[Ontbirds] Townsend's Solitaire - Bedford Mills - 40km north of Kingston
At about 11:30am today, I had a quick but clear view of a Townsend's Solitaire about 30 feet away from me as I looked west from the living room of our home near Bedford Mills - this is about 40km north of Kingston (off Perth Road). The bird immediately appeared to vacate the area - possibly accompanying some American Robins and Dark-eyed Juncos making their way north. If it does re-appear, I will post again. For more information on this sighting, please contact me directly. Mark Chojnacki, 104 Hardwood Lane (private road), near Bedford Mills, Ontario phone: 613-273-8553 email: ma...@alumni.uwaterloo.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers at Grindstone Creek / Hendrie Valley in Hamilton/Burlington
Two BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were located today by Linda Nuttall and
myself just before 2 pm. on the north side of Grindstone Creek in
Burlington (just east of the Hamilton border) east of the main bridge
across the creek. This bridge can be reached by parking on the north
side of Plains Road (across the street from the main RBG building) and
going through the Rose Hill gate and then down into the valley. Exit the
403 at Hwy 6 north and then make a right (east) to get to Plains Road
and turn left (east) at the light.
Other birds in the vicinity included RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, PILEATED
WOODPECKER, at least a dozen WOOD DUCK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, CAROLINA
WREN, BELTED KINGFISHER, NORTHERN FLICKER, several TREE SWALLOWS and one
singing (but not seen) YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER.
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Mark Chojnacki, [EMAIL PROTECTED], Mississauga, Ontario
From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Apr 18 07:55:52 2005
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From: "Keith Sharp" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 08:07:07 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Whooping Cranes on the Bruce
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The big story around Owen Sound this week was the report of three =
Whooping Cranes that apparently had gotten lost on their travels south =
and had been spotted earlier that week by a couple in Port Elgin.
Much speculation where they could be with a number of birders out at =
Isaac Lake (north of Wiarton) on Sunday, only to find the resident =
Sandhill Cranes. Apparently there is an Alvar area near Port Elgin where =
the lost birds might be hanging out as they try to figure a way to cross =
Lake Huron.
Keith Sharp
Toronto
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From: "Bob Sachs" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]
PINE WARBLER & E. Screech Owl @ Cartwright Point, Kingston
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PINE WARBLER heard and seen at Cartwright Point West, April 17 & 18 '05.
They have bred at Cartwright Point for many decades.
DIRECTIONS TO Cartwright Point:
MapArt Ontario Road Atlas [P36, D56] and MapArt Street Atlas for Eastern
Ontario{page 48 & 49, quads N20 & M21}
1.) From Kingston take Ontario St. (Hwy 2) east over the Cataraqui River
Causeway past the lights at Fort Henry.
2.) Continue east past Hwy 15 and the next traffic light at the MacDonalds
and turn right (south) off Hwy 2 at the next and last traffic lights at the
Vimy Gates and turn right (west) again after only 8 m. onto Caen Crescent.
Turn left (south) at the next road (Canal du Nord) and continue south past
Lundy's Lane to Casino Court.
3.) Follow Casino Court down the hill and on up the narrow paved road called
"The Point Rd."
4.) Turn right off The Point Rd. at #14 onto the lane leading west to the
Sachs house. Park on the paved pad by the garage or on the grassy sides of
the lane. For help our phone is 547-6210.
Coming from 401 Hwy go south on Hwy. 15 (exit 623) and turn left (east) at
Hwy. 2. Follow same directions as from the second sentence above marked: 2.)
Bob Sachs
[Ontbirds]Peel-Halton Counties CBC - Saturday, December 18th
On Saturday December 18th, the 42nd annual Peel-Halton Counties Christmas Bird Count (sponsored by the South Peel Naturalists Club - www.spnc.ca) was held and 41 field observers plus 10 feeder watchers recorded 30,520 individuals of 72 species - about average for species but the 4th highest total ever for individuals. However, with an unprecedented 9 additional species reported during count week (so far!), the grand total is now at 81 species which ties the all-time record for this count from three previous years - 1970, 1974 and 1975. The most unusual species reported were: Cackling Goose - new species for the count (of course) - 1 in count week (Tuesday) reported by Craig McLauchlan at Lakeside Park - brings the cumulative total for the count to 160 species in 42 years Pine Warbler - 3rd record - 1 adult male on count day at Rhododendron Gardens - found by Don Perks, John Lamey, Mark Cranford and Bill Evans Lincoln's Sparrow - 3rd record, first since 1977, 1 in count week (Tuesday) found by Wayne Renaud in Rattray Marsh / Jack Darling Park area Trumpeter Swan - 3rd record - 1 on count day in Bronte area found by Gavin Edmondstone Bald Eagle - 5th record - 1 on count day in Lions Valley Park in Oakville found by Donna Sheppard and Brian Sheppard Fox Sparrow - 6th record - 1 on count day in Annapolis Park in Oakville found by Sandra Eadie and Rainer Rothfuss Northern Goshawk - 8th record, first since 1991 - 1 adult in count week (Friday Dec. 17th) in Arkendo Park in Oakville, found by Wayne Renaud Yellow-rumped Warbler - 8th record, first since 1996 - 1 male in count week (Tuesday) found by Wayne Renaud in Rattray Marsh / Jack Darling Park area Red-bellied Woodpecker - 8th record, 3rd year in a row - 2 on count day (Bronte - Gavin Edmondstone, southeast Oakville - Bill Jablonsky and Jerry Guild) plus another in count week (woods east of Fusion Centre in extreme southwest Mississauga - Wayne Renaud) Record high counts: Mute Swan - 76, previous record was 66 last year Redhead - 780 vs. 713 last year Lesser Scaup - 211 vs. 37 last year (there were also 3249 Greater Scaup recorded) Sharp-shinned Hawk - 11 vs. 9 in 1998 Rock Pigeon - 1441 vs. 1352 in 2001 Low counts: American Crow - 72 - 3rd lowest (45 in 1968, 71 in 2002) Blue Jay - 68 - ties 5th lowest total European Starling - 3421 - lowest since 3055 in 1997 Missed species: Great Horned Owl - for the first time in the 42-year history of the count this species was not found on count day - however, it was found during the count week Red-winged Blackbird - found on 29 counts in the past Pine Siskin - 28 prior counts Common Grackle - 24 counts Field Sparrow - 20 counts Glaucous Gull - 20 counts Reports of additional species for the count day or week (December 15-21) for the Peel-Halton Counties count circle are welcome. Note, however, that I will be away from email for the next few days (until at least Monday). Thanks to all who contributed to this year's successful count! Mark Chojnacki Mississauga, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Peel-Halton Counties (Mississauga/Oakville) CBC results (Dec. 20)
Here are some preliminary results of the 41st Peel-Halton Counties Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the South Peel Naturalists' Club and held on Saturday, December 20th: TOTALS: Species: 72 (including one in count week), just about right on overall average, but highest since 1995 Individuals: 29,804 - 4th highest, but less than the last two years Unusual species: NASHVILLE WARBLER - an adult male found by Greg Harrold and Andy Morgan and also viewed by myself (Mark Chojnacki), Bruce Kennedy and Bob Carswell at distances down to 20 feet in excellent light. It was a bright adult male associating with Black-capped Chickadees and gleaning food from the tops of goldenrod. The location is restricted access City of Mississauga property on the south side of Lakeshore Road just east of Winston Churchill Boulevard (I obtained explicit access permission from the City's Parks and Recreation department for count day). The field is just east of the woods across from the hydro control station on Lakeshore Road. This is only the second record for the count with the other occurrence back in 1993. RING-NECKED DUCK - while this species is regular in the Hamilton area in winter it has not been seen on the Peel-Halton CBC since 1965! This was only the 3rd record for the count. This was a male found by Maris Apse on the lakefront at the foot of Winston Churchill Boulevard (Oakville/Mississauga border). RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER - this species has definitely arrived in the area. A new record high of FIVE birds were found - one by Gavin Edmondstone in the south Bronte Woods area (pipeline right-of-way), one in southeast Oakville, two in the lower Credit River valley and one found by Tony Lang in Hewick Meadows Park in the Credit River valley just north of the 403. I think we can safely call this species an "uncommon" resident rather than "rare" in the Peel-Halton area now. This is the 7th count to record the species. HARLEQUIN DUCK - one adult male found by Mark Cranford and seen by Don Perks and John Lamey at the lakefront just west of Saddington Park in Port Credit. Only the 3rd record in the past 16 years, but the 14th record overall. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - one found by Luke Fazio in the Rattray Marsh area. First record since 1994 and 13th record overall. COMMON GRACKLE - first record since 1994. Record highs included: Mute Swan - 66 (exceeds 62 from last year) Lesser Scaup - 37 (vs. 30 in 2001) Northern Mockingbird - 25 (vs. 22 in 2001) White-throated Sparrow - 46 (vs. 31 in 1976) White-crowned Sparrow - 28 (vs. 14 in 1995) - this total still needs to be verified Other highs: Canada Goose - 6785 (2nd highest, record is 8181 last year) Redhead - 470 (2nd highest, record is 713 in 1978) Greater Scaup - 2152 (highest since 1976) Bufflehead - 785 (3rd highest, 897 in 2001, 843 last year) Red-tailed Hawk - 126 (highest since 155 in 1987) American Coot - 6 (tied high from 1984) Glaucous Gull - 7 (highest since 10 in 1989) Hairy Woodpecker - 23 (2nd highest in 27 years, 25 in 1999) Winter Wren - 7 (highest since 12 in 1974) American Robin - 704 (3rd highest, 766 in 1999, 1567 last year) Northern Cardinal - 180 (highest since 200 in 1975) Low counts: White-winged Scoter - 4 (lowest since 1994 when missed entirely) Herring Gull - 96 (2nd lowest, 59 last year) Great Black-backed Gull - 5 (lowest since 4 in 1973) Blue Jay - 54 (2nd lowest, 45 in 1999) American Crow - 90 (3rd lowest, 71 last year) Black-capped Chickadee (3rd lowest, recovering from 133 last year) Missed species (looking for these in count week!) with number of years found out of 41: Northern Flicker - 34 years, last miss was in 1993 Red-winged Blackbird - 29 years, last miss was in 2001 Pine Siskin - 28 years, missed in 2001 Snow Bunting - 25 years, missed last year as well Brown-headed Cowbird - 23 years, missed last year as well Horned Lark - 22 years, missed in 2001 Thanks to all the field participants and feeder watchers for their efforts! Please contact me for any further details or a full spreadsheet of results (still subject to revision). Mark Chojnacki, compiler [EMAIL PROTECTED] 905-824-0293 Mississauga Mark Chojnacki <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
