I spent a leisurely two hours at the Holland Landing lagoons between 10:30 -
12:30 this morning and found the 2nd and 4th cells to be productive for
shorebirds. The most interesting find was a trio of juvenile Red-necked
Phalaropes in the 4th cell. These birds were actively wading in the shallows,
sporting bold buff-coloured scapular stripes and long black "eye masks". There
was also one molting adult Short-billed Dowitcher in the 2nd lagoon. Least
Sandpipers numbered about 120 and there were 70+ Lesser Yellowlegs (about a
75:25 ratio of juveniles to molting adults). No Greaters were around when I
was there.
Also present were about 15 Killdeer, 6 Spotted Sandpipers, 2 Solitary
Sandpipers, approx. 200 Bonaparte's Gulls in varying stages of molt (hooded,
semi-hooded, unhooded...), approx. 100 Blue-winged Teal, 70+ Mallards, a dozen
Black Ducks, and six Wood Ducks. Swallows - mainly Bank and Northern
Rough-winged - were very active; they numbered about 400.
The south fenceline (especially around the 3rd and 4th lagooons) had a good
selection of passerines including one Northern Waterthrush, one Black & White
Warbler, three Yellow Warblers, several Common Yellowthroats in all plumage
variations, two Warbling Vireos, scads of Song Sparrows, several Swamp
Sparrows, numerous Cedar Waxwings, and about a dozen Eastern Kingbirds.
Numerous American Goldfinches, Common Whitetail dragonflies, and Monarch
butterflies added colour to the grassy perimeter.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
Directions: The Holland Landing lagoons are just north of Newmarket,
which in turn is about 30 minutes directly north of Toronto. From Davis
Drive/Hwy.9
in mid-Newmarket turn north at lights on Yonge Street (the Upper Canada Mall
will be on the NW side of this busy intersection). Drive past all the "big
box" stores in the north part of Newmarket (past Tim Horton's, Canadian Tire,
Home Depot, Future Shop, Costco, Silvercity Cinemas, etc.) to the stoplights
beside the Newmarket Inn, which is about 2 kms north of Green Lane.
Turn right into Holland Landing and follow the curving descent to the
lights at the bridge (don't take the left near the bottom of the hill).
The bridge crosses the East Holland River. You will be on Old Yonge Street.
Keep going north through town, past Beckett Ave. You will go through a
little curve in the road where there are conifer stands on both sides, then you
will pass Doane Rd. on the right. About a km after that you will see two white
wagon wheels and a
Maximum 60 sign; this is Cedar St. Turn right (east) and follow it to the dead
end.
Park there and climb the fence, but please note that this fence has become
"wonky" over the past month. If the gate pegs on the right (south) post are
not aligned properly (the gate has obviously been rammed by something), a
relatively easy climb can become a gymnastic adventure. As facetious as that
sounds, please be sure to exercise caution because you could do a nasty "face
plant", as my sons would put it. Make sure the left (north side) of the gate
is sitting on the little brick that is there.
The four lagoons are straight east along that gravel service road. Watch for
poison ivy on the north side of the road.
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From: "STAN LONG" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 20:03:14 +0000
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Markham Great egret
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3.30 pm - 1 Great egret was seen at Reesor Pond - Least and
Semi-palmated
sandpipers continued to trickle through there this last week -
ever-present are
Lesser and Greater yellowlegs, Spotted sandpipers and Killdeers -
Coyote Pond
is due to be emptied and filled in shortly, its stream undergrounded
though it
will feed some large, manicured ponds just north of the 407 -
a Pectoral sandpiper
showed up at Coyote Sunday - Reesor Pond lies on the west side of
Reesor Road
just North of Hwy 407 in Markham.
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Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 18:55:30 -0400 (EDT)
From: RON FLEMING <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: OFO Bird Sightings <ontbirds@hwcn.org>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Clarification re: Holland Landing Lagoons
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Gently prompted by Ron Pittaway to double-check my "molting adult Short-billed
Dowitcher" (in his usual gentlemanly fashion he informed me that this species
does not typically molt until it is well south of here), I returned to the HL
lagoons late this afternoon in a warm summer rain.
I could not initially relocate the bird in question at the 2nd lagoon, but
did add two species not seen this morning: one Pectoral Sandpiper and two
Greater Yellowlegs (juv). I continued on to the 4th cell and rediscovered the
Red-necked Phalaropes near the far eastern edge of the lagoon (5:00 p.m.).
Returning to the 2nd cell I found the "dowitcher" in question and, painfully
aware of the limitations of my antiquated Bushnell Spacemaster scope (vintage
1982), was pleased to find the bird much closer than this morning. Better
looks helped reveal that the bird was not, in fact, a molting adult SB
Dowitcher but a molting adult Stilt Sandpiper, which is a fairly long-billed
sandpiper but still shorter-billed than the relatively long-billed
Short-billed, if you follow. This Stilt is very gray in the back, molting into
basic plumage but still showing a lot of barring along the flanks (all the way
to the undertail) from its alternate/breeding plumage. Hope this helps to
clear things up for shorebird enthusiasts who were curious about whether this
molting bird might in fact be a Long-billed Dowitcher.
IMPORTANT NOTE RE: GATE
In the event that any Ontbirds subscribers choose to visit the HL lagoons,
please be sure to take extra care at the first gate. It is very loosely
propped up by broken hinges at the right post and could easily fall flat. The
safest way to negotiate it is to go through the bars at the bent section rather
than trying to climb over.
Unlike Dave Milsom's experience at the Schomberg lagoons where workers have
been instructed to expel shorebird enthusiasts, local workers to date have been
fairly relaxed about birders visiting the HL lagoons. To maintain this
harmonious relationship a short explanation (eg. "Just birding, sir!") and a
pleasant demeanor are highly recommended. Not knocking the gate over is also
encouraged.
Last but not least, if any birders are upgrading scopes and have "an old one"
languishing in a cupboard, please contact me for negotiations.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
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From: "Dennis Lewington" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Ontbirds" <ontbirds@hwcn.org>
Date: Tue, 15 Aug 2006 21:09:23 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Tricoloured Heron - Niagara Falls
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For anyone interested, the Tricoloured Heron was still feeding today on =
the Niagara River, close to the shore, across from Dufferin Islands Park =
in Niagara Falls, as described by earlier postings. We saw it at 11 =
A.M. today, Tuesday, August 15th.
Dennis & Gwen Lewington
Stoney Creek, Ontario
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From: "Jacques Bouvier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 09:39:03 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Juvenile Little Blue Heron east of Ottawa
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Sorry for the late post but I only received this information this morning.
Geof Burbidge was able to photograph the juvenile Little Blue Heron on
Monday afternoon. His photos are very good. Please see his close-up
pictures here:
http://jacquesbouvier.blogspot.com/
I checked the site yesterday but did not see it. Geof talked to a local
photographer on site who told him the bird had been there for about a week.
Chances are it might return. If anyone sees it again please post it here.
Thanks.
DIRECTIONS:
HIGH FALLS : From Hwy 417 take exit 66 towards Casselman. Go about 2 km
on Rue Principale Rd to the South Nation River. Just before the bridge turn
on Brisson Road and drive about 0.5 km. From here walk through the woods to
the south side of the river. The heron can seen from this south shore.
Jacques Bouvier
CP/Box 184
St-Isidore, ON K0C 2B0
(613) 524-1154
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
