The June issue of OFO News, newsletter of the Ontario Field Ornithologists,
is in the mail. Here are the contents of this 16 page issue:
1. Fall Birding in Canada's Capital: In our lead article, Christina Lewis
and Bob Bracken describe the best fall birding spots in the National
Capital Region in preparation for the OFO Annual Convention in Ottawa on 30
September and 1 October 2006. Illustration of birds at Ottawa Beach by
Christina Lewis.
2. Distinguished Ornithologist: Ken Abraham will receive OFO's
Distinguished Ornithologist Award at the Annual Convention Banquet on
Saturday evening 30 September 2006 in Ottawa.
3. Birds At Risk - COSEWIC: Ron Pittaway gives an update on the most recent
status designations affecting birds on the Ontario checklist.
4. Gordon Bellerby 1919 - 2006: Mary Ellen Hebb describes the life of one
of Ontario's best loved birders. Photo by Kayo Roy of Gordon birding with
the late gull expert Peter Grant at Niagara.
5. Book Review: Handbook of the Birds of the World Volume 10:
Cuckoo-shrikes to Thrushes. Reviewed by Geoff Carpentier. This series is
the best reference on the world's birds.
6. OBRC Notes: Margaret Bain, Chair, updates us on some recent activities
and decisions of the rarities committee including its election of new members.
7. Spring Migration of Common Loons Over Central Toronto 1995 to 2006: In
our feature article, George Fairfield analyzes his 11-year study of loon
migration including 4 figures showing numbers, migration dates, trends and
a map of ice-out dates on lakes in Ontario. Photo of a Common Loon by
Brandon Holden.
8. Book Review - Hawks From Every Angle: Reviewed by Derek Lyon. Derek
recommends this new specialty guide, particularly for advanced hawkwatchers.
9. Dark Morph Rough-legged Hawks: Ron Pittaway reports percentages of dark
morph Rough-legged Hawks seen on migration and in winter. Most eastern dark
morph birds probably breed in northern Quebec and Labrador, not on the
Arctic islands. Two photos of dark and light morph Rough-legged Hawks by
Brandon Holden.
10. OFO Financial Statement including Income and Expense Statement for
2005: Report by Eileen Beagan, OFO Treasurer.
11. Native Vegetation in Provincial Parks: Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway
report that some Ontario Parks will be removing non-native vegetation and
encouraging native species.
12. Eight Announcements: 1. Birds of Hamilton by Bob Curry. 2. Search for
Editors of Ontario Birds. 3. Search for OFO Website Coordinator. 4. Search
for Ontbirds Coordinator. 5. Cornell's Handbook of Bird Biology. 6. Your
OFO Membership Information. 7. Thank You OFO Donors with list of donors in
2005. 8. Future OFO Field Trips this summer and early fall.
13. Three Enclosures: 1. Registration form for the OFO Annual Convention &
Banquet in Ottawa on 30 September - 1 October 2006. 2. Order form for the
soon-to-be published Birds of Hamilton at a $10 discount for OFO members if
ordered by 30 July. 3. Birdathon pledge form for those who missed or forgot
to sponsor Dave Milsom, OFO's 2006 Celebrity Birder.
We thank the authors, artist, photographers and reviewers who contributed
to this issue.
Jean Iron & Ron Pittaway
OFO News Editors
Ontario Field Ornithologists
9 Lichen Place
Toronto ON M3A 1X3
416-445-9297
<http://www.ofo.ca/>www.ofo.ca
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From: "A & K Williams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 11:13:46 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]L. Shrikes and Henslow's Sparrow (Carden Alvar)
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We spent our late Canada Day weekend Monday-Wed.) in the Carden Alvar =
for our annual Loggerhead Shrike look and got a bonus of Henslows's =
Sparrow.=20
We were dissappointed when told that the Wylie Rd. Shrikes had fledged =
and could not be easily found. Then we ran into a helpful birder named =
Chris. Thanks to him, we learned that you can still spot Shrikes from =
the front gate of Cameron Ranch on Road 6, north-west of Macnamee Rd. We =
also found another on Shrike Road SOUTH of Macnamee. You can see =
everything you need to see in this area without ever leaving the road, =
but take your scope.
In addition to Henslow's Sparrow, Wylie Rd. gave us Grasshopper, =
Clay-coloured, Vesper, Lincoln's (at the parking area at Sedge Wren =
Marsh), and the usual suspects. We also had Sedge Wren, Am. Bittern, and =
Golden-winged Warbler (S.W.Marsh parking area), countless Upland Plover =
and Nighthawks.
At the large marsh on Prospect road (south of road 48 west of Kirkfield) =
we had Least and American Bittern, as well as Virginia Rail.
Black Terns flew around us as we swam at Lazee Acres Campground on =
Dalrymple Lake.
Between fishing, swimming, and camping, we stopped counting at 100 =
species. Thanks to all the helpful birders who gave us tips on where to =
look for things!
Happy Canada Day (belated),
Ken
Directions as per Mark Cranford:
The spot is on the west side of Wylie Road about 200m North of McNamee=20
Road just past a little rise in the road (first area of trees & bush).=20
Bird is in the grassy field on the west side.
Take Hwy 48 east from Beaverton (hwy splits off from Hwy 12) to the town =
of Kirkfield and then turn left/north on CR6, follow north past the=20
Kirkfield Lift Locks and as the road turns hard west there is a dirt=20
road on the right, this is McNamee, Wylie runs north off McNamee just=20
after you turn.
--=20
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6 Jul 2006 21:07:36 -0000
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From: "Geoff - Birds" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "OntBirds" <[email protected]>
Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 17:07:36 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Access to Port Perry Lagoons
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As some of you know, it has been recently impossible to gain access to =
the lagoons. The gate code has been changed and a small sign indicates =
that construction is underway.
I have been in touch with Durham Works staff and although answers are =
sketchy, it appears that no access will be permitted for an undetermined =
period of time. I am trying to find out more detail and all that I know =
so far is that the construction being undertaken is "substantial".=20
They report that some people have been calling the Region and some have =
been "very upset and demanding". Please do not call the Region - I will =
find out more details and report through OntBirds as soon as I have more =
info.=20
I hope access will be resumed soon as the fall shorebird migration is =
underway already.
Geoff carpentier
Ajax, Ontario
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From: "peter Wukasch" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Date: Thu, 6 Jul 2006 19:05:12 -0400
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cc: Sylvia Charlotte Wukasch <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [Ontbirds]Leucistic Red-winged Blackbird, other sightings
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July 6, 2006
Today I observed a very unusual bird in a hovering flight with a =
beakfull of insects over a field close to the 3rd Sideroad of Innisfil =
between Hwy. 11 and the 20th Sideroad. It landed on a fence post and by =
its actions, call note and attendance by a male Red-winged Blackbird, =
proved to be a Leucistic female Red-winged Blackbird. She had barely =
visible streaks on her breast and buffy facial streaks on a very pale, =
sandy background and was obviously carrying food for her nestlings by =
the agitated behaviour she exhibited. Further along the road east of the =
20th Sr in the dense forest on the north side of the road I had some =
excellent views of an agitated male Mourning Warbler and along the =
second road on the left (Lefroy Marina Road -name?) there is a wetland =
on the left about halfway to the edge of the town of Lefroy and there =
were at least 2 immature Ospreys as well as two adults swooping back =
and forth across the sedges, quite low to the ground. At the same time, =
a Cooper's Hawk, an apparent robin in its talons, sailed across the same =
scene.
To reach these areas, head north on Hwy 11 two Sideroads past Hwy. 89 ( =
Fennell's Corners.). Turn right and watch the south side of the road =
just past the old stone house to see the blackbird, and then continue =
past the 20th SR and the "Greek" Clubhouse to the second road on the =
right.
Good birding, Peter Wukasch
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Thu, 6 Jul 2006 20:31:27 -0400
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Date: Thu, 06 Jul 2006 20:31:24 -0400
From: Fred Helleiner <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending July 6, 2006.
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At this time of year, birds start to show up in parts of Presqu'ile
Provincial Park where they have not been noticed since the spring. That
presents a dilemma. Are they early fall migrants or are they birds that
bred nearby and have simply dispersed from their breeding territories?
In some cases (like certain shorebirds that do not breed within hundreds
of kilometres of Presqu'ile) the answer is clear. In other cases one
can only speculate.
Great Egrets are being seen somewhat more regularly than they were a
month ago, most often flying between High Bluff Island, where they nest,
and some foraging area on the mainland, whether in the Presqu'ile
marshes or elsewhere. Instead of the hundreds of Canada Geese that were
around throughout much of June, there are now only a few dozen, mostly
on Gull Island. Gadwalls have become the commonest duck in the Park,
feeding along the shores of Gull Island with an American Wigeon, a few
Mallards, a Northern Pintail, and a few Redheads, or resting on the
island. A Common Merganser was the only other duck seen this week.
The vanguard of the fall shorebird migration has arrived at Presqu'ile,
with over a dozen Least Sandpipers appearing in two flocks near Owen
Point. A Bonaparte's Gull was on the beach on July 1, and a Glaucous
Gull has been seen on at least two occasions this week on Gull Island.
A Black-billed Cuckoo was feeding young at the calf pasture on July 1,
and on the same day a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker appeared at the
lighthouse. Since that date is too early for that species to have
migrated, perhaps it has been breeding unnoticed somewhere in the Park.
Often by this date the Barred Owls that reside in the Park have fledged
their young and become more noticeable. However, there have not been
any recent reports from campers or anyone else. Golden-crowned Kinglets
are seldom heard singing in southern Ontario, but one was doing just
that near Owen Point on July 3. A Northern Mockingbird on the access
road to Beach 1 on June 30 may be one of the birds that was seen earlier
within a few hundred metres of there. It seems a little early for the
fall warbler migration to have begun, but the sighting of a Northern
Waterthrush at the calf pasture on July 3 raises that possibility, since
that species is one of the first to return in the fall. A Clay-colored
Sparrow was heard in the more westerly of the two day use areas on July
5. Orchard Orioles were observed feeding young at two different places
this week, one at the calf pasture and one at 83 Bayshore Road.
To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton.
Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid
that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is
restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial
nesting birds there.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
--
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
