[ONTBIRDS]Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Toronto Islands
Today Bob Tyler found a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron on Hanlan’s Island beach west of the airport. It may leave but this is also a heads up for anyone birding The Spit (Tommy Thompson Park) today or tomorrow. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Ontbirds is reserved for sightings of provincially rare birds. To post a message on Ontbirds, send an email to: birdalert@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Ontbirds Moderators by email at birdal...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
[ONTBIRDS] Toronto Islands - Slaty-backed Gull afain
Today Bob Tyler and I spotted the adult Slaty-backed Gull at about 2:00 pm as it flew past going south just off the beach on the west side of Hanlan’s Point. It flew south towards the west side of Gibraltar Point where there was a huge feeding frenzy containing a large number of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Ontbirds is reserved for sightings of provincially rare birds. To post a message on Ontbirds, send an email to: birdalert@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Ontbirds Moderators by email at birdal...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Ontbirds setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
[ONTBIRDS] Slaty-backed Gull on Toronto Islands
At 9:00 am this morning Oct. 5/20 Margaret Liubavicius spotted an adult Slaty-backed Gull standing on a rock about 100 feet off the west side of Gibraltar Point, just north of the washroom. We, Bob Tyler, Margaret and myself had great views of this gull and watched it for about 10 minutes. We then carried on birding but about 20 minutes later we returned to look at it again but it had disappeared. It probably joined one of the three large feeding flocks of Ring-billed and Herring Gulls about 1000 feet out on and over the lake. This bird maybe (probably is) the same bird seen by many west of the islands lately. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Ontbirds is reserved for sightings of provincially rare birds. To post a message on Ontbirds, send an email to: birdalert@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Ontbirds Moderators by email at birdal...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Ontbirds setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
[ONTBIRDS] Toronto Islands - Western Kingbird and Louisiana Waterthrush
Today Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius and I found a Western Kingbird and a Louisiana Waterthrush on the Toronto Islands. We found the Western Kingbird on Ward’s Island at 1:45 pm Between the bridge onto Snug Harbour and the Island Church and as we return through the area we again spotted the bird at 3:25 pm. The Louisiana Waterthrush was beside the lagoon just south of the Island Church. Both of these areas are west of the Ward’s Island ferry dock. Two ice finds that helped make our day. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON -- Ontbirds and Birdnews are moderated email Listservs provided by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) as a service to all birders in Ontario. Ontbirds is reserved for sightings of provincially rare birds. To post a message on Ontbirds, send an email to: birdalert@ontbirds.ca. If you have any questions or concerns, contact the Ontbirds Moderators by email at birdal...@ofo.ca. Please review posting rules and guidelines at http://ofo.ca/site/content/listserv-guidelines To edit your membership settings visit the Ontbirds setup page at: http://ontbirds.ca/mailman/listinfo/birdalert_ontbirds.ca. During the COVID-19 pandemic, all Ontario birders should be taking extra precautions and following local, provincial, and federal regulations regarding physical distancing and non-essential travel. To find out more about OFO, please visit our website at ofo.ca or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists.
[Ontbirds] Toronto Island Birding during the Covid 19 Crisis
I hope I’m talking for Islanders and birders but the times are not normal. Some of my Toronto Island Friends and Residents have informed me that they have seen a couple of birders ? down there in the last week and I noticed that one birder posted his sightings on ebird. For their own safety and the safety of Island residents and the ferry operators I would hope that anyone planning on birding The Islands during this on going crisis should give it a second thought and stay away. There will be another bird migration next year and even a slight chance that one may be able to safely go to the Islands this coming Fall. There has already been a case of Covid 19 found among the residents so why take a chance but most of all why take the chance that one could unknowingly take it there with them. Please think of others (there are a lot of children and seniors living there) even if you don’t worry about yourself. Be safe, and stay home or please at least stay away from The Islands. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, 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] Toronto Islands - Cackling Geese
Migration seems to be quite slow on The Islands but we did find 6 Cackling Geese together on the harbour side of Ward’s Island between the corner of Channel Island and First St. And the Eastern Gap concrete. Other new birds between the ferry dock and the Snake Island bridge were a Double-crested Cormorant flying past over the harbour off the dock and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Hermit Thrush just east of the Snake Island Bridge. Maybe the next few days migration will pick up but if the weather stays as forecast (don’t bet the farm on that happening) then Friday looks like the best day. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, 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] Toronto Islands - May be of interest to Toronto Winter listers
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 ___ 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 Yesterday - Golden Eagle, Blue Birds, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I again birded the Toronto Islands and though there were not many passerines we did okay and below are some of the birds we found. 1 Cormorant only, 5 Great Blue Herons, 9 Trumpeter Swans including 4 grown Signets, Wood Duck, Greater Scaup, Gadwall, Black Duck, 50+ White-winged Scoters, 88 Common Goldeneye, 350+ Bufflehead, all 3 Mergansers, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Red-tailed Hawks, Rough-legged Hawk, an adult Golden Eagle, Great black-backed Gulls, migrating American Crows, 2 noisy Common Ravens together overhead, 40 Eastern Bluebirds, Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Tree Sparrows and House Finches. Almost all of the Bufflehead were in the lagoons except for some off Snake Island and there may have been more White-winged Scoters plus some Black and Surf Scoters on the lake off Gibraltar Point (the usual place in the winter) but the waves were quite high and the birds were well out beyond the surf. Just 2 Scaup seen but they are coming. Bluebirds – Though you may find them anywhere this time of year the best places (in my opinion) on windy days are at the south end of the Filtration Plant (beside the road) and on the north side of the Trout Pond. Wednesday may be a good day down there as NW winds are predicted and waves on the lake and harbour should not be as high as they were yesterday. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands yesterday -Scoters, Bluebirds, Pipits, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Islands on a beautiful Winters day, at least it looked and felt like winter but very nice scenery. Following are some of the birds we found. Only 3 Cormorants, Great Blue Heron, Mute and Trumpeter Swans, high, south bound Canada Geese, 6 Black, 2 Surf and 125+ White-winged Scoters the actual number of Black and Surf Scoters were undercounted as we were birding without scopes, Common Goldeneyes, 110+ Buffleheads, 73 Hooded, 400+ Red-breasted and only 1 Common Merganser, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harrier, 2 very late juvenile Broad-winged Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, Merlin, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, Carolina Wren, 28 Eastern Bluebirds, A. Robins, Hermit Thrush, 7 American Pipits, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Tree, Song and White-throated Sparrows, 5 Fox Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and 100+ Red-winged Blackbirds flying west. Vole, Mink, Beaver and Coyote tracks as well. A Good Day. 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
[Ontbirds] For All of the fallen no matter where and who
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2zAUHAdaBE A thank full and sad and bowed Norm on the coming 11th. Semper Fi to my fallen brothers Norm :>(( 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Golden Eagle, Snowy Owl, E. Kingbird, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius and I birded Hanlan’s Point and part of Gibraltar Point on a nice cool and enjoyable day and following are some of the birds we found. 2 Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Herons, 6 Trumpeter Swans, Black Ducks, Northern Shovelers, Hooded Merganser, 148 Turkey Vultures, Bald Eagle, Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, 3 Red-shouldered Hawks, Golden Eagle, A. Kestrels, 5 Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, a surprise find of a Snowy Owl, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, N. Flickers, 17 E. Phoebes, a very, very late and surprising Eastern Kingbird, 34 A. Crows, Golden-crowned and 19 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 31 Hermit Thrushes (undercounted), 62 Robins, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, Nashville, Black-throated Blue and Palm Warblers, 100+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, 3 E. Towhees, Chipping, Field, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, 150+ Song Sparrows (undercounted) and E. Meadowlark. We also enjoyed watching a little A. Kestrel harassing A. Crows and as it returned back to the Crow flock it turned on and harassed a Cooper’s Hawk as well. Fun to watch the Kestrel as it wheeled and dove on the very much larger birds. PS – This is the last weekend for ferries to Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island as only the Ward’s Island ferry will operate until next spring so a long walk to and from Hanlan’s until then. The winter schedule goes into effect this coming Monday. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Fish Crow, Clay-colored Sparrow, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius and I birded Hanlan’s Point on a beautiful sunny day and following are some of the birds we found. Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Wood Duck, American Wigeon, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Northern Flicker, 2 Least Flycatchers, 47 Eastern Phoebes, Fish Crow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, both Kinglets, Swainson’s Thrush, 46 Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Cedar Waxwing, 11 Blue-headed Vireos, 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, Nashville Warblers, Northern Parula, 40 Yellow-rump Warblers, Blackburnian. Black-throated Green and Palm Warblers, Clay-colored Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, 52 Song Sparrows, Swamp Sparrows, 50+ White-throated Sparrows, 35+ White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Junco, 4 Eastern Meadowlarks, Purple Finch and House Finch. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Sedge Wrens, Clay-colored and Le Conte's Sparrows, etc.
Today Friday Oct. 4 Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius, Jenny Bull and I birded Hanlan’s and Gibraltar Points and though it was a long day it was a good day and tomorrow could be very good as well (or not). Following are some of the birds we found. 2 Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Herons, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron, 2 Trumpeter Swans, 14 Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, 70 Turkey Vultures, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 4 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Merlin, 2 Peregrine Falcons, Killdeer, Black-billed Cuckoo, Belted Kingfisher, 26 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. 18 Northern Flickers, Least Flycatcher, 31 Eastern Phoebes, 200+ Blue Jays, 109 American Crows, Brown Creepers, 3 House Wrens, 10 Winter Wrens, 2 Sedge Wrens, 1 Marsh Wren, 50+ each of Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Swainson’s Thrush, Hermit Thrush, 17 Gray Catbirds, 9 Blue-headed Vireos, 1 Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireos, 12 Warbler species including Orang-e Crowned Northern Parula, Cape-May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Palm, Pine, Nashville, Wilson’s and only 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 8 Sparrow species – 2 Clay-colored Sparrows, Field Sparrow, Le-Conte’s Sparrow, 38 Song Sparrows, 8 Swamp Sparrows, 100+ White-throated Sparros, 50+ White-crowned Sparrows and 6 Dark-eyed Juncos. Kinglets, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows were mostly undercounted as were the migrating Blue Jays. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, Ontario 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands yesterday - Nelson's Sparrow, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, etc.
Yesterday, Sept. 24th Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius, Paul Brooks and I birded Hanlan’s Point and it turned out to be another good day down there. 90% of the Warblers except for the Palm Warblers were seen in the Hanlan’s ferry dock area and following are some of the birds we found with most of the Raptors being spotted by Paul and the Nelson’s thanks to Margaret. Common Loon, Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Herons, Great Egret, Wood Ducks, Gadwalls, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shined, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel, Merlins, 2 Peregrine Falcons together, Sanderlings, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Least Flycatchers. Eastern Phoebes, Red-breasted Nuthatches, House Wren, Gray Catbirds, American Pipits, Cedar Waxwings, Blue-headed, Yellow-throated, Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireos, 16 Warbler species including Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-Crowned Warbler, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green Warblers, Pine Warblers, 56 Palm Warblers (undercounted for sure), 12 Northern Parulas (also undercounted), Bay-breasted, Blackpoll and Black-and-white Warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Chipping, Savanah, Song, Swamp, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows and a very nice view of a Nelson’s Sparrow. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, Ontario l Now that the warbler season ( my wording ) is running down with no regular warbler species expected between now and the end of the year so I totaled up how many species were found this year on The Islands and it was a whopping 35 species plus Yellow Palm Warbler. That is the most species that I have ever seen posted from The Islands during one year since I started birding down there on a regular basis in 1980. Between 1980 and this year there were 39 warbler species found on The Islands. Not seen this year and not expected were Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson’s Warbler, Kirtland’s Warbler and Yellow-breasted Chat but some of the warbler species seen this year were not expected either. Nice going guys and by the way it was more than just me birding down there, this year and during the years from 1980. Norm Murr 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands yesterday - Bald Eagles, Blue-winged Warbler, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded Hanlan’s Point and the area at and around the Trout Pond on Gibraltar Point and again it was a slow migration day and about 95% of the small bird sightings were in the area at and beside the Hanlan’s Ferry dock. Gadwalls, Wood Ducks, Blue-winged Teal, 2 Pied-billed Grebes, Great Egret, 2 Bald Eagles, Turkey Vultures, Broad-winged and Red-tailed Hawks. Merlin, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Least Flycatcher, Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireos, Red-breasted Nuthatches, 1 Gnatcatcher only, Gray Catbirds, 1 late male Blue-winged Warbler, Black-and-white, Cape May, Magnolia, Bay-breasted (16), Yellow-rumped, and Wilson’s Warblers, American Redstarts, 11 Northern Parulas, Common Yellowthroat and Song Sparrows. The beach area west of the airfield fence was almost birdless except for a couple of Song Sparrows but there were many Monarch Butterflies there both overhead and on the damp sand areas. Norm Murr Richmond Hill. Ontario 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Townsend's and Connecticut Warblers, etc.
Yesterday Sept. 17/19 Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island and we did come up with some nice birds besides the 2 title birds and following are some of them. 1 female Long-tailed Duck, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, Sharp-shined Hawk, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Flickers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Yellow-bellied, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, White-breasted Nuthatches, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson’s and Wood Thrushes, Catbirds, Brown Thrasher, Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 21 warbler species including Tennessee, 2 Orange-crowned, Nashville, 6 Parulas, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape-May, Blk-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, TOWNSEND’S, Blk-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-breasted, Black and White, Redstart, Ovenbird, CONNECTICUT, Mourning, Wilson’s and Canada Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. After I left for the ferry Bob found 3 Yellow-throated Vireos and a Scarlet Tanager on Dacotah Ave. on Algonquin Island. Finally a sign that migration is picking up down there. 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
[Ontbirds] Ward's Island - Townsend's Warbler
This afternoon Bob Tyler and I found an adult male Townsend’s Warbler with a mixed flock of Warbers on Ward’s Island. We had very good looks at this nice bird. We found this bird t about 2 pm today as it fed in Willow Trees, etc. It was on the north side of the trees and bushes along the boardwalk opposite the bridge onto Snake Island and in the area of blue Frisbee Golf Basket #16. It was a good day down there and we did find a total of 20 Warbler species including the Townsend’s but more about those and other birds seen tomorrow morning as I have been on the go since 5 am and didn’t get home after the usual marathon trip from the Ferry dock to here (almost 2 ½ hours by transit). So don’t give me flack for the late Townsend’s post as I no longer have a cell phone nor does Bob have one and the pay phones have been removed from The Island including the one beside the bridge to Snake Island. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Prairie and Connecticut Warblers
Yesterday and Wednesday Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island and a small part of Algonquin Island and though migration still seems slow and sparse we did find some nice birds including the following. Great Blue Herons, Osprey, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, Kestrel, Merlins, Woodcock, Chimney Swifts, Hummingbirds, Flickers, Olive-sided, Yellow-bellied, Willow, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, Pewee and Kingbirds, 3 Common Ravens, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, 14 warbler species (all in small numbers) including, Cape-May, Blk-th Blue, Pine, Prairie, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Connecticut, Wilson’s, Ovenbird and N. Waterthrush, only 2 N. Orioles but 5 Mink, several Toads, and a couple of Brown Snakes. Yesterday we saw about 75+ Monarchs and on Wednesday about 200+ Monarchs and the Sabre Jet that I reported last time was actually a Mig 15. Grass is very thick and wet in many places but trails are free of water but a bit muddy in some places as in some of the open areas beyond Snake Island. Good Luck with your outing this weekend Gavin. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Bk-B Plovers, Olive-sided Flycatchers, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island and a small part of Algonquin Island and though migration has picked up some it’s slow but following are some of the birds we found. Great Egrets, Osprey, Merlin, 30+ Black-bellied Plovers flying west overhead, 7 Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfisher, 7 Flycatcher species including 3 Olive-sided Flycatchers together (2 adults and 1 juvenile), Yellow-bellied and Great-crested Flycatchers, lots of Eastern Kingbirds, 1 only Tree and Barn Swallow, House Wrens, 9 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers including juveniles, lots of Catbirds including juveniles, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos and 15 Warbler species but none in big numbers but it’s encouraging. We also spotted some Snow Birds and a 1950’s Sabre Jet along with a WWII Lancaster bomber. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Cuckoo and Broad-winged Hawk
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island and small parts of Algonquin and Snake Islands and though migration is very slow starting we did find some new birds but only only 6 warblers, 5 single species and 2 Redstarts and another N. Waterthrush. We also saw 4 Great Egrets, a first fall Broad-winged Hawk, a few Chimney Swifts, several Hummingbirds, 6 Flycatcher species, again in very small numbers, Gnatcatchers, a Black-billed Cuckoo, House and Carolina Wrens. Hopefully things pick up soon. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Olive-sided Flycatcher, Connecticut Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, etc.
Thursday and Friday Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island, and part of Algonquin and Snake Islands and though migration is slow coming we did find some nice birds including 14 Warbler species with very, very low numbers of most of the. Following are some of the birds we found:- 6 Great Egrets, Green Heron, 1 only migrating Sharp-shinned Hawk, 3 Solitary Sandpipers, only 4 Chimney Swifts and 4 Barn Swallows, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfisher, 3 Olive-sided Flycatchers, 9 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Willow and Least Flycatchers, House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Gray Catbirds, Philadelphia Vireo, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, 1 Connecticut, 2 Mourning and 7 Canada Warblers, 15 Northern Waterthrush and 1 Louisiana Waterthrush and American Redstarts. A good 2 days but migration is just starting though it is a little late and parts of Ward’s have mud where it was flooded and some of the trails at the east end are still covered in shallow water and Snake Island is really only half way good for walking just off the bridge. We also observed 300++ Monarch Butterflies and 150+ Green Darners along with several other Dragonfly species and also 3 Mink were spotted and lots of people after 10 am. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - A. Bittern, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island a nd a small part of Algonquin Island and migration down there in Water World is winding down and though we didn’t get many species we did OK despite only having access to about 30% of the better birding areas. Red-throated Loon, Common Loon, American Bittern, lots of Mallards in the flooded areas plus a female Mallard off the boardwalk with 22 very small ducklings, Osprey, Spotted Sandpipers, Common Terns, E Wood-Pewees, Least Flycatchers, E Phoebe, E Kingbirds and a close encounter with an Acadian Flycatcher, Purple Martins, White-breasted Nuthatches, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, House Wrens, Swainson’s Thrush, lots of Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, many Warbling Vireos, Red-eyed Vireos, only 6 Warbler Species including Nashville, Chestnut-sided and Wilson’s, Indigo Buntings, we watched as a male Indigo offered a seed to a female Indigo, and Purple and House Finches. A nice ending to the Spring migration and now I can hang up my binoculars until after mid-August with hopes that The Islands are still above water. One of the best May bird outings down there in a long time. For those who plan on a last Spring trip down there be advised that Hanlan’s Point is closed so no ferry to or from that area and the road between Centre Island and past the Trout Pond is under approx. 2 feet of water. Centre Island and the facilities are open as are the Cafes on Ward’s but if you want to go between Centre and Ward’s or Ward’s to Centre then most of the walk will be along the boardwalk unless you are wearing rubber boots. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Yellow-throated and Mourning Warblers, etc.
Today Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands again and though we could only access about 35% of Ward’s because of flooding and were not able to birds the better parts of Algonquin we did okay but migration is winding down now but following are some of the birds we did find. A few Long-tailed Ducks are still hanging in, Turkey Vultures, Cooper’s Hawk, Ruby-Cr Hummingbirds, E. Wood-Pewees, Yellow-bellied, Least, and Great -crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbirds, Rough-winged Swallows, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, many Gray Catbirds, 40+ Cedar Waxwings, lots of Red-eyed Vireos, 29 Warbling Vireos (undercounted), 21 Tennessee Warblers, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-th Blue, Black-th Green, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted and Blackpoll Warblers, Northern Parulas, Wilson’s and Canada Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroats, a nice male Mourning Warbler and great views of a male Yellow-throated Warbler. All in all a nice possible end of my Spring visits down, maybe one more day. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Brown Pelican
The Brown Pelican was seen heading west over the Queen City Yacht Club on the Toronto Island by Bob Tyler yesterday just after 7:10 or so pm. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Prothonotary Warbler, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler, Marc Lichtenberg and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands and following are some of the birds found. First off I want to thank Marc’s great ears :>)) for hearing the Protonotary Warbler and alerting Bob and I, a great find, thanks Marc. Turkey Vultures, Black-billed Cuckoo, Chimney Swifts, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Red-bellied Woodpecker, E Wood Pewees, Yellow-bellied, Least, Willow and Great-crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbirds, White-breasted Nuthatches, House Wrens, only 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, 35+ Cedar Waxwings, Veerys, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Blue-headed, Philadelphia, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, many Tennessee Warblers, 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, Northern Parulas, Ovenbird, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackpoll, Wilson’s, 14 Bay-breasted and 8 Canada Warblers, American Redstarts, the great male Prothonotary Warbler, Common Yellow-throated Warblers, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings and Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. Still wet under foot down there so be aware before you go. The Prothonotary was at the east end of Lakeshore Ave. (east of First St.) at the eastern gap and on the north side of the road which is a dirt path at this point. Good Luck to any that try for it. 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
[Ontbirds] Further to my earlier post - Toronto Islands - Kentucky Warbler
One more warbler was seen by Alfred but missed by Bob and myself. Alfred saw a Kentucky Warbler making it the 25th warbler species seen down there yesterday. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Connecticut, Hooded & Cerulean Warblers and Summer Tanager.
Yesterday May 19th Bob Tyler, Alfred Adamo and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands and it turned out to be one of the better trips down there and following are some of the birds. Turkey Vultures, 3 Black-billed and 1 Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Ruby-th Hummingbirds, 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, E. Wood-Pewee, Willow, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, E. Kingbirds, Raven, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina and House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veerys, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, Catbirds, Cedar Waxwings, Blue-headed, Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 20 warbler species including Tennesse, 2 Orange-crowned, Nashvllie, 9 N. Parulas, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Cape-May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, 16 Bay-breasted, Cerulean, Black and White, A. Redstart, Connecticut, Com. Yellowthroat, Hooded and 3 Canada Warblers, Summer Tanager, 17 Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Bunting, Chipping and White-crowned Sparrows and Many Baltimore Orioles. Other birds seen in our area by other birders but not seen by us were – Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Palm, Mourning, Blackpoll and Wilson’s Warblers. 2 more Red-bellied Woodpeckers were seen west of Ward’s Island by 2 other birders making it a record day on The Islands (in my opinion) for that species. hope 1 or more of them are females. A good trip with a few more to come before the end of May unless The Islands sink as the water is still rising down there restricting the areas that we can access as we do not have rubber boots. Sand bagging and pumping is in full swing and there is a good possibility that The Islands will again be closed to the general public. A second 100 year flooding in 2 years :>)). 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Summer Tanagers, Gldn-w Warbler, Mourning Warblers, Blk-billed Cuckoo, etc.
Today Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands on a day that turned out to be Spring like and it also turned out to be our best day bird wise this year with good numbers of each species of warblers and following are some of the birds we found. Great Blue Heron , Green Heron, Great Egrets, 2 Osprey again, Copper’s Hawk, Black-billed Cuckoo, 3 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 8 flycatcher species E. Wood Pewee, Alder, Willow, Yellow-bellied and Great-Crested Flycatchers, E. Phoebe and E. Kingbirds, Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina and House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veerys, Swainson’s, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Blue-headed, Warbling, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 21 warbler species including a Male Golden-winged Warbler, Tennessee Warblers, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 12 N. Parulas, Cape May Warblers, Bay-breasted Warblers, Blackburnian Warblers, Blk-throated Blue and Blk-throated Green Warblers, Blackpoll Warblers, 3 Mourning Warblers, 2 Summer Tanagers ( 1 adult Female and 1 immature), 9 Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Indigo Buntings, Chipping, Swamp White-crowned and Lincoln’s Sparrows, Orchard Oriole and many Baltimore Orioles. The Immature Summer Tanager was along First St. At the east end of Ward’s Island and the female Summer Tanager was on the west end of Algonquin Island. 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
[Ontbirds] Tanagers, Buntings and Warblers on Toronto Islands
This morning Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands and despite the reduced areas accesible due to flooding we didn’t do too bad. Common Loon, 2 Osprey, Cooper’s Hawk, 100+ Chimney Swifts, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Willow, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbirds, Common Raven, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, 11 House Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglets still showing up, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, 14 Gray Catbirds (under counted), Blue-headed, Warbling, Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireos, 17 warbler species including 4 Ovenbirds, 2 Orange-crowned, Nashville, Northern Parulas, Magnolias, Cape Mays, Black-throated Blues, Black-throated Greens, Blackburnians, Palms, American Redstarts, and Wilsons, 7 Scarlet Tanagers, 11 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Indigo Buntings. Bob had an Olive-sided Flycatcher on Algonquin Island yesterday and the twice reported (2 different observers) male Yellow-headed Blackbird wasn’t seen yesterday or today. The 2 sightings were on Monday the 13th and I only learned of them yesterday, The bird was originally found and photographed at the feeder behind the Island School on Centre Island, I think on Friday the 10th, don’t quote me about that date. It could still be on The Islands. Or not. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON Note: If you go over to Hanlan’s Point to bird in the next few days you can’t continue on to Centre and Ward’s Islands due to flooding on the south side of the Trout Pond – unless you wear rubber boots, high ones. Same from Ward’ Island to Hanlan’s but from Ward’s you can go to Centre Island if you wend your way around the flooded areas. The beach on Hanlan’s Point is also only accessible if you wear rubber boots. All of the above is moot if you want to remove your foot wear and wade through the different flooded areas :>)). Norm 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
[Ontbirds] Yellow-throated Vireo-Toronto Islands
Yesterday, May 11 Bob Tyler, Owen Moorhouse and I again birded the Toronto Islands and though there wasn’t a big number of birds there we did find the following. Horned Grebe, Long-tailed Ducks and Bufflehead are still hanging in down there, Canvasback, many Chimney Swifts overhead, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Willow, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, Eastern Phoebe, 38 Eastern Kingbirds (undercounted, most along the harbour side of Algonquin Island), Raven, White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina and House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-throated, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, 15 warbler species including, Ovenbird, 2 Orange-crowned, Northern Parula, Chestnut-sided, Cape May, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Black and White, Common Yellowthroat and American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Chipping and White-crowned Sparrows, and Orchard and Baltimore Orioles. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands- Warblers, etc.
Today I did a short trip to Hanlan’s Point and part of Gibraltar Point and I arrived home this time before dark. Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebe, 4 Great Egrets, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Glaucous Gull, Caspian and Common Terns, Belted Kingfisher, Least Flycatchers, House Wrens, only 7 Ruby-crowned kinglets this time out, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Warbling Vireos, 11 warbler species including Ovenbird, Nashville, Cape May, Northern Parula, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, 21 Palm and many Yellow and 35= Yellow-rumped Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak 8 sparrow species including Chipping, Savannah, Lincoln, Swamp and White-crowned and Baltimore Orioles. Reminder – Lots of wet areas on the lawns and in the bushes and getting to the beach on Hanlan’s to view the gulls, terns and possible shorebirds is very tricky unless you are wearing rubber boots. 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
[Ontbirds] FW: Toronto Islands - Fish Crows and other goodies
Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Norm Murr via ONTBIRDS Sent: May 7, 2019 7:10 AM To: ONTBIRDS Subject: [Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Fish Crows and other goodies Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Islands and following are some of the birds we found. Black-crowned Night Heron, Trumpeter Swans, Gadwall, 17 Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, 2 VIrginia Rails, 2 Soras, many Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, 35+ Caspian Terns, Common Terns, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied, Willow, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbird, 2 Fish Crows, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, House and Marsh Wrens, both Kinglet species, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Blue-headed and Warbling Vireos, only 6 Warbler species this time out including Nashville. many Yellow, Black-throated Green and Palm Warblers, Ovenbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 11 Sparrow species including Eastern Towhee, Chipping, Clay-colored, Field, Lincoln’s, Swamp and White-crowned, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlark and Baltimore Orioles. Due too the past couple of years of some areas getting flooded there seem to be hundreds of Toads singing on Hanlan’s and Ward’s Islands. There are now areas on The Islands that are starting to flood and puddles are appearing in many grassy and brushy areas as the water in the lake is quite high and in some places that were flooded two years ago sand bagging is in progress just in case. 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 ___ 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 - Fish Crows and other goodies
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Islands and following are some of the birds we found. Black-crowned Night Heron, Trumpeter Swans, Gadwall, 17 Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, 2 VIrginia Rails, 2 Soras, many Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, 35+ Caspian Terns, Common Terns, Belted Kingfisher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, Yellow-bellied, Willow, Least and Great-crested Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbird, 2 Fish Crows, Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches, House and Marsh Wrens, both Kinglet species, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, Veery, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Blue-headed and Warbling Vireos, only 6 Warbler species this time out including Nashville. many Yellow, Black-throated Green and Palm Warblers, Ovenbird, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, 11 Sparrow species including Eastern Towhee, Chipping, Clay-colored, Field, Lincoln’s, Swamp and White-crowned, Bobolinks, Eastern Meadowlark and Baltimore Orioles. Due too the past couple of years of some areas getting flooded there seem to be hundreds of Toads singing on Hanlan’s and Ward’s Islands. There are now areas on The Islands that are starting to flood and puddles are appearing in many grassy and brushy areas as the water in the lake is quite high and in some places that were flooded two years ago sand bagging is in progress just in case. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands, Warblers, etc.
Yesterday Owen Moorhouse joined Bob Tyler and myself for a nice day of birding on The Islands and following are some of the birds we found. It was good to see that finally more migrants were on the move. Canvasback, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Killdeer, Iceland, Glaucous and Lesser black-backed Gulls, 2 of each, Caspian and Common Terns, Chimney Swifts, Belted Kingfisher, Red=bellied Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flickers, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, Eastern Phoebe, Purple Martin, Cliff Swallows, Common Raven, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, House and Winter Wrens, many Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Cedar Waxwings, Blue-headed and Warbling Vireos, Nashville, Yellow, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Palm, and Black-and-white Warblers, Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush, (one of the Palm Warblers was a Yellow Palm), Chipping, Savannah, Song, Swamp and many White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and Purple Finches. Ruby-crowned Kinglets and White-throated Sparrows were the most numerous birds there during this second wave of these two species after 10 days or so of seeing just a few of them and the numbers of Yellow-rumped Warblers has increased. We were not able to check Hanlan’s Point beach for shorebirds that we had heard about due only wearing hiking boots and being blocked by increased flooded areas. The Islands now have a lot of areas with large puddles, flooded areas of brush, lawns and woodlands as the lake level continues to rise and some areas already have started to be protected by sand bags. A walk along the Lighthouse trail is now blocked by water and there are small lake like areas on the airfield. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands- Clay-colored Sparrows
Yesterday April 30/19 Bob Tyler, Owen Moorhouse and I birded the Toronto Islands and though it was like birding in March we did come up with some decent birds though the pickings were slim. 11 waterfowl species including Red-necked Grebe, Gadwalls, Canvasbacks and Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, (there are still lots of Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks down there), Cooper’s Hawks, Merlin, Killdeer, 7 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 juvenile Glaucous Gull, Caspian Terns, Common Terns at the breeding raft in the Trout Pond, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flickers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Eastern Phoebes, Purple Martins, Cliff Swallows, White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, House Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrashers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Palm Warbler, Chipping Sparrows, 2 Clay-colored Sparrows, Field Sparrow, and Savannah Sparrows. For this time of year the Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-throated Sparrow numbers are way down and lots of the expected migrants are yet to make an appearance. Norm Murrr 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
[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
[Ontbirds] Pine Warblers, etc. - Toronto Islands
Yesterday April 21st I birded the Toronto Islands and the birding was very good and below are some of the high lights. Common Loon, 2 Horned Grebes, 11 Lesser Scaup, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Caspian Tern, 2 Belted Kingfishers, 3 Red-belied Woodpeckers and possible 4, 13 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 9 Northern Flickers, 9 Eastern Phoebes, 3 Purple Martins, Common Raven, White-breasted Nuthatches, 52 Brown Creepers (under counted), Carolina Wren, Winter Wren, Golden-crowned Kinglets, 78 Ruby-crowned Kinglets (greatly under counted) 2 Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrasher, 11 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 8 Pine Warblers, Eastern Towhee, 16 Chipping Sparrows, 18 Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. Hard to count some of the smaller birds as they were so busy midge catching and moving around. 6 of the 8 Pine Warblers were found because they were first located through there singing and then all were easily seen. 3 of them were on Snake Island. A good day despite the forecast partly sunny day became a all day of clouds. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands yesterday April 13/19
Good Morning, Yesterday Bob Tyler and I again birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands and though bird numbers were down, especially waterfowl we did find enough birds to make us happy and following are some of them. Eared Grebe, 2 Trumpeter Swans, Wood Duck, 4 Canvasbacks, Red-breasted and Common Mergansers, Cooper’s Hawk, Bonaparte’s Gull, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, 15 Northern Flickers, 12 Eastern Phoebes, Tree and Barn Swallows, White-breasted Nuthatches, 16 Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, Golden-crowned Kinglets, 8 Hermit Thrushes, Northern Mockingbird (singing now), Chipping, Field, 36 Song and White-throated Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos. WE also watched 20+ emerging Garter Snakes together, some wrapped together and among them were 3 melanistic forms. 15+ Red Admiral Butterflies. PS – Bob informed me that yesterday Friday April 12th there were many Flickers, Juncos, Hermit Thrushes and Kinglets down there but it seemed that most of that influx had moved on and he also found a Yellow-rumped Warbler. A lot more birds to come. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Eared Grebes, etc.
Yesterday April 7th Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands and it is safe to say that migration has ramped up. Some totals of the following such as Song Sparrow and Eastern Phoebe were under counted as the Phoebes on the western end of Algonquin Island were in and beside thick bushes and trees ( as they were elsewhere ) and were very active fly catching and hard to count and the Song Sparrows where they were in groups on the grass were very skiddish and at times were flushed by frisbie golfers before we could get a good count but all the birds kept us busy so that we didn’t go further on The Islands to Centre, Gibralter and Hanlan’s. Waterfowl species and numbers were way down. Below is a list of some of the birds we found. Pied-billed Grebe – 1 Horned Grebe – 3 Rd-necked Grebe - 1 Eared Grebe – 2 D-c Cormorant – 50+ Great Blue Heron – 5 – flying east Wood Duck – 3 Redhead Duck – 8 Hooded Merganser – 3 White-winged Scoter – 1 Turkey Vulture – 2 – floating east Osprey – 1 – flying east Cooper’s Hawk – 2 – resident pair sitting together Peregrine Falcon – adult overhead Bonaparte’s Gull – 7 – flying east Common Tern – 1 – flying east Belted Kingfisher – 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker – 6 Eastern Phoebe – 92 Tree Swallow – 75+ - flying east over the harbour White-breasted Nuthatch – 3 Brown Creeper – 10 Winter Wren – 12 Golden-crowned Kinglet – 63 Hermit Thrush – 5 Northern Mockingbird – 1 Northern Cardinal – 24 Tree Sparrow – 2 Chipping Sparrow – 4 Fox Sparrow – 1 – seen by an other birder Song Sparrow – 134 Swamp Sparrow – 1 Dark-eyed Junco – 24 Missed the resident Red-bellied Woodpecker and resident Carolina Wrens. PS – The Ferry schedule switches to the Spring schedule this Friday the 11th so there will be boats to Hanan’s ( starting at 6:30 am ) and Centre Island as well as Ward’s Island. Ferry Schedule - https://www.toronto.ca/explore-enjoy/parks-gardens-beaches/toronto-island-park/all-ferry-schedules/ 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - yesterday April 2nd
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I again birded The Islands and though numbers of birds were down from last Friday we still came up with some nice bids. 5 Pied-billed Grebes, (3 together), Cormorants overhead, 15 waterfowl species including Gadwalls, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, both Scaup, many Common Goldeneyes and Buffleheads and all 3 Mergansers, Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, Belted Kingfisher, Brown Creeper, 2 Carolina Wrens, Eastern Bluebirds, N. Mockingbird (possible 2), 2 E. Towhees, only 28 Song Sparrows (down from 102 on Friday but many more will pass through later) and 2 White-throated Sparrows. 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands
Yesterday Friday the 29th Bob Tyler and birded the Toronto Islands and we came up with 49 species. Pied-billed and Horned Grebes, 10 D-c Cormorants overhead, Trumpeter Swans, Wood Ducks, American Wigeons, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, all 3 Mergansers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Ravens, Northern Mockingbird harassing Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds, an amazing 34 Cardinals, (probably some overlap with birds flying back and forth from Algonquin Island to Wards Island), 102 Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows but only 1 Raptor a Cooper’s Hawk which is a permanent resident down there. It’s possible that better weather is coming some day and birds should start arriving in good numbers, possible I say. Norm Murr Richmond Hill 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
[Ontbirds] Long Point / Hagersville areas - Brewer's Blackbird
Yesterday Ian Cannell and I went down to Long Point and returned towards home through the Fisherville and Hagersville areas. Following are some of the birds we found but first the male Brewer’s Blackbird. We found it at the Big Creek bridge along 1st Concession Road after about 1500 Grackles and 300 Red-wings passed through the area. It was well seen and even it’s high pitched whistling call (my interpretation) was heard. Other birds included 19 waterfowl such as 1500+ Tundra Swans, many Northern Pintails, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, both Scaup, Hooded and Common Mergansers and 3 American Coots. Most of the waterfowl were seen because of a lot of scope work but many thousands were too far out even for scopes We also found lots of Turkey Vultures, 6 Bald and 1 Golden Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, American Kestrel, Merlin, 104 Turkeys, Sandhill Cranes, Killdeer, Bonaparte’s Gull, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Northern Flicker, Horned Larks, Common Raven, Eastern Bluebird, Cedar Waxwings, lots of Song Sparrows and thousands of Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. We were also told of Pine Siskins in Long Point Provincial Park. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, Ontario 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands
Today Bob Tyler and I birded part of the Toronto Islands and despite the flip in the weather forecast we did okay with 42 species found and following are some of them. 21 Waterfowl species including Pied -billed Grebe, Trumpeter Swans, Gadwalls, Canvasbacks, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, both Scaup, White-winged Scoters, all three Mergansers, Ruddy Duck, Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Common Ravens, Brown Creepers, Eastern Bluebirds, many Robins, Grackles, and Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows and Cowbirds. Ring-necked Ducks, Redheads, Canvasbacks, Greater and Lesser Scaup, White-winged Scoters and Common Mergansers were there in good size numbers. 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
[Ontbirds] Fish Crows at Long Point
This post is a tad late but on Saturday morning the 23rd Ian Cannell, Bob Tyler and I observed 2 Fish Crows over Old Cut being chased off by 4 American Crows. It was a good outing with sightings in the Long Point area of Tundra, Trumpeter and Mute Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Bald Eagle, Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Kestrels, Red-winged Blackbirds, Cowbirds, E. Bluebirds, a Robin, Horned Larks, A. Pipits, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 6 Turkey Vultures, and in the Hagersville / Jarvis area a Cackling Goose, multiple Kestrels, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, a pair of N. Goshawks, more Pipits, H. Larks and 2 Ravens. 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
[Ontbirds] Sandhill Cranes, Pine Grosbeaks, etc., etc.
Yesterday Nov. 15th Ian Cannell and I drove up through Bolton and along Hwy 9 to County Road 10, up 10 through Angus and on up to Hwy 26 at Sunnidale Corners, east along Hwy 26 to Strongville Road, along some roads around Strongville then on over to the Muley Point Road area on the east side of Lake Simcoe across from Orillia then east along Ramara Township Rd 46 from Hwy 12 to Avery Point on Lake Dalrymple and then on down Kirkfield Rd 6 to Kirkfield and over to Prospect Rd, down Prospect Rd to Glenarm Rd and over to Hwy 12/48 and on down home. Though we did not rack up a large number of species we did find some nice birds and following are some of them. Great Blue Heron, 500 Canada Geese, Common Goldeneye, 21 Hooded Mergansers, 350+ Common Mergansers on Lake Dalrymple, Red-tailed and Rough-Legged Hawks, A. Kestrel, 2 Ruffed Grouse, 1000+ Sandhill Cranes, 35 Herring and 1 Great Black-backed Gull, Snowy Owl, Red-bellied and Pileated Woodpeckers, 7 Common Ravens, Robin, 2 Northern Shrikes, A. Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, 150+ Snow Buntings, 3 Pine Grosbeaks, 1 male and 2 females together on the road (Rd 46 at Hwy 12). Note:- The Cranes were on and over the fields along Strongville Rd (south of Hwy 26 and west of Edenvale) and the Herring Gulls were laying down resting together in a field, probably a resting migrating flock and a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull laying down there as well. If you go to see the Cranes please do not trespass on the fields to try and get closer with your camera or binoculars as this will probably flush these resting birds that many others may want to see. They are easy to see and hear from the road or from within your car, be sure to park so as not to block the road. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Brewer`s Blackbird on Toronto Islands
Today Bob Tyler and I birded our usual route from the Eastern Gap to the Trout Pond and following are some of the birds we found. we found. Northern Shovelers, Canvasbacks, all 3 Merganser species including 26 Hooded Mergansers, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, A. Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Bonaparte`s and Grt Black-backed Gulls, E. Phoebe, 2 Common Ravens, Brown Creepers, both Kinglets, 100+ Cedar Waxwings on and over the area, 50+ Red-winged Blackbirds and 1 male Brewer`s Blackbird and only 77 Black-capped Chickadees this trip. The Brewer`s Blackbird was inside main gate in the front of the Water Filtration plant just past the west end of the bridge on Gibralter Point, well seen. Note: On Ward’s Island beside the Eastern Gap we found a Downy Woodpecker where all its white feathers were a nice buffy colour with breast being almost s dark as a male Red-breasted Nuthatch a bird we thought it was at first as we spotted it from underneath the bird. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Bluebirds, etc.
Yesterday Oct 12/18 Margaret Liubavicius, Bob Tyler and I birded part of Hanlan’s Point (on the lee side) and Gibralter Point and following are some of the birds we found despite the wind. Trumpeter Swan, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Turkey Vulture, 3 N. Harriers, 76 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 5 Cooper’s Hawks, Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Kestrels, 3 Merlins, 4 woodpecker species including Y-b Sapsucker, 9 E. Phoebes, Common Raven, 97 Black-capped Chickadees (they are on the move so watch for Boreal), 12 White-breasted Nuthatches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, both Kinglets, 13 E. Bluebirds, Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Catbirds, Brown Thrasher, Blue-headed Vireos, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Magnolia, Cape May, 78 Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, Palm and Blackpoll Warblers, Northern Parula, 48 Chipping Sparrows, Field Sparrow, Song, White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows, Juncos, E. Meadowlark, and 7 Purple Finches. We also saw approx. 60 Monarch Butterflies with most backed on Gibralter Point because of the wind and we had 2 great views of a healthy looking adult Coyote. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Lots of birds - Toronto Islands
A very good day yesterday (Friday) for Margaret Liubavicius and myself as I predicted to Margaret. Despite the usual lie about the weather and for the 3rd time that sun was predicted though the wind was expected. We birded the our usual route from the dock to Gibralter and back and following are some of the hi-lights. 6 White-winged Scoters, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Red-tailed Hawks, 5 Merlins, a Peregrine Falcon, Flickers, 34 Phoebes, 200+ Blue Jays, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, 50+ Golden-crowned Kinglets, 100+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Veery, 3 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, 19 Swainson`s Thrushes, 30 Hermit Thrushes, some Robins, a Catbird, 1 Northern Mockingbird, 3 Blue-headed Vireos, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 150+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers, Chipping Sparrows, Field Sparrow, Savannah Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Lincoln Sparrow, Swamp Sparrows, 500+ White-throated Sparrows, 200+ White-crowned Sparrows, 650+ Juncos and as we got off of the ferry we spotted 3 flocks of Blackbirds overhead and 1 of the flocks was certainly Rusties. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Clay-colored Sparrow, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler, Owen Moorhouse and for a time Alfred Adamo birded Hanlan’s Point and part of Gibralter Point and except for a few sprinkles in the morning (about 5 minutes long around 9 am) and a cloudy day we didn’t do too bad and following are some of the birds we found. 2 Great Egrets, 3 Wood Ducks, Sharp-shined Hawk, 3 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Merlins, Killdeer, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 42 Eastern Phoebes, both Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, both Kinglets (good numbers of Ruby-crowned), Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, 10 Warbler species including Tennessee, 3 Orange-crowned, Northern Parulas , 3 Pines and 21 Palm Warblers, 8 Sparrow Species including Clay-colored, Lincoln, 350+ White-throated, 22 White-crowned and 75+ Dark-eyed Juncos. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Loons, Etc.
Today Margaret Liubavicius and I birded part of Hanlan’s Point on a beautiful day and it wasn’t as quiet as it was Monday. On the lake we found a Red-throated Loon and 2 Common Loons. Sparrow species are starting to increase a bit with 50+ White-throated Sparrows, 6 Lincoln’s Sparrows, 5 Dark-eyed Juncos and 20+ Song Sparrows. We found first of season White-crowned Sparrows as well as Blue-headed Vireo and 2 Hermit Thrushes. Yellow-rumped Warblers are increasing and we found 3 Pine Warblers, 24 Palm, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Nashville, Blackpoll and Wilson’s Warblers, Common Yellowthroat,11 Eastern Phoebes and 7 Red-breasted Nuthatches. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 Island Brant
Today Bob Tyler and I decided to bird Hanlan’s Point instead of Ward’s Island and despite the winds that kept the Passerines down and hidden in the bushes we didn’t do too bad. Because of the winds we decided to try the Hanlan’s beach that was out of most of the wind. When we got to the beach we looked north up the beach (west of the airfield) and spotted a lone Canada Goose on the beach with an apparent flock of mallards also on the beach but as soon as we lifted our binoculars we realised that they were not Mallards but Brant and in fact 20 of them. There was also a lone Sanderling on the beach just past them. After this great find we continued on down to the Trout Pond and back and on the way we found 2 Great Egrets, 2 Great Blue Herons, a Green Heron, Wood Ducks, American Wigeons, 2 Peregrine Falcons, Kestrels, Sharp-shined Hawks a Turkey Vulture, Kingfisher, 20+ F;lickers, Sapsucker and E. Phoebes Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Connecticut Warbler , etc.
Yesterday Friday, Sept 7th Bob Tyler, Margaret Liubavicius and I again birded Ward’s Island and the western end of Algonquin Island and following are some of the birds we found. Great Egret, 3 Ospreys overhead, 5 flycatcher species, 3 vireo species including Philadelphia, Brown Creeper, both Nuthatches, House Wrens, Hummingbirds, Red-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanagers, an adult male Dark-eyed Junco and 11 species of warblers including a female Connecticut Warbler in the area we call The Trap just SE of the Island Church. Not a big number of each species but enough to make us happy. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Connecticut Warblers
Today after Bob and Margaret left ( she never learns :>)) ) I continued on towards Centre Island and though there were not many birds, 6 species of warbler only and a total of only 16 of these but 3 of them were Pine Warblers and 3 were Connecticut Warblers, 2 males and 1 female. The female was within a foot or so of one of the males and all 3 were only about 50 feet from each other. Not bad for a city boy :>)). I also found 3 Scarlet Tanagers together but not much else except Gnatcatchers and Waxwings. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Fish Crows, etc. - Toronto Islands
This morning Ian Cannell and I birded part of Ward’s Island on the Toronto Islands and following are some of the birds we found though we did not get the fall out we hoped for. We first heard and then observed a pair of Fish Crows for 10 plus minutes ( one of the birds did his ca-ha call continuously ) on Ward’s just east of the Sunshine Seniors Centre and of course these became our birds of the day. Other birds we found in our shortened visit were Common Loons, Great Egret, a pair of Cooper’s Hawks, Woodcock, Carolina, House and Winter Wrens, both Kinglets, Hermit and Wood Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrashers, Blue-headed and Warbling Vireos, Palm Warblers, Yellow Warblers, Chipping, Field, Swamp and White-crowned Sparrows and Baltimore Orioles. A few other birds were seen by three other birders – Great Crested Flycatchers, Veery, Swainson’s Thrush, Orange-crowned, Nashville, Magnolia, Black-throated Blue and Black-and-White Warblers and Eastern Towhee. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 Birds
Monday Bob Tyler and I birded Hanlan’s Point and yesterday Ian Cannell and I birded Ward’s Island and yes migration is moving along and following are some of the birds the 3 of us found. Common Loons, Pied-billed Grebe, Horned Grebes, Great Blue Herons, 9 Wood Ducks, Canvasbacks, White-winged Scoters, all 3 Mergansers, 3 Turkey Vultures overhead, Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, 2 adult Bald Eagles flying east together, 17 Killdeer, Belted Kingfisher, 9 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 77 Northern Flickers, Eastern Phoebes, 14 Brown Creepers, 2 Carolina Wrens, 19 Winter Wrens, 50 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 73 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 61 Hermit Thrushes, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrashers, 2 Pine Warblers, 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers, Eastern Towhees, Tree Sparrows, 24 Chipping Sparrows, 5 Field Sparrows, Vesper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrows, 78 Song Sparrows, 14 Swamp Sparrows, 225 White-throated Sparrows, 27 Dark-eyed Juncos, Purple Finch, and 2 Eastern Meadowlarks. A good 2 days with better days just ahead. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Loons, Grebes,Swallows, etc., etc.
Yesterday (April 20th)Bob Tyler and I again birder the Islands and this tie only from Ward’s Island to Gibralter Point and though it was still Sprinter it looks like Spring may be on it’s way. Following are some of the birds we found 7 Common Loons, 2 Pied Billed and 32 Horned Grebes, Great Blue Heron, Ring-necked Ducks, White-winged Scoters, 164 Bufflehead, al 3 Mergansers, the resident Cooper’s and Red-tailed Hawks, Killdeer, 13 Downy Woodpeckers, 10 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Northern Flicker, all 6 species of Swallows migrating eastward with some of the Tree Swallows taking up residence, Golden-crowned Kinglet, 6 Hermit Thrushes, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Tree Sparrows still, 47 Song Sparrows, White-throated Sparrow, and an increase of Dark-eyed Juncos. The next few days if we can believe the fake Weather Forecast should bring a good numbers of backed up migrants, hopefully they won’t just fly over with out many of them stopping. PS – Again for those that care Bob found 2 Little orange Skipper Butterflies on the south end of Snake Island, Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] 4 Grebe day on the Toronto Islands
Good Day Eh, Today Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Island from Ward’s Island to Gibralter Point and for only the second time on the Islands (for us) we both saw 4 species of Grebes including 1 Eared Grebe, 2 Horned Grebes, 3 Pied-billed Grebes and 7 Red-necked Grebes. The only other time that happened on The islands Bob and I were together that time as well. We also found 3 Common Loons, Canvasbacks all 3 Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, both Scaup an Eastern Towhee and 2 Black-crowned night-Herons and a Great Blue Heron was seen by Jennie Bull. It was cool but sunny day all morning with mixed clouds in the afternoon and it’s obvious that migration has slowed with many of the expected birds missing but hopefully by mid July it will warm up and the NW winds will abate :>)). PS – Last Tuesday the 3rd ( for those that are interested ) Bob and I found an active Mourning Cloak Butterfly. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] White-fronted Goose - Toronto Islands - A Heads Up
Had a White-fronted Goose flying low past the Ward’s Island ferry dock area this afternoon heading east towards Cherry Beach. Some other good Islands birds today were Cackling Goose, Trumpeter Swans, Horned Grebe, Ring-necked Ducks, Lesser Scaup, White-winged Scoters, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Raven and earlier in the week Canvasbacks and Redheads. There is a some good areas of open water in the lagoons over there now and each area has a good number of waterfowl. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Horned Larks - a glimpse of Spring
Yesterday Ian Cannell and I birded along some roads from Long Point to Cayuga (Norfolk and Haldimand Counties) and we found 200+ Horned Larks. A better sign of the coming Spring than that Groundhog. Good to see these early migrants. Norm. ___ 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] Grosbeaks and Crossbills - Algonquin Prov. Park
Good Morning Yesterday Ian Cannell and I birded Algonquin Provincial Park and though we did not find a Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker or Boreal Chickadee we think we did fairly well anyway. It started with 9 Common Ravens flying west together over Hwy 60 just west of the West Gate and went uphill from there. We started finding flocks of American Goldfinches from just west of the West Gate at 8:30 am to Km 40 and by then we had totalled 675 birds in flock sizes ranging from 100 to 25 (undercounted for sure as vehicles put birds up before we could ID them) and we also added 60 more at the Visitor Centre and at the winter gate on Opeongo Rd. Some more good birds were 2 more Common Ravens, 5 Gray Jays, 5 Red and 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 4 Pine Grosbeaks (2 at Visitor Centre Parking Lot and 2 at Spruce Bog Trail Parking Lot), 11 Purple Finches, 4 Red Crossbills (2 at Visitor Centre Parking Lot and 2 at Spruce Bog Trail Parking Lot), 7 White-winged Crossbills (5 at the winter gate on Opeongo Rd and 2 at Spruce Bog Trail Parking Lot) and 24 Evening Grosbeaks(19 at Visitor Centre and 5 near the winter gate on Opeongo Rd) and 1 Pine Siskin only, at the Spruce Bog Parking Lot. We also received a reliable report of 2 Bohemian Waxwings making a brief appearance at the Visitor Centre parking lot at 2 pm and a Pine Marten was reported to us that was seen at the winter gate on Opeongo Rd. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Tufted Duck - Amos Waites Park
Margaret Liubavicius phoned me last night to tell me that she had found the Tufted Duck close in to the shore at Amos Waites Park after 3 pm ish. Amos Waites Park is a the lake end of of Superior Ave. and also south of Mimico Ave. south of Lake Shore Blvd which is west of Humber bay Park West. Apparently the east bay at Colonel Sam Smith Park is frozen over. I’m finally going to get a chance at last to go to try to find it tomorrow morning. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Barrow's Goldeneye - Toronto Islands
Today Dec. 20/17 Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Islands and I want to give a big thanks to Gavin Platt for his finding of a female Barrow’s Goldeneye in a Hanlan’s Point lagoon. This morning Bob and I started our walk down there heading to Hanlan’s Point hoping to find the Barrow’s but as we walked along the boardwalk on Ward’s Island we didn’t get a chance to go and try and find the bird. Just before 9 am as we walked along the boardwalk checking waterfowl there we spied 2 female goldeneye’s close to the rocks. Both of us got the females in our binoculars and at the exact same time we both said that the bird on the right has an all yellow bill. We had great close lingering views of this bird only about 30 feet from us and it was indeed the female Barrow’s Goldeneye we hoped to have to work for among the hundreds of birds in the lagoon near the Hanlan’s Point ferry dock. No mistaken the id at all. Again thanks Gavin. PS – As usual we were the only birders on the Islands looking for this rarity. Some other birds we found and some numbers that were greater than the ones Gavin found for Christmas Bird Count but are within count week (I understand that there was another group birding the other half of The Islands at the same time and our numbers may be lower than the day’s total count). - Mute Swan 8 - Gadwall – 77 - Redhead 89 - Northern Shoveler - 9 - Greater Scaup – 500 - Lesser Scaup – 27 - Common Goldeneye – 227 - Bufflehead – 127 (down from the 4 we had on Dec. 4th). - Downy Woodpecker – 3 - Pine Siskin – 2 We also saw a Snowy Owl on Tommy Thompson Park and a Double-crested Cormorant over Tommy Thompson Park. – Both birds seen form Ward’s Island. Norm Murr You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Winter birds on Toronto Islands
For those that don’t or can’t travel far from the Toronto area but keep a winter list. Horned Grebe, Lesser Scaup, 4 Great Blue Herons, 2 Cormorants, 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets, 2 Peregrine Falcons, Common Raven, Black Scoters, many White-winged Scoters, 20+ Hooded Mergansers, Cooper’s Hawk, Carolina Wren and many Bufflehead, Greater Scaup Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers and Gadwall. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Fw: Shelburne - Townsend's Solitaire
OOPS That's Townsend's Solitaire. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. -Original Message----- From: Norm Murr via ONTBIRDS Sent: Friday, November 17, 2017 4:03 PM To: ONTBIRDS Subject: [Ontbirds] Shelburne - Townsend's Solitaire The Townsend was easily found this morning at 9 Am at the edge of the Carrow Tract on 4th Line SW. See previous posts for directions. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Shelburne - Townsend's Solitaire
The Townsend was easily found this morning at 9 Am at the edge of the Carrow Tract on 4th Line SW. See previous posts for directions. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - Loons and Scoters, etc.
Yesterday Bob Tyler and I birded the Toronto Islands (7:30 am to dusk) from the Eastern Gap to half way up Hanlan’s Point and on that very nice day we found the following birds. Red-throated and Common Loons, D-c Cormorants still present in numbers, Great Blue Heron, 9 Tundra Swans, Black Ducks, Northern Shovelers, 75+ Gadwalls, Greater and Lesser Scaup, many, many Long-tailed Ducks, 5 Black Scoters, 200+ White-winged Scoters, 75+ Common Goldeneye, 300+ Bufflehead, 15 Hooded Mergansers, many Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Great Black-backed Gulls, Golden and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Robins, American Pipit, Cedar Waxwings, Nashville Warbler, Tree Sparrows and lots of the other usual birds down there. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Connecticut and Mourning Warblers - Toronto Islands
Yesterday Sept.6th Margaret Liubavicius, Bob Tyler and myself birded Ward’s Island and following are some of the birds we found. Great Egret, Blk-crowned Night –Heron, Turkey Vulture, Ruby-th Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfishers, E. Wood-Pewees, Great Crested Flycatcher, a late Eastern Kingbird, Common Ravens, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Veerys, Swainson’s and Grey-cheeked Thrushes, lots of Gray Catbirds, Philadelphia, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, and besides the 1 Golden-winged, 1 Blue-winged , 2 Connecticut and 2 Mourning Warblers and we also found Northern Parulas, Northern Waterthrush, a late Yellow Warbler, our first Yellow-rumped Warbler of the season, and Cape May, Blackburnian, Blackpoll and Bay-breasted Warbler, for a total of 20 warbler species as well as Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. A good outing as usual down there. Margaret saw both of the Connecticut Warblers and Bob and I saw one of the two with a possible third bird seen fleetingly. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE – Note: Summer schedule ends after Sept. 10th this year. Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 (Web site says $7.71 - weird) - Seniors / Students $5.05 Another Note: You do not have to have change as there are no longer any ticket machines. You have to pay at a booth as you enter the docks. If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. = NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands NOTE 3:- Despite what the ferry schedules on the internet and the printed one available at the docks say the first ferry to Hanlan’s Point leaves at 8 am and NOT 9 am. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Connecticut and Mourning Warblers - Toronto Islands
Today Ian Cannell, Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island on another beautiful day despite the forecast being a little off and we found 56 species of birds including 14 warbler species and some nice views of Giant Swallowtails that appeared to be resent emergent butterflies, so crisp and vibrant looking. Among those 56 species we found our first migrant Sharp-shinned Hawk, lots of Caspian Terns overhead, R-th Hummingbirds, Belted Kingfisher, Olive-sided, Willow, Least, Yellow-bellied and Great-crested Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewees and E. Phoebe, Purple Martins, Com. Ravens, Carolina Wren, lots of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Swainson’s Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos, Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Bay-breasted, Connecticut, Mourning, Wilson’s and Canada Warblers, first of the season Common Yellowthroat and N. Waterthrushes and some Baltimore Orioles. There seem to be several families of Gnatcatchers, Chickadees, Catbirds and Cardinals. There are a few Mosquitos and of course Red Ants down over there but a light coating of repellent should discourage them and any Ticks that are around. We usually don’t encounter any of the Ticks but best to be safe. PS – You may want to join Gavin Platt next Saturday morning (Sept. 2) at 7:15 am as he leads a bird walk on The Islands DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 (Web site says $7.71 - weird) - Seniors / Students $5.05 Another Note: You do not have to have change as there are no longer any ticket machines. You have to pay at a booth as you enter the docks. If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. = NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands NOTE 3:- Despite what the ferry schedules on the internet and the printed one available at the docks say the first ferry to Hanlan’s Point leaves at 8 am and NOT 9 am. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Blue-winged and Connecticut Warblers, etc. - Toronto Islands
Yesterday Margaret Liubavicius, Bob Tyler, Gunnar Bessell and I birded Ward’s Island and a bit of Algonquin Island and though it started off slow it ended with a small bang. We came up with 56 species of birds and 2 young Mink and the following are some of those 56 species that we found. Great Blue Herons and Great Egrets (these birds are in good numbers some days because the flooding produced a bumper crop of Frogs), 2 Cooper’s Hawks chasing each other, Caspian Terns, Black-billed Cuckoo, R-th Hummingbird,Olive-sided Flycatcher, Least, Willow and Great-crested Flycatchers, E. Wood-Pewees, Carolina Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Swainson’s Thrush, Gray Catbirds, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, 12 warbler species including 2 Blue-winged, lingering Yellow, Black-throated Blue, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian,Bay-breasted, 37 American Redstarts, Connecticut, 11 Wilson’s, 7 Canada and Northern Waterthrush and there are still some Baltimore Oriole hanging in. PS – You may want to join Gavin Platt next Saturday morning (Sept. 2) at 7:15 am as he leads a bird walk on The Islands DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 (Web site says $7.71 - weird) - Seniors / Students $5.05 - Another Note: You do not have to have change as there are no longer any ticket machines. You have to pay at a booth as you enter the docks. If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. = NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands NOTE 3:- Despite what the ferry schedules on the internet and the printed one available at the docks say the first ferry to Hanlan’s Point leaves at 8 am and NOT 9 am. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Loggerhead Shrikes and Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Today Ian Cannell, Jay Peterson and I birded the area north and northeast of Kingston and among some very nice birds we found 5 Loggerhead Shrikes and on the way home Ian and I stopped and observed the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at 8:15 pm at the pond on Morgans Road, just east of Newcastle. Found the bird (Night-Heron) right away where it was resting on the long thin island in the pond. Directions: We left Hwy 401 at Exit 448 (Newtonville Road), drove north the short distance to Reg. Rd 2 (Old Hwy 2) turned left (West) on Reg. Rd 2 and drove to Morgans Rd, turned right (North) on Morgans Road and drove approx. 1.7 kms to the pond which is on the east side of Morgans Rd. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] What's up with Red-bellied Woodpeckers ?
During the last 5 trips between Apr. 9th and yesterday we were finding 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker on every trip, a bird we are lucky to see once or twice a year and then for just one day. I was wondering if the same bird was hanging around but was seen throughout The Islands. Today Ian and I found 2 on Algonquin Island and I found four more between there and Gibralter Point. It’s a very good day when you find 6 of them in the whole Long Point area. Quite an increase. I also added Northern Parula and Common Yellowthroat today and was told that 2 Eastern Kingbirds were on Hanlan’s Point. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - 3 Grebe species
Today Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s Island and despite the cool wind we did find a few nice birds. On Lake Ontario off Ward’s Island we found Red-necked and Horned Grebes, all close in near the boardwalk but the surprise was a nice Eared Grebe (halfway between winter and breeding plumage)only about 50 feet off the boardwalk. We also found first of the season for us – Fox Sparrow and Yellow-rumped Warbler along with the usual suspects Bird numbers were down from earlier in the week except for passing Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds and of course Double-crested Cormorants which are way up.. Note:- Tomorrow the ferry is still on the Winter schedule but Friday all 3 ferries start the Spring schedule. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Booth's Harbour, St. Williams - Little Gulls
Good Morning. Yesterday Ian Cannell and I birded the Long Point area and it was a waterfowl show with approx. 75 to 100 thousand birds between Long Point’s Inner bay and Turkey Point as well as 10 Juvenile Bald Eagles (we missed a reported adult bird). For the first time we stopped off at Booth’s Harbour where we spotted 2 adult Little Gulls and 4 Bonaparte’s Gulls just off the west end of Bluewater Ave. There may have been more of each of these 2 species but we moved along as we were heading for the Hagersville area and daylight does not last that long. Directions:- Approx. 1 km along Front Rd east of Townline St. at St. Williams you will come to Park St., turn right onto this street and follow it along to Bee St. then go west along Bee St. to the end and then go left the very short distance to Bluewater Ave. and drive east along to the end and then check the bay off of the marinas there. There were approx. 25 to 30 thousand waterfowl on the bay off here including Ruddy Ducks. Norm ___ 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] Long Point Brewer's Blackbird
This morning after Ian Cannell and I had great looks at the Smith’s Longspur on Conc. A Rd we headed for Old Cut on Long Point and on the way we spotted some blackbirds on 4th Ave. that runs off of Erie Blvd so we drove onto 4th Ave. and discovered that they were 4 male Cowbirds and as we got ready to turn around Ian spotted another blackbird and drew my attention to it and this bird turned out to be a nice Male Brewer’s Blackbird, not a bad find for Jan. 1st. Later on we went on to see lot of nice birds but a few high lights were 4 Common Ravens in the same tree in Jarvis, On, 20 plus Red-tailed Hawks, Harriers, Kestrel’s Cooper’s Hawks, Rough-legged Hawks, Bald Eagle, 4 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, 5 Creepers, 2 Screech-Owls, 1 Great Horned Owl, 100 plus Tundra Swans, 300 plus Sandhill Cranes, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Wren, 32 Turkeys, etc. A nice day to start for 2017 and great weather to boot, AND another good find was a brand new Tim Hortons being built along Hwy 6 on the north side of Jarvis. Directions:- Long Point Area south of Port Rowan in Norfolk County. Port Rowan is southwest of Hamilton, to reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of Simcoe) and your in the Long Point Area. Turn left (south) on Hwy 59 at Hwy 24 South and Port Rowan is straight down Hwy 59 (about 6 kms) on County Rd 42 (Lakeshore Rd), Big Creek Marsh, etc. are just a little further south of County Rd 42. Or you can exit Hwy 403 just west of Brantford. Exit at Hwy 24 South at Exit 91 and drive south through Simcoe and follow it to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of Simcoe) and your in the Long Point Area. 4th Ave. is approx. 1/2 km east of Hastings Dr. along Erie Blvd and Hastings Dr. is approx. 4 1/2 km on Long Point Rd south of Lakeshore Rd / Front Rd at the south end of Hwy 59 at Port Rowan. Turn left (south) on Hwy 59 at Hwy 24 South and Port Rowan is straight down Hwy 59 (about 6 kms) on County Rd 42 (Lakeshore Rd), Big Creek Marsh, etc. are just a little further south of County Rd 42. Or you can exit Hwy 403 just west of Brantford. Exit at Hwy 24 S at Exit 91 and drive south through Simcoe and follow it to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of Simcoe) and your in the Long Point Area. The wood lots, fields, marshes etc. are north, south, east and west of Port Rowan. 4th Ave. is approx. 1/2 km east of Hastings Dr. along Erie Blvd and Hastings Dr. is approx. 4 1/2 km on Long Point Rd south of Lakeshore Rd / Front Rd at the south end of Hwy 59 at Port Rowan. ___ 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] Strongville area - Sandhill Cranes
This morning Ian Cannell and I went up to the Strongville area to see the Sandhill Cranes and we were not disappointed. We came up with 450 to 500 between Edenvale (on Hwy 26), down Strongville Rd and along to Conc. Rd 6 to County Rd 10. with more arriving as we left, quite a sight with many of them not too far from the road. Scope not necessary unless you want to get closer looks. Most of the Cranes were along Strongville Rd between Hwy 26 and Sideroad 18/19 Sunnidale. We also found 2 Merlin, a Kestrel, Cooper’s Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk a nice adult Bald Eagle, several Common Ravens and a Coyote. Directions Exit Hwy 400 at Exit 98 (Hwy 26) and drive north to Midhurst, bear left there on Hwy 26 and follow Hwy 26 to Horseshoe Valley Rd bearing left there passing through Edenvale to Strongville Rd. Do not block the roads when looking for or at birds and do not trespass and spoil it for others. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] Reesor Pond Geese - Snows and Cackling.
Ian Cannell and I stopped at Reesor Pond this afternoon to try and find the 7 Snow Geese reported earlier in the week’'. We found not 7 Snow Gees but 11 of them, all white phase. We didn’t check through the 2000 or so Canada Geese to try and find the duck species also reported earlier as well but we did have a big surprise in seeing the most Cackling Geese we have ever seen. It was all but impossible to do an actual count as they were mixed in with the Canada Geese (a lot of the Geese were backed by a low sun) but we estimated that no less than 50 Cackling Geese were present. Good to excellent comparisons with the Canada Geese. A scope recommended but you can probably see some of the Cackling Geese with binoculars. Note- The Geese leave the pond in the morning for the fields, etc. and return in the late afternoon. When we stopped by around 9 am there was only one Goose on the pond. DIRECTIONS TO REESOR POND Reesor Pond is on the northwest corner of Reesor Road and Hwy 407 in Markham. It is bounded by Reesor Road on the east, Donald Cousins Parkway ( formerly Markham By-Pass ) on the west, Hwy 407 on the south and Hwy 7 on the north. Exit Hwy 407 at Exit number 96 ( go north ) on Donald Cousins Parkway and you will see the pond on the north side of the highway beside Donald Cousins Parkway. Your best bet is to drive up ( north on ) Donald Cousins Parkway to Hwy 7. Turn right ( east ) on Hwy 7 and drive the very short distance to Ressor Road. Turn right ( south ) on Reesor Road and drive down to the gate on your right and park here ( do not block gate ) and there is no need to pass through the gate as the whole pond is viewable from the gate and you do not want to flush the birds before you even get to look them over. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 this past weekend - Woodpeckers, Warblers, Vireos, Sparrows, etc.
On Saturday and Sunday the 25th and 26th of September despite the difficulty of getting down to and from the ferry docks (thanks to the TTC) I got to bird Ward’s and Algonquin Islands with Peter McParland and Bob Tyler and following are some of the birds we found on those two beautiful days’ Osprey, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Cooper’s Hawk, R-th Hummingbirds, 6 Belted Kingfishers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, 17 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, lots of Northern Flickers, Least Flycatchers, 15 Eastern Phoebes, Many Blue Jays, 2 Common Ravens, lots of both Nuthatches, Brown Creepers, again lots of both Kinglets, Gray-cheeked and Swainson’s Thrushes, Hermit Thrush, Gray Catbirds, Brown Thrasher, Blue-headed, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 15 warbler species including Tennessee, 12 Orange-crowned, 7 Northern Parula, Black-throated Blue and Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Pine, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Wilson’s, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Bunting, Clay-colored Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrows, many White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and Purple Finch. Directions Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.50 - Seniors / Students $5.00 all fares are for return trip as well and the ferries are on the Fall Schedule. If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s but is closed on the weekends and holidays but the “PATHWAY” to and from Union Stn is open 7 days per week. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Note 3:- From the day after the Thanksgiving weekend to the Easter weekend there will be no ferries to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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] The Toronto Islands yesterday - Connecticut and Mourning Warblers, etc.
Yesterday ( Sept. 15/16 ) Bob Tyler and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands on the Toronto Islands on a beautiful day to be out and following are some of the 56 species we found down there. Note:- Many of the warblers and the Red-eyed and Philadelphia Vireos were under counted as many of these were high in the thick canopy, especially in the early morning. Hooded Mergansers, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Wood-Pewees, Least Flycatchers, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches, Carolina Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Veerys, Swainson’s Thrushes, Gray Catbirds, Blue-headed Vireo, 19 Philadelphia Vireos, 21 Red-eyed Vireos, 17 warbler species including Orange-crowned, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, 3 Connecticut Warblers, 2 Mourning Warblers and Wilsons Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and White-throated Sparrows. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 today with some birds during the week.
Today Ian Cannell, Alfred Adamo and I birded Ward’s Island on the Toronto Islands and we had a decent day and following are some of the hi-lights. Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, 4 Black-billed Cuckoos, Belted Kingfisher, 2 and probable 3 Olive-sided Flycatchers, Eastern Wood-Pewees, 5 Yellow-bellied Flycatchers, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, several flycatcher species, Eastern Kingbirds, both Nuthatch species, Carolina and House Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Veery, Gray-cheeked Thrush, lots of Gray Catbirds, Philadelphia, Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, 20 warbler species including Ovenbird, 1 Connecticut (found by Ian), 1 nice male Mourning, Tennessee, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, juvenile Yellow-rumps, Cape May, Black-throated Blue and Blk-throated Green, Wilsons’s and Canada, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and still 24 Baltimore Orioles. Further Ward’s Island sightings. During the week starting Monday to yesterday (Friday) some of the birds seen were Horned Grebe, Osprey (both by Island resident birder Bob Tyler), Turkey Vultures, Cooper’s Hawks, Caspian and Common Terns, many Chimney Swifts and Cedar Waxwings, Tree, Bank, Cliff, Rough-winged and Barn Swallows, 1 Back-billed Cuckoo seen on the 24th and 1 on the 26th (Margaret Liubavicius), 2 Olive-sided Flycatchers on the 24th, 3 on the 26th (Margaret and Peter McParland), Eastern Phoebes, more Yellow-bellied, Great-crested and Least Flycatchers, 60+ Eastern Kingbirds and 100+ Chimney Swifts, R-Th Hummingbirds, N. Flickers, Swainson’s Thrush (Ian), 5 Brown Thrashers together, and on the 24th I found a nice adult female Prairie Warbler. For ferry schedules and prices go to the following web site http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=3690dada600f0410VgnVCM1071d60f89RCRD&vgnextfmt=default Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ 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 - more migrants
Today Margaret Liubavicius and I birded the east end of the Toronto Islands and there are some new arrivals since Monday despite the bad weather between then and now and following are some of the birds found. Common Loons, 25+ Red-necked Grebes, Black-crowned Night-Herons, Turkey Vultures, N’'. Harrier, Sharp-shinned Hawk, A. Coot, Y-b Sapsuckers, many N. Flickers, E. Phoebes, Tree Swallows, Brown Creepers, Carolina Wen, 10+ Winter Wrens, Both Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes, many Robins (with flocks arriving as we birded), Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, E. Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, White-throated Sparrows, and many Song Sparrows. N. Mockingbird and Horned Grebe were found by two other birders. We also encountered Midges and a Mourning Cloak Butterfly. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE - ONLY THE FERRY TO WARD=S OPERATES IN THE WINTER Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC=s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen=s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC=s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen=s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen=s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. === NOTE:- For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands today - Waterfowl +Migrants
This morning I finally went to The Islands and I birded the eastern end only, from the eastern gap to Snake Island and following are some of the migrants that have arrived, some in numbers and some as single representatives. Pied-billed Grebe, 18 Waterfowl species including Green-winged Teal, A. Wigeon, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Duck, A, Coot, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, N. Flicker, E. Phoebe, Carolina and Winter Wrens, G-c Kinglet, E. Towhee, Fox Sparrow, many Song Sparrows and Pine Siskin. Hopefully after this week when Spring may arrive there will be many more migrants. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE - ONLY THE FERRY TO WARD=S OPERATES IN THE WINTER Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC=s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen=s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC=s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen=s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen=s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. === NOTE: For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Fw: Ross's Goose - Mississauga - location correction
A big correction on the location of yesterdays Ross’s Goose, I must have been real tired when I wrote the post yesterday. It was on the east side of Hwy 407 at Tompken Rd and it would have been easy to see on the south side of Tomken Rd yesterday. Sorry about the confusing directions and thanks to Ian for pointing the mistake out. I was way off by many, many kms. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. = On Fri, Apr 3, 2015 at 6:25 PM, Norm Murr wrote: Around 5 pm today as Ian Cannell and I were heading home along Hwy 407 from Long Point I spotted a Ross’s Goose in a field with 8 or so Canada Geese. The field is on the east side of Hwy 407 at Kennedy Road and MAY be seen from Kennedy Rd (south side) if it stays there but may leave with the Canada Geese for the night but it may be worth while keeping and eye out for it in the general area tomorrow. Be very, very careful parking along here (on Kennedy Rd that is, never on Hwy 407), but you may be able to find a pull off at a house entrance road at that area or at a business close by, if you bother to go. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Ross's Goose - Mississauga
Around 5 pm today as Ian Cannell and I were heading home along Hwy 407 from Long Point I spotted a Ross’s Goose in a field with 8 or so Canada Geese. The field is on the east side of Hwy 407 at Kennedy Road and MAY be seen from Kennedy Rd (south side) if it stays there but may leave with the Canada Geese for the night but it may be worth while keeping and eye out for it in the general area tomorrow. Be very, very careful parking along here (on Kennedy Rd that is, never on Hwy 407), but you may be able to find a pull off at a house entrance road at that area or at a business close by, if you bother to go. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Ross's and Snow Geese, Bald Eagles, Snowy Owls, etc.
Good Day, Today Ian Cannell and I birded the Kirkfield, Dalrymple, Edenvale, Allison and Holland Marsh areas and following are some of the birds we found. 6 Ross’s Geese, 2 Snow Geese, many Canada Geese, Turkey Vultures, 2 Bald Eagles, N. Harrier, 5 Rough-legged Hawks (along Prospect Rd between Palestine Rd ad Eldon Stn Rd), 4 of them together including 2 dark phase), Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkeys, 3 Snowy Owls, Pileated Woodpecker, Horned Larks, many A. Crows, Common Ravens, and 50+ Common Redpolls. Our big surprise was not seeing one Red-tailed Hawk in our travels. The birds are out there and increasing. Directions to the the 1 Ross’s and 2 Snow Geese at Edenvale:- The birds were in a small field on the south side of Highway 26 at the bridge over the Nottawasaga River at Edenvale which is east of Staynor on Hwy 26 and north of Angus. Directions to the 5 Ross’s Geese:- Drive along Hwy 89 west from Allison to Concession Road 3, turn right (north) on Conc. Rd 3 and drive one concession to Sideroad 5 and turn right (east) on Sideroad 5 and you can’t miss the flooded gravel pit on the north side of the road. Best to park on north side of the road as the shoulder on the south side is rather narrow. Highway 89 runs from Hwy 400 (Exit 75) to and through Allison. Directions to Kirkfield:- Kirkfield is along County Road 48 east of Highway 48 and west of Coboconk. Directions to the Holland Marsh:- The Holland Marsh area is southwest of Bradford along and south of Canal Road and north of Highway 9. PS – Wylie Road north of the cabin has not been ploughed and I do not recommend you drive on it, yet. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Long Point Area Swans, etc.
Today Ian Cannell and I went down to the Long Point area to check out the migrant situation and following are some of the nicer birds we found down there. Tundra Swan - 1000+, Pintail - 50+, Canvasback - 25+, Wood Duck – 7, Turkey Vultures - 4, Bald Eagle – 1, Wild Turkey – 10, Sandhill Crane – 3, Killdeer- 18, Song Sparrow – 9, Pine Siskin - 50+ plus lots of the expected birds such as Horned Lark, Robins, Rusty and Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, Cowbirds and Tree Sparrows. We also saw a Common Raven, first ever in both the Long Point area and Norfolk County for the both of us, a surprising sighting (for us). Directions:- LONG POINT AREA - CENTERED ON PORT ROWAN Port Rowan is southwest of Hamilton, to reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of Simcoe) and your in the Long Point Area. Turn left (south) on Hwy 59 at Hwy 24 and Port Rowan is straight down Hwy 59 (about 6 kms) on County Rd 42 (Lakeshore Rd), Big Creek Marsh, etc. are just a little further south of County Rd 42. Or you can exit Hwy 403 just west of Brantford. Exit at Hwy 24 S at Exit 91 and drive south through Simcoe and follow it to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of Simcoe) and your in the Long Point Area. The wood lots, fields, marshes, etc. are north, south, east and west of Port Rowan. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Pomarine Jaeger, Purple Sandpiper, Fish Crow, etc. - Niagara
Ian Cannell and I did a half day of birding between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Chippawa along the Niagara River and it was a pretty good day although it took us 3+ hours in snail traffic to get from Bronte to Richmond Hill, almost as much time as we spent birding Niagara. We started at 15732 Niagara River Parkway in NOL where the Eurasian Tree Sparrow has been seen daily lately and we spotted it almost immediately and then we drove back to the mouth of the river where we spotted 1 Common and 3 Red-throated Loons, at least 12 Horned Grebes and a very close up fly past of a Pomarine Jaeger. From here we headed up river towards Queenston ticking off 2 Tufted Titmice, 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers, N. Flicker, 100+ A. Robins and a N. Mockingbird. At the overlook on the Queenston Heights we looked across the river to Lewiston where we came up with 6 Black and 9 Turkey Vultures and at Adam Beck we found Iceland, Glaucous and Lesser black-backed Gulls and the Leucistic Bonaparte’s Gull, plus 2 D-C Cormorants and then we drove up to the area above the falls where we found another Lesser black-backed Gull and as I was panning the concrete break wall just below the control dams a small black bird actually landed on the concrete right in my scope view and my first though was Grackle but it quickly morphed into a Fish Crow and for comparison an American Crow flew past over it. On our way up to the control dam area we stopped to check the usual rocks for Purple Sandpiper but none were seen on the ice covered rocks but we did spy one a little further out on the river on a large flat rock. The river also had lots of the usual waterfowl but the gull numbers seemed quite low to us especially above the falls. We didn’t try the Sand Docks, Whirlpool, below the falls, Dufferin Island, Peter Street or on up the river to Fort Erie or we could probably have come up with several more species (Tundra Swan, Canvasback, etc.) as well as adding to our totals of the birds we did find. A great place for anyone trying for a decent “Winter list”. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Townsend's Solitaire - south of Peterborough
I noticed that no one has posted anything about the Townsend’s Solitaire south of Peterborough today. Ian Cannell and I saw the bird at 9:15 am and again between 10:00 am and 10:15 am and later as we passed the same area about twenty minutes or so later we were told that the bird was being seen again. It was found each time at the tip of the tall deciduous trees to the left or behind the house and for us the second time it flew to the Mountain Ash trees just inside the property. It actually came to the first tree just inside the property, great close up looks. We then took a drive north and west of the area and found 4 Northern Shrikes, a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker at Uphill at the north end of Hwy 35 (Victoria Road) north of Kirkfield, Rough-legged Hawks, 68 Turkeys, Ravens, and many Cedar Waxwings. On the way home we found 3 Snowy Owls so it looks like they may be on their way like last winter. or not. Directions per Martin Parker From Peterborough - take Peterborough County Road #28 south through the hamlet of Bailieboro.- Hannah Road is the first left south of Bailieboro. Follow Hannah Road to the first intersection, Evertson Rd. The location with the Townsend's Solitaire was just west on this intersection on both sides of the road. From Port Hope - take Northumberland County Rod #28 north from Port Hope. Hannah Road is a right turn after one passes the two entrances to Bewdley and the western end of Rice Lake. One on Hannah Rd see the instruction above. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Variety of birds today east of Toronto
Red-tails, Great-horned Owl (Thickson), Goshawk, Harrier, Rough-legs, Kestrels, Ravens, Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers, 8 White-breasted Nuthatches, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, Snow Buntings, Lapland Longspur, A. Pipits, many Robins and Juncos, White-crowned, White-throated, Fox, Chipping, Song and many Tree Sparrows, Purple and House Finches, Brown-headed Cowbirds and 4 White-tailed Deer. 90% of the birds between Newcastle and Port Hope Newcastle and Port Hope are in Durham Region and Northumberland County which are east of Toronto and Oshawa. Perhaps many of the above will stay for you winter listers, perhaps. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Jaeger, Loons and Grebes
presence. - There is Para-medic service at the Fire Station. - There are pay phones and if an emergency arises then you need not pay any money to use them for a 911 call. IMPORTANT NOTE:- During the Winter only the ferry to Ward’s Island is operating (as noted above) but if ice or wind conditions are not favourable for docking at Ward’s Island the ferry will dock at Hanlan’s Point with a bus available at the dock for those that want to go to Ward’s or Centre Islands. You may catch this same bus back to Hanlan’s later BUT if the winds or ice conditions change while you are over there the ferry will switch back to Ward’s without any notice at all unless you happen to talk to someone in the know. It is not very nice to have to walk all the way back the 5 kms from Hanlan’s after you realize the boat isn’t coming. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands- Jaegers, Kittiwake, Loons, etc.
Today Alfred Adamo and I went to the Toronto Islands with hopes of a movement of Raptors and Passerines i.e. Bluebirds and Blackbirds but we were disappointed as none were moving, at least not over The Islands but we made up for these missing birds with some nice pelagic ones. We saw 2 Pomarine Jaegers, 1 Black-legged Kittiwake, 2 Red-throated Loons, 11 Common Loons, 23 White-winged Scoters, 2 Black Scoters and 20+ Bonaparte’s Gulls, not a bad haul. While we were watching for more birds Gavin Platt joined us and he spotted a distant Jaeger that was too far to ID but that it made it a 3 Jaeger Day. Passerines were scarce except for some Purple Fiches and Pine Siskins, a few Hermit Thrushes and Yellow-rumped Warblers and both Kinglet species and in the low Raptor count were 2 adult Peregrine Falcons and a nice perched Merlin. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE - From October 15th, 2014 to April 18, 2015 there will be no ferry to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. ***See Important Note at the bottom of these directions.*** Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. === NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay and the Food Court in the building on the northwest corner of Queens Quay and Bay Street is now open and this too has a Tim Horton’s.. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Take Note:- The Islands are not people friendly in the winter - Only 1 ferry (Ward’s Island). - No refreshment facilities what so ever. - No Picnic Tables. - Any bench that you are lucky enough to find will not be cleaned of snow, etc. - Only 2 washrooms – 1 on Wards straight out from the ferry dock and 1 on Centre Island between the bridge and the school and these are only open because of the presence of park employees. - No police presence. - There is Para-medic service at the Fire Station. - There are pay phones and if an emergency arises then you need not pay any money to use them for a 911 call. IMPORTANT NOTE:- During the Winter only the ferry to Ward’s Island is operating (as noted above) but if ice or wind conditions are not favourable for docking at Ward’s Island the ferry will dock at Hanlan’s Point with a bus available at the dock for those that want to go to Ward’s or Centre Islands. You may catch this same bus back to Hanlan’s later BUT if the winds or ice conditions change while you are over there the ferry will switch back to Ward’s without any notice at all unless you happen to talk to someone in the know. It is not very nice to have to walk all the way back the 5 kms from Hanlan’s after you realize the boat isn’t coming. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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.ontbirdsset
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Sedge Wren and Black-billed Cuckoo
Today I was joined on Hanlan’s Point by Alfred Adamo and Margaret Liubavicius and though the number of species was down from our Friday outing we did come up with some nice birds besides the Subject Birds. Merlin, 37 Eastern Phoebes, both Nuthatches, Winter Wrens, Both Kinglets, with 75+ Ruby-crowns and the Golden-crown numbers were way down, 82 Hermit Thrushes, under counted as were the Phoebes, A. Pipits, E. Towhees, Field, Savannah, Lincoln’s and Swamp Sparrows, 500+ White-throated Sparrows and 150+ White-crowned Sparrows. Warbler species were way, way down as were the number of Yellow-rumped Warblers. We did find 6 Orange-crowned Warblers but only 1 each of Nashville Warbler and Common Yellowthroat and only 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers. Still it was a beautiful day to be down there. TORONTO ISLANDS – FALL SCHEDULE – TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY for a ferry to Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island until next April. Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Connecticut Warbler, Nelson's Sparrow, etc.
Another beautiful fall day so I joined Ian Cannell and Alfred Adamo on Hanlan’s Point to see if there was any change from yesterdays and there were. Along with the Subject birds, Connecticut Warbler (thanks to Alfred and the Nelson’s Sparrow, we came up with a total of 65 species today on Hanlan’s Point and following are some of the high lights. 15 Canvasbacks, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, Merlin, Golden Plover, Sanderlings, 4 Woodpecker species, 37 Eastern Phoebes, both Kinglets with many Golden-crowned, Veery, 26 Hermit Thrushes, A. Pipit, Blue-headed and Philadelphia Vireo, 8 Warbler species including Tennessee, Nashville, many Palms and Yellow-rumps and 11 Orange-crowned Warblers, 10 Sparrow species including E. Towhee, Chipping, Field, Lincoln’s, and many White-crowned Sparrows, E. Meadowlark, Rusty Blackbird, House and Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. The Toronto Islands and especially Hanlan’s Point is one of the best places (in my opinion) in Southern Ontario to find Orange-crowned Warblers during October and not a shabby place during Spring migration and a pretty good place to find Nelson’s Sparrows, especially in October. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS – FALL SCHEDULE – Last weekend for a ferry to Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island until next April. Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands NOTE 3:- From October 15th, 2014 to April 18, 2015 there will be no ferries to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Nelson's Sparrow plus
Today because it was such a beautiful day I again birded Hanlan’s Point this morning and again I was lucky enough to find a Nelson’s Sparrow. Other birds of note down there were 13 Canvasback, 5 N. Harriers, 45 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 13 A. Kestrels, 5 Merlins, 1 Peregrine Falcon, Hermit Thrushes, Blue-headed Vireos, A. Pipits, Purple Finches (2 of them singing), N. Mockingbird, 8 warbler species including 2 Orange-crowned, N. Parula and a Black-and-White, 8 sparrow species including the Nelson’s as well as Lincoln’s, Swamp, Field and White-crowned and Rusty Blackbirds. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS – FALL SCHEDULE – Last weekend for a ferry to Hanlan’s Point and Centre Island until next April. Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands NOTE 3:- From October 15th, 2014 to April 18, 2015 there will be no ferries to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Nelson's Sparrows, Lapland Longspur, etc.
Yesterday Monday Sept. 29/14 Margaret Liubavicius, Alfred Adamo and I birded Hanlan’s Point on The Islands and among the 53 species found were 2 Nelson’s Sparrows, 1 Lapland Longspur, 6 Warbler species and 9 Sparrow species. Some other highlights were Turkey Vulture, Sharp-shined and Copper’s Hawks, Peregrine Falcon, Philadelphia Vireo, Scarlet Tanager and Indigo Bunting. Besides those birds there was a increase in the expected October and first of season sightings of birds like Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Brown Creeper, both Kinglets, Hermit Thrush, American Pipit, Nashville Warbler, Palm Warbler (75+), Yellow-rumped Warbler, Field, Swamp, White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows. Note:- On Friday the 26th though we were not birding together both Margaret and I each found a Clay-colored Sparrow in separate locations on Hanlan’s. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS – FALL SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. NOTE 1: – For those who arrive at the docks early or need the fix there is a Tim Hortons across from the ferry dock entrance just east of the corner of Bay St. and Queens Quay. NOTE 2:- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands NOTE 3:- From October 15th, 2014 to April 18, 2015 there will be no ferries to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada You can't see birds if you don't go out but sit and wait for others to find them. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Red-throated Loons, Eagles, Warblers, etc. - Toronto Islands
Finally some birds on The Islands. Today I was joined by Margaret Liubavicius, Peter McParland and Bill Smith and on this beautiful day some nice birds were found and following are some of the high lights with several of them being first of season birds. 3 Red-throated Loons, Pied-billed Grebe, Osprey, 2 Bald Eagles, Cooper’s Hawk, Goshawk, several Sharp-shinned Hawks, 3 Merlin, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, many Northern Flickers, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebes, Brown Creeper, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Winter Wrens, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Swainson’s Thrushes, Blue-headed Vireo, 17 species of Warblers including Orange-crowned Warblers, Northern Parula, Cape May Warblers, Blackburnian Warblers, several Palm Warblers, Wilson’s Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Eastern Towhee, Lincoln’s Sparrow, 15+ White-throated Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows and Purple Finch. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS – FALL SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 Note:- After October 15th there will be no ferries to Hanlan’s Point or Centre Island until April 2014, the Ward’s Island ferry will continue to operate during that period as usual. If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby. One is located just a block north of the ferry docks. NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Blue-winged and other Warblers, etc. - Toronto Islands
Today Ian Cannell and I Birded the Islands and though a so called cold front passed through it sure was hot down there. Following are some of the birds we found that most likely came in with the front as well as other expected birds. Great Egret, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks and 3 Merlins flying west, the 2 resident Cooper’s Hawks, 7 Flycatcher species including 3 Olive-sided, 9 Yellow-bellied and lots of Least Flycatchers, Carolina and House Wrens, Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos, 10 Warbler species including Blue-winged, Wilson’s, Canada and Ovenbird and Scarlet Tanager. Hopefully they are the vanguard of a lot more to come. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. = NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Olive-sided Flycatcher
Today Margaret Liubavicius and I birded Ward’s and Algonquin Islands and though we only found 2 migrants the highlight was a first of season adult Olive-sided Flycatcher. We watched it for about 10 minutes and at all times the white rump patches were quite apparent. The other migrant was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Hopefully this is just the tip if the iceberg so to speak. There were also lots of the regular breeding birds there and it looks like it was a good nesting season for Northern Flickers and Eastern Kingbirds with approx. 75% of the birds seen being first year birds. Though I don’t do Butterflies Margaret does and we found and she I.D a Tawny Emperor and a Harvester. We also saw as well as the more common Butterflies 2 Giant Swallowtails, Tiger Swallowtail and a mint condition Black Swallowtail. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. = NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands You may also want to check out Ron Pittaway’s excellent “Spring Warbler Migration Guide” which is also on the OFO web site. You can find it by clicking on the following:- http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.springwarblers Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Connecticut Warbler and Blk-b Cuckoo - Toronto Islands
Today Margaret Liubavicius and I headed down to The Islands for one more kick at the can down there until about mid-August and the fall migration. Along with the Connecticut Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo we also came up with a Mourning Warbler and 10 other species of Warbler including Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Wilson’s and Canada. There were still 20+ Red-eyed Vireos, many Swainson’s Thrushes, 4 Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Yellow-bellied, Wilson’s, Alder, Least and Great Crested Flycatchers, House and Carolina Wrens, Scarlet Tanager, Baltimore and Orchard Orioles and a female Mallard with 17 new ducklings in tow. We met up with a birding couple on Hanlan’s Point and they told us that they had found a singing / calling Acadian Flycatcher in the Hanlan’s dock area as well as a Mourning Warbler and a late Bobolink. Most of the birds that Margaret and I found were on the east end of Ward’s Island. It was a beautiful but hot day and it was a great Spring for birding on The Islands. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SUMMER SCHEDULE If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus or streetcar. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer required). For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. To Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are lots of parking lots nearby (fee). These parking lots are located just a block north of the ferry docks with more a block or so west of the ferry docks. Another Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 Another Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Bell's Vireo - Toronto islands - CORRECTION
When you get to the washrooms turn LEFT not right. Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
[Ontbirds] Bell's Vireo - Toronto Islands
Thanks to Ian Cannell my sighting was posted about 30 minutes after I found the bird this morning. I first thought it was a White-eyed Vireo as I have never, ever thought I would find a Bell’s in the Toronto area. The bird at times was 5 feet in front of me at eye level in some bushes. I observed the bird for over 15 minutes to make sure I was seeing what I was seeing. I wanted to rule out a White-eyed Vireo and that was easy at the close distances I was able to see it with my eyes and my binoculars and the fact that it sang almost continuously. Ian gave the directions on Ward’s this morning in his post but in case someone didn’t see his post. The bird was right beside the eastern gap (ship canal) between The Islands and Cherry Beech. After exiting the ferry walk straight back to the washrooms and turn right on Lakeshore and walk to the very end of the sidewalk at the gap, turn right and walk south towards the lake until you can walk off of the concrete past the water on the right. That is the area the bird was in but of course it probably moved around. I also found 18 species of warblers including Connecticut, Cerulean, Wilson’s, Canada, 6 Parula, lots of Tennessee, Ovenbird, etc., etc. I also had 3 more species of Vireos including a bunch of Red-eyed and 3 Philadelphia, Scarlet tanager, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Carolina Wren and 3 late Lincoln’s Sparrows, all these were in the area behind and east of the washrooms on Ward’s Island. DIRECTIONS TO THE TORONTO ISLAND FERRY DOCKS TORONTO ISLANDS - SPRING SCHEDULE Note:- Fare :- Adults $7.00 - Seniors / Students $4.50 If you are on the subway southbound get off at the TTC’s Union Subway Station, walk south on Bay Street (on the east side of the station) for about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queen’s Quay and you are there. The entrance to the ferry docks (well signed) is on the west side of the Westin Harbour Castle Hotel. To get to the Toronto Islands from the TTC’s Union Subway Station on the TTC you may transfer to the #6 or the #6A Bay St. TTC bus on Bay Street just outside of the east entrance to the GO Station. Note:- This bus stop is temporarily moved to the northwest side of Front St. They both go down Bay Street to Queen’s Quay. Go passengers arriving by train or bus must pay a fare to use the TTC bus or streetcar. When running there is a street car (#509 Harbourfront) that goes from inside the TTC’s Union Subway Station to Queen’s Quay (no transfer from the subway required). Note:- This streetcar is not running for the foreseeable future due to construction on Queens Quay. For those who choose to head down to the docks on Sunday before the Subway opens at 9 a.m. you can catch the #97B Yonge St. Blue Night bus (Steeles Ave. to Queens Quay). This bus will let you off right across the street on Bay St. only steps from the ferry docks entrance. For ferry schedules - check - http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/ferry-schedule.htm You may also want to visit the TTC web page http://www.ttc.ca/ for trip planning assistance. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queen’s Quay, there are very few parking lots nearby (all for a fee). One of these parking lots is located just a block north on of the ferry docks on Bay St. with at least one more (for now) a block or so west of the ferry docks on Queen’s Quay. = NOTE :- If you want to learn more about birding on the Toronto Islands you can access my Toronto Islands Birding And Site Guide on the OFO web site at:- http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.torontoislands You may also want to check out Ron Pittaway’s excellent “Spring Warbler Migration Guide” which is also on the OFO web site. You can find it by clicking on the following:- http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/articles.springwarblers Norm Murr Richmond Hill Ontario, Canada ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - 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
