Ontbirders, The first real wave of Tundra Swans arrived this past week although they have been around in low numbers since the end of February. Big Creek opened up on the 2nd and was immediately filled with waterfowl.
Over the weekend there have been around 2500 swans in big creek and the fields west of Port Rowan. Accompanying them on the 5th were 6 blue phase Snow Geese. The first Killdeer was observed in Port Royal this morning. American Woodcock have also begun displaying periodically. There are around 12 duck species in the area including Gadwall, Am. wigeon, wood duck, and ring- necked duck. Canvasbacks are numerous (several hundred in big creek) accompanied by around 100 Redheads. 10 American Coots were on Big Creek this morning as well as the first Pied-billed Grebe. An immature Golden Eagle has been seen occasionally in the area, and was observed hunting Canada Geese this morning at the Bird Studies Canada headquarters. Keep your eyes out for an adult Red-shouldered Hawk that has been overwintering - last seen on the 5th in Port Royal. A wintering male Pine Warbler can be found occasionally along Dedrick Creek adjacent to the Bird Studies Canada headquarters in Port Rowan. It was last observed this morning. Other than that, it's your typical mix of early spring birds down here - lots of Am. Robins, Song and Swamp sparrows. The evening blackbird flight at the Long Point Bird Observatory's (LPBO) Old Cut field station is around 2-3000, mostly red-wings, followed by grackles and up to 100 Rusty's. With warmer weather predicted for late this week, I suspect this coming weekend could be quite productive for swans and other waterfowl. Good news for the OFO trip. Please let us know what you are seeing - send noteworthy bird sightings from the Long Point area to lpbo AT birdscanada.org. Good birding, Stu To get to Long Point follow Hwy 59 south from the 401. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
