Ontbirds Subscribers, I took a day off work to do some bird chasing around the southern Ontario area.
Beginning at Professor's Lake in Brampton at about 7:20am, I immediately found the Ross's Goose preening & bathing itself surrounded by hundreds of Canada Geese. Most of the east end of the lake is open and the bird was close to the north-east edge, as I approached it got up on the ice to roost for a while - got some decent pictures. Also here were 2 Trumpeter Swans at the south edge as well as an American Coot close to shore at the east end of the lake. Incidentally, there were many smaller Canada Geese but none small enough (or bill stubby enough) to turn into a Cackling Goose. On to Puslinch to search for the long-staying female Mountain Bluebird - dipped on this one. I was in the area from about 8:30am till 10:15 with no luck, the day was grey and windy and I imagine the bird is around but hunkered down while I was there - I walked back and forth from the west side of Long Lane Farm to 911 # 7373 at least 5 times, not much else around either (did hear a Horned Lark passing over but never saw it). At the QEW & Hwy 405 I saw 2 Turkey Vultures soaring but couldn't stop to search for Black Vulture as Fish Crow was on the agenda! Next stop, Fort Erie, arriving at the west end of Bowen Road at the Rio Vista Golf Course, I immediately saw a sizeable flock of Crows down the dirt path that parallels the north fence of the golf course, as I walked down several crows flew over with one being a Fish Crow (noticeably smaller in flight, and it called it's nasal, higher-pitched cah-cah) - great start - also here was a Great Blue Heron that I must have flushed (flew out of the forest next to the path). I stayed around the area for about an hour longer walking & driving around the neighbourhood and had at least 3, possibly 4 Fish Crows (1 had the white-based primaries noted in other reports). As I was about to leave, 2 Fish Crows were interacting on the golf course just inside the fence by the course parking lot, they were next to an American Crow - a great study in size difference (legs shorter, bill a little more slight, head seemed a bit rounder). Also, in flight, you can see the difference and the speed of wing flap. At the east end of Bowen by the river I searched for a while for the Kittiwake & Black-headed Gull on the American side but to no avail, only lots of Bonaparte's Gulls. Off down the Niagara Parkway following the river, I had 2 separate flocks of Tundra Swans (13 & 30), as well as Canvasback, Redhead, Lesser & Greater Scaup, Bufflehead amongst other waterfowl. I stopped in at Chippawa to try for Tufted Titmouse at Thomas & Peter Streets, no luck after about 30 minutes, though I did have 2 Red-bellied Woodpeckers coming to the feeders at the end of Thomas. At the Control Gates on the Niagara River above the falls I had 1 adult Little Gull, 1 adult Thayer's Gull (on the cement break-wall) and 30 Great Black-backed Gulls, with the hundreds of Herring, Ring-billed & Bonaparte's Gulls - most of the roosting birds on the rocks were facing directly at me so it was tough to scan here. Added 1 adult & 1 imm. Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Electrical Plant just above the falls (where the barge is), was hoping to find Harlequin Duck here but another miss. At Adam Beck power plant I stayed for at least an hour searching in vain for the California Gull, I did have 1 adult Thayer's Gull, and at least 8 Iceland Gulls of varying ages but NO Glaucous Gulls. At Queenston Boat Ramp I had 2 adult Little Gulls downstream along with hundreds of Bonaparte's Gulls, searched the sky a bit for Black or Turkey Vultures but it was getting late, windy & snow was starting. Last stop, Port Weller ship canal. As you walk down the path that runs left from the gate on Seaway Haulage Rd, at the first spot to view the canal, look across to the other side - first bird I saw was the stunning adult male King Eider - best viewed with a scope as it is quite a distance to the other side of the canal. This was at about 5:15pm in increasing snow flurries, the bird was associating with Common Mergansers, also here was 1 Canvasback and about 20 Double-crested Cormorants. All in all a good day of chasing! Good birding, Frank Pinilla Richmond Hill, ON DIRECTIONS: Professor's Lake, Brampton - from the corner of Torbram & Bovaird, head south on Torbram to the first lights at Prospect Gate, turn west here and then right on Philosopher's Trail, park where the park entrance is to the lake on the left. There is also an entrance off a small court called Peggy Ann Cove, the bird was actually right by the base of this entrance. Puslinch - from Hwy 401 exit at Hwy 6 South and go about 1.5km to Leslie Rd W, turn right/west here, this road turns into Concession 1, the area for the bird is about 1.5km along where you will see Long Lane Farm - the bird has been reported from just west of this farm lane and from east as well. Rio Vista Golf Course/Bowen Road, Fort Erie - from the QEW you can exit at Bowen Road (exit #7), and head east, it ends at Thompson Road, follow signs to the golf course (the road turns left and goes under the railroad tracks), this then turns into Phipps Street, follow along for a couple of km's and turn left on Crooks St where it ends at Bowen (Bowen breaks between the QEW and here). Chippawa feeders - taking Niagara Parkway north toward the falls, it goes over a bridge in the town of Chippawa, just over the bridge is a Tim Horton's and just passed this is Chippawa Parkway, turn left here and follow to either Peter Street or Thomas Street, they join at the end, the feeders are at the last house on Thomas. Control Gates, Electrical Building, and Adam Beck Generating Station are all along the Niagara Parkway. Queenston Boat Launch is found in Queenston at the bottom of the escarpment, turn off the Niagara Parkway at Dumfries Street, continue down here and you will find signs to the boat launch. Port Weller ship canal - from the QEW take Niagara Street (or any of the major northbound roads in St Catharines) north toward Lake Ontario, it will join Lakeshore Road, turn right and after passing over the canal, turn left at Seaway Haulage Road (sign is pretty small), follow to the end where it turns into a dirt road and there is a yellow gate, walking trail is beyond this gate - smaller trail to the left is where I went and at the first spot to see the canal, look from here. _______________________________________________ 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/
