Dear Ontbirders,
On Saturday 12 April, the OFO trip to Manitoulin Island attracted 17
participants. At dawn we saw about 30 Sharp-tailed Grouse at the lek at
Gore Bay Airport. From the hide, we had outstanding views of the displaying
grouse as they cooed and cackled and vibrated their upright tail feathers.
Their golden eyebrows and purple sacs became more vivid as daylight came.
At the airport we saw a juvenile gray morph Gyrfalcon in a low tree on the
shore of Bayfield Sound. With permission we walked out to get a close view.
Afterwards Steve Hall and Roy and Rodney Campbell showed us around
Manitoulin. The lakes, bays and marshes were still frozen. The only open
water was at The Narrows between Bayfield Sound and Lake Wolsey where there
was a good concentration of ducks. Other highlights yesterday were:
One adult male Barrow's Goldeneye at The Narrows
One adult pale Great Horned Owl on the nest near Indian Hill
Many pairs of Sandhill Cranes
Adult Bald Eagle at the airport
Bald Eagles building a nest along Highway 540 just past Misery Bay
Several Rough-legged Hawks
Common Raven on the nest near Gore Bay
During the weekend, Don Barnett, David Mudd, David Szmyr and I also saw:
Five Pileated Woodpeckers
15 Rough-legged Hawks on Barrie Island
Red-bellied Woodpecker on Barrie Island
Seven Northern Harriers, mostly adult males
Pair of Bald Eagles at nest on island in Ice Lake; several immature Bald Eagles
10 Sharp-tailed Grouse in a field beside County Road 540 between Bowser's
Corners and Kagawong
American Woodcock displaying
OFO thanks Steve and Rita Hall for hosting breakfast. Steve Hall and Roy
and Rodney Campbell kindly showed us the bird sights on Manitoulin. Many
thanks to The Friends of Misery Bay for arranging with the Gore Bay Airport
for us to use their building and go on their property to see this
spectacular Sharp-tailed Grouse lek.
To reach Gore Bay take Highway 6 south from Espinola to Little Current,
then Highway 540. Birding is productive driving the main roads and the back
roads.
Good birding,
Jean Iron
President
Ontario Field Ornithologists
9 Lichen Place
Toronto ON M3A 1X3
416-445-9297
e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
www.ofo.ca
Jean Iron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
