Gardens about 800m to the south along Ava Rd, park by the art gallery building, and then walk south on the main road and then walk the road (currently gated) down to the river. Once you are on rail trail, bird has been a bit to the north (right) but it could be anywhere above dam. Visibility there has been ok so far this morning. Bill From: ONTBIRDS on behalf of Bill Lamond via ONTBIRDS Sent: March 2, 2020 7:19 PM To: ontbirds birdalert Subject: [Ontbirds] Fw: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford From: Bill Lamond Sent: March 2, 2020 7:17 PM To: brantbi...@googlegroups.com ; hamilton birds Subject: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford Birding with Eric Lamond on the Grand River behind Glenhyrst Gardens this afternoon (2 March), we heard the call of a male Eurasian Wigeon cut through the fog like a knife. It took us awhile to see the bird, but we eventually did, although the looks were not good but adequate. Eric made a recording of the call (I had to right click and download the attachment to get it to work). We had been birding there since 4:00 p.m. but did not hear the bird until 5:45. It must have flown in as it was not foggy initially and we had good looks at all the ducks here. Also here was a male Wood Duck, an obvious migrant, and the continuing female Long-tailed Duck. We also saw the patch of "wild" Winter Aconite along the river bank which I've known about for years. It is just starting to flower and one plant would have been fully open if it had been sunny. The Eurasian Wigeon is likely a first record for Brant County. It was surprising to get the wigeon and the Wood Duck considering how few waterfowl were on the river. You just never know! I doubt the bird will be there in the morning but if one wants to try the easiest place to look is from the Brantford Golf & Country Club. The entrance is off Ava Ave just to the north of Oakley Rd. Drive straight and then park in the overflow parking lot dead ahead at the top of the river bank and walk down to the overlook. You can ignore the no trespassing signs I suppose. Everybody else does. Bill ___ 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 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 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
Re: [Ontbirds] Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford - seen this morning
Sarah Lamond saw the bird a bit before 9:00 a.m. after being there for over an hour. It then flew upriver an unknown distance and has not been seen since but it could be right there hugging the bank. For people concerned about no trespassing sign at Brantford G&CC, they can park at Glenhyrst Gardens about 800m to the south along Ava Rd, park by the art gallery building, and then walk south on the main road and then walk the road (currently gated) down to the river. Once you are on rail trail, bird has been a bit to the north (right) but it could be anywhere above dam. Visibility there has been ok so far this morning. Bill From: ONTBIRDS on behalf of Bill Lamond via ONTBIRDS Sent: March 2, 2020 7:19 PM To: ontbirds birdalert Subject: [Ontbirds] Fw: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford From: Bill Lamond Sent: March 2, 2020 7:17 PM To: brantbi...@googlegroups.com ; hamilton birds Subject: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford Birding with Eric Lamond on the Grand River behind Glenhyrst Gardens this afternoon (2 March), we heard the call of a male Eurasian Wigeon cut through the fog like a knife. It took us awhile to see the bird, but we eventually did, although the looks were not good but adequate. Eric made a recording of the call (I had to right click and download the attachment to get it to work). We had been birding there since 4:00 p.m. but did not hear the bird until 5:45. It must have flown in as it was not foggy initially and we had good looks at all the ducks here. Also here was a male Wood Duck, an obvious migrant, and the continuing female Long-tailed Duck. We also saw the patch of "wild" Winter Aconite along the river bank which I've known about for years. It is just starting to flower and one plant would have been fully open if it had been sunny. The Eurasian Wigeon is likely a first record for Brant County. It was surprising to get the wigeon and the Wood Duck considering how few waterfowl were on the river. You just never know! I doubt the bird will be there in the morning but if one wants to try the easiest place to look is from the Brantford Golf & Country Club. The entrance is off Ava Ave just to the north of Oakley Rd. Drive straight and then park in the overflow parking lot dead ahead at the top of the river bank and walk down to the overlook. You can ignore the no trespassing signs I suppose. Everybody else does. Bill ___ 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 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
