Hi Ontbirders, James Holdsworth, Frank Pinilla, Richard Skevington and I finished our Big Day with 177 species yesterday. We were the OFO 'celebrity' birders this year (see <http://www.ofo.ca/webapp/site/page/view/news.bailliecurrent>).
Weather was challenging with strong north winds and cold temperatures but yesterday was our only window when we could all do the count. As a result, we missed 29 'expected' species but we still had a lot of fun and some great highlights. Our highlights included: 3 Eurasian Wigeon at Cranberry Marsh, Piping Plover at Darlington Provincial Park, Red-necked Phalarope at Nonquon Lagoons, seeing almost all of the expected raptors (10 hawks and 5 owls), being attacked by a nesting Northern Goshawk, being out during a spectacular, moonlit night with all of the resulting activity in the local wetlands, and of course getting to Carden to see all of the specialty birds there. We will send a full report and species list to all of our sponsors later this week. Thanks to all who sponsored us. So far, we have raised about $3000 (not all of the data is entered into the web site yet). If you would like to sponsor us, there is still time. You can do it online at the Bird Studies Canada website <http://tinyurl.com/c7t3j7q>. Good birding, Jeff -- Jeff Skevington E-mail: [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
