[Ontbirds] Cliff/Cave type swallows at Leslie St. Spit
It is possible that I am posting this a little prematurely but I felt I should get the sighting out as soon as possible. Being completely inexperienced with juvenile Cave Swallow plumages, and never having really studied juvenile Cliff Swallow plumages, I still need to do some research into the identification of the birds I have just seen. At about 2pm this afternoon as I was leaving the banding station at Tommy Thompson Park, I saw first one and then eventually five swallows foraging into the wind over the main lagoons on the Spit. Two of these birds were Tree Swallows, the remaining three were either very pale plumaged Cliff Swallows or Cave Swallows. The first of the latter three that I saw was so pale and unmarked on the underside that it took me a little while before I could rule out Northern Rough-wing. If Cliff Swallow juveniles are ever this pale and unmarked (e.g. around the throat) then it will be difficult to rule out Cliff Swallow. On the other hand if such unmarked undersides are highly unlikely in Cliff Swallows, then it is surely likely that these birds were indeed Cave Swallows. Unfortunately conditions and distances were not favourable to discerning much else in the way of plumage detailes - the birds gave a distictly capped appearance and there was no sign of any pale on the forehead. Ian Sturdee and I watched these birds for about 15 minutes and then the three Cliff/Caves dissappeared to the west leaving just the two Trees. So, this really is just a heads-up, rather a tentative one at that. If however, anyone out there has any experience with the species that they would like to pass on to me then please feel free to e-mail me. I apologise for not leaving any directions to Leslie Street Spit but I really have to rush out when I get the chance to post again I will make amends. Paul Prior ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] re earlier posting on Toronto Swallows
Apologies for the rather rushed posting earlier this afternoon, but I thought that I should now add, having received some excellent insights from a couple of Great Lakes birders, that the three swallows mentioned in my earlier e-mail were in fact Cave Swallows. In the light of the more recent postings it is evident that southern Ontario is being visited by good numbers of these birds so hopefully more will be seen over the course of the next few days. As promised, here are directions to Tommy Thompson Park/Leslie Street Spit (thanks to Norm Murr) although it does sound as if one is as likely to happen across a Cave Swallow or two pretty much anywhere along the Erie and Ontario lakeshores. Directions:- LESLIE STREET SPIT (TOMMY THOMPSON PARK) IN TORONTO To get to The Spit from Queen and Yonge Streets. Take the Queen Street Car #501 east to Leslie St. and walk south (about 2 km) or as far as you can go on Leslie St. at Unwin Ave. and you will see the gate and signage. You may also catch the Jones Bus #83 at the Donlands Subway Station and take it to Leslie St. and Commissioner St. ( Saturday and Sunday as well as week days ). By automobile you may drive to Lakeshore Blvd and Leslie St. then south to The Spit. If before 9 am you can park either on Leslie St. or Unwin Ave., after 9 am the parking lot inside the gate is open, be sure to note the closing time as your car will be locked in at that time. - 6 pm at present. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Laughing Gull at Leslie St. Spit
After a rather wet morning banding (and not banding) at Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station I decided to check the small flock of gulls feeding and bathing on the sandbar at the mouth of Embayment D. Mostly Ring-bills, various ages, but one 1st year Laughing Gull made itself nice and obvious. The bird bathed at the far west end of tst small sand-bar and then flew back round and settled - by itself, away from the main flock - on the small sandy beach at the north-eats corner of the embayment. The gull was still there when I left at about 2.00pm (in rather heavy rain). Hope it will hang around until the weekend, but if not it will be worth checking RBGUs along the Toronto waterfront. Incidentally, in the wake of Hurricane Earl about a month ago, there were large numbers of Laughing Gulls (I guess I must have seen at least a hundred over the course of my week's visit) spread all along the Nova Scotian coastline, no doubt further north and into the St. Lawrence as well, so Good birding. Paul Prior Note: Embayment D is the bay on the north side of the Spit just before the gravel road down to the Sailing Club and Bird Research Station. The embayment is well scoped from the look-out by the port-a-pottie, just off the main road a hundred metres west of the main fork. Directions to Tommy Thompson Park (copied from Brett Tryon's post of a week ago - thanks Brett!): Tommy Thompson Park (TTP) is open to the public on weekends and holidays from 9am-6pm April through October and 9am-4:30pm November through March. TTP is located at the foot of Leslie Street where it meets Unwin Avenue, south of Lake Shore Boulevard East. From the West: Take the Gardiner Expressway east and exit at Lakeshore Blvd. OR take Lakeshore Blvd. east to Leslie St. Turn right at Leslie St. and continue to the end where you will see the park gates. From the East: Take Lakeshore Blvd. west to Leslie St. Turn left at Leslie St. and continue to the end where you will see the park gates. From the North: Take the Don Valley Parkway south and exit at Lakeshore Blvd. Go east on Lakeshore Blvd. to Leslie St. Turn right at Leslie St. and continue to the end where you will see the park gates. TTC: Take the 501 streetcar along Queen St. to Leslie St. It is 1300m south on Leslie St. to the gate. (or) Take the 83 Jones S. bus south from Donlands station to Commissioners St. and walk 500m to south to the gate. * Directions to the Tommy Thompson Park Bird Research Station (TTPBRS)* TTPBRS is located on Peninsula D of the park. Continue 3 km from the base of the spit and turn right at the first road, which has a sign for the sailing club. The banding station is the little shack with solar panels beside the parking lot. From May 1 through Thanksgiving weekend, a shuttle van runs from 9:00 - 4:00 and can drop you off right at TTPBRS. *TTPBRS Hours* We conduct migration monitoring from April 1 - June 9 and August 5 - November 12, and are open to the public during weekends and holidays. Our hours vary, as we open nets 30 minutes before sunrise and operate the nets for 6 hours. If you would like to see banding demos, get there early! For more information and a park map, visit www.ttpbrs.ca ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Prothonotary at Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto
There was a spectacular male Prothonotary Warbler singing at the end of Peninsular D on Leslie Street Spit at about 10:00 this morning. Unfortunately only a lone observer, but the bird was seen again (not heard - it sang persistently for about 5 minutes only at first finding) at exactly the same location about an hour later. This is a bit of a tricky one because despite much searching by numerous other birders (including John Carley and David Milson's OFO tour) this bird has not been seen since about 11am (to my knowledge). However, it may be still worth a look. It was sticking to the waterside willow and red osier dogwood along the narrow beach area on the southern side of the peninsular, but for all the time that I watched, it was feeding very low in the interior of the vegetation and so was very easy to miss (unless it sang!). If anyone does head out to try and find this bird please be aware that Peninsular D is an active bird-banding station and the public are requested to avoid the net lanes when nets are running (in the morning hours). The net lanes are checked on a frequent and regular basis by trained staff. There are no net lanes in the immediate vicinity of this sighting. I suspect that the bird may have continued foraging along the south beach and may have worked its way east along the Spit to the potentially richer foraging in the baselands at the entrance to the park. Good luck, Paul Prior ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Whimbrel flyovers at the Spit in Toronto
I have seen no other mention of Whimbrel migration for the Toronto area - I may have missed the odd posting, but I thought I should just mention that when I visited Leslie Street Spit for a couple of hours yesterday morning I noted a total of about 180 Whimbrel heading north-west across the inner bay. The first groups, two groups of 50 birds, were heard at about 6am, calling and singing(!) from the north shore of Peninsular D. At that time there was heavy cloud cover and the threat of rain - it may be that these conditions had forced the birds down low. These two groups converged over the bay and continued north as one large flock. About an hour later I noted a group of about 20 birds, and then finally at about 8am, a flock of 60 - all headed north-west towards the city. So, about 180 in total, and this was the result of only the most casual of efforts - I was warbler-watching, and so only looked up for Whimbrel when I heard them calling. Directions. Seems a little pointless given that this is a late posting for birds long-gone (sorry), but just so as to follow protocol: Leslie Street Spit can be reached by following Leslie Street south from Lakeshore Boulevard East as far as you can go. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] ospreys at Jeff and Yonge
I know that this posting does not give any news about exciting rarities to be found within the province but I feel that Ontbirders may be interested to read of the developments at this particular Osprey nest on the cell-phone tower at Yonge and Jefferson Sideroad, just north of Richmond Hill. According to an eye-witness, on the 26th of April the nest was visited and destroyed by a work-crew contracted by Rogers. Apparently, the nest was thrown from the top of the tower while the crew protected themselves from potentially angry parent Ospreys by setting off firecrackers. Eggshell was subsequently found amongst the nest debris at the foot of the tower. The work-crew then installed a flashing light and a screen to prevent re-nesting. This all happened the day before I first observed the Ospreys at this tower and so in fact my observation was of the pair re-building. As of yesterday (11th May) the female appears to be laying or incubating eggs, with the male in close attendance. Could someone please inform me as to why the Osprey nest was removed. Is it because of interference with cell-phone reception? Was somebody concerned that the electro-magnetic radiation from the tower will result in giant mutant Osprey chicks which will then go on a rampage of death and destruction throughout Richmond Hill? Was the destruction of the nest OKed by a manager who happens to be a jealous fisherman? I would love to know, especially since Ospreys nesting atop cell-phone towers appears to be becoming a habit - there is another pair at the junction of Bloomington and Hwy 404. Incidentally, I have been informed that Ospreys, being birds of prey, are not covered under the Migratory Bird Act! So, Ospreys are apparently not migrants. Somebody should tell the birds. Somehow birders in Ontario have been overlooking the large number of Ospreys which presumably are keeping a low profile somewhere in the province. Good birding. Paul Prior ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Sandhills over Palgrave
Not something that is going to be worth anybody chasing but also not something that I see in the Toronto region everyday. Today at about 1pm a group of 4 Sandhill Cranes soared East to West high over Palgrave Conservation Area. Always cool to see (and hear) cranes! Paul Prior Directions (although the birds are presumably long gone by now ): Palgrave CA is best accessed from the top end of Duffy's Lane, which runs north off of Patterson SideRoad, which in turn runs west from Highway 50 just south of the village of Palgrave. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Fw: Ivory Gull briefly at Cherry Beach, Toronto
Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 5:27 PM Subject: Ivory Gull briefly at Cherry Beach, Toronto This posting has been a little delayed since I was temporarily unsubscribed - sorry about that. As it is, Jean Iron may already have posted the sighting. If so, apologies for the repetition. Jean Iron and I were scanning the thousands of gulls off Cherry Beach at about 3.45pm this afternoon when an adult Ivory Gull flew in from the east. The bird landed for about three minutes and then took off when ring-bills and herring gulls got spooked by something (perhaps just all the dog activity at Cherry Beach ...). Fortunately, the bird circled with the mass of gulls and then landed at the extreme eastern tip of the flock but only rested for about another minute before taking off - this time alone - and flying steadily west, out towards and beyond the tip of the Leslie St. Spit. Jean speculated that it may perhaps call in at Humber Bay (as happened a few years ago) or perhaps might be headed for Hamilton Harbour. So, although, checking Cherry Beach seems a little late now, it is certainly worth bearing Ivory Gull in mind when visiting points west in the next little while. Good luck - it's a cracker!! Cherry Beach is reached by driving south along Cherry Street until you hit Lake Ontario. To get to Cherry St, drive south off Lake Shore Blvd. on Carlaw, then turn west on Commisioners and drive west to Cherry St. (then turn south). ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Ivory Gull briefly at Cherry Beach, Toronto
This posting has been a little delayed since I was temporarily unsubscribed - sorry about that. As it is, Jean Iron may already have posted the sighting. If so, apologies for the repetition. Jean Iron and I were scanning the thousands of gulls off Cherry Beach at about 3.45pm this afternoon when an adult Ivory Gull flew in from the east. The bird landed for about three minutes and then took off when ring-bills and herring gulls got spooked by something (perhaps just all the dog activity at Cherry Beach ...). Fortunately, the bird circled with the mass of gulls and then landed at the extreme eastern tip of the flock but only rested for about another minute before taking off - this time alone - and flying steadily west, out towards and beyond the tip of the Leslie St. Spit. Jean speculated that it may perhaps call in at Humber Bay (as happened a few years ago) or perhaps might be headed for Hamilton Harbour. So, although, checking Cherry Beach seems a little late now, it is certainly worth bearing Ivory Gull in mind when visiting points west in the next little while. Good luck - it's a cracker!! Cherry Beach is reached by driving south along Cherry Street until you hit Lake Ontario. To get to Cherry St, drive south off Lake Shore Blvd. on Carlaw, then turn west on Commisioners and drive west to Cherry St. (then turn south). ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] Connecticut Warbler at Heart Lake CA
There was a Connecticut Warbler singing in the forest just 50 metres south of the Operations/Staff Buildings near the main entrance to Heart Lake Conservation Area, at 7.30 this morning. Attempts to relocate the bird at about 8.30am failed and unless the bird sings again, it might be extremely difficult to find. Nevertheless, there are many other migrants in the park including a good selection and good numberrs of some of the commoner warblers, therefore if birders are in the area it would be worth a visit. Paul Prior Directions to Heart Lake Conservation Area: Take Hwy 410 north from the 401 as far as it goes - i.e. Mayfield Road. Drive west a short distance along Mayfield and then turn south down Heart Lake Rd. The main entrance to the Conservation Area is about a km down on the west side of the road - well-signed. Drive into the park and park at one of the many car-parks. I am unsure of the public access to the trails behind the operations buildings but ask staff and they should be able to help. The forest block to the south of the operations buildings is certainly open to the public but the trailheads may be located further into the park. The CONW was singing from dense understory close to the main trail that leads south from the woodpiles behind the buildings. This area often holds migrants. However, there are many other options for checking for migrants throughout the park, my favourite area being the trail along the swamp on the east side of the park. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds]Western Meadowlark, Caledon.
Last night (Saturday, 7th June) at about7.30pm, there was a Western Meadowlark in full song in the roadside meadow along Patterson Sideroad, just west of Hwy 50 (north west corner of the Greater Toronto Area). The bird sang persistently for the 10 minutes that I was there; it sang from a low perch about 100 metres into the meadow, opposite the entrance to Brawton Drive. Apologies for not posting this sooner but I was out camping with the kids at Albion Hills, cell-phoneless. I imagine the bird is highly likely to be in the same location today although the heat may persuade it to sing later in the pm again - it really was in fine song. Of course, there are numerous Eastern Meadowlarks in the same and neighbouring fields. Good Luck, Paul Prior Directions: pretty much as given above. From downtown Toronto, head north to the end of Hwy 427, turn west on Hwy 7 to Hwy 50, then head north, through Bolton and on toward the village of Palgrave. A couple of miles past Albion Hills Conservation Area, you'll come to Patterson Sideroad, turn west onto this road and drive for perhaps 300 metres. Park alongside the meadow and hopefully the bird will be singing loudly again, in the meadow to the south of the road. ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]orchard oriole at TO zoo
Posting this because it seems a little early (23rd April) there was a male Orchard Oriole at the entrance of the Toronto Zoo this morning (8am). Not sure whether it's worth adding directions to Toronto Zoo, seems a little unnecessary - apologies to anyone who thinks otherwise. Paul Prior ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
[Ontbirds]Summer Tanager near Uxbridge
This morning at about 8am, a second-year male Summer Tanager was heard and observed singing persistently in a forest glade near to the junction of Chalk Lake Road and Lake Ridge Road. The bird was still singing in glorious sunshine when Sue Hayes and I left to continue surveying the area. Apologies for chosing not to give a more precise location but unfortunately the bird was located on private land. Nevertheless, TRCA property in the vicinity (Glen Major tracts) allows opportunities for perhaps relocating the bird. The Glen Major forest tracts provide some of the best summer birding in the Toronto region, and this area - together with the nearby Durham forest - are well worth a visit in search of breeding bird species that are otherwise scarce in the region. As a further FYI, the TRCA's summer surveys have also so far discovered a singing male Hooded Warbler apparently on territory (5th June) in a small forest patch to the south Woodbridge (alongside Hwy 407). Again, unfortunately this bird was on private property. Directions: Glen Major forest tracts can best be reached by driving north out of Ajax on Lake Ridge Road (there is no exit off the 401 for Lake Ridge but this road can be reached via Westney Road and then Taunton Road). A few km north of 9th Concession (aka #5 and Myrtle Road) turn west on Chalk Lake Road and drive for a couple of km to the junction with Concession 7. There is limited parking at this junction (actually in the triangle that forms the centre of the junction!). Alternatively, turn north on Concession 7 and drive a coupe of km until you have the radio tower on your right. There is more parking on the west side of the road here. A short walk to the east takes one into Durham Forest, while the plantations to the east are part of the TRCA's Glen Major property.
[Ontbirds]Ajax raven
Hope this falls within the reportable sightings as outlined by Mark Cranford a few days ago at least I reckon it's interesting as an FYI for the large number of TO birders (apologies to northern Ontarians but ravens are always exciting in southern Ontario!). A Common Raven flew south chased by an American Crow, low over the riparian park-land known as Miller Creek in Ajax, at about 2pm this afternoon. I was working at the site for much of the afternoon and didn't see it again so presume that it was headed for the lakeshore. Paul Prior Directions (although hardly necesary since the bird was fly-by): Miller Creek is located to the northwest of Harwood and Rossland, north of the 401, east of Westney Road. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed May 9 17:21:30 2007 Return-Path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from simmts8-srv.bellnexxia.net (simmts8-qfe0.srvr.bell.ca [206.47.199.166]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 02A076347E for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Wed, 9 May 2007 17:21:30 -0400 (EDT) Received: from [10.0.1.3] ([70.53.117.14]) by simmts8-srv.bellnexxia.net (InterMail vM.5.01.06.13 201-253-122-130-113-20050324) with ESMTP id [EMAIL PROTECTED] for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Wed, 9 May 2007 17:21:30 -0400 Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v752.2) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed To: Ont \birds\ ontbirds@hwcn.org From: Doug McRae [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 17:24:16 -0400 X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.752.2) Subject: [Ontbirds]Rose-breasted Franken-beak at Presqu'ile X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 21:21:30 - 9 May 2007 Greetings all, I stopped by Bill Gilmour's house on Bayshore Rd. on the Presqu'ile penninsula this afternoon and as we were standing talking, a Rose- breasted Grosbeak flew in to the feeders that is all male on the right side and all female on the left. This condition, known as a Gynandromorph is quite rare in birds but has been described a few times in Evening Grosbeaks. The bird is a second-year based on the brownish primaries, and is fairly splotchy all over. The split sex effect is most obvious from front-on, and looks like a male and female were cut in half and pasted together to make a composite frankenbeak. It was first seen at about 230 p.m. and has made three visits by 4:45 pm. Both Bill and I managed to get recognizable photos and others are waiting now, hoping it will come in further. Cheers, Doug McRae Directions: Bill lives at is at 83 Bayshore Rd., and birders are welcome to stop by and search for the bird. Bayshore is the cottage road' that runs along the north side of the peninsula, and is accessed through Presqu'ile. From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Wed May 9 18:43:54 2007 Return-Path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from elasmtp-masked.atl.sa.earthlink.net (elasmtp-masked.atl.sa.earthlink.net [209.86.89.68]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 4ADB2634B6 for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Wed, 9 May 2007 18:43:54 -0400 (EDT) DomainKey-Signature: a=rsa-sha1; q=dns; c=nofws; s=dk20050327; dêrthlink.net; b=GBBZPTi3cvLgerewdrG1jybG116D3mUeKymh74EqG7AqcUEl/gmNz9R0/iENWvO1; h=Received:Message-ID:X-Priority:Reply-To:X-Mailer:From:To:Subject:Date:MIME-Version:Content-Type:X-ELNK-Trace:X-Originating-IP; Received: from [209.29.106.212] (heloêrthlink.net) by elasmtp-masked.atl.sa.earthlink.net with asmtp (Exim 4.34) id 1Hlut0-0003vk-3M for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Wed, 09 May 2007 18:43:54 -0400 Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-Priority: 3 X-Mailer: EarthLink MailBox 2005.3.14.0 (Windows) From: Roger Bird [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 18:46:41 -0400 MIME-Version: 1.0 X-ELNK-Trace: 69b280a4616b5346109fc30f9450b262239a348a220c2609180892d94c3dbb2f42677619214ea788a8438e0f32a48e08350badd9bab72f9c350badd9bab72f9c X-Originating-IP: 209.29.106.212 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.1 Subject: [Ontbirds]Northern goshawk north of Ottawa X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-List-Received-Date: Wed, 09 May 2007 22:43:54 - I was hiking in the Gatineau Hills Wednesday, May 11, and saw a mature northern goshawk. It sat in a high pine in deep bush making a great deal of noise and coming closer to me. After about five minutes, I continued down the trail and it attacked me from behind, hitting my head with claws and a solid thump. This happened two more times, at which point I picked up two dead branches and crossed them behind and over my head. After that there were seven repeated attacks, but no hits because of the sticks. My bug hat was torn by the claws. Best look
Re: [Ontbirds]Franklin's Gull, Pomarine Jaeger, Brant. BarrieLakefront; Nov 8
I just viewed Brandon Holden's excellent pictures of the Barrie Pom, and then read Jim Griffith's comment on the health of the bird and whether in fact this bird should be in a photo gallery. I'm not sure where Jim is coming from in his comment but frankly, as far as I can make out, this bird, sick or otherwise, has not been harrassed in the pursuit of photographs and the results are an exceptional archive of extremely useful ID aids. A fine set of pictures in anyone's photo gallery. Thank you so much, Brandon, for sharing these great pictures with people like myself who will certainly not have the opportunity to go and view this bird. Paul Prior [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Original Message - From: jim griffith [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: The Holdens [EMAIL PROTECTED]; ontbirds@hwcn.org Sent: Wednesday, November 09, 2005 11:15 AM Subject: Re: [Ontbirds]Franklin's Gull, Pomarine Jaeger, Brant. BarrieLakefront; Nov 8 Hello, I'm told the Pommy in Barrie is likely a sick bird. Ones I've seen in the Cambridge Bay area where they nest are very skittish. Parasitics on nest at Churchill are the same. I suggest you rethink whether you want this bird in your photo gallery. Good luck with your birding. jim.griffithATrogersDOTcom ___ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
[Ontbirds]long point Osprey
Further to Mark Cranford's sightings for 12th March, there was also an Osprey perched in bay-side trees adjacent to the Crown Marsh, at the base of Long Point. The bird was visible (just) from the CWS viewing platform at the south end of the Causeway (Highway 59). Furthermore, having been told by locals that the Tundra Swans had not yet arrived (just the odd dozen here and there) it was a wonderfull surprize to see skeins of them arriving from the south and south-east at just about the time that Mark mentioned in his earlier posting - by 4:30pm there were probably over 1500 in the fields around Port Royal (next town west of Port Rowan). Other sightings included 3 rough-legged hawks and 3 northern hariers in the vicinity of the Big Creek Marsh and a couple of coot with the 30+ canvasbacks (and three redhead) on Big Creek as it passes under Hwy 59 into the bay. Paul Prior From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun Mar 13 16:08:05 2005 Return-Path: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Delivered-To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Received: from chico.mail.uwo.ca (chico.mail.uwo.ca [129.100.253.72]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 08769638AD for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:08:05 -0500 (EST) Received: from spork.its.uwo.ca ([129.100.254.76]) by chico.mail.uwo.ca (Sun Java System Messaging Server 6.1 (built Apr 28 2004)) with ESMTP id [EMAIL PROTECTED] for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:13:45 -0500 (EST) Received: from uwo.ca (pm1-004-48.async.uwo.ca [129.100.4.48])for ontbirds@hwcn.org; Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:13:16 -0500 Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:12:45 -0500 From: Jack Lorimer [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: ontbirds@hwcn.org Message-id: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Organization: UWO MIME-version: 1.0 X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.78 [en]C-CCK-MCD (Windows NT 5.0; U) Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT X-Accept-Language: en X-Spam-Score: -4.901 () BAYES_00 X-Scanned-By: MIMEDefang 2.39 Subject: [Ontbirds]Townsend's Solitaire - Hungry Hollow X-BeenThere: ontbirds@hwcn.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2005 21:08:05 - Today (Sunday, Mar. 13) we found the Townsend's Solitaire still present at about 1 p.m. along Fossil Rd at Hungry Hollow. It was active on either side of the red gate, about 1/2 km west of Sylvan Rd. For one excellent view, it was on a branch almost above the road/path just west of the gate; for another excellent view, it had flown just east of the gate, and made a picturesque perch against a background of Highbush Cranberry berries. Good birding, Jack Shirley Lorimer London [EMAIL PROTECTED] Directions: West on Hwy 402 past Strathroy interchanges to Middlesex Rd 6, exit 56. Turn north to Middlesex Rd 12, Townsend's Line. Turn left, continue for about 3 roads to the signs Hungry Hollow and Sylvan Road. Turn right (north), cross the Ausable R. bridge, park just over the bridge (west side) - Fossil Rd, not maintained in winter. Walk down Fossil Rd to the red gate.
[Ontbirds]stilt sand, Leslie St. Spit, Toronto
Spent an hour or so on Leslie Street Spit this am., checking out the shorebird habitat on the south side of the main road, opposite the entrance to the yacht club/banding station. Not particularly big numbers but variety was pleasing: 1 stilt sandpiper 2 Baird's sandpipers 1 least sandpiper c12 semi-palmated sandpipers 2 semi-palmated plovers a few killdeer. An adult and a hatch year peregrine hung about, hassling eachother for a few entertaining minutes but didn't exactly help the shorebird viewing. Apologies for not getting 'round to posting that there were 2 adult (moulting) red knot at the same location last Saturday. The site has some potential but disturbance may be an issue - while I was there a sunrise-photographer wandered right down to the water's edge and pushed the stilt sand (etc.) off. I hope that visiting birders will have a little more understanding and concern for the birds' abilities to feed in peace. To get to The Spit follow Leslie St. south from Lakeshore and park at the base of the street (before it angles sharp right). Paul Prior, Toronto
