Hello everyone, Twenty five OFO members joined me today for the fall outing under sunny skies. Temperatures were very comfortable and winds were light.
We easily beat last year's total of 46 species with 85 today! Some more favourable winds during the last few days helped a lot in that respect. Our highlights include 21 species of Warbler. A surprising amount of American Redstarts today and they were the most numerous bird we encountered. Estimating at least 70. Warblers in general were very numerous and that made everyone happy. Over twenty Wilson's, plenty of Bay-Breasted and Blackpolls, a few lingering Yellow, a handful of cooperative Common Yellowthroats, N Parula, Blackburnian, Cape May, Canada, Ovenbird, Black-throated Blue and Green Warblers, Yellow-Rumped, an impressive showing of Magnolia. Tennessee, Nashville, Black & White, Chestnut-sided and two Pine Warblers. On Hanlan's we had an early Orange-Crowned Warbler showing very well for the group as it was moving through the Goldenrod. Hanlan's was teeming with birds in places. Great eyes in our group spotted a Common Nighthawk roosting in a tree and a skulking Green Heron in the pond. I had a brief look at an Olive-Sided Flycatcher in that area too but it didn't stick around long. A Great-Blue Heron and two Great Egrets were nice as well. We had one Philadelphia Vireo to go with the numbers of Red-Eyed and Warbling. Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks put in appearances and a Merlin was spotted on Algonquin Island. We watched an Osprey at Hanlan's. Two Northern Rough-Winged Swallows, two Purple Martins. Barn Swallows. Chimney Swifts, Caspian Terns. Two Yellow-Bellied Flycatchers, Great-Crested and Least. Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. House and Carolina Wren, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks, Savannah Sparrow and Scarlet Tanagers. Thanks to Andrew Don and Gavin Platt for all their help spotting good birds today. Since I'm not sure if I will be in Toronto next year this was my final OFO trip on the Islands. I'd like to thank everyone who joined me over the last six years. I enjoyed all of the great conversations and the memories of fun outings. Gavin Platt will be taking over for 2017 and I will leave the group in his very capable hands. Good birding, Jay Peterson Toronto The islands can be accessed via the ferry docks at Bay Street and Queen's Quay. Www1.toronto.ca for info and schedules Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
