After further consideration and consultation with Peterson and Sibley I feel that I may perhaps have concluded too quickly regarding the identity of the shrike at G. Ross Lord Park. The shrike may well be a Northern, not a Loggerhead. I regret having been carried away in my excitement and precipitous in posting what may be an erroneous report. The shrike is indeed there - it is not a mockingbird, I promise - but it will require a further look and, perhaps, a more experienced birder than I to ascertain its true identity.
This evening - Thursday, March 29 - at 5:30 p.m. in G. Ross Lord Park (in the Bathurst-Steeles area), my wife, Terri, and I had a nice look - several, actually - at a Loggerhead Shrike. We thought we had seen it yesterday evening as well and went back this evening to confirm. We found it, on both nights, along the path that runs between the Fisherville entrance to the park and the Torresdale entrance to the park (the path runs north-south).
Lots of Waterfowl at the Second Marsh in Oshawa. Waterfowl 14 species: Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Mallards, Black Duck, American Widgeon, Northern Pintail,Ring-necked Duck, Wood Duck, Gadwall, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Green-winged teal, and Northern Shoveler.
Gulls 6 species including 1 adult Iceland Gull, immature Glacous Gull, immature lesser black-backed Gull
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 25, 2001
More signs of spring this past week to make us even more optimistic. There were three TREE SWALLOWS flying low over the Trent Canal near the Domtar plant in Trenton on Monday. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS continue to show up with more individuals being seen on Hambly Road near Napanee, 2 at Point Petre and one on the Ridge Road, just south of Picton. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and COMMON GRACKLES are everywhere these days, and KILLDEERS are present now throughout the Quinte area. There was an early PINE WARBLER at a Brighton feeder on Tuesday, presumably an early migrant as opposed to an individual that had wintered somewhere nearby. There was a GREAT BLUE HERON east of Stirling this week, one in Frankford and another in Trenton. A SWAMP SPARROW turned up at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area, south of Picton on Monday, and there was an AMERICAN WOODCOCK in a swamp along Scoharie Road, north of Bloomfield on Wednesday. BELTED KINGFISHERS last week were seen at Elmbrook, Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area at the pond there, and at Beaver Meadow. SONG SPARROWS were seen last week in the Cressy area and at Peat's Point.
There was a major movement of CANADA GEESE early in the week with small scattered flocks comprising anywhere from a few individuals to several hundred passing over on a regular basis. A flock of 15 SNOW GEESE was seen flying over Cherry Valley on Wednesday. Last week the usuals were at Wellington Harbour including AMERICAN WIGEON, CANVASBACK, REDHEAD, MALLARD, BLACK DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, both HOODED and COMMON MERGANSER, CANADA GEESE, MUTE SWANS and one AMERICAN COOT. At the Bucknell's Slough, off Wesley Acres Road, just south of Bloomfield, there were 16 NORTHERN PINTAILS, MALLARDS, BLACK DUCKS and HOODED MERGANSERS on Friday. This area bears watching over the next week or two, but the timing has to be right as the property owner pumps this agricultural field dry early in the season. Other interesting water birds last week included PIED-BILLED GREBES at both Demorestville Creek and on the Trent River, and a HORNED GREBE at Point Petre. There were two WOOD DUCKS at Beaver Meadow.
'Tis the season for owls, it would seem. In addition to the regular complement of LONG-EARED OWLS, BOREAL OWLS, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and SNOWY OWL reported by a visiting Montreal birder, and Alex Scott who patrols the area on a regular basis, there have been some good sightings of at least one species in Prince Edward County as well. EASTERN SCREECH OWLS this past week were heard calling at Big Island (1), Walmsley Road (1), Sandbanks Provincial Park (4), Marisette Road (1), 1 on Welbanks Road and another on Kelly Road. At Point Petre, a LONG-EARED OWL was seen being harassed by 9 COMMON CROWS.
RED-TAILED HAWKS last week included the regular at Mountain View Airport, with others being seen at Fenwood Gardens, Point Petre, Beaver Meadow, and at Hubb's Sugar Bush west of Rednersville. There was a COOPER'S HAWK at Beaver Meadow last week, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK at Peat's Point, and several NORTHERN HARRIERS seen including 3 at the Big Island Marsh, one at the Sawguin Marsh near Fenwood Gardens and another along Marsh Road at Huff's Island. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen on Huyck's Point Road, and AMERICAN KESTRELS reported from numerous locations during the week.
Some interesting sightings at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area, in addition to those already mentioned, included RUFFED GROUSE (3), 12 WILD TURKEYS, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS and 4 PILEATED WOODPECKERS. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was also seen east of Stirling, and north of Bloomfield.
As mentioned last week, the complete schedule for the 5th Annual Prince Edward County Birding Festival is now online at www.naturestuff.net . To make it easier, a birding festival banner has been placed on the home page. Clicking on this banner will take you directly to the Festival page without having to navigate through all the 2001 outdoor program. This coming Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. I have the pleasure of being guest speaker at the Springtime in Quinte Garden Show and Outdoor Expo at the Quinte Sport Centre. The presentation, "Paddle, Prop and Walking Stick" will look at Quinte Conservation's outdoor program of canoe/kayak trips, aerial tours and guided hikes, and some of our misadventures over the years. Join us if you can.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John Charlton, Ian Shanahan, Donalyn and John Legate, Patti Smith, Art MacConnell, Steve Monet, Nancy Fox, Don Craighead, Alex Scott, Neil Hendon, and Lloyd Paul for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 1st. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good spring birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Redhead and Canvasback paired?, Leslie Street Spit, Toronto posted by Anthony DAle on March 25, 2001 at 19:00:21:
Amazingly their wear a mail and female Canvasback in this same pond yesterday (03-24-01) courting.. so I don't know wear the mail went ?? but i hope he comes back.
Craig McLauchlan
In Reply to: Redhead and Canvasback paired?, Leslie Street Spit, Toronto posted by Anthony DAle on March 25, 2001 at 19:00:21:
Amazingly their wear a mail and female Canvasback in this same pond yesterday (03-24-01) courting.. so I don't know wear the mail went ?? but i hope he comes back.
Craig McLauchlan
I'd be interested to hear any comments about this, or at least draw it to people's attention for further study: At the Spit today (March 25, 2001), I observed what I believe to be a male Redhead paired with (or at least courting) a female Canvasback. The male was hanging around while the female dove to feed frequently. There was some interaction between them. The male Redhead was distinctive. The female was more intriguing. It was uniformly light brown coloured, without the notable difference in plumage between brownsish breast and greyer sides and back that a Canvasback should have. The head and bill shape said Canvasback. The bill was uniformly dark, without the markings that a female Redhead would have. The pair was in the newer small pond to the east of the road that runs south from the red bridge. That is, the pond that is visible by looking north as you circle around the large endikement from west to east. The same pond held a pair of Bufflehead, pair of Mute Swan, pair of Canada Geese and a pair of Mallards. There were only a scattering of Redhead elsewhere on the Spit and I saw no other Canvasbacks. I am aware of the previous presence of at least one suspected hybrid in this area (Coady in Ontario Birds, December 2000). Might this pair be: A male Redhead and female Canvasback? Or a male Redhead and female Redead X Canvasback hybrid?
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Once again a great Toronto bird has failed to mack its way on to Ontbirds or any internet form ??.Quite like the Brant last year , Why God only knows ??? becauss I sheer dont ...
But any way their is and has bin a Barrow's Golden eye on the Leslie st spit (or Tommy Thompson park) for at lest a week now , i refound it this morning in the last cell ( furthest south cell) jist wear the red foot bridge is. it is in with a flock of 40 to 60 Com.Goldeneye.This flock like all Goldeneye is quite skittish and wood tack to wing for what seemed know reason ???
All so , I have jist spoken to Jean Iron on her cell (she and others are out looking for this duck) and they are having a hard time ree finding the bird ??..
the Leslie st Spit is found at the foot of Leslie st jist south of the lake shore blvd.
also seen to day wear 2 courting Canvasbacks in the triangall pound ( maby a nother nesting recourd ??) 15 Glaucous Gull's 3 Iceland Gull's , 10 killdeer, Green Winged Teal 1,
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 18, 2001
Plenty of signs of spring this past week with close to 20 species of ducks present in the open waters of the county, along with a few other arrivals too. Warmer weather has produced open water from Prinyer's Cove into Prince Edward Bay, Prince Edward Point and along the entire south shore of Prince Edward County. Observers out and about during the week recorded lots of activity with CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, RING-NECKED DUCKS, NORTHERN PINTAILS and AMERICAN WIGEON appearing at East Lake. There was a high of 13 species of ducks at Wellington Harbour with highlights being GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, 1 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS and HOODED MERGANSERS, along with 1 AMERICAN COOT and 3 MUTE SWANS. The latter was also seen at Consecon Lake near the dam. There were 16 species of ducks at Sandbanks with both GREATER and LESSER SCAUP and LONG-TAILED DUCKS making up the bulk. Hundreds of ducks were at Waupoos today and there were similar high numbers at Prince Edward Point and elsewhere in suitable areas around the county. Presqu'ile Provincial Park had small numbers of GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a male WOOD DUCK among its growing numbers of waterfowl, along with the usual MUTE SWANS, and on Wednesday, 8 TUNDRA SWANS.
Some optimistic signs of spring last week included 3 TURKEY VULTURES circling over Picton on Saturday, and KILLDEERS (2) reported from the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area on Thursday, and separate individuals at East Lake and at Bloomfield the same day, and another at Demorestville on Friday. There were two GREAT BLUE HERONS flying low over Demorestville Creek at County Road 5 just outside Demorestville yesterday, another one near there a day earlier, 2 at Napanee on Thursday, one along Wesley Acres Road at Bloomfield yesterday, and others seen during the week at Presqu'ile. Of course, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are everywhere right now. Other hopeful signs included a flock of 100 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and five PURPLE FINCHES on Friday near the Kingsford Conservation Area, north of Deseronto, and a BROWN CREEPER and 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS at the Outlet Campgrounds (Sandbanks) on Monday.
A pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS is believed to be nesting at Sandbanks Provincial Park, based on observations made there this past week. KESTRELS last week showed up at their traditional areas including Elmbrook and the individual that has become more or less a fixture now on the light standard at Dundas and Bay Bridge Road in Belleville. Three reports of a NORTHERN SHRIKE in the Mountain View/Crofton/Demorestville Road area is quite likely the same bird. There was another seen at the Quinte Conservation Area office on Monday, and another at Big Island the same day. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at East Lake on Monday and there was a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK at Bayside on Monday. Still lots of hawks on Amherst Island, as well as up to four BOREAL OWLS, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, LONG-EARED OWLS and SHORT-EARED OWLS.
Other birds of interest last week included 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS reported by several observers in the Woodland Campground area of Sandbanks Provincial Park, and small groups of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Fred Helleiner, David Bree, Pat & Lloyd Paul, John Blaney, Doris Lane, and Alex Scott for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 25th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good spring birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
An exhibition called The Making of Audubon's Birds of America is now on at the Metro Toronto Reference Library, Canada Trust Gallery. It is very interesting both for the birds and also for the information about how the illustrations were created.
It is on until March 27 and features part of the original collection that the library owns. It is different from the exhibit which has been travelling in North America recently. The show is open during library hours.
See. http://www.tpl.toronto.on.ca/Branches/reflib/branch.htm#TRL
Library is located on the east side of Yonge a block north of the junction of Bloor and Yonge (where there is a subway stop), at 789 Yonge Street, M4W 2G8, 416-395-5577. The hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10:00-8:00
Friday, Saturday 10:00-5:00
Sunday 1:30 - 5:00 Seasonally
Since we stayed "in town" this week afterall, we decided to make an impromptu drive in north Peel to look for raptor nests. We located about a half dozen hawk/owl size nests of which at least three were active with birds(incubating?)sitting on them. At least one of the nests seems to be occupied by Great Horned Owls while the other two have Red-tailed Hawks. Also seen while driving the roads in the area were 3 Kestrels, 2 Rough -legged Hawks(Highway 7 west of Brampton), a Turkey Vulture in flight near Norval, and a male Harrier flying low over open fields at the intersection of Mayfield and Winston Churchill Roads. We of course saw many Red-tails(mostly paired) in different locations along the way but the Clairville area had the greatest density of them in a given place(obviously still prime rodent habitat-but for how long?). Another interesting sighting was a Northern Shrike at the top a tree just north of the Apple Factory(Miss. Rd and Highway 7), a good place for pie and fat mice? Only the Shrike knows for sure. Brete- Peel Birding Class
In Reply to: 1 Red-necked Grebe in Bronte posted by Gavin Edmondstone on March 16, 2001 at 11:11:01:
Thanks for confirming what we thought we saw on March 9 at about 3 pm. At that time the grebe was further out and swimming in & out of the slips.
Nick Avery
One Red-necked Grebe was back at last year's nest area this morning. Yes, there is a tire in the water so we should have little grebes to watch this year.
I am writing a trip report for our recent visit to Costa Rica. It will be posted to Birdchat. If you would like a copy let me know privately. The trip list is ready now.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
At 5:30 today March 14 2001, I was stopped on my way home from working on a film by a amazing air bailey put on by 5 Red Tailed Hawks as they swooped down on each other and chaste echother throw the air (they acted Like Pergrine Falcons) no hire than the buildings.This all happened over the old brick works which is found on Bayview Ave. jist north of Bloor or jist south of Pottery rd.
As they did this they wear joined by a Red -Shouldered Hawk which jist seemed to love the playing in the sky , I have seen R.T.Hawks do the passing of food display and the grasping of talons which cos them to tumble in a circular spiral towards the ground . but never have I watchet 5 adult's display like this ..
To my amass mint I was the only one watching !! I hope that Frank got to see it from the GO trane??
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
I am in the process of compiling a checklist for species found in the Grange Property in Alton Ontario(just south or Orangeville). I have plants, but I am in need of reliable lists for birds and other wildlife. Can anyone help?
I am in the process of compiling a chechlist for species found in the Grange Property in Alton Ontario(just south or Orangeville). I have plants, but I am in need of reliable lists for birds and other wildlife. Can anyone help?
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 11, 2001
A few hints of spring this past week in the Quinte area, but mostly overshadowed by sightings more suggestive of winter. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were present last week at Big Island (6), and in the Bloomfield area (3). Two KILLDEER showed up Wednesday in a barnyard on Jericho Road. There was a GREAT BLUE HERON Friday evening perched in a tree along the north shore of Consecon Lake and a BELTED KINGFISHER was seen again along County Road 5. Another two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen in the Hambly Road area southwest of Napanee, and up to 7 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS at Amherst Island, probably migrants, are indications that the spring migration may, in fact, be underway. And PURPLE MARTINS have arrived in Louisiana, if that's any comfort. There were also 3 GREAT HORNED OWLS and a EASTERN SCREECH OWL all calling at once along Walmsley Road on Thursday.
Elsewhere, it's business as usual. Thousands of ducks were present yesterday on the water between the mainland and the islands at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. Among them were an estimated 5000+ LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 2000 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 750 GREAT SCAUP, a few BUFFLEHEAD, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and COMMON MERGANSERS. The conditions at Wellington have changed again, and this weekend there were CANADA GEESE, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, BUFFLEHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, MALLARD, COMMON MERGANSER, an AMERICAN COOT, and up to five MUTE SWANS (as of today).
On Amherst Island, the numbers of hawks and owls are pretty much unchanged but there is some evidence of movement within the species. There were three BOREAL OWLS there this weekend, and there may very well be four. There are still about a half dozen LONG-EARED OWLS, a few SHORT-EARED OWLS and SNOWY OWLS about, along with good numbers of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and RED-TAILED HAWKS. And there appears to be lots of RED-TAILED HAWKS in Prince Edward County right now. The reliable individual at the Mountain View Airport has been joined by a second individual. RED-TAILED HAWKS were also seen this past week at the corner of County Road 5 and Fish Lake Road, along with other sightings west of Belleville along 401, Prince Edward Point, Old Milford Road, Hillier, Stinson Block, Wellington and Cherry Valley. The AMERICAN KESTREL that spends most of its waking hours atop a light standard at the corner of Dundas Street and Bay Bridge Road in Belleville, is still there, and other sightings this past week were made at Bethel Road and Elmbrook. There was also a report this past week of a MERLIN at Bridge and Ann Streets in Belleville which is regularly seen. Other good sightings this past week included a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a Waupoos area feeder, a FOX SPARROW still at a feeder at Peat's Point, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS at a Bloomfield area feeder, along with a WINTER WREN that appears sporadically along Scoharie Road.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Lloyd Paul, Laura Pierce, Nancy Fox, Peter Sporring, Alex Scott, Glen Duetta, Mia Lane, Patti Smith, Steve Monet, Don Craighead and Fred Helleiner for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 18th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday for inclusion in the next report. Good birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
Today Sunday, Mar.4, 2001 Stan Bajurny and I birded the Hamilton/Burlington/ Dundas area with some nice sightings and now that I am thawed out I will mention a few of these sightings. We first went to the Leander Boat Club (south shore of Hamilton Harbour at the end of Bay St.) to try and find the Laughing Gull last reported on Wed. as this was a life bird for Stan. We spent over 2 hours in the bitter wind and finally gave up (but not before watching a Peregrine Falcon fly past overhead and observe 30+ American Coots) and headed over to La Salle Marina on the north shore of the harbour at the foot of La Salle Marina Road (exit hwy 403 at Waterdown Rd) cross Plains Road and drive straight to the marina. Here were at least 3 male Ring-necked Ducks and a large number of other waterfowl including 100+ Canvasbacks close up and 20+ Trumpeter Swans. We next went to the Carrolls Point overlook in Woodland Cemetary (further west along Plains Road) where again there were a large number of waterfowl including 9 Northern Pintails and an adult Iceland Gull. From here we drove to the North Shore Trails at Cootes Paradise (east of Cootes Drive on York Road and past the green houses to the parking area on the right at the top of the hill). It was quiet birding here but we did find a mixed flock of Goldfinch, Tree Sparrows and 14 Eastern Bluebirds. While here we were told about Long-eared Owls along one of the trails as well as an A. Woodcock and as we returned to the vehicle we had a close up look at a Cooper's Hawk. It was now time to head back and try again for the Laughing Gull. When we arrived we were informed that the bird was not sighted today so we carried on to check out the area. After a while it was plain to see that it was no where to be seen and we were cold. We started to leave when a young couple headed out onto the pier, dropped a half dozen or so buns in the water and left. Within a minute there were 40+ Ring-billed Gulls wheeling and diving on the buns and with them was the Laughing Gull (2:48 PM) it flew around with the Ring-bills for only a couple of minutes without feeding, flew right at us, circled us twice at about 50 feet overhead and flew off east. With smiles we headed up to Hutches for something to eat. While here we decided to try to see the Laughing Gull again so we bought 2 loaves of bread and headed back to the boat club. It was after 4 now and getting colder but the gulls were glad to see us as they ate all of the bread but the Laughing Gull did not put in another appearance but it was no disappointment as while we stood there a bird popped up less than 100 feet in front of us, giving us a great look at a nice Red-throated Loon (around 4:30PM). A pleasant end to a cold day. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 04, 2001
The whims of the wind continue to dictate what species of waterfowl will be present on any given day at Wellington Harbour. Warming conditions later this month should produce some spectacular concentrations, and birders should keep a vigil on this prolific birding area. Sandbanks on Wednesday had only a dozen LONG-TAILED DUCKS in view, although there were 135 COMMON GOLDENEYES. Large numbers of LONG-TAILED DUCKS were present off Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area earlier this week.
Amherst Island still has a nice selection of raptors present including plenty of LONG-EARED OWLS, SHORT-EARED OWLS and SNOWY OWLS. Yesterday, there were at least 2 BOREAL OWLS present, and at least 7 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS in one section of the Pines. There was a SNOWY OWL and a GREAT HORNED OWL at Presqu'ile on Thursday, and another GREAT HORNED OWL at Wesley Acres, south of Bloomfield the following day. RED-TAILED HAWKS are being reported from all over, and includes a regular which can be seen at Mountain View Airport, and another along County Road 4 at Gomorrah Road near Demorestville. Another regular is a dependable AMERICAN KESTREL which apparently finds something of interest from atop a light standard at the corner of Dundas Street and Bay Bridge Road, in Belleville. Although reports of the some 16 BALD EAGLES that were present this winter along the shores of Prince Edward County have dwindled, there were two yesterday at Telegraph Island, immediately west of the Quinte Skyway Bridge, linking Prince Edward County with Deseronto. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen Friday near Barcovan.
Other interesting sightings this past week included a BELTED KINGFISHER staring intently at a small creek in the Elmbrook area, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at a feeder east of Lake-on-the-Mountain, 14 WILD TURKEYS at Sandbanks yesterday, three YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS at Massassauga Point Conservation Area, and an extremely vocal NORTHERN FLICKER at Prospect Avenue in Picton yesterday.
Each year we receive reports of birds that are obviously escapees from local private collections. Among these reports in past years there have been cockatiels, budgerigars and a blossom-headed parakeet. Last year there was a bobwhite walking about Spring Street and Ontario Street in Picton, calling repeatedly. This past week it was a RINGED TURTLE DOVE at Cressy.
The calendar of events for this year's Fifth Annual Prince Edward County Birding Festival is now online at www.naturestuff.net, under Outdoor Events. Join us if you can.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Lloyd Paul, Don Craighead, Joanne Dewey, Jim Collinson, Joe Victor, Alex Scott, and Cynthia Fox for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 11th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday for inclusion in the next report. Good birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Today Carol Horner and I stared out in Chippawa Ont. looking for Tufted Titmouse on Thomas st . at #7693 WOW what a place we had 18 species of birds in no time coming to the feeder including three species of Woodpecker's (2 Red -bellied Woodpecker's) and 2 Tufted Titmouse , I wont forget this spot !!
then it was off to the Queenston boat docks , found by going down Dumfries st and follow the sings , to see if we could find any Little Gull's after a vary careful count (going East to west so no other LGull's went through my bins,) I came up with 16 I wood think that their back !!!! We also had a Adult Bald Eagle hear and a Kingfisher ,
We also look for the Harris Sparrow with no luck but was told that it was seen to day at 11:00 am ??
it was then off to Hamilton to see what waterfowl was around the could be add to our day list ? not allot but at the Travail loge in Burlington found at the foot of Brant st . we found the Common Eider and a nice surprise was a Female Harlequin Duck
the day # was 52........spring must be right around the corner....
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
Today I saw all three scoter species on the Toronto lakeshore: several White-winged and one male Surf at Clarke's Beach (at the base of Cherry St.) and two Black at Humber Bay East (at the base of Parklawn Ave.). There was also a distant flock of gulls beside the Ashbridge's Bay sewage treatment plant, visible from Ashbridge's Bay Park. I could clearly see an adult Iceland Gull and two immature white winged gulls, and there may have been more present.
Good birding, Joel
A mockingbird was seen under the Bathurst bridge and in the gully south of Fort York -Feb 28, 14:00- Happy Spring
A mockingbird was seen under the Bathurst bridge and in the gully south of Fort York -Feb 28, 14:00- Happy Spring
A mockingbird was seen under the Bathurst bridge and in the gully south of Fort York -Feb 28- Happy Spring
In Reply to: Re: Great Egret at Humber Bay posted by Chester Gryski on May 08, 2000 at 17:04:41:
hi ya there!! i think you should give some info bout the common egret(great) ok well that is all that i have 2 say ok buhbyeeee
Today at about 1:40 p.m. Jim Richards, Tyler Hoar, Mark Peck and I saw a Turkey Vulture migrating eastward over Varsity Stadium at Bloor St. W. and Bedford Rd.
GC
I am going to Niagara Falls on Friday and would like to try for Snowy Owls between Barrie and Niagara. If any are being seen in that area I would appreciate directions. Thanks!
In Reply to: Re: European Goldfinch posted by C.Mclauchlan on April 14, 1999 at 09:31:37:
I have a female which just goes to the bottom of the avery and sits there rocking back and forth.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 25, 2001
Is it wishful thinking that spring might be on its way? Judging from a few of the reports, one can't help but be optimistic, despite the snow, freezing rain and rain of last night and today. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS last week were seen along Wooler Road north of Trenton, Point Petre, Napanee, Huyck's Point, Milford, and Lake-on-the-Mountain. HORNED LARKS are now being seen regularly along local roadsides, and AMERICAN ROBINS seem to be appearing more regularly than they have in weeks past. While some of these sightings may only be wintering individuals, there is strong indication at Amherst Island that, at least, the NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS are commencing to move through. The number this past week has almost doubled, to 11. As of yesterday, there were also 3 BOREAL OWLS still about, along with 15 - 20 LONG-EARED OWLS, and still a number of SHORT-EARED OWLS, SNOWY OWLS, NORTHERN SHRIKES and both RED-TAILED HAWKS and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS.
In Prince Edward County, RED-TAILED HAWKS last week were seen at Mountain View Airport (a regular), 2 along Doxsee Road, 1 at Sandbanks, 1 along Demorestville Road, 2 along Marisett Road and one at Kleinsteuber Road. There was a SNOWY OWL at Barcovan on Monday, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Hillier, also on Monday. There is still a GYRFALCON at Kingston, and it is believed now that there could be two of them.
Some good stuff at Presqu'ile last week including a NORTHERN GOSHAWK, BALD EAGLE, along with WHITE-WINGED CROSBILLS, and an incredible 106 MUTE SWANS. Ducks are starting to move in preparatory to the big waterfowl festival there next month. Among the flocks were GADWALL and HOODED MERGANSER. Meanwhile at Wellington Harbour, shifting winds and ice have sealed off the open water at the government dock, and the pickings were really slim this week with only a couple of MUTE SWANS taking advantage of any open water. Sandbanks Provincial Park had 11 REDHEADS, 36 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and 96 COMMON GOLDENEYES.
Other good sightings this past week included a PILEATED WOODPECKER at Sheba's Island and at Sandbanks, a FOX SPARROW at a feeder at Peat's Point, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at #2695 County Road 12 by Athol Bay. A LAPLAND LONGSPUR seen two weeks ago near Wellington, was accidentally omitted from last weekend's report.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John & Margaret Moore, Lloyd Paul, Ken Kingdon (OntBirds report), Don Craighead, David & Yvette Bree, Fred Henry, Alex Scott and Fred Helleiner (Presqu'ile report) for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 4th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday for inclusion in the next report. Good birding everyone.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Spit Open 24th posted by T. Chipperfield on February 23, 2001 at 09:24:31:
Tamara,
Thanks for taking the time to let users know. It is appreciated. Great to know that interruption to weekend use of the Spit was not necessary.
GC
Please be advised that the Toronto Port Authority will *not* be conducting lakefilling this weekend so Tommy Thompson Park will be open to the public on Saturday February 24th from 9:00am until 4:30pm.
Tamara Chipperfield Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
In Reply to: Re: Cooper's Hawk hunting over Yonge St. posted by Bert on February 23, 2001 at 02:38:25:
Sorry about the last post. I have a Cooper's Hawk show up at my bird feeder daily. He generally perch's atop of the feeder and then dives into the spruce tree beside the feeder and comes out with a finch, occassionally you can catch a glimpse of him snagging a bird out of mid air!! I will say that his success rate is very low, lots of missed attempts! Very entertaining!
In Reply to: Re: Cooper's Hawk hunting over Yonge St. posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 22, 2001 at 12:02:15:
I have one show u
Welcome to the Second Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas!
The second Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas is now underway (breeding evidence for Rock Dove, Great Horned Owl, White-winged Crossbill and Pine Siskin having already been received for several squares). It is scheduled to run from 2001-20005. It follows on the highly successful first atlas that was carried out from 1981-1985.
The first atlas has been used province-wide to aid in conservation and protection efforts for Ontario.
This second atlas will be EVEN MORE useful because it will:
* provide a picture of how birds' distributions have changed over the past 20 years.
* highlight any species showing alarming declines
* reveal distributional patterns of abundance
How does the atlas work?
It's simple! Basically, the province is divided up into a grid system. Grid squares are grouped into regions, each coordinated by a Regional Coordinator (RC). Volunteers from across the province choose an area that they would like to atlas, and contact the RC for this region. South of Temagami and Sault Ste. Marie alone, there are 1804 10-km squares, and each one needs to be covered! The north presents a special challenge. Due to the inaccessibility of much of this area, the north is divided in 100 x 100 kilometre blocks, and a sample of 10 kilometre squares in each will be covered. In order to ensure that the province is covered we will also coordinate:
* square bashes (birding "parties", where we get groups together to blitz squares in poorly covered areas)
* northern excursions
Why should I participate in the atlas?
The completion and accuracy of the atlas depends on the dedication of people that have an interest in birds! And it's a gereat excuse to get out and bird watch, while contributing to conservation efforts in Ontario.
What will I do as an atlasser?
Your job as an atlasser, is to bird watch in your square! You will note which birds are present, and look for "possible", "probable" and "confirmed" breeding evidence.
The criteria for these different levels of evidence are detailed in the Guide for Participants (due out in March). In addition, should you be lucky enough to find the breeding site of a significant or colonial species (your Regional Coodinator will give you a list of these), you will be required to fill out detailed information cards for these nests (for the Ontario Nest Records Scheme).
An important addition to the second atlas will be the collection of abundance data. Maps of abundance patterns will provide a picture of "hotspots" for each species and improve our ability to track changes over time. This will be important information for research and conservation purposes. All atlassers will have the option of participating in the collection of abundance data using an established point count protocol. If you have good bird song identification skills, you are enouraged to do some point counts in your square. Doing a point count involves recording all birds seen and heard from a single point during a prescribed five minute period.
What kind of materials will I need, and what materials will I receive?
As an atlasser you will receive a Guide for Participants (that will tell you everything you'll need to know), atlas maps, data forms, an atlasser identification card and a regular copy of the Atlas Newsletter. We'll also provide you with a map of your square and a synopsis of all breeding species (and their level of confirmation) documented in your square during the first Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. All you need to provide are a pair of binoculars, a field guide, a good set of ears and ample enthusiasm!
Can I still participate if I am a little unsure of my field skills?
You sure can! If you are a careful observer and submit only records of which you are certain, you can take part. It's not necessary that you take on an entire square, you can participate as a "casual observer". Also, we will be holding atlasser workshops across the province in April (see below for the Toronto workshop) that will include training on song identification, use of GPS (global positioning systems), how to read and use UTM's and how to do point counts. You can also go to the atlas web site for links to training web pages. If you are just starting out in birding you can also ask your Regional Coordinator to pair you up with an experienced birder until you feel confident enough to go out on your own.
How much time does it take to be an atlasser?
For the principal atlasser of the square, the MINIMUM coverage required is 20 hours over the five year period. However, for the last atlas some people put in over 100 hours per square, while others decided to spread out their effort and take a different square each year. If you aren't comfortable taking a square, you can participate as a casual observer, and spend as much, or as little, time as you are able to. It's really up to you!
Who do I contact if I have questions or problems?
Contact your Regional Coordinator. They are your main contact for the project, and will answer all of your questions!
For the Greater Toronto Area the following people are Regional Coordintors:
Region 12 (Toronto) Glenn Coady 60 Mountview Ave. Apt. 604 Toronto, Ontario M6P 2L4 (416) 763-0137 glenn.coady@swchsc.on.ca
Region 10 (Peel/Halton/Dufferin) Bill McIlveen R.R.#1 Acton, Ontario L7J 2L7 (519) 853-3948 (905) 867-9294 (cell) wmcilveen@aztec-net.com
Region 45 (York) Theo Hofmann 199 Arnold Ave. Thornhill, Ontario L4J 1C1 (905) 889-1554 theo@hera.med.utoronto.ca
Region 46 (Durham) Geoff Carpentier 155 Ravenscroft Rd. Ajax, Ontario L1T 1Y3 (905) 686-6237 carpenge@ene.gov.on.ca
How do I get involved?
To get involved, you can register on the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas web page at:
http://www.birdsontario.org
or through your regional coordinator (a full listing of all regional coordinators for Ontario is available on the web page).
If you do not have access to the web, contact:
Nicole Kopysh Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas c/o Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada 75 Farquhar Street, Guelph, Ontario N1H 3N4 (519) 826-2092 (519) 826-2113 (fax)
Also, if you can, please plan to attend the joint ATLAS LAUNCH/Toronto Area Atlasser Training Workshop at the Kortright Centre (9550 Pine Valley Drive, Kleinburg) on April 14th, 2001 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
For directions to the Kortright Centre see their web site at:
http://www.kortright.org/general.html
As atlassers provide data you will be able to watch the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas maps iteratively build over the course of the Atlas on the web site and in addition to being able to input data on scannable data forms this time around, there will be the ability to enter atlas data directly through the atlas web page.
Please consider joining the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - start by registering as an atlasser on the web page at:
http://www.birdsontario.org
In Reply to: Cooper's Hawk hunting over Yonge St. posted by Glenn Coady on February 21, 2001 at 18:48:57:
What a sight that must have been! In the west Cooper's hawks have been becoming quite urbanized for some years now; increasingly it seems like the eastern individuals are starting to catch up in this respect.
I've received several reports this winter of a female Cooper's hunting in the St. Clair / Yonge area, mostly at bird feeders in local backyards (and invariably initially identified as a peregrine). It may be that this is the same individual you saw - I'm not certain what their winter range is like, but this seems close enough to be likely.
Marcel
This evening I was walking north on the east side of Yonge St. at about 5:00 p.m. when I noticed (in amazement) an adult female Cooper's Hawk flying around in the intersection of Yonge St and Gloucester St.
It was scaring Rock Doves and European Starlings off of the roofs of nearly all the 19th century storefront buildings up and down Yonge St. eventually capturing a Rock Dove over Dundonald St. and, after subduing it, flying off to the east with it.
One of the European Starlings died also in a window collision in the flurry of activity.
GC
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 18, 2001
The ducks, they are a comin'. Ice conditions at Wellington Harbour improved over the last few days, allowing 160 REDHEADS, 120 CANADA GEESE, 1 CANVASBACK, 16 COMMON MERGANSERS, 12 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 10 BUFFLEHEADS, 2 MUTE SWANS, and a quantity of MALLARDS to take advantage of the open waters near the channel on Wednesday. Things are looking up at Prince Edward Point too with some 500 LONG-TAILED DUCKS found down there. At Sandbanks Provincial Park on Thursday, there were 195 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 19 BUFFLEHEAD, and 675 COMMON GOLDENEYES present in the waters of Lake Ontario.
Birder Don Craighead had a good day on Thursday, chalking up five species of woodpeckers with 3 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, a HAIRY WOODPECKER, 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, a NORTHERN FLICKER, and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (at a feeder at Civic Address # 2695 along Athol Bay), all seen at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
A PILEATED WOODPECKER was present at Moira Road, 5 miles east of Stirling a week ago Sunday, where there was also a BROWN CREEPER, as well as a few PURPLE FINCHES that have just started coming to a feeder in that location. In Prince Edward County, there was a BELTED KINGFISHER seen last week just north of Picton.
There were two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS doing a spring dance as they slowly flew overhead one observer birding the Woodlands Campground area at Sandbanks last week. RED-TAILED HAWKS last week in the county were seen at Doxsee Road, Sandbanks, Marisett Road, Kleinsteuber Road, Shannon Road, May Road, County Road 4, and at Highway 62 near Mountain View Airport. The AMERICAN KESTREL at the corner of Bay Bridge Road and Dundas Street in Belleville continues to perch atop a light standard where it has been for some weeks.
Other interesting sightings last week included 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS coming to a feeder at #2800 County Road #1, northwest of Bloomfield, 11 WILD TURKEYS south of Ridge Road, 25 AMERICAN ROBINS along Doxsee Road, and single WILD TURKEYS at Point Petre and Waupoos. A male NORTHERN CARDINAL along County Road # 1 in the Bloomfield area is spending much of its time alternating between a bird feeder and a house where it is battering itself against a window as it attempts to discourage its mirrored image from occupying the same dooryard.
At Amherst Island, Alex Scott reported this evening the usual birds, along with 2 BOREAL OWLS, 12 -15 LONG-EARED OWLS and up to 7 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS. Still lots of RED-TAILED HAWKS and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, so the pickings continue to be good over there, especially for those in search of SNOWY OWLS, as there were 6 seen in the drive from the east end of the island along the south shore and back to the ferry landing.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Art MacConnell, Lloyd Paul, Albert Boisvert, Don Craighead, Alex Scott, and Margaret Haylock-Capon for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 25th. Bird sightings must be by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday for inclusion in the next report. Good birding everyone.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: The Spit - Open or not?? posted by Norm Murr on February 17, 2001 at 07:04:45:
That should have read "if after a 1 1/2 hour trip on public transportation" Norm Murr
In Reply to: The Spit - Open or not?? posted by Norm Murr on February 17, 2001 at 07:04:45:
The spit was opine today not much out three 1 Snowy Owl ,8 L.E Owl's, 100+ Red Head Duck and lots of R B Gulls, I can not answer the question on weather the spit is opine next weekend in the - 24 c my bran froze and I was past the geat keeper hut by the time I thought to ask , OO well Ill look on the info bored!!! it was locket up tight and ther wear no post's!!
So I drove back out to the geat keeper booth to ask the question ?? well never do this you wood have thought I jist robed a bank with the way I was torn apart for driving my car out to the booth ( even with it being - 24 c) and with this she still dint answer my question on weather the spit is opine next weekend ????? Got to love government rudeness .....
Craig
Too bad that the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority didn't see fit to keep we the public informed about wether a public park is open or not today Sat. Feb.17,2001. I for one wanted to go down there but wasn't sure if after an 1 1/2 on public transportation and a walk from Queen St that I would be turned back to repeat the same in reverse. There has been silence from the TRCA since Feb.2nd except for me being asked to put questions (that I posed here in public) in a letter to TRCA. I feel that what is being dumped and if the spit is open or closed are better aired under public scrutiny, now, not in March when maybe the letter will be answered. I would still like to know what is happening down there. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: SPIT TOMORROW posted by Norm Murr on February 16, 2001 at 17:54:50:
I sher hope so I am going out looking for owls .. But I have heard nothing at all regarding wether ti is opin ?????
Craig
Does anyone know if the spit is open tomorrow (Sat.Feb17,2001)??? Norm Murr
In Reply to: bird sighting posted by Stephan Labonte on January 01, 2000 at 16:23:15:
Im asking about swan egg swan
In Reply to: bird sighting posted by Stephan Labonte on January 01, 2000 at 16:23:15:
Im asking about swan egg swan
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
The Toronto Harbour is still good for gulls all thought the Ice is receding fast and the last 2 good places are at the RCYC and north ship canal ( or the Keating channel which is rely the mouth of the Don river ) which is found at the east end of Queens Quay E , hear today I found 7 Glaucous Gulls (4 adult 3 juv )2 Iceland Gulls adults and a Thayer's gull along with 52 R.B.Gulls and 20 Herring Gulls . also in with the L.T.Ducks was ( and has bin for some time) the adult Male Black Scoter its bump on its bill is bright orange now.
the other spot is Outer Harbour wear the ice is almost gone but still present to day wear 3 Glaucous Gulls and 3 G.B.B.Gulls and 1 adult L.B.B.Gull the best place to look from hear is the regatta st (but watch you car) which is off of Unwin Ave. east of Cherry st.
The amassing thing today was the large Number of R.B.Gulls seen from hear tacking up spots on the Leslie st spit on Peninsula A and B , I wood say that there wear at lest 300 ..... a sheer sine of spring
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 11, 2001
There was a nice mix of birds seen this past week in Prince Edward County and surrounding area. Two uncommon wrens were both reported on the same day, Feb. 7th, starting with a WINTER WREN that can occasionally be seen at Civic Address #2800 County Road 1, and a CAROLINA WREN at #2070 County Road 8 near Waupoos. Neither bird is dependable, but do show up on occasion.
HORNED LARKS are appearing everywhere these days in the Quinte area. There were 20 along Wesley Acres Road on Tuesday, 4 along Marrisett Road, and another 4 along May Road on Wednesday, and a dependable group of a dozen or so on South Big Island Road. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS last week were reported from Hambly Road in the Napanee area (2), and 4 along Melville Road at Consecon Lake. Other "spring" birds included a flock of fully 70 COMMON CROWS at the Hay Bay Genetics Farm at Adolphustown today. There was a flock of about 100 MOURNING DOVES at Sillsville today, also in the Adolphustown area.
At Peat's Point, there are still 2 FOX SPARROWS coming to a feeding station there. The area also had a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and about 25 AMERICAN ROBINS on Tuesday. A flock of 150 AMERICAN ROBINS was a regular sight along South Big Island Road up until the cold snap late in the week. Two PILEATED WOODPECKERS were seen at the Woodlands Campground at Sandbanks Provincial Park on Tuesday, and another was seen on Big Island early in the week. There were also 6 WILD TURKEYS across from the Maple Rest Heritage House at Sandbanks on Wednesday, and another 9 along Shannon Road, about 1 km south of the C.R. # 22 intersection on Tuesday. Four MUTE SWANS were seen in Lake Ontario off the Stinson Block early last week.
AMERICAN KESTRELS last week were seen at Bethel Road, Point Petre, as well as the one which spends much of its time on a light standard at Bay Bridge Road and Dundas Street in Belleville. There was a NORTHERN HARRIER at Doxsee Road on Tuesday, and NORTHERN SHRIKES reported at Rossmore and Babylon Road. Royal Road had an EASTERN SCREECH OWL Friday evening and there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Old Milford Road on Friday.
Of course, the hot spot for raptors continues to be Amherst Island where as of Wednesday there were still lots of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and RED-TAILED HAWKS, 6 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, 12 LONG-EARED OWLS, at least 2 BOREAL OWLS and a number of SHORT-EARED OWLS. The Kingston GYRFALCON was last reported on Friday, and the GREAT GRAY OWL off Sydenham Road was last reported yesterday by a Belleville observer. The Blessington Road NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was last reported a week ago today, although it may still be there as it has been since December 1st.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Steve Monet, Earl Tripp, Ralph Margetson, Susan Withers, Wynne Thomas, Don Craighead, Lloyd Paul, Alex Scott, Don Chisholm and Nancy Fox for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 18th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Re: Hooded Merganser on Humber posted by Vicki deBoer on March 19, 2000 at 13:50:09:
the hooded merganser is regarded as oe of the more beautiful waterfowl species. They are very commonly known for their fearlessness towards humans and animals. They are very simular to wood ducks, being that they also will nest in cavities and have also been known to "donate" a clutch of eggs to woodies clutch. they are fish eaters and also eat lesser quantities of aquatic invertabrates and crustaceons.
I saw one in the Woodsworth Greenbelt just south of the Oriole GO station this morning. It was not happy to see me.
In Reply to: Re:Old Records posted by Glenn Coady on February 08, 2001 at 12:39:47:
Will i hope and am sheer that their will be moor !! I am sheer that others have records , that have not bin Include and I hope that they will pass them on !!
Craig
In Reply to: Re:Old Records posted by Craig Mclauchlan on February 08, 2001 at 11:07:15:
Hi Craig,
You are most welcome.
I think you have now likely identified all the new species seen on the Spit since the 1998 Leslie St. Spit Checklist was produced (Heermann's Gull, Ivory Gull). That list had already included the female Black-necked Stilt (with the knowledge it had already been accepted by the OBRC even though they had not yet published that decision).
Glenn
In Reply to: Re: Requested information on Ivory Gull posted by Glenn Coady on February 08, 2001 at 10:03:10:
Thanks Glenn for your Bio. on the Ivory Gull,
I should have stated in my first post why this question was being ask , The steering committee for the IBA ( Important bird area) witch I am on is working on a Conservation plan for the park. The TRCA along with J Carly ( Friends of the Spit) and 13 others have bin working on this and one of the Questions was jist how many birds have bin seen on the spit ?? the last check list was done in 1998 and I am sheer other birds have bin seen since then , like Heermann's gull and Ivory gull
God only knows what ells we might come up with ?????
Craig
In Reply to: Old Records ?? posted by Craig Mclauchlan on February 02, 2001 at 14:05:14:
Hi Craig,
Here is the information you requested on the January 2000 Ivory Gull record.
On January 23, 2000 at about 1:30 p.m. a first basic Ivory Gull was briefly seen flying west past the truck checkpoint on the Leslie St. Spit by Judy Edwards.
It was next independently discovered at about 3:20 p.m. flying from Humber Bay Park East across to Humber Bay Park West by Tyler Hoar and Dave Mudd. It was seen to continue off to the west. Interestingly others searching Humber Bay Park West later mistakenly assumed an albino Ring-billed Gull present had been misidentified as an Ivory Gull.
Finally, the bird was independently discovered by me at about 4:50 p.m. (well before dusk) standing on the ice in Bronte Harbour. It flew up and circled the harbour and then resettled on the ice after I had inadvertently scared several Canada Geese into flight. I watched this bird for over half an hour with a scope. I watched the bird remain on the ice until dark.
In darkness about 2 hours later friends of mine were unable to relocate the Ivory Gull. It was not seen subsequently anywhere on the lake in the next few days despite intensive searches.
Reports of all three independent discoveries of this bird are presently before the OBRC.
I hope this helps,
Glenn Coady
P.S. John Carley of Friends of the Spit keeps a record of all species seen at the Leslie St. Spit for the purposes of updating their checklist. Their checklist conforms with decisions by both the OBRC and TBRC (John is most diligent of assuring this) - copies of the most recent checklist are available from the TRCA.
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Norm Murr on February 01, 2001 at 18:47:59:
Tamara Still waiting for some kind of answer. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Jim Heffernan on January 31, 2001 at 23:31:26:
Dear Jim, I can assure you that I put more than two minutes thought into my posts enquiring about planned Saturday closures at the Leslie St. Spit. I take thorough exception to any contention to the contrary.
The Leslie St. Spit is both an active dumping site and a public park, and as such I believe it is fair game for the public to expect some accountability from the organizations that run both operations to keep the public informed about ANY of the parameters involved in any access changes from the known status quo.
The TRCA's agreement with the Harbour Commission is valid reason for the POSSIBLE need for occasional additional closures. However, the TRCA also has concomitant fiduciary obligation to its users of the site as a park to ensure such closures are both valid as well as SEEN TO BE valid.
I believe both Tamara and Scott have shown their serious commitment to ensuring this is so by their efforts to advise and answer questions on this forum - I would ask no more and no less of them.
Fortunately, two closures have now been averted and hopefully the others will be as well.
I might suggest, respectfully too, I assure you, that you might benefit from a review of your eloquent post to this forum of December 3, 1999 @ 18:30:14
Thanks,
GC
Fellow readers of the U of T Zoology web site,
I will be leading a birding hike at Humber Bay Park East this Sunday, February 11, 2001 from 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. on behalf of the Citizens Concerned with the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW). Meet at the parking lot at Humber Bay East at 9:00 a.m.
The outing is free and everyone interested is welcome to attend. Hope to see you there.
Glenn Coady
In Reply to: Re: Great Egret at Humber Bay posted by Chester Gryski on May 08, 2000 at 17:04:41:
I'm not sure yet how this report was, it doesn't look like they're is very much info.
In Reply to: Re: Loon Migration posted by Jay Buckley on May 22, 2000 at 16:00:44:
We live in Minnesota and were just up on the North Shore along Lake Superior the end of January. (Tofte, MN just south of Lutsen, MN) We could have sworn we was a loon on Lake Superior!! Is that possible at this time of year?
Thanks,
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, Fabruary 04, 2001
GREAT HORNED OWLS continue to call every night in the Quinte area preparatory to nesting. A total of 16 reports of these large birds of prey came in this past week from local residents. An update this evening on the status of the owls at Amherst Island included four GREAT HORNED OWLS in the totals, along with 15 LONG-EARED OWLS, and 2 BOREAL OWLS. There were a few SHORT-EARED OWLS seen over the fields at dusk this evening. SNOWY OWLS were still around, reported area resident Alex Scott at 6:00 p.m. this evening, but may be down in terms of numbers. However, there are still plenty of hawks for anyone interested in brushing up on this family of birds with good numbers of RED-TAILED HAWKS and ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, a few NORTHERN HARRIERS and AMERICAN KESTRELS and a couple of NORTHERN SHRIKES.
In Prince Edward County, RED-TAILED HAWKS this past week were seen at Big Island, Point Petre, Massassauga Point, Stinson Block, Waupoos, and Rednersville. There was a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK yesterday afternoon along Fry Road, and a COOPER'S HAWK Thursday along Massassauga Point Road, and another SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near Waupoos.
There are still 2 FOX SPARROWS at a feeder at Peat's Point, and a Cressy feeder has 2 SONG SPARROWS. At Waupoos, there is a WILD TURKEY coming to a feeder, and one concerned feeder operator along Wallbridge Road in the Belleville area has had about a dozen. There was a PILEATED WOODPECKER seen in Wooler today, and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS at Point Petre. Massassauga Point still harbours a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS with 32 present there on Friday. There were about a half dozen EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in the Adolphustown area last week.
Waterfowl reported from Point Petre last week included GREATER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE and BUFFLEHEAD. There was no check done this week of Wellington Harbour.
The NatureStuff website has been updated for the month of February. We welcome Frontenac Outfitters of Sydenham as a new sponsor of the Outdoor Events section of the site. Among the updates are a photo of an immature BALD EAGLE at Wellington, and a photo of the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON that was seen earlier this winter at the east end of Consecon Lake.
A guided hike involving 47 people at the H.R. Frink Centre's Open House today near Plainfield yielded AMERICAN ROBIN, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, BLUE JAYS, both DOWNY and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, RUFFED GROUSE and CEDAR WAXWINGS.
That's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bill & Jan Hogg, Margaret & Ian Ferguson, Alex Scott, Lloyd Paul, Wynne Thomas, and Don Chisholm for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 11th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
Hi All Today - Saturday, Feb.3, 2001 Stan Bajurny and I went up to Kingston arriving at the Dupont Hot Ponds just after sun up. The Gyrfalcon was no where in sight so we turned around and parked so that we faced the ponds and Cataraqui Bay (West side of the Dupont plant south of Front Road). While there we sat and waited and did not exit our vehicle so as not to spook the waterfowl and the Gyr if it decided to move in. It is while we were so parked that we observed a weird phenomenon. A vehicle driven by some GOOFY GOOMER drove up and down the road continuously from the time we arrived to some time after 9am. This GOOF drove by us no less than 16 times (8 each way) (we kept count). We tried to see what was behind the wheel but each time he came up to our vehicle he sped up, so we never got a good clear look except that he had grey hair. The reason I mention this is that within 10 to 15 minutes of him finally driving off and the 3 vehicles that sat still with the occupants inside were rewarded for their patience as the Gyrfalcon finally flew in and perched on a tree overlooking the hot pond at about 9:30am. Nine of us had great looks as it perched in the tree and on the ice and flew almost directly over us twice. I don't know if this person had any effect on the movements of the Gyr but surely the continuous mindless driving back and forth must have been observed by the Gyr. Maybe I am guessing but after the traffic died down in it came. Maybe if patience is not his long suit he should wait untill someone can go get him and then point the bird out for him. This person in my opinion was surely only thinking of himself and did not have the best interst of the Gyr or fellow birders upmost in his mind. Again maybe I am over reacting but then again maybe I am right. Either way think before you go out next time for a rarity and in closing I hope who ever you are that you were back when the bird was found at noon. Norm Murr NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
In Reply to: Re: lapland longspurs posted by Jean-Paul on January 30, 2001 at 14:03:44:
The area is west of Canada's Wonderland, and just west of Kleinburg.
MacGillivray runs north off Rutherford. Shortly after heading north check the fields on your left and right. (Sometimes, at this time of year they may also be seen right on the road).
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Scott Jarvie on February 02, 2001 at 15:22:24:
Scott,
Thank you very much. We do appreciate your efforts to keep us informed of access issues at the Leslie St. Spit. It is quite clear you are making every effort to do so.
I thank you and Tamara for taking the time to do so.
GC
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Norm Murr on February 01, 2001 at 18:47:59:
For everyone's info we have just received word from the Port Authority that the planned Saturday lakefill work will NOT be undertaken on this coming Saturday (Feb. 3) or next Saturday (Feb. 10).
The park will be accessable to the public on these dates. As of yet we have not been able to advise our weekend gate staff of the change for tomorrow, so worst case people may have to park outside the main gates. The good news however...there will be no trucks to worry about.
We do not have any information about the last two Saturdays in February. We will post follow-up info as it becomes available.
Do's any one know ho saw the Ivory Gull Jan 23 2000 on the Leslie st spit ??? wear trying to figerout the # of birds seen on the spit and this wood be a new record..
Craig
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Tamara Chipperfield on January 25, 2001 at 09:17:38:
Tamara It just dawned on me that I responde to my own email when I should have been responing to yours. Duh! The following is the email that I sent to me. ----------------------------------------------- I have just come home from the hospital and I will now try to respond to Tamara's email. Was there a public notice in writing or otherwise concerning these February closures sent to your office or any other office ? and if not, why not. There are 5 days of the week for dumping. Why are they not enough and just WHAT IS BEING DUMPED that can not be dumped during the week ? We the public have only 2 days out of the seven to access the spit and these are during the short daylight hours. What justification has the Port Authority given for the closure of the spit on these 4 days ? Myself and I assume others would like to know if this is going to be a regular thing here or in other public parks under your protection.
Norm Murr
PS I see that Mr. Coady also has some questions. NM
In Reply to: Com. Grackle in the near north posted by Norm Murr on January 16, 2000 at 18:46:02:
Guess those grackles got very cold. Our blue spruce tree in Albuquerque NM is full of grackles. They have a very unusual voice.
In Reply to: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Tamara Chipperfield on January 24, 2001 at 14:34:49:
Whoa people, get a grip on things or the next time there will be a series of Saturday closures, Tamara will let you all drive down on Saturday morning to find out on your own. She was kind enough to save you wasting your time on this occasion, but I really wonder about the next.
If your really that wound up, then take a closer look at her second posting. Read it for cryin' out loud, and then head down to the Toronto Port Authority to do your venting.
Think for a couple of minutes.
Jim H.
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Norm Murr on January 24, 2001 at 18:56:12:
I have just come home from the hospital and I will now try to respond to Tamara's email. Was there a public notice in writing or otherwise concerning these February closures sent to your office or any other office ? and if not, why not. There are 5 days of the week for dumping. Why are they not enough and just WHAT IS BEING DUMPED that can not be dumped during the week ? We the public have only 2 days out of the seven to access the spit and these are during the short daylight hours. What justification has the Port Authority given for the closure of the spit on these 4 days ? Myself and I assume others would like to know if this is going to be a regular thing here or in other public parks under your protection.
Norm Murr
In Reply to: lapland longspurs posted by Don Peuramaki on January 28, 2001 at 06:10:36:
Is it in Toronto?
J.-P.
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Tamara Chipperfield on January 25, 2001 at 09:17:38:
Thank you for responding to my previous question Tamara.
Might I pose a couple of follow-up questions?
I can see why the TRCA would be required to allow closures if the Toronto Port Authority has an agreement with you with language & provisions for weekend dumping given that written notice is provided.
However, dumping activities are regularly permitted 5 out of 7 days each week with public access on only 2 out of 7. Clearly public access days are thus at a premium and should not be over-ridden lightly.
Hence, does your agreement with the Port Authority also require them to file some sort of justification (for public scrutiny) for why proposed weekend dumping cannot be accomodated during the 5 out of 7 days per week the site is routinely open for dumping.
Clearly it would be desirable for there to be a very powerful incentive for construction days NOT to encroach on public access days - what principles will guide the TRCA's future planning to limit these conflicts in the future and how can the public be more involved in the process PRIOR to final decisions being made.
Thanks again,
GC
Hi Birders
The issue date of the next batch of bird stamps is February 1. These are the Birds of Canada series and are 47 cents. Featured this year are Lapland Longspur, Arctic Tern, Golden Eagle and Rock Ptarmigan.
Jean Niskanen Oakville, Ont jniskan@v...
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 28, 2001
A nice mixture of bird reports this past week including lots of hawks. There were two immature COOPER'S HAWKS in the Wellington area on Wednesday - one within the village and another just north of the limits. There was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK today near the east end of Big Island, and another seen yesterday at Elmbrook. Of course, Amherst Island is still the place to go for the latter species where as many as 19 were seen today, along with as many RED-TAILED HAWKS. The island also has at least 20 SHORT-EARED OWLS and up to 11 SNOWY OWLS. Others reported today were NORTHERN HARRIER, BOREAL OWLS, SAW-WHET OWLS, LONG-EARED OWLS (15), AMERICAN KESTRELS and NORTHERN SHRIKES.
In Prince Edward County, NORTHERN SHRIKES were observed on Scoharie Road, Doxsee Road, and Big Island. There has been an AMERICAN KESTREL for most of the week perched on a light standard at Bay Bridge Road and Dundas Street at Belleville. Another was on Royal Road . And 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS were reported at 401 just outside of Belleville today, and another three at one time along Royal Road this past week. The NORTHERN HAWK-OWL was still present at Blessington Road as of Monday - a really dependable individual as it has been present at the same location since the first of December. Two adult BALD EAGLES were present Wednesday at Indian Point, where a BELTED KINGFISHER was also seen along the south shore of the same peninsula.
Wellington Harbour continues to host a few ducks, but success can depend a lot on wind direction and subsequent ice conditions in the harbour. On Wednesday, there was a RING-NECKED DUCK, HOODED MERGANSER, 2 NORTHERN PINTAILS and a MUTE SWAN. Point Petre has "petered" out although some open water in Soup Harbour this week yielded BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, MALLARDS, a couple of RING-BILLED GULLS and about 100 HERRING GULLS. The open water of the Moira River at Station Street in Belleville contained an AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, COMMON MERGANSER and 97 MALLARDS on Monday.
A 6-km cross country ski jaunt through the wooded areas and open fields of eastern Big Island today revealed a convention of some 125 AMERICAN ROBINS in a field of buckthorns, red cedars and ash trees just south of Baycrest Marina. Also present were almost as many CEDAR WAXWINGS, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS and approximately 30 BLUE JAYS. Also seen during the trip were RUFFED GROUSE, both HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKER, COMMON CROWS, and MOURNING DOVES.
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS on Wednesday were seen at Point Petre (4) and along Kelly Road (3). There is still a FOX SPARROW at a feeder at Peat's Point, and there was a SONG SPARROW Thursday at Warkworth. Also on Thursday, there were two NORTHERN FLICKERS at the far east end of South Big Island Road. Other good sightings included 30 SNOW BUNTINGS yesterday west of Wellington as well as along Royal Road (30), 8 WILD TURKEYS at Warkworth and another unspecified number along Royal Road. Good birds at Presqu'ile last week included both TUNDRA and MUTE SWANS, SNOWY OWL, and ICELAND GULLS and GLAUCOUS GULLS.
Efforts are underway to poll the Napanee area for interest in a possible birding club for that area. Anyone interested in being part of such a group can get more information from Robin Agombar at: robin.agombar@sympatico.ca .
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Lloyd Paul, Nick Quickert, Kay Camp, Wynne Thomas, Markus Lise, Alex Scott, Don Shanahan, Albert Boisvert and Ken Ashton for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 4th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone.
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
There were at least 18 Lapland Longspurs at Rutherford/MacGillivray on Saturday morning (probably more), with the usual Horned Larks and Snow Buntings. Easy to pick out in the freshly fallen snow, but flying around and relocating a lot.
In Reply to: Toronto Christmas Bird Count results posted by Marcel Gahbauer on December 31, 2000 at 09:53:45:
In the old Downsview Air Base spied a Snowy Owl. This was in Dec.2000. Is that a common sighting, it was a first for me.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Out on the spit today I was able to find only 1 Snowy Owl , 7 Long-eared Owl all thought I dint check all the areas or put stress on the ones I did find . No Saw-Whet Owl's wear found but lots of white wash was seen . The crows wear having fun with the imm.Bald Eagle chasing it every time it came to land , their was a small but approachable pack of Snow Bunting's 31 ( I had time to count them twice) 1 Northern Shrike and 1 Red T Hawk , in the open water on the west of the park ( which is Toronto harbor's eastern gap) all 3 Scoters wear seen , 1 Black Scoter , 2 Surf Scoter's and 6 White-Winged Scoter's. along with Long Tail duck and a large raft of Scaup and Redhead Ducks.
The nice surprise of the walk was a female Hairy Woodpecker there not seen on the spit every year.
The Leslie street spit ( or Tommy Thompson Park ) is found at the foot of Leslie st south of the Lake shore blvd. hear in Toronto opine only on the weekend to the public and only on Sundays in February and no dogs are allowed.
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
For those of you that are doing a winter list either for the GTA or Ontario there has been a Common Grackle hanging around with E. Starlings all week at the Wendy's Restaurant at Yonge and Trayborn in Richmond Hill. In fact I saw it again this morning. Norm Murr
In Reply to: Common Redpoll posted by Norm Murr on January 26, 2001 at 17:23:37:
Wonderful news. I'd rather a Redpoll anytime over a Groundhog. Does mean six more weeks of Redpolls, Crossbills and Grosbeaks? I hope so.
Mark
It may be a good sign (or not) but this morning on the way to work I observed 12 Common Redpolls feeding in a Birch Tree in Richmond Hill. Norm Murr
In Reply to: Re: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Glenn Coady on January 24, 2001 at 15:02:31:
Under the terms of the joint access agreement between the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and The Toronto Port Authority (TPA), there are provisions for the TPA to access Tommy Thompson Park on Saturdays for lakefilling purposes if the TPA provides written notice of their activities. Since the volume of truck traffic expected by the TPA is high, there are public safety issues.
Tamara Chipperfield Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
In Reply to: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Tamara Chipperfield on January 24, 2001 at 14:34:49:
I echo Glenn Coady's enquiry and also would like to know what kind of construction is taking place that would close a public park and where. Just what kind of construction can only be done on Saturday ???? Norm Murr
In Reply to: Leslie St. Spit closures posted by Tamara Chipperfield on January 24, 2001 at 14:34:49:
Hi Tamara,
Might I invite you, on this fine bulletin board, to explain why the closures will be necessary over that many consecutive weekends and why the construction projects are not able to proceed during the weekdays when the site is already closed?
Thanks in advance,
GC
I just wanted to inform members of the public that due to construction activities and public safety concerns, Tommy Thompson Park (Leslie St. Spit) will be closed the following dates:
Saturday February 3, 2001 Saturday February 10, 2001 Saturday February 17, 2001 Saturday February 24, 2001
The Park will be open to the public on the Sundays from 9:00am until 4:30pm. Thanks for your cooperation.
Tamara Chipperfield Toronto & Region Conservation Authority
I should preface this by saying that I'm not much of a birder, so seeing a sparrow hawk (a large female, I think) at Palace Pier this morning might not be very exciting news. The hawk was perched in one of the saplings on the weedy knoll behind Palace Pier, and it made a dive at something in grass, but missed. I'm chiefly interested in urban wildlife photography (The Globe & Mail used one of my photos of a coyote last spring), especially of foxes, coyotes, otter, mink, deer, and owls. If anyone could give me any tips on where good photo opportunities for these animals exist, I'd greatly appreciate it.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Today Carol Horner and I went for a drive from Toronto to Niagara Falls looking for anything and every thing .... Hilights wear At Grays rd in Stoney Creek at around 10:30am all 3 Scoter's, 5 Black, 17 Surf, and only 4 White Winged ?? At Sayer's Park which is jist one street south of Grays we found the Male King Eider OOOO what a good looking Bird this is.. also seen wear all 3 Scoters once moor. Then it was off to Port Weller to look for the Harris Sparrow ( Thank you to the nice copal that gave us the Location I had left them at home) which was right at the side of the rood within 3 mints of us puling up we spent a half hour watching this sparrow feeding and sunning it self ... and me with out my camera oo well opportunity mist !! you can find ti by going east off of #405 ( Qew) on #81 go north to Stewart rd then east follow it to Church rd turn right and go to Mcnab rd jist through the interaction on the left you will see a thicket with a stream and a area wear sum good Samaritan has bin putting seed out the bird is found hear. Then on to Niagara-on -the-lake to look for Tufted Titmouse on Shakespeare ave. with know luck ?? do's any one know a better area for T-Titmouse other than hear I have not seen them hear the last 4 times I went by ?? we did have Red-bellied Woodpecker hear thought . We then went off to see the gulls on the river we mist Little gull and Burke Korol ( yes Burke my 2000 year list is coming) But we did find a Lesser-Black-backed Gull above the falls and at lest 12 different Iceland Gulls at the A Beck power plant, this should all plumage's from 1yeer to adult .. jist great ..we had 7 Gull speeches .
then on the way back we stop in to the Travelodge hotel in Burlington wear we wear with luck find the Com.Eider on the west side but will we wear their it swam back around to the east, so look on both . Will we wear there we wear told of the Whooper swan at La Salle park ( marina) wear wee found it sleeping on the ice by the boat ramp , this is found by going south on la salle park rd from Plains rd ( # 2) in Burlington .
Once again Birding in Ontario you cant beet it 3 Scoters speeches , 2 Eider speeches , 7 gull speeches ,3 swan speeches and 6 sparrow speeches WOW what a day ....
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 21, 2001
Another relatively uneventful week, birdwise, in the Quinte area. GREAT HORNED OWLS are calling throughout the area as they prepare to nest. At least one of the two NORTHERN HAWK-OWLS that has been at the Blessington Road location, east of Belleville, since December 1st, is still there. Owls continue to be the order of the day at Amherst Island where GREAT HORNED, SHORT-EARED, LONG-EARED, SNOWY, and NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS continue to be seen by observers, along with up to 4 BOREAL OWLS. There are at least a couple dozen RED-TAILED HAWKS, plenty of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIERS and AMERICAN KESTRELS. BALD EAGLES continue to be reported around Prince Edward County with reports last week coming from Weller's Bay (2), Point Petre (1), a probable one at Sheba's Island, an amazing 6 in the Glenora to Prinyer's Cove area, two at Amherst Island (where there was also a GOLDEN EAGLE) and one at South Bay. NORTHERN SHRIKES last week turned up at Big Island, Glenora, Amherst Island (5), and Halloway Heights (north of Belleville), and at Presqu'ile.
Bird feeders everywhere are reporting brisk business with large numbers of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS at many of them, and increasing numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. There is a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at a feeder on Gilead Road where it has been since before Christmas, and two FOX SPARROWS at a feeder at Peat's Point, near Massassauga Conservation Area.
There is a fairly dependable flock of 130+ SNOW BUNTINGS at Mountain View Airport. Others last week showed up at County Road 11 (50), and Pleasant Bay (25). There were small flocks of HORNED LARKS last week at Doxsee Road (28), Big Island (15) and Melville Road (12). A check of the creek near the junction of North Lakeside Road and Link Road, at east Consecon Lake on Friday, revealed the creek almost frozen solid, with no sign of the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON that was last seen there January 7th. There are still lots of open creeks, including the open waters of Consecon Creek at Consecon, where the bird may still turn up, and it would pay observers to keep tabs on these areas in the event the bird may be hanging out there.
Good birds at Presqu'ile Provincial Park last week included 30 MUTE SWANS, large numbers of REDHEADS, BUFFLEHEADS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 100 CEDAR WAXWINGS and many wintering AMERICAN ROBINS.
A bird identification night course which I am conducting at the high school in Picton, through Loyalist College, exceeded the minimum 10 required (14), and there is now some interest in repeating the course in late February in Napanee. If there are any Napanee area residents who would be interested in such a course ($50), please e-mail me at the address below.
The Prince Edward County Field Naturalists will be meeting Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. at the Bloomfield Town Hall. Guest speakers Joanne and Kendel Dewey will be speaking on changing fish populations. The Quinte Field Naturalists meet tomorrow evening (Monday) at the Bridge Street United Church in Belleville at 7:30 p.m. Guest speaker Bea Heissler of the H.R. Frink Education and Science Centre will be exploring "Animal Tracks in Winter." And according to the FON calendar, mother bears begin giving birth this week. I know I'll be there.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John Charlton, Gladys Spriggings, Ed Heuvel, Bob Sachs, Ken Kingdon, Don Davis, John & Margaret Moore, Bill Gregory, Lloyd Paul and Don Craighead for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 28th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
I finally got tired of looking of the bird feeders in my own yard. This happened because there simply haven't been many birds at them so far this winter.
Instead, I went for a short drive to the Kortright Centre Conservation Area in Vaughan and did a quick walk of their feeder trail (which has been expanded). It turned out to be productive.
Sightings included B.C. CHICKADEE, HOUSE FINCH, MOURNING DOVE, BLUE JAY, CARDINAL, AM. TREE SPARROW, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and a very cooperative HAIRY WOODPECKER. There was also a probable sighting of Downy Woodpecker, although I didn't get a good enough look to really say for sure. The Downy should be expected while the Hairy is a little surprising.
It was a nice walk.
Jim Heffernan
There are an extraordinary number of Redheads (about 500) in and around Bronte Harbour right now (Sunday AM). Other birds include 800 Greater Scaup, 5 American Coots, 25 Gadwall, 8 Common Merganser. These birds are close to shore.
Directions: Exit QEW at Bronte Road (Oakville) and go the lake. Most of the Reheads are in the Outer Harbour and most of the scaup are just east of the harbour.
In Reply to: A Different Kind of Sighting posted by Jim Heffernan on January 15, 2001 at 19:53:00:
I too had looked at the book a couple of times in the fall, but without purchasing it, in part because of the price. Interestingly, just as these prices are coming down, there is quite a discussion going on in Quebec about the poor quality of some copies of the book, specifically with respect to the colouration of certain plates (gulls and thrashers seem to be particularly overly-coloured). Birders there are advising that anyone buying the Sibley guide check the book carefully prior to purchase, as some copies are much better than others.
Marcel
This isn't exactly a bird sighting... but some may find it of interest.
I have been eyeing the Sibley guide since it first came out this fall, but the relatively hefty price tag made me wait a few months in the off chance of finding a bargain after Christmas. As it turns out, the wait proved fruitful.
Last week I picked up a copy of the Sibley guide at The Bay in Hillcrest Mall (Yonge & 16th in Richmond Hill) for $24.99!!! This is less than half of the suggested retail price of $53.00. There were still at least two left after my purchase.
This week my wife found it for $33 and change at Costco at Hwy. 7 & Hwy. 400 in Vaughan.
It seems like now is the time to get this book for a low price, for yourself or for a friend.
Jim H.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 14, 2001
With a fair amount of snow around now, bird feeder operators in the Quinte area are reporting brisk business at most feeding stations. Our own feeding station has approximately 35 BLUE JAYS, 25 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, 2 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, 3 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 30 MOURNING DOVES, 6 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 15 HOUSE FINCHES, 25 TREE SPARROWS, 30 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS, 2 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS and 1 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Other local feeders have reported similar success with additional appearances of DARK-EYED JUNCOS. A Trenton feeder on Monday reported having a female YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER with occasional visits from a COOPER'S HAWK. There was a NORTHERN HARRIER floating by while this person was phoning in his report.
BALD EAGLES continued to show up during the week in Prince Edward County, with six (4 adults and 2 immatures) loafing on the ice at the water's edge at Prinyer's Cove last Friday representing the highest total seen at any one time. Additional sightings this past week came from Weller's Bay, Wellington, and South Bay. No word this week as to whether or not the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON is still present in the creek at east CONSECON LAKE.
At Amherst Island, the BOREAL OWL population continues to increase on the island with at least 4 in the Owl Woods right now. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS number between 6 and 8 and LONG-EARED OWLS numbering 12 to 15. There are plenty of SHORT-EARED OWLS toward the east end of the island and at least 6 SNOWY OWLS east of the village of Stella and probably 6 to 10 more elsewhere, said area resident Alex Scott in an e-mail to me this evening. There are still lots of hawks on the island, especially ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS with smaller numbers of RED-TAILED HAWKS, NORTHERN HARRIERS and AMERICAN KESTRELS, along with at least 6 NORTHERN SHRIKES. The IVORY GULL can still be seen regularly from the ferry, particularly on the Island side. A male HARLEQUIN DUCK and male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE were also at Amherst Island along the southeast shore as of Friday.
WILD TURKEYS this past week were seen on the Harrington Road just north of Trenton (18), and at the Highway #30 turnoff to Warkworth (8). There were 8 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at Wooler on Friday. Massassauga Point Conservation Area today had 50 to 60 CEDAR WAXWINGS along with numerous AMERICAN ROBINS, and 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS.
Highlights of the week from Presqu'ile Provincial Park included GREAT BLUE HERON, 30 MUTE SWANS, BALD EAGLE and up to 500 COMMON GOLDENYE.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John Charlton, Keith and Sharon Brown, Ken Ashton, Lloyd Paul, Alex Scott, Joanne Dewey, Don Craighead and Don Davis for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 21st. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
While I was tagging along with Brete Griffin's Peel Board of Education Birding Class, we saw the Joyceville NORTHERN HAWK OWL. Joyceville is along Highway 15 not far northeast of Kingston. We found the bird at 09:45 h along 6th Concession Road about 2 km east of the intersection of Highway 15, 6th Concession Road, and a third road, the name of which escapes me. The intersection is confusing, so take your time to figure it out. The bird was in the vicinity of property #2836. Forget about looking for the "big red barn" mentioned in an Ontbirds post. Every second farm in the Joyceville area has a red barn, each of equal size.
We observed the bird from the road as it intently scanned the ground for prey. As it foraged, it moved from perch to perch to search new areas of a deciduous woodlot on the south side of the road opposite a stand of tamarack (larch). The bird also perched in trees in the adjacent field to the west. It called frequently, giving a short, mid-pitched trill. It provided the class's sixth species of owl for the weekend (the remainder were on nearby Amherst Island).
A person living along 6th Concession Road told us that the bird has been around since Christmas.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
With some time to do some birthday Birding to day Carol Horner and my self head off to Burlington to see the Common Eider which gave some great looks and antics as it chaste everything that came near it , it is true if you have never seen one ( this is my 4 in southern Ont.) see this one if you can it is a beautiful female and is up really closes to shore .it can be seen at the foot of Brant st beside the Travail loge .
We then went to the to Hamilton Harbour to look at the 1000 of ducks under the QEW hear we found the Juv. Bald Eagle But the best bird hear was a leucystic( iam sheer I dint spell that right ) white, Red -necked Grebe at first I dint know what I was looking at. WOW was it Ice was it a duck what was it.... sheer is something to see !!!! this is found off of Lakeshore rd park in the parking lot south of the lift bridge and walk towards the Harbour .
A another good one was a 1st winter male Barrow's Goldeneye found off of Grays rd in Stoney Creek ..
Craig
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
Yesterday, January 7th, while participating in the Lake Ontario mid-winter waterfowl inventory, I observed three first-year Bald Eagles at Toronto Island. One bird was perched in a tree immediately west of the Ward's Island ferry dock, another was eating carrion on the ice of the inner harbour just off 1st Street on Ward's Island, and the third was seen flying from Centre Island eastward toward the Leslie St. Spit.
Also seen on our census route was a Common Loon, quite rare in Toronto in January.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Today on the Leslie st. spit on a fast hike from 9:00 to 1:00 their were some good birds Hi lights wear L.E.Owl 14, Snowy Owl 2 , Saw -whet Owl 2 .
Once again after watching a birder( well I am not seer what he was his pack was big a nff to be a camper ) crash throw all the shrubs wear both the Saw - whet Owls wear, backing and destroying rousting area , I ask "PLEASE YOU Don't have to do this" it s not hard to find Owls and it takes a lot longer for trees to grow back, just move slowly and look every wear the braches you are backing off might have a Owl on them !!.If I offend any one please contact me personal Thank you .
On the walk off the spit we found a the best bird of the day a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the bushes near the both gate , Wow that was not expected.
The Leslie St. spit is found south of the lake shore blvd. Off of Leslie St.
Over at Humber bay their wear 2 coots and 3 Trumpeter Swan's one was tagged # 395 the other too were not all though they wear adults . Humber bay park is found south of the Gardiner Expwy off of Park Lawn rd in Toronto
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 07, 2001
For birders starting their 2001 Year's List, as well as feeding their Winter List, last week produced some impressive additions. The Consecon Lake BLACK-CROWNED LIGHT HERON obligingly stayed around for January 1st, and as of this afternoon was still in the creek near the junction of North Lakeside Drive and Link Road, feeding less than 10 metres from the bridge. Also sticking around for the 2001 lists are the 2 NORTHERN HAWK OWLS at Blessington Road, both in their usual positions, one opposite Civic Address #3752, and the other just east of Read Road. And to add a little spice to checklists was the first year IVORY GULL at Amherst Island, last seen yesterday.
There appears to be no fewer than at least 16 BALD EAGLES in Prince Edward County this winter. The majority of sightings have been in the Glenora to Prinyer's Cove stretch of shoreline with additional sightings this week at Wellington (photographed), Weller's Bay, Point Petre, and Point Traverse. One turned up today at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. There was a SNOWY OWL today at the Stinson Block just west of Consecon, SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS at Amherst Island and along East Lake Road in Prince Edward County, and RED-TAILED HAWKS in the Stirling area, Amherst Island, Big Island, Sandbanks Provincial Park and Northport. ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK reports last week came in from Belleville (at 401), Amherst Island (dozens!) and from Brighton. There was a COOPER'S HAWK Tuesday at a feeder at Peat's Point.
Lots of CANADA GEESE around from the many hundreds that often loaf in the Wellington area, to a small flock of 50 feeding in a corn field near Morgan Road on Friday. Elsewhere, Point Petre on Tuesday had good numbers of LONG-TAILED DUCKS, COMMON GOLDENEYES and lesser numbers of BUFFLEHEAD. Wellington Harbour continues to host 3 AMERICAN COOTS, along with a female RUDDY DUCK, and varying numbers of MALLARDS and COMMON GOLDENEYE. On Monday and Tuesday there was a FEMALE hooded merganser there, and a MUTE SWAN there on Tuesday. Sandbanks Provincial Park on Tuesday produced a nice assortment of ducks including 31 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 100 MALLARDS, 857 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 81 BUFFLEHEADS, and 261 COMMON GOLDENEYE.
There were 19 WILD TURKEYS this past week at Sandbanks, 11 at Morrison's Point, and north of the county there were 11 at Hoard's Station. Other good sightings during the week included 60 CEDAR WAXWINGS at Peat's Point, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER at Sandbanks Provincial Park, 8 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at School House Road (near Pt. Petre), 28 HORNED LARKS along Doxsee Road, and NORTHERN FLICKERS at Peat's Point and Sandbanks.
There are still a couple of spaces left for the Bird Identification course being offered at the Prince Edward Collegiate Institute, commencing January 17th, and continuing every Wednesday thereafter for six weeks beginning at 7:00 p.m. Cost is $54.25 and more information can be obtained by e-mailing tsprague@kos.net. Registration must be made by phoning Cathy Stanfield at 613-476-1545.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Albert Boisvert, Paul Makepiece, Lloyd Paul, Walter Frey, R. Lester, Earl Tripp, John Cornick, Don Craighead, Alex Scott and Bill Gregory for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 14th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
Yesterday, January 3rd, I found another Rock Dove nest with two live young in square 17PJ13 in the Islington and Bloor area.
Anyone interested in confirming Rock Dove as a breeder in other squares should look at this time of year, in urban settings, at the undersides of railway bridges, particularly on east-west railway lines, as these provide very sheltered places even on the coldest January days.
GC
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
After putting my self in to sum of the worst weather for birding one could ( I now think birding in Florida might be a good thing in January) west winds coming across the Hamilton harbour with snow and freezing rain and believe them when that say a hi wind worning for the Skyway bridge it means the same for under the bridge .
And for what A half hour(2:35 to3:05 pm) look at a Ivory gull aaa ante, Birding in Ontario great , I was then joined by Dan Burton and as the gull flue around our heads looking for food booth of us forgot about the weather ... it was great ..
>From Eastport Drive, on the Hamilton side of the Lift Bridge, pull into the parking lot entrance immediately before the bridge, then walk west to the end of the pier.
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Red-headed Woodpecker posted by Sandra Eadie on October 16, 1999 at 16:54:50:
I love you
In Reply to: Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - first confirmed species for Toronto Region (Region 12) posted by Al Johnston on January 03, 2000 at 14:36:22:
Hi Al,
The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas will once again survey all breeding species in Ontario, with an added emphasis on colonial nesting species (including Purple Martin), a new protocol for measuring species abundance in each square (using a point count methodology), and a dovetailing of increased participation among the many new participants' efforts into the Ontario Nest Records Scheme.
The square you have identified will be referred to in the new grid system (a slightly altered grid system is now in use vs. that used in the last atlas) as 17PJ37, and as you state it is in York Region (Region 45) and is coordinated by Theo Hofmann. Contact information for Theo is also available on the atlas web site - he will be able to put you in touch with the principal atlasser(s) for that square. He could probably use your help in the field too.
Also, be sure to send me any data you generate in Region 12 (Toronto Region).
Region 12 includes the following squares:
17PJ03; 17PJ04; 17PJ12; 17PJ13; 17PJ14; 17PJ22; 17PJ23; 17PJ24; 17PJ32; 17PJ33; 17PJ34; 17PJ35; 17PJ43; 17PJ44; 17PJ45; 17PJ54; 17PJ55
It is planned that atlassers will be able to look up atlas data (both the 1981-1985 atlas and the present atlas) on-line via the web site this time around.
GC
In Reply to: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - first confirmed species for Toronto Region (Region 12) posted by Glenn Coady on January 02, 2000 at 12:36:06:
Conratulations Glenn, On recording the first nesting species for the Toronto region. On visitin g, the web site I see that emphasis is going to be placed on birds that nest in colonies such as Gre at Blue Herons and Bank Swallows. I would assume that this would also include Purple Martins. I woul d like to be kept aware of recordings of nestings of this latter species in square 17PU37 region 45 (Whitchurch-Stouffville). I've been trying to attr act Martins with no success since 1991. It would be e encouraging to know that, at least, there were other Martin colonies in the area. Is there any way y that I could keep in touch with the Atlasser who will be assigned to this square? Al
In Reply to: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - first confirmed species for Toronto Region (Region 12) posted by Glenn Coady on January 02, 2000 at 12:36:06:
Slight correction:
Obviously my two Rock Dove nests were Jan. 1,2001 and not Dec. 1 as typed.
Brain must still be intoxicated by Ivory Gull.
In Reply to: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas - first confirmed species for Toronto Region (Region 12) posted by Glenn Coady on January 02, 2000 at 12:36:06:
Slight correction:
Obviously my two Rock Dove nests were Jan. 1,2001 and not Dec. 1 as typed.
Brain must still be intoxicated by Ivory Gull.
Hello all,
Happy New Year.
Just a quick post to remind people that this year we begin the second 5-year breeding bird atlas for Ontario.
To learn more about the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, or to register yourself as an atlasser, check out the Atlas web site at:
http://www.birdsontario.org
To help out in the Toronto area contact the Regional Coordinator (yours truly) at:
glenn.coady@swchsc.on.ca
To get the ball rolling I have confirmed the first species in the Toronto region for this atlas yesterday, December 1st, finding two Rock Dove nests (one nest with two eggs, one nest with one live young) in the square in which the prominent feature is High Park.
Region 12 is a group of sixteen squares (10 km x 10 km) covering all of Toronto R.M., eastern Peel R.M. and some of s.w. Durham R.M.
I would be happy to have you participate in this region during the second Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas (2001-2005).
GC
what a great day of birding in and around Toronto , as with every new year's day I went for a walk out the Leslie st spit ( or Tommy Thompson park which is found at the base of Leslie st south of Lake shore blvd E ) I found 21 speeches (up from 10 yesterday) Hilights wear L.E.Owl 23 (yes 23 wow) , Snowy Owl 2 , G.H.Owl 1 and 1 Saw-whet Owl also seen was a Imm Bald Eagle and a light phase Rough -Legged Hawk .
I then heard about the Ivory gull and that it was heading for Humber bay so I rushed there and set up to wait , In vane I gees I should have gone to Hamlton, But with all that time on my hands and with the good eyes of Jean Iron we scanned all the gulls looking for the Laughing gull with no luck ..but still 40 speeches on the first day of the year ( and 01-01-01 to boot) was all right .
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
A Northern Mockingbird was sighted in Rowntree Mills Park, Toronto on January 1st 2001.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, December 31, 2000
This evening's report on this New Year's Eve is being compiled BEFORE the rum and coke, unlike last week's report on Christmas Eve when my snow squalls turned into "snow squaws!" However, with the exception of some snow this weekend, birding conditions this past week in the Quinte area were quite favourable, although a bit on the chilly side.
As of 3:00 p.m. this afternoon, the juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was still at the creek near the junction of North Lakeside Drive and Link Road, 5 km east of Consecon, where there is also a BELTED KINGFISHER. The Consecon area this week also produced 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS, found Thursday in a flock of about 60 SNOW BUNTINGS. There was also an adult BALD EAGLE seen the same day in the same area, a species that appears to be well distributed in Prince Edward County this winter. There were three BALD EAGLES (1 adult and 2 first year) on Bayshore Road off Highway 33 along Adolphus Reach on Thursday, likely among the five or six that are being seen fairly regularly in the northeastern part of the county. There were also two immature BALD EAGLES at Point Petre on Thursday afternoon. One of the eagles at Prinyer's Cove this week was observed snatching a fish from a commercial fisherman's fish box!
BALD EAGLES have also been seen (up to five) on Amherst Island, again likely part of the large group that continues to scan the waters between the island and Prince Edward County. The raptor population at Amherst Island appears to be building up with numerous RED-TAILED HAWKS, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and NORTHERN HARRIERS being reported, along with seven species of owls, including LONG-EARED (20), SHORT-EARED (29), NORTHERN SAW-WHET (8), and BARRED OWL (1). The list also includes a BOREAL OWL, the second of the season for Amherst Island and at least the 4th for the Kingston region this winter.
At least one of the two NORTHERN HAWK-OWLS seen along Blessington Road, north of the county, appears to be around yet, with the last reported sighting this week on Wednesday. There is a female COOPER'S HAWK hunting at bird feeders in the Trenton area, between Highway 2 and Powerline Road, centred around Hennessy Road.
On Thursday, there were 3 AMERICAN COOTS, 1 female HOODED MERGANSER, a female COMMON MERGANSER and a male COMMON GOLDENEYE at Wellington Harbour. Other good duck sightings this past week included 2 male NORTHERN PINTAILS and a male GADWALL near Cove Point along Adolphus Reach.
The NatureStuff website updates are being uploaded onto the site as this is being written. Along with updates on birdfeeding, naturalization, and birding areas, a few of the 2001 Quinte Conservation outdoor programs have been uploaded as well. Available now for viewing are the canoeing and kayaking events, and the guided hikes and tours information.
May I take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy New Year and once again offer my thanks to everyone who has contributed to this weekly report over the past three years. Have a great New Year's Eve, and may your 2001 bird list be even greater!
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Albert Boisvert, Wynne Thomas, Bill Gregory, Alex Scott, Glenn Owen, Doris Lane, Nick Gromoff, Marc Johnson and Earl Tripp for their contributions to this week's report. This report has been brought to you by Backyard Birds of Quinte (Belleville) and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 7th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. next Sunday to be included in the next report. Good birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario, Canada
tsprague@kos.net
www.naturestuff/net
In Reply to: Re: sighting of Pileated Woodpecker posted by Gerry Mielke on April 19, 1999 at 23:34:25:
ROCHESTER, MINNESOTA. On Christmas morning, we had a Pileated woodpecker on our utility pole. I had never seen one so found it on the internet. He pecked a whole about 4 inches into the pole.........what a site as he was huge!!!!.......took pictures so hope they turn out...........put suet out and we are hoping that he will return!!!
Yesterday (Saturday December 30), well over 70 hardy participants spent the day searching for birds in the annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count. Despite the less than ideal weather, we ended up with rather impressive preliminary totals of 80 species (sixth highest ever) and 49,171 individuals (fifth highest ever, but the lowest since 1995).
The count highlight was an American Woodcock, found in a bit of open water along Black Creek in Downsview Dells Park, and only the second in the history of the Toronto CBC (the other being back in 1952). Other noteworthy finds included a Northern Goshawk (also in Downsview Dells Park), a Ring-necked Pheasant along the North Humber (the first seen on the count since 1994), a Swainson's Thrush east of Woodbine in Taylor Creek Park (only the second ever for the Toronto CBC), and an American Pipit near the pool on Sunnyside beach (only the sixth record ever).
We had seven species this year registering new record high counts: Mute Swan (157; previous high 126 in 1996), Greaters Scaup (5482 vs. 3969 in 1972), Peregrine Falcon (5, ties 1999 record), American Coot (8 vs. 3 in 1997, 1998, and 1999), Iceland Gull (11 vs. 8 in 1999), Glaucous Gull (20 vs. 9 in 1992), and Northern Cardinal (394 vs 392 in 1998).
Other species with unusually high counts included Northern Harrier (4, the most since 4 in 1961), Red-tailed Hawk (72, the most since 76 in 1989), Long-eared Owl (12, the most since 17 in 1961), Short-eared owl (9, the most since 12 in 1951).
On the other hand, we also had unusually low counts