jmorrison@neocom.com
I have nothing to report today that hasn't already been covered. I do, however, have a comment. I've heard rumours of a proposed driving range at the foot of the spit... If any municipal decision makers should happen to read this...
Jay Morrison
jmorrison@neocom.com
I can confirm there was a Common Loon at Harbourfront on the 20th, and I saw 7 male and 5 female Red-Breasted Mergansers, several Cormorants and Common Terns at Ashbridges Bay, Friday the 26th. On Saturday the 27th, the Mergansers were still there, and I also saw two pairs of Oldsquaw, still in winter plumage.
Anouk Hoedeman
anouk@pathcom.com
There are apparently two great gray owls that have remained in the Brighton, Ontario area. We wonder if they may nest there?
The Toronto Rare Bird Hotline is an excellent source for rare bird sightings in the Toronto area and beyond. Call (416) 350-3000, and punch in 2293. Rare sightings reported across Ontario this weekend include tri-colored heron, swallow-tailed kite, Henslow's sparrow, glossy and white-faced ibis, Eurasian wigeons, and harlequin ducks.
Donald Davis
Donald_Davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca
Today I saw several red-breasted mergansers, a few large flocks of oldsquaw left (most of them far out), 3 horned grebes, some white winged scoters, some buffleheads, several mallards and canada geese, a pair of common terns circling the marina, lots of ring-billed gulls, with some bonaparte's gulls mixed in with them, and one glaucous gull, lots of cormorants both fishing and flying, lots of tree swallows (some of which came quite close), song and field sparrows, a house finch, killdeer. I saw all of these before the first pond.
Mike Boyd
hboyd@sentex.com
Cold weather, persistent rain, and snow flurries yesterday greeted migrating birds in the Quinte area this past week.
Prince Edward County's first record of an EURASIAN WIGEON was made by Eric Michelle at Prince Edward Point on Thursday. The individual, a male, was seen only briefly as it swam out of the harbour and out into Lake Ontario.
Up to 9 LITTLE GULLS were also spotted at the point this week, along with 900 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS, a MERLIN on April 26th, and 2 HOUSE WRENS yesterday.
Bill Aitken and Myrna Wood found a BROWN THRASHER at Little Bluff Conservation Area, east of South Bay yesterday and another was seen at Prince Edward Point the same day. They also found an UPLAND SANDPIPER on Middle Road, also near South Bay.
Warbler numbers have not increased appreciably since last week's report with only PINE, PALM and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS present in the Quinte area to date, and a probable BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER.
All five species of swallows are now present in the Quinte area - TREE, BARN, BANK, ROUGH-WINGED and CLIFF. On Saturday, close to 250 BARN SWALLOWS were observed swooping for insects at Sandbanks Provincial Park. PURPLE MARTINS are also back and investigating the housing situation.
Marc Johnson had a NORTHERN GOSHAWK outside his home south of Belleville Wednesday. And yesterday, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was greeting campers lining up for campsite reservations at Sandbanks.
This report will be updated May 5th , and every Sunday thereafter.
Your reports are welcome and encouraged. Please e-mail tsprague@connect.reach.net
Terry Sprague
tsprague@connect.reach.net
The Cormorants are back along the Toronto Harbourfront. I've seen several since Saturday (20th). Last Saturday I also saw what I think was a Common Loon. Haven't seen it since. There are still several Oldsquaw hanging around at the West end of Queen's Quay. Most of the Oldsquaw are now showing their summer colours.
J. Chris Clark
cclark@djttd.com
Great Grays lingering and slowly filtering to north end. Hawk movements reular to good, depending on weather. Red-shouldered Hawks on territory and incubating. Cooper's Hawks, Sharp-shinned, Rough-legged and Red-tails moving through. Sandhill Cranes observed throughout the Peninsula. Tundra Swans are touching down in fields for brief stop overs. Loggerhead Shrikes observed in several locations. Brewer's Blackbirds back on territories along Highway # 6. Sparrows of all persuasions.
Looking forward to end of winter soon!!
Mark Wiercinski
markw@log.on.ca
My best birding buddy, Roy Forrester, and I have been visiting the sewage lagoons at Port Perry, several times a year, for many years and have found them to usually be very productive, especially during the spring and fall. We visited them this morning, April 24th, and saw the following birds over the two hour period it took us to walk all the ponds:
Numerous - Buffleheads, Ring-necks, Lesser and Greater Scaup, Mallards, and Blue-winged Teal. 6 Gadwall, 12 Northern Shovellers and a few Canadas. 100's of Boneparte's Gulls, a Ring- billed Gull, 42 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Killdeer, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 3 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Caspian Tern, Song and Savannah Sparrows, Starlings, 1 Blue Heron, 1 Kestrel, Crows, Bluejays, a Cardinal, Robins and 1000's of Tree Swallows.
We felt we had a very successful morning. Anyone interested in visiting the lagoons, take Simcoe St. north out of Port Perry to the Scugog 8th line (the first road north after you leave Port Perry). Turn left onto the 8th and follow it to the lagoons (about .5 miles).
Bill Bunting
bunting@osha.igs.net
At 1600 EDT at our farm 1 km north of Hammertown (northeast of Bolton), we had a common egret stop for a meal. The spring peepers are out as of a few days ago and there are always the minnows. It is a beautiful bird.
Phil the Forecaster Chadwick
chadwickp@aestor.am.doe.ca
WEEKLY FLORA AND FAUNA REPORT FROM THE QUINTE AREA - Sunday, April 21, 1996
The news this week is mainly from Prince Edward Point as that is where the action seems to be. An almost "earliest ever" SOLITARY VIREO was banded there Friday. Also showing up there on the 19th were PINE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, HERMIT THRUSH, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WINTER WREN, CHIPPING SPARROW, FIELD SPARROW AND FOX SPARROW. In total, 107 birds were banded Friday, representing 68 species.
More than 150 NORTHERN FLICKERS were present there also this Friday, along with WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, HORNED GREBE, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER, MERLIN and all four species of swallows.
Saturday was no less spectacular despite the rain with RED-NECKED GREBES, 4 SURF SCOTERS - and the best find of all - a female KING EIDER.
An OSPREY was seen at the Black River in Milford, and at Beaver Meadow Conservation Area at East Lake, south of Picton, a pair of OSPREYS are nesting in an abandoned GREAT BLUE HERON nest. Beaver Meadow also produced WOOD DUCKS this week.
The SAY'S PHOEBE at Cressy, east of Lake-on-the-Mountain Provincial Park, turned up again at 5:00 p.m., April 18, but its appearances are very few and far between. A check there Friday turned up nothing, but it was likely lost amongst the hundreds of BROWN CREEPERS that were seen there scurrying up the trunks of trees and the sides of nearby barns and outbuildings.
Trenton birder Albert Boisvert who recently suffered a heart attack and drove himself to the hospital, proved you can't keep a dyed-in-the-wool birder in bed. He was out and about this past week and chalked up 43 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 10 CASPIAN TERNS, several NORTHERN FLICKERS and "tons" of RING-NECKED DUCKS at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. He also found an EASTERN TOWHEE, 45 GREEN-WINGED TEAL and a BLUE-WINGED TEAL at Barcovan Beach, between Presqu'ile and Prince Edward County. EASTERN MEADOWLARKS and SAVANNAH SPARROW were both checked off in the small community of Gardenville, east of Presqu'ile.
The Big Island Marsh on the north shore of the Bay of Quinte received COMMON SNIPE and AMERICAN BITTERN this past week.
This report will be updated April 28 , and every Sunday thereafter.
Your reports are welcome and encouraged. Please e-mail tsprague@connect.reach.net
Terry Sprague
tsprague@connect.reach.net
There is now a Eurasian Wigeon just south of Alliston. For directions, see following post.
John Schmelefske
jschm@hopserv.interhop.net
Rare Bird Alert:
Just a note to report a sighting of 5 Greater White-Fronted Geese. They
are south of Alliston. Take Hwy 89 west through Alliston. Turn south at King
St. Go south 6.7 km. On the west side (right) is a large flooded field
beside a farm wharehouse. On the other side of the wharehouse is a partially
flooded corn field. The geese are foraging there. There are a number of
other waterfowl including mallard, black duck, green and blue-winged teal,
pintail and Canada geese. The birds feed on the corn and overnight in the
flooded field. There was a flock of tundra swans there for about two weeks,
but they left 5 or 6 days ago.
John Schmelefske
jschm@hopserv.interhop.net
Ian Cook, D.V.M, Barrie, Ontario, reports the sighting of a tufted duck in an ever widening patch of open water on Kempenfelt Bay, just off Centennial Park. This bird was reported on April 16th in rec.birds.
He can be reached at: icookdvm@bconnex.net
Don Davis
donald_davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca
A little bit of the dull and a bit of the exciting in this week's report from the Quinte area.
Ducks continue to show up in Prince Edward County as the frozen lakes and bays give way to warmer temperatures. However, nothing new as far as species go. The flooded field near the Bloomfield Marsh which last week had birders checking off PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIDGEONS, BLACK DUCKS, MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS AND CANADA GEESE is now dry! Only two somewhat puzzled RING-BILLED GULLS were all that remained on Wednesday.
In other waterfowl news, an estimated 1,000 red-necked grebes were seen at Cobourg late this week. April 11, there were about 12,000 ducks, geese and swans of 24 species at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. Close to 2,000 GREATER SCAUP were tallied at South Bay, just west of Prince Edward Point, April 13th.
NORTHERN HARRIERS have increased dramatically over the extensive Prince Edward County marshes and adjacent meadows, and a COOPER'S HAWK was observed at Prince Edward Point. BELTED KINGFISHERS were seen last week at both Prince Edward Point amd near Picton.
A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was seen April 12th just north of Picton, a species which appears to be settling in nicely in Prince Edward County with several pair nesting each summer.
The first SAVANNAH SPARROW of the spring season was chalked up April 13th at Prince Edward Point by Bill Aitken and Myrna Wood. And from there, things get somewhat interesting. They also reported what they confidently believed to have been a LEAST FLYCATCHER, which, if correct, would represent an arrival more than two weeks early of the earliest ever date for this species! But stranger things do, and did, happen. West of this location, on Middle Road, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were still around, a species not normally observed after the end of March. It is unknown how many in the flock of 40 waxwings were BOHEMIANS, but there were quite a few positively identified.
But the most incredible sighting came yesterday, April 13th with the second appearance of a SAY'S PHOEBE, at Cressy, west of Picton. The bird appeared at precisely the same house, as did one November 24, 1994 and which stayed until January 7, 1995, and attracted more than 250 observers. Unfortunately, this most recent sighting did not show up again today, and it is impossible to know if it too will set the same rigid routine that the 1994-1995 bird did, appearing at precisely 10:00 a.m., and leaving before noon. Those wishing to take a chance on this sighting can try looking toward the Ferguson home near the Cressy Church, directly across from a small cattail marsh, about five km east of Lake-on-the-Mountain. The residents of the house are very accommodating, but ask that observers not park on the lawn and to do their observing from the roadside.
That another SAY'S PHOEBE would turn up at the same location is bizarre enough; but the possibility that this may be the same individual that survived the winter of 1994-95 to show up again is even more incredible!
Your reports are welcome and encouraged. Please e-mail tsprague@connect.reach.net
Terry Sprague
tsprague@connect.reach.net
I have seen one mocking bird (which was repeatedly chasing a robin), a turkey vulture, and a Eastern phobe all in Oakville north of upper middle road near the sixteen mile creek.
Mike Boyd
hboyd@sentex.com
Yesterday, April 11, I saw my first osprey of the season at highway 36 and the Little Bob channel. Heard my first loon of the season calling the same evening, calling from over on Pigeon Lake. Saw a woodcock flying across a small alvar on the south shore of Sturgeon Lake. Also April 11.
First turkey vulture flew over the Little Bob channel around March 13. Have seen 6 to 8 since. Tonight saw a Northern Harrier on Cty Road 8 just east of Hgwy 121 (2-3 km NE of Fenelon Falls) Four sightings of Great Grey Owls off highway 649 north of Bobcaygeon, from mid February to mid March.
John Bird
box.655@knet.flemingc.on.ca, Bobcaygeon@knet.flemingc.on.ca,
There are still about 12,000 ducks geese and swans from 24 species around Presqu'ile Provincial Park - including 11 tundra swans. Double-crested cormorant numbers have risen to 44.
Bird species #314 for the park - wild turkey - was spotted in the Calf Pasture on April 7th. On April 10th, 2 turkeys were found at the bend in the park road near the park store. The first snipe of the season was found yesterday.
Chorus and wood frogs are now singing. Leopard frogs are now emerging.
Migrating monarch butterflies have now reached the state of Alabama. Check out the progress birds and animals are making on their track northward at the Journey North Site: http://www.learner.org/k12.
Congratulations to the winners of the draw held during the Presqu'ile Waterfowl Festival. Shawna Downer of Belleville won a Bushnell Spacemaster Spotting Scope and Tripod valued at $704.00. Jen Line of Nepean won Bushnell Natureview Binoculars valued at $275.00.
Don Davis
donald_davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca
Migrating ducks continue to be the order of the day. Adjacent to the Bloomfield Marsh, on Church Street leading to Wesley Acres Church Camp, a flooded field there contained massive numbers of BLACK DUCKS, MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, AMERICAN WIDGEONS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS AND CANADA GEESE ON April 1ST. WOOD DUCKS have also arrived judging from the scattered reports received this past week. Five were seen in one group at Prince Edward Point, April 5 and two were present at Presqu'ile today. BLACK SCOTERS have also been seen at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. New arrivals at Presqu'ile today were 2 COMMON LOONS, GADWALL, and 1 AMERICAN COOT. Six TUNDRA SWANS and 3 MUTE SWANS were also seen.
The best find today was a WILD TURKEY which, despite the numbers present on the mainland and in nearby Prince Edward County, is a brand new species for Presqu'ile. It was discovered at Calf Pasture Point.
GREAT GRAY OWL reports have dwindled down to practically nothing indicating that many have already returned to their northern nesting grounds. The GREAT GRAY OWL at Presqu'ile, normally seen on Ontario Street, was last seen on April 5th, but had moved to the area near the Camp Office..
Prince Edward Point is THE hot spot in the Quinte area for densities of migrating birds, especially the Passeriformes. Already, things are starting to happen down there. TURKEY VULTURES, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, EASTERN PHOEBE, BELTED KINGFISHER and PEREGRINE FALCON were seen there earlier this past week.
EASTERN BLUEBIRD, 2 EASTERN PHOEBE, 2 RED-THROATED LOONS, and BELTED KINGFISHER and plenty of BROWN CREEPERS have also turned up at Presqu'ile. At Beaver Meadow Wildlife Management Area, south of Picton, Bill Aitken and Myrna Wood found GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS AND GREEN-WINGED TEAL April 5.
The migration struggles along despite the cool temperatures with EASTERN MEADOWLARKS turning up with increasing frequency. Paul Thompson observed a flock of TREE SWALLOWS, approximately 50 to 75 birds, skimming over the Trent River at Glenn Miller, just north of Trenton.
.............And then it snowed on April 7th! But according to Marc Johnson, spring is determined. He found WILD LEEKS and BLUE-EYED GRASS peeking through the snow this morning at Presqu'ile.
Terry Sprague
tsprague@telos.ca
Great grey owl spotted on River Road, Napanee, Ontario. Tuesday, April 2/96 by Fran Hounslow.
Jim Hounslow
jimhoun@YorkU.CA
At High Park today I saw about 30 different bird species. The most notable among them included 2 male Wood Ducks and 5 black-crowned night-herons in one of the small southern ponds. As well, on Grenadier Pond there was 6 Northern Shovellers, an American Coot, some Gadwall and most notably a female Ringed-necked Duck.
At the humber marsh all 3 species of merganser were present. And at Humber Bay East a Tundra Swan is associating with its more domesticated Mute Swan cousins in the area near the parking lot where people feed the ducks.
Earlier in the week on Monday, April 1,1996 I saw a Turkey Vulture at the Mount Pleasant Cemetary (no joking). A little more walking to the Don Valley brickworks was rewarded with flocks of Golden-Crowned Kinglets and my first Eastern Phoebe of the season. I hope this weekend's snow isn't going to disturb them too much.
Carla Shapiro
cshapiro@astral.magic.ca
Despite the cool temperatures, migrants continue to arrive in the Belleville/Prince Edward County area. Eastern Meadowlarks, Tree Swallows, and Turkey Vultures are here in good numbers. Today, Wood Ducks, Double-crested Cormorants, Peregrine Falcon and Eastern Phoebe were seen at Prince Edward Point; Golden-crowned Kinglets and Belted Kingfisher at Beaver Meadow Conservation Area, south of Picton; and Pintails, Northern Shovelers, and American Wigeon in a flooded ploughed field near the Bloomfield Marsh.
Terry Sprague
tsprague@telos.ca
Although delayed by the recent OPSEU strike, the second weekend planned for the Presqu'ile Waterfowl Festival - largest interpretive event in the Ontario provincial parks system - is going ahead as scheduled. From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on April 5,6,7, staff and volunteer naturalist will be helping visitors identify up to 25 species of ducks, geese and swans from various stations throughout the park. On Monday, over 16,000 waterfowl from 24 species, including a number of tundra swans, were counted around the peninsula. On the weekend, highlights included an endangered loggerhead shrike and new spring migrants such as eastern phoebe. Also, the great gray owl at the foot of Ontario Street made its regular appearance.
Back again this year are the popular "DUCK TRUCK" mobile viewing stations. A display of nature photographs and the winning entries to the Presqu'ile Waterfowl Poster contest, as well as the popular "Wonderful Waterfowl Adventure " children's activity round out this year's activities. "Don Duck" will be on hand to greet visitors.
The Friends of Presqu'ile Nature shop will be open, with a special commemorative T-shirt for sale, along with popular publications such as "Birds of Presqu'ile". Bushnell Sports Optics have donated some fine optical equipment for a draw. As well, the Brighton Rotary Club will again be providing light refreshments. An entry fee of three dollars per vehicle will be charged and visitors are advised to dress warmly in order to most fully enjoy their outing.
While at the Lighthouse Viewing Station, you will see work concluding on the new, $600,000. Presqu'ile Lighthouse Interpretive Centre. Also, the new 1996 park tabloid is available. Looking over to Gull Island from Owen Point at the thousands and thousands of colonial waterbirds there, one might spot a glaucous or Iceland gull, or some other rare specie.
In all, up to twenty-five different types of waterfowl and tens of thousands of individual ducks, geese, and swans will pass through Presqu'ile Park this spring. This sight is surely one of Ontario's great natural wonders. Be sure to "JOIN THE FLOCK AT THE PRESQU'ILE WATERFOWL FESTIVAL!".
FOR MORE INFORMATION , CONTACT DON TYERMAN, CHIEF NATURALIST, AT (613) 475-4324. E-MAIL (INCOMING MAIL ONLY): parkpr@epo.gov.on.ca
Donald Davis
Donald_Davis@stubbs.woodsworth.utoronto.ca