Hello birders. I'm just going to report briefly on a recent trip to the
extreme southern Hudson's Bay Lowlands - the area was very close to McFaulds
Lake which is southeast of Webequie, a Native community.
The area is on the border of the Hudson Bay Lowlands / Boreal Forest Ecozones
and I believe in Kenora District.
This was the end of the breeding season for the most part and several species
were already on their way south, while several others continued their vigil
stance aggressively defending territories.
Interesting Birds seen/heard: Common Redpoll (several heard flying over on
different days), Bohemian Waxwing (several heard flying over including an adult
watching over 2 large/fledged young as they gorged themselves on berries), Pine
Grosbeak (several heard flying over, 1 seen perched and heard singing several
times over the 6 days), Arctic Tern (seen twice by myself and once by my
colleague - likely breeding in the area of McFaulds Lake).
Common Birds: Dark-eyed Junko, Palm Warbler, White-throated Sparrow,
White-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary
Sandpiper, Swamp Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Sandhill Crane (1 or more pairs in the
area), Alder Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Jay, Yellow Warbler, Common
Loon (heard sounding off from long distantances).
Uncommon Birds: Common Nighthawk (heard every other day), Green-winged Teal (1
female), Mallard (1 flyby), Red-breasted Nuthatch (1 calling on last morning),
Northern Flicker (1 on last morning), Red-tailed Hawk (1 from helicopter),
Boreal Chickadee (heard twice), Wilson's Snipe (heard winnowing on one
occassion), Northern Harrier (1 male on 2 occassions), Common Raven (1 calling
on first day), Bonaparte's Gull (south end of McFaulds Lake and from helicopter
on larger lakes), Savannah Sparrow (mostly from south end of McFaulds Lake) -
not a species typical of the sparsely treed spruce bogs I was working in but
apparently favors the open bogs adjacent to larger wetlands - also they look
quite pale up here!
Migrating Birds (none found on territory): Yellow-rumped Warbler (2 or 3),
Lesser Yellowlegs (daily), Least Sandpiper (daily), Bonaparte's Gull (from
helicopter)
This is a VERY COMPREHENSIVE list of the species found in the area as we
travelled around here for 6 straight days and were outdoors 24/7. This should
give birders a very good idea of what to expect from this region.
Other trip birds: Pine Siskin (over Timmin's airport), Cape May Warbler and
Herring Gull (Lake Winnisk, Webequie).
Odonates: Black-tipped Darner, Subarctic Darner, Zigzag Darner, Lake Darner,
Red-waisted Whiteface, Sedge Sprite, Northern Spreadwing, Delicate Emerald,
Shadow Darner, Boreal Snaketail.
Butterflies: Green Comma (1), Coppers (likely Bog but I haven't checked my
photos yet), Pieris sp. (2 yellows and 1 white), lots of Fritillaries (not sure
of the species yet). Otherwise not so many butterflies!
Cheers,
Andrew Keaveney
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