I was doing one of my migration watches this morning from 7 to 9 a.m. and observed what appears to be a reverse migration. One Eastern Meadowlark, several each of Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Flickers, Barn and Tree Swallows, Eurasian Starlings, American Robins and Common Grackles were the predominate species that seemed to be heading south in numbers. Are they anticipating tonight’s storm and tomorrow's plunging temperatures? It’s always hard to define something like a reverse migration unless one lives near a funnelling point such as Point Pelee Tip, but the movement was intriguing to say the least. At the same time as the smaller birds were moving south, gulls were moving north at altitude so likely were migrating northbound as was one Great Blue Heron.
A Common Loon started north at about 8:45 and then headed back south at about 9 and it (or another) also flew south about 9:10 – these are not likely reverse migrants, but rather scouts looking for one water. Lake Scugog is still quite ice covered as are many of the ponds up here, so I suspect the loons will try again in a couple of days. Wood Ducks, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Belted Kingfisher, Chipping, Fox & Field Sparrows and cormorants are all back. Woodcocks are displaying and a Great Honed Owl is serenading me at night. A Copper’s Hawk is doing its display flight, the Pileated Woodpeckers are paired, the Ravens are chortling and the turkeys are a-gobbling. Spring has finally reached the hinterland! These observations were made near Lakeridge and Reach Streets, Scugog Twp. Geoffrey Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
