[Ontbirds] Algonquin Park birding report: 24 March 2011
The coming weekend will be the last for bird feeding at the Visitor Centre and Spruce Bog Boardwalk as both sites will be shut down as of April 1 to remove potential attractions for bears that will soon emerge from hibernation. If you have not seen the Boreal Chickadees at the Spruce Bog Boardwalk suet or looked through the big redpoll flock at the Visitor Centre in search of two Common Redpoll subspecies and two Hoary Redpoll subspecies that were present on March 21, this weekend will be your last chance for this winter. Cold temperatures at night this week helped to maintain deep snow in the bush and no open water except for fast-moving sections of rivers such as the Oxtongue. Snowshoes are still required for travel in the bush, but all the walking trails are accessible without them. Red Crossbill: Two were seeking salt and grit on the Visitor Centre driveway on March 23. Pine Marten: Individuals were seen and photographed at the Visitor Centre and Spruce Bog Boardwalk this week. Spring arrivals included: Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Dark-eyed Junco, and Snow Bunting. Please report your sightings for our records. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to near the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings, feeders, and information. The centre and restaurant are open on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalists Birding Report - Friday, March 25, 2011
On Friday, March 25th, 2011 this is the HNC Birding Report: MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD BOHEMIAN WAXWING Cackling Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck American Wigeon Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Ring-necked Duck Ring-necked Pheasant Red-throated Loon Pied-billed Grebe Horned Grebe Osprey Turkey Vulture Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Rough-legged Hawk Sandhill Crane Killdeer Wilson's Snipe American Woodcock Glaucous Gull Eastern Phoebe Common Raven Horned Lark Eastern Bluebird Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Common Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Purple Finch White-winged Crossbill Common Redpoll Pine Siskin Wow, what a wild weather week here in the Hamilton Study Area and a wild bird week too. Last weekend was a great time to get out birding with migrants coming in with the warmer weather previous to this. Colder temperatures did not deter birders and when we needed a warm up, we went wine tasting at the Ridge Road Winery in Stoney Creek located at 1205 Ridge Road. Lo and behold behind the winery as we were tasting, a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD was sallying from post to post and to the ground digging up caterpillars. Some questioned the sobriety of the finding party but pictures were taken and birders were called. This was a good news story for the winery as well as many who came enjoyed the tasting and bought wine too. The bird managed to survive the wicked storm we had on Wednesday and was seen briefly yesterday afternoon. Also present was an Eastern Bluebird which was associating in the same location. The Eastern was not seen today. Patience is necessary as it disappears sometimes for a couple of hours. There is lots to do there though. Besides enjoying the wines, the winery sits along the path of the hawk migration coming across the escarpment. Last weekend and again today, streams of Turkey Vultures were passing through. Other raptors seen were Northern Harrier, Red-tailed, Red-shouldered and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Other birds seen in the Saltfleet area were early Wilson's Snipe, two at 3rd Rd. E. just south of Highland Rd. and two at Green Mountain Rd. just west of 6th Rd. E., both pairs flushed from wet fields. Male Ring-necked Pheasants were seen in two locations, one on 10th Road East above Ridge Road and another on 1st Road East just south of Mud . Eastern Meadowlarks were singing on 10th Road East and one could be heard at the winery. The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch is in full swing with mixed conditions throughout the week. Obviously nothing, not even the counters were moving on Wednesday. Throughout the week though, Turkey Vultures in numbers, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered, Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawk were among raptors seen. Tundra Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Common Raven and an Eastern Phoebe were also noted in the week. Last evening over Grimsby there was a late push of Turkey Vultures and an early Osprey was seen amongst the group. It could be a good day today at the Hawkwatch as there was a late flight in the afternoon. Dress warm! The other good bird of the week which true to their name have been roving Flamborough were BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. These flocks have been seen in the area bordered by 5th Concession West, Valens Road, 6th Concession West and Kirkwall Road. There was a flock of 20 on Saturday on 5th Concession West between Valens and Kirkwall and probably the same group of birds on Sunday mixed in with Cedar Waxwings on Kirkwall Road on Sunday. Further afield at the Fairchild Creek flood plain, increasing numbers of waterfowl were seen last Sunday including Tundra Swan, Canada Geese, Cackling Geese, Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal. This area can be viewed from 5th Concession West, west of Lynden Road and east of Sheffield. Another sizable flock of BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen 15th Sideroad and 4th Line Nassawaygawa Road in North Halton. In the odds and sods category this week, Red-throated Loons and Horned Grebes were seen on the east side of the lift bridge last Saturday. A good numbers of Horned Grebes were seen along the west end of Lake Ontario and at LaSalle Marina over the last weekend. Bald Eagles are on nest in Cootes Paradise. Sandhill Cranes are back in Glen Morris at Grass Lake on Shouldice Side Rd north of Waterloo-Brant Rd and another pair found Beke Rd between Shouldice Side Rd and West River Rd in the field next to Dean's Lake on the south side of the road behind house no. 1407. The Desjardins Canal had Horned and Pied-billed Grebes, a mixture of ducks including good numbers of Ring-necked and Wood Ducks. Eastern Bluebirds are present here too. Killdeer are everywhere now. American Woodcocks can still be heard in the traditional spots of Lower Lions Club Road in Dundas, Hopkins Tract and Bronte Park East, a tough go for them with this weather. A Glaucous Gull flew past Fifty Point last Saturday. Common
[Ontbirds] Greater Snow Geese in Eastern Ontario
After last weekend's influx of Greater Snow Geese (50,000 +) the birds are spreading out in the southern portion of the region. The flooded fields along County Rd 34 near Green Valley have dried up quickly so this area is no longer the draw that it was although birds may periodically land near Riviere Beaudette (now a creek). Last evening, many of the birds moved from areas close to the St. Lawrence from Lancaster to the Quebec border into fields north of Lancaster. The largest single group was about 20,000 but the numbers changed as the flock gradually split up. If the pattern is repeated in the days ahead, early evening concentrations may be noteworthy. During the day, the birds are more likely to forage across a broad area both north and south of Hwy 401 from Lancaster to the Quebec border. As the St. Lawrence opens up in this area, there may be locations where flocks are also seen on the river itself. Check the pier at South Lancaster for a clear view, at Bainsville and the bay right at the Quebec border. Cool daytime temperatures have kept ponds frozen longer this spring so traditional locations of interest are not currently being frequented by the geese. Brian Morin Cornwall Directions: Take Hwy 401 to Lancaster (exit 814). You can head north (left) for a few km out of town to see if any birds are along cty rd 34 or adjacent concessions. If not, head back over Hwy 401 and head south into South Lancaster, checking the river from the community dock. Backtrack to the lights and turn right on on South Service Rd. There are a few locations to check along the way. This will take you to the Quebec border. If you are remaining in Ontario, retrace your route a short distance from the border and cross over Hwy 401 to the North Service Rd. The birds could be along here or along other concessions a few km further north. ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Kingston area birds to March 25, 2011
The ice certainly isn't all gone but the impatient waterfowl are moving in to fill all the open spots. Last Saturday, in Prince Edward County, there were 800 Greater Scaup at PEPt and an equal number of Snow Geese at the Kaiser X-Road. The latter included 12 blue phase and were in a flooded cornfield with 46 Tundra Swans, 225 N. Pintails, 185 Ring-necked Ducks among other more common species. Hay Bay had 22 Tundra Swans and 200 Greater Scaup. A KFN field trip to Wolfe Island on Sunday tallied 16 species of waterfowl; nothing unexpected but good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers and Redheads. Displaying Common Goldeneye are all along the Bath Road, the south shore of Amherst Island and the west end of Wolfe Island. Mute Swans were seen at PEPt, Hay Bay and along the Bath Road. In the city there were 6 Pied-billed Grebes and 350 Lesser Scaup in the Cataraqui River and a few Double-crested Cormorants are in Kingston harbour. Hooded Mergansers are in many of the creeks and ponds north of the 401. Raptor numbers are down somewhat but there is still a good variety. Turkey Vultures are widespread. Wolfe Island had Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks as well as N. Harriers and Am. Kestrels. There was a Merlin at Wilstead on the 22nd and a N. Goshawk at Bedford Mills on the 24th. The only owls reported were a Barred at Bellrock and a Great Horned at Bedford Mills. Lots of other migrants arrived this week. There were many sightings of Great Blue Herons, Am. Woodcock, and Song Sparrows and smaller numbers of E. Bluebirds, E. Meadowlarks, Wilson's Snipe, Belted Kingfisher, Brown-headed Cowbirds and female Red-winged Blackbirds. Winter birds remain, with most feeders still supporting Dark-eyed Juncos, Tree Sparrows, Common Redpolls and Pine Siskins. Hoary Redpolls were at Camden East and Elginburg this week. The Townsend's Solitaire at Bedford Mills on Saturday makes a wonderful addition to a yard list. One wonders if it was the same bird that overwintered at Point Peninsula in New York State just across the river from Wolfe Island. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Ottawa area: Ross's Geese
Hi Ontbirders There are now 4 adult Ross's Geese along the Carp River at Carp. Also, 6 Greater White-fronted Geese were present too. The geese were still feeding at 12:00 noon. good birding, Bruce Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Carp Road exit. and turn right and follow Carp Road to the village of Carp. After crossing the bridge take the first right, Rivington Str. and follow to the end. Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571 ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] 130,000+ Snow Geese Lancaster Ontario
Today I did my 6th annual informal Greater Snow Goose Survey in eastern Ontario. It encompasses Ontario between Ottawa and St Lawrence rivers running east from Cornwall. There very few geese (1000 Canada Geese) in traditonal areas north of Green Valley. The usually very reliable extensive cornfields in the North Lancaster-Lancaster area were absent of birds except for 2 flocks of Greater Snow Geese totalling approximately 13,000 birds spread across cornfields on concession 4 east of county rd 34. The area bounded by Green river-north Lancaster-Lancaster- Williamstown is usally reliable for Greater Snow Geese in dry or wet springs. Upon checking Lake St Francis (St Lawrence river) in Lancaster my jaw dropped. There was kilometer upon kilometer of Greater Snow Geese. The birds were sitting on the ice shelf running along edge.or floating downriver on ice flows. The Greater Snow Goose Flock covered a distance of just over 8 km and consisted of approximately 118,000 birds. The flock was was located from south Lancaster eastward to Pointe Mouillee area. Among this flock I observed 4 Ross's Geese, and 14 'white' geese smaller than the greaters, but to far to give an accurate ID to species. The Blue Morph ratio in this flock was approximately 1 blue morph per 700 Greater Snow Goose The best viewing location I found to view most of this flock was from Glengarry Park. It is located on south service road east of the Lancaster- cty rd 34 ramp to the 401. The Snow Geese were not interested in the Ontario fields while I was watching. However small flocks were coming and going to areas of Quebec on the south side of lake St. Francis Also in the area there is 50-70,000 Canada Geese. This species was loafing on the river from Cooper marsh (SW of lancaster) all the way east into Quebec. Canada Geese were interested in foraging in Ontario fields and were moving back and forth between fields west of lancaster and field adjacent to the 401 east of Lancaster. Direction as per Brian Morin Directions: Take Hwy 401 to Lancaster (exit 814). You can head north (left) for a few km out of town to see if any birds are along cty rd 34 or adjacent concessions. If not, head back over Hwy 401 and head south into South Lancaster, checking the river from the community dock. Backtrack to the lights and turn right on on South Service Rd. There are a few locations to check along the way. This will take you to the Quebec border. If you are remaining in Ontario, retrace your route a short distance from the border and cross over Hwy 401 to the North Service Rd. The birds could be along here or along other concessions a few km further north. ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] Snow Geese near Lancaster
Following Brian Morin's post of this morning we drove down to Lancaster this afternoon. We found no snow geese in the area just north of Hwy 401, but found several heavy concentrations in the St Lawrence River east of Lancaster south of Bainsville just west of the Quebec border. I use the term heavy concentration, as I have no way of estimating the numbers, likely in the 10's of thousands. On the way back home to Ottawa we saw several hundred snow geese in a good number of skeins flying north in the area of Apple Hill. Jim Robertson Ottawa Directions (courtesy of Brian Morin) Take Hwy 401 to Lancaster (exit 814). You can head north (left) for a few km out of town to see if any birds are along cty rd 34 or adjacent concessions. If not, head back over Hwy 401 and head south into South Lancaster, checking the river from the community dock. Backtrack to the lights and turn right on on South Service Rd. There are a few locations to check along the way. This will take you to the Quebec border. If you are remaining in Ontario, retrace your route a short distance from the border and cross over Hwy 401 to the North Service Rd. The birds could be along here or along other concessions a few km further north. Apple Hill is on County Road 20, south of county road 43. SW of Maxville. http://tinyurl.com/5um4v3t ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] HSR: Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area (25 Mar 2011) 123 Raptors
Grimsby, ON - Beamer Conservation Area Grimsby, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Mar 25, 2011 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 117 2078 2078 Osprey 0 0 0 Bald Eagle 1 27 27 Northern Harrier 0 15 15 Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 49 49 Cooper's Hawk0 37 37 Northern Goshawk 0 0 0 Red-shouldered Hawk 0391391 Broad-winged Hawk0 0 0 Red-tailed Hawk 3812812 Rough-legged Hawk1 32 32 Golden Eagle 0 0 0 American Kestrel 0 6 6 Merlin 0 1 1 Peregrine Falcon 0 2 2 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo1 21 21 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 1 1 Total: 123 3472 3472 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 16:00:00 Total observation time: 8 hours Official Counter:Barry Cherriere Observers:Don Pfeffer, Linda Cherriere, Peter Lorimer Visitors: People observing today were Peter Lorimer, Don Pfeffer from Ancaster, Bill Read, about fifteen students from the Niagara college and for a brief spell Doug Lockrey. Weather: It started off bright and clear but deteriorated through the day and produced the odd light snow squawls. The temperature was -8 to start and ended at -1 at 5:00. Raptor Observations: Non-raptor Observations: Report submitted by Barry Cherriere () Beamer Conservation Area, Grimsby, ON information may be found at: http://www.niagarapeninsulahawkwatch.org/ Site Description: Hawk migration monitoring at the Beamer Memorial Conservation Area in Grimsby, Ontario is conducted by the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH). All counting is done by volunteers. Not all members are counters nor does a counter have to be a member. Typically one person is the designated counter for each day but other observers present assist with the spotting and identification. Counting is done from a steel observation tower with a wooden floor. For wind protection on cold days, particularly in March, a black plastic wind guard is installed around the tower's platform. This platform easily accommodates ten people but on most busy days, no more than five or six observers would be on it. The site lies within a publicly accessible property owned by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. There is no charge for admittance. The tower stands in the centre of a mowed area with a gravel ring road near the outer edge. This provides lots of room to park vehicles (along the road) and set up lawn chairs, telescopes and cameras. Toilet facilities are present. During the counting season, the NPH erect a counting board to display seven day's worth of observation data for the public. The box enclosing the sign contains brochures and silhouette sheets for the public as well as bulletin boards with news and historical sighting records. Directions to site: To get to Beamer CA, take the QEW to Exit 71/72, follow Christie St./Mountain St. to the top of the escarpment, turn right on Ridge Road West, and go 1.6km to Quarry Rd. Turn right on Quarry Rd. and drive 100m to the conservation area. Parking is normally available inside the park. If parking at the entrance or on the roads, do NOT leave valuables in your car. Please note: Data in this report is not official until reviewed and finalized after the end of the season. © 2011 Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch ___ 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/
[Ontbirds] NO Mountain Bluebird @ Stoney Creek
Hello birders. As I was on my way past Stoney Creek today I decided to check for the Mountain Bluebird being reported the last few days. There were no posts today but I figured I'd give it a try anyways. I spoke with the Owner(?) of the winery inside and he let me check around the area as much as I wanted. He also said that nearly 50 birders had been there looking today... this seems perhaps overinflated, but who know's... Hamilton has a large birding community! Unfortunately despite looking for about 35 minutes high and low, throughout the winery and the wetter low-lying buckthorn scrub in the adjacent northern field (seen by looking out from the back wine tasting platform) I could not re-find the bird. I did find a flock of nearly 25 American Robins and 2 Northern Mockingbirds staging in a wet area with some sort of red berries as well as the dark buckthorn berries. I really hope that birders continue to look for this bird over the weekend and that birders will post EVEN IF THE BIRD IS NOT SEEN. It seemed strange to me that so many birders could have visited this morning/early afternoon and not made a single post on their findings. Good luck to those who venture out in the snow looking and wine tasting! Directions:QEW niagara to fifty road and up the escarpment. Turn right at Ridge Rd. And its on the north side west of 10th road east. Andrew Keaveney Field Biologist/Ornithologist, Bird and Wildlife Guide 519-835-8894 (cell) When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world ~ John Muir Live, eat, breathe birds ~ Twitcher ___ 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/
