This is Jean Iron's first report by satellite phone for the period 30 July to 5 August 2012 for Longridge Point and Little Piskwamish Point on the southwestern coast of James Bay in Ontario. Also included are selected observations from Chickney Channel. See map link below. Surveys are under the direction of Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) and Mark Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). These surveys are important because many shorebird species are declining and some such as the rufa subspecies of the Red Knot are endangered and the East Atlantic population of the Whimbrel has declined 50% in recent decades. The crew comprises Jean Iron (lead), Barb Charlton, Deborah Cramer (writing book on knots), Andrew Keaveney, Ian Sturdee and Josh Vandermeulen. Observations refer to Longridge except where noted. Usually only the maximum count for each species is reported below.
RED KNOT: The estimated spring population in 2012 of eastern rufa Red Knots was 30,000 birds. About 26,000 stopped (more than recent years) at Delaware Bay because Horseshoe Crab eggs were abundant this year. Knots departed in excellent shape for the breeding grounds. However, reports suggest knots had a poor breeding season because of cold weather. Failed breeders probably left the Arctic early with perhaps fewer stopping at James Bay this summer. For example, high counts were 910 molting adults on 2 Aug at Little Piskwamish and only 598 on 2 Aug at Longridge. No knots recorded on 4 Aug at Longridge. It will be interesting to see if another wave of adult knots arrives. The survey at Chickney Channel indicates very little use of that area by knots. The survey at Longridge continues to 15 September so the number of juveniles can be assessed. MARBLED GODWIT: One at Little Piskwamish on 1 Aug. A small isolated breeding population occurs on the west and south coast of James Bay and on Akimiski Island (Nunavut). Up to 1200 adult Marbled Godwits were staging in late July at Chickney Channel (fide Don Sutherland) which is the northern part of the Albany River estuary. Flocks of 75 - 150 calling birds were seen spiraling up several 100 metres and then flying southwest, presumably to the wintering grounds in the Gulf of California where birds from Akimiski Island are known to winter. The previous high count of Marbled Godwits was a flock of 400 - 500 on the 30 July 2006 at the southeast corner of Akimisiki Island observed by Ken Ross (CWS) and Ken Abraham (OMNR). Prior to 2006, Ken Abraham's largest flock was 50 birds. A search of the literature found no historical high counts suggesting a recent population increase on James Bay, perhaps due to a warming climate. PEEPS: Don Sutherland reports a peak of >80,000 Semipalmated Sandpipers in July at Chickney Channel. Andrew Keaveney, Ian Sturdee and Josh Vandermeulen had a high of 20,000 peeps, mostly White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers, at Little Piskwamish between 30 July and 3 August. OTHER SHOREBIRDS: Black-bellied Plover, 59 on 3 Aug; American Golden-Plover, 1 adult on 3 Aug; Semipalmated Plover, 314 adults on 2 Aug; Killdeer, 42 on 3 Aug including several pairs with chicks; Spotted Sandpiper, 1 on 3 Aug; Solitary Sandpiper, 3 at Little Piskwamish on 2 Aug; Greater Yellowlegs, 212 (70% ad) on 3 Aug; Lesser Yellowlegs, 124 (40% ad) on 3 Aug; Whimbrel, 3 on 3 Aug; Hudsonian Godwit, 327 molting adults (eastern population stages in James Bay); Ruddy Turnstone, 688 adults on 3 Aug; Sanderling, 230 molting and fading adults on 2 Aug; Semipalmated Sandpiper, 83 (1 ad) on 2 Aug is a very low number; Least Sandpiper, 90 mostly juveniles on 31 July; White-rumped Sandpiper, 2290 molting adults on 3 Aug; Pectoral Sandpiper, 17 non-molting adults 2 Aug; Dunlin, 19 adults on 3 Aug; Stilt Sandpiper, 1 on 31 July at Little Piskwamish; Short-billed Dowitcher, 1 juvenile on 5 Aug; Wilson's Snipe, 2 on 1 Aug; Red-necked Phalarope, adult male on 2 Aug at Little Piskwamish. BLACK GUILLEMOT: Best bird was a Black Guillemot in breeding plumage found by Barb Charlton on 5 August resting on a rock about 8 km north of Longridge camp. YELLOW RAIL: Yellow Rails along the James Bay coast inhabit grass/sedge marshes above the normal high tide zone (supratidal) where the substrate is waterlogged. Yellow Rails were almost absent last summer (2011) because of dry marshes where they were common in 2010. Marshes this summer are still relatively dry with only one heard ticking at Longridge on Aug 4 and another at Little Piskwamish. However, supratidal marshes are wetter at Chickney Channel (Albany River estuary) where many Yellow Rails were heard in July fide Don Sutherland. Yellow Rail and Nelson's Sparrow are closely associated species in southern James Bay marshes. OTHER BIRDS: Brant, 1 with Canada Geese on 2 Aug at Little Piskwamish; Canada Goose, 310 on 31 July included a Canada x barnyard hybrid. This suggests that these geese were molt migrants (subspecies maxima) from southern Ontario or the northern states. Redhead, 34 molting males on 31 July at Little Piskwamish; Surf Scoter, 2 on 4 Aug; Black Scoter, 50 mostly molting males on 4 Aug; Common Goldeneye, 100 mostly molting males on 4 Aug; American White Pelican, 38 on 31 July; Osprey, 1 seen regularly carrying fish inland to a presumed nest with young; Northern Harrier, 2 females seen regularly; Northern Goshawk, 1 adult on 1 Aug briefly chased shorebirds at Little Piskwamish; American Kestrel, 1 on 5 Aug; Merlin, 1 on 5 Aug; Ruffed Grouse, adult with 3 chicks on 4 Aug; Sora, 1 on 31 July at Little Piskwamish; Sandhill Crane, 69 on 5 Aug; Little Gull, 2 on 2 Aug at Little Piskwamish; Bonaparte's Gull, 905 mostly adults and 4-5 juveniles on 3 Aug; Snowy Owl (unusual in summer), 1 on 3 Aug; Great Horned Owl, 1 heard hooting on 2 and 3 Aug at Little Piskwamish; Belted Kingfisher, 2 on 5 Aug; Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 on 5 Aug; Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, 3 on 5 Aug; Eastern Kingbird, 2 on 5 Aug; Gray Jay, up to 3 around camp; Tree Swallow, 14 on 1 Aug; Boreal Chickadee, every day around camp, 5 (family group) on 5 Aug; Bohemian Waxwing, 1 on 2 Aug at Little Piskwamish; European Starling, 485 on 3 Aug and flocks also seen at Little Pishwamish. Their brownish coloration suggests dispersing juvenile starlings from unknown locations. Clay-colored Sparrow, 4 on 5 Aug (breeding population in scrub zone along coast); Le Conte's Sparrow, 4 on 5 Aug; Nelson's Sparrow, 4 on 5 Aug; Common Grackle, 4 on 5 Aug; Red Crossbill, 16 on 4 Aug; White-winged Crossbill, 95 on 1 Aug; Common Redpoll, 32 on 1 Aug. MAMMALS: Polar Bears are very rare in southern James Bay and not expected. Three Black Bears are regular but by keeping a clean camp the crew hopes to avoid problems. Northern Flying Squirrel, 1 on 1 Aug at Little Piskwamish; Bat sp., 1 on 30 July and 2 on 3 Aug. Jumping Mouse sp., 1 on 1 Aug. BUTTERFLIES: Best butterfly was a BUCKEYE found and photographed on 5 August by Andrew Keaveney. This may be the most northerly record in Canada. Seven Bronze Coppers on the 5 August. Orange Sulphur is the commonest butterfly. Pink-edged Sulphur, Painted Lady and Mourning Cloak also recorded. Map and photo show Longridge and southern James Bay locations. http://www.jeaniron.ca/2012/jamesbay/map.htm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The Cree First Nations gratefully rent their hunt camps for the surveys. The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR) provides helicopter transport and staff house accommodation while crews are in Moosonee. Rod Brook, Kim Bennett and Sarah Hagey of OMNR provide logistical support. I especially thank Don Sutherland of the Natural Heritage Information Centre for information about Chickney Channel. Jean thanks an anonymous donor for financial assistance allowing her to make satellite phone calls to me so timely reports are available on Ontbirds and Shorebirds listservs. Watch for report #2 in one week. Ron Pittaway Minden, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. 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