Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the week ending JULY 3, 2003
Fall Migration has started for shorebirds. On the evening of July 1st, 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 29 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 2 LEAST SANDPIPERS were foraging in the marsh. On July 3rd there were 7 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 21 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and 3 LEAST SANDPIPERS. The Yellowlegs were primarily foraging in the nw area of the marsh in newly vegetated shallow water. CASPIAN TERNS attempted nesting on the gravel island. However by July 1st both nests appeared abandoned. COMMON TERNS numbers are increasing with non or failed breeders using the marsh in addition to the existing colony. A large roost of immature BONAPARTE'S GULLS is building in the Second Marsh with 263 birds there June 26. The first adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS have returned with 3 present July 3rd. Also, 1 to 2 immature LITTLE GULLS are mixed in with them. Several young waterfowl families have appeared in the marsh over the last 10 days. Most are MALLARDS, however WOOD DUCK, GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER and NORTHERN PINTAIL families can also be seen. Several species of moulting males are increasing. These bachelor flocks consist primarily of MALLARDS(150+), GADWALLS(40+), AMERICAN WIGEONS(20+), BLUE (20+) and GREEN-WINGED TEAL(10+) and NORTHERN SHOVELERS (20+). Loitering waterfowl observed almost daily include LESSER SCAUP (2), GREATER SCAUP (1), BLACK DUCK (2), HOODED MERGANSER (2) and REDHEAD (2). On June 17 there was a pair of LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Lake Ontario off the marsh. The Swan flock has appeared to have now moved to Lake Ontario off the western edge of Darlington Provincial Park. 51 Mute Swans were present there July 3. A family of COMMON MOORHENS was seen on June 26th and July 3rd. The GREAT EGRET was last reported June 18th. Also on that day a LEAST BITTERN was reported. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are increasing as they disperse from their colonies; 7 were observed on July 3rd. The resident pair of COOPER'S HAWKS in Darlington Provincial Park are roaming further from their nest site to feed their growing family. They can regularly be seen foraging over the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. An OSPREY has been a regular around the Second Marsh lately. It was last seen June 27th hunting over the marsh. Passerines on territory in the Oshawa Second Marsh and McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve area include MOURNING WARBLER, AMERICAN REDSTART, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW, MARSH WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ORCHARD AND BALTIMORE ORIOLE, BOBOLINK, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, BROWN THRASHER, GRAY CATBIRD, and RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Our thanks for this week's contributors: Brian Brasier, Durham Rare Bird Line, Tyler Hoar, Ray Laughlin, Jim Richards, Keith Sharp, and Wioletta Walancik. Please send sightings reports to the attention of Tyler Hoar, (e-mail) [EMAIL PROTECTED] no later than Thursday morning each week. For a trail map of Second Marsh visit www.secondmarsh.com There is a link on that site that will take you to a trail map for McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. Directions Exit from the 401 at the Harmony Rd. Exit (419) in Oshawa. Go south on Farewell St. to Colonel Sam Drive. Go east on Colonel Sam Drive to the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. The east platform is located here. To see the Lake Ontario waterbirds proceed along the path from the parking lot south to the lakeshore. "Tyler Hoar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
