[Ontbirds] OFO Field Trip August 30, 2015 (Sunday) Rock Point
About 30 birders with 16 cars showed up at the Park Gate at 0800 hours. We went directly to the Rock Point Banding station where Jim Smith and Bev kindly showed us a number of interesting birds that had been trapped in the nets. Notable were: A young Canada Warbler, a young American Goldfinch, a Trail's Flycatcher, a Catbird, a young Common Yellowthroat and a Red-eyed Vireo. Some of the birders had a chance to handle and release the birds. At 0900 hours Dan and Luc, who had been checking the Point, returned to tell us there were 6 species of shore birds there so we travelled to the washrooms at the south east end of the park and then and walked down to the point. All had good looks at the shorebirds (There was a little shore today!). They included: 4 Least Sandpipers, 6 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 20 Semi-palmated Plovers, 5 Sandlerlings, 2 Killdeers and 3 Spotted Sandpipers. We drove to the sod farms. En route Mosaic Ponds, seen from the road, yielded two Wood Ducks but no shorebirds and no Common Egrets. It was not until we reached the dirt fields south of Poth Road that we had some target birds: 18 Black-bellied Plovers. Following Poth Road to the end and then traveling north we failed to find anything except Killdeers. At one stop we watched as 3 young Copper's Hawks were pursued by a group of crows. In a field north of Poth Road where two Bairds Sandpipers had been seen earlier in the morning we failed to find any birds as they had been chased away by a group flying model airplanes. Trip over at 1200 hours. John Black, with Dan Salisbury, Luc Fazio and Marcie Jacklin. ___ 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] OFO Field Trip August 30, 2015 (Sunday) Rock Point
Greetings, Dan and I visited Rock Point today. Hardly any rocks and one Spotted Sandpiper. It is very unlikely that the situation on the shore will change in the next 5 days. We also visited the Rock Point Bird Banding Station this morning.Jim Smith kindly offered to open the station for us on Sunday and so, instead of visiting the shore, we will search for migrants in the vicinity of the banding station and have a look at the birds they are banding. (See http://rockpointbirdbanding.com/ for info on the banding station) There are many sod farms open this year in the vicinity of Poth Road. Today they only yielded only Killdeer but with reasonable weather over the next 5 days we can expect Black-bellied and Golden Plovers and Buff-breasted Sandpipers. Possibly other shore birds will also be present. John Black ___ 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] OFO Field Trip August 30, 2015 (Sunday) Rock Point Provincial Park and Eastern Lake Erie Shore
Just a heads up to say this year's OFO Field Trip to Rock Point may be a little different than Field Trips of previous years. As many of you may know water levels on Lake Erie are exceptionally high this summer. The Rock Point shoreline, where we normality see many shorebirds is, as of today, completely underwater. It may be that on August 30 we will spend no time on the shore and instead, given the time of year, spend some time looking for migrant land birds which can be abundant at Rock Point. We will, as in previous years, visit the sod farms for plovers and Buff-breasted Sandpipers. There is a good possibility that other shorebirds, normally on the shore of Lake Erie at this time of year, will also be present at the sod farms. We will be reconnoitering the area on Tuesday August 25 and will post our findings for your information. John Black Dan Salisbury ___ 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] OFO Trip Rock Point Provincial Park and Eastern Lake Erie Shore, August 7, 2011:
30 birders spent a rewarding morning exploring the Rock Point Provincial Park shoreline and the Mosaic Esterhazy Lagoons on Sunday August 7. A total of 63 bird species were seen on the morning portion of the trip. Normally we see Golden Plovers and one or two Buff-breasted Sandpipers at the sod farms in the area. A search of the sod farms at 0645 hours indicated that no Golden Plovers were present. As a result, after lunch in Stromness, the trip continued to Smithville with only a quick drive through the sod farms. Unfortunately, only Killdeer were seen on the sod farms and no shorebirds were seem at the Smithville Sewage Lagoons (Water levels too high!). Shorebirds observed were: Semipalmated Plover 10 Killdeer 10 Spotted Sandpiper 8 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Greater Yellowlegs 2 Lesser Yellowlegs 10 Sanderling 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper 40 Least Sandpiper 5 White-rumped Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Other birds of interest were: Wild Turkey 2 Great Egret 1 Green Heron 5 Special thanks to George Madsen for access to the Mosaic Esterhazy Lagoons.Special thanks to Jim Heslop and Kevin McLaughlin for help in leading the trip. John Black and Dan Salisbury ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] OFO Rock Point Provincial Park and Eastern Lake Erie Shore August 8
OFO Rock Point Provincial Park and Eastern Lake Erie Shore Trip August 8, 2010 31 participants from 0800 to 1330 hours 50 species, of which 15 species were shorebirds, were seen Rock Point Strong winds off the lake led to a much reduced beach and very few shorebirds. Six Semipalmated Plover, a few Killdeer, and Spotted Sandpiper, a single turnstone, six Sanderling, two Least Sandpiper and fifteen Semipalmated Sandpiper were observed. Not one yellowlegs was seen! Mosaic - Esterhazy Lagoons (Permission required for entry) Here we added both yellowlegs to the trip list along with five Short-billed Dowitcher, two Pectoral Sandpiper and, the highlight of the trip, a single Red-necked Phalarope. Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper were also present. A lone Bald Eagle was also observed. Sod Farms On the grass, to the northwest of Canal Bank Road, northeast of Stromness and southwest of Hutchinson Road, 15 Black-bellied Plover were observed. On the grass, to the north of the intersection of Hutchinson Road and Poth Road, 12 Black-bellied Plover were observed. Shorebird totals Black-bellied Plover 28, Semipalmated Plover 12, Killdeer about 70 Spotted Sandpiper 20, Greater Yellowlegs 5, Lesser Yellowlegs 15 Ruddy Turnstone 1, Sanderling 6, Semipalmated Sandpiper 30, Least Sandpiper 5 Pectoral Sandpiper 2, Short-billed Dowitcher 5 Red-necked Phalaraope 1 John Black with Jim Heslop and Kevin McLaughlin ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] American Birding Assocation response to the Oil Spill in the the Gulf of Mexico
For the information of Ontario birders not members of the American Birding Association here is an update on what that organization is doing to cope with the oil spill. The American Birding Association continues its work to support imperiled birds and their habitats affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. ABA members have a history of coming together, when there is a need to help birds. As of noon, May 11, 2010, the ABA has received $9,727 in donations from members and friends to its Gulf Coast fund. Contributions to the Gulf Coast fund can be made at www.aba.org/donate/gulf.php. If you live in the southern Louisiana area and would like to volunteer your time and skills as a bird monitor, please contact Elizabeth Wylie at 800-850-2473 x233 or ewy...@aba.org. For additional information, contact: Melissa Rausch, American Birding Association, at 719-578-9703 x237 or mrau...@aba.org. John -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Brighton Constructed Wetland
Dear ONTBIRDS subscribers, It was with considerable distress that I read the posting by Keith Lee (Volume 68 Issue 36) on the Brighton Constructed Wetlands. Keith and Maureen Lee (no relation) have for several years been enabling birders to visit the wetlands. In 2007 Keith was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by OFO for his efforts, and this year Maureen was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation for her contributions. In 2009 about 1,000 people visited the wetlands. I read and enjoy the ONTBIRDS postings by Keith and Maureen. Today I spoke with them and asked them to reconsider their position re posting on ONTBIRDS. I let them know that OFO very much appreciates their efforts on our behalf. I am happy to report that they have agreed to continue their posting for the Brighton Constructed Wetlands.. In future, should you wish to visit the wetlands, please contact Keith Lee, who will make the appropriate arrangements. John Black President Ontario Field Naturalists ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Re: ONTBIRDS Digest, Vol 67, Issue 29
oops . May or September27 John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ontbirds-requ...@hwcn.org wrote: Send ONTBIRDS mailing list submissions to ontbirds@hwcn.org To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://mailman.hwcn.org/mailman/listinfo/ontbirds or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to ontbirds-requ...@hwcn.org You can reach the person managing the list at ontbirds-ow...@hwcn.org When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of ONTBIRDS digest..." Today's Topics: 1. OFO Outing Sept. 27 (dave milsom) 2. FW: [Ontbirds] OFO Outing Sept. 27 (dave milsom) -- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:52:27 -0400 From: dave milsom Subject: [Ontbirds] OFO Outing Sept. 27 To: ONTBIRDS List Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" OFO members and friends attending the Point Pelee Outing on May 27 should be aware that the new leader for this trip is Ross Mackintosh. Meet at 8 am at the Visitor Centre in the park. Dave Milsom OFO Fieldtrip Coordinator milsomd...@hotmail.com -- Message: 2 Date: Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:02:30 -0400 From: dave milsom Subject: FW: [Ontbirds] OFO Outing Sept. 27 To: ONTBIRDS List Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" OFO members and friends attending the Point Pelee Outing on September 27 should be aware that the new leader for this trip is Ross Mackintosh. Meet at 8 am at the Visitor Centre in the park. Dave Milsom OFO Fieldtrip Coordinator milsomd...@hotmail.com PS-In the previous email I accidentally typed "May" but it should have been "September". I always associate the word "Pelee" with the word "May" ! ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ -- ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php End of ONTBIRDS Digest, Vol 67, Issue 29 ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] OFO Rock POint Field Trip August 9
OFO Rock POint Field Trip August 9: The trip began at Rock Point at 0800 hours. An adult Bald Eagle flew overhead just after we reached the beach. Excellent shorebirding. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the vicinity. There are some extensive algae flats in the area around the point which are attracting the shorebirds. Over 200 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers and a Stilt Sandpiper. From Rock Point we went to the Mosaic Esterhazy Lagoons. Only a few shorebirds but there were 10 Great Egrets and we did add Greater Yellowlegs to the list. Finally we visited the sod farms on Poth Road where we had 10 Black-bellied Plovers. 56 species total. Shorebirds were Black-bellied Plover 10 Semipalmated Plover 12 Killdeer 50 Spotted Sandpiper 10 Greater Yellowlegs 3 Lesser Yellowlegs 15 Ruddy Turnstone 5 Sanderling 20 Semipalmated Sandpiper 200+ Least Sandpiper 10 White-rumped Sandpiper 2 Stilt Sandpiper 1 Short-billed Dowitcher 8 16 participants. The weather was excellent, mostly sunny, until shortly after we left the sod farms. By 1230 hours the rain was intense, but by then we were having lunch. Special thanks to Brandon Holden and Kevin McLaughlin for their keen eyes and help in identifying shorebirds and to George Madsen for getting us into the Mosaic Esterhazy property. John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Spotted Towhee Port Colborne seen today
The male Spotted Towhee was seen at 1000 hours, and again at 1300 hours, today. Once it was in the hedge beside the road. The female Eastern Towhee was seen later in the afternoon. Best to stay on the road and not go up the driveway. John Black ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Spotted Towhee Port Colborne Update
The last birder left the area at 1500 hours. No sightings of the Spotted Towhee all day. JOhn -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Spotted Towhee Port Colborne-update
A number of people tried for the Spotted Towhee today. No one saw it. There is a suggestion that people standing in the driveway were deterring the bird from visiting the feeder and a suggestion that birders stay on the road tomorrow. Good luck John -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Spotted Towhee Correction to Directions
To get to Lakeshore Road East you need to find Lorraine Road and follow it south to Lakeshore Road East. Lorraine Road can be reached by traveling about 1 to 2 km east of Highway 140 on Highway 3 . Turn south on Lorraine and then WEST (not EAST) on Lakeshore Road East. -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Spotted Towhee at Port Colborne, Niagara Region
A male Spotted Towhee has been seen at a feeder at 735 Lakeshore Road East, Port Colborne since about January 18. On January 21 Blayne Farnan observed this bird and the identification was confirmed today by Jim Pawlicki and Bill Watson. The bird looks very similar to the bird photographed at Point Pelee. Directions: To get to Lakeshore Road East you need to find Lorraine Road and follow it south to Lakeshore Road East. Lorraine Road can be reached by traveling about 1 to 2 km east of Highway 140 on Highway 3 . Turn south on Lorraine and then east on Lakeshore Road East. Then go to 735 Lakeshore Road East. Please do not park in the driveway or the graveyard. Instead park on the road. The bird has been spending much of its time in the shrubs separating the two driveways The bird may then go to the feeder on the balcony or to the ground below the balcony where there is some seed. The interval between visits to the feeder today was about 2 hours. You need to be patient. The bird is very flighty . Try to see the bird in the hedge from the bottom of the driveway. If that fails, then walk about half way up the driveway until you see the the balcony. There is also a female Eastern Towhee present. There will be a guest book for you to sign in the mailbox at the bottom of the driveway. John Black ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Varied Thrush Fenwick Update
Here is Carole's report for Saturday January 10 I'm sorry to report that there were no sightings of the bird today. The feeder was not nearly as active as usual and at times not a bird to be seen. Some of us saw a coopers hawk surveying the yard. There were 29 "birders" here. They spotted common redpolls, pine siskins, white winged crossbills (male and female) juncos, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers, cardinals and plenty of blue jays. Nice but not a varied thrush. Let's hope for tomorrow! I'll report in the morning. It still was a great day with lots of interesting people. Carole -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Varied Thrush Fenwick Update
Carole Chapman wrote: Hi John I thought you might want to know what happened today. We had 19 visitors and the thrush showed up at least 13 different times. Not one birder went away without a viewing. Carole -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Varied Thrush Fenwick Update
The bird was last seen by three birders from Buffalo at 4:00 pm. It seems to come about once every 50 minutes and stays for about 5 minutes. The directions, slightly enhanced, are repeated below. A Varied Thrush had been coming to the feeder of Carole and Bill Chapman since January 6. They live at 1341 Balfour Street in Fenwick. The house can be reached by taking Highway 20 west of Highway 406. Pass through Fonthill and go up the hill and travel about 3.5 km. You pass the golf course on your right and then down hill and Balfour is the first street at the bottom of the hill. Turn left (south) on Balfour and it is the 6th house on left hand side (just past the big red farmhouse). Drive in to the back of the house. Ring the back door bell, and if they are home they will take you in to see the bird. If they are not not home then continue along the back of the house and open the deck gate. The bird flies into the lone maple tree and then at some point goes to the ground below the feeder.(Note there is a Golden retriever that barks in the house but do not worry about this). -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists bl...@brocku.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Varied Thrush Fenwick near Fonthill in Niagara.
A Varied Thrush had been coming to the feeder of Carole and Bill Chapman since January 6. They live at 1341 Balfour Street in Fenwick. The house can be reached by taking Highway 20 west of Highway 406. Pass through Fonthill and go up the hill and pass the golf course on your right and then down hill and Balfour is the first street at the bottom of the hill. Turn left (south) on Balfour and it is the 6th house on left hand side (just past the big red farmhouse). Drive in to the back of the house. Ring the back door bell, and if they are home they will take you in to see the bird. If they are not not home then continue along the back of the house and open the deck gate. The bird flies into the lone maple tree and then at some point goes to the ground below the feeder.(Note there is a Golden retriever that barks in the house but do not worry about this). John Black ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] OFO Field trip to Rock Point and Eastern Shore Lake Erie August 10
Sunday's outing was attended by 25 participants. We saw a total of 71 species. The trip started at 0800 hours and ended at 1430 hours. We began at Rock Point where we had 9 species of shore birds. Notable were 1 White-rumped Sandpiper and 2 Ruddy Turnstones. From there we went to the Mosaic Esterhazy Lagoons (about a 10 minute drive) and added 3 Short-billed Dowitchers, a Pectoral Sandpiper and about 10 Greater Yellowlegs. Unfortunately there was no sign of the Hudsonian Godwit seen earlier in the week. Marsh Wren was a lifer for one group, and at the exit we had excellent looks at a Yellow-billed Cuckoo, a lifer for another group. After lunch in Stromness we visited the sod farms and had about 10 Black-bellied Plovers in one field. Then it was on to Morgan's Point and there the rain finally caught up with us as we studied a Cooper's Hawk. We persisted in th rain to a rocky point just east of Morgan's Point where we had good looks at a group of Semi-palmated and Least Sandpipers. Special thanks to Mosaic Esterhazy for permitting us to enter their lagoons. John Black and Dan Salisbury -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Hudsonian Godwit and Long-billed Dowitcher-near Port Maitland
Greetings This morning Dan Salisbury and were scouting in preparation for the August 10 (Sunday) Rock Point Provincial Park and Eastern Lake Erie OFO Field Trip. We observed a breeding plumage Hudsonian Godwit and saw and heard a Long-billed Dowitcher in the Mosaic Esterhazy Lagoons (on the east side of the feeder canal) near Port Maitland. Please note that permission is required from Mosaic Esterhazy Holdings (Georg Madsen) to enter the property. Alternatively you can come on the OFO Rock Point trip. After we visit Rock Point we will go to the Mosiac property, and with a little luck the godwit and dowitcher will still be there. Directions: The birds were in the lagoons to the east of Feeder Canal Road. These lagoons can be reached by entering through the gate at the north end of the property and walking out to the east and then to the south. The birds were on several small lagoons and ponds. Feeder canal road can be reached from Dunville by taking Highway 3 and turning right along the feeder canal just before you reach Stromness (about 7 km from the bridge in Dunville.) From Fort Erie turn left off Highway 3 just after Stromness. (Stromness is a very small town). If you continue south on Feeder Canal Road you reach an intersection and turn right into the Mosaic Esterhazy Holding property and ask for permission at the blue building. John Black -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Common Tern Information Sought
* Dr. Ralph Morris asked me to post this important message on his behalf. Common Tern Information Sought.* Common Terns are in trouble on the Great Lakes. Overall numbers have declined from 11, 189 pairs in 1977/78 to 9,049 pairs in 1998/99, the last year of a total lakes census by personnel of the CWS and the USFWS. The heaviest losses over this time period (-49%) have been in Canadian waters of the lakes, while colonies in U.S. waters have increased by 12%. Locally, the largest Common Tern colony on Lake Erie was on the east leg of the Port Colborne breakwater where 1,311 pairs were counted breeding in 1987. However, since 2004, no eggs have hatched among the few dozen pairs that nested there each year and the site was totally abandoned by terns in 2008. I believe most of these birds now nest on breakwaters in Buffalo Harbour. The primary reason for losses in numbers of breeding pairs is competition for nesting space with Ring-billed Gulls who arrive and begin nesting about one month before terns arrive from over-wintering grounds. Biologists working at sites on the lower Great Lakes (Ontario and Erie) believe that Common Terns arrived at their breeding colonies later than usual this spring, and in fewer numbers. CWS personnel are currently censusing waterbird numbers on the upper Great Lakes and will report on the situation with Common Terns later in the summer. In the meantime, I'm curious to hear from OFO members about comparative observations of terns this year compared to earlier years (arrival dates and numbers at colonies that members are familiar with). Please forward pertinent comments to Ralph Morris at [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> -- John Black President Ontario Field Ornithologists [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]58-65 Turkey Vultures
At 1400 hours today I came across 58-65 Turkey Vultures perched beside Elcho Road in a small woodlot not far from Wellandport. Directions. Wellandport lies south of Smithville at the intersection of Canborough Road and Highway 27 (this road runs south of Bismark) .The birds were on Elcho Road which is the first road north of Canborough Road. They were in a small wodlot on the south side of Elcho Road about 0.5 km east of Collver Road. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Barnacle Goose-Niagara
At 1000 hours this morning a single Barnacle Goose was seen in the company of many Canada Geese on Lakeshore Road west of Tufford Road in Niagara by Kayo Roy and others doing the Mid-winter Waterfowl Count. . The bird was not seen at 1300 hours, and there were no Canada Geese present. Directions. Exit the QEW at Victoria Street (Highway 24 to Vineland) and take the North Service Road 4 km to Tufford Road. Turn right on Tufford Road. The road curves left and at the stop sign turn right on Tufford Road. Drive to the end of Tufford Road. Turn left on Lakeshore Road and drive to the end of the public road by the shore of the lake. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Northern Hawk Owl Port Weller St. Catharines.
Greetings A Northern Hawk Owl was found early this afternoon about 50 meters south of the yellow barrier on Seaway Haulage Road in St. Catharines. The Seaway Haulage Road goes out to the Port Weller East Pier. The bird was spotted by Manley Baarda who was accompanied by Scott Martin and Brian Ahara. It perched on several different trees, both east and west of the road, and did not seem bothered by the small number of people who were looking at it. It also perched on top of a pole on the west side of the road. The bird was last seen at 1525 hours and was not refound by the one or two people who looked for it subsequently. Still it may not be far from the original site and if you are visiting Niagara tomorrow you might want to have a look for it along the road that goes out to the tip of the pier or in the trees to the south and east of the Yellow Barrier. This is the first Hawk Owl record for the Niagara Region to the best of my knowledge. Directions - Queen Elizabeth Highway to Niagara Street exit in St. Catharines. Go north to end of street at Lakeshore Road, turn right, cross over Lock One of the Welland Canal, turn left on Broadway, left on Seaway Haulage Road and park near yellow barrier. Good luck, John Black ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds] Western Kingbird Port Weller East Update Important Directions Update
The Western Kingbird was seen again by David Sked and I at 3:45 briefly and 4:15 for 10 minutes. We then left the site. When visible the bird sits up in the dead branches of the poplar trees in the south-east corner of the north wood. At 4:15 it was first visible perched in the north wood, and then flew out and perched on a small tree in the field to the east of the wood.It then returned to the north wood with a grasshopper. It repeated this process two more times. The south-east corner of the north wood can be reached by walking out along the east pier until you reach the north end of the shallow basin filled with shrubs and then grasses. There is a path on your right along the south end of the wood. It opens out into a field ahead and the woods on your left. There are some willows and to the left of them a large poplar where the bird did most of its perching. Important: Port Weller east can be reached tomorrow only from the east side of the canal. Cross the bridge from west to east across the canal at lock 2 (Carlton Street) and take the road to the north immediately after crossing the bridge. This road quickly becomes Reed Road and takes you to Lakeshore Road. Turn left at Lakeshore (west) toward the dry docks and Seaway Haulage Road. Turn right on Seaway Haulage Road and take this to its end where the barrier marks the start of the walk along the canal out the east pier. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds] . Great Gray Owl - Dec 27, Short Hills P.P., St. Catharines
In early December a Great Gray Owl was reported in Short Hills P.P, in the same area as described in the recent posting on ONTBIRDS by Doug Woodard. . When Kayo Roy and I were informed of the early December bird we notified Kay Mckeever, the head of the Owl Rehabilitation Foundation, located in Jordan, not far from Short Hills P.P. She informed us that in the last week of September three convalescing Great Gray Owls escaped from the Owl Rehabilitation Foundation . They escaped during a heavy storm which blew a large tree down across their cage. The owl site in Short Hills P.P is located about 9 km south east of the Owl Rehabilitation Foundation. Yesterday a Great Grey Owl (x-rays taken yesterday showed it to be one of the three escapes) was hit and killed by a car on Fourth Avenue Louth in the 15 mile creek valley about 3.5 km east of the Owl Rehabilitation Foundation. It is not clear if this bird is the same bird as the one seen on Short Hills on December 27, or is one of the other two escaped birds. If indeed it is a different bird then it is to be hoped the Short Hills bird will not be exposed to unreasonable human disturbance.
[Ontbirds] OFO Feld Trip Lake Erie, Entry to the Esterhazy Mosaic Property
The OFO Field trip to the Lake Erie shore began at Rock Point Provincial Park. There were 26 participants. At Rock Point we had: Killdeer (5), Lesser Yellowlegs (3), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Spotted Sandpiper (15), Sanderling (3), Semipalmated Sandpiper(5) and Least Sandpiper (16). A single meadowlark briefly joined the shorebirds on the beach. A number of Caspian Terns were observed flying beside the beach. >From Rock Point we went to the large property managed by Mosaic Esterhazy Holdings Limited. Georg Madsen, Operations Superintendent, met us at the gate to the property and opened gates on both the north and south sides of Rymer Road for us. We spent a very profitable time in this area adding Black-bellied Plover(1), Semipalmated Plover (2) Greater Yellowlegs (10) and Pectoral Sandpiper (5) to our shorebird list for the day. About 20 Lesser Yellowlegs, 12 Green Herons, and several Marsh Wrens were also observed. A lone Bald Eagle flew overhead as we were walking out of the area. We next visited the sod farms at the intersection of Hutchinson and Poth Road where we had 9 Black-bellied Plovers. We then went along the Canal Bank Road to Wainfleet and over to Morgan's Point where there were no shorebirds. After lunch at Morgan's Point we carried on to Harborview Road ( just east of Morgan's Point) where we had 22 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 3 Least Sandpipers and one Lesser Yellowlegs. At 1330 we arrived at the Erie Peat Road entrance to Wainfleet Bog and spent about 90 minutes walking in the bog. No unusual birds but we did have a Smooth green snake and various butterflies. A total of 67 species of birds were seen by the participants. We would like to thank Georg Madsen and Mosaic Esterhazy Holdings Limited for the opportunity to visit the Mosaic property. The property looks to be an excellent spot for shorebirds and waterbirds in the fall. For permission to enter visit the Mosaic Office at the corner of Canal Bank Road and Rymer Road . Office hours are Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1630 hours. For pre-arrangements of visits or field trips to the area contact George Madsen at 1-905-774-7681 during office hours.( From Rock Point Provincial Park turn right at the entrance to the park and then take the first left on Downy Road . The road intersects Rymer Road. Turn left on Rymer Road and you will come to the mosaic property with evaporation lagoons on the right and an embankment on the left, which hides two large lagoons, before reaching Canal Bank Road. ) John Black and Dan Salisbury.
[Ontbirds]Turkey Vulture - Wellandport
Blayne Farnan observed a Turkey Vulture at 0730 hours today on Highway27 just south of Wellandport on the Niagara Peninsula. Wellandport is south of Smitthville on Highway 20 and then Highway 27. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tue Jan 31 23:05:19 2006 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from balrog.csolve.net (balrog.csolve.net [207.164.80.179]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 890C463D4D for ; Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:05:19 -0500 (EST) Received: from dsl-207.35.14.243.csolve.net ([207.35.14.243]) by balrog.csolve.net with esmtp (Exim 4.50 (FreeBSD)) id 1F49F9-000JGt-DA for ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org; Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:05:19 -0500 User-Agent: Microsoft-Outlook-Express-Macintosh-Edition/5.02.2022 Date: Tue, 31 Jan 2006 23:04:35 -0500 From: Colin Jones <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mime-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit Subject: [Ontbirds]Request for records - Great Gray Owls 2004/2005 X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:05:19 - Dear Ontario Birders, The following request for information was passed by the ONTBIRDS coordinator Mark Cranford. Please send any replies directly to me and not the the entire ONTBIRDS list. This message pertains to my recent article in the December 2005 issue of Ontario Birds entitled "The Ontario Great Gray Owl Irruption of 2004-2005: Numbers, Dates and Distribution". Recently, Michael Jaques of Carleton Place contacted me with additional data from his area that was not captured during the compilation of data for this article. I am in the process of writing a note for the April issue of Ontario Birds with an update based upon this information and it occurred to me that there may be additional data that was also missed. If anyone has additional data on the Great Gray Owl irruption of last winter that affects the content of my recent article (e.g. dates of first occurrence - see table 1; date of last occurrence - see table 2; or any updates that affect the body of the text) I would gladly receive the records and make any necessary updates/corrections. I'd like to thank Michael for providing me with the additional information from his area and for suggesting that an update be written. If folks could respond to me by this Friday, February 3, 2006 with any additional data they may have, I would greatly appreciate it. Good birding, Colin Colin Jones Lakefield, ON Tel: 705-652-5004
[Ontbirds]Gordon Bellerby
Yesterday Gordon Bellerby died at his home in Niagara-on-the-Lake after some months of illness. He was, for many years, an active member of the TOC and lived in Toronto. After he moved to NOTL he became interested in Niagara River gulls, became a very helpful gull expert, and took many birders on gull trips along the river. A memorial service will be held at St. Mark's Anglican Church ( 41 Byron Street) in NOTL at 3:00 PM on January 25. John Black
[Ontbirds]Purple Sandpipers and Little Gull - Niagara
This morning Paul Benham, Blayne and Jean Farnan, Kayo Roy and Gale Seamans and I had two Purple Sandpipers above Niagara Falls . They were observed from the south of the Engineerium building located across from the parking lot at the greenhouses. We failed to find the Palm Warbler in the vicinity of the control structure above the falls . We also had a Little Gull from the Queenston Sandocks flying across the river in front of the round red building. A Shoveler was observed at the sewage lagoons to the west of Niagara-on-the Lake. A visit to the Niagara District Airport yielded two Harriers, 6 Horned Larks and a flock of 14 Snow Buntings. No sign of the Short-eared Owls observed there on December 27. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Jan 2 16:05:37 2006 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from mail.bmts.com (mail.bmts.com [216.183.128.202]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 23D0B63C3E for ; Mon, 2 Jan 2006 16:05:37 -0500 (EST) Received: from yourzekho33gl4 (sms5-pool120-0152.bmts.com [209.240.120.152]) by mail.bmts.com (8.12.10/8.12.10) with SMTP id k02KvusA003423 for ; Mon, 2 Jan 2006 15:57:56 -0500 (EST) Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: "Ralph Knowles" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ontbirds" Date: Mon, 2 Jan 2006 16:05:36 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1"; reply-type=original Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 Subject: [Ontbirds]Kincardine CBC X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 02 Jan 2006 21:05:37 - Hello All Below are the preliminary results of the 22nd Kincardine Christmas Bird Count held on Friday December 30th. 23 observers participated and found a total of 8992 individuals and 60 species (a new high). Over these years we've seen 106 species. The weather was perfect for a winter count (sunny most of the day and just below freezing and no wind) A lot of open water inland with a moderate amount of ice along the lakeshore helped produce a good variety of species. Three new species for the Count were Black Scoter, Hermit Thrush and Chipping Sparrow. High Numbers for the Count: Ring-necked Pheasant 1 (tied in1999) Belted Kingfisher 1 (tied in 1991) Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 (tied in 2003) Northern Flicker 4 (tied in 1984) Downy Woodpecker 46 (previous H-44 in 1989) Black-capped Chikadee 825 (previous H-823 in 1995) European Starling2494 (previous H- 2444 in 1991) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 (tied in 1985) Ralph Knowles Compiler Kincardine, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[Ontbirds]Franklin's Gulls Niagara, no swallows.
Dan Salisbury and I had the Franklin's Gull at the location in Fort Erie where it was reported yesterday by Kayo Roy. There were between 3000 and 5000 Bonaparte's Gulls on the river south of the railway Bridge, but the Franklin's in flight was easy to locate. A single Lesser Black-backed Gull was present on the breakwall north of the Control Weir in Niagara Falls and a Pomarine Jaeger was seen chasing a Parasitic Jaeger at the mouth of the River at Niagara-on-the-Lake far from shore. At the sewage lagoons just outside Niagara-on-the-Lake we had a second Franklin's Gull in with several hundred Bonaparte's. The lagoons can be reached by driving to Niagara on the Lake and turning left on Mary Street (It becomes Lakeshore Road) at the Tim Horton's. Travel past Shakespeare Road and the firing range and watch for a gate into the lagoons to the right of Lakeshore . Often the gate is open and you can drive in to look over the first lagoon where the Franklin's was sitting. Even if the gate is not open you have a pretty good view of the first sewage lagoon from outside the gate. We failed to find a single swallow on our trip along the Niagara River. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mon Nov 14 15:25:31 2005 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from taiga.com (mail.taiga.com [204.11.32.182]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 3B601638D2 for ; Mon, 14 Nov 2005 15:25:31 -0500 (EST) Received: (qmail 371 invoked by uid 30); 14 Nov 2005 20:23:06 - Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: ontbirds@hwcn.org From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: 14 Nov 2005 15:11:06 -0400 Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: Cranberry Marsh (14 Nov 2005) 45 Raptors X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 14 Nov 2005 20:25:31 - Cranberry Marsh Whitby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 14, 2005 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 0 18 2938 Osprey 0 0122 Bald Eagle 0 3 43 Northern Harrier 2 7 96 Sharp-shinned Hawk 4 21 1237 Cooper's Hawk0 17170 Northern Goshawk 2 5 15 Red-shouldered Hawk 1 3 46 Broad-winged Hawk0 0220 Red-tailed Hawk 30183 1179 Rough-legged Hawk4 10 29 Golden Eagle 0 5 24 American Kestrel 0 3485 Merlin 0 1 28 Peregrine Falcon 0 1 16 Unknown 2 6140 Total: 45283 6788 -- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 13:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter: Doug Lockrey Observers:Bettina Murphy, Dan Kaczynski, Donna Foster, Joyce Collier-Brown Weather: sunny; medium W winds; 12 C; TUV=2 Raptor Observations: 2 NH (1 male), 4 SS, 2 N.Goshawk, 1 RS, 30 RT, 4 RL, 1 UB, 1UR Non-raptor Observations: 1 N.Shrike, 3 Fox sparrows Report submitted by John Douglas Lockrey ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) Cranberry Marsh information may be found at: http://www.torontobirding.ca/~gtrw
[Ontbirds] Red-necked Phalarope-Cedar Bay between Fort Erie and Port Colburne
Kayo Roy and I had a Red-necked Phalarope on the beach to the east of Pinecrest Road at 11:00 PM today.. Also present were between 10 and 12 Baird's Sandpipers, an assortment of other peep, and two Sanderlings. At Jaeger Rocks, west of Fort Erie, there were 8 American Golden Plovers on the beach. Pinecrest Road can be reached by travelling west from Fort Erie along Highway 3. In Gasline the road curves to the north and a sharp turn left will put you on Kilaly Road. Pinecrest is the first road west on Kilaly. Turn south on Pinecrest and drive to the end. Then walk out to the east (left) on the rocky shore and search for shorebirds. The best shorebird spot has been in the rocky area south of the large patch of grasses and plants about 100 meters down the rocky beach, just before you reach the algae covered sand beach. Jaeger Rocks can be reached by travelling along the shoreline from Fort Erie, following the shoreline by past the Fort, and stopping just before the houses on the left where you have an unobstructed view of the rocky shore. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Sep 4 13:04:24 2005 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from web88011.mail.re2.yahoo.com (web88011.mail.re2.yahoo.com [206.190.37.230]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 6F04163DE4 for ; Sun, 4 Sep 2005 13:04:24 -0400 (EDT) Received: (qmail 31407 invoked by uid 60001); 4 Sep 2005 17:08:48 - DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; s=s1024; d=rogers.com; h=Message-ID:Received:Date:From:Subject:To:MIME-Version:Content-Type:Content-Transfer-Encoding; b=elDO3+QhTRgUM/3v2cHGGeQmD9nqYKsT7q0EbwAOATuBLC2C+zc1xUKmcmWOkapTFM0T6ehZ1xV1IJf5YLr4rCA53oACtDyZPBQRMPMqbz9OIPDs177npC9wIl8tWZF1hGv0KxVjJoGAfQCHE8Xiix9RTc0bklGlbSrtljSvBME= ; Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Received: from [70.28.198.240] by web88011.mail.re2.yahoo.com via HTTP; Sun, 04 Sep 2005 13:08:48 EDT Date: Sun, 4 Sep 2005 13:08:48 -0400 (EDT) From: RON FLEMING <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Keith Dunn <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, OFO Bird Sightings , Mike Van den Tillaart <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.1 Subject: [Ontbirds]Merlin & Goshawk @ Schomberg Lagoons X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 04 Sep 2005 17:04:24 - Although I continue to strike out locally in my search for "good" shorebirds (eg. finding nothing but three Killdeer after driving over to the Tottenham sod farms this morning), I'm finding some consolation in happening upon a few decent raptors. For the second day in a row I lucked into a Merlin, this time at the Schomberg lagoons west of Newmarket. When I first arrived at 9:30 a.m. a small-ish raptor was silhouetted atop one of the hydro poles on the north side of the lagoons. It flew south across the second pond as I approached, showing itself to be a dark falcon with a boldly banded tail. Eventually it returned to the same perch, but with the sun now behind me I was able to get much better looks through my scope. The bird - a female/juv. type - showed dark brown feathering simliar to yesterday's Merlin at Holland Landing (which I believe to be a taiga female due to its brawny size and chocolate colouration), but it was not as thickly barred in the chest. For those interested in bird behaviour, it was "shuffling" its feet quite a bit and wiping its beak along the top and sides of the wooden pole on which it was perched. While I was walking along the southern end of the property (heading back to the west), my attention was drawn to a medium-sized raptor flying low over the grassy strip between the lagoons and the row of trees on the fenceline. I assumed it would turn out to be a Harrier, but when I got my binoculars up and followed it across my line of vision eastward, I was surprised to see that it was a juvenile Goshawk, heavily streaked below, sporting a fairly distinct white supercilium and a zig-zag patterned tail with a white tip. It flew out of sight behind the long hill in the SE corner of the property and did not reappear. As for shorebirds, there were about 40 Lesser Yellowlegs scattered around the three lagoons, one juv. Greater Yellowlegs, two Solitary Sandpipers, four Least Sandpipers, several Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers, about 30 Blue-winged Teal, and a single Green Heron (first pond). At the McKenzie Marsh in Aurora today there were six Great Blue Herons, two Black-crowned Night Herons (one ad., one juv.), one Common Moorhen in basic plumage, and a pair of noisy Belted Kingfishers. Ron Fleming, Newmarket Directions: The Schomberg lagoons are west of Hwy. 400. Take Hwy. 9 west to Hwy. 27 (which runs north out of Nobleton). Turn south and take the next left, which is Proctor
[Ontbirds]Sandhill Crane near Smithville on Vanderliek pond.
At noon today Marcie Jacklin and I had a Sandhill Crane on Vanderleik Pond. There were 5 Golden Plovers present as well. Vanderliek Pond is about 5 KM east of Smithville Ontario on Highway 20. The driveway to the farm is on the east side of the road about 1,4 KM north of the Bismarck intersection. Where the driveway ends, drive out along a grassy patch to the right of the barn and park at the end of the barn. The pond is in front of you.
[Ontbirds]Owls finally reach Niagara
Greetings, Two Snowy Owls showed up at the Niagara Distrct Airport early this morning. I went out and quickly located one just across the apron in front of the gazebo. The airport is on Niagara Stone Road. It can be reached by exiting the QEW at Glendale Avenue and then working your way over to the Welland Canal. Turn right on Niagara Stone Road, and drive toward Lake Ontario, the airport is on your left at the junction with Airport Road. On Monday December 27, on the Niagara Falls Christmas Count, we had 7 Short-eared Owls in one area at about 3:00 PM. . The area is located a few hundred meters west of Creek Road (The road between Virgil and St. Davids) on Line 6. You want to be about 100 meters east of #650, with an apple orchard to the north and open fields to the south. A male and a female Harrier were also flying around the fields. At one point the owls were perching on the tops of the apple trees. There is a friendly dog that may come to visit you if you stand out of your car. We had the trunk of our car opened and the dog jumped in. It was pretty reluctant to get out of the trunk but we finally did get it out. (Don Mills take note) The birds were not seen Tuesday afternoon, but two birds were seen at 3:30 PM on Wednesday. There is also a Trumpeter Swan on the Welland River at the south end of Dorchester Road, just where Dorchester veers to the left along the Welland River. The bird was found and identified by John Miles on the 27th. You can get to Dorchester Road by exiting the QEW at McLeod Street and driving east toward the Niagara River until you reach Dorchester (I think it is the second set of lights) . Turn right on Dorchester. John Black From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed Dec 29 22:47:01 2004 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from priv-edtnes51.telusplanet.net (outbound04.telus.net [199.185.220.223]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 32E0C9F604 for ; Wed, 29 Dec 2004 22:47:01 -0500 (EST) Received: from Toshiba1 ([66.203.195.77]) by priv-edtnes51.telusplanet.net (InterMail vM.6.01.04.00 201-2131-118-20041027) with SMTP <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Wed, 29 Dec 2004 20:47:55 -0700 Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: "A. Eadie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "ontbirds" Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 22:47:52 -0500 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.2180 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 Subject: [Ontbirds]Pyrrhuloxia Photo at www.ofo.ca/photos X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: "A. Eadie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-List-Received-Date: Thu, 30 Dec 2004 03:47:01 - ONTBIRDERS Take a look at the photo of the Pyrrhuloxia photographed by Chris Escott today (Dec. 29th). The bird was found and identified in Eagle by Reinhold Pokraka. The photo illustrates many of the bird's identifying features such as the beak and the crest. This bird is almost certainly a first for Canada. Sandra Eadie OFO web site coordinator www.ofo.ca [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[Ontbirds]Sabine's and Little Gulls above Niagara Falls
Today, between 1030 and 1130 hours, I observed an immature Sabine's Gull flying between the Engineerium and the brink of Niagara Falls. It was feeding in the company of hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls and at least two white terns (probably Common but difficult to be sure at the large distance) . There were also a number of Tree Swallows feeding out over the water. Observing from a spot just north of the Control Weir two Little Gulls were seen about half way across the river. They were feeding with the Bonaparte's Gulls and at least two white terns. Once again there were a number of Tree Swallows flying over the river. John Black St. Catharines, ON Directions Take the QEW and exit at Highway 420 toward the river. At the river bear right along River Road. After you pass the Falls there is a large stone building on the left (The Engineerium) . Parking is a problem. For $3.00/hour you can park in the Botanical Gardens across from the Engineerium. If you prefer to park for nothing then continue past the Engineerium and travel to the south end of Dufferin Island where there is a road to the right. You can park in free spaces along this road and walk back to the Engineerium. To reach the control weir continue past Dufferin Island and you come to a structure on the left and a control weir that stretches almost half way across the river. (The weir is open during the day but is closed at night to divert water from the Falls to the Adam Beck reservoir.) There is a parking lot just south of the control weir . Park there and walk back to below the weir and you can look out over the river . From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Oct 17 18:16:32 2004 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from tomts16-srv.bellnexxia.net (tomts16.bellnexxia.net [209.226.175.4])by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 9699348E0C for ; Sun, 17 Oct 2004 18:16:32 -0400 (EDT) Received: from oemcomputer ([65.94.100.17]) by tomts16-srv.bellnexxia.net (InterMail vM.5.01.06.10 201-253-122-130-110-20040306) with SMTP id <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> for ; Sun, 17 Oct 2004 18:24:04 -0400 Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> From: "Margaret Bain" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ontbirds" Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 17:33:42 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2800.1158 X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165 Subject: [Ontbirds]Snow Geese, Brant, Red Knot Cobourg harbour X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 17 Oct 2004 22:16:32 - October 17: The SW gales of the last few days have produced some good birding in Cobourg harbour. Water levels have dropped recently and a large mat of mud and algae has built up in the extreme SW corner, sheltered from the winds by the west headland. An immature white Snow Goose has been grazing with Canadas on the lawns of the yacht club for almost a week. Two adult blue Snow Geese have been in the harbour itself yesterday and today and one lone Brant has been feeding with Mallards at the edge of the algae mat. Other waterfowl include American Wigeon, Gadwall, N.Pintail, N.Shoveler, 7 Green-winged Teal, and both scaup. Shorebirds on the algae today included 3 or 4 Black-bellied Plovers, a beautiful silvery gray juv. Red Knot, about 20 Dunlin, a few Sanderling, Pectoral Sandpipers, and up to 3 White-rumped Sandpipers. Clive Goodwin from his eyrie overlooking the harbour had a flyby Parasitic Jaeger on the 15th and a dense flock of 150 Brant out on the lake. A few Boneys are still hanging around. Flocks of Red-breasted Mergansers have been flying west, as well as flocks of White-winged Scoters with occasional Surf and Black. Cobourg harbour is at the foot of Division Street. Exit Hwy. 401 at Divisidion Street, Exit 474. There is quite a bit of construction around the harbour area at present. To reach the west side of the harbour, drive south on Division almost to the harbour and turn west (right) onto Albert Street at the last set of traffic lights. Drive west just less than 0.5km, then turn south on Hibernia Street at the next set of traffic lights to find parking at the main parking lot at the edge of the harbour. Margaret Bain Cobourg [EMAIL PROTECTED]
