WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 31, 2002
A heavy snowfall on Tuesday put a damper on the bird migration for the day in the Quinte area, but things were back to normal by the following day. Today, there were few reminders of that day as small numbers of SONG SPARROWS, TREE SWALLOWS, EASTERN PHOEBES and GREAT BLUE HERONS resumed their spring schedules. Yesterday, there were AMERICAN WOODCOCKS, EASTERN PHOEBES, and a FOX SPARROW at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. Another FOX SPARROW turned up on Tuesday in the Shannonville area. The OSPREY was seen at its traditional nesting area at the corner of County Road 28 and Massassauga Road, south of Rossmore, by several people yesterday.
A night of owling by the Prince Edward County Field Naturalists produced an EASTERN SCREECH OWL near Lake-on-the-Mountain, and another at Waupoos, along with 3 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS. Also putting in appearances in several locations during the week were EASTERN MEADOWLARKS, COMMON SNIPE, COMMON LOONS, and several RUFFED GROUSE. A WINTER WREN turned up at Beaver Meadow on Saturday, located by a Toronto birder. A PEREGRINE FALCON showed up along Cold Creek Road on Friday.
Still a few signs of winter though. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at Babylon Road and County Road 13 numbered 34 on Monday, and a Bloomfield observer came across a flock of 20 SNOW BUNTINGS in a field north of the village on Wednesday. And on Keene Road, a flock of 60 COMMON REDPOLLS turned up in the middle of the week.
Waterfowl during the week showed up in some spectacular numbers. Skeins of CANADA GEESE were observed throughout the week with large gaggles turning up at Pleasant Bay (200), and similar numbers reported from South Bay. One home owner at West Lake had close to 500 on his lawn and on his grassed air strip this weekend. There were over 100 TUNDRA SWANS on Pleasant Bay during the week along with 4 MUTE SWANS. Large numbers and a good assortment can be seen right now on all lakes and bays in the area and some of the more interesting reports to come in during the week included HOODED MERGANSERS at Prince Edward Point, WOOD DUCKS at Beaver Meadow and Prince Edward Point, REDHEADS and CANVASBACKS at Smith's Bay, BUFFLEHEADS at Salmon Point, and RING-NECKED DUCKS and AMERICAN WIGEONS at East Lake.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to David Wight, Shirley Preston, Lloyd Paul, David and Yvette Bree, Shirley and Ken Joyce, Don Craighead, Dan Kozlovic, Fran Donaldson, Bill Hogg, Molly Mulloy, and Henry and Joan Pasila for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 7th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. 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: Port Perry Lagoons posted by Andy on March 25, 2002 at 14:58:49:
Yes, we would be interested and will pay the fee necessary, please inform us of outcome thanks.
In Reply to: Tree Swallows in Whitchurch-Stouffville posted by Al Johnston on March 31, 2002 at 11:08:55:
Yesterday I had my first swallows of the year with about five Tree Swallows at Humber Bay East. Other birds there included: 3 Ring-necked Ducks (2 male, 1 female), 1 male Hooded Merganser, 1 male Northern Shoveller. All of the usual wintering ducks were present, including both scaup with Lesser outnumbering Greater. There was also an adult Iceland Gull on the sandbar below the sewage treatment plant at Ashbridge's Bay (viewed from the SW tip of the park).
Good Birding Joel Kits
It seems a long time since Norm Murr reported a tree swallow east of Richmond Hill on March 12th but they're back in full force this morning. There must be several dozen of them swooping over the pond and some are already starting to lay claim to one of the 29 nest boxes scattered around the property. Good birding everone.... Al
The Peel Birding Class had its first spring outing today with a trip east to birding spots in the Durham region. We had Mute and Trumpeter Swans at Cranberry Marsh and several other waterfowl species as well including Shovellers, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Ducks, Pintail, and Green and Blue-winged Teal. We also had good views of Tree, Song and Swamp Sparrows along the north platform boardwalk. Brown-headed Cowbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds and Cardinals were quite vocal and a Carolina Wren was briefly heard from the woodlot bordering the NW corner of the marsh. Many people later enjoyed handfeeding the Chickadees along the bird feeder trail before we headed on to Thickson’s Woods.
We heard a group of crows making a loud fuss as we entered the woods so we headed directly for their location and managed a glimpse of a Great Horned Owl as it flew off to avoid its antagonists. A Carolina Wren was also briefly heard here as well and some Grackles but otherwise the woods were pretty quiet.We walked down the road to the marsh and had a look at a distant male Wood Duck, a courting pair of Hooded Mergansers, and a pair of Belted Kingfishers near the beaver dam. Two Great Blue Herons were seen flying north over the marsh and a solitary GBH was also seen standing at the pond at what used to be Picov”s.
From here we continued east to Second Marsh in Oshawa where we found more waterfowl including Black Ducks, Gadwall, and Common Mergansers. We also recorded Greater Black-backed Gull and Bufflehead and Com. Goldeneye in the lake proper. Perhaps the most interesting discovery here was not a bird but a weasel(I believe it was a Longtail Weasel, I’m not 100% sure, they are lightning fast!). He was "running in a bouncing fashion" through the grass and under the shrubs in broad daylight(which is apparently not uncommon foraging behavior). It was a real treat! We then headed to the east side of the marsh and walked into Darlington Park for our last birding stop of the day and Gary Sturge discovered a roosting Saw-whet Owl in a spruce tree near the road. It had a rodent with it on the branch beside it(leftovers I guess!). We had been looking for a good bird to end the morning with and it worked out well. It was a nice start to the spring session. Peel Birding Class
In Reply to: Quinte Area Bird Report - Mar. 24/02 posted by Terry Sprague on March 24, 2002 at 19:49:10:
This is the best site I have found for birding info, but the constant anti hunting cracks are getting old.
In Reply to: Birder's Bible? posted by Kirk Vetor on March 29, 2002 at 10:43:30:
This is going to be a long thread ... There seems to be a new field guide coming out every 15 minutes, so you're wise to ask around.
The Sibley guide is very impressive, but it's more practical on the bookshelf, like the three-volume Audubon Master Guides (remember them, all you geezers?). Peterson is still terrific, and is essential, but for portable information, the National Geographic Guide is hard to beat.
I would hesitate to call it a 'bible,' however. It's full of verifiable facts. But I digress.
Regards
In Reply to: Birder's Bible? posted by Kirk Vetor on March 29, 2002 at 10:43:30:
I like the National Geographic Birds of North America. It is a good overall reference which is small enough to carry in the field. I also like Sibley, but it is too big and heavy to use in the field.
In Reply to: Birder's Bible? posted by Kirk Vetor on March 29, 2002 at 10:43:30:
I prefer the Sibley Guide to Birds. It may be heavy, but it provides extensive paintings of birds, and is easy to use. The paintings are outstanding, you should take a look at this one.
In Reply to: Bohemian Waxwings posted by Kirk Vetor on March 29, 2002 at 10:36:05:
They're winter wanderers. You'd be very lucky indeed to find one in summer if you frequent Hudson Bay.
Two hundred is eyeball-popping stuff. Eek.
I have Audubon and Peterson's field guides. They both have the strenghts, but I would like to get a new better book.
Any suggestions? Is there a "Bible" for birders?
Thanks,
Kirk
Was out along Gages Creek (Port Hope) last weekend and came upon a flock of at least 200 Bohemian Waxwings. Always wanted to see one, never thought I'd see this many all at once my first time. What a sight as they cleaned out the hips from a large Rosa multiflora.
Question: Are these birds just winter migrants or do we have a resident population?
Thanks,
Kirk
Wanted: One determined, energetic, sharp, knowledgeable birder to complete our competitive team for 2002 Taverner Cup competition (Sat. May 25 - midnight to midnight) We have two "cracker jack" birders. We have a driver. We have an enthusiastic sponsor. All that's missing is one more "hot shot" birder.
Qualifications: . Must know Ontario birds thoroughly (sight & sound) . Must have highly developed senses and keen birding skills . Familiarity with Algonquin, Presqu'ile, Carden Plain, Kingston areas an asset . Must be a team player . Must be determined to win
Serious inquiries should be sent to beck.tony@sympatico.ca For information on Taverner Cup birding Competition, visit http://www.web-nat.com/taverner/
In Reply to: Lesser black-backed gull - Rouge Marsh posted by Andreas Jonsson on March 26, 2002 at 10:13:11:
Andreas,
Welcome to Canada - hope your birding has been enjoyable here.
Lesser Black-backed Gull is a casual winter visitor to southern Ontario. The first birds most often show up around mid-September and linger around until late May. As would be expected all age classes are seen. It is not uncommon at Niagara Falls to see as many as 5 - 10 in a day. In Toronto I usually see a few each winter and have seen as many as 10 in a day here as well (once).
In places like New Jersey and North Carolina it is becoming more common to see as many as several dozen in a day at the best gull-watching sites.
Overwhelmingly the subspecies involved in Ontario is Larus fuscus graellsii. Larus fuscus intermedius is known from Ontario but it is much, much rarer and most instances of its occurrence are often not conclusively documented to subspecific level.
To my knowledge Lesser Black-backed Gull has not yet been documented as breeding anywhere in North America though I expect it will at some point.
GC
Hi all!
I'm visiting Toronto for a couple of months and this last weekend (24/3) I was really keen on seeing some TRIUMPETER SWANS. I don't have a car so I chose to go to Rouge Marsh, which you can easily reach with the GO trains. But the marsh was all covered with ice, so the trip turned out to be quite a fiasco for observing ducks. But among the hundereds of RINGBILLED GULLS on the ice there was a familiar bird from back home (I'm from Sweden), an adult LARUS FUSCUS (INTERMEDIUS race with grey back) or LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, I believe you call it over here.
Is this a common observation in North America, or just accidental? Is there even a breeding population here?
Andreas Jonsson andreas@misu.su.se
In Reply to: Port Perry Lagoons posted by Andy on March 25, 2002 at 14:58:49:
To add to Andy's email.
If you know birders that used to frequent the lagoons but do not have access to the internet then please try to get in touch with them and if they are also willing to pay a user fee then take their name and report same to Geoff but there is some urgency to all of this as Geoff needs your answer PDQ.
Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: What's wrong with me??? posted by Jean-François on March 22, 2002 at 21:43:52:
In addition to cats, you might also be having a problem with squirrels. Squirrels will eat bird eggs and fledglings, as will raccoons, although coons can't get at most nests. So you might want to make sure that your birdfeeder is squirrel-proof.
To those of you who have visited the lagoons in the past and would like to be able to do so again, I urge you to read and respond to the following. My apologies if you have already read this note elsewhere.
-----------------
Durham Region staff have advised that they are prepared to recommend that we
have access to the lagoons this year. The decision must still go to Finance
Committee for ratification, but it looks promising that it will be passed
.....
Now the tricky part ... the Region has decided that a permit system will be put in place, with waivers, and a user fee will apply ... they want to purchase a separate insurance policy specifically for birders and the user fee would cover the cost of the policy. The cost per birder will depend on how many people will commit to buying a permit. The base cost is $1200.00. That means that if 100 people commit, each will have to pay $12.00. If more or less apply, you can do the math. They are unrelenting in this, so we must work within this framework.
What I need NOW is a statement of interest ... I need to know how many people would like to go to the lagoons this year and who would be willing to pay for a permit. I realize you don't know how much it will be, and I won't hold you to buying a permit as that's not my business, but I will provide a definite number to the Durham folks based on the response .... Please email me THIS WEEKEND and tell me of your interest. The number of respondents will determine the potential individual cost. PLEASE DON'T PUT THIS OFF ... pls ask your friends who do not have email or are not members of LISTSERV or OntBirds and tell me of their interest as well. Your reply email must tell me how many people you are responding for pls.
Clubs will not have to pay the fee, if the club has its own liability insurance and if the members are there as part of an organized outing. Club members who are travelling on their own must pay the individual fee.
I'll let you know the results of this weekend's survey and will tell you more about the permit system and access rules as soon as everything is finalized.
The good news is that if the cost can be shared we can all bird at Port Perry once again ... one last thought, are any clubs willing to put up some money as a donation that can be applied to the overall policy cost and thereby reduce what each individual has to pay???
Geoff Carpentier Ajax, Ontario geoffcarpentier@ROGERS.COM
In Reply to: Re: RFI: Birdsong Playback Speaker posted by Andy on March 25, 2002 at 13:36:04:
Andy,
For the larger, louder species (i.e. Great Horned or Barred Owls) which can be detected for quite some distance, playback from the speakers in your car from roadside locations should be sufficient in many areas. Direction of open doors/windows is not quite as important with the deep bass notes.
GC
In Reply to: Re: RFI: Birdsong Playback Speaker posted by Glenn Coady on March 22, 2002 at 17:53:46:
Thanks, Glenn, for the comments. I think I'll take your suggestion and stick with the built-in speaker unless I find it doesn't have the range (distance-wise). I plan on checking it out one afternoon this week to see if I can get adequate volume without distortion. I'm a bit of a fusspot about things like this :-). And, yes, I already have the owl survey protocol (I picked it up yesterday, but have not yet read it). Thanks again.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 24, 2002
We can only hope that a TREE SWALLOW, seen at Kingsford last Sunday, and another at Frankford on Thursday had the good sense to find a warm nook or cranny to spend the evening hours, as it surely was frigid in the Quinte area last week. Snow, wind and white out conditions during the latter part of the week put a damper on birding for many, but a few good sightings turned up nevertheless.
New arrivals last week were AMERICAN WOODCOCK at the Belleville Fish and Game Club (of all places) and Big Island; SONG SPARROWS at Big Island, Cressy area, and Sandbanks, GREAT BLUE HERON at Telegraph Narrows and Wooler, and a very early and optimistic GREATER YELLOWLEGS north of Newburgh. TURKEY VULTURES continue to appear throughout the Quinte area, there was a COMMON LOON at Peat's Point, and a nice flock of 75 SNOW GEESE (about 25 of them blues) at Beaver Meadow.
With the ice disappearing from Beaver Meadow, the swamp there is providing some great opportunities for listers with WOOD DUCK, CANADA GEESE (600), GADWALL (2), AMERICAN WIGEON (2), BLACK DUCK (1), MALLARD (26). HOODED MERGANSER (4), and COMMON MERGANSER (7) turning up on Thursday. The wooded areas there produced RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-TAILED HAWKS (4) and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.
The flooded corn field at Kaiser Road, east of Waupoos, still contained good numbers of NORTHERN PINTAIL (100 - 300) during the week, along with lesser numbers of AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN WINGED TEAL, MALLARDS, and BLACK DUCKS. Also mixed in with them were 45 TUNDRA SWANS and about 500 CANADA GEESE. Peat's Point last week offered 8 species of ducks, some of the notables being 7 HOODED MERGANSERS, 5 AMERICAN WIGEON and 85 RING-NECKED DUCKS. Meanwhile at Sheba's Island, one observer there said 7 hormone crazy BUFFLEHEAD drakes were ganging up on a lone female today. There were over 100 LONG-TAILED DUCKS in Soup Harbour during the past week.
BALD EAGLES were seen during the week over Adolphus Reach (1 A), and at Massassauga Point (1 A & 1 imm). Other good sightings during the week included SNOWY OWLS on Amherst Island, two dozen BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at Smith's Bay today, WILD TURKEYS at Sandbanks (7), Stirling (12), and Cherry Valley (100), and numerous reports of AMERICAN KESTRELS and NORTHERN HARRIERS.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bob Sachs, Betty Hood, John Charlton, Owen Weir, John & Margaret Moore, Jim Collinson, Don Chisholm, Don Craighead, Lloyd Paul, David Bree, Wynne Thomas and Joe Victor for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 31st. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. 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: Re: Birdathons posted by B. Griffin on March 23, 2002 at 21:43:06:
Brendan, I would be remiss if I did not mention Bird Studies Canada in this context. They not only organize the Baillie Birdathon but they also conduct and support bird conservation research and educational programs all across Canada. For more information on their activities go to: Bird Studies Canada
In Reply to: Birdathons posted by Brendan O'Sullivan on March 23, 2002 at 10:08:23:
I was all prepared to respond and then thought to be sure, I should skim through the Baillie Birdathon registration brochure first. While all references in the text seem to indicate or refer to "birds seen", I don't think they mean this in an exclusive sense. I have done Birdathons for 8+ years and have always included "heard" birds but usually mark them with an asterisk on the checklist to show my sponsors. It usually does not matter in the final tally as most of my sponsors use the flat-rate method anyway. Most skeptics would only challenge your song or call ID for fun, but if they persist then invite them out with you next time! Remember that its for fun and to raise money for a good cause, so I don't think it's a serious issue(unless they were to use the results for survey info purposes). In the case of scientific purposes heard birds are an important means of detecting presence on formal surveys, so why not this one as well. I usually do the Birdathon on the IMBD/NAMC day which is the 2nd Sat. in May which can produce a large count total depending on weather conditions of course. You may even consider submitting your results as a Big Day report, some people enjoy the competitive aspects of these activities. If you are good with bird song identification you might consider helping out in other ways as well, check out the Citizen Science Bird Projects on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website, they are in need of help on several monitoring projects. Remember the bottom line is to have fun! Peel Birding Class
In Reply to: Re: What's wrong with me??? posted by Jim Richards on March 22, 2002 at 23:55:35:
You also have to note whether there are cats in the area, that could be one main reason why they are avoiding your yard. If there are you might want to talk to your neighbours about them.
Mike Boyd
I was wondering what is the criterion for counting birds in the various birdathons: does the bird have to be actually SEEN or is HEARING the bird sing/call sufficient for it to be counted? Thanks in advance.
In Reply to: What's wrong with me??? posted by Jean-François on March 22, 2002 at 21:43:52:
You note having good quality feed and you mention having shrubs and that covers two of the main ingredients; not counting the birds! What you fail to mention is the provision of water. Even in winter a birdbath with a heater is great, and it's a very critical component. Perhaps the fact that birds favour the eavestrough is a clue. Maybe they go there for a drink (when possible) but this is not a steady source of water year-round.
Hello all,
I live in the Queensway and Islington neighbourhood, which is a calm area with a large maple tree and sycamore population. Besides sparrows and morning doves, and the occasional goldfinch epiphany, I can't seem to make my premium birdseed expenses worth my while. Even the few sparrows that visit appear to prefer my neighbours' eavestroughs to the wonderful villas I've set up for them. I have planted succulent flowers, bright honeysuckles, enticing bushes and shrubs, yet the insect population proliferates and dies of old age without fearing any possible predator. I'm so desperate that I've even considered setting up neon signs pointing to my backyard. I promised my wife that the messy seeds would not be in vain and that our garden would be overflowing with bird life. I'm not expecting parrots, but recognition for my efforts would be appreciated. To date, the most beautiful bird to visit our humble abode has been a dead vireo (3 years ago!!). I don't pretend to want to create a bird sanctuary, but I wasn't expecting to become the neighbourhood resting place! Please help me to save face among my family and to pass for a friendly birdwatcher, not a gravedigger!
Desperately yours, Jean-François
In Reply to: RFI: Birdsong Playback Speaker posted by Andy on March 22, 2002 at 13:39:39:
Andy,
Although I agree with you that the response at the bass end of most portable cassette/CD players leaves much to be desired, in practical terms I have never found it to be a hindrance in eliciting response from any species of owl I have ever tried calling (including all the North American owls, some European owls, and many Central and South American owls).
Key to successful owl calling is:
1) patience: often owls will not respond immediately.
2) good night vision: owls will often pass silently overhead in response to playback - many times that I have led an outing for owls I have been the only one to notice such an overhead flight occur. Red filter over your flashlight to help keep your eyes dilated can be useful. Limited use of the flashlight at all is even better.
3) good hearing: many owls call back at very great distance; it is a good bet they will have less trouble hearing your recorder than you will hearing their distant response if you are on the edge of a territory. Playing at frequent intervals at distances approximating YOUR range of audibility for owl calls can mitigate this.
4) Life history knowledge: knowledge of when a particular species is most vocal is useful. Also, most people underestimate how often owls will respond to playback even in daylight hours. In general, playback should be done in the order of smallest to largest sized owls (for obvious reasons).
My attempts to use an external speaker have not met with any increased success in my estimation. They did, however, use up many more batteries.
I could forward you a copy of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas instruction manual for the standardized owl survey protocol if you don't already have it.
GC
I'm hoping someone can advise me on speaker selection for playback of owl calls in the field. My present setup uses a horn type tweeter. This works very well with high-frequency calls of songbirds, but I am not happy with its low frequency response. Before going out to Radio Shack and trying to re-invent the wheel, I thought I'd ask here if anyone is using anything other than their unit's built-in speaker for playing owl calls, and, if so, would you mind sharing that information? Thank you.
While driving at dusk during a heavy snow squall yesterday, I spotted a Great Blue Heron flying west at Beare/Steeles. I thought to myself that bird must be saying to itself, "what was I thinking...".
In Reply to: Cherry Beach posted by Chris on March 21, 2002 at 13:57:42:
Chris, your recollection could well have been totally accurate. At this time of the year, you could have seen, Mute, Tundra, or Trumpeter Swans at Cherry Beach. Al
Are there swans at Cherry Beach? I am from Ottawa and visited the beach with an old friend late Sunday night, later I recollected seeing swans. Is this possible?
In Reply to: Bumblebee egg predator posted by Rick Lauzon on March 21, 2002 at 12:07:29:
Hi Rick, I doubt the bumblebee would have done it. IMHO it sounds like the work of a house wren. They've been known to "pip" the eggs of other birds so that they can take over the nest site. Any other thoughts out there? Al, Whitchurch-Stouffville
I have a Chickadee nest box in my yard in Scarborough. They nested successfully for two years, and they started to install a nest in the third year. I checked the progress after a few days. I tapped the box at noon, then opened the front face. There were two eggs covered over with moss, which seemed normal enough, but then the moss started moving! I just watched until a bumblebee emerged. Then I noticed that an adult Chickadee was nearby, so I closed up the box and watched again. The Chickadee tried repeatedly to enter the box, but was driven off by the bee. This seemed to be an intentional action on the part of the bee as it actually left the box to buzz at the Chickadee before going back into the box.
All this seemed unusual enough, but the kicker came a few days later. I had left the situation as it was, to see if the bee and the Chickadee could resolve things on their own. When it became obvious that the Chickadee had abandoned the nest, I checked the cold eggs and found a pinhole in one of the eggs. Could the bumblebee have done this?
In Reply to: Re: Toronto Nesting box for Wren or Chickadee in Toronto posted by merrilea on March 21, 2002 at 10:12:27:
Hi, also another problem you might have is attracting birds, your backyard seemed very bare of vegetation. I would recommend planting some shrubs and bushes to increase your chances as it would give the adults something to hide in and also increase the amount of insects in your backyard.
Mike Boy
In Reply to: Rattray Marsh Pileated Woodpeckers posted by George Daszkowski on April 13, 1999 at 09:23:08:
I'm from Nashville Tennessee , just had a visit from a pileated woodpecker , I got one pic of him before he flew off , I've seeen them once before here a few years ago , rare I think...I live in a suburban area & am close to BNA , our airport , wish they would stay around for the camera a little longer!
In Reply to: Toronto Nesting box for Wren or Chickadee in Toronto posted by Benjamin Feist on March 20, 2002 at 21:46:02:
I am no expert on nesting boxes, but I appears to me that having it situated on a fence makes it very accessible to cats. Cats kills something like 500 million birds a year in North America. I would think that a box affixed atop a painted pole situated in the very centre of the yard would be far less accessible to cats. A cat would have a much harder time stalking a nesting box it can't rub up against, wouldn't you think?
Hi all,
I recently built a nesting box for my back yard. Thanks to everyone who sent advice (http://www.zoo.utoronto.ca/FUN/Bmessages/2807.html).
Here are a couple of shots of the nesting box and how it had to be situated in my tiny yard.
If anyone has any warnings/suggestions, please let me know. Any idea how long before something may move in (or ever will)?
Thanks,
Ben Feist Bloorwest Village Toronto
in case the above images don't show up, you can see them here:
http://members.rogers.com/benfeist/birdhouse-backyard.jpg http://members.rogers.com/benfeist/birdhouse-fence.jpg
In Reply to: Re: Humber Bay posted by Doug on March 20, 2002 at 18:38:33:
In deference to Theresa, I will only say that the long-eared owl can be found somewhere among the many evergreens around the parking lot of Humber Bay East. Windemere Avenue runs north and south and by going south it will take you straight into the parking lot of the westernmost beach before crossing the Humber River. It goes under the Gardiner but is accessible from the Queensway or the Lakeshore.
In Reply to: Humber Bay posted by Kerri on March 20, 2002 at 17:57:42:
Hi, from which area can the long-eared owl be viewed, and secondly where is Windermere? I'm new to the area...thanks from any info.
I was out after the rain from 230-5pm along the lakeshore from Windermere to the Mimico Creek bridge. I saw 3 robins, 4 RW blackbirds, the usual array of ducks and the long-eared owl. There were 3 geese that looked like barnyard geese--pure white with orange bills and feet. Is that what they are? I also saw what I believe was a pied-billed grebe in winter plumage in the rainwater purification pond (the one with the metal bridge down the centre of it) This bird was about the size of a bufflehead but had a light grey back, buff sides and a dark eye. The bill was thick with a hint of a band. It dove once. It stayed away from the other duks around; mallards, gadwalls, and American widgeon. I also saw a mainly white gull with hints of lighter brown/buff on the back near the Humber Bay Bridge. It was in the water so I do not know color the feet were. The bill was pinkish with black near the tip. Based on Sibley's, I think it was either a second winter glaucous gull or a second winter Iceland gull. I am not a gull or grebe expert, so any help is appreciated.
Brian Bailey will be leading a bird outing on Saturday March 23, 2002 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at Humber Bay Park East on behalf of the Citizens Concerned with the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW). Participation is free and open to all interested. The walk is sponsored by the TD Canada Trust Friends of the Environment Foundation.
Meet at the main parking lot at Humber Bay Park East on Saturday, March 23, 2002 at 9:00 a.m. (Rain or shine)
Went to Humber Bay East, Long-eareds Owls had ALREADY been spooked from their roosts by 710am! Several dogs and their owners already on the prowl, if dog owners won't comply with the leash by-law, can we put leashes on them? Food for thought! Good luck to the Long-eareds, you can only put up with sleep deprivation for so long.... Mockingbird was seen at Kipling Spit, no Saw-whets were found. Later at Bronte Park got Woodcock at dusk, and E. Bluebird, E.Meadowlark, and Horned Lark singing just before. Nice day!
In Reply to: Re: Woodcock & Spring Peeper and Martins posted by Al Johnston on March 17, 2002 at 19:14:09:
You'll probably find useful the link below. It displays the advance of martin scouts. Click on whatever state or province of interest and get current reports.
Purple Martin Scout Report
In Reply to: Woodcock & Spring Peeper posted by Mike Boyd on March 17, 2002 at 18:51:24:
I also heard a woodcock display flight on Friday night, in central Toronto. It was at 7:05 pm., at the intersection of St Clair East and Hudson Drive, near the Rosedale Ravine. I was not aware that woodcock displayed on migration stopovers. I find it unlikely that this bird was on breeding territory at this location.
Pat
In Reply to: Re: unknown bird posted by Robert Goulet on March 15, 2002 at 22:28:29:
Yes, I believe Robert is likely right. This sounds like a blonde variant House Finch.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 17, 2002
A London area resident jokingly commented on the brevity of last week's Quinte area report; I trust he has a cup of coffee at the ready for this week's report! Birders looking for waterfowl have had lots of opportunities this past week in the Quinte area, whether searching the skies or scanning the lakes, bays and flooded fields. There was a significant movement of CANADA GEESE over the area through Thursday and Friday, with continuous skeins passing through. Observers in the East Lake area had a great day when they came across 25 SNOW GEESE in the boat launch area off Log Cabin Point, adjacent to Sandbanks Provincial Park. Observers the following day reported that their numbers had doubled, with one blue phase in amongst them. By today, they were all gone, except for 7 TUNDRA SWANS.
Waterfowl watching was also very prolific at the flooded corn field on Kaiser Crossroad in the Cressy area where in excess of 200 NORTHERN PINTAILS were observed feeding, along with lesser numbers of TUNDRA SWANS, AMERICAN WIGEON, MALLARDS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, GADWALL, CANADA GEESE, and two male WOOD DUCKS. The following day the NORTHERN PINTAIL population had swelled to over 300. A check there today showed stabilized numbers. There is convenient parking at this location. Kaiser Crossroad can be reached by following County Road 7 east from Lake-on-the-Mountain, or alternatively, east on County Road 8 from Waupoos. The field is located at the south end of Kaiser Crossroad, just a short distance in from County Road 8.
Other waterfowl seen this past week included numerous sightings of TUNDRA SWANS throughout the county which have become a challenge to locate as they move around so much. Wellington Harbour had a "large" flock there last weekend, 50 at South Bay early in the week, and 106 on Pleasant Bay by late in the week. There were COMMON GOLDENEYES and a LESSER SCAUP on South Bay during the week; both COMMON and HOODED MERGANSER, RING-NECKED DUCKS and BUFFLEHEADS on East Lake; while outside the county, at the H.R. Frink Centre, 9 km north of Belleville, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BUFFLEHEAD and both COMMON and HOODED MERGANSERS were seen there. BUFFLEHEAD and CANADA GEESE were also reported from the Madoc area.
TURKEY VULTURES made their debut in the county over Bloomfield on Monday, and scattered numbers have been turning up daily since then, with five today over Picton. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS also showed up in the Quinte area, with the first report coming from Presqu'ile on Sunday, one at Big Island the following day, and other scattered sightings including 2 at Orland, north of Brighton. Other spring hopefuls included 2 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at Salmon Point, 4 BROWN CREEPERS and a BELTED KINGFISHER at the Frink Centre, a SONG SPARROW at Elmbrook, an EASTERN PHOEBE at Northport on Tuesday, and the county's first spring COMMON SNIPE at the East Lake boat launch (Sandbanks) on Thursday.
Other super sightings in the Quinte area this past week included 2 immature BALD EAGLES over the Rutherford-Stevens Lookout at Smith's Bay today, GREAT HORNED OWLS at Salmon Point and in the Madoc area (nesting), and NORTHERN HARRIERS literally everywhere.
A few Madoc area sightings included PILEATED WOODPECKER, RUFFED GROUSE (also one at the Morganston/Codrington Road area), BROWN CREEPER, and a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL calling. Also noticed was a COMMON REDPOLL that had presumably died from Salmonella poisoning. There have been numerous report of similar deaths throughout the Quinte area, although our feeders appear to have escaped the problem. Cleanliness is imperative at feeders; I have 18 feeders and routinely scrub them every two or three weeks with a 10% solution of bleach. Hopefully, this has made a difference.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Albert Boisvert, Maureen Riggs, Joanne Dewey, Lloyd Paul, Nancy Fox, Doris Lane, Molly Mulloy, Shirley and Ken Joyce, Leah den Besten, Dennis and MaryEllen Murphy, and Donald Craighead for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 24th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. 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: Woodcock & Spring Peeper posted by Mike Boyd on March 17, 2002 at 18:51:24:
Hi Mike, Do me a favour, if you don't mind. When you first see Purple Martins, let me know and I'll get ready for them here in Whitchurch-Stouffville. This'll be 21 years trying for them with very little success. Thanks. Al
Dear Fellow Birders
Just wanted to add to the further signs of spring, on Friday in Oakville, near Neyagawa & Hwy 5, there was a Woodcock displaying and I also heard at least 1 Spring Peeper calling as well. Hopefully not too far off and the martins will be back.
Mike Boyd
In Reply to: Re: What birds will nest in a nesting box in Western Toronto? posted by Pat Hodgson on March 04, 2002 at 09:26:26:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I have built two houses (both identical) as designed for wren and chickadees. Each has a 1 1/8" hole that is 6 1/2" inches from the bottom of the box. The internal floor dimensions are 3 1/2" x 4".
These specs are from the suggested link (http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/documents/nathis/woodwork/ww8.pdf).
I'm going to mount them to my back fence so the bottom lip of the box is attached to the top of the fence, thus the entrance hole will be about 7' high. I know predators might be a problem, but I have no choice given the tiny dimensions of my yard. Hopefully the squirrels with leave the box alone.
The other link Pat suggested (http://biology.queensu.ca/~mennilld/nestbox.html) refers to filling the box with wood shavings so I'm going to fill this one up to the bottom of the hole with chips for a hamster cage.
Hopefully something will move in--preferably a wren or chickadee.
If anyone has any suggestions, or has seen that I have done something wrong, please reply.
Ben Feist Toronto
In Reply to: unknown bird posted by Pat Gangl on March 15, 2002 at 19:56:37:
Check out House Finch variants in the NG Guide and possibly web sources. Strange but true.
Thursday observed a finch like bird at LAMBTON Park. It was at a feeder . The bird had an orange cap and yellow colour down to the middle of the body and then was a streaky grey. Cant find anything in my book to match it. Can any one help? Lambton Park is off Edenbridge Dr. Etobicoke and is on the Humber River. Today Friday at Humber Bay East a trumpeter Swan was in with some mute swans. Its number is 499. Humber Bay East Park is off Lakeshore Blvd at the foot of Park Lawn Rd.
In Reply to: Re: Trumpeter Swans in Rouge Marsh posted by Glenn Coady` on March 15, 2002 at 11:35:50:
Thank you Glen for giving me Harry Lumsden's number for the Swan Restoration Project. Since your message, I've received 2 other e-mails letting me know how to proceed and I thank everyone for their help.
I called Harry Lumsden this morning and he was already out. He went to the Rouge Marsh this morning, as well as to another pond, to check on the 2 Trumpeters Liz Green and I reported as well as 7 cygnets at another location.
The tagged bird that Liz and I saw is a female, hatched in 1992 and originally tagged as #226. Harry gave me an extensive history of her comings and goings. Between 1992 through 1996, she was mostly around the Rouge and the Zoo. He recaptured her in 1996 and renumbered her #136. Since then she has wandered more widely as far as LaSalle in Burlington. She's been in the company of a few males over the years.
The formerly unbanded bird is a male and is now #649. Harry believes that they will probably remain there at the mouth of the Rouge.
Glad to have shared this experience with Liz and to contribute to Harry's lifetime achievement. Amazing man.
Theresa Dobko
In Reply to: Re: Moderated BB? posted by Andy on March 15, 2002 at 12:03:58:
".....But moderation is a necessary evil. Without it chaos will ensue......."
Wow - I wish I had said that about the reporting of rare birds. So succinct.
Read the rules on the new link. Seem very fair and easy not to contravene. About the only one I can see that has even come close to being contravened would be that forbidding the use of U of T resources for commercial purposes. I guess your interpretation is that this excludes the promotion of birding publications and birding courses which have been freely done in the past. Or will tolerance of that change?
GC
In Reply to: Moderated BB? posted by David Shilman on March 15, 2002 at 08:46:55:
Yes, it is and yes, most of us are (this is a family-oriented board and, as such, has readers of all ages). I do my best (although at times it may not seem that way) to moderate this board. Occasionally a post is made that creates discord and it is prudent to remove it, either to restore peace (this is supposed to be a genteel pastime) or prevent escalation of disharmony. Also, I may be asked by a reader or the original poster to remove a post for whatever reason. At those times, I must don my Solomon's hat and make a judgement that will ruffle as few feathers as possible. That is not an easy task; there will always be people in both camps, and a decision must be made that will offend the least number of people. In moderating this and other boards, I have yet to experience a case where everyone is pleased with my decision to remove or allow a post. But moderation is a necessary evil. Without it, chaos will ensue. If you doubt this is true, check some of the other web-boards.
But enough preaching. The post and subsequent thread deletion to which you refer was, in my opinion, necessary. Yes, one of the posts in the thread was full of valuable information, but, as you say, was rather rude in places. What would you have done in this case? Allow the information to remain at the expense of another poster's feelings? Edit the "offending" remarks from the post? Would either, or another, course of action be met with agreement from everyone, without exception, on this board? Now let's add the email communications between yourself, the posters in question and other readers. I don't want to go into specific details. I just want people to think about how they would handle the situation. If you disagree with my decision, please send me your thoughts via email.
Finally, I want to call your attention to the rules now found in the links above. This board has been in operation for many years, and I did not think it was ever necessary to ask visitors and posters to read them. (These rules have been broadcast and in effect for many years on the other boards hosted here.) Please read them. If you see a post that contains anything that seems to contravene the guidelines, please let me know.
In Reply to: Trumpeter Swans in Rouge Marsh posted by Theresa Dobko on March 14, 2002 at 17:25:52:
I have shared this information privately with Theresa Dobko already by e-mail but I will make a quick post here too.
As Theresa has suggested, it would be desirable for any unbanded Trumpeter Swans to be banded. In a situation where you find very approachable, correctly identified Trumpeter Swans, any of which are not banded, I am sure Harry Lumsden would appreciate a phone call at (905) 727-6492. In such a situation he goes out of his way to make the effort to get them banded. Souinds like Theresa's find is right up that alley.
Harry is the retired Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources biologist whose brainchild the re-introduction of Trumpeter Swans in the early 1980's in Ontario was. He continues to privately oversee the continued project through a large network of dedicated volunteers and benefactors to this day.
Ensuring that as many of the population are banded as possibile provides much very useful information on factors such as: longevity, individual health/injuries, recruitment rate, migration timing and distances, site tenacity, cross-border occurrence, pair bond stability, sex ratios, breeding condition and suitability, more accurate mortality analysis, and much more.
This wealth of information is all necessary in arriving at a methodolgy to determine when further captive-rearing efforts will become superfluous to the maintenance of a self-sustaining, ever-wilder population of Trumpeter Swans in Ontario, a goal Harry and his researchers are fast on the road to achieving - despite my initial doubts of 20 years ago.
Nice job Harry. I am in your debt.
GC
Is this board moderated? I notice that some of the posts regarding the blackbirds at Cranberry Marsh have disappeared. One was very thoughtful and contained valuable information, though the writer was rather rude in places. Is this a reason to delete it? Seems like unnecessary censorship to me. I assume most of us are mature adults and can "handle" the controversy.
After travelling "out-of-town" to find Trumpeter Swans at Cranberry Marsh, Whitby, with my friend Liz Green, and successfully viewing them at a distance, we decided to try Rouge Marsh on our way home. Lo and behold, up close to the fence and the roadway, not needing scope or binoculars, a pair of Trumpeter Swans. (I would still recommend bringing at least binoculars.) One was tagged and the other was not. The yellow tag was flipped over and couldn't be read but the leg band read either 555-34926 out of Washington, D.C. or 55?-34926, the third number was obscured by some mud. They are both quite tame and easily fed if someone wants to try and come down and tag the second bird. I don't know how long they have been there or how long they will stay.
Rouge Marsh is found in the base of Rouge Park on the border between Scarborough and Pickering. To get there, take Lawrence Avenue East from within Toronto, all the way to the very end, east of Port Union Rd. The road ends at Rouge Park. Or from Highway 401 exit at 392 at Port Union Road. Travel south all the way to Lawrence Avenue East and then take Lawrence all the way east to the park. The lower parking lot right at the marsh was closed off but the small lot on top was open and there is a very short walk to see the marsh.
Also in the Marsh, more than a dozen male Common Mergansers, several females, and an immature Greater Black-backed Gull.
Theresa Dobko
In Reply to: Re: Arrival Dates posted by Glenn Coady on March 14, 2002 at 11:02:02:
Excellent points, Glenn, thank you.
In Reply to: Re: Arrival Dates posted by Andy on March 14, 2002 at 09:14:17:
Sounds most reasonable and an admirable amount of work too.
As arrival dates can vary across as broad a geography as this site routinely covers, I would suggest that your effort routinely capture the following data:
Species/Arrival Date/Specific Location/Observer(s)
The location/date combination for some species will not be the same in Oakville as it will in Beaverton, for instance, thus referencing both will be more instructive.
Thanks Andy
In Reply to: Re: Arrival Dates posted by Marcel Gahbauer on March 13, 2002 at 21:01:53:
Thanks, Marcel, for your comments. I guess the dates in the list betray my age too...
I like the idea of setting up an automated system for entering information, but the programming involved is not trivial. I'd do it if I knew it would be used extensively, but I suspect very few people would use it. I would spend many hours setting up something that likely can be handled just as easily via email. So, I propose that if any of the readers here want to email me their arrival date information, I'll enter it into the existing list. If this proves to be too labour-intensive, I'll get crackin' on an automated system. Sound reasonable?
In Reply to: Arrival Dates posted by Andy on March 13, 2002 at 16:47:11:
Andy, such a list could indeed be quite useful for visitors to the board, and hopefully collectively we can refine it to reflect current trends. As it stands, the list does show some signs of age - in just glancing at it quickly, I note some dates that seem unusually late in light of arrivals over the past decade (e.g. Red-winged Blackbird listed as March 16, though they are now usually here by the first week of March at the latest) and other species (e.g. Mourning Dove) that have become such regular winter residents that defining an arrival time as such is questionable. Just goes to show how much the distribution of birds can change in a relatively short time!
I don't have time to go through the list in detail tonight, but hope to look it over more thoroughly in the near future.
If there is any capacity within the board to set up a page such that visitors could view the existing list and enter their own arrival date for each species, it might be possible to collect a number of estimates for each species from which to refine the dates. Don't know how difficult this would be technically, but it would make both entering the data and compiling it easier.
Marcel
For the long-timers out there, you may remember the utility on this board that displayed likely migrants for a given date. I want to set up that utility again, and would like your help and input. The list of average arrival dates is at the link below. It's obviously a poor attempt to pick a date that a given species will appear in the area. The list is a melding of data from the literature (none of which I can now remember where it came from [I'll use my age and the very distant past as excuses for that]) and my own observations over the years. The purpose of the list was to act as a gauge to suggest an early, average or late arrival in our area. This is not meant to be some sort of definitive calendar by which to time the migration, but it has proven useful to me and others in the past.
Anyway, if you can have a look at the list and add to it or point out glaring errors, I would very much appreciate it. I'd like to have this utility on the board. If you have thoughts on this bright idea, I'd be happy to hear them, either here or via email.
Average Arrival Dates
saw a pair of geese in oakville habour[entrance of 16 mile creek] at 2:45p.m.march 13th. help;I AM A NOVICE, COULD NOT ID.
In Reply to: Upcoming TOC bird outings posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 20, 2002 at 16:07:15:
Full details on the April/May outings are now available. Please see my March 13 message for details.
Marcel
The list of the Toronto Ornithological Club's spring Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks is now available. These outings are free to the public, and while aimed at the intermediate birder, beginners are always welcome too. The Baillie outings provide a great opportunity to become familiar with many of the species which migrate through Toronto.
Saturday April 27, 8:00 am (all day)
Leslie Street Spit - "Early Migrants"
Leader: Hugh Currie
--- meet at the foot of Leslie Street; bring a lunch
Saturday May 4, 7:30 am - 12:00 noon
High Park - "Spring Migration"
Leader: Bob Yukich
--- meet in the parking area inside High Park's Bloor St. entrance
Saturday May 11, 7:30 am - 12:00 noon
Lambton Woods - "Warblers"
Leader to be determined
--- meet in the parking lot of James Gardens (off Edenbridge Drive)
Monday May 20, 7:45 am (all day)
Toronto Islands - "Peak Migration"
Leader: Luke Fazio
--- meet at the Toronto Islands ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street to catch the 8:00 am ferry to Hanlon's Point; bring a lunch
Saturday May 25, 7:30 am - 12:00 noon
Colonel Sam Smith Park - "Whimbrel and late migrants"
Leader: Andrew Keaveney
--- meet in the last parking lot at the landfill at the foot of Kipling
Please contact me if you need any further information on these trips.
Marcel Gahbauer
marcel.gahbauer@utoronto.ca
In Reply to: Re: NO confusion - surely you must be joking posted by Glenn Coady on March 13, 2002 at 08:55:43:
Subject line says it all...
In Reply to: BALD EAGLE!!! posted by Casey Sefton on March 11, 2002 at 22:50:24:
Each winter there are usually a few Bald Eagle sightings along the Greater Toronto waterfront but they are not common. Congratulations on your sighting - do you know whether it was an adult?
In Reply to: Re: Hagersville 11 Mar posted by William D. Jack on March 12, 2002 at 13:26:45:
Hagersville is in Haldimand, I believe, down Hwy 6 about two-thirds of the way from Hamilton to Port Dover - just past the hamlet of Willow Grove and well before Jarvis.
Hope this helps.
In Reply to: NO confusion posted by Craig McLauchlan on March 11, 2002 at 18:57:06:
Craig,
You will note that my post above was directed specifically to Theresa Dobko, in particular in response to her query for me in her prior post.
Theresa is one of the atlassers in the breeding bird atlas region I coordinate and I was happy to respond to her query. Although she is a relatively new birder and deals with some personal challenges that I'm sure prevent her from birding as much as she would like, I have been impressed that she has been a very determined and hard-working atlasser, shows a desire to continuously learn, aspires to being a careful and knowledgeable observer, and so far has demonstrated a commitment and respect for the integrity of local bird records legacies and understands and supports the need for the highest possible standards in the documentation of any claimed unusual bird occurrences. I will be genuinely happy on the day upon which I feel I can honestly and whole-heartedly apply the same statement to you.
In your self-obsessed post above, you admonish that "telling people identifiying birds is hard is wrong". On the contrary, most people I know would say it is merely realistic! Regardless, I suggest you either work on your reading comprehension skills or re-read my post. I wrote no such thing. I merely cautioned Theresa that: "Field guides tend to underestimate the difficulty in separation of some early spring Euphagus blackbirds". This was meant to caution Theresa that pitfalls exist in Euphagus blackbird identification for those relying solely on that which is imparted in standard field guides and that reliable identification is more than simply just an exercise in assessing "which painting in the Sibley guide does my bird most resemble?" Trading $53 Cdn for a Sibley Guide does not immediately confer infallibility.
In fact, in their article specifically on this topic let me quote Peter Burke and Alvaro Jaramillo * :
In talking about identification of fall and winter plumages of male Euphagus blackbirds they state:
"Species recognition is not normally a problem given today's quantity of identification knowledge. However, pitfalls exist, manifested by occasional individuals exhibiting characters not elaborated upon in the standard guides."
and specifically:
"Apparently most male Brewer's Blackbirds that acquire any light fringing from the annual molt quickly wear to the typical glossy plumage. Of about 35 male specimens collected between August and March, examined at the Royal Ontario Museum, six were distinctly fringed with brown. There were no data on the age of the birds collected. In Vancouver, where the species is a common permanent resident, brown-fringed individuals are scarce.
From November to March, male Rusty Blackbirds can appear very similar to the brown-fringed plumage of male Brewer's Blackbirds. As winter progresses, the light fringes of both species wear off. Brewer's Blackbirds will look most Rusty-like at the start of this period and less so as the fringes wear off by early spring. Rusty Blackbirds will look most Brewer's-like in mid to late winter and less so earlier in the period when they still have wide fringes on the feathers. Individuals of both species can appear at feeders and among icterid concentrations, sparking debate as to their identification. Some birds pose no problem, while others may be more difficult."
* Burke, P. and A. Jaramillo. 1995. Fall and winter plumages of male Rusty and Brewer's Blackbirds. Birders Journal 4(2):97-101.
Almost sounds like these psychic gents were writing this specifically about the Cranberry Marsh conundrum, doesn't it? I suspect it doesn't relate this information in your standard field guide either, does it?
Also of interest should be Peter and Alvaro's subsequent treatment of Euphagus blackbirds in their excellent Helm series identification guide:
Jaramillo, A and P. Burke. 1999. New World Blackbirds: The Icterids. Christopher Helm. A&C Black. London.
The title of your most recent post suggests that there has been no confusion with respect to Euphagus blackbirds at Cranberry Marsh. This only implies to me an inherent ability to ignore facts as easily as field marks. There has been ample confusion.
For the benefit of readers here who have not been seeing recent ONTBIRDS posts, here is my own synopsis of recent posts concerning the possibility of Brewer's Blackbird at Cranberry Marsh that I think most reasonable people would agree qualifies as confusion. You can also examine the full original e-mails to ONTBIRDS by using the ONTBIRDS link provided above from this web page.
1) On the afternoon of March 3, 2002 Steven Rowe and Wendy Dey post to ONTBIRDS that among other icterids at Cranberry Marsh they observed a male Brewer's Blackbird. No description of the bird is given nor is any rationale for the criteria used in arriving at this identification.
2) Early in the afternoon of March 5, 2002, Doug Lockrey sends to ONTBIRDS a post that in its very title uses the words "Blackbird expertise needed at Cranberry Marsh". In it he describes two blackbirds among other obvious Rusty Blackbirds that appear all glossy black with brownish heads. He enquires whether these might be immature Rusty Blackbirds.
I know Doug Lockrey to be a careful observer. I also know he would not cavalierly identify a bird so historically rare in Durham R.M. as Brewer's Blackbird if for no other reason than that would break the faith with his mentor and hero, the late Dr. J. Murray Speirs, who spent a lifetime carefully cataloguing and documentating the avifauna of both Cranberry Marsh and Durham region. I assume Doug merely wanted to generate interest in either documenting any possible legitimate Brewer's Blackbird report or refuting any spurious report, based solely on whatever any forthcoming documentation obtainable might support. Assuming that is correct, then bravo to him for keeping an open mind and the courage to ask for help. I'm sure Murray would have been pleased with his approach. Doug makes no claim in any ONTBIRDS post to having positively identified a Brewer's Blackbird.
3) On the morning of March 6, 2002 Carol Horner posts that on March 4th she also saw two birds that she had a hard time identifying, that she considered might be Rusty Blackbirds, but in the end stated her best guess was that they were Brewer's Blackbirds. To her credit she does give a brief description of the one of these two birds that she did get to examine most closely. Unfortunately this description does not detail many aspects of the bird that might have helped in making a positive identification of one or the other Euphagus blackbird with any reasonable certainty (in my humble opinion). This at least is a good attempt to advance further discussion. I do not get the sense from the original e-mail that this post claims to have achieved any CERTAIN identification of Brewer's Blackbird.
4) On the evening of March 7 Craig McLauchlan posts on this web page and on ONTBIRDS that earlier that day he was able to confirm that the aforementioned birds by Carol Horner had been re-examined and now found to indeed have been Rusty Blackbirds after all - no criteria for this diagnosis is given however. But that's OK because a new bird has now also been found that according to Craig IS a Brewer's Blackbird. No description is given of this bird whatsoever nor is any discussion of the criteria used in reaching such a differential identification. We are told that the bird is a male in first basic plumage, but not the basis on how that decision is arrived at either. Kind of deflates one a bit though when you find out in Jaramillo and Burke (1999) that first basic male Brewer's Blackbirds are just about the most likely putative candidate that can be mistaken in comparison to Rusty Blackbird.
When, in response to my assertion to Theresa Dobko that perhaps she might not most aptly use the term "confirmed" for any putative recent sighting of Brewer's Blackbird at Cranberry Marsh, we quickly get a very defensive reply from Craig, the basic jist of which is "it is a Brewer's Blackbird if I say it is". Seen several thousand, spent 3 whole hours looking, yada, yada, yada. Still no description of the bird whatsoever is provided nor is any explanation of the criteria for assigning such an identification. Most regrettable.
There are precious few reliable records in the Greater Toronto Area of Brewer's Blackbird in winter, and at best it has been a very rare, enigmatic and erratic breeder anywhere in the GTA. Even the number of reliable migrant records is very small.
Given this rarity in the region in combination with a not insignificant potential for misidentifcation of its more common congeneric cohort, Brewer's Blackbird was designated in the Toronto Ornithological Club's "Greater Toronto Area Checklist and Reporting Guidelines - 2000" as a species requiring documentation and review by the Toronto Bird Rarities Committee for all occurrences. This seems only prudent. It is definitely infinitely preferable to a standard of "it IS because I say so".
In assuring the integrity of local databases of bird records such an approach is unworkable and impractical and would revert to a nightmare of record assessment based on "reputation" and cronyism. Most contemporary records collection systems have moved far beyond such an undesirable approach.
An impartial review of written or material documentation by an expert panel of peers is far preferable to such anarchy and it compares reasonably favourably to the accuracy of the era when only a specimen would do.
Some scrutiny of claimed records at just about any level is a necessary evil just because of human nature. Besides imparting impartial and expert knowledge on difficult assessments of claimed identifications to which they are foremost suited, records committees also unfortunately serve to help sift out the same sorts of problems as in just about any human endeavour such as:
1) A small minority of any population of people will include some incorrigible liars, some that are deliberately malicious and some, sadly, that are pathological. Fortunately this is a minor problem in ornithology, but regardless, procedures to prevent it are a necessary evil.
2) Some people are outright incompetent, or have either an unrealistic or unsupportable view of their own competence. It would seem prudent to have measures in place to mitigate this too. You would demand high standards of demonstrable competence from your airline pilot or your heart surgeon, so I think it is probably a good idea for the integrity of your area's bird records to insist on such quality control measures there too.
3) Even the most competent and honest observer is still capable of making occasional mistakes (I certainly haven't met anyone who doesn't - including the guy in the bathroom mirror in the morning). An approach that essentially takes the attitude "it is a Brewer's Blackbird because I say it is" is akin to a declaration of infallibility. We can and should quite easily do better.
4) A thankfully very, very small minority of birders choose to subordinate any and all concern for the accuracy and historical integrity of their local community's bird records legacy in favour of their own trivial personal recreational "listing" considerations. Listing is not a bad thing in and of itself, in fact it can be quite a useful and benign motivator for birders - until they reach the stage described above, at which point it is no longer benign but clearly crosses over into the realm of disease - an ornithological gonorrhea if you will, one for which wise records committees can hopefully find an effective penicillin.
Documentation of rarities is also important because it gives an ability to assess and compare bird records "across the ages". It gives you the observer a potential chance to speak to the researcher of bird records of the year 2250 or 2650. Aspects of what you document today may make more sense 100 years out, when even a rejected record using the identification criteria of today might be re-evaluated and deemed totally acceptable using different criteria in the future. I am quite certain that some of the best written sight record documentations I have seen will compare favourably to the specimens of bygone days to future researchers.
In summary, I have no basis for even beginning to assess whether a Brewer's Blackbird is (or was) recently found at Cranberry Marsh. I would like to think it was true, but given its rarity I think that any balanced and careful observer should start with the null hypothesis that, based on probability, it likely is not - and that to over-ride such a null hypothesis, a careful description (or better still - material evidence) should be obtained and a rationale for the criteria for arriving at a positive identification of such a rare species submitted to the appropriate records collection committee for the geographical area under concern.
An attitude that would substitute an approach that claims to have "confirmed" a report of such a rarity on the basis of a thesis that amounts to: "it is a Brewer's Blackbird because I say so, because I have seen many, and I spent three hours searching, and although subtle it was easy" not only demonstrates an appalling lack of respect for other observers who don't find it quite so obvious or easy as you, but also only serves to make me curious about whether you simply were unable to invest the requisite 3 hours when incorrectly "confirming" the Eurasian Collared-Dove in Concord or perhaps a "Vega" Herring Gull at Sunnyside - and who even wants to begin to think about what other examples.
If I am very lucky, and can find some time this weekend, perhaps I will venture to Hall's Rd. and have a look at some blackbirds for myself. Along with my binos and scope I will bring an open mind and a healthy dose of skepticism with me. If I find any reputed Brewer's Blackbirds I'll try to document them as best as I can and report back. If not, I will content myself to a little atlassing.
GC
Hi, I live on the south end of Lake Simcoe and we have lots of birds returning since last week. We have hundreds of Canada Geese, various ducks, Robins, Grackles, and Red Winged Blackbirds. The lake never completely froze this year so I think alot of birds stayed pretty close by.
In Reply to: Hagersville 11 Mar posted by Jim Smemple on March 11, 2002 at 11:59:02:
I really do hate to show my ignorance but which county is Hagersville in?
I sighted a bald eagle at the Scarborough Bluffs with 3 other whitnesses. Is this a normal or rare sighting??? I am uneducated on this topic and would like a reply. Please E-mail me...
In Reply to: Re: Brewer's Black bird Cranberry Marsh posted by Theresa Dobko on March 11, 2002 at 11:11:14:
This is just my 2 cents, their is no confusion on the bird that I saw at Cranberry, IT is a Brewer's black bird!!!
This is my 3 record for the GTA but moor like my 2000 or even 4000 BBLB that I have seen and ID in most western Provinces , States and even Mexico in my life , I am not shier why it is being sead that it has not bin confirmed maybe in some mind's !
But as for this being the correct ID for the bird I saw IT is.
Also it is not a hard bird to ID this birds , the jizz of this species is completely deferent to other Black Birds and telling people that IDing birds is hard is roung , with anoff time ( I spent 3 hours out at cranberry last week ) and work it is quite easy to see the ( Yes) suttle difference .
Craig
If you check Ontbirds, you'll find a remarkable report from Ronald J. Fleming -- I had only a moment to look at his entry, but apparently he went looking for the Smith's Longspur, and on the bank of a nearby stream, saw Arnold Schwarzenegger wrestling with a mink!
I have arranged a ride to the area this afternoon and will provide an update.
JS
In Reply to: Re: Port Credit Birds; Updated posted by Mike Boyd on March 07, 2002 at 18:02:28:
I sighted a pair of trumpeter swans near Hiawatha Park (lakeshore east of Highway 10) in Port Credit last week and jsut wasn't around to make a post.
In Reply to: Re: Crane?? Sand Hill or??? posted by Glenn Coady on March 11, 2002 at 10:58:55:
They are very clear that the neck was straight
In Reply to: Re: Brewer's Black bird Cranberry Marsh posted by Glenn Coady on March 11, 2002 at 10:24:51:
Thanks Glenn and I want to clarify that I agree with you that I was mistaken about my supposed "Brewer's" at the Riverdale Farm. Hope I didn't imply otherwise.
Now it seems that since posting my note, the "Brewer's" at Cranberry is still up for consideration, so I don't feel so convinced/excited that I finally have a sighting. It's apparent from all the messages that this is a very difficult call. I will wait for more proficient birders than I to make this call. Wow do I have a lot to learn!
Theresa Dobko
In Reply to: Re: Crane?? Sand Hill or??? posted by George Daszkowski on March 11, 2002 at 10:25:58:
You would be surprised how many people make this error though!
Ask them if the bird flies with neck outstretched or not. Cranes do, similar sized herons don't.
GC
In Reply to: Re: Crane?? Sand Hill or??? posted by Glenn Coady on March 11, 2002 at 08:07:25:
Not likely in this case as Andrew and Lynn are familiar with Great Blue Herons because GBH's are frequent visitors to the Bayfield area.
In Reply to: Re: Brewer's Black bird Cranberry Marsh posted by Theresa Dobko on March 08, 2002 at 08:22:40:
Theresa,
Having at least average powers of recall, I do remember that you reported a Brewer's Blackbird last summer at Riverdale farm which could not be confirmed on the two visits I made to look for it. I would still contend that a misidentification was likely involved in that instance.
Field guides tend to underestimate the difficulty in separation of some early spring male Euphagus blackbirds.
Based solely on what I have read here and from ONTBIRDS, clearly the Euphagus blackbirds presently at Cranberry Marsh are causing such identification confusion. Having not searched for these birds personally (I have been atlassing in Toronto) I can't confirm or refute any possible Brewer's Blackbird there. I would, however, suggest that such an identification might not best be characterized as yet as "confirmed".
GC
In Reply to: Crane?? Sand Hill or??? posted by George Daszkowski on March 09, 2002 at 11:03:53:
It might be prudent to make sure they are not looking at a Great Blue Heron. Non-birders often confuse Great Blue Herons as "cranes".
GC
Hi, I will be travelling to Montreal in early July and plan to go birdwatching for a few weeks. I would appreciate information or suggestions about 'the best' birding spots in south east Canada. What would you recommend? I also would like to hear which bird sound cds are recommended. Many thanks in advance,
Popko Wiersma (Netherlands)
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 10, 2002
A few signs of spring this past week, but mostly hesitating as though unsure of its welcome. Today was pretty much a write-off due to extremely high, damaging winds, but birders yesterday took advantage of the unusually mild temperatures, tallying numerous returning KILLDEERS, EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and NORTHERN HARRIERS throughout the Quinte area, certainly far too many reports to bother itemizing.
The high winds today had a dramatic effect on the once frozen lakes and bays around the county, opening up many bodies of water, and in the case of the Bay of Quinte at Big Island, forcing 15-foot mountains of ice onto the roadside. Opening waters at Wellington Harbour this weekend produced close to a dozen species of ducks, with the more notable species being CANVASBACKS, GADWALL, RING-NECKED DUCKS, REDHEADS, along with a pair of WOOD DUCKS. Also seen at this popular location were AMERICAN COOT, TUNDRA SWAN (2), and 400 CANADA GEESE. TUNDRA SWANS, CANADA GEESE and COMMON MERGANSERS were present this week in Telegraph Narrows.
Elsewhere in the county, RED-BELLED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN FLICKER, COOPER'S HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWKS (2), and PILEATED WOODPECKER were among some of the more interesting species found at Beaver Meadow on Friday. There were AMERICAN ROBINS and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at the Quinte Conservation Area early in the week, and one observer just east of Wellington had a spectacular view of a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK from the edge of a busy highway. The Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area on Friday produced its resident flock of 100+ BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, along with RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and 4 AMERICAN ROBINS. Of course, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, HORNED LARKS and COMMON GRACKLES are everywhere now, and once this weather clears up, the Quinte area can look forward to the arrivals of additional spring migrants including song sparrows, meadowlarks, snipe and woodcock. We can only wait for those days - they're not that far off.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Ken Kingdon, Albert Boisvert, Lloyd Paul, Joanne Dewey, Byron Berwick, Don Craighead, Jim Collinson and Evelyn Sloane for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 17th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter/spring birding everyone !
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
Friends called this morning from Bayfield where they believe that they have sighted a crane from their home above the shores of Lake Huron. They have checked various sources at their disposal and remain convinvced.
Any other sightings or suggestions for this query?
Thanks in advance
Would it be possible to obtain a listing of upcoming outings. I am brand new to "birding" and would love to spend some time with the "experts".
In Reply to: Brewer's Black bird Cranberry Marsh posted by Craig McLauchlan on March 07, 2002 at 23:01:31:
Congrats all on having 3 of you there at once to confirm the Brewer's. I was there on March 1st and went looking for the Brewer's (and the Ring-necked Pheasants which didn't oblige) and was convinced I had seen it. However, since I thought I had spied one once before in the Riverdale Farm and no one could confirm it (remember that Glenn?) I was loathe to say anything. I'm glad that several experienced birders got to look at it all at once and confer.
The thing that was most helpful for me was seeing it in the trees near the Rusty Blackbirds and the Red-winged Blackbirds. If not for the comparison and the notice from someone else that there was a probable Brewer's Blackbird at Cranberry, I might not have believed my eyes.
So thanks for the report and all of your diligence in identifying the bird.
Theresa
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
late today ( 2:30 pm ) I was able to get down to Cranberry marsh to look for all the birds reported over the last week . it was a great 3 hours of forgetting the city existed , I was also hoping to see the Brewer’s Blackbird that had bin seen over the last fue weeks .
Cranberry Marsh is found at the foot of Halls rd south , south of Victoria st just west of Whitby Ont.
Will sitting in my car for the first hour I was able to count 26 speeches of birds including 160 R.W. Black Birds (including 8 females, my earliest record for them) 30 Red polls , ! Hoery Red Poll , 1 W.W. Cross bill .
But twice I watched the male ( first basic ) Brewer’s Black bird fly in on its own from the south it land in the big trees , never did it come down to the path to feed after the second sighting it flue towards the marsh as I got out of my car Marcel Gahbauer was park behind me and got out of his He too had seen the same bird and independently had come to the same conclusion I had .
with in 5 mints we had re found the bird sitting in the trees near the north platform it was with 6 or 7 Rusty black birds ( great for comparison ) at this point Carol Horner came along and we all wear able to get great looks through her scope ( amassing it tuck $5000.00 dollars of optic’s to ID this bird) also Carol was able to confirm for her self that the birds she had seen the last time she was down wear in deed Rusty Black birds.
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Herons posted by Doug on March 07, 2002 at 18:16:17:
Those sound like pretty good descriptions of imm. Black-crowned Night-herons, they could be either the ones that have overwintered on the Don River or possibly new migrants.
Mike Boyd
Hi, saw three Herons at Grenadier Pond today...what kind are they most likely to be? All three were brown light to dark, with white spotting, red eyes, greenish/yellow legs, yellow bill with some dark on top. Immature Black Crowns? Thanks Doug
In Reply to: Re: Port Credit Birds; Updated posted by Joe on March 06, 2002 at 19:07:25:
Sorry I dont want to rain on your parade, but I think that your Ivory Gull might be a mistaken identity, as they are an extremly rare bird in this area, so its probably one of the 'white-winged gulls' that occur this area.
Mike Boyd
In Reply to: Port Credit Birds; Updated posted by Joe on March 06, 2002 at 16:19:09:
Actaully I just had my film developed, Going to add an Ivory gull and a gadwell to todays list
In Reply to: Re: Winter Listing ?? posted by Maris Apse on March 04, 2002 at 11:35:47:
Hi All,
Although I didn't start the winter listing (other than just getting out there) until well into January, I did do better than I had in other years (partially due to being "downsized" at work). Had I gone "chasing" more in early December I know I could have done much better. Anyway, my Ontario list for Dec 1/01 to Feb 28/02 was 130 species, I added 3 on Feb 28 at Cranberry Marsh, they were White-winged Crossbill, Purple Finch and Ring-necked Pheasant. I tend to do more birding outside the GTA (for whatever reason) and so my GTA list (i.e. within 50km of the ROM) was only 94 species. I agree that this "listing" adds a lot of enjoyment to the cold winter days, not THAT cold this winter though!
Good birding all,
Frank Pinilla Richmond Hill, ON
This Morning I spent a good deal of time in Port credit harbour. This is what I saw.
Commen Mergansers Black ducks Blue winged teal Baffle heads Wood Duck Redhead Mute Swan Canada Geese Great Black backed Gulls Herring gulls Ring billed gulls Icelandic gulls gallacious gulls Commen redpolls and some sort of black and white mottled duck that I can totally not identify ...in fact i need help .
In Reply to: Re: What birds will nest in a nesting box in Western Toronto? posted by Olaf Jorgensen on March 05, 2002 at 14:17:58:
Olaf, I would tend to agree with both you and Pat, but the criteria here is about a father/son bird house building project in an urban setting without much space. The House Sparrow is not my favorite species but it might just get Mr. Feist jr. interested in birding. Here's a thought --- why not build two nest boxes, one with a 1 1/2" entrance and one with 1 1/8"? What say you, Mr. Feist sr.? Al Johnston, Whitchurch-Stouffville
In Reply to: Re: What birds will nest in a nesting box in Western Toronto? posted by Al Johnston on March 03, 2002 at 08:45:05:
I'm surprised to note the absence of house wren on this thread. You will have to dissuade the house sparrows and house finches by removing their materials regularly (they start early) and reducing the entrance diameter to the absolute minimum required for the wrens.
As a bonus, the wrens will harass house cats at every opportunity, providing hours of wholesome entertainment.
It may be a long shot now that we have two non-native species competing for similar sites, but it's worth a try.
Regards
No, not that kind... I have received over the years requests to set up a forum devoted to the wildlife in the city of Toronto. I have finally acted on that suggestion. Please visit the new board at Wildlife in Toronto.
On a walk this morning I saw quite a few diffrent ducks and geese . Other then the mallards, I saw some golden eyes, quite a few baffleheads, a lone black and wood duck were associating with the mallards. As well Mute swans and a single brant goose was found. The only gulls seen were ring bills. But someone told be they saw some gallacious and black backs last week.
In Reply to: Re: Winter Listing ?? posted by Theresa Dobko on March 04, 2002 at 07:47:09:
Hi all! This was just my 4th.year of keeping an Ontario winter list and the best so far - my last bird was Feb.22 at Col. Sam Smith - Winter Wren (finally - thanks, Craig). Tried mightily, but failed to add any on last weekend of Feb. and so ended at 144. I covered a lot of territory, but I enjoy driving, so any keen "winter listers" - contact me if you want to do some travelling next winter. I think I like WL because I have poor hearing and find this is not as disadvantageous in winter, as it is in spring/summer. Maris Apse
In Reply to: Re: ...or on Mount Sinai Hospital posted by Merrilea Shields on March 03, 2002 at 09:25:40:
Yes, the Peregrine Falcons are visible with binoculars from ground level. A scope would be useful, but for my money the best way to view them on the times they do launch off one of the buildings is to watch them with the naked eye.
Quite a sight to behold! Looking forward to having them menace the Rock Doves on my office's window ledges.
GC
In Reply to: What birds will nest in a nesting box in Western Toronto? posted by Benjamin Feist on March 03, 2002 at 01:34:34:
Eastern Screech-Owl is a very good possibility. If your vicinity is suitable for American Kestrel and you are seeing them, then it will be suitable for Eastern Screech-Owl as well. Most Eastern Screech-Owls have, however, already likely selected nest sites for 2002 already. Certainly I have heard them calling in a few places in my breeding bird atlas squares already.
In Reply to: What birds will nest in a nesting box in Western Toronto? posted by Benjamin Feist on March 03, 2002 at 01:34:34:
The list of birds that will nest in a box in a Toronto yard is actually a fairly short one. Your proximity to semi-natural habitat like High Park, or a large cemetary, etc. will broaden the list beyond house sparrow. Regarding the previous suggestion on house sparrow and house finch, some would say that we should not be encouraging the nesting of bird species that are not native to this area. The truth is, if you are in a fairly densely built-up area, those two species are probably all you can hope for. I would suggest, if you are near a larger park, or have a lot of trees in the neighbourhood, that you attempt to encourage the nesting of black-capped chickadees. This is a native species, and I know people have had success with them in nest boxes in Toronto. Nest box plans for this species are available in many sites on the web, such as http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/documents/nathis/woodwork/ww8.pdf (requires Acrobat to read this file) http://biology.queensu.ca/~mennilld/nestbox.html
The key thing is the 1 1/8" hole will _discourage_ house finch and house sparrow. If you want to pursue this, do it soon, as chickadees are surely scouting for nest sites already at this time of year. Good Luck, Pat Hodgson
In Reply to: Winter Listing ?? posted by Craig McLauchlan on March 01, 2002 at 19:00:24:
Hi Craig and others. I couldn't leave your question unanswered even though my total is no where near yours. I had 107 birds in the GTA and added only 1 more at Cranberry Marsh to reach the end of the season. I wasn't able to get out of Toronto more than once but we have a car now so watch out for next year! (said with humour, chuckles, etc.)
I thought I would reply because, like you, keeping a winter list was encouragement to get me out of the house and to get me to go places I might not ordinarily go. Also thought that others like me, not as experienced and adept as you, might appreciate hearing from someone who just barely crossed the 100 mark ... and it wasn't all that difficult. I have some health problems that mean I can go walking long distances or trooping out in the very cold weather, so if I can get more than 100 ...
This is my first year exceeding 100, my first even coming close, and already I'm champing at the bit for next year. My favourite winter additions were the Snowy Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl at Col. Sam Smith and the Long-eared Owl at Humber Bay East, particularly the Long-eared Owl because I wasn't expecting it and when I looked up it was wide awake and staring back down at me. We slowly backed away to enjoy it a distance. I've never enjoyed winter before but I do now.
Theresa Dobko
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, March 03, 2002
A rather interesting week, if only from the standpoint of weather. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS arrived to the Quinte area on Monday, and en masse throughout the area by the following day when there was an estimated 200 in the Big Island Marsh. An overnight snowfall of as much as 15 cm brought many of these huge flocks to area bird feeders on March 1st. There were isolated reports of COMMON GRACKLES last week, and there were two KILLDEER at Prince Edward Point on Wednesday. NORTHERN HARRIER migrants were observed during the week along Highway 62 at Sawguin Marsh, and at the Big Island Marsh.
BALD EAGLES this past week were observed at Adolphustown (1 imm.), Smith's Bay (1 A & 1 imm.), Glenora (1 A & 1 imm) and two others of unspecified age along Highway 49 at the Quinte Skyway Bridge, and along Adolphus Reach.
There was a report from Belleville yesterday of a PEREGRINE FALCON on North Front Street. Other hawk sightings during the week included an AMERICAN KESTREL and a RED-TAILED HAWK at Warkworth. NORTHERN SHRIKES were seen during the week at Crofton and along Royal Road, south of Milford.
Sightings made today at Presqu'ile were 50 MUTE SWANS, 4 TRUMPETER SWANS, 45 TUNDRA SWANS, SNOWY OWL, 900-1000 CANVASBACKS, a BARROW'S GOLDENEYE and PIED-BILLED GREBE. Another observer yesterday added GADWALL, RING-NECKED DUCK, both GREATER & LESSER SCAUP, and COMMON MERGANSERS to the list.
Other interesting sightings during the week included 100+ WILD TURKEYS at their customary location north of Belleville in the field west of Sidney Street, 22 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at the north end of Sprague Road, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at a Downs Avenue feeder in Picton, 3 PURPLE FINCHES coming to a feeder on Maitland Drive in Belleville, PILEATED WOODPECKER at Prince Edward Point's Big Sand Bay marsh area, and a BELTED KINGFISHER south of Milford. And among the odd and unexplained was a CANADA GOOSE that apparently died in mid flight, plummeting to the ground in front of a Bloomfield home verandah.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Carole and Bob Wigington, Penny Rae, Mary Tammel, Wayne Montgomery, David Bree, Don McClure, Fran Donaldson, Lloyd Paul, Owen Weir, Judy Bell, Shirley Preston, Jim Wait, Bill Hogg, Susan Yankoo, Nancy Fox and Don Craighead for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 10th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone !
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Re: ...or on Mount Sinai Hospital posted by Merrilea Shields on March 03, 2002 at 09:25:40:
Yes, the peregrines can be seen from street level - though admittedly when they perch high up they are awfully small even through binoculars. However, there are several local observers who are frequently present with their scopes and are happy to share the view with others. I'm sure that if the peregrines do choose to nest at Mount Sinai / Princess Margaret, they will be on site with their scopes more frequently as the activity increases (and the weather improves).
Meanwhile, a reminder that anyone interested in watching peregrine nesting behaviour is welcome to visit the Canadian Peregrine Foundation's display in the Clarica Centre at Islington/Bloor. The peregrines there are likely to begin nesting again later this month, and are already being seen at the nest tray daily. Live video from the nest ledge can be viewed throughout the day on a monitor in the north lobby of 3250 Bloor (third tower east of Islington on the north side of Bloor). This site can also be viewed online at www.peregrine-foundation.ca/Web_Cams/Etobicoke/index.htm (the male is on the box as I write this).
Marcel
In Reply to: Re: ...or on Mount Sinai Hospital posted by Glenn Coady on February 26, 2002 at 10:50:45:
Wow, guys, this is really exciting, I wish my office windows had a view like that, how do you get any work done Glenn? Are these falcons viewable from the ground level with binos?
In Reply to: What birds will nest in a nesting box in Western Toronto? posted by Benjamin Feist on March 03, 2002 at 01:34:34:
Benjamin, If you put up a nest box with a 1 1/2 " entrance hole, you may attract House Finches or House Sparrows. You might also try putting up a small shelf under the eaves of the house to attact a pair of Robins. Good luck and let us know how you make out. Al Johnston, Whitchurch-Stouffville
Hello,
I am thinking of building a bird house with my son for our back yard. We don't have much room, and may have to mount the house on our back fence.
Reading the list of nesting birds that may be in the area, I was quite overwhelmed (http://birds.cornell.edu/birdhouse/bhbasics/refrchart.html).
I don't have a specific preference for what type of bird nests in the house; what house should I build that would be beneficial to a local species that might need a place to live?
Any help is appreciated.
Benjamin Feist
In Reply to: minolta activa wp vs pentax dcf wp posted by Arpat Ozgul on March 01, 2002 at 17:22:45:
If the Pentax wp 10X42 are the ones I am thinking off they have a vary closes focus I think of 5 feet? which come in handy if you tack up Butterflying !!
Craig
Winter listing !!?? I do not no if any one on this list sever keeps a winter list ( Dec 1 to Feb. 28 or last day) or not I know some are fast and furies against listing but seenc coming to Toronto I find it to be amusing an a great way to get out of the House when its - 20 c . hahahahaaaaaaaa...........
any way I keep 2 lists one for Ont. and this year it was 146 and one for the GTA ( or Toronto area) and this year was 132 I saw my last countable bird at Jean Irons at 4:30 pm on the 28 and was a Hermit thrush
what a great winter and some spitacular birds !!!!
Craig McLauchlan
I am in the process of buying a pair of binoculars for birding. I have limited my search to Minolta Activa WP 10X42 and Pentax DCF WP 10X42, which are about the same price. Can anyone tell me which one is the better buy?
In Reply to: Redpolls dying posted by Margarete on February 27, 2002 at 20:37:29:
Al Johnston is likely correct. It sounds like you may be experiencing the outbreak of salmonellosis affecting redpolls over a wide area in North America this winter.
For an excellent fact sheet on salmonellosis please see the following web site:
http://www.nwhc.usgs.gov/whats_new/fact_sheet/fact_salmonellosis.html
Hope this helps you out,
GC
In Reply to: Redpolls dying posted by Margarete on February 27, 2002 at 20:37:29:
Margarete, It's a salmonella outbreak that seems to be affecting just Redpolls. It is recommended that you disinfect your feeders periodically. Frankly, I took mine down. Don't let your cat near any dead ones and dipose of any with gloves on. Al
In Reply to: Re: Humber Bay - Long-Eared Owl-Gone!! posted by Kerri on February 27, 2002 at 10:46:14:
Kerri,
Sounds to me like the flock of swans you observed were likely a flock of Tundra Swans.
As in every year I have a big flock red polls visiting my feeders. Everyday I find at least one or two dead red polls. I have a lot of other birds at my feeder and they all do well.I first suspected my cat and converted her to indoors. But the dying continues. Most birds look like they just dropped dead. Some look like they were partially eaten. There are no cats in my area and only once in a while I see a bird of prey. In previous years the red polls did well. Please advise if you have any idea what is happening.
In Reply to: Quinte Area Bird Report - Feb. 24/02 posted by Terry Sprague on February 24, 2002 at 19:16:48:
Hi terry just thought id say hello and let u know I still read ur column faithfully and enjoy it. recently at my bird feeder just before dark I had I believe to be a small hawk chase the other birds loking to eat one I presume. It was probably twice the size of a bluejay, do u have any idea which one it may be. have a good day, I live on the trent just south of Campbellford im looking forward to the spring birds to come back regards Ed
In Reply to: Re: Humber Bay - Long-Eared Owl-Gone!! posted by Craig McLauchlan on February 26, 2002 at 15:04:27:
Craig, I saw 2 long-eared owls on Monday 25th afternoon. With all the contraversy over the snowy owl, I did not want to post. I also saw a kestrel and a flock of 30 swans (? trumpeter. I know they had black feet and bills and were calling) flew overhead around 4pm.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
All thought we have Red wing black birds every wear in the Toronto area the rely fun Bird in the last 48 hours have bine the Tundra Swans! Starting yesterday from our home hear on Quebec Av. in Toronto, Bev and I counted 1 flock of 49 fly over at 11:30 am .( Yes another new yard bird )
But this morning from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm along the lake front starting at Colonel Sam Smith Park (found at the foot of Kipling Ave. at the Lake Shore Blvd.) then stopping in to Humber Bay Park ( found at the foot of Park Lawn rd. and Lake shore Blvd . ) and ending at the Leslie st spit ( found at the foot of Leslie st south of Lake shore Blvd.) I counted 364 Tundra Swans in flocks ranging in size of 92 to 13!
Watching them fly across the sky was just a true felling of spring! (Ops that means moor snow) .
At Col. Sam Smith Park I also found 1 Common Grackle, 2 Rusty Blackbirds and 5 Brown-Headed Cowbird’s.
At Humber bay their wear 33 Mute swans , a high flying flock of Canada Geese with 3 white Snow Geese one was vary small it might have bine a Ross ?? but I could not say for sheer and a hunting Peregrine Falcon .
and on the bass of the Leslie st spit along with the 47 tundra swans wear 2 Hood mergansers , 1 wood duck and a Juv. Glaucous Gull .
I had know luck finding my target bird for the day a Killdeer??!! but still a copal of days left in the winter for that …
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Humber Bay - Long-Eared Owl, Trumpeter Swans, R-T Loon posted by Theresa Dobko on February 25, 2002 at 07:49:24:
I look today for the Long eard owls ( konwing wear thay wear ) and found not a one ! I also understand that not one was seen Yesterday.
Craig
In Reply to: Re: ...or on Mount Sinai Hospital posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 26, 2002 at 09:48:33:
Well then, let's hope this pair succeeds. I shall try to confirm band numbers thios week.
GC
In Reply to: Re: ...or on Mount Sinai Hospital posted by Glenn Coady on February 26, 2002 at 08:55:43:
I also am very much hoping that the peregrines succeed at this site for two reasons in particular.
The peregrines at Bay and Bloor (presumably the same two individuals) attempted to nest the past two years, but failed on both occasions - having a more sheltered nesting location may allow them to be successful at last.
Also, if the male has indeed remained the same over the past two years, then he is a 4-year-old hatched at the Etobicoke site, named "Windwhistler" by the local community. He was the smallest of the four chicks that year, and had some trouble learning how to fly without banging into windows. I rescued him the first time he came to the ground, and as he was the first peregrine I ever held, I have a particularly strong personal attachment to him and would love to see him succeed.
Marcel
In Reply to: ...or on Mount Sinai Hospital posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 26, 2002 at 07:46:49:
Yes, certainly the high ledges on the east side of Mount Sinai Hospital are also suitable, and I did see the two birds copulate there yesterday afternoon as well. The male habitually perches on the extreme southeast tip of Mount Sinai. Immediately thereafter, however, the female went back to its perch immediately above the nest box on Princess Margaret Hospital (610 University Ave.).
I hope we can confirm breeding at this location for a couple of reasons in particular:
1) It is within my square 17PJ23 for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. It would provide confirmation in 4 out of 16 squares in atlas region 12 (Toronto) so far.
2) This site is almost directly between two locations where I assisted in Peregrine Falcon hacked releases in the early 1980's (Whitney Block & Canada Life Assurance Buildings) thus bringing much nostalgia to the fore.
GC
In Reply to: Peregrine Falcons look likely to nest on Pricess Margaret Hospital building posted by Glenn Coady on February 25, 2002 at 15:33:36:
This appears to be the pair of peregrines which has spent the past 2+ years around Yonge and Bloor. They were first spotted around Mt. Sinai on January 14, and have been seen there daily since January 22.
While the peregrines have shown some interest in the Princess Margaret box during recent weeks, they have spent even more time on the east-facing ledges of Mt. Sinai, and the adults have been seen exhibiting behaviour suggestive of preparing a nest scrape (though admittedly, peregrines often prepare several scrapes before settling on a nest site). Copulation has been observed on numerous occasions already.
Both adults are banded, but we have not been able to read the bands yet - if anyone happens to see the birds at close enough range to read them, I would be very interested in getting the information in order to track down their history.
For those who are interested, full reports on the activities of these peregrines are being posted on the Canadian Peregrine Foundation's "midtown Toronto" page (more appropriate for when they were at Bloor, of course) at www.peregrine-foundation.ca/tops/torontom.html.
Marcel
As I am writing this I am looking out my office window at a Peregrine Falcon perched on a high ledge on Pricess Margaret Hospital facing onto University Avenue directly above a nest box placed on a ledge there several years ago in an attempt to attract a previous pair to nest.
On Friday I saw both male and female birds present in this area near Mount Sinai Hospital and I saw them copulate and give low-head bowing displays at the Princess Margaret site very near this nest box.
I would think it is very likely these birds have chosen this as a nest site and we may be treated to another nesting pair right downtown.
GC
New migrants today Feb 25 2002 Hooded Merganser females, American Widgeons, Ring-necked Ducks, Red-winged Blackbirds Over the last few days Gadwalls, Northern Pintails, and Hooded Mergansers have been arriving at the 2nd marsh and Darlington Provincial Park. Wintering birds still around or holding in: Winter Wren in Robinson creek valley Darlington P.P., and a blue phase Snow Goose at the park boat ramp with the Canada Geese. Common Redpolls also appear to be on the move north again as well. Flocks were at the park feeder and on the beach. McLaughlin bay(aka the 3rd marsh) is approximately 30% open right now. Glaucous, Thayer's, and Iceland have been on the ice this week with the expected 3 species of gulls( Herring. Great Black-backed, and Ring-billed). In the lake Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads, and Long-tailed Duck are all actively courting.
Thanks to all of the other reports, I was able to see or hear some great birds at Humber Bay Park on Sunday.
At Humber Bay West, I twice heard the Red-Throated Loon calling behind the Yacht club but couldn't see it. Others may have more luck during the week with fewer people about.
At Humber Bay East, I was able to locate the Long-Eared Owl. In deference to the original poster and because I saw my very careful descriptions of the position of the Snowy Owl at Col. Sam Smith abused so by photographers, I will not give the exact position. However, it was located in one of the many evergreens not far from the parking lot. I understand a Short-eared Owl has been nearby but we did not locate it. Also at HBE there were 5-6 Trumpeter Swans at the far eastern end of the bay and out of the park area. You would need a scope to see clearly. At least 1 had a numbered yellow tag but we could not read the numbers and did not have time to locate them more closely.
Good birding, Theresa Dobko dobko@rogers.com
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 24, 2002
Continued relatively mild weather and open conditions provided birders in the Quinte area with some good opportunities during the week. It isn't often that birders get a chance to wander around at Prince Edward Point during February due to snow conditions that usually persist down there, but last week's snow free conditions allowed one observer to walk to a wooded swamp area about 2 km west of the lighthouse where he found over 100 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and another 75 flying overhead as he returned back to the harbour area. BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS continue to show up at various locations along Sprague Road and North Big Island Road, ranging from a half dozen or so to a couple dozen birds.
The Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area yesterday also had a NORTHERN GOSHAWK near the harbour, 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, and an AMERICAN ROBIN. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS also turned up at Sandbanks Provincial Park on Friday where there was also a PILEATED WOODPECKER in the West Point area of the park.
Beaver Meadow on Tuesday produced an EASTERN SCREECH OWL, NORTHERN FLICKER, another 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS and a couple RED-TAILED HAWKS. Woodpeckers were in fine fettle at Sandbanks' Woodland Campground area on Monday when 7 DOWNY WOODPECKERS and 4 HAIRY WOODPECKERS were tallied. Also noted there was a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS actively nest building.
One interesting observation today occurred at Elmbrook when bird bander Joanne Dewey set up her nets for part of the day and caught a HAIRY WOODPECKER that was previously banded in August of 1993 !
Other species of interest recorded during the week included a GREAT BLUE HERON at Long Reach, an EASTERN BLUEBIRD on Walmsley Road near Point Petre, a RUFFED GROUSE off Nutty Lane at Smith's Bay, and a COOPER'S HAWK at Adolphustown. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were seen today at feeders at Pleasant Bay (4), and at Big Island (2).
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Stephen Monet, Joanne Dewey, Fran Donaldson, Shirley & Ken Joyce and Bill Hogg for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 3rd. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone !
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
Feb.24.2002 There was a Pintail duck at Col.Sams this morning. My husband I watched in fascination a it harassed and stalked a Mallard couple, trying to separate the female Mallard from the male. The Mallard was hard pressed to protect the female. The Pintail also took a run atseveral other male Mallards scaring them away. A sign of Spring ? Pat Gangl member CCFEW
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Thinking of spring as I am sheer every one was to day I went looking for early migrants out on the Leslie st spit (Tommy Thompson Park ) found hear in Toronto at the foot of Leslie st south of the Lake shore Blvd.
What I found was lots of late migrants some highlights wear Glaucous Gull 7 (4 wear adults) 2 Thayer’s Gulls and 2 Iceland gulls.
The waterfowl wear in lo numbers only 500 Long tailed ducks 14 red heads and 1 Canvasback also seen wear 12 A. Wigeon, 35 Golden eye, one big surprise was the 17 Com. Mergansers and only 1 Red breasted merganser??
There was 1 Great horned owl, 5 horned larks and 2 A. Pipits to round ever thing off.
The own fortunate thing is all the ferrule cats now showing up on the spit, I have seen them on the base in the past but to day saw one half way out the causeway , its too bad that people don't think of the certain death of this animal s when they drop them off.....
Also on my way home I watched a N Mocking Bird seating up territory a block from my Home hear in Toronto , I still might just be lucky to some day get that on my back yard list ..
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
The Citizens Concerned with the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW) are hosting a birding outing to Humber Bay Park East tomorrow, Saturday, February 23, 2002 from 09:00 - 11:00 a.m. led by Toronto Ornithological Club member Ron Scovell. Meet in the main parking lot at Humber Bay Park East at 9:00 a.m. The outing is free and open to all interested.
Ron is a very good birder and outings leader and I highly recommend his outing.
GC
Went out on Tuesday(19/02)morning - this one's a real 'feeder bird,' and I don't think it's going anywhere for a while - and watched it at my leisure for a few hours. It's well fed, and spends a lot of time clinging to the side of the house, apparently caching seeds and suet in cracks in a wooden beam which bisects the building. Back and forth, back and forth, from the hanging suet bags, seed pile, house and the top of a tall pole. It spends a fair amount of time in the hardwoods, too, and was rather rude to a mourning dove who got a bit close to its seed supply.
Bring 15-power or better, as it's about 100 m or so away most of the time and we of course must respect the wishes of the obliging folks who are putting up with all the eccentric company.
Caleb Schmimm, Inventor of the Velcro Skunk
In Reply to: Upcoming TOC bird outings posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 20, 2002 at 16:07:15:
I guess I should proofread before posting a message, rather than after...
The March 2 outing will begin at 9:00 am.
Marcel
Once again this spring, the Toronto Ornithological Club will be offering a series of Baillie Memorial Bird Walks. All of these outings are free, and everyone is welcome to take part.
The first outing this spring will be on Saturday March 2, focusing on waterfowl along the western Lake Ontario shoreline. The leader is Ron Scovell. Meet in the parking lot at Humber Bay East to form a car pool for the day; bring a lunch and dress warmly as this is an all-day trip.
Other upcoming outings are as follows:
Saturday April 27 - Leslie Spit (early migrants)
Saturday May 4 - High Park (spring migration)
Saturday May 11 - Lambton Woods (warblers)
Monday May 20 - Toronto Island (peak migration)
Saturday May 25 - Colonel Sam Smith Park (whimbrel and late migrants)
Further details on all of these walks will be available by mid-March (if I forget to post them, someone please remind me!)
Good birding,
Marcel Gahbauer (President, Toronto Ornithological Club)
I believe I saw one of our trusted "King City Herons" this morning. I wasn't able to get the binoculars on it before it landed, but it did land in an existing heron nest. I am thrilled if it was a heron, but also concerned because it is about a month early for their return (usually appear over March Break).
Just wanted to post that a Brant Goose has taken up residence with the Cdn. Geese at Crookes Park in Mississauga. I believe it is a juvenille since it's neck strip is not exceedingly prominent yet. Very exciting to see a bird that was once near extinction and generally in the Artic(??) here in Mississauga. Also the other day, a snow goose was in the same park for a few hours feeding with the Cdn. Geese. What a great week!
Just wanted to post that a Brant Goose has taken up residence with the Cdn. Geese at Crookes Park in Mississauga. I believe it is a juvenille since it's neck strip is not exceedly prominent yet. Very exciting to see a bird that was once near extinction and generally in the Artic(??) here in Mississauga. Also the other day, a snow goose was in the same park for a few hours feeding with the Cdn. Geese. What a great week!
In Reply to: high park rufous sided towhee and feathered nitrogen producers posted by Steve Garrett on February 19, 2002 at 13:09:26:
It occurred to me that not everyone reading my earlier posting may know that Grenadier Pond is in the process of being rehabilitated via various significant efforts such as wetland restoration, northern pike introduction, a small pond to trap storm water sediment before it runs into Grenadier Pond, elimination of pond-side lawns in favour of native plants etc. A big problem facing the pond is eutrophication - a high concentration of organic compounds originating in large part from the tail ends of ducks and geese - which results in algae blooms and starves the aquaeous inhabitants of oxygen. The City is well aware of the problem, and there is a club that could be wielded - a bylaw forbidding feeding waterfowl with a $500 fine attached. So that's why I would actually consider bothering the elderly couple I had mentioned.
I had a nice look at a Rufous Sided Towhee in High Park in the bushes at the top of the hill overlooking Grenadier Pond (just south of the hanging basket garden if you know where that is). This is my first winter sighting of this bird. Do they commonly overwinter in this area?
Also, I had my 3rd sighting of a nice elderly couple with bags of bread being "nice" to the resident Grenadier Pond Mallards. I bit my tongue yet again, but I think the next time, I'm going to have to have a word with them about why they are not doing the ecosystem any favours. Does anyone else have any anecdotes or advice to relate about the pros and cons of intervening in feeding ducks?
In Reply to: Re: Lewis' Woodpecker posted by Craig on February 17, 2002 at 09:05:28:
Thank you for the info.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 17, 2002
It may be a bit early yet to be talking too seriously about early spring migrants; however, at least one, the HORNED LARK, has been turning up across the Quinte area. These birds whose arrival seems to be about mid-February, were seen this past week at Beaver Meadow, Athol Bay, Babylon Road, Royal Road and Kelly Road, and a variety of other locations. As far as the GREAT BLUE HERON seen today at Salmon Point, rather than an early spring migrant, it was probably an individual that successfully wintered over. Other early spring migrants that were probably wintering individuals included 2 BROWN CREEPERS on Tuesday in the Victoria Road area, a NORTHERN HARRIER on Shannon Road, a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD near Waupoos, 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS at Beaver Meadow, AMERICAN ROBINS at Prince Edward Point, Point Petre, and Victoria Road (30), 2 COMMON GRACKLES and 2 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS at Cressy Point, and another 8 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS along Point Petre Road.
More wintry guests in the county this past week were 22 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS at the north end of Sprague Road, 125 on Long Point Road near Prince Edward Point, and another 65 along Kelly Road near Welbanks Road. There were five PINE GROSBEAKS at Point Petre yesterday, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Bond Road near Milford.
COMMON REDPOLLS and AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES continue to be the dominant guests at most feeding stations across the county this winter. There were 60+ of the latter species at my feeders all day today, and up to 7 at any one time crowding around the heated bird bath. There is a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at a feeder at Peat's Point.
Waterfowl reports during the week were scattered with major reports including the open waters off the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area Friday producing 29 CANADA GEESE, 17 GADWALLS, 15 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 200 MALLARDS, 2000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 24 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 2 HOODED MERGANSERS and 19 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Point Petre yesterday had 200 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 250 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 3 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and today 4 TUNDRA SWANS, 60 MALLARDS, 6 COMMON MERGANSERS and 80 BUFFLEHEADS were added to the weekend tally.
Colder weather has forced the 150+ TUNDRA SWANS in the South Bay/Smith's Bay area to disperse, with only 60 being seen there yesterday, and only a handful today which were joined by a lone MUTE SWAN.
Single BALD EAGLE reports came last week from Adolphustown and east of Lake-on-the-Mountain in Adolphus Reach (likely the same bird). At Massassauga Point, one observer came across a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in the process of consuming an AMERICAN ROBIN. RED-TAILED HAWKS during the week turned up at Belleville (on the Bay Bridge Road light standard), Prince Edward Point, Cressy, Lighthall Road, and along Highway 62. There was a NORTHERN GOSHAWK on Dundas Street, east of Herchimer Avenue in Belleville yesterday. AMERICAN KESTRELS were seen along Highway 62, and along Doxsee Road, and GREAT HORNED OWLS were seen and heard at Beaver Meadow, Big Island and Prince Edward Point.
Other interesting sightings to come in during the week were PILEATED WOODPECKER at Point Petre, and 18 WILD TURKEYS north of Cherry Valley (another 20 near Wooler)
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Jon Robb, Lawrence Moore, Fran Donaldson, Joe Victor, Bill Hogg, Lloyd Paul, and Wynne Thomas for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 24th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Tery Sprague
Picton, Ontario
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Re: Lewis' Woodpecker posted by Olaf Jorgensen on February 16, 2002 at 22:17:17:
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
Hi I dont no of any Lewis woodpecker in the Toronto area ?? But I understand that ther is one near Brighton Ont .
You might get moor up to date info from Ontbirds on this by yousing the link provided on this websight .
good luck with it ! it is a butifull bird to see
Craig
In Reply to: Lewis' Woodpecker posted by Olaf Jorgensen on February 15, 2002 at 20:37:15:
Just a quick "thank-you" for your overwhelming response.
So, is it still around?
In Reply to: Novice Birding posted by RR on February 15, 2002 at 14:44:04:
The Rouge Valley is the largest park in Toronto, and has some wonderful wild areas - but it is not known for concentrations of birds (that is, they are certainly there, but are well spread out across the area).
In winter, several of the best places to try are in Toronto's west end. Humber Bay Park, at the foot of Park Lawn Road, is almost always worth a visit - usually there are a dozen or more waterfowl species present, many of them offering very close views; sparrows, finches, and raptors are all present at times too.
For songbirds, High Park is a good place to check out, especially in the area around the Allotment Gardens, and to the south and east of them. Woodpeckers, chickadees, and nuthatches are very common in that area, along with finches, sparrows, and often some wintering robins and/or waxwings.
A similar mix of birds can be found at James Gardens / Lambton Woods, on the west side of the Humber River between Dundas & Eglinton. Common Mergansers are often on the river too, and the crows in the area often cooperate by scaring hawks into view.
If you're looking for something further east, Edward's Gardens can be very productive too. The sheltered valleys (including Wilket Creek heading to the south) often yield large flocks of robins in winter, along with remarkably large numbers of chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers (3 species), and goldfinches, many of them attracted to the feeders around the park.
These locations are by no means an exhaustive list, but should give you an idea of some places to try. If you need directions to any of these sites, or want advice on finding any particular birds, let me know.
Good birding!
Marcel Gahbauer (President, Toronto Ornithological Club)
In Reply to: Novice Birding posted by RR on February 15, 2002 at 14:44:04:
Another area you might want to check out if you don't mind going further afield would be LaSalle Marina. Its not very big but you get a very nice variety of a lot of waterfowl that are extremely close. Its on Hamilton Harbour at the foot of Waterdown Rd in west Burlington.
Mike Boyd
In Reply to: Novice Birding posted by RR on February 15, 2002 at 14:44:04:
I would suggest a combined outing covering Humber Bay Park East and West in addition to High Park. Humber Bay Park will provide very good looks at a wide diversity of waterfowl if you cover the entire perimeter and High Park will round out your day with a good number of resident land birds. Favourite areas to cover in the park include the Wendigo Ravine which runs northeast from the north end of Grenadier Pond and along Spring Creek beside Spring Rd.
Humber Bay Park is found at Lakeshore Blvd. and Park Lawn Rd. High Park can be entered at Bloor and High Park Ave.
Good luck on your outing
Hi Folks,
Can someone please suggest a location for a couple of novice birders (My niece and I!) We're in the GTA and would like numbers/variety. She's visiting from the States during the week and therefore Tommy Thompson is not an option. What's the Rouge like? Any other suggestions? We;re willing to drive about an hour or so.
Thank you kindly in advance.
RR
In Reply to: Re: House Finches posted by Maurice on February 11, 2002 at 13:37:43:
Thans for your response. At least I'm not the only one to have seen them. According to Sibley's Guide to Bird Life & Behavior, it says that :"Contrary to many published accounts, a male cardueline finch's color is not a reliable indicator of age, although younger males may more often show yellowish to orange plumage. There are many records of young birds with both streaked juvenal plumage and numerous red adult feathers. Old males may take on yellowish plumage if they do not eat enough of certain foods (possibly insects) just before the autumn molt." I've taken pictures which should be available to load onto the net by next Wednesday. I've also contacted Cornell U. to see if these House Finches have reached a new Northerly location, or do we already have record of them being in Toronto. I've been birding in my backyard for 17 years and I've never seen them. Diane
The Purple Sandpiper was near the tip of Ashbridge's Bay Park headland at 5:30 PM on Feb 11th. It was working piles of weed & algae washed up on the south-facing shoreline. The beach where the sandpiper was found is only steps away from a paved pathway and the bird could be viewed easily without binocs. If you saw the Harlequin Duck a few days ago, the area is just East of where the duck had been. There was also a pipit a bit closer to the tip of the headland.
In Reply to: Re: Shovelers in Grenadier Pond posted by Glenn Coady on February 11, 2002 at 10:58:49:
On Sunday, I observed 2 males and 1 female.. still only 3 in total.. besides that.. it was "Yawn-city"...
The species maps and coverage effort maps for the first season of the second Ontario Breeding Bird atlas are now available on-line on the atlas web page at:
http://www.birdsontario.org
Those interested in volunteering for the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas can register on-line at this site as well. Please see my posting on this site of February 1, 2002 for a list of atlas workshops being held across Ontario.
GC
In Reply to: House Finches posted by Diane Arsenault on February 10, 2002 at 11:53:43:
Hi Diane. Yes, we have a dozen or more house finches that are frequent visitors to our backyard feeder at my home in Oakville. A few of them have this orange/yellow colour variation that you mention. I wasn't sure what it was, guessing maybe that they were immature possibly. Are they house finches?
Gerry Binsfeld and I visited Ashbridge's Bay on Saturday morning. At about 10:15 we observed the following gulls:
Herring Gull 30; Ring-billed Gull 150; Iceland Gull 13 (all definitive basic); Great Black-backed Gull 3; Thayer's Gull 1 (definitive basic); Glaucous Gull 2 (both first basic).
GC
In Reply to: House Finches posted by Diane Arsenault on February 10, 2002 at 11:53:12:
Diane,
I have seen this yellow variant House Finch at both Lambton Woods and near Centennial Park in the last couple of years.
GC
In Reply to: Shovelers in Grenadier Pond posted by Merrilea Shields on February 09, 2002 at 11:43:01:
Merrilea,
Most winters small numbers of Northern Shovelers winter in the Greater Toronto Area, usually in the Sunnyside/Humber Bay area.
The only wintering individual I know of this winter was a single male bird seen periodically at Humber Bay Park.
GC
In Reply to: Looking for a birdwatching club posted by Ellen (Toronto) on February 09, 2002 at 02:06:38:
Ellen,
Try the Toronto Field Naturalists. See their web site at:
http://www.sources.com/tfn/
GC
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 10, 2002
Birders in the Quinte area last week took advantage of the good driving conditions, clear skies, and even milder weather to chalk up a few species on their daily lists. Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area on Wednesday offered several species of ducks including LONG-TAILED, COMMON GOLDENEYE, GADWALL, AMERICAN BLACK, MALLARD, and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. Also seen at the Point was an adult BALD EAGLE flying between Point Traverse and Timber Island, the observer asking if this might be the year in which they will resume nesting on this offshore island, after an absence from the nesting scene of five decades. The Point also produced 8 RUFFED GROUSE (7 in one tree behind the banding station ), 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS, a RUSTY BLACKBIRD and 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS. West of Prince Edward Point, there were 3 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS along Babylon Road, and 150 SNOW BUNTINGS on Kelly Road.
To be found in the open waters at Wellington Harbour and West Lake are 200 CANADA GEESE, GADWALLS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 100 MALLARDS, REDHEADS, GREATER SCAUP, COMMON GOLDENEYE and COMMON MERGANSERS. Presqu'ile Provincial Park yesterday had 125 MUTE SWANS, CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, a RING-NECKED DUCK, and the usual waterfowl species present at this time of the year. Also seen there yesterday was an immature BALD EAGLE, 2 ICELAND GULLS, an AMERICAN ROBIN (a bit of a rarity in the Quinte area this winter), and 2 COMMON GRACKLES.
The Prince Edward County Field Naturalists visited Amherst Island today, coming up with 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE, 5 SNOWY OWLS, lots of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS and RED-TAILED HAWKS, a COOPER'S HAWK, 30 SNOW BUNTINGS, 18 TUNDRA SWANS and 8 GADWALL. Other observers on the island reported 6 SHORT-EARED OWLS yesterday, and there was also a report of a THREE-TOED WOODPECKER today. Seen along Highway 33 at Conway were 100+ CANADA GEESE, 100+ MALLARDS, COMMON MERGANSER, 2 female HOODED MERGANSER, 15 REDHEADS, an AMERICAN WIGEON, a half dozen AMERICAN COOTS, 10 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and 20 scaup species.
WILD TURKEYS this past week turned up along Ridge Road near Bloomfield (9), 30 along Telephone Road and 68 along Bonisteel Road, all seen yesterday. HORNED LARKS traditionally turn up in the Quinte area by February 10th - 12th, and representatives in the area this past week included 9 on Royal Road, 37 on Kelly Road, 11 on Telephone Road, and 2 on Allison Road, Big Island.
I seldom mention NORTHERN CARDINALS in this report as we have only had one at our feeders in two years of the 26 years in which we have been feeding many hundreds of other birds, although there is one across the road, where there is no feeder! However, several noteworthy reports came in this past week including 9 northwest of Bloomfield, 6 on Maitland Drive in Quinte West, and singles reported from South Shore Road (Napanee), and Pleasant Bay. Even a male that had earlier crashed into a Bloomfield window, and recovered, has returned to a feeder along with two females!
AMERICAN KESTRELS seemed to be unusually active at local bird feeders this past week, with one at a feeder at Richmond Street in Picton, another taking an ambitious dive at a MOURNING DOVE in Codrington, and one dive-bombing a feeder west of Belleville.
Other noteworthy sightings during the week included a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS on Queen Street in Picton, 11 CEDAR WAXWINGS at Beaver Meadow, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES at a Bloomfield feeder, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK eyeing a feeder at Pete's Point, and an AMERICAN KESTREL along Telephone Road.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Myrna Wood, Barry King, Nancy Fox, Ken & Shirley Joyce, David Bree, Henry Buckhalter & Alex Scott (OntBirds), Don McClure, Lloyd Paul and Judy Bell for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 17th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague
Picton, Ontario
tsprague@kos.net
http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: I wasn't there posted by Tyler on February 10, 2002 at 14:22:15:
Tyler, I hope you do get "it" up there if you go, it will certainly be more enjoyable plumage-wise at that time. While the bird was a treat to see after some effort, the experience was somewhat compromised by the large numbers of birders present(to be expected on the weekend). With the growing popularity of birding and the improved communications capabilities of the computer-age, more of these kinds of experiences will happen with increasing frequency(especially as available habitat continues to diminish-more birders looking for fewer birds in fewer places!). But those of us in the education business know that the tradeoff may be worthwhile in the long run if more birders and outdoor enthusiasts in general will translate into more interest and support to protect migratory birds and their habitat. While Saturday's experience might not compare with that of finding my first Swainson's Warbler some 20 years ago by crawling on hands and knees through a Multiflora Rose thicket to locate the bird singing the unknown song on a hillside in West Virginia, we should appreciate that we can still continue to find unusual birds and try to help others enjoy similar "special" experiences on their own in the future. Let's be optimistic! That was a great segue into the upcoming Breeding Bird Atlas Survey, let's also hope that more interest in nature and conservation will eventually translate into more funding to support important work such as the BBS to maintain an up-to-date assessment of animal populations so that we can take action before it is too late. Good luck with your BBS efforts and keep up the good work!
In Reply to: Etobicoke Cooper's Hawk posted by B. Griffin on February 10, 2002 at 13:17:33:
Well I Guess I must be the only birder that has little interest in seeing that Longspur. However I will love see it in Ontario but, It has to be on its breeding grounds. With the breeding bird atlas in fullswing this is probably one of the few times people can get up to that great part of Ontario relatively cheaply. So if people want to visit the Ontario's sea coast there are opportunities currently through the atlas.
Today was a day of "rest" after the birding outing yesterday to get the Smith's Longspur(was there anyone who wasn't there?). While taking out the garbage(literally) this morning I heard a synchronized explosion of wings as about 15 Rock Doves took off from a rooftop nearby. They moved quickly in unison away, knowing this probably meant a raptor was nearby I scanned the skyline and after a few seconds a Cooper's Hawk(probable male based on size)flew low overhead and briefly landed on a chimney across the street. It was immediately set upon by a flock of Starlings and chased off in the other direction. Interesting things can happen if you stay alert, "trained" ears can pay dividends even before the birds really start singing. Bring on the spring migration! The Peel Birding Class
Has anyone spotted two (2) yellow variant House Finches in the Etobicoke area? They were first spotted on Tuesday Feb. 5th. I have taken photographs and had a good look with my scope. They are not American Goldfinches or Pine Siskin. They are identical to the Red/pink House Finches, but are a yellow gold colour instead. According to Sibley's they are seen in the South West. Their colour variation is due to diet.
Has anyone spotted two (2) yellow variant House Finches in the Etobicoke area? They were first spotted on Tuesday Feb. 5th. I have taken photographs and had a good look with my scope. They are not American Goldfinches or Pine Siskin. They are identical to the Red/pink House Finches, but are a yellow gold colour instead. According to Sibley's they are seen in the South West. Their colour variation is due to diet.
Between 8:30 and 9:30 am this morning, I observed 3 male N. Shovelers in Grenadier Pond in High Park. Besides that, nothing out of the ordinary. Don't they just pass through here during migration? Does anyone think they wintered here?
In Reply to: Looking for a birdwatching club posted by Ellen (Toronto) on February 09, 2002 at 02:06:38:
Ontario Field Ornithologists do have a few birding trips out this year accessible either by TTC or GO Train. The Toronto Field Naturalists also have many birding outings as do the Toronto Ornithological Club. Drop me a line and we can chat somemore, my email is at the top.
Hi!
I'm a beginner birdwatcher and I don't drive. Can someone direct me where I can find a birdwatching club in Toronto?
Thank you.
Hi!
I'm a beginner birdwatcher and I don't drive. Can someone direct me where I can find a birdwatching club in Toronto?
Thank you.
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 06, 2002 at 20:30:14:
Harassment has already been defined in so many different legal contexts be it the criminal code or the various provincial or federal fish and wildlife legislation. Sure, technically, birding itself is a form of stalking, but i think that when you "rush" a bird to fly and "throw things at it" to make it fly, that would definitely constitute harassment and I don't think that many people would disagree. As far as the dogwalkers are concerned, yes, no one can argue that they are a greater threat... (second only to humanity and its arrogance and greed). But as a female birder in an urban centre, I for one am grateful to seek dogwalkers because personal safety is an issue for some of us and if there weren't any dogwalkers, it really wouldn't be safe. Its a love/hate thing with dogwalkers. HA!
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 06, 2002 at 20:06:34:
Let's breathe a sigh of relief that this was merely a brush with birder-shadowing camera cowboys and not Harry Potter fanatics.
GC
In Reply to: yellow bellied sapsuckers posted by Troy on February 08, 2002 at 03:06:29:
Y-B Sapsuckers are native to Ontario and are usually found in migration or during the summer up north, they are rare in the winter here.
Mike Boyd
In Reply to: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 30, 2002 at 13:29:52:
Thanks Andy and Marcel !!
That was a litall more positive rather than "sitting on a log" watching, or yelling and pushing each other in to the water ( which wood only scar the Owl away )
I am guessing not much of any thing can be down about this type of behaviour , by either birder or photographers!? or this thread has led me to believe this , I am thinking it's the times we live in and the forgetting of Grandfathers strait line of ethics.
And the belief that its moor important for one's self to get the killer look or photograph than it is for the next person coming up the rood to looking for the bird .
I am thinking we have to police our self and be vary careful what we post knowing that you have no control over ho might be reading them .
I now witch I wood not have posted the Purple Sandpiper, O will at lest they can flyaway ! which is the big thing ! all though it dos bring stress to the bird and the next person might not get to see the bird , birds are vary easily spoke by us and I am sheer that No physical harm will come to them some stress but minimal harm
Craig McLauchlan
In Reply to: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 30, 2002 at 13:29:52:
Thanks Andy and Marcel !!
That was a litall more positive rather than "sitting on a log" watching or yelling and pushing each other in to the water ( which wood only scar the Owl away )
I am guessing not much of any thing can be down about this type of behaviour , by either birder or photographers!? or this thread has led me to believe this , I am thinking it's the times we live in and the forgetting of Grandfathers strait line of ethics.
And the belief that its moor important for one's self to get the killer look or photograph than it is for the next person coming up the rood to looking for the bird .
I am thinking we have to police our self and be vary careful what we post knowing that you have no control over ho might be reading them .
I now witch I wood not have posted the Purple Sandpiper, O will at lest they can flyaway ! which is the big thing ! all though it dos bring stress to the bird and the next person might not get to see the bird , birds are vary easily spoke by us and I am sheer that No physical harm will come to the some stress but minimal harm Craig McLauchlan
In Reply to: sandpiper at the Beaches (Toronto) posted by martin ahermaa on February 07, 2002 at 18:34:11:
Hi this is a Purple Sandpiper , I have just come home from seeing it ! and got great looks at it ! thanks for posting it ! and I hope others can get down to see it
Craig McLauchlan
was up north last weekend and saw a pair of yellow bellied sapsuckers, are they indigenous to ontario
Troy
In Reply to: Enforcement of Migratory Birds Convention Act (or lack of) posted by Tony Lang on February 05, 2002 at 14:51:22:
I strongly support this type of notice. I also beleive that we should all add a word in about office towers and buildings that are known threats and result in large numbers of birdkills. The asthetics of an office tower is just simply not as important as the fact that birds crash into them every year during migration, thousands and thousands. I think it's criminal that hundreds of thousands of birds travel thousand of miles to and from their breeding grounds just to crash into an office building. I will definitely be adding a word in about that to my letter to Dave Anderson. There should be a subsidization of the 3M tape to cover the windows and further developments of office buildings with reflective glass should be against the law.
Ca. 2:30 PM a sandpiper with a slate-coloured head and white spots on the rump was seen at waters edge near the the Kew Gardens Tennis Club. It seemed to be feeding on the same material that ca. 30 M & F Mallards were poking at. Any idea what this small shorebird might be?
Martin
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic thank you for your understanding.
After reading George's post on the Ovenbird in Sunnybrook Park and finally having some time on my hands ( hahahah) I tuck off their first thing this morning , which in Toronto traffic gets you their mid morning ! But it wasn't 5 mints and the bird flue out from its hiding spot up by the hanging feeder and sat on the side of the hill under a bent tree... giving great looks for all that went by and asked what I was doing ??!!
So nice to see this bird ! and it looks healthy I dint see it limp but I know others did, but other than that it looks fine!
Hear are George's Directions:
Directions to Sunnybrook Park. From the intersection of The Don Valley Parkway and Eglinton Avenue, precede west ~2 kms. To Leslie Street and north 100 metres to the park entrance on your left (west). The washroom building is 200 metres ahead beside the road.
Then I drove out to look for the Smiths Longspur that Terry Osborne posted yesterday , I drove right up Heritage rood (it a long way up from the 401) stoping and looking at all the Horned Larks with no luck ? , will at House # 13456 I saw a large flock of Snow Buntings fly up and to the field on the east side of the rood and could see that the farmer had bin spreading manure in the field , thinking I might get a better look from the other side , I drove over to Mississauga rood and park south of house # 13694 .
From hear with my scoop I could see the best part of the field which include 350+ Snow Buntings ,60 + Horned larks ,3 Lapland Longspur's and a small Buffy yellow bird with slight white mark on the wings and white in the tall and a strong vied face pattern.
I know that it is vary hard to sex this birds in the winter but I wood say this was a mail bird , this bird look just like the bird in Hagersville and once again I tried to make it in to any other bird I could , but kept coming back to only one answer Smiths Longspur , Wow!!! and in the G.T.A .!!! the hole time I was looking at it , it was in with the Horned larks.
Mississauga Road and can be reached tacking exit # 336 from the 401 and going north it's a long drive up to #13694 its north of #7 hiway and south of King st.(or regional rood 9) keep looking in all the fields the birds keep leaving and coming back and at times flue behind the farmers barn . Craig.S.A.McLauchlan Toronto/Ont/Canada/World. csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Merrilea Shields on February 06, 2002 at 14:01:57:
While I sympathize with your intentions, making harassment illegal would not be a simple matter. How would you define it? Birds react differently to human presence depending on species, habitat, time of year, etc. I dare say that depending on how the law would be interpreted, we would all be guilty of breaking it at one time or another (even if unintentionally). It would be a legal nightmare to disentangle "real" harassment from the rest, and I don't think CWS or anyone else has the time, money, and energy to take that on.
In a situation like this, common sense and education is preferable to legislation. No doubt some people who disturb birds are perfectly aware that they are causing stress, but I'd be willing to bet that a fair number of them don't realize the effect they may be having on the bird, and might reconsider their actions if they knew better. Yelling at such people is not the answer...but talking to them in reasonable terms could yield the desired results, and is certainly worth a try.
In all of the discussion that there has been about the Sam Smith owl, I don't recall any mention of the photographer(s) being talked to. Perhaps someone would like to give it a try and report to us on their reaction?
Marcel
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Glenn Coady on February 06, 2002 at 17:22:10:
Well, in part this revisits our discussion of last November about owls being disturbed. I advocated at the time that birders exercise caution about reporting the locations of owls, precisely because such messages can be read widely, and we have no control over how subsequent visitors will behave, regardless of the good intent of the initial message.
While it would be nice to think that everyone will act considerately, the reality is this will not always be the case. While I continue to report birds publicly myself, I admit that over time I have become much more selective about which sightings I report, and if I suspect that the bird (or in some cases the habitat) could be jeopardized by an influx of visitors, I withhold the information.
Ultimately, all of the problems outlined in your message concern disturbance. Whether it's a birder, a photographer, a dog-walker, or simply someone out for a stroll, they all cause a similar result (though admittedly, dogs - especially if off leash - can cause much more serious disturbance). The reality is that in a city, disturbance is a fact of life in all but a very few remote places. While this can be problematic for birds such as the Snowy Owl in question, it is free to move to a more isolated area if the disturbance becomes too great. Don't get me wrong - I'm not condoning harassment of birds in any setting, but if birds are going to be disturbed, then let that activity be concentrated in the cities so that they remain (relatively) undisrupted elsewhere. The birds will for the most part weigh the options accordingly.
Marcel
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Merrilea Shields on February 06, 2002 at 14:01:57:
Frankly, this Snowy Owl is probably not in ANY jeopardy whatsoever from this "photographer". It has plenty of close alternate wintering sites and I suspect would use them if the pressure was more than it could bear. I suspect this is why many Snowy Owls that initially set up at Humber Bay Park & Colonel Sam Smith often leave very soon after first appearing - too much people/dog pressure at these sites (likely why it chose the boat docks for loafing in the first place). I use the quotes on the term photographer because no SERIOUS, self-respecting nature photographer would go to the effort to set up a blind on a Snowy Owl only to end up with a photo of a bird on a boat dock! Thess persons are purely amateur hour and should not dare to consider themselves a wildlife photographer. They are no more representative of bird photographers than the most boorish birders are of all birders in general.
Of greater jeopardy to this owl are (in order):
1) The pressure of dog walkers whose constant patrol of the grassy areas of Colonel Sam Smith park makes finding time and space for hunting more of a challenge than this bird probably needs. Once several thousand condos are ringing Humber Bay Park you can forget about Snowy Owls settling in there for the winter like they often used to twenty years ago. The volume of dog walkers there NOW is already breathtaking. Colonel Sam Smith park is seeing that same pattern emerge. When was the bylaw passed insisting everyone has to own a dog (or three)?
2) The number of birders who rush home to trumpet to the whole world about their precious sighting of this type of bird on multiple different internet birding sites simultaneously. This is what brings the more moronic photo enthusiasts (and birders) out of the woodwork in the first place - as the original posting on this topic acknowledges. This is additional pressure the bird likely doesn't need as well. This bird likely doesn't care that Bob needed it for #118 for his winter list, or that Sue needed it for #91 for 2002. Such absolutely trivial matters might even be benign if only a limited number of people were playing these mindless games, but the magnification of this pressure becomes substantial when internet posts hither and yon are beckoning all comers to give it a go.
The internet is wonderfully egalitarian - everybody gets to know, even the moronic lens-boy types. Remember, before you hit that send button, that you are giving away control over who gets to read and utilize your various noodlings - perhaps the flip side of that Faustian pact should be that one also foresakes one's right to bitch about the undesirable result that thereby ensues.
GC
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 04, 2002 at 10:08:42:
Besides the fact that the bird has the right not to be harassed, perhaps what he is doing SHOULD be illegal.The CWS would enforce if they had reason to beleive that what he was doing might result in the death of the bird. And on a purely selfish note, birders should be concerned about their enjoyment of the snowy owl being disrupted...obviously it is being disrupted, what if the snowny owl left the park and didn't return? No one could enjoy it just because one guy felt that his enjoyment was of more importance than anyone else. Overall, I have no use for someone like that.
In Reply to: Re: Bald Eagle posted by Frank Pinilla on February 05, 2002 at 15:45:57:
Hi Frank, Thanks so much for your reply. I will definitely contact the MNR in Guelph to let them know about my sighting. As for the mystery raptor, i'm thinking the only clue that could help me determine what it was, was it's low flying pattern...again very close to the ground and for a significant distance. I'm reasonably sure it was some type of falcon based on it's wing-shape and rapid wing beats. Thanks again!
In Reply to: Woodpeckers at tube feeders posted by Andy on February 05, 2002 at 10:12:47:
We have both a White-breasted Nuthatch and a Hairy Woodpecker that love to "feed the squirrels" from our tube feeder. After watching these two guys for some time, I finally figured out why they keep throwing so many seeds to the ground. They can see some sunflower seeds already out of the shell (usually that's the case even with bags of premium sunflowers). So the twenty seeds that are still in the shell and in the way, get tossed to the ground until the bird finally grabs onto the one seed that is already out of the shell. That way the bird saves a trip to a tree and a lot of hammering. Maybe that is what your birds are doing. If you put up a platform feeder where they can search through the seed without having to throw some out of the way, you might discourage them from using the tube feeder...adding a few shelled peanuts to the platform feeder seems to work wonders.
In Reply to: Woodpeckers at tube feeders posted by Andy on February 05, 2002 at 10:12:47:
For the past three years I've had a Red-Headed Woodpecker eating sunflowers at the feeder at my cottage in the Bruce Penninsula. Each year, the bird was an immature, so it can't be the same bird. More than that, this January during an annual trip to Tobago we had a Red-Crowned Woodpecker, (a 'variation' on the Red-Bellied Woodpecker) suprising us by barging into the tanagers and banaquits at feeder for its daily feed of raw sugar. Go figure. Don
In Reply to: Re: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster. posted by Tony Zammit on February 05, 2002 at 14:18:58:
Choosing not to support local retailers or the national/provincial tax regimes is your choice as a consumer. It is not a choice I advocate and it is not without its problems vis-a-vis warranty restrictions, customs declarations, customs duties, shipping costs for any eventual repairs, longer time without equipment when repairs become necessary, etc.
I wouldn't feel good about "test driving" equipment with the local dealer and then farming the actual purchase out to the lowest off-shore bidder - it smacks too much of abuse of the local dealer. This can only be contributing to the higher prices that you disdain (and no doubt doesn't help with the higher taxes either).
Frankly, my experience has been that prices after taxes and exchange rate are not different enough to warrant even considering the hassles of dealing with a non-local dealer. This, of course, assumes one has been diligent about finding the most cost-competitive local dealer.
For those of you following this, I thought the following link would be interesting:
Ivory-billed Search
In Reply to: Bald Eagle posted by Maurice on February 04, 2002 at 14:23:19:
Hi Maurice,
That's great about the Bald Eagle sighting, great bird to see! I should let you know about a study being done this winter on Bald Eagles in the Grand River valley by the MNR, I quote from a message sent to ONTBIRDS by John Miles. You may wish to follow-up and "report" this sighting to the appropriate people at the MNR. Tough to answer you on your mystery raptor, the lack of barring underneath would tend to eliminate Cooper's Hawk, Gyrfalcon is pretty rare but possible, although it's size would be as large as a Red-tailed Hawk!
Good birding,
Frank Pinilla
----Original Message follows----
This winter, staff at the Ministry of Natural Resources office in Guelph will continue with our effort to identify areas within the Grand River watershed that are used by bald eagles as wintering areas. As in the past, information provided by the public will be critical in assisting us with that task.
Last winter, many of you provided us with information on wintering bald eagles and we thank you for that! This winter we are asking for your help again. To ensure that the information is collected in a standardized way, we are asking that birders collect the following types of information when they encounter bald eagles in the Grand River watershed: * Date * Time of Day * General Location of Observation (eg. Grand River just upstream of the confluence with the Speed River) * Specific Location of Observation (eg. in a tree, over the river, on an island, etc.) * Number of adults * Number of sub-adults * Activity (eg. flying low over the river, hunting, perching, feeding, roosting etc.) * Direction of Flight (eg. north to south, SE to NW)
If enough information is collected this winter we hope to be able to determine how many eagles are using the Grand River valley, where their roosting areas are and what their daily activity patterns are.
This information can be provided to the Ministry by email, regular mail, phone or fax. Please submit all information to: Art Timmerman Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources 1 Stone Road West, 1st Floor Guelph, Ontario N1G 4Y2 Phone: (519) 826-4935 Fax: (519) 826-4929 email: art.timmerman@mnr.gov.on.ca
"John Miles"
I was sent this press release. You may find it of interest. MIGRATORY BIRDS NEED BETTER PROTECTION! The Wildlands League has joined with a number of other Canadian and American environmental organizations to demand that Canada act on its treaty obligations to protect migratory birds. An investigation led by the Sierra Legal Defence Fund on behalf of the groups has found no evidence of even a single federal charge being laid over the destruction of migratory bird nests, despite estimates that logging operations destroy as many as 85,000 such nests each year in Ontario.
The Wildlands League has joined with Canadian Nature Federation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Earthroots, Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Great Lakes United, Sierra Club of Canada and Sierra Club (U.S.) to ask NAFTA's Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) to investigate the Canadian government's failure to enforce its own environmental legislation, resulting in the widespread destruction of migratory bird nests during logging operations.
The Canadian Migratory Birds Convention Act (MBCA), based on an international treaty between Canada and the U.S., obliges each country to protect migratory birds. Migratory birds can only thrive if their habitat is protected in both their nesting and wintering grounds and along migratory corridors. Our failure to act to protect species that may travel thousands of kilometres each year could be an indicator of a larger failure to protect continental ecosystems.
The CEC must now decide whether to investigate the Canadian government’s failure to act on its responsibilities for enforcing the Migratory Birds Convention. (The CEC has already started an international investigation of the U.S. government’s lack of action to protect migratory birds.) What You Can Do
You can email federal Environment Minister David Anderson (E-mail: Anderson.D@parl.gc.ca - be sure to include your full name and postal mailing address) and ask him why the Canadian government is not doing more to protect migratory birds. Point out that Canada’s forests, as breeding and nesting grounds, are critically important to the survival of these long-distance fliers and that we owe it to them and to ourselves to ensure that Canada provides safe nesting sites that they can return to year after year. The full CEC submission is available at www.wildlandsleague.org/cecsubmission.pdf (Acrobat format) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Wildlands League is a chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society. It is a charitable non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the land of Ontario through the establishment of protected areas and the promotion of natural resource use that is sustainable for nature and communities. You can support our work by visiting www.wildlandsleague.org/giving.html
In Reply to: Re: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster. Advice? posted by Glenn Coady on February 04, 2002 at 17:25:49:
Good point Glen. I would never purchase anything on the internet withoug first taking it for a test drive, whether it be GPS units, scopes, cameras, etc.
I normally go to local outlets to test stuff first, before making my online purchase. Personally, I find the Canadian prices way to high and the 15% GST/PST combo
really prohibits me from making such purchases in Canada. Even with the current exchange rate, stuff is really cheaper in the US. It's a consumer's choice in the end.
You may remember a similar post from a couple years ago. I had a woodpecker visiting the sunflower-filled tube feeders. Well, we now have a pair of Hairy's and a Downy that visit daily to strew sunflower seeds from the tubes. I am wondering how common this is at other feeding locations. Other than the birds being in cahoots with the squirrels feeding happily on the seeds dumped om the ground, does anyone want to hazard a guess what the birds are up to? The seed is fresh, no insects in it, yet the woodpeckers can't resist poking around. Comments?
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 04, 2002 at 10:08:42:
As Marcel notes, aside from threatened or endangered species, pursuing a non-protected bird with camera or binoculars in hand does not contavene any federal or provincial regulations. Destruction or possession of birds, eggs or nests of species listed in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act is illegal and punishable, but chasing an animal for a better view is an ethical issue that we can do nothing about. Indeed, as Glenn implies above, harassing a birder or photographer engaged in a perfectly legal activity is sufficient grounds for a charge to be laid; you can't just walk up to someone and start yelling at them because their behaviour is not acceptable to you. There is nothing preventing you from approaching the birder/photographer and politely pointing out that perhaps they are disturbing the animal, but you have no legal grounds nor official enforcement backup to make them stop doing so. I'm sure we have all seen birds being harassed and want it stopped, but the only way to accomplish that is to lead by example and discuss, in a non-threatening way, the problem when we come across it.
In Reply to: Re: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Olaf Jorgensen on January 30, 2002 at 22:45:50:
Please be sure to post in advance when you self-styled birding ethics vigilantes plan on crowding and YELLING at lens-boy. I wish to be present when lens-boy pushes you into the lake, both for the pure entertainment value, and to form the basis of accurate testimony at both of your respective assault trials. Two problems solved at one time - very efficient! GC
In Reply to: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster. Advice? posted by David Calderisi on February 04, 2002 at 12:04:46:
David, Try a visit to Efstonscience on the west side of Dufferin St. just west of Yorkdale Mall. You can't miss it since it has a mock-up of a 10 foot astronomical telescope on the roof - visible from the 401 !!!) They have virtually every model of scope in every price range available to trial right there in the store. You should NEVER buy a scope on the internet until you have field tested it. Efstonscience will give you good advice and won't carry any product so inferior that you will regret your purchase later. See their web page at: http://web.idirect.com/~efston/efsthome.html It should go without saying that I have no financial interest in Efstonscience - I am merely a very satisfied customer of theirs. Good luck with your scope purchase, GC
In Reply to: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster. Advice? posted by David Calderisi on February 04, 2002 at 12:04:46:
Bushnell Spacemaster 60mm w/15-45x Zoom, Armored
$258.95 US (List Price: $483.95)
http://www.withoutbricks.com:80/estore/product.asp?dept%5Fid=2035&pf%5Fid=002714++++&mscssid=AAURGXU217CS8HLTG55H7VA55SWL21GF This is a reputable dealer, endorsed by the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology
Spotted my first Bald Eagle here in S.Ontario last saturday, Feb.2/02. Lower Grand River. Beautiful large adult, not sure if it was a male or female. So exciting!! Sunday, Feb.3/02, spotted what looked to be either an Accipter or a Falcon in the Halton Hills area. Light in colour, long tail with some darker shading at the base, fairly short rapid wing beats crusing about 10-15' above a long expanse of a farmer's field. At least the size of a crow, possibly larger. Seemed to have the wing shape of a falcon rather than a hawk. Very pale in colour with no barring on the under-breast. My guess is either a Cooper's Hawk or a Gryfalcon. Any ideas from anyone would be appreciated. What a great day!
After seeing crows harrass a Red-tailed Hawk 4 or 5 times in the
last month or 2, and especially after seeing this happen early
today at about 7:45, I realize that we have a Red Tail roosting
in my area which is on the east side of Dufferin Grove Park,
west of Dovercourt and between Bloor and College. I have seen
the bird in the park and as far north as Bloor and Dufferin. I knew they appeared in the city from time to time, but to have
one living here is surprising and special to me.
Sandra
Hi! I wonder if there's anyone around today who could advise me. I'm looking for a scope. Have been told to hunt for a Bushnell Spacemaster. So far no luck. Found this on eBay. Would it be a waste of time? Any advice greatly appreciated. Here's the site: http://cgi.ebay.ca/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1801917889
In Reply to: Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002 posted by Olaf Jogensen on February 02, 2002 at 12:11:47:
When arranging the Atlas Workshops for spring 2002, the atlas main office contacted me in November 2001 asking me to suggest possible locations for the Toronto workshop. I suggested the following locations: Assembly Hall at Colonel Sam Smith Park; Civic Garden Centre auditorium; Kortright Centre auditorium; Royal Ontario Museum auditorium; Humber College/Humber Arboretum; Scrborough Civic Centre auditorium; Ontario Science Centre auditorium. The atlas main office chose to go with the Kortright Centre, the site of last year's well-attended Toronto workshop. It is a very good location for demonstrating the point count protocol (even in April!). Regional Atlas Coordinators from as far away as Rainy River and Thunder Bay are being asked to make the effort to attend this particular workshop. I will not be able to attend the Kortright Workshop myself as I am booked to do a spring field birding course for the Royal Ontario Museum on that Saturday. Roy Smith will attend the Kortright workshop in my place as alternate RC for Region 12 (Toronto). I will likely attend the Peterborough workshop on the Sunday. You will notice in my original post that I have provided the toll-free contact information for Nicole Kopysh, the Assistant Coordinator of the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. Those unable to make the Kortright Centre atlas workshop should contact Nicole to see if an alternate workshop is a possibility, or whether transportation could be arranged to and from the Kortright Centre from one of Toronto's subway locations. Wishing you a good 2002 atlas season! GC P.S. Olaf: The Kortright Centre for Conservation is located in Woodbridge, just south of Kleinburg (just northeast of Islington and Hwy 7 on Pine Valley Drive). It is run by the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and is Canada's largest environmental education centre. I can assure you they most certainly do not condone the pole trapping of owls or any other species and would be most disappointed that someone was suggesting otherwise on the internet. Considering your reference to 'duck collection loonies' I suspect you were simply getting the name confused with the Kortright Waterfowl Park in Guelph. I do not believe that any pole trapping of owls occurs at that facility either.
In Reply to: Re: Birding ethics posted by Merrilea Shields on February 03, 2002 at 23:58:31:
Actually I don't think CWS is much involved with enforcement (though if anyone knows differently, I would be happy to be corrected). That being said, I don't know what other agency would get involved - I'm pretty sure it doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. I think the overall problem is that this is an ethical issue, rather than a legal one. Photographers who disturb birds are not breaking any laws that I'm aware of, and therefore no enforcement is really possible (it is different of course for endangered species). That's why it's so important for people to be aware of what they are doing and act with consideration. Marcel
In Reply to: Birding ethics posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 02, 2002 at 15:03:58:
I was just wondering... how long can the photographer continue? What if he decided to stay there for the next two weeks? At what point does one call the Canadian Wildlife Service and would they intervene in any way?
In Reply to: Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002 posted by Theresa Dobko on February 02, 2002 at 16:26:08:
Hear Hear! I absolutely agree. I think there is demand for workshops here. I for one won't be able to go to any of those because they are out of town. Glenn, is there any hope of having one here in T.O.?
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, February 03, 2002
A few good sightings this past week from not only the immediate Prince Edward County and Quinte area, but outside the general reporting area as well. The week started off with a GREAT BLUE HERON in the Northport area, along with a couple BALD EAGLES at Adolphustown last Sunday. There was also a BALD EAGLE at Green Point early in the week, and a single HORNED LARK at Soup Harbour.
From there, the week just got better. Belleville birder Don Craighead had his woodpecker checklist burning with activity on Monday when he tallied five species during the course of the day - at Wooler, he found the LEWIS' WOODPECKER along with a DOWNY WOODPECKER. At Telephone Road and Wooler Road, he added a PILEATED WOODPECKER to his tally, finishing up his list at Prince Edward County's Beaver Meadow with a HAIRY WOODPECKER and a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.
There was also a PILEATED WOODPECKER today on Queen Street in Picton, and another at Petroglyphs Provincial Park, along with RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, COMMON RAVEN and a 2nd year BALD EAGLE. Other than that, a relatively poor day for birds in the park, although the weather was perfect with a light dusting of snow.
At Wooler on Wednesday, there were 125 COMMON REDPOLLS, 30 at a feeder at Salmon Point, and still good numbers at most feeders throughout the Quinte area. Feeders on South Shore Road, south of Napanee in the Hay Bay area, have COMMON REDPOLLS, PINE SISKINS and a male WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL. EVENING GROSBEAKS are visiting the feeder at the Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, north of Brighton. There was a RUSTY BLACKBIRD at our feeder this morning at 23 Sprague Road, Big Island, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK there this evening. Another SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was seen in Belleville early in the week where there was also a BELTED KINGFISHER.
In waterfowl news, there were good numbers of waterfowl yesterday at Frankford with CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, COMMON MERGANSERS and at least one HOODED MERGANSER being checked off. At Presqu'ile yesterday, there were several thousand GREATER SCAUP off the picnic area on the south shore with much smaller groups of BUFFLEHEAD and probably 2,000 or more REDHEADS in Presqu'ile Bay where there were also about 20 CANVASBACKS. The bay is frozen almost to the government dock but the ducks are concentrated in a few small open patches in the middle. Small groups of LONG-TAILED DUCKS were scattered through all of the open water on both sides of the park. At Trenton, there is a drake AMERICAN WIGEON with an injured left wing, feeding with CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS AND BLACK DUCKS behind the Lower Trent Conservation office.
In Prince Edward County, waterfowl numbers were less spectacular, although there were a thousand LONG-TAILED DUCKS off Salmon Point on Tuesday, along with 300 BUFFLEHEADS, and 500 COMMON GOLDENEYES. West Point yesterday had 20 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 100 MALLARDS, 80 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 60 BUFFLEHEADS, 160 COMMON GOLDENEYES and four COMMON MERGANSERS.
Other good sightings this past week were 100 WILD TURKEYS in the customary field along Sidney Street north of Belleville, 81 MUTE SWANS at Presqu'ile and another 30 at BARCOVAN, a NORTHERN SHRIKE along Lilac Lane near Calf Pasture at Presqu'ile, a DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT at Hay Bay a week ago, a lone AMERICAN COOT at Barcovan, 2 RED-TAILED HAWKS at Mountain View Airport, and AMERICAN KESTRELS at Beaver Meadow, Codrington, Stirling, and 2 along Jericho Road today. The TUNDRA SWAN population still hovers at the 100+ mark at Smith's Bay and others were present during the week at Pleasant Bay.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Chester Gryski, Marilyn Holland-Foster, Bill Hogg, Sandra Lindensmith, Don Craighead, Lloyd Paul, Shirley & Ken Joyce, John Blaney, Myrna Wood, and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 10th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
An Annotated Bibliography of Ontario Ornithology Vol. 1.(4000 reprints), 179 pp. By K. Walton is out and can be purchased for $49.00 Canadian and $29.00 U.S.,plus $5.00 Shipping and handling. Money order or cheque made out to "Kenneth Walton" No Returns-All Sales Final! Please do not call me at home and ask for free review copies as it is being reviewed already. P.S. as some so called reviewers have called and ask what is a reprint? It's a published or unpublished article. Send requests to: L. Sayers, 190 Grosvenor Ave. North, Hamilton,Ontario, Canada L8L 7S9
Hello birders of Ontario Today Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002 Stan Bajurny and I also headed down to the
Hagersville general area. We started at the Corner of Indiana Road and Hwy 56
northeast of Cayuga (south of Hamilton) at 3 am. The first part of our outing
would end at Selkirk Provincial Park around 9 am with a total of 33 owls of 5
species including a nice BARN OWL (both by ear and by sight. As we drove along Indiana Road and past Windecker Road we made our first stop
and were entertained by 2 E. Screech Owls and a Great Horned Owl and a little
further on just short of Hwy 54 at the Grand River we were again serenaded by 2
E. Screech Owls. We turned south on Hwy 54 and just north of Cayuga another pair
of Great Horned Owls were calling back and forth beside the highway. A great
start for our day and it was still only 3:30 am. We now crossed the bridge in
Cayuga and headed down Kohler Road (Conc. Rd 8) to Hwy 20 and turned up Hwy 20
heading to Hagersville and the Tim Hortons that John Miles would stage from
later in the morning. On the way up Hwy 20 between Kohler Road and Nelles
Corners (about 8 km) stopping at woodlots along the way we heard and viewed
another 8 E. Screech Owls. Being in a great mood after so much Owl song we went
on to Hagersville where we took our break. After leaving Hagersville we retraced our steps back down Hwy 20 to Kohler Road
and on reaching same we turned back north and drove the very short distance to
the Dragway Racetrack. Here we watched as 5 Short-eared Owls floated past
heading west across Kohler Road towards Fisherville. As it was now dawn and
seeing no more Owls we decided to head for Selkirk Provincial Park. We also
passed the Owl Sanctuary on Conc. Rd 6 but saw no Owls but did see a
Rough-legged Hawk, a Red-tailed Hawk and a Kestrel hunting the field beside the
sanctuary.. Along Wheeler Road as we approached the Prov. Park we observed 18 Horned Larks,
27 A. Tree Sparrows and many D-E Juncos. The park was a difficult place to walk
in today as the snow was covered with a coating of ice and many tree branches
and some trees were down after yesterdays high winds. Just beyond the entrance
we did find 1 Red-bellied and 1 Hairy Woodpecker. Further into the park we came
up with 2 Red-breasted and 3 White-breasted Nuthatches. Across the boardwalk in
the Pines we found and observed 12 Long-eared Owls. Not wanting to overdo it we
did not search the whole Pine area so there may well have been more Long-ears.
It has been a while since I have seen a good number of Owls in a short time
period and they always leave me in awe. On our way back to the vehicle we saw a
flash ahead and right in front of us no more than 30 feet away a beautiful adult
female Merlin stopped to give the once over. The Barn Owl was of coarse the bird of the day for us being a life bird for
Stan and a life Canada/Ontario bird for me. We have been trying for a long time
to see one and our tiring outings for this bird finally paid off. After Selkirk we headed west to Peacock point and off the point on Lake Erie we
also saw the 13 Tundra Swans and on the west side of the point on Lake Shore
Road we found a N. Shrike and a large flock of 106 Purple Finches. We continued
on along Lake shore to the Nanticoke Power Plant outlet and counted 46 C.
Mergansers and saw 2 adult Bald eagles perched right alongside the road. We now decided to head on up to Brantford to once again try for Grey Partridge
(no luck). We drove up Villa Nova Road (just northwest of Townsend/Jarvis) and
found 92 Horned larks, 2 A. Pipits, and 150+ Snow Buntings. Not having any Partridge luck we now decided to head for Stoney Creek and it
turned out to be a good decision on our part. From reading earlier reports from
this area it appeared that not many Scoters were present and no one reported
Black Scoter. I think the weather or something has changed that as off L. Sayers
Park we counted 53 Black, 77 Surf and over 200 White-winged Scoters along with 1
juvenile Male King Eider. All of these were seen as the resident N. Mockingbird
scolded us and generally gave us a hard time. Also seen here and for others to watch for is a possible female Barrow's
Goldeneye.
We were tired and the bird kept diving and mingling with many other waterfowl so
we didn't press the search. So check out the female Goldeneyes and maybe you can
come up with it. It was now getting late and I not being to bed since Thursday night we called
it a day but the birds had a different idea as just past Hutch's at Van Wagners
Beach a nice adult Cooper's Hawk perched beside the road watching the E.
starlings heading for their roosting sites. DIRECTIONS TO SELKIRK PROVINCIAL PARK SOUTH OF HAGERSVILLE (Fee in season) On the way down to Long Point from Hamilton on Hwy 6 drive to the centre of
Hagersville, turn left on Hwy 20 (King Street). Drive along Hwy 20 for approx. 3
km and turn right (south) on Cheapside Road. Drive straight down Cheapside Road
through Erie and Cheapside to Rainham Rd (Rd 3) and turn left (east). Drive
approx. 2 km to Wheeler road and turn right (south) and drive to the entrance to
the park.
DIRECTIONS TO GRAY ROAD, LAWRENCE SAYER'S PARK & GREEN ROAD IN STONEY CREEK
From the Toronto direction exit the QEW highway at Centennial Parkway on the
south end of the Burlington Skyway. Drive under the QEW and drive a short
distance to the North Service Road, turn right and drive along the Service Road
to Drake Drive (just past the Gray Road overpass). Turn left on Drake and drive
the short distance to Frances Avenue and turn left, drive to Gray Road and turn
right and drive to the lake.
Alternately you can turn right at Frances Avenue and drive to Green Road, turn
left at Green Road and drive to the lake.
For Lawrence Sayer's Park you can turn right off Gray Road just before you get
to the lake and drive to the park (obey the no parking signs here as others have
received a ticket). Or you can drive straight down Drake to the park from the
Service Road. Good Birding and remember if you go for any of the Owls that you can hear and
see many of them without harassing them. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
Norm Murr
In Reply to: Re: European Goldfinch posted by Mark Cranford on April 13, 1999 at 23:15:29:
On Thursday January 31st I spotted a European goldfinch at my niger feeder. If the bird has escaped from an aviary (unless they are outdoors) I can't see how it would have survived in Windsor Ontario Canada.
In Reply to: Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002 posted by Olaf Jogensen on February 02, 2002 at 12:11:47:
Cheers for the thought! I was afraid to say so myself. I'm one of those birders who can't get out of town much and would like to learn more. What do you think Glenn?
In Reply to: Re: Snowy owl in Toronto posted by Brendan on February 02, 2002 at 13:13:22:
Several good points have been made in this discussion, but the most recent identifies the problem the best - the behaviour of every person rests on their sense of ethics. I know photographers who make a concerted effort to avoid disturbing birds, and at the other extreme have met non-photographing birders displaying an appalling lack of consideration for the birds they were after. The argument can be made that the temptation is greater for photographers to go too far in their pursuit of birds (or other animals) because they want a more "perfect" view of the bird than someone simply watching to identify and/or observe the bird. However, that is no excuse of course. A photographer should be able to tell by the behaviour of the bird when his/her approach has become too close - and if the bird flushes, should understand that repeatedly trying to approach it is only going to cause the bird greater stress. Of course this rule applies equally to anyone chasing after a bird without a camera. In this case, we're talking about wintering owls. They are particularly vulnerable to disturbance because they can seem to be tame. Although I can't pretend to know the thoughts of an owl, I suspect that most are no happier at being approached by humans than are other birds which flush at much greater distances - it is simply a matter of behaviour and conservation of energy that causes them to stay put longer, making it outwardly appear that they don't mind people being around. Of course, birds can be harassed at any time of year. Disturbing them while they feed at migratory stopovers, or at their nest sites, can also have serious consequences. Thankfully, the vast majority of birders understand this and act accordingly. But as others have pointed out, all it takes is a few acting irresponsibly to both cause unnecessary stress for the birds, and create a negative view of birders among other people. Naturally we all want to have a good look at the birds we see, whether we have a camera or not - as birders, we are interested in observing birds, and the closer we are to them, often the more detail we can see. However, an approach which may result in a marginal improvement for our view might cause considerably more stress for the bird(s) in question. Simply put, it is always our responsibility to judge whether birds are being disturbed by our presence, and to back off when they are. I don't always get as good a look at a bird as I might like, but prefer that to a crystal clear view made possible only by encroaching too much on the bird's space. Sorry to harp on the subject, since I know that most of you reading this take the welfare of birds into consideration already. However, several of the reports I have read here and elsewhere recently have made it clear that some people are not yet aware of the stress which a bird such as the Sam Smith Snowy Owl may be under, and I hope that it will be allowed to be left relatively undisturbed for the remainder of the time it spends here this winter. By all means, visit the park and enjoy the opportunity to watch this great bird - just respect its space. Marcel
In Reply to: Re: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Tyler on January 31, 2002 at 11:45:04:
The way I see it, the only difference between birders and bird photographers is that photographers press a button to capture the image on film. In my opinion it is simply about the individuals ethics.
We live in wooded area in Pennsylvania and for the past two/three years our vehicles (parked outside) have been damaged by the pileated woodpeckers. It is very frustrating because the damage is not covered by our insurance. We sit and watch as they sit and peck out our side mirrors, windows, etc. And we just got a new vehicle, so now we're on "woodpecker alert"..LOL! Any way of capturing it and relocating? Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated. Please reply to khcgat@webtv.net...thanks! Holly
In Reply to: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002 posted by Glenn Coady on February 01, 2002 at 15:00:58:
It would be nice to see a workshop in Toronto proper -- there are a number of excellent spots that are not overrun with birders here, and many city-dwellers do not drive. Are the 'duck collection' loonies still pole-trapping owls at Kortright? They were lovable loonies for sure.
hello, I am 23 and in Toronto for UNI. Just moved here. I have 2 wonderful parrots and would love to meet other bird lovers my age! give me a call if you want to talk or meet 905-274-7155
In Reply to: owl wychwood park posted by john rahme on February 01, 2002 at 12:07:21:
In my opinion I would most likely be a Great Horned Owl, as they are often found in downtown Toronto, are large and would be the only species that would try and attack a cat.
As the Regional Coordinator for Region 12 (Toronto), I thought I would post this schedule of workshops for those interested in participation in the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas. These meetings are a great way to meet fellow atlassers, Regional Coordinators and atlas staff, as well as get some tips on atlassing. Maps to each location and directions are posted on the atlas web page at: http://www.birdsontario.org/atlas/whatsnew.html Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas workshops: Saturday April 6th, 2002
Atlas workshop at Rondeau
Rondeau Provincial Park (Visitor's Centre)
1 pm - 4 pm
At the Rondeau workshop we'll provide an introduction to the Atlas project and the surveys involved. Find out about results from the first season and get some atlassing tips for next season! We'll talk about squares that need help, special opportunities in the far north, and have a special training sesion on point counts. There will be a dastardly atlas quiz and even some prizes! Everyone is welcome! Saturday April 13th, 2002
Covering the north Atlas workshop
Kortright Centre, Toronto (theatre)
1 pm - 4 pm
The focus of the Toronto workshop will be on point counts and venturing to other parts of the province to atlas. We will be offering a point count training session. We'll also have Regional coordinators from northern regions present. They'll share the wonders of atlassing in central and northern Ontario, and you'll find out what you need to do if you would like to atlas in these areas. We'll also discuss results from the first season and tips for next season. There will be a dastardly atlas quiz and even some prizes! Everyone is welcome! If you are interested in atlassing further afield we recommend you attend! Sunday April 14th, 2002
Atlas workshop in Guelph
University of Guelph Arboretum (Auditorium)
1 pm - 4 pm
At the Guelph workshop we'll focus on point count training and we'll take a look at areas in southwestern Ontario (Bruce County to Lambton County) that could use some help to obtain atlas coverage goals. Regional Coordinators from these areas will be there to discuss potential trips and the birds that you may find. We'll also talk about special opportunites in the far north. Find out about results from the first season and get some atlassing tips for next season! There will be a dastardly atlas quiz and even some prizes! Everyone is welcome! Saturday April 20th, 2002
Atlas workshop in Ottawa
Fletcher Wildlife Garden
1 pm - 4 pm
At the Ottawa workshop we'll also focus on point count training and we'll take a look at areas adjacent to the Ottawa region that could use some help to obtain atlas coverage goals. Regional Coordinators from these areas will be there to discuss potential trips and the birds that you may find. We'll also talk about special opportunities in the far north. Find out about results from the first atlas season and get some tips for the upcoming season! There will be a dastardly atlas quiz and even some prizes! Everyone is welcome. Sunday April 21st, 2002
Atlas workshop in Peterborough
Ministry of Natural Resources Building
300 Water Street, Peterborough
12 pm - 3 pm
At the Peterborough workshop we'll provide an introduction to the Atlas project and the surveys involved. Find out about results from the first season and get some atlassing tips for the upcoming season. We'll talk about squares in surrounding areas that need help and have a special training session on point counts. We'll also talk about special opportunities in the far north. There will be a dastardly atlas quiz and even some prizes! Everyone is welcome! Saturday April 27th, 2002
Atlas workshop in Sault Ste. Marie
Great Lakes Forestry Centre
1 pm - 4 pm
We'll have a point count training session and we'll take a look at areas around Sault Ste. Marie that could use some help to obtain atlas coverage goals. Find out about the results from the fist season and get some atlassing tips for the second season! We'll also talk about special opportunities in the far north. There will be a dastardly atlas quiz and even some prizes! Everyone is welcome! For more information about the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas please check the Atlas web page at: http://www.birdsontario.org or contact: Nicole Kopysh
Assistant Coordinator
Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas
c/o University of Guelph
Blackwood Hall, Room 211
Guelph, ON N1G 2W1
Tel: 519-826-2092
Toll-free: 1-866-900-7100
Fax: 519-826-2113
email: atlas@uoguelph.ca Hope to see you at one of the workshops! GC
Last night around 11:00 pm, I witnessed a large owl
(not sure what species) high in the tree tops on
Alcina Blvd. Suddenly the owl swooped out of the
trees and attempted an attack on a neighborhood
cat walking along the street. What variety of owl
could this have been in downtown Toronto?
In Reply to: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 30, 2002 at 13:29:52:
Craig: I am with you 100%, i don't beleive that any picture is important enough to give cause to what amounts to harassment of the subject. I also agree with Tyler as you would too about some birders overdoing it and nearly killing themselves whilst driving a bird crazy hunting it down for their list... but two wrongs do not make a right. Birders... smarten up!!! There is more to nature and birding than life lists and putting a checkmark next to a certain species seen. But this photographer must be a real jerk for you to go out like this Craig, isn't there someone you can call like the humane society or something to tell them about the harassment.. maybe the Canadian Wildlife Service... dumb selfish photgraphers and birders ruin it for everyone...
In Reply to: Re: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Olaf Jorgensen on January 30, 2002 at 22:45:50:
I sure hope you boys never bought a book with a picture of any bird in it. If you did then your hypocrites. I am not defending this individual, this photographer may of been quite a jerk and harrassed the owl or not. I was not there to see and judge. However saying that most photographers should be harrassed is wrong. Most have strong ethics involving a birds well being more so than alot of birders, I have met and observed. For example the Amherst island Long-eared Owls. They were the most terrified Owls I have ever seen. I sat on a log and watched them flying all around to pines to avoid the hordes of Birders who were chasing them to get a good look for their list. Lots of Birders do not care about a birds welfare or respect the property the bird is perched in. I know of several rare birds in Ontario which in some cases are still there. However the landowners stopped allowing access due to several birders behaviors.
In Reply to: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 30, 2002 at 13:29:52:
The best approach with these photographers who harass owls (I've seen jerks with rodents on fishing line working a half-starved great grey into a 'calendar shot') is to harass the photographer. Get up real close and YELL. Take pictures of him while you're YELLING and crowding him. Of course, the more people YELLING and crowding lens-boy, the better ...
In Reply to: Black-crowned Night Heron in High Park posted by Ryan Young on January 26, 2002 at 17:35:01:
Hi Ryan, There has been a small "flock" of Black-crowned Night-Herons hanging out in a small willow tree just 10 metres north of Queen Street on the eastern bank of the Don River (between the river and the DVP). The most has been 9 birds (7 Adults & 2 immatures) and it seems to fluctuate anywhere from 4 to 9! I see these from the GO train but they can be easily viewed by walking onto the Queen St bridge over the Don and looking down at them. This seems to be a "traditional" winter spot for this species over the past few winters (at least) in Toronto. Regards & good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: Sibley on TV posted by Martin M. on January 26, 2002 at 22:47:43:
Hi Martin, Whereabouts does this "channel 5 (Cogeco)" originate from? I am in Richmond Hill and our cable service is from Rogers, so I wonder if this show might be broadcast on a Rogers station, does anyone out there know? Thanks,
Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
First Today I tuck a driver down to Colonel Sam Smith Park at the foot
of Kipling and
Lake shore Blvd, to look for the imm Snowy Owl, what I found for the
third day in a row was a photographer harassing this bird!! On Saturday
their was a photo nut from N.Y right out on the boat docks with a camera
and lenses as big as his attitude!! And people wonder why I have a thing
about giving out info on Owls, pleas give this bird some room ! the
reality is your pitchers are not going to be bout by National Geographic
and will probably end up in the hole in a ground when you die . the reason this bird is hear is do to being push of its northern
territory do to lack of food ( or one of the reasons ) and harassing it
to fly around for hours on end is not a good thing .
I apologies in advance to thous that I annoy with this but something had
to be seed do to one of the photographers defences being “ well its
posted all over the web “ what ever that means. Yesterday 01-29-02 Carol Horner and I tuck a fast drive down to see if
we could find the
first year Lewis’s Woodpecker at Wooler , wear we found it as soon as
we got out of the car and had wonderful looks at it as it parched on top
a telephone post , thanks to all their for letting us look through 3
different scoops it was great to see the difference in them all. to get their we tuck exit # 522 off the 401 and went north to Teal rd
turn right and follow over the three bridges to your next right and look
for the bird perching hi from hear. On our way back we stop in to Presqu’ile PP in Brighton and like good
citizens we paid our way in only to find that most of the roods wear
block off for the winter and we wear unable to get to most good birding
areas , I rely wanted my money back on our way out!!! then it was a stop in to Cranberry march to look for the Wight wing
Crossbills ( with no luck) we wear reward with looks at a N Harrier and
a Wight fronted goose ( thank you ) and a rousting Add Bald Eagle !! on
our way back up the rood we found a flock of Red polls (150+) with at
least 1 Hoary Red poll in with them I am sheer there wear moor . Halls rd runs south of Victoria in Whitby. Now thats good birding in Ont. ........
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 25, 2002 at 10:03:32:
I have seen many, many immature Cooper's hawks with pale "eyebrows" (more than field guides would suggest). Sometimes the inner tail feathers may even be missing giving the appearance of a square tail. On perched birds, the streaking on the breast is more reliable as a fieldmark. Regarding size, a Cooper's Hawk is roughly equal to a crow (same with Broad-winged Hawk). Goshawk is larger, usually equal to Red-shoulder (slightly smaller than Red-tail), Harrier or Peregrine. Also, Goshawk in winter tends to perch lower to the ground, although not always. Cooper's often perches in the top two-thirds of a tree (although, again, not always).
In Reply to: Re found Snowy Owl posted by Craig on January 25, 2002 at 11:24:37:
I have a friend who collects pictures of snowy white owls can you help me with some pictures .
many thanks george
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 27, 2002
Not a whole lot that is different from what appeared last week in Prince Edward County and the surrounding Quinte area. COMMON REDPOLLS continue to dominate the scene at many feeders. There were 100+ at a feeding station on County Road 1 during the week - not bad numbers considering that numbers of other birds have dropped as a result of the mild weather and disappearing snow. As might be expected in a flock of that size, there was at least one HOARY REDPOLL. There is a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER coming to a feeder on Closson Road. AMERICAN GOLDFINCH numbers continue to be high at most feeders across the area. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK appeared at one feeder on Walmsley Road during the week, and a Cherry Valley feeder had a NORTHERN SHRIKE, while another feeder in Belleville had a COOPER'S HAWK drop by for lunch.
Best sighting of the week was a GOLDEN EAGLE near the quarry at Essroc Cement, off Highway 49 during the middle of the week. Residents at Smith's Bay had an adult BALD EAGLE, replaced later the same day by an immature bird. The number of TUNDRA SWANS at this same location remains at no fewer than 100, along with lesser numbers of CANADA GEESE, CANVASBACKS, COMMON GOLDENEYES and MALLARDS. CANADA GEESE and COMMON MERGANSERS can be found in the open waters at Telegraph Narrows, west of the Quinte Skyway Bridge. In Athol Bay at Sandbanks early in the week, there were WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEADS, COMMON GOLDENEYES, MALLARDS, and COMMON MERGANSERS. Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area offered 2,000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS during the week, along with 1,000 BUFFLEHEADS, 1,000 COMMON GOLDENEYES, 50 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS, 300 MALLARDS, 12 GREATER SCAUPS and 21 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. South Bay has about 50 CANADA GEESE.
GREAT HORNED OWLS are becoming more vocal now as the nesting season approaches for them. Individuals during the week were seen or heard calling east of Northport, Big Island, Prince Edward Point (2), and Bloomfield.
On Tuesday, there was an AMERICAN KESTREL on one of the light standards on Bay Bridge Road near the railway tracks. RED-TAILED HAWKS numbering four were tallied along 401 between Belleville and Kingston the same day.
Other good sightings during the week included the season's first report of an EASTERN MEADOWLARK south of Milford, a SCREECH OWL calling northwest of Bloomfield, 75 SNOW BUNTINGS along County Road 18 just north of the Woodland Campground, 8 WILD TURKEYS in the Woodland Campground, and a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Prince Edward Point.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Jeanette Jenkins, Wayne Gyde, David Taylor, Nancy Fox, Lloyd Paul, Stephen Monet, Don Craighead, Gordon Scott, Fran Donaldson and Jim Collinson for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 3rd. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
David Allen Sibley will be on the next episode of 'Wild Moments' Saturday (Feb. 2) morning at 10:00 am on channel 5 (Cogeco). I saw this after the show for next weeks' episode description.
Hello once again fellow birders. Today Saturday, Jan.26, 2002 Stan Bajurny and I birded a few places without too much luck but we did find a couple of species that you winter birders may still be seeking. This morning we were driving down Duffys Lane near Palgrave when I spotted some shrubs in a field that contained horses and a donkey. Stan stopped the vehicle and we got out and carefully checked these 11 shrubs out. After a short time of checking field marks, etc. we finally realized that these were no ordinary shrubs but actual Wild Turkeys, either that or the shrubs showed legs as they were slowly walking and feeding in plain sight. I have checked my Bird and Shrub Field Guides since I got home and I feel 100% sure they were not shrubs. These 11 Wild Turkeys were on the west side of Duffys Lane opposite #18109.(between Hwy 9 and Finnerty Sideroad about 30 km west of Yonge St in Newmarket). The Ruddy Duck was a male and it was in the inner harbour at Bronte. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
This afternoon I saw an immature Black-crowned Night Heron in the north end of Grenadier Pond in High Park. We are having warm temperatures but I found this species in the month of January to be quite remarkable.
In Reply to: Re: Snowy Owl posted by Christina Greenough on January 14, 2002 at 23:13:53:
Hi Christina, Maris jist posted this on Ontbirds
I wood think with Col.Sam do south of the first
sighting that this wood be the same Bird Craig McLauchlan
Hi all!
I stopped at Col. Sam Smith park on my way to work this morning. The same
very well barred owl was sitting on the same dock as before.
>From the parking lot, just walk to where you can see the easterly dock and
you can even sit on a bench to view this bird at your leisure. It certainly
seems well settled in. It was on the main dock and about 4 or 5 spans from
the south end of it. Cheers! Maris P. Apse, _________________________________________________________________
In Reply to: Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk posted by Fred Urie on January 24, 2002 at 18:56:33:
I wood have to agree with Fred on the call of this being a banner year for N.G.Hawk , I have seen 3 in the GTA alone
this winter , their is one over wintering in the High Park area .
But one must be careful IDing them all have bin Juv. and with the large # of Coopers and even the odd large female Sharp
shin around any fly by might turn in to something ells . Also look at head sharp in you photos N.G Hawks have what looks like a flatter head .But size is always the way to go
N.G.Hawk is a big bird you should think of Red Tailed Hawk when you see the perch , they tend to perch moor strait up and
down rather than angled . Craig
In Reply to: Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk posted by Marcel Gahbauer on January 24, 2002 at 16:09:17:
I have seen the same accipiter identified as two
different species by a twenty year veteran on the
hawk tower. If you look at the hawk I.D. books
photos show the Coopers with light streaking on
the breast and white on the area below this. An
immature N. Goshawk shows thick brown noodles all
the way to the feet. A Coopers Hawk flies with
stiff wingbeats and looks like a flying T. It
will sometimes show a dihedral in a soar.
N. Goshawks past the hawk-tower at Holiday Beach,
Ontario often fly very low. A pale supercilium
can be visible on both species, and this is not
the best I.D. trait. Female N. Goshawks can be
as large as a Red Tailed Hawk, but males have
been misidentified.
This year, many adult N. Goshawks came south.
Previous irruption years for N. Goshawk at Duluth,
Minnesota were 1972-73, 1982-83, and 1991-93. I
consider this an irruption year for Ontario,
while others may not. So N. Goshawk is a definite
probability. Fred Urie
Oakville/Windsor
fredurie@yahoo.com
In Reply to: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk posted by Brendan on January 24, 2002 at 09:24:24:
Cooper's hawks are often shown having no superciliary line (eyebrow). However, some individuals do have it - there is much variation within the species. The shape of the tail is also a difficult characteristic to use as a guide, since it can appear square or rounded on either species depending on the position of the bird. Sorry that this doesn't clear things up, but this is why many people find the accipiters a considerable challenge! Marcel
I have a question for anybody that could help me figure out whether I was looking at an immature cooper's hawk or an immature northern goshawk. On Tuesday I was taking photographs of this hawk in question and when I viewed the pictures yesterday I noticed that the hawk had an obvious white eyebrow (common of a northern goshawk). The reason I am confused is that the tail was long and narrow with a rounded tip (common of a cooper's hawk). My question is, do cooper's hawks have obvious eyebrows?
In Reply to: birding trips around Toronto posted by Michael Orf on January 17, 2002 at 13:04:33:
Hi Michael , to find out moor about birding in the GTA
and in Ont. click on Ontbirds found nicely plased
in the top right corner of this web page ..Thanks
Andy ... Craig McLauchlan
In Reply to: Eagles, Tyrkeys, Gulls and Swans posted by Norm Murr on January 20, 2002 at 23:00:36:
I am posting this to address a goof made by me. OOPS I want to apologize to anyone that went out of their way to check out my Wild Turkeys as they turned out to be tame shrubs. Following is a post I sent to Kayo Roy. Kayo I feel that you are probably right (he found the shrubs). Thanks for checking them out. We were moving along and I spotted the "Wild Turkeys" at the last moment after we were almost past them.
I hope I don't get into trouble for reporting shrubs as I do not want this to become a botany site. Again thanks Kayo. Norm Murr
Hello again out there. Today Sunday, Jan.20, 2002 Stan Bajurny and I again set out for a day of
birding and this time we headed on down to the Niagara area to see what was
about. Our birding day started out with a bang when we spotted 100+ Wild Turkeys (hard
to count as we couldn't stop) beside the QEW at the southwest corner of exit 49
(Hwy 406). From this nice find we continued on to the Sand Docks at Queenston
where we found 5000+ Bonaparte's Gulls, 2 Little Gulls and an adult Lesser
black-backed Gull. The Gray Catbird that we have found here for at least 6 weeks
was not seen or heard but is probably still about. After the Sand Docks we headed up to Adam Beck Power Plant where we found 3
adult and 1 immature Iceland Gulls, 3 adult Thayer's Gulls, 2 adult Lesser
black-backed Gulls and the good old California Gull. Now it was time to head up
river through Niagara Falls and on the way just short of the Whirlpool we
spotted a N. Mockingbird. Above the falls on the rocks and beside Dufferin
Island we found 5 Hooded Mergansers, 3 adult Lesser black-backed Gulls, 1
immature Iceland Gull and thousands of other gulls and waterfowl. Continuing south past the control gates south of Dufferin Island we passed
through Chippawa (about 6 km south of the falls) along the Niagara Parkway. Over
Navy Island (a large island in the river, you will see (with binoculars) the
government sign identifying this island) visible in the river from the Niagara
Parkway Stan and I spotted what appeared to be 2 Bald Eagles. We pulled over and
got out to not just see 2 but 9 Bald Eagles soaring low over the island (4
adults and 5 immatures). All were visible at the same time and I feel confident
that this is the most eagles that I have seen in the air at the same time and at
times had 6 of the birds in my glasses at one time. This sight alone was worth
the trip. There may be more of these wonderful birds on the island and maybe
some local birder can park and watch the island and get a truer count. After getting over this lovely sight we continued up the river to Fort Erie and
along the way encountered 75+ C. Goldeneye, 118 C. Mergansers, 750+ Canada
Geese, 253 Tundra Swans, 8 Ring-necked Ducks, 13 Canvasback and hundreds of
Mallards as well as many other common waterfowl and Gulls. Just north of the
Peace Bridge in Fort Erie were about 2000 Bonaparte's Gulls. I feel that the number of larger (Herring and Ring-billed Gulls) seemed to have
increased, especially at the Sand Docks and Adam Beck. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA PS - MESSAGE TO TERRY OSBORNE - "THE ROCHESTER FOXES SAID TO SAY HELLO" SAND DOCKS IN QUEENSTON From St Catherines drive east on the QEW to the junction (Y split) with Hwy
405. Drive down Hwy 405 to the Niagara Parkway (at the river), turn left (north)
and drive down the hill to Dumfries St. in Queenston. Turn right here and drive
to the end, cross the last street, go down the hill and turn left at the first
road and this will take you to the Sand Docks. ADAM BECK POWER PLANT From St Catherines drive east on the QEW to the junction (Y split) with Hwy
405. Drive down Hwy 405 to the Niagara Parkway (at the river), turn right (south
th) and drive over the power dam to the small parking area on your left, park
here and you can observe the gulls from the viewing area. The dam across the
river in New York State is the Robert Moses Power Plant.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 20, 2002
The week in Prince Edward County and surrounding area started off at a snail's pace, then by mid-week things began to happen. The majority of the reports came from successful bird feeder operators who reported startling success despite conditions remaining fairly open with some snow depth in only parts of Prince Edward County. Everyone has COMMON REDPOLLS with highs of 40 to 60 coming to one feeder in the Barry Heights area of Trenton. A Consecon area feeder has a NORTHERN FLICKER, there are RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES coming to a feeder in Albury, a WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL at a Lake-on-the-Mountain feeder, two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS sampling the menu at a feeder near Fenwood Gardens, and a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD at a Waupoos area feeder. Other feeders have had some unwelcomed guests, including a MERLIN in Belleville, a Cooper's Hawk in Trenton and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on Rednersville Road.
The little family gathering of TUNDRA SWANS which appeared at South Bay in early November, has now burgeoned to well over 100, dividing their time between the open waters of upper South Bay and Smith's Bay, in the Morrison Point area. Their numbers have fluctuated from 125 to a high of 151 through the week. Also, in the southeastern part of the county, the HARLEQUIN DUCK which first appeared at Prince Edward Point on November 8th, was still present as of January 13th, where there were also an estimated 30,000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS.
Also appearing in large numbers was a rafter of WILD TURKEYS yesterday numbering 120 in a field west of Sidney Street, about a kilometre north of 401 (Belleville). Also appearing in a flock numbering more than a few individuals were COMMON REDPOLLS along Gomorrah Road near Demorestville. A flock there yesterday numbered at least 350 birds.
Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area on Wednesday produced a GREAT HORNED OWL, 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS a HAIRY WOODPECKER and a PILEATED WOODPECKER. There was also a PILEATED WOODPECKER on Fry Road, and another south of Cressy during the week. RED-TAILED HAWKS during the week were observed at Beaver Meadow and at Big Island. AMERICAN KESTRELS today were found on the corners of Fry Road/County Road 4, Fry Road/County Road 5, Bethel Road/County Road 5, and Bethel Road/County Road 4, almost if deliberately planted there.
Other noteworthy sightings during the week included 25 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS on Babylon Road, a COMMON GRACKLE and 6 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS along Point Petre Road, 60 RING-BILLED GULLS at Outlet Beach, and a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in a tree across from Home Hardware in Picton today.
Anyone from the Belleville/Picton/Napanee/Trenton areas interested in the 6-week Bird Identification Course that I will be conducting, commencing on February 13th at the Quinte Conservation Conference Room, located in Quinte West, please e-mail me right away as a few openings have become available. The course is $50.00 and will not be repeated until next winter.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bob Sachs (Ontbirds), Jack Lashley, Nick Quickert, Don Craighead, Don Chisholm, Fran Donaldson, Peter Johnson, Jack Evans, Rae O'Brien, Gordon Way and John Charlton. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 27th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Hello again fellow birders: Today, Saturday, Jan.19,2002 Stan Bajurny and I decided to try to find some
Gray Partridge at Brantford (Hwy 407 west of Hamilton). We traveled the roads
around the Brantford airport several times with out any luck, but we will try
again. We did come up with some interesting birds though. Along Greens Rd on the
east side of the airport we found 19 Snow Buntings as well as Horned Larks (it
is here last year that we saw a flock of the "Northern Horned Lark" (alpestris),
and along Jennings Rd (runs from Robinson Rd south to Oakhill Dr. about 2 km
east of Greens Rd) among the many A. Goldfinch, A. Tree Sparrows, etc. we found
4 beautiful male Eastern Bluebirds feeding on berries along with 6 Common
Redpolls. After passing around the airport once more we headed on down Hwy 24 to
Scotland, east on Concession 4 (found a flock of 100+ Snow Buntings along this
road) to Concession Rd 20 and south on 20 to Bealton / Villa Nova Rd. We had
found Gray Partridge along this road in the past but not this time.
Almost as soon as we started down Villa Nova we stopped to look at some birds
flying across the road at 2nd Concession Road (A. Tree Sparrows, the first of 62
along Villa Nova) we encountered a pair of Ring-necked Pheasants sauntering
through the intersection with no apparent concern until a truck approached them.
We continued along the road and were again stopped by A. Tree Sparrows on and
flying across the road. We stopped and counted them (50 ft from #1185, west side
for you winter birders) and as I looked at the Tree's I spotted a nice Savannah
Sparrow on the top of weed stocks. It looks at home here.
We continued down the road and again stopped, this time for a call of nature
(sorry about the graphics) and when this was completed I mentioned that there
was a woodpecker across the road and indeed there was and in fact in the same
tree were 2 Downy, 1 Hairy and 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker along with 1 W-B
Nuthatch. Again off we went down the road and again we were stopped by birds and
this time it was a Northern Mockingbird along with another Red-bellied
Woodpecker. Continuing on to Jarvis we drove down O'Mahoney Rd and at the intersection with
14th Concession Rd (west of Townsend) we found a Northern Shrike. From here it was off to Selkirk Provincial Park (the area that John Miles hides
out in during the nice weather). By this time we had seen 9 Red-tailed Hawks and
would end up with 26 for the day. At Selkirk Park we were happy to find 1 Great
horned Owl, 2 E. Screech Owls (in holes only inches from us) ,2 Tufted Titmice,
both Nuthatches, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, and an adult Northern Goshawk that
probably was the reason we only found a wing and pellets of Long-eared Owls. After leaving Selkirk we headed over towards the Nanticoke Power Plant area
(they were making lots of clouds today) and along the way we drove down
Cheapside Rd to Peacock Point (west of Selkirk). Along Cheapside south of Conc.
3 we stopped at a feeder and found 17 B-H Cowbirds and 6 House Finches. Off
Peacock point were 28 Tundra Swans, 500+ Scaup as well as hundreds of other
common waterfowl. At Nanticoke (on the lake just east of Sandusk Rd) we saw 11 Great Blue Herons,
2 adult Bald Eagles, 150+ Redheads as well as hundreds of Mallards and 100+ A.
Black Ducks.
SELKIRK PROVINCIAL PARK SOUTH OF HAGERSVILLE (Fee in season, not in the winter) On the way down to Long Point from Hamilton on Hwy 6 drive to the centre of
Hagersville, turn left on Hwy 20 (King Street). Drive along Hwy 20 for approx. 3
km and turn right (south) on Cheapside Road.
Drive straight down Cheapside Road through Erie and Cheapside to Rainham Rd
(Concession Rd 3) and turn left (east). Drive approx. 2pm to Wheeler road and
turn right (south) and drive to the entrance to the park. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
To day on a fast walk out on the Leslie st spit Bev and I dint find many
bird’s but the hi light wear the gulls! all though they have bin hard to
find we found 3 Glaucous Gulls and wear told about a Ice land gull and a
Great Horned Owl (both of which we could not find) Also their wear lots of Red heed ducks, Scaup and long tall duck, 2
common Mergansers and 1 Canvasback, and a hard to find on the spit N
Cardinal which was fun. it was also net to see all the GTA winter listers out on the spit at the
same time , this must mean it’s a great area to bird !! ha-ha. The Leslie st spit (or Tommy Thompson Park) is found by following Leslie
st south from the Lake Shore Blvd. hear in Toronto. Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
I am a german birder (29 yrs, biologist)who stays here in Toronto perhaps for the whole year. I have tried some of the sites which I could reach with public transport (Leslie Spit, some parks) but I would like to see more of the wintering birds in the region. Is there someone who is doing some birdingtrip esp. to Algonquin Park or Niagara region or somewhere else (birding alone doesn't get boring but is better with company) and is willing to share his/her experience of lokal birds and sites?
Thank you very much in advance,
Michael
Hello birders, this is just a quick reminder to anyone who may be interested that registration has started for the Spring 2002 session of the Peel Birding Class. You can register by phone (or in person at TL Kennedy SS later in Jan.) now by calling 905-949-0049 or toll free at 1-800-668-1179 and specifying Birdwatching(code is GB01) at TL Kennedy SS under the General Interest section of the Peel District Community Education program. The DEADLINE to register is Jan. 28, 2002 even though we will not start going out until the last Saturday in March(the 30th). The class is Saturdays only(except for possible weekend trips to Long Point, Ithaca N.Y., and Algonquin P.P.) and continues until June 15th, I will e-mail the complete schedule to everyone who has registered by Feb.11 after I have received the names of those who have registered and contacted them by phone. We meet either at TLKSS in central Miss. or at Martin Grove C.I. in Etobicoke to organize carpooling for the day, except for the overnight trips which require advance notification and/or reservations. We will visit most of the birding hotspots in southern Ontario(and 1 in NY!) and I will help people learn to identify bird species by both sight and song(and habitat preference). Some outings will be local(less than 1 hour drive) and will be listed on the schedule as half-day while other destinations that are >1 hour one-way(e.g. Presq'uile P.P., Carden Alvar, Long Point. Rondeau P.P.,etc.) will be listed as full-day to help people plan in advance. Of course if people drive on their own they can leave whenever they please! If you have any further questions please e-mail me at " BreteGriffin@compuserve.com" or visit the Peel Birding Class website at " http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/BreteGriffin/ " for more information. Brete
P.S. If you prefer the more personal approach then feel free to phone me at home at 416-503-4442 for more details.
In Reply to: Favourite 2001 Bird ??? posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 31, 2001 at 17:57:05:
Well if Frank can pipe in I can re pipe in. Being serious this time I must say it was hard to pick a favourite bird after seeing Western Grebe, Cattle Egret, Snowy Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, etc., etc. I find that probably my favourite bird(s) were the 3 juvenile Wood Storks on Pelee Island. They were not only a very rare sighting in Ontario but a life sighting for me. It was great to be able to view these birds up close. I have a feeling that I won't see them again in my life time. I hope that others will take this time requested by Craig to post their favourite sighting(s) as well as this was a request made for fellow birders to participate in some fun posting. I would like to apologize to Craig for my flipant previous posting on this site. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
In Reply to: Favourite 2001 Bird ??? posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 31, 2001 at 17:57:05:
Thought I'd pipe in on this one! Although I saw some pretty good rarities last year (Wood Storks, Snowy Plover, Lark Sparrow, Townsend's Solitaire) my favourite was one that actually nests in Ontario, but which I had never seen/heard and had only tried for once before. That was the unseen King Rail that I heard down near St. Clair NWA, it was a lifer for me and it was interesting to hear this bird and compare to the many Virginia Rails that were calling that night. I know it seems strange than an unseen bird would win out, but I'm sort-of particular about seeing/hearing breeding birds in Ontario. Another good one, although much less uncommon, was a nice Least Bittern (on the same night) at St. Clair NWA that was actually sitting up at the TOP of the cattails instead of hiding near the bottom and right beside it was a Red-winged Blackbird, what struck me was the size. The Bittern & the Blackbird were not THAT much different in size, I always thought the bittern would be quite a bit bigger. I think that whole outing was great because the same night I had a nice singing male Yellow-headed Blackbird! Good birding in 2002! Frank Pinilla
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. To day with some time to kill I went looking for some previously
reported birds hear in Toronto. First at 11:00 am was a stop in to Ashbridge’s Bay park found at the
foot of Coxwell av and the Lake shore blvd. wear I found the female
Harlequin Duck (thanks to the man that told me right wear to look, it
dos tack away from birding but dos save time when its raning) it can be
seen on the south west tip of the park, today it was up on the rocks,
their is also a Juv. D.C. Cormorant hear. Then it was off to Queen st and the Don river wear their are 9 Black
crown Night Herons on the roosting tree today, for the best look park
and walk up on to Queen st bridge look on the north sied . From hear it was off to look for the Fox sparrow witch was found at
the deed end of Dacre cr off of Ellis park rd on the west side of High
Park this bird seems to fly in from some wear ells ?? so be patient and
lave lots of time to wate for it .
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Re: Snowy Owl posted by Craig Mclauchlan on January 10, 2002 at 09:04:19:
I'd love to see this owl! Where in Etobicoke is it??
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 13, 2002
A relatively slow week with much of the snow that had accumulated after Christmas, succumbing to mild weather, at least, in the northern half of the county where snowfall had been less. In other areas of the county, still lots of snow with plenty of activity on the toboggan hill at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area over the weekend. Some inland lakes and bays also developed open areas where some success was had observing waterfowl.
From 40 to 50 TUNDRA SWANS continue to alternate between South Bay and Smith's Bay. There was an immature BALD EAGLE on the edge of the ice at Smith's Bay yesterday. Another two immature BALD EAGLES turned up two days earlier on the edge of the ice in the Bay of Quinte, just west of Glenora, where there were also 200 COMMON MERGANSERS.
Wellington Harbour and area yesterday contained close to 300 MALLARDS, a few BUFFLEHEAD, and COMMON MERGANSERS. Huyck's Point, west of Wellington, produced a couple hundred LONG-TAILED DUCKS and a lone COMMON GOLDENEYE.
Patronage at some bird feeders has slowed to a drizzle, although most feeders are still reporting good numbers of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES and COMMON REDPOLLS. There are also COMMON REDPOLLS at feeders in Foxboro, and about 50 coming to a feeder on Scoharie Road where there has also been a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER.
Elsewhere, there was a SNOWY OWL perched on the remains of the former wooden jetty at the Wellington Channel on Saturday. Two COMMON LOONS were observed in upper Picton Bay on Tuesday, and there was a nice flock of 46 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS consuming red cedar berries on Big Island yesterday. There has been a PILEATED WOODPECKER visiting a backyard at the former Lowey-Carley Conservation Area parkette on East Lake Road.
A flock of SNOW BUNTINGS had been coming to bird feeders on North Beach Road, at Pleasant Bay since New Year's Day. The birds routinely fed on the ground beneath the feeders and were observed sampling the suet as well. Outside the county a flock of 100 to 200 SNOW BUNTINGS was seen at Madoc. And east of Wooler, a dead bird found along the road there turned out to be an EASTERN SCREECH OWL.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Shirley and Ken Joyce, John Hughes, Amy Johnson, Jeannette Mohammed, Nancy Fox, Carol Ireland, George Underhill, Don Chisholm, Lloyd Paul and David Bree for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 20th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. I don’t know if any one is interested in sub. speeches but will looking
for the Wight fronted geese ( with no luck ) this week Thursday and
Friday I found 5 Richardson’s race Canada Geese , One of this being of
the western Cackling race , They wear seen bought at Bronte beach park and just to the east at
Coronation Park
go south from the QEW on Bronte rd to Lakeshore rd rd . go west to west
river st for Bronte beach park , Or east to Coronation Park. Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
In Reply to: Re: White Headed House Finch - Brampton posted by Tony Lang on December 05, 2001 at 10:42:03:
Oh, Tony. Have a lie-down before you post.
In Reply to: Re: Favourite 2001 Bird ??? posted by Mike on January 11, 2002 at 00:51:46:
Mike Nice photo Mike. I have seen several of these on my way to work from th GO bus Norm
In Reply to: Favourite 2001 Bird ??? posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 31, 2001 at 17:57:05:
Red Breasted Grosbeaks that came in August and eat out of the mailbox all week. Posted a photo of male on mail box http://www.time-stands-still.com/grossbeak.html Happy 2002 Mike
In Reply to: Snowy Owl posted by Joanne Brooker on January 10, 2002 at 08:23:36:
wear in Etobicoke are you seening this Owl??
I wood love to come out and look for it . Craig McLauchlan
The new resident on the roof of our building has surprised everyone at our office. A Snowy Owl has been seen outside of our window for the past two days. Our landlord has told us that it's been around for approx. a month. Our building is not a tall one. It's a two-story building with a warehouse on the main floor located in Etobicoke. I just thought that someone might want to know, as it is my und
Today at work(can you believe it?), at about 915am I glanced outside my classroom window(T L Kennedy S S) in central Mississauga(definitely urban locale) and spotted a "large" raptor sitting on a freshly killed Rock Dove. Two Am.Crows were dive bombing it while it was attempting to clean(pluck) its kill.
I could not leave my classroom unattended to find binoculars for a better look but it clearly was in juvenile plumage.
I at first guessed it was a female Cooper's Hawk but after a careful size comparison with the crows and watching it fly off with its prey after being disturbed by some students(who else!), I realized that it must be a Goshawk. It was huge!(In the relative sense of course.)
My students and I got to watch it for nearly 15 minutes before it left the area. I had seen Red-tails in the general area in the past but that was before the Cooksville GO station parking expansion and other local development occurred in the area.
It was a real treat for both me and my students to have such a close look at a rare and impressive raptor species. It pays to keep your binoculars handy, or at the very least get a cheap pair to keep in your car or take with you to work. Stay alert, you never know what might show up in your backyard. It was also nice to be able to incorporate that event as a teaching moment, I certainly won't forget it!
Peel Birding Class
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. Today I was lucky to refined (and photograph) the Spotted Sandpiper ( a
winter bird extraordinaire) that seems to be over wintering on the Rouge
River hear in Toronto, this bird was first found around the first of Dic
2001 and is vary hard to find , this was my 5 time trying to see it and
wood have bin my last , if you choose to go looking for it leve your
self up to 2 hours that’s how long it tuck to day . from the 401 take Port Union rd south to the first set of lights , turn
east on to Island rd and follow it to its deed end (parking is on the
north side of the rood) from hear walk right down to the river and then
follow the path south ( or right) as you go you will see house on the
east side of the river keep going it should tack you 10 mints to get to
wear it was first found and then another 5 mints to wear I saw it to
day, you will come to a small wood thicket with lots of bird activity
and a Osprey tower (no Osprey), 2 brown creeps 4 Harry Woodpeckers , 2
downy woodpeckers 7 Golden crown kinglets 20 B.C. Chickadees and a
winter wren start looking hear and lessen for singing Carolina Wren !
Check both sides of the river and watch your steep it is Ice and the
path is right beside the water now , look at all the muddy areas , today
it was still father along the path in to the march wear the path ( deer
path) ends it was feeding (on what I don’t know) along the shore. the bird is in great shape and feeds and fly’s well ,all though it still
has almost all its spots wich meens it hasant gone through it molt and
its bill is bright ,bright orange . Craig
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Common or Hoary Redpoll ?? posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 28, 2001 at 09:13:29:
We spotted a Hoary Red Pole amoungst the common on Amherst island Yesterday Jan5/2002. During our Christmas bird count there. Identified --lichter in colour and white under tail and no stiping.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, January 06, 2002
Snow, and lots of it, in Prince Edward County, has resulted in brisk business at most feeding stations across the county. A MERLIN snatched a MOURNING DOVE from one feeder at 2814 Rednersville Road on Thursday, then continued to harass other birds at another feeder east of there in Baybreeze Developments at Rossmore. The Rednersville feeder also has a GRAY CATBIRD which can be seen most days feeding on suet. Rednersville Road is County Road 3 and follows the south shore of the Bay of Quinte from Carrying Place to Rossmore. Birders are welcome.
Other feeders are reporting huge flocks of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES with a high of 35 coming to a feeder north of Madoc, and approximately 40 to feeders on Big Island. Other species being represented in high numbers are COMMON REDPOLLS. In Picton, there was a dozen PINE GROSBEAKS de-fruiting a flowering crab tree on Johnson Street on Monday. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER continues to visit a feeder on Scoharie Road, northwest of Bloomfield. EVENING GROSBEAKS are patronizing feeders in the Madoc area.
Results of the Prince Edward Point Christmas Bird Count on Dec. 15th revealed some good sightings, both in terms of species and numbers. An unprecedented 148,326 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were checked off along with 4 BALD EAGLES (2 adults, 2 immatures), 2 EASTERN SCREECH OWLS, 16 AMERICAN PIPITS, 5 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, LITTLE GULL and BELTED KINGFISHER. A PEREGRINE FALCON was also seen on the count, but not in the county proper.
The open waters of Smith's Bay, near Waupous, on New Year's Day, contained 32 TUNDRA SWANS, 125 CANADA GEESE, and 20 GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS. Residents along Glenora Road the same day became concerned when they woke up to find some 75 CANADA GEESE frozen in the ice opposite the McFarland Conservation Area. By late afternoon, all had worked themselves free.
Waterfowl present at West Point on Wednesday were 23 GREATER SCAUP, 150 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, 250 BUFFLEHEADS, 90 COMMON GOLDENEYES, and 8 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. Wellington complemented the list with BLACK DUCKS, MALLARDS, GREATER SCAUP. COMMON MERGANSERS, and COMMON GOLDENEYES. At South Bay, there were 67 TUNDRA SWANS. Prince Edward Bay fared much better with 2 HORNED GREBES, 2,000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS, an AMERICAN WIGEON, 200 MALLARDS, 25 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and 6 GREATER SCAUPS.
AMERICAN KESTRELS last week were picked up at Mountain View, Elmbrook, Crofton, as well as at Hoard's Station and Campbellford, outside the county.
Other noteworthy sightings last week included 30 SNOW BUNTINGS at West Point, 10 WILD TURKEYS near the junction of Bethel Road and County Road 5 (north of Demorestville), 250 COMMON REDPOLLS at Sandbanks' Woodland Campground, 115 CEDAR WAXWINGS on Long Point Road, and a RING-NECKED PHEASANT along Brewer's Road.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Eric Kinsella, Angela Mantle, Lorraine Sinclair, Lloyd Paul, Albert Boisvert, Don Craighead, Grant Ketcheson, Don Chisholm, and Mia Lane for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 13. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Dear Fellow Birders Sorry for the lateness of the report, I went to go look for the Townsends Solitaire once again in Mississauga on Dec 31, but once again to no luck. However I was rewarded instead with a GOLDEN EAGLE flying south. Mike Boyd
The 77th annual Toronto Christmas Bird Count was held this past Sunday, December 30. A total of 92 participants found 53,500 birds of 87 species, despite the stiff winds which made counting on many of the more exposed routes quite unpleasant. Our record for the count is 90 species, so we are very happy to have come close to matching it this year. (Note: for those of you who have already seen the Ontbirds summary, the numbers reported above are slightly different due to some late data which came in on Monday morning). The highlight of the count was a Swainson's Thrush in the nature sanctuary on Toronto Island, only the second in the history of the Toronto CBC. Another surprise was a Common Yellowthroat on the grounds of University of Toronto's Knox College. Other unusual species for the count included Double-crested Cormorant (single birds at Humber Bay, Toronto Island, Ashbridge's Bay), Tundra Swan (8 flying over Humber Bay West), Bald Eagle (1 on Toronto Island), Red-bellied Woodpecker (1 in Lambton Woods and 1 at Wychwood Park), American Pipit (1 on Leslie Spit and 1 at G Ross Lord dam), Fox Sparrow (1 at High Park), Lapland Longspur (1 at Toronto Island), Eastern Towhee (1 at High Park), and Field Sparrow (1 at Downsview Air Base).
Record highs were set for 13 species: Double-crested Cormorant - 3 (ties with 1994 count) Tundra Swan - 8 (previous high 3 in 1998) Gadwall - 673 (previous high 620 in 1998) American Wigeon - 36 (previous high 31 in 1997) Redhead - 3208 (previous high 2301 in 1999) Lesser Scaup - 31 (previous high 18 in 1998) Hooded Merganser - 105 (previous high 51 in 1998) Sharp-shinned Hawk - 18 (previous high 9 in 1998 and 1999) Peregrine Falcon - 9 (previous high 5 in 1999 and 2000) Ring-billed Gull - 6540 (previous high 6301 in 1990) Rock Dove - 2983 (previous high 2508 in 1995) Black-capped Chickadee - 1290 (previous high 1258 in 1997) Carolina Wren - 5 (previous high 3 in 1993) Several species were present in unusually low numbers: Blue Jay - 55 (fewest since 1983) American Tree Sparrow - 72 (fewest since 1987) Dark-eyed Junco - 309 (fewest since 1990) Song Sparrow - 15 (fewest since 1947!) "Count Week" birds include those missed on count day (Dec 30) but seen within the count circle between Thurs Dec 27 and Wed Jan 2 (inclusive). To date, Count Week species include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Mt. Pleasant Cemetery), Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, and Short-eared Owl (Leslie Spit), Merlin (Sherwood Park), and Northern Goshawk (High Park). Other species seen in the area recently, but not yet recorded for Count Week include Horned Lark, Red-necked Grebe, and Red-throated Loon. If you have seen any of these species during the Count Week period, or any other rarities that you think might have been missed, please e-mail me with the date and location of your sightings. Thank you to everyone who helped out with the count this year. If anyone has any questions regarding the count, I'd be happy to answer them. Good birding! Marcel Gahbauer (marcelga@istar.ca)
Trying to blow out the New Years Eve cob webs Bev and I tuck our annual (mid day) walk out on the Leslie st spit, all thought the number of birds we saw wear down 28 speeches their wear 2 highlights ,1 Yellow rump Warbler seen at the triangle pond and then flue across the rood in to wear the old long eared owl's roost ( not one owl was seen today) is found and could be heard chipping in the thickets , And 2 Thayer's Gulls sitting on the Ice in the 3 cell their was also a Red wing black bird and a Cow bird in the gardens near the bass . When we got back to the car we drove to the U of T and to Knox Collage wear we ree found the Com. Yellow throated Warbler, What a incredible way to start of the new year with 2 warblers in Toronto on the 1 of Jan. WoW .. the Leslie st spit (or Tommy Thompson park) is found at the foot of Leslie st south of the Lake Shore blvd. and Knox Collage is found on St George st it is part of the U of T campus their is no Blue singe for the building witch is on the east side of the rood but the name is found above the front door ( and the U of T police wear no help ) look for the Com. Yellow throated in the bushes or near the old planting pots at the north end of the building I put seed down for it in this area, considering yesterday it ate my granola bar . Craig
In Reply to: LaSalle Marina posted by Mike Boyd on December 25, 2001 at 17:11:10:
I visited LaSalle on Dec. 29, and saw the same species, aside from the Merlin. I was surprised though at the low number of Trumpeter Swans (5) and Coots (11) compared to what I have become used to seeing there in recent winters. I didn't check any of the lakeshore lookouts further east (e.g. Venture Inn, Sioux Lookout, Guelph Line, etc.) - have some of the "regular" LaSalle birds perhaps moved over there? Marcel
It's the end of the year once moor ( it came far to fast ) and doing up my notes to day I find that I was lucky anoff to add 3 new birds to my life list Wood Storks , Snowy Plover and Dovekie, so I asked my self what was my favourite bird ( not the best ) of the year and I have to say Mine was the Wood Storks watching them for 4 hours was out of this world . So what was yours ???? Craig McLauchlan
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, December 30, 2001
With conditions more suggestive of winter arriving on Christmas Day, and for several days following, bird activity really picked up throughout the Quinte area. Before the weather changed from rain to almost steady snow, there were still GREAT BLUE HERONS gambling on mild weather continuing, with individuals being sighted before Christmas at Robinson's Cove (Big Island), Hay Bay and Peat's Point. There was also a NORTHERN FLICKER at Allisonville, and a tightly clustered gaggle of 100 CANADA GEESE in the still open waters at Telegraph Narrows in the Bay of Quinte. Other warm weather birds still hanging around last week were three separate sightings of CHIPPING SPARROWS, at Rednersville, the Belleville area, and visiting a feeder in Trenton, where there was also a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. A feeder at the end of Portage Road at Weller's Bay had a FIELD SPARROW on Saturday.
Observers participating in the Belleville Christmas Bird Count yesterday, located a total of three DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS on the ice off Massassauga Point. One had a broken wing, and another had a load of ice on its feet, allowing the bird to fly only a short distance at a time. The Belleville count also rounded up a BALD EAGLE near Belleville, a PILEATED WOODPECKER at Rossmore, a COOPER'S HAWK at Huff's Island, and a NORTHERN HARRIER at Big Island. HORNED LARKS were found in several locations including two separate flocks at the west end of Big Island. A flock of 30 SNOW BUNTINGS was seen at Huff's Island.
While some feeder operators remain disappointed with visitation despite the quantity of snow (one person saying that even the neighbour's cat had stopped watching what few birds had been coming to his feeder), others last week reported brisk business. Our own feeder at Big Island has an average of 60 COMMON REDPOLLS, 30 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, 17 MOURNING DOVES, 12 BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, and varying quantities of BLUE JAYS, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, DOWNY & HAIRY WOODPECKERS, HOUSE FINCHES, TREE SPARROWS, to name just some of the regular clientel. A well marked BREWER'S BLACKBIRD turned up at this same feeder on the morning of the 28th, remained for 20 minutes, and has not been seen since.
Elsewhere in the Quinte area, operators are all reporting good success with COMMON REDPOLLS. One Picton resident reported a flock of at least 30 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in a flowering crabapple tree, and a Napanee resident reported seeing three separate flocks of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS in that town on Thursday, with one flock numbering fully 500 birds! A CANADA JAY is coming to a feeder near Madoc, and at another location five miles north of Madoc, there are EVENING GROSBEAKS and "scads" of COMMON REDPOLLS. On Ridge Road south of Picton, an unwelcome SHARP-SHINNED HAWK has been feasting on juncos.
Other good birds turning up last week included a SNOWY OWL north of Wellington, and 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS at Huff's Island.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Wilf Taylor, John Blaney, Charlie Rowbotham, Medley Mayo, Hugh Watson, Rick Cathrae, Don Craighead, Chester Gryski (through OntBirds), Myrna Wood, Ramona Schatten, Mike Reive, Grant Ketcheson, Beth McPherson, Jim Collinson, Nick Quickert, Lloyd Paul, Donn & Jon Legate, and John Charlton for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 06. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone, and have a safe New Year's Eve, and all the best in 2002.
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Dear Fellow Birders Went down to the spit today and there was pretty much the usual birds, nothing of note except for two birds. One was a SHORT-EARED OWL which was seen flying about a 100 m out into the lake, it was headed towards the base of the spit when I lost sight of it. The other good bird (relative speaking) was a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD seen at the base of the spit in a flock of starlings. Mike Boyd
In Reply to: Add on to post posted by Craig on December 28, 2001 at 09:55:15:
I think this can't be called.. but I think it is a Hoary even though it is tough to call and less likely. The picture on the right side at the website you posted Craig, shows the breast to be pretty much void of any stripes and the size of the area that is stripe-less appears to be too large for that of a Common Redpoll. Commons' breast stripes seem to go further into the breast area..it also appears to be a smaller bird than those posted on the site for comparison... do we know for sure that those ones are true Common Redpolls? The breast is significantly paler than those posted for comparison and those C. redpolls in my guide. I say Hoary...
In Reply to: Common or Hoary Redpoll ?? posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 28, 2001 at 09:13:29:
I for got to add this in , also I fell that the
wing bars are to thin , in less this is a Juv.Bird
wich I also dont think it is . Craig
This was posted on Birding in Canada websight and I was wondering
what you all might think of this bird ?? my tack is its
a Femal Common Redpoll..any other Ideays ?? Craig
Hi folks. Need some help. A group of people spread across 5 online birding groups are debating whether this is a Common Redpoll or a Hoary
Redpoll. The decision is currently split. What do you think? http://weaselhead.org/images/galleries/common_redpoll/displaypics.asp
In Reply to: Raven, Turkeys, Pine Grosbeaks, N. Shrike - Palgrave area - Wed Dec 26 posted by Frank Pinilla on December 27, 2001 at 14:53:12:
Oops, WEDNESDAY Dec 26, in the text of the message I wrote "Sunday"! Must be the holidays playing tricks with my mind. Frank Pinilla
Hi All, I did a drive from Richmond Hill to the Palgrave area in Peel Region on Sunday afternoon. It started out slowly due to some heavy snowsqualls, but as my son & I ended our walk in Palgrave C.A. (only a few Black-capped Chickadees here) I heard then saw a COMMON RAVEN flying in a southerly direction over the west side of the park (Duffy's Lane). I then drove some of the roads in that area and along Humber Station Road, 0.9km south of Hwy 9 I had a "flock" of 11 WILD TURKEYS, with at least 2 males/'toms', I watched them as they quietly scratched & fed at the side of the road. Then along Duffy's Lane, 200m north of Finnerty Sideroad I had a photographically cooperative immature NORTHERN SHRIKE. I then started making my way home and on Old Church Road about 500m east of Hwy 50 was a small flock of 6 PINE GROSBEAKS. Regards, good birding & Happy Holidays, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON DIRECTIONS:
Palgrave C.A. - From the intersection of Hwy 9 & Hwy 50, go south along Hwy 50 to the community of Palgrave (or north on Hwy 50 from Bolton) and on the west is Patterson Sideroad, take this about 1km to Duffy's Lane, turn right
and follow for a couple of kilometres to a small laneway on the right/east where there is a gate and you can walk into the C.A. from here. Duffy's Lane is 1 concession west of Hwy 50. Finnerty Sideroad is one sideroad south of Hwy 9 and runs across the north end of Palgrave. Humber Station Road is the second concession west of Hwy 50, running parallel to Hwy 50. Wild Turkeys have also been seen along Centreville Creek Road (which is two concessions further west). Old Church Road is a sideroad running across Hwy 50, about 3 or 4 sideroads south of Hwy 9 (south of Palgrave & Albion Hills C.A.'s but north of Bolton).
Dear Fellow Birders Went down to LaSalle Park today and found quite a few good birds, the best was a Merlin that had caught a small songbird that was last seen flying west along the shore of Burlington Bay. Also seen were 3 Hooded Mergansers, as well as Common and Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Cormorants, 21 Coots, all three swans, lots of Canvasbacks, and a few Greater Scaup. Mike Boyd
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, December 23, 2001
AMERICAN PIPITS made first time appearances on two local Christmas counts this past week. There were 16, new for the Prince Edward Point count, and 4 on the Presqu'ile Provincial Park bird count. Both sightings were made in Prince Edward County, with the latter sighting made at the shoreline at the end of Arthur Road where it meets the north end of North Beach Provincial Park. This part of the county falls within the Presqu'ile bird count circle. Also seen at that end of the county, but failing to make it on the Presqu'ile Bird count was a MARSH WREN that turned up at Portage Road where it runs into Weller's Bay, on December 11th, and then again on the 19th.
The Prince Edward Point count established a new record high for LONG-TAILED DUCK at 148,326 . Other highlights on the count were 12 PINE GROSBEAKS, 1 HARLEQUIN DUCK and a LITTLE GULL. East Lake also produced LITTLE GULL this past week with 6 being seen in their usual area out from the County Road 18 shoreline.
The Bay of Quinte behind the Trenton A & P store continues to offer some fine waterfowl watching. This past week there were 7 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 4 GADWALL, 73 AMERICAN COOTS, and 23 AMERICAN WIGEONS. 10 TUNDRA SWANS were seen in flight near North Beach Provincial Park last Sunday and 2 HOODED MERGANSERS in East Lake. Other than that, most traditional waterfowl watching areas are producing the usual species.
There was a PILEATED WOODPECKER at the West Lake sand bar at Sandbanks Provincial Park on Friday and a NORTHERN SHRIKE was seen at the end of Arthur Road in the Stinson Block. Across the Quinte area, activity at bird feeders appears to be picking up despite the lack of snow. COMMON REDPOLLS have been reported at most feeders, and there is a lone RUSTY BLACKBIRD in the Shannonville area. Also north of the county, COMMON REDPOLLS last week were seen on Bronk Road and at Corbyville.
Other good sightings during the week included single GREAT BLUE HERONS along the Bay of Quinte at Quinte West as well as near Telegraph Narrows, and 56 WILD TURKEYS on the road between Wooler and Orleans. On Amherst Island, things appear to be quiet with 2 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS staying low due to the presence of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK. There is also a LONG-EARED OWL there.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Bob Sachs, Shirley Preston, Nick Quickert, Evelyn Sloane, Shirley Ireland, Jim Collinson, Don Craighead, and Alex Scott (through OntBirds) for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 30th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone !
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Leslie st spit today posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 23, 2001 at 13:46:56:
Glad to hear that the rain didn't ruin your walk Craig. I had more time than I thought so i attempted to go to Humber Bay this morning around 10:30 a.m. but the rain drove me away. I need to get a better pair of hikers and gear overall. I had a splitting migraine so i got halfway there and turned around and came home. Oh well, I love birding but only when i'm well enough and don't end up wetter than the ducks!@ Good Birding and glad to hear your reports as usual.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
With Christmas coming on us fast and Family time over coming birding
time , I tuck a good cigar for a early morning walk out the Leslie st
spit ( or Tommy Thompson Park) too see what might be seen in a rain
storm ?? Maby a Long-billed Murrelet ( did not see it)
The spit is found at the foot of Leslie st south of the lake shore blvd
E hear in rainy Toronto . Hi lights are Snowy Owl 2 , A Pipit 1 , Thayer’s Gull 1 , Iceland Gull
1, Great B.B. Gull 10, also seen in with the 75 Red head’s was 1
Canvasback their wear at least 65 hood Merganser’s and lots of Long T.
Ducks , Bufflehead , Mallards and a copal of A.Wigeon I am sheer that if the rain had not drove me to walk faster I wood have
had a better morning but all and all a good time on the spit .. Happy Holidays to all
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
I hope someone can give me a little info regarding birding in the Wiarton area. I will be in the area over the holidays and would appreciate if anyone can point out some hot spots/good birding areas or direct me to a website or hotline for further info. My main focus is raptors however any northern species are of interest.
Merry Christmas. GW
In Reply to: How to get to Stoney Creek? posted by David on December 22, 2001 at 08:20:30:
David Correction to my direction - If you turn right at Frances and drive to Green Road, turn left and drive to the lake and not right or you will never see Lake Ontario but may end up at Lake Erie somewhere. Norm
In Reply to: How to get to Stoney Creek? posted by David on December 22, 2001 at 08:20:30:
David For you and others that may want to go to Stoney Creek for the waterfowl. GRAY ROAD, LAWRENCE SAYER'S PARK & GREEN ROAD IN STONEY CREEK
From the Toronto direction exit the QEW highway at Centenial Parkway on the south end of the Burlington Skyway. Drive under the QEW and drive a short distance to the North Service Road, turn right and drive along the Service Road to Drake Drive (just past the Gray Road overpass). Turn left on Drake and drive the short distance to Frances Avenue and turn left, drive to Gray Road and turn right and drive to the lake.
Alternately you can turn right at Frances Avenue and drive to Green Road, turn right at green and drive to the lake.
For Lawrence Sayer's Park you can turn right off Gray Road just before you get to the lake and drive to the park (obey the no parking signs here as others have received a ticket). Or you can drive straight down Drake to the park from the Service Road. GOOD LUCK & a Merry Christmas. Norm
I heard there is a King eider at Stoney Creek? How can I get there and observe it? Thanks,
David
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. To day with all the Christmas shopping done I was surprised to find some time ( a lot) to do some winter birding . I decide this morning to do a big cercal around the GTA starting off at the west end at the foot of Mississauga rd. wear at 9:30 I found the Wood Duck all alone on the rocks . also hear was a Red Throated Loon ,but no Harlequin Ducks could be found any wear in the area ( all though I have heard they wear seen later in the morning ) . From hear I head north to look for the Sandhill Cranes near Bolton with no luck! But was a ball to see a Ruff L Hawk and # of Pine Grosbeaks. Then it was on to the Maple dump area (Frank Pinilla's post for beater directions ) I found a Thayer's gull and a second year Lesser Black Back Gull , 19 G.B.B.Gulls and 1000 of Ring billed gulls and a some 100 hearing gulls. From hear it was over to the York Region Forest to look for the Raven, which was found and heard right wear it was reported by Liz Franks and Christel von Richter , at the North end of McCowan rd . Also seen hear wear 6 pine siskins and 18 Pine Grosbeaks Tack the Aurora rd exit go east to McCowan rd and north to the sharp 90 o turn. then it was off to Cranbury march too look for the Geese , which wear found and with them the G.W. fronted Goose in the fields to the west of Halls rd also seen wear 17 snow geese . All and all a great day in the GTA….. Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
Hi All, On the Richmond Hill Christmas Bird Count on Saturday December 15, we had a 1st winter Iceland Gull on a pond on Cunningham Drive (runs west off Jane Street, just north of Major Mackenzie Drive), you have to hit the spot at the right time of day (can't really tell you when that is as I don't know myself), also here were 30 Great Black-backed Gulls (plus another 20+ in the air). When the pond freezes over it is often overtaken by kids skating & playing hockey (better to visit during the week).
At the Keele Valley Landfill Site itself our only "out of the ordinary" gull was a 1st Winter Thayer's Gull, which Mike McMurtry & I saw quite well in flight (it was missing 1 primary feather as well as a secondary), I also had it on the ground up there before it took flight. Also at the dump were 150+ Great Black-backed Gulls. Surprisingly, for the first time in 4 years I had no Glaucous Gulls at the dump, nor Lesser Black-backed Gulls (which we've had on 3 previous counts). I've also heard from the coordinator of the count (Natalie Helferty) that there was a Common Loon on Lake Wilcox, other than that I don't have any details of other birds seen on the Richmond Hill count. Regards & good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, December 16, 2001
Colder weather and several centimetres of snow rekindled interest at feeders across much of the Quinte area. Over 80 COMMON REDPOLLS descended on feeders at our house on Big Island, north of Demorestville, late Saturday afternoon, accompanied by one HOARY REDPOLL. With them also were a couple of PINE SISKINS, but the latter species is a bit more difficult to find this winter as most have travelled on after their initial arrival this year in early October. One turned up on the Prince Edward Point Christmas Bird Count in the Milford area on Saturday.
There were 2 PINE GROSBEAKS in Warkworth during the week, and 62 COMMON REDPOLLS reported at Norham. Back in Prince Edward County, COMMON REDPOLLS (about 30) are also coming to feeders in the Smith's Bay area, as well as 60 at Stinson Block (Consecon), and there 2 WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS at a feeder near Bongard's Crossroad, east of Lake-on-the-Mountain. Other good winter birds include some 80 SNOW BUNTINGS on Lighthall Road, a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Babylon Road, and a group of 40 CEDAR WAXWINGS in the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, that also contained a couple of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. There was an unspecified number of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS also seen during the week near the North Marysburgh School at Lake-on-the-Mountain.
An adult BALD EAGLE turned up at Adolphus Reach in about the same area where 5 or 6 were regularly observed last year at this time. Another BALD EAGLE was reported from the Madoc area. Observers there say hundreds of COMMON MERGANSERS have been on Moira Lake, as well as HOODED MERGANSERS, and a lone RED-NECKED GREBE.
BARRED OWLS were seen last week in the Tweed area and at the Little Cataraqui Creek Conservation Area in Kingston.
As of Tuesday, the female HARLEQUIN DUCK was still at Prince Edward Point. South Bay still has its TUNDRA SWANS (27 as of Monday), and the resident flock of 29 MUTE SWANS continues to frequent the Pleasant Bay area. Numbers of WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and LONG-TAILED DUCKS continue to impress birders who travel to Prince Edward Point with uncountable thousands of the latter in Prince Edward Bay. The flock of RING-BILLED GULLS, HERRING GULLS and BONAPARTE'S GULLS that continues to hang around Picton Harbour, was joined yesterday by three late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. A good spotting scope is often necessary to pull in the LITTLE GULLS in East Lake, but on Monday there were 9 cavorting about with the BONAPARTE'S GULLS.
Rounding off the sightings of this past week were 42 WILD TURKEYS off Sidney Street near Maitland Drive in Belleville, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Glenora, a GREAT BLUE HERON at East Lake, a flock of 10 AMERICAN ROBINS in the Shannonville area (one was also seen Saturday on Rosseau Crossroad), a NORTHERN GOSHAWK at Peat's Point, a NORTHERN SHRIKE at Little Bluff Conservation Area where there were also two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, and an Oregon form DARK-EYED JUNCO east of Lake-on-the-Mountain. AMERICAN KESTRELS during the week were seen at Elmbrook, Massassauga Road, and May Road, while RED-TAILED HAWKS showed up at Bradley Crossroad, Big Island, County Road 5 near Fry Road, and one seen on Friday on Ryan Road northeast of Stirling.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John & Janet Foster, Mark Taylor, Lloyd Paul, Fran Donaldson & Don Chisholm, June Hazell, Don Craighead, Stephen Monet, Jayne Burkholder, Albert Boisvert, John Blaney, Curt & Bev. Brinkman and Joe Victor. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 23rd. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Re: Aberrant sparrow at Humber Bay East posted by D. Pascoe on August 29, 1999 at 11:49:04:
I have been tracking a partial-albino sparrow, that has been visiting my garden feeders since February 1997. "He" seems to stay for the winter, but disappears during the summer. I am located on the East Mountain in Hamilton. I wonder if "he" could be the same bird that you have seen in the Humber area?
Hi there, I am visiting Toronto for three weeks (16 Dec - 5 Jan), and interested in going for birding and photography in the vicinity. I would be grateful if I can recieve a few advice for the hotspots around the town.. Thanks a lot arpat
In Reply to: Re: Flocking starlings posted by Ann on October 31, 2001 at 12:42:10:
At Marazion Marshes in West Cornwall England each evening during the autumn just before sunset, many flocks of starlings from as little as twenty birds to as many tens of thousands per flock converge from all directions onto the reed areas of this marshlands. For about twenty minutes these flocks arrive and collect together on the reeds moving into their selected nights roosting area whilst giving a wonderful display of wheeling and swirling overhead until eventually diving down onto the selected area of reeds. they then apear to move lower down the reed stalks which must each have several dozen birds roosting on them. Any late arriving flocks miss out the swirling display diving immediately onto the roosting area. This area seems to be in a slightly different position each evening and takes some 15 to 20 minutes of the wonderful display of flocking (like bee swarms) before they eventually settle. In the mornings there is another wonderful but totally different display as the birds emerge from low down on the reeds flying only a couple of feet above the reed tops and spreading over a much larger area before finally taking off on mass and splitting to go off in flocks in various directions. They do not all go at the same time, but some, maybe half of them continue to congregate for maybe another 5 minutes until the remainder suddenly all take off together and then split up and go off their separate ways. This activity has been happening for at least the last 40 years and many people gather just to watch especially on a good clear evening. When all the flocks are gathered together there must be many hundreds of thousands of birds all gathered together. Paul Row, Ludgvan, Cornwall.
Hi All, Today the number of Black-crowned Night-Herons was up to 8 with 7 adults & 1 immature. They roost in the large willow just south of Queen Street (right by the Richmond Street exit off the DVP southbound) on the east bank of the Don River in Toronto (I view them from the GO train in the morning). The number in the past couple of weeks has generally been about 5 birds. Good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: Re: Join the Ontario Bird Protection Group! New Members Always Welcome!! posted by William D. Jack on December 12, 2001 at 11:18:21:
YES!!! IT IS EMAIL BASED!!Sorry for neglecting to mention that.. any further comments or questions, please feel free.
Has any one seen the Mallard X America Wigeon witch is swimming around at Humber Bay west???? hear in Toronto. It is with the large flock of Mallards, I wood love a photo of this duck if any one all reedy has one?? or if it has bin seen by others I wood love too know what cross you might think it is?? The head shape and body size looks like Wigeon too me . Craig McLauchlan
In Reply to: Join the Ontario Bird Protection Group! New Members Always Welcome!! posted by Merrilea Shields on December 11, 2001 at 22:21:22:
I am assuming that the newsletter is email based. Please sign me up.
If you are interested in issues affecting all bird species, particularly those species that make Ontario home for some if not all year long, then you should be receiving the free Ontario Bird Protection Newsletter. Membership is growing weekly, and has the full support of American wildlife ecologist Anne LaBastille who worked for some 30 years to protect the now extinct Giant Grebe of Lake Atitlan in Guatamala. If you are interested in issues affecting birds, please consider receiving our bi-monthly newsletter. Members are always welcome to submit ideas or written submissions for inclusion in the newsletter, should they wish to take an active part.
If you have previously joined the Cormorant Protection group, you are already a member. The group has gone general as all birds need protection. Good birding to all!
In Reply to: Re: sighting of Pileated Woodpecker posted by DAN CHARLES RASH on January 01, 19100 at 18:09:41:
I have been seeing a pileated woodpecker for over a year now in a magnolia tree next door. For the last weekl I have been seeing two. They come in my yard and eat the berries off our dogwood tree. I finally got a picture of one this morning but I don't know how good it will turn out. He was sitting on a limb of an oak tree in my yard. I heard them by their loud call before they arrived. These are about twelve inches high. They don't come every day. I live in Walterboro,South Carolina. They are really something to see.
In Reply to: Re: White Headed House Finch - Brampton posted by Frank Pinilla on December 05, 2001 at 17:23:26:
Just a follow-up to the sightings of "white-headed" House Finches in Richmond Hill & Brampton. After a week of not seeing this bird at my feeder in Richmond Hill (although admittedly I am at work through the week) the female House Finch with the completely white head feathering and a few white feathers in the back, was back at my feeder in Richmond Hill yesterday. I'm going to set up my camera next weekend to try and get a picture of this bird. It's quite a striking bird and the 'albinism' doesn't seem to be in the eye (normally albinistic animals show pink/red eyes), this bird has black eyes & bill along with the normal dark brown colouration of a female House Finch. Does anyone know if this is what's called 'leucism' or a 'leucistic' bird? Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, December 09, 2001 While this week's report is not as impressive as last week's, there was still some good stuff around to excite the palettes of winter listers. There was a late DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT at Wellington on Tuesday and 4 PURPLE SANDPIPERS at Sandbanks' West Point the following day. GREAT HORNED OWLS were quite cooperative last week with one turning up at Wesley Acres, another at Big Island, and still another which obligingly perched, and called, within plain view from the viewing platform at Little Bluff Conservation Area. A night calling BARRED OWL on Scoharie Road, however, was not received so enthusiastically as it calls repeatedly every night outside a bedroom window! The observers, bird enthusiasts themselves, admitted that its song of "Who Cooks For You" might change to "Guess Who's Cooking You."
Birders looking to add LONG-TAILED DUCKS to their winter lists would do well to scan the waters of Prince Edward Bay where rafts of countless thousands extend for several kilometres. Also present in the waters near Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area are HORNED GREBES, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (1000 on the weekend), about 400 GREATER SCAUP, along with a few REDHEADS. South Bay still has its TUNDRA SWANS with at least a couple dozen still in the area. MUTE SWANS continue to show up here and there. West Point, famous this week for its purple sandpipers, also produced BUFFLEHEADS last week (500), 75 COMMON GOLDENEYES and 2 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. The mild weather has kept waterfowl watching opportunities at Wellington quite interesting with a variety of species showing up, depending on the day and the wind. Early last week, there were 450 CANADA GEESE, 3 MUTE SWANS, 6 GADWALL, 22 AMERICAN WIGEON, 3 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 4 BUFFLEHEADS and 2 COMMON MERGANSERS.
Birds typical of the winter season continue to show up. SNOW BUNTINGS last week were seen at Madoc (60), and near Prince Edward Point (20). COMMON REDPOLLS showed up at Mountain View Airport, Sandbanks and near Prince Edward Point. Several residents in the Shannonville area have EVENING GROSBEAKS coming to feeders, and others were seen during the week in the Codrington area, and at the Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, north of Brighton, where a COMMON RAVEN also turned up last week. PINE GROSBEAKS were seen between Codrington and Morganston, as well as a single bird at Sandbanks Provincial Park.
Other good finds during the week included 2 BELTED KINGFISHERS at the H.R. Frink Centre (9 km north of Belleville), AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at Sandbanks and at the Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area where there was also a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET at the latter location, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near Prince Edward Point, 2 AMERICAN KESTRELS along Doxsee Road, a RED-TAILED HAWK near Telegraph Narrows in the Bay of Quinte, a GREAT BLUE HERON at Potter's Creek in Quinte West, CEDAR WAXWINGS (30) and an AMERICAN ROBIN at Little Bluff Conservation Area, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT on Vanderwater Road at Thomasburgh, a RED-TAILED HAWK and a PILEATED WOODPECKER at Wesley Acres, and a SNOW GOOSE with Canada Geese on Muscote Bay. Forty WILD TURKEYS and 20 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS in the Murray Marsh area rounds off the highlights for this past week.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Lloyd Paul and Bob Sachs (through OntBirds reports), Don Craighead, Jim Collinson, Jane Burkholder, Albert Boisvert, Helen Graham, Barry Pinsky, Margaret Haylock-Capon, Joanne Dewey and Stephen Monet for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 16th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good winter birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Greetings,
I recently saw a group of approx. 5 Common Redpolls at Rattray Marsh in Mississauga. I also saw Common Goldeneye(1) and Bufflehead(2).
In Reply to: Snowy Owls posted by Eleanor Kee Wellman on February 27, 2001 at 09:21:34:
I will be leading a bird outing, one of the Toronto Ornithological Club's Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walk series, on Saturday, January 12, 2002, at Sunnyside. The focus will be gulls and waterfowl. Meet at the parking lot at Sunnyside across from the foot of Windermere Avenue at 1:30 p.m. The outing will continue until sunset. Participation is open to all and the outing is free of charge. To view an archival photo of Jim Baillie leading an outing in 1946 to the same section of Sunnyside see the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) web site at: http://www.interlog.com/~ofo/baillie.htm Hope to see you there. GC
In Reply to: White Headed House Finch - Brampton posted by Bob Noble on December 05, 2001 at 08:47:37:
That's really funny that you mention it, I wish I had taken a picture of the bird that was at my feeder in Richmond Hill on Sunday Dec 2, it sounds like the exact same bird. This female also seemed to have a few white feathers in the scapular/upper back region, but had the black eye, bill & legs as you mention. Could it be the same bird? Sounds pretty likely! Good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
I will be leading an outing to Humber Bay Park on Saturday, December 15, 2001 on behalf of the Citizens Concerned with the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW). The outing is open to all those interested. Meet at the parking lot at Humber Bay Park East at 9:00 a.m. on December 15th. Hope to see you there. GC
In Reply to: White Headed House Finch - Brampton posted by Bob Noble on December 05, 2001 at 08:47:37:
Two winters ago a similar House Finch came to our feeder in Mississauga near Mavis Rd. and hwy 401. However, it was a male, with pink over the otherwise unpigmented head. That pattern is consistent with the dietary nature of House Finches' red and yellow pigments.
I was watching my feeder yesterday afternoon (December 4) and a group of
House Finches arrived. One of them caught my attention and upon taking a closer
look I saw that it had a white head with a few brown spots. It was a female with
black eyes, a dark bill and black legs. It looked like it had been tie-dyed in
bleach with very few brwon spots on the head. The white extended to the bottom of
the neck. My house backs on to the north end of Heart Lake CA. The bird stayed
for a few minutes and has not been seen since.
I saw a BRANT this afternoon, (December 2)on Toronto Island, just below the sea wall beside the boardwalk on the Lake Ontario side of the island. It was among a group of ducks, MALLARDS, GADWALLS, and an AMERICAN WIGEON. It must have been a juvenile since I saw no light markings on the neck. It was also very tame, and continued to feed on algae on the rocks while I passed by not fifteen feet away. Don
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, December 02, 2001
It was such an eventful week during the past seven days, it's difficult to know just where to begin. The fine weather was certainly responsible for many unusual sightings, not the least of which was a late BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER that turned up yesterday at West Point in Sandbanks Provincial Park. I searched for the bird this morning but failed in my attempt to locate it; however, I did find a late PINE WARBLER in the Richardson's Campground, less than a kilometre away. The LARK SPARROW near Napanee is still around and was last reported yesterday. GREAT BLUE HERONS are still around everywhere. There was one in East Lake at Sandbanks today (2 yesterday), with others during the week being reported from Peat's Point, Consecon, Weller's Bay, and Deseronto. My wife and I saw one float lazily over Cobourg late Friday evening. There were 2 KILLDEER at West Point on Tuesday, 4 PIED-BILLED GREBES at East Lake yesterday and 15 more in the Bay of Quinte at Trenton.
But there were lots of signs of winter too, to whet the appetite of those just getting into their winter bird list for the year. There were EVENING GROSBEAKS on the 8th Line of Tyendinaga (near Shannonville), and a few more on Shannonville Road, and others near Madoc. PINE GROSBEAKS last week were reported from Roslin, Corbyville, and just north of Madoc - and there were 2 feeding on flowering crab apples in our yard at 23 Sprague Road on Big Island in Prince Edward County. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are at feeders at Moira Road (5 km east of Stirling), and COMMON REDPOLLS were seen today at Sandbanks in two locations with 8 at West Point and 25 at the East Lake boat launch off County Road 18. North of Deseronto, on Deseronto Road, one observer there found 4 separate flocks of COMMON REDPOLLS, with one group containing at least one HOARY REDPOLL. REDPOLLS were also reported at Odessa. A SNOWY OWL has been putting in occasional appearances at the Norris Whitney Bridge, always showing up on the light standard at the highest point on the bridge, effectively sharing the boundary between Prince Edward County and Belleville. A ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was seen at the Woodland Campground in Sandbanks.
The Prince Edward Point area at the moment offers thousands of LONG-TAILED DUCKS, and there are TUNDRA SWANS in both South Bay and Pleasant Bay. One of the best areas for a good mix of waterfowl continues to be off Creswell Drive in Trenton ( roughly in behind the A & P store) where this weekend there were hundreds of AMERICAN COOTS, about 15 PIED-BILLED GREBES, a dozen or so NORTHERN SHOVELERS, GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, REDHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, a CANVASBACK, AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS and MALLARDS. At nearby 12 O'Clock Point (Carrying Place), waterfowl reported there included a few MUTE SWANS and about 150 HOODED MERGANSERS.
Other good sightings during the week included RED-TAILED HAWKS at Belleville and Fry Road in Prince Edward County, a RING-NECKED PHEASANT along Wooler Road, a PILEATED WOODPECKER at Cressy, GREEN-WINGED TEAL and NORTHERN SHOVELERS at Peat's Point, COMMON LOON and BLACK SCOTERS at West Point, SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWK at Trenton, a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Sandbanks, 14 LITTLE GULLS at East Lake, a GREAT HORNED OWL at West Point, and an AMERICAN KESTREL on Fry Road.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Grant Emmon, Ilene Whitmore, Shirley Preston, Bob & Shirley Ireland, Art MacConnell, Lloyd Paul, Grant Ketcheson, Barb Wallace, Stephen Monet, Mark Cranford (OntBirds report), Albert Boisvert, and Beth McPherson for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 9th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good WINTER birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Bev just left the room laughing that "O this is the day to gloat post "??? Ill try not to! Carol Horner and I started Dec 1 01 off as Geoff Carpentier did in Cobourg looking at the Purple sandpiper ( a year bird "woo hoo") we also had 1 harlequin duck at Darcy St, then it was over to the harbour wear we found Margaret Bain and saw the R.T. Loon and found booth the Hoary and Common Redpolls sitting on the same branch ! Thanks Margaret!!! Thanks Geoff's for the durations To get to Cobourg Harbour ... exit 401 at Division St and go south to Hwy 2
and then west to Darcy St. Park at the foot of Darcy and go to the shore for
the Harlequin and Purple. Come back north to Hwy 2 and go west to the next
traffic lights and then left [south] to the harbour] ...the cormorant was in
amongst the boat slips and the loon was in the quiet east bay at the far
side of the harbour. then we drove the Lakeshore rd from Port hope to Newcastle which is a great rood to drive if you want a brake from the 401, but we did find some good birds as we drove along ( pore people behind me) including Snow goose 5 flying over , 8 Snow Buntings and a Com Loon . a fast stop at Second Marsh we wear lucky to find a Dunlin feeding on the mudflats, also 8 Northern Pintails and a large # of Bonaparts gulls You find Second Marsh by tacking the Farewell st exist in Oshawa and follow this down to Colonel Sam dr . At Thickson's woods had a better group of birds ( and listers ) first we found a Golden-crowned Kinglet ,1 Grackle ,1 Great Horned owl (1of 2 for the day) and a N flicker .
At Cranberry march we found 1 Song Sparrow, 1 W.T. Sparrow, 1 Junco finally as the sun (or the light ) went down we found at the foot of Liverpool rd in Pickering 2 Black Crown Night herons. As for gloating well we mist a lot of common birds so our numbers wear low, from Cobourg to Pickering we found 58 speeches and in the GTA we had 47 …. a good start to the winter list's . Craig
Yesterday afternoon I saw three adult Black-crowned Night-Herons still present in the pond west of Grenadier Pond (West Pond) off Coe Hill Dr. just north of Ellis Gardens. GC
Yesterday I saw a Sanderling flying up and down the beach at Sunnyside being harassed by Ring-billed Gulls. It was just west of the Palais Royale. GC
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, November 25, 2001
A short report this week, but representing a number of good sightings around the Quinte area. TUNDRA SWANS continue to hang out in the South Bay area where 44 were present Friday, compared to a high of 60 seen two weeks ago. In Pleasant Bay, MUTE SWANS are still present, with 20 out of a possible 25 being seen there on Thursday. The unseasonably mild weather has resulted in open waters throughout the county where a variety of waterfowl can be found. Over 5,000 LONG-TAILED DUCKS were present in Prince Edward Bay this week, along with 500 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, 35 HORNED GREBES, and 7 COMMON LOONS.
At West Point in Sandbanks Provincial Park, another good location from which to view waterfowl, the two HARLEQUIN DUCKS were still present as of Tuesday. With them were WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS (6), and a HORNED GREBE. Waterfowl numbers at Wellington Harbour continue to fluctuate depending on winds and channel conditions. Early in the week there were 22 AMERICAN WIGEON, 18 GREEN-WINGED TEALS, 8 NORTHERN PINTAILS and 6 AMERICAN COOTS. There were 7 HORNED GREBES at Point Petre, and a PIED-BILLED GREBE was found at East Lake, where a gull population there was made up of mainly LITTLE GULLS. There were 10 there on Thursday, but only 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS. There are three areas where one might stand a chance to see LITTLE GULLS in that area. Two observation points at East Lake are the boat launch off County Road 18, and farther along that same road, from the Group Campground. Another area is at the mouth of the Outlet River within Sandbanks Provincial Park itself.
Mild weather has slowed activity at most feeders, although there were 6 PINE GROSBEAKS at 23 Sprague Road on Big Island yesterday that came tantalizingly close to investigating the menu. There was no word this week as to the current situation with crossbills or siskins in the county.
Nearby Presqu'ile Provincial Park had RED-THROATED LOON, PURPLE SANDPIPER and ICELAND GULL to tempt the checklists of birders preparing to start their winter bird lists next weekend. The LARK SPARROW in the Napanee/Newburg Road area, reported in past posts on OntBirds, first seen yesterday, was located again today. Amherst Island, despite the presence of a NORTHERN GOSHAWK which threatens to decimate the owl population beginning to build in the woods there, still managed to produce a SNOWY OWL today, along with COMMON REDPOLLS, and one surviving NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL.
Other good sightings in the area during the week included GREAT BLUE HERONS at Potter Creek at the Quinte Conservation Area in Quinte West, and another in the Sandbanks area; AMERICAN KESTRELS at Bethel Road and County Road 5 south of Demorestville and another on County Road 24 (Point Petre); a NORTHERN SHRIKE at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area; CEDAR WAXWINGS at Point Petre; and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in the Sandbanks area.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Bob Sachs, Fred Helleiner (OntBirds posting), and Alex Scott for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2nd. Bird sightings must be by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Owls posted by Craig McLauchlan on November 22, 2001 at 17:16:00:
Craig, I was not making any reference to the 1995 Gyrfalcon at Bathurst Quay. I know of no proof that bird was abducted, although it was widely rumoured. I have had a falconer admit to me to having taken both Peregrine Falcon and Gyrfalcon though. Both abductions took mere minutes to accomplish. Falconry is ripe for such abuses as birds abducted are easily "laundered" through captive breeding ruses. Falconry has lax legislative oversight which is also ineffectively enforced. GC
In Reply to: Re: Are owls at risk? Habitat loss IS the main concern posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 22, 2001 at 17:38:46:
Marcel, I am quite practiced in agreeing to disagree! :^) Sounds like your Student's Guide to Canada's Owls will be a very positive contribution to shaping children's perceptions of owls and their needs. To ensure maximum usage I would suggest you post it on the CPF web site as a downloadable document from an Adobe Acrobat Reader - that way teachers all over Canada (and beyond) could print it out and distribute it for kids to take home. Kids could then direct their friends and families as to how to do the same. GC
In Reply to: Green-winged teals, Mimico Creek Estuary posted by Merrilea Shields on November 22, 2001 at 19:07:57:
Yes, it is possible to identify scaup quite reliably! There are really two elements to it - identifying the duck as a scaup, then determining whether it is lesser or greater. Female scaup are easily recognizable by their white facial patch at the base of the bill - pretty much the only distinct mark on an otherwise quite uniformly brown bird. Male scaup have a dark head and neck, which may or may not appear uniform in colour depending on the light. They contrast with a paler back, and it in turn contrasts noticeably with the white sides. This contrast should allow you to separate it from Mallards & Redheads, which generally don't show a distinct difference in colour between side and back. Now for the issue of Lesser vs. Greater Scaup - a topic which has been the topic of much discussion. Some field guides still point to head colour of the males as a distinguishing feature, but this is often not clearly visible, and not completely reliable in any case. A more reliable feature is the shape of the head (which can be used for both sexes). Greater Scaup has a very rounded head, while the head of the Lesser Scaup shows a slight peak toward the back of the crown. Admittedly, the difference is not all that great, and it does take a bit of practice to recognize. However, Humber Bay is probably one of the best locations to observe these species at fairly close range, so the next time you see them, try whether you can tell them apart. Good luck! Marcel
As I am on my vacation this week, I took in some midday and mid-week birding today at Humber Bay Park and Mimico Creek Estuary. Many buffleheads, N.Shovelers, America Wigeons and about 2 dozen redheads at Humber Bay. Of special note (at least to myself) was about 5 pairs of Green-winged teals feeding amongst the hundreds of gulls at the bottom of Mimico Creek. I also positive that I saw many scaup, but I find them hard to pin. Redheads and even mallards have a way of having their heads look black in certain light, and both scaup and redheads have grey bills. Is there any real clue to scaup? I also saw several great black backed, about 5 or 6.
In Reply to: Re: Are owls at risk? Perhaps, but not from J.K. Rowling posted by Glenn Coady on November 22, 2001 at 15:16:55:
Perhaps we can agree to disagree on some points :-) I do, however, strongly agree that habitat loss is the most serious concern for most owl species. The disappearance of grasslands is a threat to a number of species across North America, and one which in many areas has only started to be addressed recently. As it happens, I have just finished writing a Student's Guide to Canada's owls, which focuses heavily on habitat loss, especially as related to the species which are considered threatened or endangered in this country. It will be published shortly by the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, and will be delivered to students across Ontario (and hopefully beyond) as part of an environmental education program focusing on owls which will make kids aware of the threats facing owls, and the conservation actions which can/should be taken. It is my hope that in this case, the heightened interest that many kids may have in owls at the moment will work to our advantage in getting them to think about the plight of some of these species. Marcel
In Reply to: Are owls at risk? posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 10:25:20:
I think wear all starting to say the same thing hear! that wildlife must be protected at all times!!! Weather it is over the hype of a money, book, video game or just from the none informed. I know a family that make so much money that the children have a say in the car that they by, and at Christmas any thing go's , it wood not surprises me that if one of this children ask for a Owl that the parents might go looking to buy one ( I pray they tack to me first ) I think the naivety at how powerful the sell off a movey can be on children and adults is will worked out by the money men , I have seen it first hand , and no o to well the impact it has . It's hard to forget the phtogrfer on the Lesley st spit standing 2 feet away from a boreal owl with a 600 m lens and a flash braking ever thing away to get the better shot ( rember Norm) and yes Glenn I do rember the falconer that tuck the Bathurst Gyrfalcon away from us all , of cores he did it in the best of intentions !! to protect the wintering ducks in the harbour ( ya right) and it is truly scary I am sheer Alex's Scoot has some good talls too .
As I sead I think Ill just keep owl sightings (thank god there are vary fue around) the sightings to my self if any one wants too ask Ill tell them in privet. Craig
In Reply to: Re: Are owls at risk? Perhaps, but not from J.K. Rowling posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 21, 2001 at 19:44:02:
Marcel, I appreciate that your concern in this matter is genuine, but as you are well aware, there are many more pressing concerns in owl conservation than perceived threats from Harry Potter movies, which I would judge to be a most minimal (if not insignificant) risk. Preservation of grassland habitats would be a more effective placement of efforts and concern. Nonetheless, I would reiterate that there is really no downside to the suppression of information of owl occurrence on the internet. Your motivation, though perhaps over-cautious, is sincere, and surely will do no harm. That is not to say that there is not potential for poaching of owls by the unscrupulous AT ALL TIMES (not in particular due to Pottermania). I have seen some pretty disgusting behaviour by people over the years. As Fred Urie has stated on other lists, people are taking material (plants, fungi, butterflies, moths, herps) virtually ceaselessly. I know of an instance where someone misguidedly removed Red-tailed Hawk chicks from a nest! This simply means we should be careful what we post on the internet AT ALL TIMES, with no special caution required in response to the scribblings of J.K. Rowling. I am unable with my browser to review the "As It Happens" interview, but I doubt it would cause me any concern. I doubt if anyone would make the same type of mistake of impulse buying a "black market" owl as was made with dalmations (even the extent of that problem was exaggerated) - this is not an apt comparison, as you noted. Owls are short-lived beings with a logistically nightmarish requirement for prodigious amounts of rodent prey - this would almost certainly quickly discourage and dispel the misguided motives of even the most over-indulgent and logic-challenged parent! Also, don't underestimate how quickly poachers can become skilled in finding the animals they desire. Just talk to anyone who has seen the results of the trade in bear galls. Another good example is how quickly an unscrupulous falconer can abscond with a captured healthy adult Peregrine Falcon or Gyrfalcon - it is truly scary! GC
In Reply to: Are owls at risk? posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 10:25:20:
Hi birders
I personally think that the problem will not be the capture of Owls, but the dumping of captive bred owls which have been sold as pets. Each year there is a fad in some way or another with animals and everyone has to have a certain species. It has happened with dogs mainly and with cats to a lesser extentand how about hedghogs. When the next fad comes around there is this sell off of these certain species.
The year after 101 Dalmations there were Dalmations a year old and younger up for sale. There was a big fad for Rottwiellers, now you see them up for sale all the time. What happens is this major push to breed these species, which breaks down the gene pool, a good example is the Golden Retriever which has been reduced to suffering from hip trouble and skin problems.
When people get fed up with their pets they unload them, if they can't sell them they release them.
I wonder if over the next couple of years we don't see lots of sightings of Barn Owls or other owl species seen out of season. There are so many rogue raptor breeders out there, with some of the worst being in your own backyard of Ontario.
Let's remember were talking making money here, most times ethics don't matter. Derrick
In Reply to: Re: Bird to identify posted by Piers M. Perren on November 21, 2001 at 11:53:44:
Actually the observer who reported the odd bird has been watching the peregrines for over two years, so I feel comfortable in ruling that possibility out. There have been a couple of sightings of juvenile peregrines in the area this fall, but they were probably migrants and passed through quickly. The two adults resident in this area have tried to breed for the past two years, but have so far been unsuccessful. Marcel
In Reply to: Re: Are owls at risk? Perhaps, but not from J.K. Rowling posted by Glenn Coady on November 20, 2001 at 16:51:56:
Glenn, as usual your comments are well-reasoned. Your point about some suppression of information on owls at all times being beneficial is something which several others commented to me privately. However, I disagree all the same on some of the matters you raised :-). Re #1 - You are right of course that the Harry Potter books have been out for a while now and have not stimulated any noticeable increase in owl poaching. That being said, the hype surrounding the movie is far greater than it ever was for the books. More importantly, many kids know little about owls, and seeing them in the movie makes them much more "real". My concerns actually arose from an interview I heard on CBC radio's "As it Happens" last Friday night, which featured the director of a raptor conservancy in England. Apparently over there a marked increase in the demand for owls has been noted since the movie was released. The interview is archived on the CBC website at http://radio.cbc.ca/insite/AS_IT_HAPPENS_TORONTO/2001/11/16.html (click on the link to listen to part one of the program, and advance to the 25:28 mark). Re #2 - Of course the vast majority of parents are sufficiently knowledgeable and responsible that they will be able to explain to their children why an owl should not be a pet. Unfortunately, with all the work I've done in the environmental education area over the past few years, I've also met more than a few adults who have no such common sense, and it's this small minority that worries me. Ask anyone who has worked with animal shelters and you will hear horror stories of the influx of unwanted and/or maltreated dalmatians following the popular "101 Dalmatians" film a few years ago. I certainly recognize that owls are a very different situation from dalmatians, but the basic principle of parents not thinking through the consequences of adopting a pet are consistent. Re #3 - I'm not convinced that the poachers would in fact be skilled at finding owls on their own - if they are truly simply trying to capitalize on an opportunity, they may know very little about owls (or even birds in general). That being said, you raise a very good point about them likely being unwilling to risk being discovered at a site where many other people are watching the owls. I'm not sure this would be a sufficient deterrent (even the most popular places generally aren't well attended on weekdays), but it's certainly something for us all to consider. Re #4 - Yes, no doubt the hype will fade away as it always does. My concern is simply for any damage that might be done before that happens. In conclusion, I recognize that there are arguments to be made for both sides. As I admitted in my original post, I have benefited from owl reports in the past, and know that many others have too. In the end, it's up to everyone to decide for themselves whether they believe there is a risk or not. Since we don't have facts to prove the argument either way, everyone will have to weight the pros and cons for themselves. My gut feeling at the moment is that the costs of posting such information this winter outweighs the benefits. I hope I've overestimated the scope of the risk, but I don't feel comfortable taking any chances at this time. Marcel
In Reply to: Re: Are owls at risk? posted by Norm Murr on November 20, 2001 at 19:10:50:
Norm, I agree that it would be very sad if we dared not communicate about owls. At the same time though, it would be tragic if doing so were to cause even one owl to be removed from the wild. The possibility of that happening may well be remote, but such actions have happened in the past, and the recent hype does increase the likelihood they may recur. I think, however, that you have identified the reasonable compromise - identifying a very generic location in a report, and offering to provide additional information in private. Perhaps I am overreacting a bit, but as you say, they are wonderful birds and I think it's only appropriate that we exercise at least a bit of extra caution to help protect them (and preserve our ability to watch them ourselves). Marcel
Yesterday, at Humber Bay Park east, there were 20 to 25 Northern Shovellers, male and female in what looked like, a huddle or a "rugby scrum" in the westernmost pond south of the car park. I observed them for about 15 minutes - they seemed to be working together, heads down and working in a circular motion. At the end of this time, they started going their own separate ways. I have not seen this behaviour before. Can anyone explain this?
In Reply to: Bird to identify posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 16:32:29:
There are a number of Peregrenes in the area. They do quite a lot of bobbing and there may be some 1st year Ps in the surrounding buildings. White front with a dark back. ????
In Reply to: Are owls at risk? posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 10:25:20:
I heartedly agree with Glenn Coady. Lets not over react in regards to a remote possibility that Owl poaching will be a problem because of a movie.
It would be sad if we could not tell our fellow birders that Owls are here or there. If you are at all unsure about posting then give the area not the exact location. ie - Toronto Islands and not "front of sanctuary on Toronto Islands".
I myself will continue to mention Owls in my outings reports and if anyone wants an exact location then they may ask me in private. By years end all this will be behind us and most of the Owls will have passed through and this will end part of the fears of some. Remember that these are wonderful birds and a thrill for so many when they follow our directions and find them. Be vigilant but don't deny others the thrill of an Owl sighting. Norm Murr
In Reply to: Are owls at risk? posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 10:25:20:
I believe that there is certainly no harm in suppressing information about owl sightings irrespective of any perceived threat (real or unreal) from J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter book series or recent movie. Such suppresion can only benefit owls, so it is not a problem - perhaps even desirable at all times. I also don't believe there will be any additional pressure on native owls caused directly by Harry Potter fanatics because: 1) The four Rowling books have been out for some time now with no discernable owl poaching problem occurring as a result, even at our most widely shared owl sites on the internet. 2) The overwhelming majority of parents are not judgement-challenged imbeciles with unlimited potential for indulging their children's every desire regardless of common sense or legality. 3) Anyone even close to competent enough to be able to fill such a supposed demand for native owls would certainly have no need to find owl locations on the internet - owls are not difficult to find in any season of the year, and motivated poachers could easily find them without having to resort to risk using well-advertised, well-visited sites, which I suspect would be the last place anyone would contemplate poaching for fear of discovery. 4) Harry Potter-mania will die an orderly death just as did Cabbage Patch dolls and Beanie Babies. As far as I can see, this fear might best be filed under urban mythology. That doesn't mean it isn't a good idea to suppress locations of owls at any season from the internet - that is a motivation I think is wholly supportable and desirable. GC
A friend of mine observed a very odd bird the other day, and I haven't been able to make any reasonable guesses as to its identity. I'm hoping that someone here might be able to make sense of it. The sighting occurred at 77 Bloor Street West around 4:40 pm on Sunday afternoon. The bird was seen moving about the roof a bit, then settled down for the night and was still there at 7:30 the following morning. Here is how the bird was described: "It was slightly larger than the standard pigeon but was a little sleeker. The unfeathered legs and feet were red-orange. Its body was white to possibly light grey (the light was bad). It had a beak that was the same colour as the feet, elongated but not as long as a gull, but longer than a pigeon -- somewhat like a small domestic goose. When it arrived, it was quite nervous, continually looking around and preening, likely a displacement activity. After a couple of hours it settled down and went to sleep." If anyone has any ideas what this bird might have been, I would be interested to read them. Marcel Gahbauer
In Reply to: Are owls at risk? posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 10:25:20:
I haven't heard any of this as of yet , But Bev tells me that their are 4 different type of Owls in the story and knowing how a film can effect the public and it being
The Christmas hype , I think I will stop posting my Owl sightings the rest of the season .. Craig
Over the past few days, I've heard several people suggest that owls may be at risk of being stolen from the wild this year. The explanation given is that many kids are asking their parents for a pet owl after being enchanted by the one(s) in the Harry Potter movie & books. Apparently in England (where pet owls are more common than here) the demand has shot through the roof and there is some concern about pressure on natural populations. Here, where owls haven't otherwise been thought of as pets, there are (to my
knowledge) no places to buy owls, and so the pressure would be all the more on wild birds. I don't know how real this threat is - but given the hype that the movie is receiving, I wouldn't be surprised if there is at least some substance to it. Even if the threat is fairly minor, I think it's worth us considering what we can do to ensure we don't do anything to contribute to the problem. The question is, how should we in the birding community adapt to this? I have posted owl sightings in the past, and have on a number of occasions benefited from others doing so (on this board and via e-mail distribution lists such as Ontbirds). But I'm wondering whether doing so at
present is wise - is there a risk that by posting these sightings, we are making the owls vulnerable? Should we maybe consider withholding details on owl sightings (e.g. make them available by request via private e-mail only)? I'd hate for us to have to stop communicating about these wonderful birds, but if doing so poses them a threat, we are doing neither the birds nor us a favour. I of course wouldn't suspect any of the birders frequenting these forums to be involved with such activities. However, this information is just as easily accessible to everyone else - including those who might be looking for clues on where to find and capture owls easily for profit. Perhaps I'm overreacting, but with the populations of some owl species somewhat fragile to begin with, I prefer to err on the side of caution in a situation such as this. What do others think? Marcel Gahbauer
marcelga@istar.ca
In Reply to: European Goldfinch posted by Kenneth Walton on November 20, 2001 at 06:38:11:
Sorry about that on Sunday Nov.18, 2001
Just a note to say there was a Male European Goldfinch with Northern Redpolls and was really wild, also looked good as it was feeding,in my mother in laws yard in the City of Gloucester (Ottawa) off of Fillmore Cr. and could be seen from the Rockcliffe Pkwy. "Do not call or go to her house as the last time a rare bird came, birder's over run here yard"! So much for the old way of birding-being nice.
In Reply to: pileated woodpecker posted by Ian on June 25, 2000 at 11:01:22:
I live in Michigan and just spotted for the first time in my life a pileated woodpecker. Amazing. I was out hunting whitetail deer and spotted this huge woodpecker. I had to research. I am not an avid birdwatcher, just a nature watcher. I was impressed.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
With the wind being from the NW this morning I thought that it wood be the perfect time
to see if their wear any hawks left in Ont , so I stopped in to the High Park hawk watch , (High Park is found in Toronto bordered by Bloor st to the north Parkside dr. to the east and the Queensway to the south) the hawks came slow at first ( we just about fell asleep waiting ) but with great surprise the first bird was very late Turkey Vulture , out of the birds counted 123 wear Red Tailed Hawk ( 1 vary dark phase) 5 Cooper's Hawk's ,1Red Shouldered Hawk , 1 Rough-Legged Hawk and 1 Peregrine Falcon . Other hi lights wear 11 Common Red Poll's and finely making a appearance in the GTA wear 3 Pine Grosbeak's . Great time had by all. Craig Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
Well the winter finches are still moving. This afternoon at Darlington Prov. Park. I saw small flocks of Pine siskins, White-winged Crossbills, and Goldfinches flying westward. Also there was a lone female Pine Grosbeak feeding in a Mountain Ash at the south side of the park office parking lot.
This afternoon I saw a flock of 47 American Robins feeding on the lawns on the north side of Queen's Park. GC
In Reply to: Talk for Toronto Ornithological Club posted by Gunnar Engblom on November 16, 2001 at 04:00:23:
Hello Gunnar, Hugh Currie can be reached by phone at: (416) 535-1902 If you must reach him by e-mail and are still having problems with currie@pathcom.com, send your e-mail to me and I will see that the information gets forwarded to him promptly. Thanks very much for agreeing to speak at the Toronto Ornithological Club - I look forward to your talk GC
Hi I had an invitation to make a talk about bird conservation and birding in Peru in Toronto in January. I answered that around Jan 21 would suit me fine. However, the contact with currie [currie@pathcom.com]is not longer working with this e-mail. Could someone please help me to get in contact with the right person, and contact me directly. I am also looking for contacts in Buffalo to make a talk here on Jan 19 or 20. Below follows a short introduction to what I am doing in Peru. Cheers Gunnar Engblom
Kolibri Expeditions, Lima, Peru
http://www.netaccessperu.net/kolibri "I am a biologist. Bird Conservation is my passion. Tour leading and ecotourism my living. I am president for a Peruvian NGO called INCASPIZA which is a network for the conservation of threatened birds in Peru. I have recently received funding to conduct a short survey of the current situation of the Titicaca Flightless Grebe, which has had a devestating population loss the last 15 years. I have planned and am managing a conservation project at Abra Malaga, Cusco to save Polylepis forest which hold the threatened Royal Cinclodes, Ash-breasted Tit-Tyrant and White-browed Tit-Spinetail. I have conducted a survey of the current distribution of Peruvian Plantcutter and currently I am involved in conducting a survey of the current status of the very localized threatened endemic White-bellied Cinclodes. The habitat of the latter is being destroyed by peat extraction used by mushroom growers in Lima. We don´t know what effect this will have on the population. We have found two new sites for the species. Now there is a total of five sites from the last 50 years and the known world population is 24 birds at these sites. As the study continues we will undoubtedly find more. Additionally, we have made a number of expeditions into areas where no ornithologists or birders ever set foot earlier, some of these have been financed by paying participant and Kolibri Expeditions. Recently we made a short field trip to the road to Satipo and found a new taxa (ssp or sp) of a Thryothorus Wren.On an other such expedition last year we refound critically threatened Kalinowski´s Tinamou after 100 years. There are several paying participant expeditions planned for 2002. Since I have a lot to talk about regarding bird conservation in Peru, the expeditions into unknown areas and birdwatching in general, I have decided to give a series of talks in the US in January-February, 2002. There are thousands of slides to choose from (both my own and from prominent photographers). While I am at it I hope do get some birding done in the US (though it is not the best time of year) and to see some sights. It is a big country so I cannot go everywhere, but I like to recieve invitations from Bird clubs all over the US and maybe also Canada. There will be no charge - but hope to be put up together with my wife to stay somewhere. Please contact me for the talks and/or paying participant expeditions to promote conservation. "
In Reply to: Unidentified duck, Pickering posted by Parke on November 09, 2001 at 21:46:36:
There are many cross-bred, semi-domestic ducks out there. Without getting into the specifics of the description, there is a high probability that your duck is one of these.
On Saturday, while leading my Royal Ontario Museum birding class to Humber Bay Park, we discovered a female Cape May Warbler (probably hatch-year) working for insects around the rocks of the easternmost section of the park. When we later told Hugh Currie about this bird when he arrived, he found this female and a second Cape May Warbler, this time an adult male! This is quite a late date for two Cape May Warblers to still be found in Toronto.
At Frenchman's Bay in Pickering last week and we saw an unusual bird and are wondering if anyone could identify it. It has the body of a duck, feathers are mostly white with black mottled effect; feet are yellow and webbed; the beak is yellow and there is orange going from beak to around the eye; head is white. We have a picture we would be pleased to submit.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, November 11, 2001
Right off the bat, a female HARLEQUIN DUCK at Prince Edward Point turned up on Thursday, just out from the banding station and was seen by bird banders Eric Machell and David Okines. There was also a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area on Wednesday, and 8 TUNDRA SWANS were present at the west end of South Bay on Monday and were still present on Wednesday. This population bears watching as this species tends to build up in numbers in South Bay until freeze-up.
Other good sightings down that way this past week included an immature BALD EAGLE on Tuesday, NORTHERN SHRIKE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and 50 PINE SISKINS.
Meanwhile at Sandbanks' West Point area, waterfowl continue to trickle in with CANVASBACKS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS (150), WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BUFFLEHEADS (215), COMMON GOLDENEYES and RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS being checked off late this week. There were 50 BONAPARTE'S GULLS but only 2 in East Lake where this species often lures in a small population of LITTLE GULLS of which there were 13 there on Friday. Those looking for the latter species may have success at either the East Lake boat launch or from the group camping area, or at the mouth of the Outlet River within the park itself. East Lake also had 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES (often seen here) and 3 AMERICAN COOTS .
AMERICAN COOTS numbered about 50 at theIr traditional gathering area in the Bay of Quinte at Trenton, just behind the A & P store. With them on Friday were 15 NORTHERN SHOVELLERS, 6 BLACK DUCKS, 2 GADWALL, 20 AMERICAN WIGEON and MALLARDS. HOODED MERGANSERS last week turned up on the Trent River (31), and 4 at Wooler.
Back in Prince Edward County, some species seen during the week were suggestive of winter's arrival within the next few weeks. There were 2 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS at the east junction of County Road 13 and Babylon Road on Monday, where a small contingent of other hawks were also seen at the same location including RED-TAILED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, all cavorting about in and around the wooded area there at ground level.
PINE SISKINS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS and EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to turn up here and there in the county. Outside the county, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS are also in the Kingston area, and on Amherst Island. There have been scattered reports of COMMON REDPOLLS in the county, and at least one feeder has them among the daily patronage. EVENING GROSBEAKS are here today and gone tomorrow, but scattered reports of them came from Adolphustown, Prince Edward Point, and at the Goodrich-Loomis Conservation Area, north of Brighton. That area by the way also had a COMMON RAVEN yesterday, along with 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS, an AMERICAN KESTREL, and a GREAT HORNED OWL. Elsewhere, PINE SISKINS seem to be settling in at some feeders in the area.
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have thinned out but small numbers were seen this past week at Belleville near the Norris Whitney Bridge, Wellington (West Lake) and in Picton Bay near the Head Street boat launch.
Other interesting birds seen during the week included GREAT BLUE HERONS at Big Island (2), and singles at Peat's Point, Warkworth and East Lake. Also reported were 3 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and 6 CEDAR WAXWINGS at Peat's Point, another 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS at Prince Edward Point, and a RUFFED GROUSE at Wooler Road.
The 12th annual Birdfeeding Seminar, held today at the Tip of the Bay Hotel and Marina in Picton drew a record 148 people. The same seminar will be taking place in Napanee at the Royal Rox Entertainment and Banquet Centre (formerly Flipside) on Dairy Avenue at 2:00 p.m. next Sunday.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Lloyd Paul, Don Craighead, Jan & Bill Hogg, and Bob Sachs for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 18th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Yesterday afternoon, the Toronto Field Naturalists lead a walk out to the Humber Bay Park at the foot of Parklawn. Birders in the group had a great day after spotting a family of White-winged Crossbills gorging themselves on some wildflowers (which I can't identify). Birders were fortunate enough to be able to get within a foot away from the crossbills as they seemed quite oblivious of our presence. One person was fortunate enough to have brought their zoom camera and copies will be sent to TFN. Other notable sightings included a Northern Mockingbird and our always wonderful Long Tailed Ducks, Gadwalls and H. Mergansers. Good birding to all!!!!
To-day we were at Frenchman's Bay, Pickering, Ontario. We spotted an unusual bird and wonder if anyone would know what it is. It had the body of a duck, yellow bill with orange around the eye back from the bill. Its' head was white and the body was white with black mottled and striped like markings on back, wings and some tail feathers. The feet were yellow and webbed like a duck. We have a picture and would be glad to send for identification.
Look out all, winter cometh. I had two redpolls yesterday in King Township, and some Roughlegs.
-Keegan
Look out all, winter cometh. I had two redpolls yesterday in King Township, and some Roughlegs.
-Keegan
Hi Everyone... anyone who might be interested in following the developments of the 5 year study by the MNR on the Double Crested Cormorant is encouraged to contact me. I am starting a group of concerned birders, we will have a newsletter and will hopefully grow into a birding activist club, working towards to preservation of all birds for nature's sake.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, November 04, 2001
"Can pine grosbeaks be far behind?" I asked in last week's bird report, following a flurry of northern finch arrivals in the Quinte area. A PINE GROSBEAK actually did turn up, ironically, on the very day I posed the question. The individual was among 26 birds of 8 species to be banded at Prince Edward Point last Sunday. It joins a plethora of WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS in the county that have been turning up at feeders across the region, in addition to an individual banded at Prince Edward Point last weekend. A dead WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL turned up in a garage at Big Island on Thursday. PINE SISKINS are well distributed across the Quinte area now and coming to most feeders. EVENING GROSBEAKS continue to turn up sporadically at some feeders ranging from single birds to flocks of 25 or more. There were 6 COMMON REDPOLLS at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area a week ago Saturday, and SNOW BUNTINGS have been seen along Deseronto Road at Kingsford (1), and an impressive 200+ in a cropped soybean field just west of Trenton today. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was banded at Prince Edward Point on Tuesday and there was a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at Kingsford on Thursday.
Meanwhile, there are still remnants of earlier migrations including 2 "yellow" PALM WARBLERS at Prince Edward Point on October 27th, and a PINE WARBLER at Big Island on Friday, and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS at the Big Island Marsh also on Friday. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS continue to forage in suitable areas with a flock of 20 being seen at Point Petre during the week. There was also a GREAT BLUE HERON and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS at Point Petre on Thursday, and a number of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are visiting feeders on North Beach Road at Pleasant Bay.
Waterfowl numbers have included several thousand scaup at Prince Edward Point, comprising mostly GREATER with about 25% LESSER. LONG-TAILED DUCKS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BUFFLEHEAD, and REDHEAD have also been noted there in the waters off the Point, and Sandbanks Provincial Park had RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, COMMON GOLDENEYE, both WHITE-WINGED and SURF SCOTERS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEAD and NORTHERN PINTAILS. There were 3 PIED-BILLED GREBES and 5 LITTLE GULLS seen in East Lake near the park yesterday, and West Point produced 2 HORNED GREBES, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES, 100 BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 2 KILLDEER. There were three MUTE SWANS with a flock of 200 CANADA GEESE at Smith's Bay, and a flock of 25 were found cruising in the shallows of Pleasant Bay near Alexander Island on Friday. Soup Harbour at Point Petre added 80 MALLARDS to round off the list of waterfowl seen last week.
Kingston Field Naturalists members last weekend at Prince Edward Point counted 205 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 2 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and 4 COOPER'S HAWKS. There was a LONG-EARED OWL banded down there on Tuesday, and a BARRED OWL was found in the nets a day earlier. Only 9 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS were banded last week due to weather conditions. Other birds banded during the week included an EASTERN PHOEBE, 10 HERMIT THRUSHES, 2 FOX SPARROWS - and a rarity for Prince Edward Point - 2 HOUSE SPARROWS.
Other interesting sightings during the week included a partial albino HOUSE FINCH coming to a feeder on Barker Street in Picton, GREAT HORNED OWLS at Point Petre and Big Island, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS at Walmsley Road, a MERLIN near Prince Edward Point, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Belleville, Point Petre and Robinson Cove (Big Island), and 2 GREAT BLUE HERONS at East Lake and one at Point Petre.
The 12th annual Picton Birdfeeding Seminar will take place Sunday, November 11th, 2:00 p.m., at the town's Tip of the Bay Hotel and Marina on Bridge Street. Sponsored by Picton Farm Supply and Quinte Conservation, the event will focus on myths and misconceptions about birdfeeding, selection of feed and feeders, along with a slide show, "What Can We Expect at Our Feeders This Winter?" Tons of door prizes, discount coupons, hand-outs and refreshments. Join us if you can, but come early as this presentation usually draws over 120 people.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Dick Bird, Bruce DiLabio, Fran Donaldson, Henry & Joan Pasila, Shirley & Ken Joyce, Yvette Bree, Bob Sachs, John Charlton,. Wynne Thomas, Chris Grooms, Stephen Monet and Don Craighead for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 11th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Hello all Today I led a group on the Leslie Street Spit and the following are some of the
highlights of our day long outing. Before the group arrived in the am Stan Bajurny, Andrew Jano and I spotted a
Great Egret flying over the west side of the base heading towards the city and
after they abandoned me I had a great look at an adult female Cooper's Hawk
perched not more than 20 feet from me as it eyed some Chickadees. I then
proceeded to kill some time before the group arrived and I observed (on the
lake) the first of 9 Common Loons that I would see today. Overhead I started
counting A. Crows and Red-winged Blackbirds as they migrated past overhead, I
quickly stopped counting Red-wings as they came to fast and the flocks were to
large to count (800+) but I did count 196 A. Crows flying west in a 20 minute
period. The group assembled and off we went and some of the birds we encountered during
the walk included 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 12 A. Wigeon, 22 Northern Shovelers, a
male Canvasback, 75+ Redheads, 5 Ring-necked Ducks, 300+ Lesser Scaup, 5000+
Long-tailed (Oldsquaw) Ducks (most on the lake), 1 White-winged Scoter, 50+
Common Goldeneye, many Bufflehead, 24 Hooded Mergansers, 100+ Red-breasted
Mergansers, 7 American Coots, and 1 Common Merganser. The more common waterfowl
were also well represented through out. While we were busy observing the waterfowl a dark phase Rough-legged hawk tried
slip past us but a juvenile Northern Goshawk did not. It landed in a small tree
not 25 yards from us and gave us a great look before it flew and attempted to
take a duck on the shore (or just tried to scare them) and flew off. I checked the wooded areas for owls with out any luck but Bob Bowles checked a
path while I was tramping through the tangles and he came up with a Long-eared
Owl that we all got to observe through his scope, this help save the day as owls
are always hoped for on the spit. If it is clear overnight then I feel that more
owls can be expected to pass through the spit. Other birds seen were 3 Northern Harriers, 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers, Hermit
Thrush, A. pipits, House Finches, 35 Black-capped Chickadees, and 2 Northern
Cardinals (a male and a female), this bird is not often seen on the spit so it
is note worthy. All in all it was a worthwhile trip out there even though it means lots of
walking. If you can get out there then try to do it.
LESLIE STREET SPIT (TOMMY THOMPSON PARK) IN TORONTO To get to "The Spit" from Queen & Yonge Streets. Take the Queen Street Car
#501 east to Leslie Street and walk south (about 2 km) or as far as you can go
on Leslie Street to Unwin Avenue and you will see the gate and signage. By
automobile you may drive to Lakeshore Blvd and Leslie Street.
If before 9 am you can park either on Leslie Street or Unwin Avenue, after 9
am the parking lot inside the gate is open, be sure to note the closing time as
your car will be locked in at that time.
Pipit Point is the extreme left hand (southwest) point. When walking out
towards the lighthouse you will come to a road going off to the left (at the
quonsut hut or tin shed). Follow this road along the outer arm as far as it goes
and at the T junction where the paved road goes off to the right continue
straight onto the dirt road and you
will end up on Pipit Point. NOTE- This is a dead end road and also you are not
allowed onto it during nesting season.
ANOTHER NOTE:- The spit is only open on the weekends and on holidays, at other
times you will not be able to access the area. This area is extensive, 7 km to
the tip, but be prepared to walk more than that. There is a van available after
9 am from Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving Day weekend that will take you
out or back. The "SPIT" is only open on the weekend as they are still building
it.
Please Excuse my spelling, I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. Too day their wear some good birds out on the Leslie st spit, (which is found south off the Lake shore blvd in the east end of Toronto) All though I couldn't find One Owl their wear lost of white wash showing that they have bin there . Birds seen wear 19 W.W. Crossbill , 4 Evening Grosbeak , 2 N Harrier , 2 Pipits , 300+ Long tall ducks , 17 Hooed Merganser's , 1 Canvasback , 30 Redhead's , 3 Ring-necked Duck's , and 1 Pied-billed Grebe . Also seen wear 7 Bonaparte's Gulls and with them 1 adult Little Gull which I have only seen once before on the spit , 1 Red eye Vireo which was a late one 6 Common Loon's, 1 Fox Sparrow and 1 Red breasted Nuthatch eating a Asia ladybug .. All and all not a bad day No Owls but still lots to see.. Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/ Ont/ Canada/ World.
csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: Re: Richmond Hill Robins - Fri Oct 19 posted by Frank Pinilla on November 01, 2001 at 13:28:28:
The 1000's of American Robins must have been roosting temporarily, in the woodlot at Dufferin & Teston Rds., and have now moved on (with a couple of weather systems that have moved through) as I went for a walk in there yesterday from 4:20pm to 5:20pm and saw/heard no Robins and only a very few other species. Frank P
In Reply to: Re: Flocking starlings posted by Ann on October 31, 2001 at 12:42:10:
This morning there were two sessions of the thousands of birds landing in my yard. Itis nice to know they are migrating birds. When one sees them flying there are no big troops but when they land here row upon row it is anothere story.
I went out this morning with many bread crumbs (food left from a Salvation Army dinner) and they didn't last long. I took pictures of some of them in the back yard. I am beginning to enjoy them. By the way I am in New Hampshire, the lower part.
In Reply to: Re: High Park Sparrows, Richmond Hill Robins - Fri Oct 19 posted by Glenn Coady on October 24, 2001 at 14:46:27:
The huge number of American Robins appeared to me to be leaving a feeding area for a roosting area as the birds were heading out of the woodlot to the EAST at dusk. As though they were feeding in the area and leaving for a/some roost(s) in the Richmond Hill area, they were not flying high, but out of the brush/woods over the fields to the east. I've been meaning to go back and see if anywhere near that number were still hanging around, I might get the chance tonight before dusk, I'll follow-up if I do get over there. FP
Hi Birders and Nature Lovers Over the last 10 years i have fought long and hard for some sort of
control of illegal and shoddy hunting practices here in the Cowichan
Valley of Vancouver Island.
Countless times i have phoned and complained to our so called
Conservation Officers about the illegal shooting of Bald Eagles at this
time of year. At first the officers would say we'll look in to it, then
they used the excuse that it was not correct for them to enter our
natives peoples land and that the first nations now had there own
Conservation Officer.
Many times bags were found with eagle bodies, minus certain parts along
our local water ways. Many times i saw native youths heading down the
rivers with rifles in their hands, it seems that if your under a certain
age your not going to be charged with illegal hunting. There was letters
to the local newspapers by people who had actually witnessed the
shooting of Eagles, but again our so called protectors of wildlife did
nothing until now.
I live very close to the river and our first nations reserve and there
is not a week go by when at night you can't here rifle shots. This
supposedly is the easist time to shoot Eagles as they sit in their
roosting trees. It is estimated that upwards of fifty adult Bald Eagles
are shot each year here in the valley alone, so you can imagine what
numbers are being killed on the island in total. This has just come to a head with the charging and trial of one of our
local native band members who was found in the U.S.A. with Eagle parts.
When this native's residence here in the Cowichan Valley was searched it
was found to contain parts of upwards of "100 eagles" there was also "90
pairs of talons". Through investigations by the authorities in the
U.S.A. a storage locker was searched and it was packed with Eagle parts.
This native guy was found guilty and could face up to a measly 9 years
in jail and the good old Canadian authorities are not sure if he will be
extradited to face more charges here.
Millions of dollars are being spent trying to study and re-establish
Bald Eagles back into North America and yet the British Columbia
government of Canada are cutting back all aspects of it's enviroment
ministry including it's conservation officers. I'm not sure where it will all go from here, but i can only say that it
seems money is far more important than our natural enviroment. What is needed is a greater public awareness of what is going on here in
the Cowichan Valley and Vancouver Island and for the sake of the
majestic Bald Eagle if any of you out there have access to other chat
groups especially those in the U.S.A. where the Bald Eagle is their
treasured emblem, would you please do us here in the valley a favour and
forward this message.
Derrick Marven
Duncan
Vancouver Island
B.C.
Canada
Sunday afternoon I saw a flock of 65 Common Redpolls at Cranberry Village in Collingwood. They did not stay around for more than 20 minutes and appeared to be on the move. GC
In Reply to: Flocking starlings posted by Marcel Gahbauer on August 10, 2000 at 20:56:25:
I am glad this site exists. I have been trying all over to get info. I notice them in the morning and it is like a scen from the movie "The Birds" They wake me up around 6am and it seems to me there are thousands of them. They lift of in rows of 50 to 100 at a time. It is real earie. Yes I have witnessed it before and I don't remember at what season but we would notice it once or twice and figure it for a fluke. What is there reason - and soo many at once. They don't fly in flocks that way at least not that I have noticed.
In Reply to: Re: Northern Flicker posted by Al Johnston on August 21, 2001 at 16:58:48:
My name is David Filipetto from Australia.
Could you put me in contact with John Filipetto via an email address please.
In Reply to: Re: Quinte Area - duck migration posted by Barbara Taylor on March 27, 2000 at 21:22:18:
Hey, I got a question for ya....
how long do ducks live for.....
and do you know anything about pineapples??? yeah, pineapples. we'ze need to know if pineapples grow in the ground or what?? hit me back..........
What started as a cold and drizzly morning soon transformed into the day that we were hoping it would be. After quick stops(because of little to be found) at spots in the Hamilton and Burlington areas we were off to our first destination in Cayuga.
The sun came out just in time for our walk on the trails around the property and we found the shrubbery "alive" with birds. We saw Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos at the start and were then rewarded with a close and extended study of a Fox Sparrow which posed in the open for several minutes. We heard and then saw several E. Bluebirds(at least 2 family groups) as they were quite active in the fencerow trees and shrubs along the trail.
Both species of Kinglets were highly visible foraging in the brush sometimes only inches off of the ground, in a few
instances the "Ruby-crowns" were brightly evident. A small flock of Evening Grosbeaks flew overhead low enough for us to pick out their characteristic callnotes and a brief glimpse of yellow.
Near the edge of the property we spotted a large head and neck sticking out of the tall grass and shortly thereafter we were rewarded with up close and personal looks at 2 Wild Turkeys which later flew up over the trees to get back into the relative safety of the woods. It was amazing to see how well such large birds are able to fly!
Robins and C. Waxwings were numerous feeding on the Autumn Olive berries and Multiflora Rose fruits(respectively). A Mockingbird briefly experienced autumnal recrudescence and we also spotted 3 Hooded Mergansers(2 male & 1 female) in the nearby reservoir. Several raptor species were seen overhead to give us a sneak preview of what we would experience later. A few Yellow-rumped Warblers were also seen and a Belted Kingfisher heard before we set off for the Fisherville Raptor Preserve.
We did not find much there but had good looks at American Pipits cavorting in the fields before heading off to lunch.
After lunch we headed to Selkirk and had great views of Red-
bellied Woodpecker, Winter Wren, and 6 Rusty Blackbirds. We
combed the White Pine woods looking for owls but I was
continuosly distracted by all of the raptors flying through
overhead and made a beeline for the open field just west of the pines.
My suspicions were confirmed when within minutes we had spotted numerous raptors streaking SW over the field and saw one kettle of birds that had about 40 individuals(it was about 2pm).While watching one Cooper's Hawk circling low nearby we saw many distant hawks in the turbulent skies beyond. The dramatic layering effect of the cloud formations provided excellent reference points for us to locate specific groups and/or individual birds.
We decided to watch the skies for about 40 minutes(we had an excellent panoramic view,about 150 degrees, from the SE to the SW towards the shoreline area in the vicinity of Peacock Pt.) and estimated that we had seen close to 200 individual raptors in this timeframe. While most of them were Red-tails,Turkey Vultures, and Sharpies we also saw several No. Harriers,Red-shouldered,Cooper's and Kestrels. The best bird was a Peregrine Falcon which we saw fly across most of the visible horizon.
We tried to find a Golden Eagle but decided we could not stay until 5pm. We headed back feeling as if we had managed to get a nice days sample of the best of both worlds(regular birding and raptor watching). It pays for birders to be like the birds themselves, be opportunistic in response to changes in the weather patterns, it was a great day to be out!
Peel Birding Class
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, October 28, 2001
Snow flurries, warblers, high winds, southern birds, vagrants and northern finches all blended in a cozy togetherness during the past few days giving us an interesting week of birding in the Prince Edward County area. A CATTLE EGRET continues to stand forlorn in a field along Conley Road, near the mushroom plant where it was first seen on Monday. The TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, first seen yesterday, was observed again today. There was a TUFTED TITMOUSE banded at Prince Edward Point on Tuesday, the first for the banding station, and a late NASHVILLE WARBLER and a BLUE-HEADED VIREO a week ago today. A flock of 65 CANADA GEESE flying over Big Island today was being led by a lone SNOW GOOSE. And at Prince Edward Point, high winds on Thursday cancelled banding efforts, but bander David Okines focused his attention instead on the skies and was rewarded with 2 GOLDEN EAGLES and a BALD EAGLE. They were some of the better birds seen during the week, but by no means was it an end to the daily reports that came in.
Winter finches are beginning to appear at many feeding stations across the county. There are PINE SISKINS at feeders at Belleville and Big Island. EVENING GROSBEAKS were guests at feeders maintained in the Waupoos area and at Consecon Lake, as well as making an appearance at Warkworth. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS are also making an appearance at most feeding stations, and at Waupoos today, there were two dozen WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS. Can pine grosbeaks be far behind?
Out on the water, there were about 2,000 scaup at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, between Point Traverse and Timber Island during the high winds on Friday. A BUFFLEHEAD was seen in Wooler, and there were 47 HOODED MERGANSERS in the water beside Wooler Road, just south of Highway #2 on the west end of Trenton. Prince Edward Point has had GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAILS, CANVASBACKS, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, BLACK SCOTERS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS, BUFFLEHEADS, WOOD DUCKS, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and HORNED GREBES. There have also been some numbers of GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS seen including a half dozen or so at Sandbanks, 35 at the Prince Edward Point lighthouse and scattered numbers seen elsewhere. There were 50 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at Wellington today. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS are still about with 3 that continue to hang around at Wellington Harbour beside the Harbourview Restaurant, and a flock of 150 seen Tuesday flying past Telegraph Narrows, just west of the Quinte Skyway Bridge.
Banding efforts at Prince Edward Point during the week saw a number of birds banded despite net closures at times caused by the high winds. Included in the totals were HERMIT THRUSHES, high numbers of both GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, HERMIT THRUSHES, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, FOX SPARROWS, PINE SISKINS and, of course, the TUFTED TITMOUSE, mentioned earlier.
There were 46 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS banded last Sunday, with an additional 49 on Monday and 4 on Tuesday, as well as a GREAT HORNED OWL. On Amherst Island, up to 20 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have been observed in the various woods there, along with a half dozen LONG-EARED OWLS.
Other interesting sightings during the week included a dark phased ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK a week ago Friday on Willet Road (Thurlow Ward, Belleville), EASTERN BLUEBIRDS in Rawdon Township (north of Belleville), an EASTERN TOWHEE at Peat's Point on Monday, a NORTHERN FLICKER at Sheba's Island yesterday, two GREAT BLUE HERONS at Telegraph Narrows on Tuesday, 20 TURKEY VULTURES at Sandbanks today, as well as 5 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and 2 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS on Walmsley Road, off the road to Point Petre on Thursday. And a flock of 40-50 WILD TURKEYS continues to hang out on Sydney Street, north of Belleville, just south of the natural gas pipeline.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John Blaney, Matthew Hedges, Mark Henry, Dick Bird, Shirley Foster, Lloyd Paul, Laura Pierce, Fred Helleiner & Alex Scott (OntBirds report), John & Margaret Moore, Jim Collinson, Stephen Monet and Don Craighead for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 4th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario Naturalist, Quinte Conservation tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Humber Bay Park west of Palace Pier, lots of buffleheads, and tons of Oldsquaw in winter plummage. What a spectacle!!! Also, at Sunnyside, a few pairs of Greater Black-backed Gulls, wonderful waterfowl day for me!!!
In Reply to: Rattray Marsh Pileated Woodpeckers posted by George Daszkowski on April 13, 1999 at 09:23:08:
This not about the Rattray, but have wondered what the average lifespan of the pileated woodpecker is. We have had a family visiting our yardfor the past 3-4 years so we were wondering.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
It seems that Brant are showing up every wear ,After having a amassing day at the Toronto High park hawk watch with hundreds and hundreds of Hawks passing over not to forget the passerines like Pines Siskin and Evening Grosbeak's ,I came home to try for some back yard birding which turned out to be the thing to do from 2:45 to 4:30 I watched 29 R.T. Hawks , 3 T.V., 5 R.S. Hawks , 2 Coopers ,1 N. Goshawk, and 1R.L.Hawk and at 3:30 32 Brant flue over west to east . Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
I just got off the phone with my friend Gerard Binsfeld who has just confirmed a sighting phoned in to him earlier today of a Yellow-throated Warbler coming to a feeder in Creemore. The bird has been present all day today. The finder, homeowner John Moore, has been providing insects at the feeder (small worms, spider web victims, etc. from his barn) and the bird is coming quite regularly to feed on them. Gerry has confirmed with him that birders are welcome to come and view the bird. The address in Creemore is 2272 Fairground Rd. which is a street that runs off the main street (Luisa St.) in Creemore. Gerry tells me there is wet snow falling up there right now.
Creemore is west of Barrie and south of Collingwood in Simcoe County. GC
In Reply to: Gulls at Sunnyside - Oct. 20, 2001 posted by Glenn Coady on October 22, 2001 at 10:44:57:
I forgot to mention also that I had a winter plumaged Horned Grebe in between the breakwall gaps on both Saturday and Sunday. By Wednesday afternoon it had moved over to just off Marilyn Bell Park about 50 metres beyond the breakwall. No further sign of either the Black-legged Kittiwake or the Lesser Black-backed Gull. Yesterday afternoon sure proved to be much better weather than forecast! GC
At dusk yesterday, I observed 4 Buffleheads, a pair of Hooded Mergansers, a Northern Shoveler(male), Black Crowned Night Heron which was immature and therefore minus the black crown, several grebes and a pair of American Wigeons.
Wow, can't ever see that much waterfowl diversity in High Park.
The Peregrines of Bloor and Yonge put on a beautiful display at about 16:00 yesterday. There were two or three that kept diving and turning over Holt Renfrew and the Manulife Building. One appeared to be carrying a bird. Was it trying to get a young bird out of the nest? Are there young in the area to explain a third bird? When will the "Gucci" Gyr Falcons show up?
In Reply to: High Park Sparrows, Richmond Hill Robins - Fri Oct 19 posted by Frank Pinilla on October 19, 2001 at 23:26:56:
Impressive American Robin sighting. I wonder whether you may have found a feeding area near a regular evening American Robin roost or whether this represents a large fallout of migrants? GC
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
This morning after hearing about the great gulls that had bine seen on the weekend around Sunnyside and then tucking to Harry Kerr and he thinking that this is a area to be on the look out for good birds ( and the Cattle Egret not being seen) I thought why not tack a look at High park and Sunnyside .
High park had very fue birds, but at Sunnyside as I walk down to the water I saw a vary small bird floating in the mouth of the brake wall, I watched this bird from 10:15 to 10:30, it was small smaller than a robin, with a black back and head, separated by a white strap going up to the back of the head. I new right a way it was a Dovekie (or Devorky for you Dyslexics) the bird did nothing but sit on the water for 15 mints then flue to the east and in to the lake fog (the rain came 5 mints later) as it flue I could see the wings seemed to look bigger / longer than the body and it seemed to rotate them moor than flap them which was cool to watch!! . I spent a hour in the driving rain trying to ree locate this bird with no luck. I look right up to the Toronto Inland air port but the fog was by then to heavy.
Sunnyside Park is found south of High Park right of the Lake Shore Blvd. if you saw the brant last year it was in the same area Park in the second parking lot and look out to the lake. Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
Late Saturday afternoon I discovered a juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake and an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull on the breakwall immediately opposite the Sunnyside bathing pavillion. The Black-legged Kittiwake flushed off the breakwall several times with Ring-billed Gulls ending up on the breakwall further to the west (about half way to the Palais Royale) before I left. The Lesser Black-backed Gull was resting on the breakwall opposite the bathing pavillion the entire time. Also present were 30 Great Black-backed Gulls. I could not re-find either the Black-legged Kittiwake or the Lesser Black-backed Gull on Sunday, in either the morning or afternoon, but there was a noticeable group of Long-tailed Ducks arriving off Sunnyside yesterday. GC
There was a Merlin hunting at the Toronto Golf Club on Sunday. It was chasing Blue Jays and dive bombing a couple of crows. In addition to the Merlin, there was a Sharp-Shinned and a Piliated Woodpecker. I believe the Piliated and Sharp-Shinned nest on the property; however, I have yet to find there nests. I will have to wait until next spring.
Max
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, October 21, 2001
Bird banding continues at Prince Edward Point with over 5,000 birds banded to date this fall. Highlights this past week were a DICKCISSEL (Oct. 14), PINE SISKINS, 48 HERMIT THRUSHES (Oct. 18), PURPLE FINCHES, FOX SPARROW, and several species of warblers. Observed during the week by bird banders at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area were RUSTY BLACKBIRD, EASTERN TOWHEE, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, MERLINS, DUNLIN, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, WINTER WREN, EVENING GROSBEAKS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, RED-HEADED WOODPECKER, CANVASBACKS, LONG-TAILED DUCKS and HORNED GREBES.
Owl banding resulted in 14 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS being banded on Monday, and 18 on Thursday. There was a BOREAL OWL present at Prince Edward Point last Saturday (13th), and 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS were calling Thursday night. NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS have also been reported at Amherst Island, along with several LONG-EARED OWLS.
Other birds of interest reported from Prince Edward Point during the week included a PACIFIC LOON in with a number of COMMON LOONS on Tuesday, WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, and up to 500 scaups.
Across the Bay of Quinte from Prince Edward County, at Trenton, a buildup of waterfowl has commenced there. On Monday there were about 125 AMERICAN COOTS, at least 50 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, REDHEADS, AMERICAN WIGEON and 5 RUDDY DUCKS. On Thursday, there were even more coots, a few GADWALL, RING-NECKED DUCKS, and scaups, along with CANADA GEESE and a GREAT BLUE HERON. NORTHERN SHOVELERS and REDHEADS were still present through the week, but the RUDDY DUCKS had dropped to one. The buildup in this area off the southwest corner of Carswell Street behind the A & P store, will continue, and the composition of duck species will change from day to day with the coot population expected to reach 500 or so.
EVENING GROSBEAKS and PINE SISKINS continue to turn up at feeders and other locations around Prince Edward County. In addition to both species being present at Prince Edward Point during the week, EVENING GROSBEAKS were seen again in some of the same areas reported in last week's account, and an individual was also observed at Warkworth. There are PINE SISKINS and a CHIPPING SPARROW at feeders at Peat's Point and Big Island. A feeder at Big Island also had a FIELD SPARROW. And at Point Petre this morning there was a CAPE MAY WARBLER sitting disconsolately on an empty hummingbird feeder.
Warblers are still making their way through Prince Edward County. In addition to BLACK-THROATED BLUE, MAGNOLIA, YELLOW-RUMPED, and NASHVILLE being seen at Prince Edward Point, there was BLACK-THROATED GREEN west of Rednersville, a PALM WARBLER on Walmsley Road, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER at Canifton. Also in no hurry to leave is a sizable flock of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS that have been hanging loose in the Belleville area, concentrating their travels from the Norris Whitney Bridge east to Cow Island where numbers there have ranged anywhere from 300 to 600. There was also a tardy OSPREY at Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area last weekend, along with two GREAT BLUE HERONS and 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS.
Both GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have been passing through the area in good numbers all week. There were 500 DARK-EYED JUNCOS at Point Petre about mid-week, and a flock of 80 TURKEY VULTURES flying from east to west along the shoreline at Wellington during the same time period.
Other good sightings this past week included COMMON RAVEN on Tuesday at Lonsdale, 9 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS south of Stirling, GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS at Point Petre and Sheba's Island, PILEATED WOODPECKER at Rednersville and at Highway 30 and Wooler Road, 2 RED-NECKED GREBES at Zwicks Island Park, EASTERN BLUEBIRD at Norham, and HORNED LARKS at Morganston and at the First Nations Airfield (Deseronto).
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Chris Grooms, Bob Sachs, Stephen Monet, Alex Scott, Lloyd Paul, Rae O'Brien, John & Margaret Moore, Albert Boisvert, Terry Dorland, Don Chisholm, Duncan Munroe and Wynne Thomas for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Hi All, I was able to drop by Toronto High Park's "Hawk Hill" to find nobody there
at 2pm, so I watched for about 40 minutes along with Maris Apse (I hope I
spelled that correctly), and then understood why nobody was there - not one
raptor! We then walked down toward the allotment gardens where we had many
sparrows in a flock feeding down the hill behind the "All Star Cafe" on the
east side of the main north-south road in High Park as well as many around
the gardens themselves. Amongst these sparrows were 2-3 FOX SPARROWS, a few
CHIPPING (one very light grey-brown, streaked individual that had me
stumped, but was likely a juvenile "Chippy") many WHITE-THROATED & a few
WHITE-CROWNED, a couple of AMERICAN TREE and later in the Allotment Gardens
one LINCOLN'S SPARROW, also many DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Throughout the walk
there were many GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS calling and we saw a couple of
RUBY-CROWNEDS as well, also seen was one BLUE-HEADED VIREO.
In the afternoon I stopped at Teston Road & Dufferin Street, just north of
Major Mackenzie Drive, in Richmond Hill, where I had a "kettle" of 35 TURKEY
VULTURES (which were likely feeding at the Keele Valley Landfill site and
had found a place to roost) and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK as well as an amazing
sight of hundreds of AMERICAN ROBINS leaving the MNR woodlot at the
southeast corner of Teston & Dufferin, I watched these birds leave the area
(where they must have been feeding) flying easterly out of the woods and in
the 20 or so minutes I was there my count was up to approximately 1,800 (yes
1,800) birds! It was flock after flock of anywhere from 25 to 200 birds! Also, yesterday in Richmond Hill I had 7 PINE SISKINS in my yard (I guess
they're moving in as they've been reported from all over southern Ontario). Regards & good birding this weekend, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night posted by Glenn Coady on August 28, 2001 at 16:15:32:
Clearly, the times listed above should have read EDT not EST. GC
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, October 14, 2001
Can winter be far off? PINE SISKINS and PURPLE FINCHES have been reported at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, and at feeders in the Waupoos area. PURPLE FINCHES and DARK-EYED JUNCOS have appeared at a feeder at Peat's Point. EVENING GROSBEAKS, in numbers ranging from a half dozen to a maximum of 30, appeared last week at feeders in the Prospect Avenue area of Picton, Smith's Bay, and east of Lake-on-the-Mountain.
But there are lingering signs of autumn as well. TREE SWALLOWS (18) turned up at Prince Edward Point on Tuesday, and warblers and vireos continue to be banded at Prince Edward Point. Among the almost 800 birds banded at Prince Edward Point last week were BLUE-HEADED VIREOS (18 on Monday), BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS, PALM WARBLERS, BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and AMERICAN REDSTARTS.
Seventy-five NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and one EASTERN SCREECH OWL were also banded last week. Other birds of interest banded during the week included HERMIT and SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES (73 on Monday), FOX SPARROW, WINTER WREN, SWAMP SPARROW and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS.
Observed during the week at the Point were WOOD DUCK, PINTAIL, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and EASTERN TOWHEE.
GREAT BLUE HERON sightings involved 2 individuals at Wellington Harbour on Tuesday, and individuals during the week at Warkworth, Peat's Point and Belleville.
Despite the predicted rain, there was good birding to be had today on the north side of the county in the Pulver and Weese Roads area. Seen there were SONG, WHITE-THROATED, WHITE-CROWNED, FOX, FIELD and CHIPPING SPARROWS. A RED-TAILED HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK were all being tossed about by the heavy winds. There was a small flock of WILD TURKEYS on Pulver Road. The latter species (22) was also seen during the week along Sidney Street north of the 401 at Belleville.
Other good sightings during the week included a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL which almost collided with the windshield of a car at 1:00 a.m. Friday morning along Bongard Road east of Waupoos, a group of 25 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS near Warkworth, a male RING-NECKED PHEASANT at Norham, and a female MERLIN along Prince Edward County's Scoharie Road near the Wellington junction.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Joe Victor, Don Chisholm and Fran Donaldson, Don Craighead, Lloyd Paul and John Blaney for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 21st. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone.
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Hi all
Today Stan and I were down in the Dundas area as I had some business to do and as we got there too early (as usual) we had time to kill so we went up to the north shore trail area of Cootes Paradise.
It of coarse was raining very hard while we were there so we only walked the trail that goes right along the back of the houses and then through the oak woods (this is a dead end trail).
Along here in the short walk we found 9 Hermit Thrush and 1 Gray-cheeked Thrush in the same tangle eating wild grapes and a little further on a flock of 15+ Yellow-rumped Warblers that also contained 1 Nashville and 3 Orange-crowned Warblers. All seen well and close up. If walking slowly and quietly you can approach most warblers this time of year as they feed in the grasses, etc. We were within 10 feet of the Orange-crowns.
This is a very good area for a mix of Sparrows and Thrushes as well as Carolina Wren and N. Mockingbird. We did see 1 N. Mockingbird just beyond the parking area but no Wrens. Also to watch for here are E. Bluebirds, Red-bellied Woodpecker and the occasional Tufted Titmouse. A good place also for Fox Sparrow and Eastern Towhee and when the winds are right (ie. NW, NNW or even N) a good mix of raptors may be seen. All of the above of coarse are at this time of year, Spring is another story here. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
COOTES PARADISE IN DUNDAS From Toronto drive west on the QEW until you come to the Y intersection in Burlington of the QEW and Hwy 403. Take Hwy 403 to the Main Street exit in Hamilton and drive right to Main Street West. Turn left on Main Street and drive past the McMaster University Medical Centre to Cootes Drive on the right. Drive down Cootes drive to the bottom of the hill where the road crosses a small bridge, park just beyond the bridge at the entrance to the marsh trail which is immediately off the end of the bridge.
This is an extensive marsh and there are several good trails. If you cross the small bridge just down the trail and turn left you will be on the trail to Paradise Point. This trail may cause you to bend or crouch as you pass downed trees and branches but it is well worth the walk.
You can also go straight ahead after crossing this same small bridge. You will come to a disused viewing tower. Turn right here and you can make a complete loop through the Spencer Creek Woods, ending up back at the small bridge. At the south end of this woods is the South Shore Trail that will take you all along the south side of the area to Princess Point, this is a long walk up and down hills.
***To reach the north shore trails return to your automobile and continue along Cootes Drive to York Street (at the traffic lights), turn right here and drive past the nursery on your right and on up the hill.
There is a small parking lot on your right at the top of the hill (before you get to the railway underpass).
This is the start of another extensive trail network that can take you all the way over to the Arboretum area.
Hi again fellow birders Today Saturday, Oct. 13, 2001 Stan Bajurny and I started our day at Big Creek
Marsh at Long Point and a good decision as it turned out as we came up with 84
species (2 less than last week so we are heading down hill). By the bird
observations it was apparent that we were the first persons to walk the walk to
the viewing platform. Between the parking lot and the platform we counted (undercounted I am sure)
147 Common Snipe (partly thanks to a N. Harrier), 2 American Bitterns, 9 Marsh
Wrens (7 of them singing), 12 Swamp Sparrows, many Rusty Blackbirds and a lone
male Wood Duck.
From the platform (we spent about 2 1/2 hours on it) we counted many Canada
Geese, 50+ A. Wigeon, 100+ Gadwall, 25+ Black Ducks, 100+ Green-winged Teal, 25+
N. Shovelers, 25+ Blue-winged Teal, a couple of Turkey Vultures, a great look at
a passing adult Golden Eagle that put everthing in the marsh to flight until it
passed to the west. Also seen from and around the platform were 2 N. Harriers, 29 Sandhill Cranes,
14 Lesser Yellowlegs, 6 Long-billed Dowitchers, 52 Dunlin, 17 Black-bellied
Plovers, 2 Black-capped Chickadees at the platform with us for a while, 16 Tree
Swallows, as well as a number of singing Song and Swamp Sparrows. On and beside Inner Bay off Big creek Marsh and off the Port Rowan overlook we
counted 119 Pied-billed Grebes, 69 Mute Swans, another N. Harrier, 1 Merlin,
500+ American Coots, 9 Bonaparte's Gulls, 11 Forster's Terns, 1 Belted
kingfisher, and many Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles. At the Port Rowan sewage lagoons we found 168 Ruddy Ducks (total for the day
was 649, see Townsend report), 53 Ring-necked Ducks, 47 lesser Scaup, and 3
Northern Harriers. Other birds of note seen in the area were 58 more Turkey Vultures, 1 Cooper's
hawk, 1 adult Bald Eagle, 5 Sharp-shinned Hawks, another A. Bittern, 2 more C.
Snipe, 3 E. Bluebirds, both Nuthatches, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Carolina
and Winter Wrens, Phoebes, ad 13 Purple Finch. DIRECTIONS BIG CREEK MARSH Big Creek Marsh at Long Point is southwest of Hamilton, directly south of Port
Rowan. To reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through
Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and
turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west
south of town) turn left, south on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 8 km and
past the golf coarse and you will be on the causeway.
Drive on across the bridge and continue along the road until you see a
gravelled parking lot on your right. Park here and go up onto the dyke and the
marsh is right in front of you. The viewing platform is to your left and if the
gate on your right is open then you may want to walk the whole loop watching and
listening. If this gate is closed then do not, I repeat do not go over or around
it as you will be seen and fined ($100.00 +) the wildlife people take any
trespassing very serious and you can be seen from their offices. The closure is
for the good of the waterfowl. There is no hunting involved. NOTE: Be sure to lock your car and put any valuables or equipment out of
sight). INNER BAY Inner Bay is across the road from the marsh and can be viewed from just north of
here to the Marina on your left further along the road. PORT ROWAN OVERLOOK From Hwy 59 just before the Long Point drive along Lakeshore Road (AKA Front
Street) to Main Street at the south end of the town of Port Rowan (just south of
the CIBC branch) where it makes left hand turn into town. The overlook and
parking area are directly on your right above the marina and harbour.
P.S,. If you continue up Main Street to the traffic light and turn right
(east), this will take to the Turkey Point Marsh overlook and to Turkey Point
itself and a little further on, the Fisher's Glen area. PORT ROWAN SEWAGE LAGOONS To reach the sewage lagoons you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton,
passing through Hagersville and turning right (west) in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive
west to Simcoe and turn left (south) on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, turn
left (south) on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 8 km to Lakeshore Road at the
putting coarse. Turn left (east) here (this is Front Road on this side of Hwy
59)
Drive along Front Road about 2 km to Mill Road. Turn left (north) here and
drive about 1 km to the lagoon entrance.
Hi other birders Today Saturday, Oct., 13,2001 Stan Bajurny and I stopped off at the Townsend
sewage lagoons on our way home from the Long Point Area (See following email)
and we lucked into a surprise Ruff. This bird appears to be a juvenile cream
coloured (to me) male. "I am sure I will be corrected about the age and colour
if I am mistaken". This bird was well seen through our scopes after 4:30 pm
until darkness fell so there is a good chance that it will still be there on
Sunday morning. Other birds seen at the lagoons included 481 Ruddy ducks, 1000+ Canada Geese, a
dozen Greater Scaup, 1 female Pintail, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 32 Lesser
Yellowlegs, 1 Least Sandpiper, 11 White-rumped Sandpipers, 62 Pectoral
Sandpipers, 3 A. Golden Plovers, 1 Black-bellied Plover, 98 Killdeer, 60+
Mourning Doves, 500+ Tree Swallows (along the road beside the lagoons), 38
American Pipits and several Rusty Blackbirds. The weather was perfect and it was hard to believe that we were there in just
our shirt sleeves.
DIRECTIONS TO THE TOWNSEND SEWAGE LAGOONS On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass through Hagersville and
drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the town you will see a sign
indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek Parkway #69. Turn right here and drive
to the intersection with the stop signs, turn left on Keith Richardson Parkway
and drive past some park ponds on your right. Drive ahead until you see a small
children's shelter with an air conditioner on it's side (really). Turn right
here on Conc. 14 TWP. This is just before you reach the abandoned railway line
(tracks removed) and it is on your right. Turn right here and drive a few
hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating that this is a waste
treatment area.. Park well to the side of the road and do not block the gate. The shore birds are in the 1st lagoon and the Ruddy Ducks in the second one. Be
sure to check out the other 2 lagoons as well. NCM
In Reply to: Re: European Goldfinch posted by Ted Porter on July 17, 2001 at 15:30:24:
That's interesting that you've seen 3 pairs of the birds. Have you been feeding all summer? I am also curious: what have you been feeding them? So...now that you've seen 3 pairs, maybe they aren't escapees afterall. Sounds like a small colony!(But I am not an expert). I am anxious to see if my E.G. returns this winter. Will keep you posted. Also: what does the female look like?
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
As it has bin pointed out their is a large migration of winter finch's happening this fall. We spent thanksgiving in Port Hope with my parents and we had over 35 Purple Finch at their feeder, One hit the window and was brought back with some soothing touch! this also gave me the opportunity to get a vary close look at this wonderful Finch with its colures that flow almost thru out the inter wing and back (I don't think I wood call it Purple though) On Sunday we wear invited to a bird bander's back yard to watch the banding , the bandier also was amassed with the Hi number of PUFI and we got to see the fat storage on this birds which was Hi this means that their not yet done their movement so they should be watched for even farther south .
The one thing I found out ( learnt) was that it is imposable to tell a Juv. from a adult female as they both look the same in the fall , the only way to tell is to look at the skull and to see how fully formed it is . Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
This morning on the way in to work at about 8:00 a.m. I spotted a very dark male Merlin hunting over the northeast corner of High Park. It was buzzing flocks of European Starlings, House Sparrows and Rock Doves. Several times after missed hunting attempts it would return to perch atop the easternmost TV aerial on Vilnius Manor (1700 Bloor St. W.) GC
In Reply to: Re: Leslie st spit Oct6,01 posted by Jan McDonald on October 07, 2001 at 15:24:42:
Most of the ducks are to be found in the iner cells,
the Pintail wear off the first bay , and yes I was
at the poind with a scoop but it was around 4:00 in the
afternoon . Craig
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, October 07, 2001
Happy Thanksgiving weekend. At Norham, there were 7 WILD TURKEYS seen today to celebrate the occasion. Elsewhere though birds seemed oblivious to the holiday weekend, including a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD today at Consecon who did not welcome the brisk temperatures this morning. It was in a complete state of torpor and was easily plucked from a branch by a resident there.
At Sheffield Conservation Area today, south of Kaladar, there were several SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, CANADA GEESE, TURKEY VULTURES, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, both HAIRY and DOWNY WOODPECKERS and three WOOD DUCKS. Forty WOOD DUCKS were seen yesterday near the Albury Swamp. YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS put in a Thanksgiving Day appearance at both Sheba's Island and at Rednersville. Yesterday, there was a NASHVILLE WARBLER mixed in with a flock of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS in the hedgerows near Potter Creek in Quinte West. Seen today were 40-50 AMERICAN PIPITS along Massassauga Road. A lone TREE SWALLOW at the corner of Peat's Point Road and Massassauga Road today likely would have appreciated a bite or two of Thanksgiving dinner in between the snow squaws and bitter temperatures. There were still a few hundred DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS this weekend on the islands between the Norris Whitney Bridge at Belleville and Massassauga Point.
In the days leading up to this weekend there was quite a flurry of bird activity in the Quinte area, particularly Prince Edward County. Banding efforts at Prince Edward Point since September 22nd resulted in 68 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS being banded with highs of 44 on Sept. 30th, 9 on Monday and 10 on Thursday. Also banded during the process were 3 LONG-EARED OWLS and 1 EASTERN SCREECH OWL.
In other banding efforts during this past week at Prince Edward Point, 629 birds were banded from Monday through Friday with highlights being 9 BLUE-HEADED VIREOS and a FOX SPARROW on Monday, 29 HERMIT THRUSHES and a SCARLET TANAGER on Tuesday, a BAY-BREASTED WARBLER and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK on Wednesday, an EASTERN PHOEBE on Thursday and 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS on Friday.
GREAT BLUE HERONS this week were reported from Sheba's Island, Consecon Lake, Pleasant Bay, Sandbanks, and Elmbrook. Two were seen today at Beaver Lake (Erinsville) and Mellon Lake.
One person during a casual walk on Thursday, west of Rednersville, found a bonanza of birds including large numbers of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS with two GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS among them, five EASTERN PHOEBES, 2 PALM WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLER, BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, large numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, HERMIT THRUSH and SWAINSON'S THRUSH, GRAY CATBIRDS, large numbers of WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, 3 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, SWAMP SPARROW, a flock of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, RED-TAILED HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and an AMERICAN KESTREL.
At Point Petre, PILEATED WOODPECKER, NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL, BELTED KINGFISHER, EASTERN PHOEBE and GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL were among some of the interesting birds present this past week.
The 9 or 10 BRANT reported in last week's report, were still present on the Bay of Quinte at Big Island on Wednesday, with an additional 100 reported from the Amherst Island area. Other interesting sightings this past week included YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS at Sheba's Island; and PILEATED WOODPECKER, RING-NECKED PHEASANT and 85 COMMON CROWS at Morganston.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Joanne Dewey, Earl Tripp, Alex Scott, Don Craighead, Rae O'Brien, John & Margaret Moore, Lloyd Paul, Wynne Thomas and John Blaney for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone.
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http:www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Leslie st spit Oct6,01 posted by Craig Mclauchlan on October 07, 2001 at 09:06:08:
My husband Pierre Robillard & I are new to birding and go to the spit quite often. We look forward to and appreciate your postings.
We also saw the crowd of kinglets last weekend, but yesterday we came accross several chipping sparrows, a least flycatcher, a phoebe, a yellow-bellied sapsucker, a female hooded merganser, a belted kingfisher, a least sandpiper, a great blue heron, 2 green herons, 2 black-backed gulls, both ruby and golden crowned kinglets (a lot fewer than last weekend), several adult white crowned sparrows and a juvenile, and a wood thrush. Where did you see the ducks? Were you at the 'Triangle Pond' mid afternoon with a spotting scope? Jan & Pierre
Please Excuse my spelling, I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
With the weather being so own predictable yesterday (Oct 6 01), and being in the need for a walk and some fresh air Carol Horner and I did a quick walk out on the Leslie st spit , in the hi winds we found few passerines but lots of good spit birds ! Like American Woodcock 1 Swamp Sparrow, Winter Wren 2, Brown Creeper , Sharp shin Hawk , and Great Black back Gull . But the hi lights wear the ( dare I say ) Fall Ducks with Ruddy Duck 1, Bufflehead 1, Redhead 14 , Northern Pintail 3 , Gadwall (lots) Green-winged Teal and Blue winged Teal and American Wigeon 15, there wear still N. Shoveler's and a number of Scaup hanging around .Also their wear all three Mergansers seen ( Hooded, Common and Red-Breasted) As we wear walking of the spit their was a search and rescue in full progress out on the lake and we wear spending way too much time watching the Labrador helicopter that we all most mist a Osprey slowly making its way at eye level along the lake .. Just goes to show ya you don't have to go far on a bad weather day to see good birds theirs lots to see right hear in the city …
The Leslie st spit is found south of the Lake shore blvd in east Toronto right on the lake , their is a shut all bus from the bass parking lot to the half way point that runs every half hour But this is the last weekend it will be running .. Happy thanksgiving 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:
we should find a way to help these poor and inocent animals
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 30, 2001
Although several days of rain during the first half of the week was a welcome arrival in the county, it did little to lift the spirits of bird banders at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. However, the lack of banding success was more than made up for on Friday when banders down there set an all time record with over 400 birds banded breaking the previous record by a wide margin. One volunteer said he never sat down from the time he arrived at 6:45 a.m. until he left at 4:30 that afternoon. He was constantly out at the nets only returning to the station to drop off the birds and get another supply of bags. He reported that in excess of 40 species were probably netted, but he had quickly reached the point where he wasn't paying much attention to what they were, he was so busy. No report of numbers or species was available, and there was no word of what success there was with the saw-whet owl banding over the weekend. However, banding highlights on Friday included high numbers of BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, along with both GOLDEN-CROWNED and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a NORTHERN PARULA, NORTHERN HARRIER, 2 WINTER WRENS and 3 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS.
The banding success on Friday was also reflected in the birding success of observers who were present at Prince Edward Point that day. Two Kingston Field Naturalists members rounded up 86 species, among them a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, HORNED GREBE, 3 MUTE SWANS, 4 NORTHERN PARULAS, 1,000+ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 500+ RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 40+ BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, 30 PALM WARBLERS, 30 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, 100 BLUE JAYS and 60 NORTHERN FLICKERS.
Throughout the county this past week there have been strong flights of NORTHERN FLICKERS and BLUE JAYS. Over 1,000 BLUE JAYS were seen at Sandbanks Provincial Park on Saturday, and lots of them flying through over Pleasant Bay the previous day. For the past two days there have been very strong flights of CANADA GEESE, observed not only in the immediate Quinte area but elsewhere too, including Depot Lakes, just north of Verona. There were 9 BRANT seen flying over the Bay of Quinte at the east end of Big Island on Wednesday. Three MUTE SWANS and 30+ COMMON MERGANSERS were present at Sandbanks on Thursday and Friday. Also seen at Pleasant Bay were over 40 WOOD DUCKS.
There was a strong flight of raptors at Sandbanks on Saturday with 29 TURKEY VULTURES, 20 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 157 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 8 COOPER'S HAWKS, 4 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 24 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 10 AMERICAN KESTRELS and 2 BALD EAGLES flying by in a period of four hours. A group of observers touring the new Prince Edward County South Shore Important Bird Area on Monday were surprised when an immature BALD EAGLE stressed the importance of this area by obligingly perching on a pole along Whattam's Road while the cavalcade of cars worked their way past. Equally obliging was a MERLIN perched on another pole at the entrance to the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area.
Other good sightings this past week included 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS near Milford on Monday, a COMMON RAVEN at Hambly Road near Napanee, PURPLE FINCHES at feeders on Sheba's Island and Big Island, and an AMERICAN BITTERN that has been present in the Telegraph Narrows area of the Bay of Quinte for the past two weeks.
A canoe tour on Third Depot Lake yesterday resulted in few birds and even less water. This lake, actually a reservoir which feeds Second Depot Lake, and ultimately, the Napanee River has dropped approximately 10 feet according to maximum high water marks on the Precambrian rocks. Most northern areas of the lake including the access to Fourth Depot Lake, were reduced to nothing short of quagmires, keeping the 14 canoes and kayaks restricted to the deeper waters of Third Depot Lake. Despite the ideal shorebird conditions, few shorebirds were seen. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was heard in flight, and numerous SPOTTED SANDPIPERS fed on the muddy shores. Other interesting birds included YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, GREAT BLUE HERONS and seemingly hundreds of BLUE JAYS.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Ted Cheskey, John Blaney, Jim Collinson and Carolyn Arnold, Susan Withers, Joanne Dewey, Lloyd Paul, Yvette Bree, John & Margaret Moore, and Bruce Ripley for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program, and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 6th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. Their wear a good number of migrants going through High Park too day the
hi # wear once again Yellow rump Warblers with 100+ followed closely by
Wight Throated sparrows 70+, both W.B. Nuthatch and R.B. Nuthatch wear
easy to find and the first wave of D.E. Junco’s wear seen hear (and in
the back yard) as for hawks We only saw 3 sharp shin hawks, 1 Red Tall
hawk, 1 N Harrier and 2 T Vultures. At the pond their wear 2 Great Blue Herons and a King fisher still
hanging in. As for Butterflies we found 7 Species the best (wich we got good photos
off) was what we believe to be a Pearl Crescent. High Park is found on the west side of Toronto boarded by Bloor to the
North and Parkside to the west.
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
The Sept. 29 outing to the Oshawa/Whitby area was a day to be remembered for the sheer volume of bird activity and movement.It was not only a great day for raptors, but songbirds and shorebirds and waterfowl were highly visible in large numbers for a good part of the day. We had planned to visit several birding spots in the area but found that we were unable to tear ourselves away from Second Marsh and Darlington for most of the morning. After getting good looks at numerous shorebirds(including the Hudsonian Godwits) at the platform we marveled at the extraordinary numbers of migrating Blue Jays,(in the
thousands!)as they "slipped" through sometimes only a few feet above our heads. They were mostly quiet as they moved except for the occasional time when a migrating raptor such as a Sharp-shinned Hawk would appear in their midst and then they became quite vocal. Most of them were never far from the treetops as they flew, a strategy that no doubt would serve them well to help escape a hungry Cooper's Hawk that happened upon them(or visa versa). We had good studies of at least 3 thrush species in
Darlington(Wood,Swainson's, and Hermit) and would have had 1 or 2 more had we persisted in the "right" habitat. Kinglets of both species were everywhere as well as smaller numbers of warbler species. We ended up with 10 warbler species for the day after a quick visit to Thickson's Woods in the early afternoon. The warblers included Yellow-rumped, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Black-thr.Green, Black-thr.Blue, Orange-crowned, Bay-
breasted, Wilson's, and Common Yellowthroat. White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows were in evidence and we had superb views(good lighting) of both Red-eyed and Blue-headed Vireos. In total for the day we had seven raptor species(Turkey Vultures, Red-tails, Broad-wings, Cooper's, Sharp-shinned,
Northern Harrier and Kestrels). It was an ongoing challenge to try and see everything that was moving even though we had 11 people in our group! Needless to say it was a fantastic day to be out birding, I hope everyone got the chance.
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. Saturday out on the Leslie st spit ( Which is found at the foot of Leslie st south of the Lake shore blvd in Toronto) the birding was quite good , with hi numbers of migrant's going through. Their wear lots of Thrushes with both Gray-Cheeked, Wood and Hermit Thrush being seen, the best warbler was a Orange-Crowned , but the number of Black Throated blue and yellow rump's was amassing ever wear you looked even in areas I had never seen warbler's before !! . also it seemed to be the day for Red Breasted Nuthatch and Brown Creepers not to mention the Kinglet's that wear so many they wear getting in the way. A young Peregrine falcon was seen flying back to the city with lunch in its talons and their wear 3 N Harriers hunting most of the time I was there
Best bird and yet another spit bird for me(#270) was Hudsonian Godwit first found in the morning by a group off birders near the bay with the turn rafts in it but still their by the time I made it back also their was a black b Plover . As for Butterflies I found 10 species the best was the Checkered White out on the west side of the mud flats I am told this is the latest date for this Butterfly in the Toronto area. It was then off to the High Park hawk watch all though it was late in the day there wear still a lot off
Turkey vulture's flying through and a Red Tall hawk. But the amassing bird hear was a Com. Night hawk all though I have seen them in Oct. this is still getting late for them around Toronto . Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
Hi All, Shortly after 7pm last night I looked out the dining room window to find a
flock of 8 Snow Geese flying south in V-formation over my house in Richmond
Hill, just northwest of Yonge St. & Major Mackenzie Drive, best 'Yard Bird'
yet! On Tuesday around 5:30pm I saw one of the local downtown Peregrine Falcons
soaring around Yonge & Front Streets, just north of Union Station. Also on
the Peregrine topic, Norm Murr mentioned that he had seen a PEFA around
Yonge & Finch in north Toronto earlier this week, a friend who works in the
building at 5700 Yonge Street (just north of Finch) has seen two PEFA's on
and off for the past week, she mentioned that they are leg banded and have
radio transmitters on their backs. The Falcons are using the ledge around
the 18th floor as a feeding spot, many bones can be seen from some of the
offices on the 18th floor. Good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
Dear Fellow Birders While out at the Sutton Tract today west of Cambridge, with the Wildlife Club from Univ of Guelph we stumbled on a few good birds, the best being a singing Pewee (my question is that wouldn't this be a rather late bird?), also a singing Pine Warbler, Cape May, Nashville, and Tennessee Warblers. Then at Bannister Lake, just west of Cambridge we had a Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Great Egrets, 9 Moorhens, 3 P-b Grebes, Blue-winged Teal, 2 Wood Ducks, and 5 Trumpter Swans. Mike Boyd
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 23, 2001
There was lots of autumn activity during this past week in the Quinte area. Approximately 20 species per day were banded at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. Some of the highlights during the week included varying numbers of GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSHES, SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, HERMIT THRUSH, BLUE-HEADED VIREO, BAY-BREASTED WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, BLACKPOLL WARBLER, OVENBIRD, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.
Observed during the week at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, but not banded, were PHILADELPHIA VIREO, SCARLET TANAGER, VIRGINIA RAIL, SANDHILL CRANE, NORTHERN PARULAS, PARASITIC JAEGER (Thursday), 3 PEREGRINE FALCONS (Thursday), and OSPREY.
There was an OSPREY today at Roblin Lake at Ameliasburgh, and another was seen at Consecon Lake last weekend.
Shorebird activity during the week was steady with most occurring in small numbers. Prince Edward Point has had SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, SANDERLINGS, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and KILLDEER. There was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS today at Roblin Lake. Sandbanks produced RUDDY TURNSTONES and SANDERLINGS. A WHIMBREL was found at Presqu'ile by one local observer.
GREATER SCAUP and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS have been seen at Prince Edward Point, along with AMERICAN WIGEON, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, WOOD DUCK, BLACK DUCKS, and MALLARDS.
Point Petre last week reported lots of movement out there with Thursday and Friday being heavy migration days, especially for NORTHERN FLICKERS, BLUE JAYS and AMERICAN KESTRELS. An observer there counted 100 NORTHERN FLICKERS, with double that number for BLUE JAYS. On Friday, the migrating flickers were accompanied by 2 immature RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS. Other birds seen at Point Petre were MERLIN, NORTHERN HARRIER, GREAT HORNED OWL, PILEATED WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, RED-TAILED HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, LEAST FLYCATCHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, TURKEY VULTURE and DARK-EYED JUNCO.
An observer birding Prince Edward Point on Friday came up with a good list including VESPER SPARROW, many FIELD SPARROWS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, BROWN THRASHER, 3 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, and WILSON'S WARBLER, just to name a few from the list submitted.
Sandbanks Provincial Park during the week produced nine species of warblers with PALM, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, NASHVILLE, and WILSON'S being among the more notable.
In other spots around the Quinte area, there were 7 WILD TURKEYS on the 6th hole at the Murray Hills Golf Course at Wooler. EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen in the Warkworth area where there was also a lingering BARN SWALLOW, as well as a GREEN HERON. Two PINE SISKINS appeared at a Belleville feeder today.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Lloyd Paul, Myrna Wood, Bruce Ripley, David Okines, Wynne Thomas and Hank Vos for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program, and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 30th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Please Excuse my spelling, I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. To day Bev and I went for a walk throw High Park hear in Toronto witch is found south of Bloor st east of Keele, we dint have the birds that others had but we still came up with not a bad day . We started off on the West side of the park walking along the side of Grenadier Pond
we wear told of a Gray cheek thrush and saw Kingfisher and Great blue Heron's also a Wilson's Warbler and Common Yellowthroat Warblers also seen wear Red-breasted Nuthatch. But the hi # of Blue Jays wear amazing well over 300. The best birds wear will we on
Butterfly hill (east of the tennis courts) at 2:35 an adult Bald Eagle fly over head very slowly and every one their had great looks at it, also a Juv. Northern Goshawk was hunting close by. We also had 6 speeches of Butterfly's best being 2 Fiery Skipper's one we found in the ornamental gardens the other was shown to us by a 6 year old named Mackenzie.
This makes me think with 2 being in the park that their not as scarce as we have bin lead to believe Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca "Don't forget to help Thiksons woods "
The PBC went on its annual fall trip to the island to try and catch one of the last "waves" of warblers and we were not disappointed. We found within minutes of arriving at the Hanlan's Point ferry terminal a large flock of warblers moving around the large willows near the airport perimeter fence. By the end of the day we had identified at least 12 species as two other likely species(the frustration of fleeting glimpses!), Blue-winged and Hooded Warbler were not verified by at least one other observer. We had the luxury of repeat views of individuals of the other species as we made our way around the island to the
Centre Island terminal. The warblers seen included Magnolia,
Blackpoll, Black-thr. Blue and Green, Nashville, Am. Redstart, Com. Yellowthroat, Tennessee, Yellow-rumped, No. Parula, Pine, and Palm Warbers.
One of the highlights of the morning was watching an adult male Kestrel and a Merlin performing aerial "dogfights" in an open area near the airport fence. It almost seemed like play as they took take turns chasing one another between foraging bouts and posturing from various perches along the fence. The Merlin took time out to swoop down
on(unsuccessfully) two Killdeer that landed in the grass nearby to rest and/or feed.
An adult Bald Eagle also flew low over the shoreline as it headed SW towards Hanlan's Point. We saw both
small and large flocks of Blue Jays(in the hundreds) heading in the same direction at regular intervals. Even though the wind direction was not ideal for a large movement of raptors we did manage to get good looks at a few Sharp-shinned Hawks and a migrating Northern Harrier before we called it a day just after noon.
We also spotted a small flock of Sanderlings and a few
waterfowl species which were no doubt glad that they were not at Presqu'ile P.P. for the start of the duck season. Hopefully there will always be a few lucky ones with a good sense of timing and location choice.
Peel Birding Class
Hello Today Sat., Sept.22, 2001 I went down to the Leslie Street Spit to see what I
could see. It turned out to be a long and productive day with 77 species
including 16 Warbler species that included 3 Orange-crowned Warblers and 46
Common Yellowthroats. Some of the highlights are - 3 Pied-billed Grebes in the triangle pond (an
adult and 2 juveniles), 11 waterfowl species with 118 Lesser Scaup and 111
Green-winged Teal as well as 3 Hooded Mergansers. In the raptor area it was sparse but I did see 2 Osprey, 1 Merlin and 1
juvenile Peregrine Falcon along with 4 Northern Harriers. Gulls were not to
plentiful but there was 23 Great black-backed Gulls and 6 Caspian Terns. I did find 3 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds and I found myself rooting for one of
them as it flew over the lake off the flats and managed to evade a very
determined gull that was trying to eat it. I watched the aerial movements as the
Hummer frantically tried to avoid the gull and it finally made it to Pipit Point
and relative safety. The gull almost knocked it into the water twice. Back to bird sightings with the spotting of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and many
N. Flickers. Flycatchers were also sparse but there were E. Pewee. E. Phoebe and
some Least Flycatchers thru-out. Brown creepers are starting to move in as I
found 6 of them along with Winter and House Wrens. Kinglets and B-C Chickadees
were there in small numbers as well as 10 American Pipits and 3 Rusty
Blackbirds. The sparrows present were about 100 each of Song and White-throated, a few
Lincoln's, Chipping, Savannah, and D-E Junco, and 18 Swamp Sparrows. The warblers were found in various places in small mixed flocks as well as in
ones and twos thru-out but by far the best areas were peninsula B (where I
joined Andrew Jano) with 12 species present and the road onto peninsula D with 7
species. Peninsula B held an Orange-crowned Warbler and a N. Parula along with
16 Common Yellowthroats (undercounted I'm sure as it is hard to count them in
the Lambs Quarter). Also found here was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and 2 R-T
Hummingbirds. The other 2 Orange-crowned Warblers were found in the morning with one of them
along the dirt road onto Pipit Point and the other on the flats. Black-throated
Blue, Palm, Yellow-rumped and Magnolia were also present in good numbers - 18,
12, 45, and 19 respectively. All in all it was a good day to be on the spit and to top it off I observed an
adult Peregrine Falcon as I was boarding my GO bus at Finch and Yonge Street. If the weather stays the way it is then it should be good again tomorrow on the
spit with probably more birds arriving overnight. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA DIRECTIONS: LESLIE STREET SPIT (TOMMY THOMPSON PARK) IN TORONTO To get to "The Spit" from Queen & Yonge Streets. Take the Queen Street Car
#501 east to Leslie Street and walk south (about 2 km) or as far as you can go
on Leslie Street to Unwin Avenue and you will see the gate and signage. By
automobile you may drive to Lakeshore Blvd and Leslie Street and turn south. If
before 9am you can park either on Leslie Street or Unwin Avenue, after 9am the
parking lot inside the gate is open.
Pipit Point is the extreme left hand (southwest) point. When walking out
towards the lighthouse you will come to a road going off to the left (at the
quonsut hut or tin shed). Follow this road along the outer arm as far as it goes
(there is a large blue dumpster on the point).
NOTE:- The spit is only open on the weekends and on holidays, at other times you
will not be able to access the area. This area is extensive, 7 km to the tip,
but be prepared to walk more than that. There is a van available after 9 am from
Victoria Day weekend to Thanksgiving Day weekend that will take you out or back.
The "SPIT" is only open on the weekend as they are still building it.
In Reply to: Turkey Vultures posted by Mike Boyd on October 06, 1999 at 16:31:38:
Hi, Today me And several of my friends were on the beach. Are names are Dane Shubert, Cole Shubert, Nick Divorsac, Ben Divorsac, Billy wirth,and Gail Gooden also my mom Kate shubert.And we saw a Turkey Vulture! will we be on the paper because it is hrut and we helped it. we want to spread our story.
In Reply to: Turkey Vultures posted by Mike Boyd on October 06, 1999 at 16:31:38:
Hi, Today me And several of my friends were on the beach. Are names are Dane Shubert, Cole Shubert, Nick Divorsac, Ben Divorsac, Billy wirth,and Gail Gooden also my mom Kate shubert.And we saw a Turkey Vulture! Pelase e-mail me back And tell me What I should do. will we be on the paper because it is hrut and we helped it. we want to spread our story.
Please Excuse my spelling, I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
To day the birds found on the Leslle st spit wear way down in numbers
compared to yesterday I think that Pall Prior hit it on the nose that
all most everything moved out last night or first thing this morning,
their wear some Hi lights though 3 Merlin‘s wear hunting most of the day
and a Juv. N Goshawk flue by, 2 Sharp shin Hawks but no Kestrels??.
It was great to see all the people (some I haven’t seen in some time)
out on the spit for the Bird Festival. The displays wear wonderful to
see and learn from I learned that the Moth I saw yesterday was a Under
wing which was cool!!
We did have 8 speeches of Butterfly including a look at a Checkered
Wight which was found earlier in the day and has not bin seen for 30
years I understand ??
The spit is still found at the foot of the Leslie st south of the Lake
shore blvd. east
hear in beautiful Toronto.... Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 16, 2001
In the past few years, Sandbanks Provincial Park has earned considerable acclaim as a focal point from which to find a good variety of birds. While not as famous and productive as the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, it does lend itself quite well to a certain funelling effect during both spring and fall migrations. One observer on Thursday who planted himself for four hours on top of one of the dunes about 4 km west of the parking lot verified that this bar is an important flight path for raptors that fly up the sand bar rather than flying over the waters of West Lake and Lake Ontario. Seen during the four hours were 200 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 38 RED-TAILED HAWKS, 11 AMERICAN KESTRELS, 10 COOPER'S HAWKS, 9 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 7 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, and one each of PEREGRINE FALCON, MERLIN and TURKEY VULTURE. Between 9:00 a.m. and 11:20 a.m. there was a continuous passage of BLUE JAYS tallying in at 830 in total.
On what was conservatively called a "big day" at Prince Edward Point on Tuesday, 205 birds were banded representing 40 species, involving 3 vireo species, 5 thrushes and 15 warbler species. Some of the more noteworthy catches were COOPER'S HAWK (1), YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (1), BLUE-HEADED VIREO(11), SWAINSON'S THRUSH (66), TENNESSEE WARBLER (2), MAGNOLIA WARBLER (26), NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH (2), OVENBIRD (4), SCARLET TANAGER (4), LINCOLN'S SPARROW (1), and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK (2). Other interesting sightings down there the same day were COMMON LOON, RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and 7 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS.
The latter species was also seen at the Point a week ago today, along with a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a RED-NECKED GREBE. DARK-EYED JUNCOS have also been seen at Prince Edward Point (2 were banded) as well as others showing up throughout the Quinte area. There was a dead SWAINSON'S THRUSH at a home today at South Bay that had collided with a patio door.
RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS are still around as evidenced by individuals still coming to a feeder at Big Island, and an individual seen on Wednesday at Sheba's Island in West Lake. Other interesting sightings this past week included a EASTERN SCREECH OWL calling on Walmsley Road near Point Petre, 4 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS at Codrington, a GREEN HERON and an AMERICAN BITTERN standing almost side by side in a marshy creek at the corner of County Road 28 and Massassauga Road on Thursday, and 2 EASTERN KINGBIRDS still hanging around at Morganstan, as well as 45 TREE SWALLOWS at Wallbridge Loyalist Rd. and Hamilton Rd. west of Belleville.
All in all, quite a productive week during a period that has otherwise been quite sad as we try to recover from the shock of the New York and Pentagon tragedy. Our sympathies to both Canadian and American families who lost loved ones in this senseless attack.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Lloyd Paul, Hank Vos, Stephen Monet, Don Chisholm, Will and Greta Ogden, John & Margaret Moore, and Joe Bevk for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program, and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 23rd. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the nest report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
Today (September 16, 2001) I led an outing for the Citizens Concerned with the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW) to Colonel Sam Smith Park at the foot of Kipling Avenue. Here is a list of what was seen in about 2.5 hours: Double-crested Cormorant 1; Canada Goose 35; Gadwall 3; Mallard 14; American Kestrel 2; Killdeer 1; Ring-billed Gull 200+; Herring Gull 25; Great Black-backed Gull 1; Rock Dove 20; Mourning Dove 8; Chimney Swift 1; Belted Kingfisher 1; Downy Woodpecker 3; Northern Flicker 5; Warbling Vireo 1; Red-eyed Vireo 1; Blue Jay 20; American Crow 13; Black-capped Chickadee 5; Red-breasted Nuthatch 3; White-breasted Nuthatch 1; Brown Creeper 1; Winter Wren 1; Golden-crowned Kinglet 1; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2; Veery 1; Swainson's Thrush 5; Gray Catbird 2; Northern Mockingbird 2; European Starling 75; Tennessee Warbler 1; Nashville Warbler 1; Northern Parula 1; Magnolia Warbler 1; Cape May Warbler 1; Black-throated Blue Warbler 2; Yellow-rumped Warbler 16; Black-throated Green Warbler 1; Palm Warbler 12; Bay-breasted Warbler 2; Blackpoll Warbler 1; Black-and-white Warbler 2; American Redstart 2; Ovenbird 1; Common Yellowthroat 7; HOODED WARBLER 1 hatch-year female; Wilson's Warbler 1; Chipping Sparrow 1; Savannah Sparrow 5; Song Sparrow 14; Lincoln's Sparrow 1; Swamp Sparrow 1; White-throated Sparrow 10; White-crowned Sparrow 1; Northern Cardinal 1; Red-winged Blackbird 4; Common Grackle 6; House Finch 2; American Goldfinch 22; House Sparrow 30. GC
Hi fellow birders Today Sat. Sep.15, 2001 Stan Bajurny and I ferried across the bay to the Toronto Islands and it turned out not to be a bad days outing. Weather was fantastic and birding was good.
We started out at the wards island end as usual and it took us 3 1/2 hours to get away from the area around the eastern gap as there was a mini fallout occurring while we were there.
Some of the highlights for this area were 4 Orange-crowned Warblers (3 together, an adult and 2 juveniles), lots of Northern Flickers, Grey Catbirds, 16 Swainson's Thrushes and lots of warblers and White-crowned Sparrows.
Walking on through Wards Island we encountered numerous birds but again we found a nice adult Orange-crowned Warbler (beside the stone bridge onto Snug Harbour), lots of warblers again and 20+ Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglets.
The sanctuary area was very quiet and the gate at the entrance to the sanctuary was closed and chained (not locked), a new situation. We stopped an employee leaving the area and he informed us that it is closed on the weekends now that
Labour Day (no explanation) has passed but we (and other naturalist) can go in if we close the gate behind us.
After leaving the sanctuary we walked through the lighthouse area on Gibralter Point and here Stan spotted a wren that turned out to be a Sedge Wren ( a rare sighting on the Islands). We had great (10 feet away) looks at this bird and it even scolded us. Some of the other sightings over there were 18 species of Warblers, 49 Swainson's Thrushes, 9 Lincoln Sparrows, 22 Grey Catbirds, 9 Red-breasted Nuthatches, 13 White-breasted Nuthatches, Brown creepers, Dark-eyed Juncos, Sapsuckers, E. Phoebes, and 3 Vireo species. All in all in was a nice outing, easy walking and we didn't have to drive a gazillion miles to see the 71 species that we tallied. DIRECTIONS TO TORONTO ISLANDS To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If your on the subway
southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south about 1 km to the ferry docks at the
foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway
or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay, there are lots of
parking lots nearby (fee). There is a fee for using the island ferries ($5.00 as of Aug. 1/99) and to
find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193 and there are washrooms on the islands
as well as the city side at the ferry docks.
The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday
to Saturday and the 1st is at 8:00 am on Sunday. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
In Reply to: Hybrid?? posted by Bill Halliday on September 09, 2001 at 18:52:00:
This most assuredly is NOT one of the times of year when Brant occur on Toronto's western beaches. Brant is an extreme rarity in Toronto in early September and all such purported occurrences bear close scrutiny and should be well documented. Brant migration misses Toronto altogether most autumns but when they do occur in numbers it is invariably in late October or early November. GC
Hi All, David Shilman and I met at the Spit (Tommy Thompson Park) at sunrise on Sunday morning and cycled out to the Triangle Pond (about 2/3 of the way out to the lighthouse), our first bird encountered here was a MERLIN sitting atop the dead stump at the east side of the pond, it then flew to the west. As we walked down we scared up a rail from the edge of the pond but were unsure whether it was a Sora or a Virginia Rail. Also down here was a BELTED KINGFISHER, a female HOODED MERGANSER, two MARSH WRENS calling (did they breed here?), and as we went to the other side of the pond we heard a SORA, saw & heard a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, then saw a VIRGINIA RAIL and then got great looks at the Sora as it walked about 10m from us (thanks Craig M.).
We also saw two NORTHERN HARRIERS flying out over the 'flats' near 'Pipit Point' and while standing around the pond heard 1 or 2 AMERICAN PIPITS flying over.
As we cycled out along the outer arm, we saw either another or the same MERLIN and in one of the inner cells were 4 CANVASBACK, 2 GREATER SCAUP & 6 LESSER SCAUP along with another HOODED MERGANSER.
The wind had picked up by this time and the temp was getting very high, the west side of the base had nothing to report but on the east side we had a pretty good 'greeting' interaction of two RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS as well as ANOTHER MERLIN, either our 2nd or 3rd for the day! Good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, O
QUINTE AREA BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 09, 2001
Lots of stuff around this week in the Quinte area. A small algae saturated area at the West tip of Main Duck Island near the lighthouse on Wednesday contained a nice mixture of shorebirds including GREATER and LESSER YELLOW LEGS, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, SANDERLING, SPOTTED SANDPIPER and KILLDEER. In with them were about 15 AMERICAN PIPITS. There was a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER at Point Petre last week.
Other migration signs during the week were found at Sandbanks on Monday and Wednesday when raptor highs included OSPREY, 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 131 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, 7 COOPER'S HAWKS, 3 NORTHERN GOSHAWKS, 10 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS, 16 RED-TAILED HAWKS and 15 AMERICAN KESTRELS. Also on Wednesday, some 25 AMERICAN KESTRELS turned up at Point Petre.
Birds continue to be banded at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area. A few of the more noteworthy species and numbers were TENNESSEE WARBLER (1st one this fall, on Wednesday), 15 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS , YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, 10 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, a BLUE-HEADED VIREO, SCARLET TANAGER, LINCOLN'S SPARROW, 4 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and VEERY (3).
Birds of interest seen at the Point during the week were YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO (Tuesday), BROWN THRASHER, EASTERN TOWHEE, BROWN CREEPER, and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS.
Other notable sightings during the week included 300 TREE SWALLOWS at Peat's Point, PILEATED WOODPECKER at Glenora, EASTERN KINGBIRDS on Wooler Road, 100 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS and an OSPREY at Point Petre, and 8 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS on Hambly Road, south-west of Napanee.
As a result of the Quinte Conservation Outdoor Program booth at Picton Fair this weekend (hence, the reason for the lateness of this report), there are now just under 100 people on the waiting list for our boat tours to Main Duck Island for 2002, located 12 miles off the southeast shore of Prince Edward County. It is a great area for spring birding; however, most are going because of the island's historical significance. Therefore, the 2 trips in May (likely the 15th & 29th) still have a few openings for any keen birders who may like to try their luck out there next spring. Those interested in the two May trips are urged to submit their names immediately as we are capping next year's trips at 100.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Don Craighead, Susan Withers, Joe Bevk, Lloyd Paul, Barb Wallace and Wynne Thomas for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program, and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 16th. Bird sightings must be by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
There is an interesting goose along the western beaches; it is with the resident flock of CGs. The head shows a white band over the face, like you would find with a white-fronted goose. The rest of the bird is marked like a CG, except the legs, which are flesh coloured. Any thoughts on who was at the party?? This is one of the times of year when Brants are seen in this location (western beaches to Humber river). If you see some, please post. Thanks. Bill Halliday
Attention birders! Just a notice to let everyone know that registration has commenced for the Fall 2001 session of the Peel Birding Class. Please let anyone that you know who may be interested in learning to identify birds by sight and song and would enjoy Saturday outings(some overnights may be suggested) to birding hotspots in southern Ontario and the adjacent states. The early fall outings will focus on migrating songbirds and shorebirds and shift to raptors(hawks and owls) as the season progresses. Included in the itinerary are trips to Hawk Cliff, Presqu'ile Prov. Park, the Long Point area, Tiny Marsh and a Thanksgiving weekend trip to Hawk Mt.(Pennsylvania) as well as several more local trips. A late November trip to the Niagara Region for wintering gulls is also planned. Outings will begin on Sept. 29 and continue every Saturday until early December. Please visit the Peel Birding Class website at
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/BreteGriffin/ for more info. or contact B. Griffin at BreteGriffin@compuserve.com or at 416-503-4442. The registration deadline is Sept.17 and the cost is $87 per person, register by phone(tollfree)1-800-668-1179 with the Peel District School Board Community Education Program and be sure to specify GB01 as the course code requested. Good birding to all! Brete
This message is to announce that I will be leading a birding outing on behalf of the Citizens Concerned with the Future of the Etobicoke Waterfront (CCFEW) to colonel Sam Smith Park on Sunday, September 16, 2001 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. Meet in the main parking lot (south of the former Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital Grounds and the Kipling bus loop). The outing is free to the public. Bring binoculars and loads of enthusiasm. GC
In Reply to: Crow with white wing patches posted by Joel Kits on August 19, 2001 at 17:24:10:
Hi all
Thurs.,Sept.6,2001
I too saw the American Crow with the white wing
patches and it is a striking bird. If you get a
chance to go and try to find it then I recommend
that you do.
I saw it from my GO bus at 6:20pm just south
of where Joel found it in Aug. (Hwy 407 at Yonge St.)
I spotted the bird in the Holy Trinity Cemetary
which is only about 1/2km +/- a bit south of Hwy 7.
The forward part of the wing is black as is the rear
part with the centre being all white. This makes an
attractive wing pattern and if Joel hadn't posted his
sighting I may have done a double take trying to figure
out what exotic species that I had spotted.
The white goes the whole length of the wing. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
In Reply to: Re: Rare summering birds in west Toronto posted by Colleen on August 21, 2001 at 19:21:07:
Hi Colleen, I thought I would respond to your e-mail regarding your Richmond Hill sighting of Cinnamon Teal. I noticed that you reported it as well on this site on May 15, 2000 and asked whether it was ever seen in this area before. In fact, Cinnamon Teal has only ever been sighted once before in the entire Greater Toronto Area, at Cranberry Marsh in Durham R.M. in the early 1990's. This record was submitted and accepted by the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC). Cinnamon Teal is a province-wide rarity and all reports of it must be reviewed and accepted by the OBRC before they are included in the record of valid sightings for the local Greater Toronto Area. Since male Cinnamon Teals are usually virtually unmistakable, I would encourage you to document this sighting for the Ontario bird Records Committee. Perhaps your uncle, Pete Read could help you with making such a written report. He is an excellent observer and knows the process very well. To see the review list of the OBRC, review a paper on documenting rarities, and print off a rare bird report form please visit the OBRC's web site at: http://www.interlog.com/~ofo/review.htm
If you want a more detailed rare bird report form, contact me by email and I can provide you with a Toronto Ornithological Club rare bird report form. Documentation to the OBRC is accepted in any format and need not follow any standard format - these forms are simply meant to assist in providing thorough documentation. Good Luck, GC
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.
After spending the morning at the High park Toronto hawk watch and
having a good number of Sharp Shin hawks go over , I
decide to spend the afternoon in my back yard on Quebec av. which is
north of High Park hear in Toronto, at 2:55
I got the best back yard bird to date for my new list ,2 Sandhill
crane's flue over going north to south west. WOW.Now that was worth having a seat in the back yard A few hawks, Sharp shin 1 and 1 Brodwing also went over but I am shear
it will be a will before I see another great back yard bird like
that..... Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: blackbirds posted by lenn on September 03, 2001 at 21:29:15:
LENN This is a common sight at this time of year as
the blackbirds ie Common Grackles, Red-Wing and Rusty
Blackbirds along with B-H Cowbirds gather together
after the breeding season in large numbers prior to
migration. At Long Point in late Oct. and early
Nov. up to 50 to 100,000 birds may gather and
roost overnight in the extensive marshes. Of coarse
much smaller numbers (500 t0 5,000 can be observed
in fields and marshes all around Southern Ontario. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
Hey
I the other day I saw (first time) a rather large gatering of red wing blackbirds
Approx. 200 to 300 birds at least!!!!!!!!
Has anyone else seen this and why and how do the get together?
It was almost like Alfred Hicthcock "birds" scary but thrilling at the same time
Please Excuse my spelling, I am Dyslexic
Thank you for your understanding.
This morning rather than staying in bed or driving to Hamilton to look for birds Bev and I decide to visit the Lesley st spit too see if we could get far enough out in the lake with hope for seeing Sabine's Gull . At 11:00 we had made our way to the far south east point (or Pipit point) and had seat up for brunch, at 11:25 I saw 2 gulls come up off the lake getting up and my scope on to them I was able to Id one as a Juv .Sabine's gull we watched for 10 mints as it flue around and too the south further out into the lake. I am shear that both wear Sabine but was only able to Id the one for shear. We also had a Jaeger speeches (I think a Parasitic) to far out to ID harassing the other gulls. Other good birds seen wear 2 Rusty Blackbirds, 1 N Pintail, 7 Canvasback's, 3 Pipits and 2 Sora and 3 Sharp shinned Hawks. We also found 10 Butterfly speeches. A pretty good day and well worth getting out of bed... the spit can be found by going south on Lesley st from the Lakeshore blvd on the east side of Toronto's waterfront.
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
Hi
On Sat. Sept. 1, 2001 Stan Bajurny and I sailed over to the Toronto Islands to
hopefully see a Connecticut Warbler as this is one of the better places to find
it in the GTA. We didn't find one but the birding was pretty good during the
day. We did find a total of 17 warbler and 3 vireo species. Our best warbler was
the "Yellow Palm Warbler" that we found on Hanlans Point. There were good
numbers of Wilson's (18) and Palm (9) with larger numbers of the more common
warblers ie Black-and-white (14, Magnolia (34), Redstart (29) and we also found
18 Red-eyed Vireos and 12 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Other highlights were 2 A.
Woodcock, 9 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 2 Broad-winged Hawks, 1 Immature Northern
Goshawk in the sanctuary, 1 Brown Creeper, 2 Carolina Wrens, and 1 female Purple
Finch. The only sparrows we saw all day were 4 Song Sparrows together in the
sanctuary and flycatchers were not common even though we did see Yellow-bellied,
Least and Great crested Flycatchers.
The Islands on Sat. were very, very noisy with the jets of the airshow passing
low directly overhead and we observed the warblers as this happened and they
didn't seem to bat an eye even though the sound was ear splitting. possibly they
just don't relate the sound with danger but it sure gave me flashbacks. I may
need counseling !!
The Islands will be much quieter from Tuesday on and if another cool front
passes through like Sat. then it should bring a good number of birds to the
Islands and the number of people traditionally crashes after labour day, even on
the weekends. It is a worthwhile trip to take if you are looking for warblers
(and later - sparrows) without spending a lot for gas, the trip over and back
costs $5.00. Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
NORMURR@SYMPATICO.CA
TORONTO ISLANDS To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If
your on the subway
southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south about 1 km to the
ferry docks at the
foot of Bay Street and Queens Quay and you are there. If in an auto on the
Gardener Expressway
or on Lakeshore Blvd, then exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay,
there are lots of
parking lots nearby (fee). There is a fee for using the island ferries ($5.00 as
of Aug. 1/99) and to
find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193 and there are washrooms
on the islands
as well as the city side at the ferry docks.
The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the
2nd is 7:00 am Monday
to Saturday and the 1st is at 8:00 am on Sunday.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, September 02, 2001
Quinte Conservation's final evening canoe/kayak tour of the summer season, ended on a spectacular note last Monday evening for the 25 participants when an adult BALD EAGLE was seen at the foot of the Latta Rapids (what's left of them) on the Moira River, 10 km. north of Belleville. The evening paddle also resulted in EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, RED-EYED VIREO, CASPIAN TERN, 4 GREAT BLUE HERONS, and 7 BELTED KINGFISHERS, being seen on the trip down river toward the village of Foxboro.
A family of PILEATED WOODPECKERS was seen last week near Waupoos, and another was observed Friday at Prince Edward Point. There was lots of activity at the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area last week as banding operations continued. An unusual NORTHERN FLICKER yellow-shafted/red-shafted intergrade was banded on Monday.
Thirteen species of warblers were banded at Prince Edward Point, among them MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, BLACKPOLL WARBLERS, OVENBIRDS, NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, PALM WARBLERS, and COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. Also banded during the week were WOOD PEWEES, RED-EYED VIREOS, YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER, TRAILL'S FLYCATCHER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN WOOD PEWEE, LEAST FLYCATCHER, and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER.
Other birds of interest seen at Prince Edward Point during the week were 12 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, NORTHERN PARULA, WILSON'S WARBLER, TURKEY VULTURES, an immature BALD EAGLE, NORTHERN HARRIERS, SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, COOPER'S HAWKS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, AMERICAN KESTREL, MERLIN and PURPLE FINCHES.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Pat Moore, Murray Elliot, Don Craighead, and Graham Copp for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program, and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 8th. Bird sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
In Reply to: Leslie Street Spit - Birds & ants - Sat Aug 25 posted by Frank Pinilla on August 28, 2001 at 13:07:01:
I have experienced the same ants in Humber Marsh #4 in the last three weeks. If you unknowingly stand in a line of them they race up the interior of your pant leg and begin biting too. No wonder so few birders ever venture down into Humber Marsh #4 any more! GC
In Reply to: Re: Toronto Ornithological Club's JIm Baillie Memorial Bird Walks posted by Maeve Barham on August 29, 2001 at 16:06:42:
Hi Maeve, Thanks for pointing out the error. The dated was printed incorrectly on the TOC flyer announcing the outings. I contacted the leader Jean Iron and she confirmed that that outing will take place on Sat. Dec. 8, 2001 @ 8:30 a.m. meeting in the parking lot at Humber Bay Park east. GC
Station: High Park, Toronto, Ontario
View Period:August 28 2001.
Station co-ordinator: Don Barnett
Counters:D. Barnett, J. Coey, H. Currie, N. McHugh, & H. Shapiro. Northwest winds and a rising barometer produced our first day of hawk movement this year. We observed 64 birds of 6 species including 55 Sharp-shinned hawk. Our totals this day are:
This Week, :
Turkey Vulture 0, Osprey 0, Bald Eagle 0, Northern Harrier 1, Sharp-shinned Hawk 55, Cooper's Hawk 0, Northern Goshawk 0, Red-shouldered Hawk 0, Broad-winged Hawk 2, Red-tailed Hawk 2, Rough-legged Hawk 0, Golden Eagle 0, American Kestrel 3, Merlin 0, Peregrine Falcon 1, Other 0, Unidentified 0, Total raptors 64.
High Park Site Description
High Park is located just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a 400 acre wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak Savannah. The Count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5km (1 mile) north of Lake Ontario, at an elevation of 110 meters above sea level and 38 meters above Lake Ontario. The site location is N 43 degrees 37 minutes 03.8seconds, W 79 degrees 28 minutes 56.5 seconds. This station is at the highest point and near the center of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full time counts have been recorded here since 1993. The following are partners in our raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Toronto Ornithological Club, and Local Naturalist's Clubs. For more information see our web site at:
http://www.gtrw.ca
In Reply to: Toronto Ornithological Club's JIm Baillie Memorial Bird Walks posted by Glenn Coady on August 27, 2001 at 16:15:05:
Hi, Glenn. Thanks for this announcement. I am putting the dates in my schedule right away, but I would like you to clarify the last one.
*Waterfowl - West Toronto Lakeshore or Beyond Sat., Dec. 9, 2001 8:30 a.m.*
My calendar shows the Saturday of that week as Dec. 8.
Good birding.
Maeve
In Reply to: Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night posted by Glenn Coady on August 28, 2001 at 16:15:32:
Amasing !!! I am so happy to see so many birds...
ouer count was 2houers 6pm to 8pm jist for the record. Craig and bev.....
In Reply to: Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night posted by Glenn Coady on August 28, 2001 at 16:15:32:
Amasing !!! I am so happy to see so many birds...
ouer count was 2houers 6pm to 8pm jist for the record. Craig and bev.....
I was also counting Common Nighthawks last night (August 27)and the movement over the Toronto area was truly massive indeed as mentioned by Craig McLauchlan & Frank Pinilla. Counting from 5:50 - 8:15 p.m. EST I tallied a staggering 1129 Common Nighthawks from Lithuania Park at the corner of Mountview Ave. & Glenlake Avenue. Birds were moving on a broad front, visible at the horizon both north and south, and were travelling predominantly west and southwest. A couple of times nearly 100 birds were visible simultaneously. Clearly my count was undercounted as I often couldn't count birds overhead and at the horizon at the same time and undoubtedly missed some. This represents the highest single site count of this species ever made in the Greater Toronto Area and eclipses the next highest count I have ever had (737 reported on August 25, 1998 on this web page) by over 50% !!! This late August spectacle of Common Nighthawk migration in advance of cold fronts is a spectacular sight and is witnessed across many areas in the Great Lakes basin and points further south. It is a highlight of the birding year. There may still be some good flights yet to come but I expect that last night we witnessed the bulk of the birds going through. The numbers moving region-wide must have been very impressive indeed. GC
I live in Thornhill just north of Toronto, where I discouverd yesterday that there is 1-2 Hummingbirds that visit my trumpet flower garden. I did put up a feeder but the birds seem to only visit it once or twice a day.
How can I coax them to visit more often and hopefully attract more Hummers? Please reply to my email address.
Thanks.
Hi All, Once again, I watched last night for Common Nighthawks and exactly at 6pm I saw the first 5 fly over but going in the opposite direction than usual (they were heading west), the next few did the same (23 in total heading west). Then around 6:45pm I started to see Nighthawks heading in their 'normal' southeasterly direction. The last bird flew over around 7:30pm and I counted 127 birds. Also, 6 Chimney Swifts and 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird & 1 Blackburnian Warbler. Good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
Hi All, I know this is a bit late but I have a question/comment I wanted to make about the 'spit' whilst posting some of my sightings.
I was at the Leslie Street Spit (Tommy Thompson Park) early Saturday morning and had a couple of decent birds on the base. On the east side along the fenceline I had 2 Northern Waterthrushes calling quite loudly. On the west side of the base in the cottonwoods & dogwoods I had a Veery, 2 American Woodcock, a small flock of warblers including Yellow, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white & American Redstart as well as a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Great Crested & Least Flycatchers. Overhead at about 7am there was a good sized flock of Chimney Swifts numbering approximately 120.
My comment & question are with respect to the number of red ants down there under the cottonwoods. I seem to remember Norm Murr posting a report a couple of years back about ants on the spit. Well, I didn't notice until I had been walking around for a while when I saw about 10 ants on each pantleg, I brushed them off and figured that I had passed near a nest. Later I noticed more, then looked at the ground closely and it was absolutely filled with red ants, I walked quickly away and stopped to look again, more ants, everywhere I stopped there were TONS of ants, it was quite unbelievable!
Is this the right time of year for them and why so many at the spit, is it because of the loose sandy soil? Anyone? Any replies would be greatly appreciated. Regards & good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
To night hear in our back yard at Quebec av and Dundas st hear in Toronto. Bev and I counted 568 Night hawks , 1 Sharp Shin
Hawk and 221 Swifts and 1 Hummingbird and to end it all off a Peregrine Falcon. If any one is looking for a GREAT hawk waching chair go to Revy and pick up one ove the folding lawn chairs for $14.97 +tax ... Do it quick I am sher thay will all be gone by the week end.........
To night hear in our back yard at Quebec av and Dundas st hear in Toronto. Bev and I counted 568 Night hawks , 1 Sharp Shin
Hawk and 221 Swifts and 1 Hummingbird and to end it all off a Peregrine Falcon. If any one is looking for a GREAT hawk waching chair go to Revy and pick up one ove the folding lawn chairs for $14.97 +tax ... Do it quick I am sher thay will all be gone by the week end.........
On behalf of the Toronto Ornithological Club I would like to post announcement of the following Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks: Fall Warblers - Lambton Woods
Sat., Sept. 8, 2001 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Leader: Don Burton
Meet in the parking lot at James Gardens (access from Edenbridge Drive)
Fall Migration - High Park
Sat., Sept. 22, 2001 8:00 a.m. - 12 noon
Leader: Herb Elliott
Meet at the parking lot inside the Bloor St. entrance to High Park
Shorebirds & Other Migrants - Leslie St. Spit
Sat., Sept. 29, 2001 8:00 a.m. (all day)
Leader: Ron Scovell
Meet at the foot of Leslie St. Bring a lunch.
Late Migration - Toronto Islands
Sat., Oct. 6, 2001 8:00 a.m. (all day)
Leader: Hugh Currie
Meet at the Toronto Islands ferry docks at the foot of Bay St. to catch the 8:15 a.m. ferry to Hanlan's Point. Bring a lunch.
Waterfowl - West Toronto Lakeshore or Beyond
Sat., Dec. 9, 2001 8:30 a.m. (all day)
Leader: Jean Iron
Meet in the parking lot at Humber Bay Park East. Bring a lunch. Carpool if necessary.
These outings are aimed at the intermediate birder, but beginners are also welcome. Free to the public.
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA for Sunday, August 26, 2001
Bird banding operations are now under way at the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, and will continue until late fall. Results of this past week indicate a movement of warblers and other species through the Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area, and among the warblers species banded over the last several days included NASHVILLE, YELLOW, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-AND-WHITE, BLACKBURNIAN, BAY-BREASTED, BLACKPOLL, CANADA, REDSTART, OVENBIRD, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH. Other species of interest banded were CHIPPING SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, SONG SPARROW, LEAST, YELLOW-BELLIED and TRAILL'S FLYCATCHERS, BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, RED-EYED VIREO, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.
Warblers present last week on Rednersville Road were BLACK-AND-WHITE, YELLOW-RUMPED, CAPE MAY, WILSON'S, BLACKPOLL and BLACK-THROATED GREEN along with a PHILADELPHIA VIREO.
Seen on Sheba's Island during the week were RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD, NORTHERN FLICKER, NORTHERN CARDINALS, PURPLE FINCH, HOUSE FINCH, along with the usual backyard feeder species.
Sandbanks Provincial Park had a PEREGRINE FALCON and an OSPREY last week, and on Thursday there were 8 COMMON NIGHTHAWKS seen in flight.
In addition to the birds banded at Prince Edward Point last week, birders down there also saw LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SANDERLING, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, LEAST SANDPIPERS, WHIP-POOR-WILL, NORTHERN HARRIER, COOPER'S HAWKS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, TURKEY VULTURES, EASTERN WOOD PEWEES, just to name a few of the more notable sightings.
There were 12 COMMON LOONS in winter plumage on Wednesday at Telegraph Island, west of the Quinte Skyway Bridge. There were both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Point Petre along with 55 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS. There was a PILEATED WOODPECKER also seen at Point Petre, and another one today at O'Hara Mill Conservation Area at Madoc. Close to 1,500 TREE SWALLOWS were counted on utility wires at the junction of County Road 28 and Massassauga Road, south of Belleville at 7:00 a.m. on Friday. The OSPREY family is also still at this same location.
An immature BALD EAGLE was strolling nonchalantly along the highway between Campbellford and Stirling on Tuesday. Ponds near the corner of 401 and Highway 37 produced 6 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 2 SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and 27 MALLARDS for another observer on Monday. Seen along Riverside Park in Belleville across from the Wally Dever arena were OSPREY, 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 85 CANADA GEESE, 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Not bad for the side of a well travelled highway; however, much of the success can be attributed to the record low water level in the Moira River. Morganstan Road, north of Brighton had EASTERN BLUEBIRD last week, and there was a KESTREL and a NORTHERN HARRIER reported from Wooler Road.
There was only one CASPIAN TERN seen during Monday evening's birding tour by canoe and kayak on the Bay of Quinte along the Northport and Big Island shorelines. This Monday evening might fare better. Location is the Moira River at the O'Brien's Bridge boat launch off Highway 37, 10 km north of Belleville. Tour leaves at 6:00 p.m. sharp.
And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Jim Collinson, Jamie Lynn-Jelley, Kelly Wardle, Lloyd Paul, Don Craighead, Yvette Bree, Wynne Thomas, John & Margaret Moore, and Rae O'Brien for their contributions to this week's report. This report is a presentation of Quinte Conservation's Outdoor Interpretive Program, and will be updated by 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 2nd. Bird Sightings must be in by 6:00 p.m. to be included in the next report. Good fall birding everyone!
Terry Sprague Picton, Ontario tsprague@kos.net http://www.naturestuff.net
The herons appear to be on the move. Great Blues are easily found along the lower marshes of the Humber river. Today, however, there were two green herons in the lowest (west side) marsh next to the treatment plant. I was in a kayak, so I cannot say how easy it is to get there by foot. BH
Sitting at my comp at 9:30 this morning when I heard a big thump outside the room. I turned my head and caught a glimpse of a bird hopping from near the wall of my house to the middle of the lawn. I got up and he was just standing there. I thought he hit the house and was dazed then noticed different color feathers at his feet. He was holding another bird (hard to see, possibly a dove)! I grabbed my binoculars and ROM field guide and id'd the sharp shinned hawk. He stood there for a few minutes, adjusting his grip occasionally and off he went! Very cool way to start a sunday!
Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding. Today I decide that it wood be worth looking in to Thickson's woods, meeting Carol Horner
there we booth wear amassed at the birds we found, what I thought wood be a hour walk turned in
to three.
Thickson's woods is found south of the 401 off of Thickson rd, in-between Whitby and Oshawa. We found 11 speeches of Warbler's Hi lights wear Louisiana Waterthrush 1( yes the big L
not N) Morning Warbler 1 and Blackburnian Warbler 1 you dint have too look far to find
a Warbler they wear ever wear , very posaball miss wear Northern Waterthrush ( it woodint come
out from behind the log) and a fast look at a posaball Golden -W-Warbler , booth worth looking for .... Also the Carolina Wren was singing something I hadn't herd in a long time in the woods and
booth Swainson's Thrush and Wood Thrush wear seen . lots of Red eye Vireo's, lots of Cedar
Waxwing's a Green Heron and a Brown Creeper to top things off .
Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca
In Reply to: West Nile Virus posted by Andy on August 08, 2000 at 10:21:44:
There is more to the West Nile Virus than newspapers or television is reporting. Find out what EVERYONE is talking about! Click on the link below or visit http://conspiracy.itgo.com. Don't be the LAST one to find out.... dockwest112@yahoo.com
Last night at around 7:25pm I stepped outside to see what kind of Common Nighthawk migration there would be and as soon as I stepped out I saw a loose flock of 12 and about 10 minutes later another 'flock' of 75 flew over, by 8:05pm I had counted 180 Nighthawks and probably missed some as there are many trees obstructing my view in the neighbourhood. The birds were coming from a generally Northwesterly direction, many quite low and circling at times.
The birds were seen in the Mill Pond area of Richmond Hill, north of Major Mackenzie Drive between Bathurst & Yonge Streets. Good birding, Frank Pinilla
Richmond Hill, ON
I'm not sure if this is the place to post this question, but I read in the press that the crow and jay populations has been 'decimated' in New York state as a result of this virus. Now that it has made it into Canada, should we expect the populations of Blue Jays and Crows to plummet? I've had a lot of difficulty trying to get answers to this. Does anyone here know the facts?
Don Baxter
In Reply to: Re: B.C.Chickadee and spiders? posted by Glenn Coady on November 29, 1999 at 11:04:18:
i was wondering if you know what kind of spider is brilliant red, very very tiny (almost like you need a microscope to look at it) and crawls around in circles. i was also wondering if i could get informationd about them like if they are in anyway dangerous or stuff like that
thatnk you
wiggy
Last night, August 21, there was quite a good movement of Common Nighthawks over Toronto. I counted 184 in the space of two hours (6:00 - 8:00 p.m.) from the corner of Keele St. and Bloor St. W. GC
In Reply to: Re: Rare summering birds in west Toronto posted by Don Baxter on August 14, 2001 at 20:40:09:
A rare bird I saw a few years ago was a male Cinnamon Teal in Richmond Hill.
In Reply to: Northern Flicker posted by John Filipetto on August 20, 2001 at 21:24:04:
Hi John, You're 100% correct. The Northern Flicker
is not uncommon in the Toronto area. It was
probably eating ants -- their favorite food.
Another good identifying mark is a white rump
patch. Good birding! Al
On the morning of Sunday, August 19th, we watched an unfamiliar bird in our backyard dig for bugs along the cracks in our driveway. We had never seen this type of bird before. It had a black half moon on its chest and a red crescent on the back of its neck. It also had colour on the underside of its wings.He was very striking. It was about 10" to 12" long and able to chase away the blue jay that was very interested in what this bird was doing. We believe that this was a Northern Flicker according to the encyclopedia. We were just interested to know if this is a common bird for Toronto as we had never seen it befoEnforcement of Migratory Birds Convention Act (or lack of)
Posted by Tony Lang on February 05, 2002 at 14:51:22:Re: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster.
Posted by Tony Zammit on February 05, 2002 at 14:18:58:Woodpeckers at tube feeders
Posted by Andy on February 05, 2002 at 10:12:47:Re: Birding ethics
Posted by Andy on February 05, 2002 at 10:03:23:Re: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler
Posted by Glenn Coady on February 04, 2002 at 17:37:14:Re: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster. Advice?
Posted by Glenn Coady on February 04, 2002 at 17:25:49:Re: SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster.
Posted by Tony Zammit on February 04, 2002 at 17:15:02:Bald Eagle
Posted by Maurice on February 04, 2002 at 14:23:19:Red-Tailed Hawk
Posted by Sandra Eadie on February 04, 2002 at 12:56:20:SCOPE: Bushnell but not Spacemaster. Advice?
Posted by David Calderisi on February 04, 2002 at 12:04:46:Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002
Posted by Glenn Coady on February 04, 2002 at 10:56:14:Re: Birding ethics
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 04, 2002 at 10:08:42:Re: Birding ethics
Posted by Merrilea Shields on February 03, 2002 at 23:58:31:Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002
Posted by Merrilea Shields on February 03, 2002 at 23:54:13:Quinte Area Bird Report - Feb. 03/02
Posted by Terry Sprague on February 03, 2002 at 19:26:08:New Ontario Bird Book
Posted by L.Sayers on February 03, 2002 at 11:27:51:Owls-Eider and Barrow's
Posted by Norm Murr on February 02, 2002 at 22:03:33:Re: European Goldfinch
Posted by Joyce on February 02, 2002 at 19:39:37:Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002
Posted by Theresa Dobko on February 02, 2002 at 16:26:08:Birding ethics
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on February 02, 2002 at 15:03:58:Re: Snowy owl in Toronto
Posted by Brendan on February 02, 2002 at 13:13:22:Pileated Woodpecker Attacks!!!
Posted by Holly on February 02, 2002 at 13:07:39:Re: Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002
Posted by Olaf Jogensen on February 02, 2002 at 12:11:47:bird lover in Toronto seeking male companion
Posted by Lucy Wu on February 01, 2002 at 22:36:43:Re: owl wychwood park
Posted by Mike Boyd on February 01, 2002 at 17:51:08:Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas Workshops - April 2002
Posted by Glenn Coady on February 01, 2002 at 15:00:58:owl wychwood park
Posted by john rahme on February 01, 2002 at 12:07:21:Re: Snowy owl harassment
Posted by Merrilea on January 31, 2002 at 12:48:01:Re: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler
Posted by Tyler on January 31, 2002 at 11:45:04:Re: Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler
Posted by Olaf Jorgensen on January 30, 2002 at 22:45:50:Re: Black-crowned Night Heron in High Park
Posted by Frank Pinilla on January 30, 2002 at 14:54:35:Re: Sibley on TV
Posted by Frank Pinilla on January 30, 2002 at 14:49:42:Snowy owlToronto Lewis's Woodpecker in Wooler
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 30, 2002 at 13:29:52:Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk
Posted by Don Peuramaki on January 30, 2002 at 07:20:31:Re: Re found Snowy Owl
Posted by GEORGE CAKE on January 29, 2002 at 10:36:17:Quinte Area Bird Report - Jan. 27/02
Posted by Terry Sprague on January 27, 2002 at 18:40:51:Sibley on TV
Posted by Martin M. on January 26, 2002 at 22:47:43:Turkeys and Ruddy Duck
Posted by Norm Murr on January 26, 2002 at 19:55:32:Black-crowned Night Heron in High Park
Posted by Ryan Young on January 26, 2002 at 17:35:01:Re found Snowy Owl
Posted by Craig on January 25, 2002 at 11:24:37:Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 25, 2002 at 10:03:32:Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk
Posted by Fred Urie on January 24, 2002 at 18:56:33:Re: cooper's hawk or northern goshawk
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on January 24, 2002 at 16:09:17:cooper's hawk or northern goshawk
Posted by Brendan on January 24, 2002 at 09:24:24:Ontbirds
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 23, 2002 at 08:49:33:Re: Eagles, Tyrkeys, Gulls and Swans
Posted by Norm Murr on January 21, 2002 at 18:12:01:Eagles, Tyrkeys, Gulls and Swans
Posted by Norm Murr on January 20, 2002 at 23:00:36:Quinte Area Bird Report - Jan. 20/02
Posted by Terry Sprague on January 20, 2002 at 19:23:37:Herons-Eagles-Sparrows
Posted by Norm Murr on January 19, 2002 at 23:31:46:Leslie st spit
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 19, 2002 at 18:04:28:birding trips around Toronto
Posted by Michael Orf on January 17, 2002 at 13:04:33:Spring Birding Class
Posted by B. Griffin on January 16, 2002 at 20:12:55:Re: Favourite 2001 Bird ???
Posted by Norm MUrr on January 16, 2002 at 18:41:19:Re: Favourite 2001 Bird ???
Posted by Frank Pinilla on January 15, 2002 at 17:01:51:Harlequin Duck @ Ashbridges bay
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on January 15, 2002 at 16:20:56:Re: Snowy Owl
Posted by Christina Greenough on January 14, 2002 at 23:13:53:Quinte Area Bird Report - Jan. 13/02
Posted by Terry Sprague on January 13, 2002 at 19:22:07:Richardson"s Geese
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 12, 2002 at 22:08:41:Re: White Headed House Finch - Brampton
Posted by Sven Karrgen on January 12, 2002 at 21:52:07:Re: Favourite 2001 Bird ???
Posted by Norm Murr on January 11, 2002 at 18:08:12:Re: Favourite 2001 Bird ???
Posted by Mike on January 11, 2002 at 00:51:46:Re: Snowy Owl
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on January 10, 2002 at 09:04:19:Snowy Owl
Posted by Joanne Brooker on January 10, 2002 at 08:23:36:Northern Goshawk in Mississauga
Posted by B. Griffin on January 09, 2002 at 16:48:40:Spotted Sandpiper Toronto
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on January 09, 2002 at 16:06:45:Re: Common or Hoary Redpoll ??
Posted by owen weir on January 06, 2002 at 19:36:11:Quinte Area Bird Report - Jan. 06/02
Posted by Terry Sprague on January 06, 2002 at 19:35:42:Golden Eagle - Mississauga
Posted by Mike Boyd on January 02, 2002 at 14:49:57:Results of the Toronto Christmas Bird Count
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on January 01, 2002 at 19:04:54:Warbler's in Toronto 01-01-02
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on January 01, 2002 at 18:46:25:Re: LaSalle Marina
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on January 01, 2002 at 18:33:59:Favourite 2001 Bird ???
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 31, 2001 at 17:57:05:Quinte Area Bird Report - Dec. 30/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on December 30, 2001 at 19:20:25:Leslie St Spit
Posted by Mike Boyd on December 29, 2001 at 20:14:07:Re: Hoary or Common
Posted by Merrilea Shields on December 28, 2001 at 20:16:45:Add on to post
Posted by Craig on December 28, 2001 at 09:55:15:Common or Hoary Redpoll ??
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 28, 2001 at 09:13:29:Re: Raven, Turkeys, Pine Grosbeaks, N. Shrike - Palgrave area - Wed Dec 26
Posted by Frank Pinilla on December 27, 2001 at 16:25:07:Raven, Turkeys, Pine Grosbeaks, N. Shrike - Palgrave area - Wed Dec 26
Posted by Frank Pinilla on December 27, 2001 at 14:53:12:LaSalle Marina
Posted by Mike Boyd on December 25, 2001 at 17:11:10:Quinte Area Bird Report - Dec. 23/00
Posted by Terry Sprague on December 23, 2001 at 19:00:13:Re: Leslie st spit today
Posted by Merrilea Shields on December 23, 2001 at 16:22:17:Leslie st spit today
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 23, 2001 at 13:46:56:Wiarton Birding?
Posted by Gavin W on December 23, 2001 at 12:46:53:Re: How to get to Stoney Creek?
Posted by Norm Murr on December 22, 2001 at 08:47:04:Re: How to get to Stoney Creek?
Posted by Norm Murr on December 22, 2001 at 08:41:37:How to get to Stoney Creek?
Posted by David on December 22, 2001 at 08:20:30:GTA Birds today
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on December 18, 2001 at 22:01:33:Thayer's & Iceland Gulls - Maple - Sat Dec 15
Posted by Frank Pinilla on December 17, 2001 at 15:58:26:Quinte Area Bird Report - Dec. 16/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on December 16, 2001 at 19:40:11:Re: Aberrant sparrow at Humber Bay East
Posted by John on December 16, 2001 at 12:04:37:birdwatching in toronto
Posted by Arpat Ozgul on December 16, 2001 at 11:46:32:Re: Flocking starlings
Posted by Paul Row. on December 13, 2001 at 19:34:56:Black-crowned Night-Herons - Thur Dec 13
Posted by Frank Pinilla on December 13, 2001 at 14:52:33:Re: Join the Ontario Bird Protection Group! New Members Always Welcome!!
Posted by Merrilea Shields on December 12, 2001 at 15:55:36:Mallard X A Wigeon
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on December 12, 2001 at 15:30:25:Re: Join the Ontario Bird Protection Group! New Members Always Welcome!!
Posted by William D. Jack on December 12, 2001 at 11:18:21:Join the Ontario Bird Protection Group! New Members Always Welcome!!
Posted by Merrilea Shields on December 11, 2001 at 22:21:22:Re: sighting of Pileated Woodpecker
Posted by Harry Guilford on December 10, 2001 at 14:53:07:Re: White Headed House Finch - Richmond Hill
Posted by Frank Pinilla on December 10, 2001 at 12:35:34:Quinte Area Bird Report
Posted by Terry Sprague on December 09, 2001 at 19:24:00:Common Redpolls
Posted by Martin M. on December 09, 2001 at 16:27:59:Re: Snowy Owls
Posted by Sarah on December 08, 2001 at 15:08:39:Toronto Ornithological Club Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Outing - January 12, 2002
Posted by Glenn Coady on December 06, 2001 at 16:40:36:Re: White Headed House Finch - Brampton
Posted by Frank Pinilla on December 05, 2001 at 17:23:26:CCFEW outing to Humber Bay Park - Saturday, December 15, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on December 05, 2001 at 10:47:48:Re: White Headed House Finch - Brampton
Posted by Tony Lang on December 05, 2001 at 10:42:03:White Headed House Finch - Brampton
Posted by Bob Noble on December 05, 2001 at 08:47:37:Brant on Toronto Island
Posted by Don Baxter on December 02, 2001 at 20:43:35:Quinte Area Bird Report - Dec. 02/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on December 02, 2001 at 19:38:51:winterbirding
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on December 01, 2001 at 19:45:45:Black-crowned Night-Herons near High Park - November 25, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 26, 2001 at 11:14:27:Sanderling at Sunnyside - Nov. 25, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 26, 2001 at 10:04:52:Quinte Area Bird Report - Nov. 25/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on November 25, 2001 at 19:00:53:Re: Owls
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 23, 2001 at 10:07:24:Re: Are owls at risk? Habitat loss IS the main concern
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 23, 2001 at 09:22:11:Re: Scaup ID
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 22, 2001 at 20:54:53:Green-winged teals, Mimico Creek Estuary
Posted by Merrilea Shields on November 22, 2001 at 19:07:57:Re: Are owls at risk? Habitat loss IS the main concern
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 22, 2001 at 17:38:46:Owls
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on November 22, 2001 at 17:16:00:Re: Are owls at risk? Perhaps, but not from J.K. Rowling
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 22, 2001 at 15:16:55:Re: Are owls at risk?
Posted by Derrick Marven on November 22, 2001 at 14:29:12:Re: Bird to identify
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 21, 2001 at 19:46:35:Re: Are owls at risk? Perhaps, but not from J.K. Rowling
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 21, 2001 at 19:44:02:Re: Are owls at risk?
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 21, 2001 at 19:43:48:shovellers at humber bay park
Posted by e chalmers on November 21, 2001 at 12:12:19:Re: Bird to identify
Posted by Piers M. Perren on November 21, 2001 at 11:53:44:Re: Are owls at risk?
Posted by Norm Murr on November 20, 2001 at 19:10:50:Re: Are owls at risk? Perhaps, but not from J.K. Rowling
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 20, 2001 at 16:51:56:Bird to identify
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 16:32:29:Re: Are owls at risk?
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on November 20, 2001 at 13:52:14:Are owls at risk?
Posted by Marcel Gahbauer on November 20, 2001 at 10:25:20:Re: European Goldfinch
Posted by Kenneth Walton on November 20, 2001 at 06:54:48:European Goldfinch
Posted by Kenneth Walton on November 20, 2001 at 06:38:11:Re: pileated woodpecker
Posted by betsy on November 19, 2001 at 13:40:38:Hawks and Grosbeaks in High Park
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on November 16, 2001 at 18:26:38:Winter finches
Posted by Tyler hoar on November 16, 2001 at 17:02:01:American Robins in Queen's Park
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 16, 2001 at 16:54:23:Re: Talk for Toronto Ornithological Club
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 16, 2001 at 09:11:19:Talk for Toronto Ornithological Club
Posted by Gunnar Engblom on November 16, 2001 at 04:00:23:Re: Unidentified duck, Pickering
Posted by Rick on November 12, 2001 at 13:26:37:Cape May Warblers at Humber Bay Park East - November 10, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on November 12, 2001 at 13:25:04:waterfowl identification
Posted by herbert parke on November 12, 2001 at 12:40:11:Quinte Area Bird Report - Nov. 11/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on November 11, 2001 at 19:37:11:White-winged Crossbills at Humber Bay Park
Posted by Merrilea Shields on November 11, 2001 at 12:37:48:Unidentified duck, Pickering
Posted by Parke on November 09, 2001 at 21:46:36:Redpolls
Posted by Keegan Corcoran on November 05, 2001 at 18:48:05:Redpolls
Posted by Keegan Corcoran on November 05, 2001 at 18:47:53:Cormorant Protection Group forming
Posted by Merrilea Shields on November 04, 2001 at 20:03:05:Quinte Area Bird Report - Nov. 04/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on November 04, 2001 at 19:48:40:Leslie Street Spit
Posted by Norm Murr on November 03, 2001 at 19:52:31:little gull Leslie st spit
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on November 03, 2001 at 16:27:35:Re: Richmond Hill Robins (none) - Thur Nov 1
Posted by Frank Pinilla on November 02, 2001 at 11:02:22:Re: Flocking starlings
Posted by Ann on November 02, 2001 at 08:40:56:Re: Richmond Hill Robins - Fri Oct 19
Posted by Frank Pinilla on November 01, 2001 at 13:28:28:Bald Eagles
Posted by Derrick Marven on October 31, 2001 at 17:06:22:Common Redpolls in Collingwood - 28/10/2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 31, 2001 at 14:02:41:Re: Flocking starlings
Posted by Ann on October 31, 2001 at 12:42:10:Re: Northern Flicker
Posted by David FIlipetto on October 31, 2001 at 06:33:24:what's up with ducks???
Posted by Jimmy Smith on October 28, 2001 at 21:52:57:Taquanyah C.A. and Selkirk P.P.
Posted by B. Griffin on October 28, 2001 at 20:21:06:Quinte AreaBird Report - Oct. 28/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on October 28, 2001 at 19:40:30:Oldsquaw (winter plummage) and Buffleheads
Posted by Merrilea Shields on October 28, 2001 at 18:39:12:Re: Rattray Marsh Pileated Woodpeckers
Posted by Nan Carton on October 28, 2001 at 17:19:24:Toronto Brant
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on October 27, 2001 at 20:43:34:Yellow-throated Warbler in Creemore
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 26, 2001 at 15:33:06:Re: Gulls at Sunnyside - Oct. 20, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 25, 2001 at 16:59:27:Lakeshore East of Palace Pier
Posted by Merrilea Shields on October 25, 2001 at 14:47:10:"Prada" Peregrines
Posted by P. Max Perren on October 25, 2001 at 10:49:41:Re: High Park Sparrows, Richmond Hill Robins - Fri Oct 19
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 24, 2001 at 14:46:27:Devorky at Sunnyside
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on October 24, 2001 at 12:55:32:Gulls at Sunnyside - Oct. 20, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 22, 2001 at 10:44:57:Merlin
Posted by P Max Perren on October 22, 2001 at 10:14:40:Quinte Area Bird Report - Oct. 21/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on October 21, 2001 at 19:56:15:High Park Sparrows, Richmond Hill Robins - Fri Oct 19
Posted by Frank Pinilla on October 19, 2001 at 23:26:56:Re: Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 18, 2001 at 15:44:27:Quinte Area Bird Report - Oct. 14/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on October 14, 2001 at 19:35:07:Orange-crowned Warblers in Dundas
Posted by Norm Murr on October 14, 2001 at 17:10:18:Long Point - Grebes to Blackbirds
Posted by Norm Murr on October 13, 2001 at 23:51:56:Ruff at Townsend (Jarvis)
Posted by Norm Murr on October 13, 2001 at 23:50:37:Re: European Goldfinch
Posted by Ronna Mogelon on October 10, 2001 at 17:04:23:Winter finch's
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on October 09, 2001 at 21:05:54:Merlin @ Keele & Bloor - October 9, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on October 09, 2001 at 10:17:43:Re: Leslie st spit Oct6,01
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on October 08, 2001 at 14:55:31:Quinte Area Bird Report
Posted by Terry Sprague on October 07, 2001 at 19:46:37:Re: Leslie st spit Oct6,01
Posted by Jan McDonald on October 07, 2001 at 15:24:42:Leslie st spit Oct6,01
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on October 07, 2001 at 09:06:08:Re: Red-headed Woodpecker
Posted by dion on October 05, 2001 at 15:52:17:Quinte Area Bird Report - Sept. 30/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on September 30, 2001 at 19:54:39:High Park today
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on September 30, 2001 at 18:32:45:Second Marsh/Darlington P.P. trip
Posted by B. Griffin on September 30, 2001 at 16:27:43:Leslie st spit (saterday)
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on September 30, 2001 at 09:10:39:8 Snow Geese, Richmond Hill - Sept 26
Posted by Frank Pinilla on September 28, 2001 at 11:49:45:Sutton Tract, Cambridge
Posted by Mike Boyd on September 23, 2001 at 23:07:10:Quinte Area Bird Report - Sept. 23/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on September 23, 2001 at 20:36:18:Bald Eagle's and Skippers
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on September 23, 2001 at 19:05:32:Toronto Island Outing - Sept.22
Posted by B. Griffin on September 23, 2001 at 13:25:37:Leslie Street Spit-Good Day of birding
Posted by Norm Murr on September 22, 2001 at 21:32:21:Re: Turkey Vultures
Posted by Dane Shubert on September 17, 2001 at 21:44:44:Re: Turkey Vultures
Posted by Dane Shubert on September 17, 2001 at 21:42:43:Leslle st spit today
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on September 16, 2001 at 19:55:26:Quinte Area Bird Report - Sept. 16/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on September 16, 2001 at 19:49:11:CCFEW Bird Outing at Colonel Sam Smith Park - September 16, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on September 16, 2001 at 16:01:10:Orange-crowned Warblers & Sedge Wren on Toronto Islands
Posted by Norm Murr on September 15, 2001 at 23:00:55:Re: Early September too early for Brant
Posted by Glenn Coady on September 12, 2001 at 15:02:32:Leslie St Spit - Sept 9 - Merlins, Canvasback, Sora
Posted by Frank Pinilla on September 10, 2001 at 16:14:05:Quinte Area Bird Report - Sept. 09/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on September 09, 2001 at 21:16:43:Hybrid??
Posted by Bill Halliday on September 09, 2001 at 18:52:00:Peel Birding Class- Fall 2001
Posted by B. Griffin on September 09, 2001 at 14:25:51:CCFEW Birding outing to Colonel Sam Smith Park - September 16, 2001
Posted by Glenn Coady on September 07, 2001 at 13:34:10:Re: Crow with white wing patches
Posted by Norm Murr on September 06, 2001 at 19:39:02:Re: Documenting Cinnamon Teal
Posted by Glenn Coady on September 05, 2001 at 12:52:16:Sandhill Crane's
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on September 04, 2001 at 20:39:04:Re: blackbirds
Posted by Norm Murr on September 04, 2001 at 18:30:47:blackbirds
Posted by lenn on September 03, 2001 at 21:29:15:Toronto Sabine's gull
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on September 03, 2001 at 16:48:00:Toronto Islands
Posted by Norm Murr on September 03, 2001 at 16:10:54:Quinte Area Bird Report - Sept. 02/01
Posted by Terry Sprague on September 02, 2001 at 19:50:38:Re: Leslie Street Spit - Birds & ants - Sat Aug 25
Posted by Glenn Coady on August 30, 2001 at 19:40:39:Re: Toronto Ornithological Club's JIm Baillie Memorial Bird Walks - CORRECTION
Posted by Glenn Coady on August 30, 2001 at 17:08:22:High Park Hawk Watch Begins Season
Posted by Howard Shapiro on August 29, 2001 at 20:59:50:Re: Toronto Ornithological Club's JIm Baillie Memorial Bird Walks
Posted by Maeve Barham on August 29, 2001 at 16:06:42:Re: Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on August 28, 2001 at 22:19:19:Re: Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on August 28, 2001 at 22:18:57:Common Nighthawk migration over High Park area truly massive last night
Posted by Glenn Coady on August 28, 2001 at 16:15:32:Hummingbirds in Toronto
Posted by alisa on August 28, 2001 at 15:02:32:Common Nighthawk Migration - Richmond Hill - Mon Aug 27
Posted by Frank Pinilla on August 28, 2001 at 13:12:55:Leslie Street Spit - Birds & ants - Sat Aug 25
Posted by Frank Pinilla on August 28, 2001 at 13:07:01:Night hawks in TO.
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on August 27, 2001 at 22:06:15:Night hawks in TO.
Posted by Craig Mclauchlan on August 27, 2001 at 22:05:46:Toronto Ornithological Club's JIm Baillie Memorial Bird Walks
Posted by Glenn Coady on August 27, 2001 at 16:15:05:Quinte Area Bird Report
Posted by Terry Sprague on August 26, 2001 at 19:50:37:Green Herons
Posted by Bill Halliday on August 26, 2001 at 17:57:50:Sharp shinned hawk in Lefroy
Posted by T Hego on August 26, 2001 at 10:30:40:Thickson's woods
Posted by Craig McLauchlan on August 25, 2001 at 15:44:12:WEST NILE VIRUS...please read the new news
Posted by Dock West on August 23, 2001 at 13:55:44:Common Nighthawk Migration over Richmond Hill - Aug 22
Posted by Frank Pinilla on August 23, 2001 at 10:13:38:blue jays and west Nile virus
Posted by Don Baxter on August 23, 2001 at 09:10:25:Re: spiders
Posted by wiggy on August 22, 2001 at 21:24:23:Common Nighthawks over High Park - Aug. 21/01
Posted by Glenn Coady on August 22, 2001 at 09:25:35:Re: Rare summering birds in west Toronto
Posted by Colleen on August 21, 2001 at 19:21:07:Re: Northern Flicker
Posted by Al Johnston on August 21, 2001 at 16:58:48:Northern Flicker
Posted by John Filipetto on August 20, 2001 at 21:24:04: