Reporting from Moosonee. Brandon R. Holden and myself have just returned from Netitishi Point on southern James Bay, where we were present on the dates of November 9 to 21 inclusive.
Highlights include the following; RED-THROATED LOON: November 17 -- 540 birds (record-high count for Ontario?) PACIFIC LOON: November 14 - 1 winter adult SOOTY SHEARWATER: November 13 -- 1 bird -- NEW to Ontario, if accepted by the OBRC; we watched the bird for fully 2-3 minutes in excellent conditions in sunny weather as it zipped up and down over the waves at relatively good distance, seen when the winds were WNW and fairly stiff. Distant photos taken by Brandon. KING EIDER: November 13 -- 1 bird November 14 -- 1 bird November 17 -- 4 birds November 20 -- 26 birds (14 + 12) GYRFALCON: November 15 -- 1 gray-morph juvenile female November 17 -- 1 gray-morph juvenile PURPLE SANDPIPER: November 17 -- 7 birds (pure flock) November 18 -- 1 bird November 20 -- 1 bird RED PHALAROPE: November 14 -- 6 birds POMARINE JAEGER: November 13 -- 1 dark-morph juvenile November 17 -- 1 bird November 20 -- 2 brown-morph juveniles (singles) BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE: November 17 -- 3 birds (1 + 2) November 20 -- 2 birds BLACK GUILLEMOT: November 10 -- 2 birds (singles) November 13 -- 1 bird November 18 -- 1 bird November 20 -- 24 birds (pure flock riding out a storm) DOVEKIE: November 10 -- 1 bird November 12 -- 1 bird -- NEW to northern Ontario and Moosonee/Moose Factory Area if accepted by the OBRC. VARIED THRUSH: November 10-15 -- 1 male -- NEW to the Hudson Bay Lowlands of Ontario. -- An odd story surrounds this sighting. On the first night (10th) we were sitting around our campfire well after sunset when in the fading light we saw the clear outline of a thrush fly through the camp clearly about 100 feet away. We both said to each other "What the heck was that?" Especially since at this time of year virtually no migrant land birds are present. We both agreed that it looked slightly too small and slim for American Robin, and it didn't look right for something like a Hermit Thrush. I repeatedly suggested to Brandon that it might have been a Varied Thrush, and in fact I went on several hikes trying to relocate it. On the 14th Brandon flushed something beside the trail and heard what sounded like thrush calls. The following morning (15th) I was just leaving camp when a bird flushed from my feet and landed only 20 feet away -- a beautiful male Varied Thrush! We never saw it again. The bird looked feeble, so presumably it perished. LATE DATES: Too numerous to detail here, but our perception re how late birds remain on James Bay continues to change with increased knowledge. On our last full day of observing on November 20, the following was still present -- 1200 Long-tailed Duck, 23 Black Scoter, 12 White-winged Scoter, 55 Red-breasted Merganser, 18 Glaucous Gull, etc. As late as November 17, 85 Sanderling and 10 Black-bellied Plover were still present! So when do waterbirds truly clear out of southern James Bay. At the moment, no one really knows! NETITISHI POINT is located in extreme southern James Bay about mid-way between the mouths of the Moose River and Harricanaw Rivers. The location has some unique features. First, it is slightly elevated thus the spruce forest comes right up to the shore of the bay. And due to the slight elevation, one is safe from any super high tides that may occur, which can be quite dangerous especially during fall storms. Also, the low tide mark is quite close to shore, so even at low tide one can still easily see the shoreline. NETITISHI POINT is a remarkable place, with majestic spruce (White I think) forest on ancient beach ridges, with the ground often covered with up to a foot of sphagnum moss. It is truly one of the great birding locations in Ontario. We were fortunate to be able to use a crude cabin that belongs to a Moose Factory Cree family, who use the site mostly for the spring good hunt. On a daily basis we watched the incoming tide, sometimes watching for 7 hours straight or more. It can be quite challenging with very cold temperatures and strong winds. Brandon took it upon himself to build a very elaborate shelter our of driftwood during the first 2 days, which was excellent for providing relief from the elements. WEATHER: It was quite balmy during our stay, and we only experienced a day or so of winds with a north component, which is probably the reason why we did not see any expected Northern Fulmars. Near the end of our stay the temperature plumaged to minus 19 celcius, which left a considerable amount of shore ice on the tidal flats, making observing anything of interest next to impossible. It was time to bale out and head back to Moosonee! MAMMALS: Bearded Seal -- several Harbour (?) Seal -- numeous (photos will confirm ID) Snowshoe Hare -- 2+ Deer Mouse -- 15 (former) permanent residents of the cabin Short-tailed Weasel -- 1 River Otter -- 1 Striped Skunk -- 1 Red Squirrel -- abundant Moose -- recent droppings Black Bear -- old droppings Timber Wolf -- fresh tracks on the beach A special thanks to Brandon for suggesting this trip. I hadn't been to Netitishi Point since 1981 -- before Brandon was born! DIRECTIONS (per OntBirds Co-ordinator requirements) -- From Toronto drive north 400 miles to Cochrane. Get on train to Moosonee, for 186 miles. At Moosonee take a taxi to the Airport. Get on helicopter. Take helicopter 21 due miles east to Netitishi Point. Land helicopter. You're there. Alan Wormington Leamington, Ontario ____________________________________________________________ Mortgage Rates Hit 3.25% If you owe under $729k you probably qualify for Obama's Refi Program http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4ceade04a27fa321e80st03duc _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
