Waterfowl 250 Tundra Swans in 8 flocks flew north over the Rainy River Sewage Lagoons May 5 2 pairs of Trumpeter Swans on territory NW Arm of Rainy Lake Grebes Eared Grebes 1 May 4 at NW arm of Rainy Lake, 1 in Emo Sewage lagoon May 5 Horned Grebes dozens daily on Rainy Lake NW Arm with a high of 141 on May 3 and 2 at Emo Sewage lagoon May 5 Red-necked Grebes on Rainy Lake NW Arm 131 on May 3 Dozens of American White Pelicans easily seen daily on Rainy lake and Lake of the Woods Sharp-tailed Grouse 2 flushed from roadside in the Rainy River- Harris Hill area Raptors 2 Red-shouldered Hawks observed so far, all 3 falcons today with American Kestrel widespread A few Bald Eagles on nests The courtship locked talon death spiral was observed last night on Rainy Lake. rails/cranes Sandhill Cranes are widespread and vocal, 1 Sora at the Rainy River Sewage Lagoons today Shorebirds Wilson's Phalarope 53 at Rainy River Sewage lagoon and 3 at Emo Sewage Lagoon 1 Least Sandpiper at Emo as well Gulls I have not seen any Franklins Gull yet. On May 3 there were 1600 Bonapartes gull staging on Rainy Lake NW Arm. Owls Great Gray Owls heard nightly in the Rainy lake area. One bird in the drizzle this morning was observed adjacent to highway 11 just east of Emo. Woodpeckers 1 Red-headed Woodpecker May 5 On river road nw of Rainy River. At Harris Hill 7 species of woodpecker present including Red-bellied and nearby a male Black-backed. Passerines Black-billed Magpies are widespread and easily seen if one drives on any of the roads north of Hwy 11. Warblers widespread but mostly Yellow-rumped with small numbers of Pine, Palm and Black and White. Sparrows: 1 Lark Sparrow on River road just nw of Rainy River, It was foraging in a cattle pen beside some Blue machinery/containers and near 2 Harris Sparrows 7 Harris Sparrows today (3 on south end of River Road and 4 at Harris Hill Resort other Sparrows Leconte 1, White-crowned, etc 2 Eastern Towhees in the Rainy Lake area Longspur Sp. I got a glimpse a longspur flying in field along River Road with several Lapland Lonspurs that looked like a Smith's. But I could not relocate it to confim if it was. 2 Western Meadowlarks 5 Yellow-headed Blackbirds, 20+ Purple Finches and 1 Pine Siskin at Harris Hill resort feeders 16 Evening Grosbeak at Emo Sewage Lagoon Directions Rainy River area is 23hrs nw of Toronto. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
