We journeyed up to Sauble Beach yesterday in truly awful weather, but had wonderful views of an adult and three juvenile Piping Plovers. It was very interesting to note at least two different call sequences from the adult to the fledglings. One was a "follow me" call which, when sounded, would cause the youngsters to scurry after the adult; another was clearly an alarm call which told the babies to freeze, which they promptly did, when a Merlin swooped in low. If birders are interested in seeing these birds it is probably wise not to delay too long. The young birds are exercising their wings quite a bit and no doubt will soon be capable of flight. We would like to express our appreciation to the volunteers who are "guarding" the plovers and to the OPP officer who gave us great directions and then came down onto the beach so that he could see the birds for himself, and posed interesting and intelligent questions. I think he now understands somewhat why tiny little birds like this can cause such a fuss! Who knows we may have stimulated a fledgling birder! David Gascoigne and Miriam Bauman From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Jul 15 18:14:46 2007 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: [email protected] Received: from tomts36-srv.bellnexxia.net (tomts36.bellnexxia.net [209.226.175.93]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 71DE063474 for <[email protected]>; Sun, 15 Jul 2007 18:14:46 -0400 (EDT) Received: from jean-bapu1sw48i.sympatico.ca ([69.158.120.226]) by tomts36-srv.bellnexxia.netESMTP <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> for <[email protected]>; Sun, 15 Jul 2007 18:14:46 -0400 Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Message-Id: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 7.0.1.0 Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 18:15:13 -0400 To: [email protected] From: Jean Iron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Subject: [Ontbirds]More Shorebirds - Holland Landing X-BeenThere: [email protected] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 22:14:47 -0000
Shorebirding was excellent again today at the Holland Landing Sewage Lagoons. There are 4 ponds and the grass is mowed around the perimeter for easy walking. Shorebirds are mostly in ponds 2 and 4 which have considerable exposed mud and shallow water. New shorebird arrivals mentioned first. Semipalmated Plover: 2 adults (1 yesterday) in alternate plumage. My first southbound migrants of this species. Caution: There are at least 2 half grown Killdeers with a single breast band but they're also quite downy. Pectoral Sandpiper: 1 adult was my first southbound migrant. Right on schedule. Unlike most shorebird species, the adult male Pectorals (not the females) migrate when the young hatch leaving the females to raise the young. The first bright juveniles should arrive about the third week of August, 4-5 weeks after the first adults. Short-billed Dowitcher: 1 bright adult hendersoni in worn alternate (breeding) plumage. Least Sandpiper: 55 adults (Albert Kuhnigk counted 74 yesterday). First juveniles any day now. Semipalmated Sandpiper: Overdue at Holland Landing. They'll be common soon. Two were seen today by Rob Dobos at the Townsend Lagoons about 18 km north of Port Dover on Lake Erie. Lesser Yellowlegs: 60 adults. Many giving double tu-tu call notes. Greater Yellowlegs: None. Normal for this species which occurs in variable numbers in July. Solitary Sandpiper: 9 adults in worn alternate plumage. First pale spotted fresh juveniles expected in 2 weeks. Spotted Sandpiper: +20 adults and 1 locally hatched juvenile. Killdeer: +25 being a mix of adults and locally hatched juveniles. Other Birds: 1 adult Bonaparte's Gull in full alternate (breeding) plumage. I also saw this bird there yesterday at the same spot in the same 2nd pond. I suspect it just arrived from the breeding grounds in northern Ontario. Adult Bonaparte's Gull numbers will increase at the lagoons and adjacent Lake Simcoe (and a few other locations in southern Ontario) over the next few weeks. Many will stopover for many weeks and undergo a complete (all feathers) prebasic molt to basic (winter) plumage. The first juvenile Bonaparte's Gulls are expected in 2-3 weeks and many of these juveniles also will stopover to undergo a partial molt (body feathers only, wing and tail feathers not replaced in first prebasic molt) to first winter plumage. Watch the plumage changes in these birds as they molt this summer. The fence along the east side of the 4th lagoon is loaded with swallows. Mostly juvenile Tree Swallows with a few Rough-winged and Bank Swallows. Directions: Please read carefully. About 50 km north of Toronto. From Highway 401 go north on 404 to Green Lane (last exit). Go west on Green Lane to 6th traffic light. Turn right on Yonge St. and go about 1 km and exit to Holland Landing Road. Follow winding road (no turns) through Holland Landing for 5.6 km. Turn right on Cedar St. to lagoons. If you get to Queensville Side Road you've gone about 1 km past Cedar St. Do not block locked entrance to lagoons. Also do not climb the new gate. Last year the old gate was broken off its hinges because people climbed it. Go to small opening at left of gate to old road. Walk 15 steps to first orange stake. Walk short distance past large white pine to lagoon road. Wear long pants because of poison ivy. Last summer I met York Region staff at the lagoons several times. They were always friendly and even looked through the scope. Good behaviour will ensure access continues. Ron Pittaway Minden and Toronto ON [EMAIL PROTECTED]
