[Ontbirds]Whimbrel count
A quick update on whimbrel numbers. I was in the CSSP on Sat, May 26th from
3.00 pm to 500 pm, and saw two small flocks of about 30 whimbrels each, for
a total of sixty. Not huge numbers, but nevertheless interesting. Also,
there was one Northern Mockingbird, amongst a lot of other more usual stuff.
Jim Sheppard
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Today's Topics:
1. Marbled Godwit still at St.-Isidore Sewage Lagoon (PETER HALL)
2. Am White Pelicans still around (Slavik, Emily (MNR))
3. Huron Fringe Birding Report (mike pickup)
4. Toronto Islands - Mourning Warblers and Flycatchers (Norman Murr)
5. Summer Tanager, Amherst Island (Gregg Miller)
6. Ottawa/Gatineau 25May07... Glossy Ibis, Marbled Godwit,
Red-necked Phalarope, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Palm Warbler
(Gordon Pringle)
7. Acadian Flycatcher - High Park in Toronto (Jean Iron)
8. Flycatcher (Kurt Rostek)
9. nw shoreline of Lake Ontario: Whimbrel update & synopsis.
(Wayne Renaud)
- Presqu'ile LBB Gull, Peregrine, small number of shorebirds
(Doug McRae)
Message: 1
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 12:18:50 -0400 (EDT)
From: PETER HALL halljp@rogers.com
Subject: [Ontbirds]Marbled Godwit still at St.-Isidore Sewage Lagoon
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: 781766.30350.qm@web88111.mail.re2.yahoo.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
Hi Ontbirders:
The Marbled Godwit was still showing well at the St. Isidore Sewage
Lagoon as of 10:30 am today. He was on the far shore of the cell on the
right as you enter the site. Also present were large numbers of
Semi-palmated Plovers and smaller numbers of other shorebirds, including
breeding plumage Black-bellied and American Golden Plovers.
Directions:
From highway 417 take exit 51 and go north. At St-Isidore turn left
on
Parent St. At second stop sign cross Cty Rd 3 and continue on Bourgon
Rd.
The lagoons are at the end of this road.
Good birding
Peter Hall
Message: 2
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 13:35:07 -0400
From: "Slavik, Emily (MNR)" emily.slavik@ontario.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds]Am White Pelicans still around
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID:
26817EEB3AD5814C800FBEF7E7797F966756B0@CTSPITDCEMMVX07.cihs.ad.gov.on.ca
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American White Pelicans are still being seen. Today they have been
spotted flying around the north section of the park and out into the
lake.
Male Cerulean seen and heard today (1pm) on Tulip Tree Trail at post #6
along with a pair of Prothonotary's on boardwalk E.
Happy birding!
Emily Slavik
A/ Natural Heritage Education Specialist
18050 Rondeau Park Road
RR#1 Morpeth, ON
N0P 1X0
Ph - 519-674-1774
Fax - 519-674-1755
Message: 3
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 13:58:18 -0400
From: "mike pickup" mpickup@bmts.com
Subject: [Ontbirds]Huron Fringe Birding Report
To: "ontbirds" ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: 000701c79ef6$47469560$2e00a8c0@pickup
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Today is the first day of the Huron Fringe Birding Festival. The cloudy
rainy day did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants as all were
eager to get started on the many hikes that are available.
On a hike around the Visitor Centre this morning, few warblers were
present.
Birds seen were
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Scarlet Tanager (pair)
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Great-crested Flycatcher
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-eyed Vireo
Red-breasted Merganser
Common Merganser
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Spotted Sandpiper
Birds seen earlier in the week from Kincardine area
Dunlin
Greater Yellowlegs
Spotted Sandpiper
Scarlet Tanager
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Indigo Bunting
and from MacGregor Park
Alder Flycatcher
Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Yours in birding
Mike Pickup
Directions
To reach MacGregor Point Provincial Park. From Hwy #21 south of Port
Elgin,
turn west on 4th Conc. Saugeen and follow the signs to the Park.
To reach the Kincardine Lagoons. From Hwy #21 south of Kincardine, turn
west
on Saratoga Rd. and follow the dirt road to a parking area at the Rail
Trail. The lagoons and trail are on the your right.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++
The HURON FRINGE BIRDING FESTIVAL takes place every year at MacGregor
Point
Provincial Park.
This year the 10th Annual Festival takes place MAY 25 TO JUNE 3, 2007
There
are over 80 events and over 40 top notch leaders. The migration corridor
along the shore of Lake Huron known as "The Huron Fringe", extending from
Kincardine to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula is the area we cover. Our
birding hikes, presentations and workshops are lead by very competent
birders and naturalists from all over Ontario and Michigan. All birders
and
naturalists from the beginner to the more advanced will find something to
pique their interests.
Birds of Prey with Ross Snider, Sabrina and Scooter (flying Sqirrels) with
Steve Patterson, the truth about Bats with Erin Fraser and Wonderful Wings
with Chris Guglielmo a talk on migration are some of the evening events
that
naturalists will find entertaining.
To find out more about our program and down load a registration form,
visit
the Friends of MacGregor Point web site.
Spaces on our some of our events are still available. Sign up at the Park.
http://www.friendsofmacgregor.org
(Click on "Birding Festival" and then on "Events")
for accommodation in Saugeen Shores visit
http://www.sunsets.com
Message: 4
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 15:14:43 -0400
From: "Norman Murr" normurr@sympatico.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds]Toronto Islands - Mourning Warblers and Flycatchers
To: "ONTBIRDS" ontbirds@hwcn.org
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Good afternoon
This morning I thought I would try the Toronto Islands once more despite
the forecast. I moved right along hoping I wouldn't get caught in the
predicted showers, I didn't and hopefully get to a ferry dock before the
thunderstorms, I did. If I had of known that the showers wouldn't happen and
that the rain would hold off I would have walked a lot slower and tarried at
some spots.
I did stop and look long enough to find 12 warbler species including 5
Mourning, Canada, Blackpoll and Wilson's. I also came up with 7 Flycatcher
species including Yellow-bellied, Willow, Alder and my first Wood Pewees on
The Islands this year. All of the Flycatchers were calling so it was easy to
identify them for once. It was nice to hear the Pewees.
The surprise for the day was 2 Northern Mockingbirds. As far as I know
they do not breed on The Islands and with that in mind they are late
migrants, at least my latest down there.
Just before catching the ferry back to the city from Hanlans an adult
male Peregrine Falcon decided to harass all the birds feeding on or near the
Island Airfield.
Directions:-
TORONTO ISLANDS (Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5
km)
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 at 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 ($6.00 adult / $3.50 for
seniors & students) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416)
392-8193. There are washrooms on the islands as well as the city side at the
ferry docks and you can pick up a schedule at the docks or check on line.
The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and
the 2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday.
The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday, Sunday
and Holidays.
The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 8:00 am and the 2nd boat is at 8:30 am
Monday to Friday.
The 1st is at 8:15 am and the 2nd boat is at 9:15 am on Saturday, Sunday
and Holidays.
If arriving in early am you must obtain your ticket from a machine just
inside the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and/or 25 cent coins
before you arrive at the docks as there is no place to get change and the
machine does not make change. (There is a change machine (up to a $10 bill)
there if you want to chance it).
There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on the
northwest corner and they are open early. food and beverages on The Islands
when open are very expensive i.e. soft drink around $2.50 ( now $3.00). If
you are birding from Wards the soft drink machine beside the fire station
sells juice, iced tea, etc. for $1.00.
For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site.
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
"Sils mordent, mords les"From bruce.dilabio@sympatico.ca Fri May 25
15:48:18 2007
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From: "Bruce Di Labio" bruce.dilabio@sympatico.ca
To: "ontario birds" ontbirds@hwcn.org
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 15:48:41 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Pakenham: Red-headed Woodpeckers
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Hi Everyone
The Red-headed Woodpeckers near Pakenham are back near the corner of Shaw
Road and 12th Conc. N. Pakenham Rd. They are at the south west corner of
the
intersection in a wood lot . They have nested in this area since 2002.
The
woodlot is private property and the woodpeckers are easily viewed from the
road.
good birding
Bruce
Directions: From Ottawa take Highway 417 west towards Arnprior and exit at
- Take Kinburn Side Road west to Pakenham. Turn right on CR 29 and
drive
8.0 km and then turn left on Shaw Road. Continue 1.3 km further on it to
the
junction of Shaw Road and 12th Conc.N. Pakenham Rd.
Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O.Box 538
Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0
(613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell
Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/
Message: 5
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 16:44:27 -0400
From: "Gregg Miller" greggmary@cogeco.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds]Summer Tanager, Amherst Island
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: 000801c79f0d$7c6eb5d0$6400a8c0@gregg
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Amherst Island this morning, 66 species including an adult male Summer
Tanager, Upland Sandpiper, Philadelphia Vireo. Many Warbler species
including Blackburnian and Canada Warbler. Lots of shore birds, Dunlin,
White Rumped Sandpiper, Wilson's Phalarope etc. See blog for pictures at
www.nightofthekingfisher.blogspot.com
Amherst Island is reached by ferry ($8.00!) from Milhaven. All sightings
were left off the ferry. Tanager was seen on clothesline at house with
beautiful stone wall on the north shore.From bouvier@magma.ca Fri May 25
18:28:15 2007
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From: "Jacques Bouvier" bouvier@magma.ca
To: "ontario birds" ontbirds@hwcn.org
References: 004401c72a3b$2845f960$0200a8c0@desktop
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Subject: [Ontbirds]NO Marbled Godwit at Alfred but YES a WILLET
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Yesterday and today I did not see the Marbled Godwit at St-Isidore or
Alfred. Others have seen it at St-Isidore, so the bird is present but
moving around.
From 5 pm until I left at 5:30 pm, I saw the WILLET from the viewing
tower;
it was along the east shore of the east cell. Please do not go inside the
lagoon gates unless you have your annual permit. Such action will
jeopardize
the excellent relations that presently exist between the municipality and
birders!
A distant photo of the Willet can be seen here
http://jacquesbouvier.blogspot.com ( ...or in just a few minutes...).
DIRECTIONS:
From the town of Alfred go east on Highway 17, then turn
south on Peat Moss Road and drive for 2 km. The lagoons are on your left
(east side of road). The birds are best observed from the viewing tower.
Access to the viewing tower is free and no permit is required.
Entrance to the lagoons is prohibited unless in the possession of a valid
ANNUAL PERMIT. The permit can be purchased on week days from the Alfred
town
office just beside the fire station. Arrangements can also be made to
receive the permit by fax by contacting Richard Villeneuve at (613)
679-2292.
Jacques Bouvier
CP/Box 184
St-Isidore, ON K0C 2B0
(613) 524-1154
bouvier@magma.ca
miroisont@gmail.com
http://jacquesbouvier.blogspot.com
http://www.jacquesbouvier.ca
Message: 6
Date: Fri, 25 May 2007 20:56:48 -0400
From: Gordon Pringle parula@magma.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds]Ottawa/Gatineau 25May07... Glossy Ibis, Marbled
Godwit, Red-necked Phalarope, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Palm Warbler
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: 20070526005650.4D6BE63492@king.hwcn.org
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
- RBA
- Ontario
- Ottawa/Gatineau
- 25 May 2007
- ONOT0705.25
- Birds mentioned
Snow Goose
Brant
Redhead
White-winged Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Ruddy Duck
Red-necked Grebe
GLOSSY IBIS
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Solitary Sandpiper
MARBLED GODWIT
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Wilson's Phalarope
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
Black-billed Cuckoo
Red-headed Woodpecker
Philadelphia Vireo
Sedge Wren
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Golden-winged Warbler
PALM WARBLER
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Lincoln's Sparrow
Indigo Bunting
- Transcript
hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
date: 25 May 2007
number: 613-860-9000
for the status line : press 2
for rare bird alerts: press 1
to report a sighting: press #
coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Can. Nat. Capital Reg.), E.Ont., W.Que.
compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis hagenius@primus.ca
internet: Gordon Pringle parula@magma.ca
THE OTTAWA FIELD-NATURALISTS' CLUB BIRD STATUS LINE @ 5:00 PM, FRIDAY MAY
25,
This is Chris Lewis reporting.
Another interesting week with lots of reports of bird activity, both
in and outside of the
Ottawa-Gatineau 50k circle.
The St-Isidore and Alfred sewage lagoons (both "outside") were very
productive.
A MARBLED GODWIT found at St-Isidore on the 20th lingered until at least
the
25th; the same or another was discovered at Alfred on the 23rd as well.
Alfred
also hosted a very late Snow Goose, other waterfowl here included 9
Redhead
and over 75 Ruddy Ducks, and numerous shorebirds were present at both
sites,
with both Black-bellied and American Golden Plover in breeding plumage
being new arrivals at St-Isidore on the 25th.
Within the 50k, a GLOSSY IBIS at the Casselman sewage lagoons may finally
be
heading in the right direction. A bird discovered here on the 21st is
probably
the same one that turned up farther south at the Winchester sewage lagoons
on the 23rd and was last seen heading south again that afternoon. Twelve
species of shorebirds at Winchester on the 23rd included 5
Black-bellied Plovers,
1 Solitary and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 6 Wilson's Phalaropes and 1
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. Of our expected spring migrants, only Semipalmated
Sandpipers have yet to be reported.
The Ottawa River attracted several water birds on the 22nd. 200
White-winged
Scoters and 8 Long-tailed Ducks were at Shirley's Bay, 26 White-winged
Scoters
and 9 Red-necked Grebes were seen from the Britannia filtration plant, and
100
Brant were at Constance Bay on the 24th. Also, in the village of
Constance
Bay, in the old burn area off Whistler St., 3 adult Red-headed Woodpeckers
were observed here on the 23rd. Another pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers
has returned to the Pakenham area near Shaw Rd. and 12th Concession N as
of the 25th.
Visits to other "traditional" breeding areas produced several reports of
Black-billed Cuckoo, Golden-winged Warbler and Eastern Towhee mainly in
the
Carp hills along the Thomas Dolan Parkway. A report of a YELLOW-BILLED
CUCKOO
came from this area on the 21st. A colony of Sedge Wrens is back near
#4104
Torbolton Ridge Rd as of the 22nd. Gatineau Park and the Lac Lablanche
area
on the Quebec side were as usual good locations for Philadelphia Vireo and
Mourning Warbler. Two "yellow" PALM WARBLERS and a few Lincoln's Sparrows
are
also back on territory in the Mer Bleue near the conservation area
boardwalk.
Passerines in transit included Philadelphia Vireo and Indigo Bunting
at Britannia,
a Gray-cheeked Thrush along the Ottawa River Parkway near Tunney's Pasture
on the 23rd and a large number of Swainson's Thrushes heard in flight in
the
wee hours of the 24th. A good selection of warblers continued to be noted
in
Britannia and other locations during the week including Bay-breasted,
Blackpoll, Wilson's and Canada.
Thank you - Good Birding!
- End transcript
Message: 7
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 07:39:12 -0400
From: Jean Iron jeaniron@sympatico.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds]Acadian Flycatcher - High Park in Toronto
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: 7.0.1.0.1.20070526072334.01bf7138@sympatico.ca
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed
Tom Flinn just called (7:25 a.m.) to report an Acadian Flycatcher in
Toronto's High Park. It was actively singing its "pizza" song. It's
half way along the east side of "upper duck pond" (one with brick
wall) in the southeast part of the park. Hope I have this correct.
High Park is on the west side of Toronto north of the Gardner
Expressway, south of Bloor Street and west of Parkside. Please consult a
map.
Ron Pittaway (for Tom)
Toronto ON
Message: 8
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 08:06:39 -0400
From: Kurt Rostek lokart@sympatico.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds]Flycatcher
To: ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org
Message-ID: 465822CF.5050401@sympatico.ca
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Great Crested Flycatcher in rosedale valley Toronto.
Message: 9
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 08:47:30 -0400
From: Wayne Renaud wayne@renaudwebber.com
Subject: [Ontbirds]nw shoreline of Lake Ontario: Whimbrel update &
synopsis.
To: ontbirds@hwcn.org
Message-ID: C27DA4A2.7244%wayne@renaudwebber.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
On a clearer and cooling morning, I made the morning trek to CSSP in a
last
ditch erfort to see if there were yet more Whimbrels passing through ...
it
paid off with another 436 this morning between 5:30 and 5:56 [groups of 3
and 7 on rocky rip-rap@5:30; 350 + 45 passing a half km. offshore heading
wnw over the lake@5:35; 6 and 8 overhead from sw to ne@5:40; 17 overhead
from se to nw@5:56]. I left the area at 7:00 a.m. at which time at least
8
birders were still on the lookout for more birds. David Hallett and I had
a
flock of 40 Whimbrels flying north over Rattray Marsh@6:00 pm yesterday
(25
May).
According to my notes and postings by others the total count of Whimbrels
from Colonel Sam Smith Park,Etobicoke to Rattray Marsh, Mississauga from
14
May when I saw my first flock to this morning stands at 7,082. The value
of
this documented total and high day count on 23 May of over 3000 cannot be
underplayed ... but much more work needs to be done to further document
the
exact numbers passing. Several others, among them Jean Iron and Richard
Joos, and I strongly believe a more concerted effort should be organized
next year to monitor the Whimbrel migration continuously from dawn to dusk
from CSSP from 22 to 26 May. If people can stand for hours and hours
over
weeks and weeks at the hawk watches ... why can't they stand for 5 days
watching for Whimbrels?
As far as I know actual numbers like this have not been recorded in the
Great Lakes basin and rarely even on the Pacific flyway (max.: Brawley,
Imperial,CA, 3 My 1990 3000+ McCaskie (1990). The exact size of the
eastern arctic breeding population which migrates north from winter areas
in
nw south american via coastal Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia then via
the great lakes basin to breeding areas in nw Ontario and n Manitoba is
still uncertain with the best estimates for the major staging area
Virginia.
In 2001 surveys conducted by the Chincoteague Natural History Association
estimated 40,000 along the Virginia coast (Chincoteague Natural History
Association@http//www.assateague.org/plover/3-96 c.html@9 November 2001).
Only in the central flyway along coastal Texas have higher record day
counts
( Anuhac NWR 21 Ap 2005 5127 Lockwood et al 2005).
Directions:
Kipling runs directly into Colonel Sam Smith Park and adjacent Humber
College
Lakeshore campus, located west of Islington and east of Brown's Line south
of the Q.E.W.
Wayne Renaud
905.274.7103 or 905.278.5813
wayne@renaudwebber.com
Message: 10
Date: Sat, 26 May 2007 10:18:20 -0400
From: Doug McRae rdmcrae@sympatico.ca
Subject: [Ontbirds] Presqu'ile LBB Gull, Peregrine, small number of
shorebirds
To: "Ont "birds"" ontbirds@hwcn.org
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Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
26 May 2007
Greetings all,
Diane Whitman and I checked a few spots at Presqu'ile this morning
and found a first summer Lesser Black-backed Gull on the gravel
island between Owen Pt. and Gull Island. While watching we could see
a huge disturbance going on in the gull nesting colony on Gull Is.
and within a few minutes an adult tundrius Peregrine flew in from
that direction being seriously chased by Caspian's. However the
disturbance kept on going and eventually a Coyote with a slightly
deformed or injured jaw emerged from the veg. and sat on the cobble
shore. We saw it gulp down one Herring Gull chick, and there is an
endless supply of Ring-bills there too. Shorebirds were pretty
limited (for this time of year) with 115 Dunlin, 8 Ruddy Turnstone,
18 Semi Sandpiper, 1 Semi Plover, 1 Spotted Sandpiper and 4 Killdeer
- all of which were on Gull Is. or the gravel island off Owen Pt. A
Virginia Rail was calling from the Owen Pt. pond. The small remnant
ephemeral pond being used for feeding by shorebirds at the north end
of the raked beach that I mentioned the other day has now been
ditched and drained by MNR/ONtario Parks staff so there is now no
shorebird pond habitat left on the main raked beach - the area that
traditionally has been the principal staging and feeding area for
northbound shorebirds. As one local birder pointed out, "guess you
shouldn't have mentioned it earlier".
Also quite odd was a flock of 14 Black-bellied Plovers that just flew
over my house in the north end of Brighton (@ 5 km inland from the
lake shore), coming from the east and heading WNW.
Cheers,
Doug
Doug McRae Nature Services
P.O. Box 3010
Brighton, Ontario
Canada K0K 1H0
613-475-5014
rdmcrae@sympatico.ca
Directions: Presqu'ile is located south of Brighton, on the north
shore of Lake Ontario. Take the Brighton exit from Hwy. 401 and go
south into town then follow the signs to the park. Owen Pt. is the
southern end of the Presqu'ile beach.
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End of ONTBIRDS Digest, Vol 39, Issue 36