[Ontbirds] Northern Shovelers, Richmond Lagoons
We saw two Northern Shovelers this morning at the Richmond Lagoons. Don Wigle Ottawa Directions: see link http://www.neilyworld.com/neilyworld/marlboro1.htm ___ 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] Partial Close of Point Pelee National Park continues
Dear Birders The south end of Point Pelee National Park will continue to be closed to vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians for the next few weeks as road improvements continue around the Visitor Centre and on the Tip Road. The Visitor Centre is also closed and access to the Marsh Boardwalk is restricted as the floating section of the boardwalk is being replaced. Visitors are still welcome to visit the park to take advantage of the trails and day-use areas north of the White Pine Day Use Area. Entrance fees will not be collected while there is no access to the southern section of the park, including the Visitor Centre and the Tip. A notice will be sent out through the media when the southern end of the park re-opens and will be posted to ONTBIRDS. Parks Canada apologizes for any inconvenience that this may cause our visitors. With your patience however, we will be pleased to open a newly resurfaced road from the Visitor Centre to the Tip and a newly reconfigured parking lot at the Visitor Centre before the end of the year. Visitors planning a trip to Point Pelee National Park are advised to call ahead to confirm which areas of the park may have limited access. Call 519-322-2365, ext. 0. Point Pelee National Park will also welcome a new shuttle system in Spring 2011 along with other enhancements to the park visitor experience facilities and services. Stay tuned for more information on our new shuttle system as well as our other visitor experience improvements at Point Pelee National Park over the coming months. Thanks for your patience everyone and good birding! Sarah Sarah Rupert Sr. Park Interpreter, Interpretation Coordinator Interprète de parc principale, Coordinatrice d'interprétation Point Pelee National Park/Parc national de la Pointe-Pelée Parks Canada/Parcs Canada 519.322.5700 ext/poste 223 519.322.1678 (fax/téléc) sarah.rup...@pc.gc.ca www.pc.gc.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] 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] Massive Cave Swallow Movement at Long Point
My apologies if this becomes a double posting. I tired sending to Ontbirds from another email address this morning and it has not gotten through to this point. We have had our largest ever movement of Cave Swallows here at Long Point over the past 24 hours. Numbers counted last night started with 10 at the Tip of Long Point and three at our Old Cut station. The last number that heard from the Tip today was 24 from earlier this morning. The count at Old Cut to this point in the day (4 pm) is just under 100 birds (all flying west into the wind). It was a very wild morning of migrants here at the BSC office in Port Rowan. While I only managed to see one Cave Swallow fly by the window, there was also a flyby Cattle Egret, 10 dowitchers (likely Long-billeds), 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey as well as a large migration of passerines involving thousands of Am. Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Am. Goldfinches, Eur. Starlings, along with some Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. Ducks and gulls in our corner of Long Point Inner Bay number in the tens of thousands today as they take shelter from the west wind. Great fun! Hard to know if the Cave Swallow movement will continue through tomorrow but given the numbers today it very well might to a lesser degree. ___ 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] Massive Cave Swallow Movement at Long Point
My apologies if this becomes a double posting. I tired sending to Ontbirds from another email address this morning and it has not gotten through to this point. We have had our largest ever movement of Cave Swallows here at Long Point over the past 24 hours. Numbers counted last night started with 10 at the Tip of Long Point and three at our Old Cut station. The last number that heard from the Tip today was 24 from earlier this morning. The count at Old Cut to this point in the day (4 pm) is just under 100 birds (all flying west into the wind). It was a very wild morning of migrants here at the BSC office in Port Rowan. While I only managed to see one Cave Swallow fly by the window, there was also a flyby Cattle Egret, 10 dowitchers (likely Long-billeds), 4 Bald Eagles, 1 Osprey as well as a large migration of passerines involving thousands of Am. Robins, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Am. Goldfinches, Eur. Starlings, along with some Purple Finches and Pine Siskins. Ducks and gulls in our corner of Long Point Inner Bay number in the tens of thousands today as they take shelter from the west wind. Great fun! Hard to know if the Cave Swallow movement will continue through tomorrow but given the numbers today it very well might to a lesser degree. ___ 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] Quinte Area Bird Rep[ort for the week ending October 28, 2010
Report from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory for the week of October 22-28, courtesy of manager David Okines. The season is definitely winding down, with fewer and fewer birds being seen in the bushes. A RED-THROATED LOON was seen on the 27th and up to 6 COMMON LOONS have been seen daily. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS (500) were seen on the 27th, the best total since the beginning of the month. Up to a 1000 GREATER SCAUP can be seen daily off the point and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS numbered 800 on the 23rd. LONG-TAILED DUCKS are slowly increasing and peaked at 55 on the 27th. Raptors have been fairly quiet this week but a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was seen on the 22nd. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER spent three days on the beach from the 22nd to the 24th. AMERICAN WOODCOCKS were seen on the 25th and 127th. A small passage of BONAPARTE'S GULLS has been taking place and up to 45 a day have been seen on census. Six GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULLS were present on the 27th. The weather has restricted owl banding during the week and only 34 NORTHERN SAW-WHETS were banded. EASTERN PHOEBES peaked this week at 8 on the 23rd. A NORTHERN SHRIKE was banded on the 26th. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES continue to move with peaks of 350 on the 23rd and 260 on the 27th. GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS have started moving again and peaked at 150 on the 26th, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS have remained slow with a peak of just 35 on the 25th. Two EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were seen on the 28th. HERMIT THRUSHES numbered 30 on the 23rd. AMERICAN ROBINS are continuing to move in good numbers with 1200 on the 27th and several other days having 500 or more going over. A BOHEMIAN WAXWING was seen on the 22nd and CEDAR WAXWINGS have increased as the week went on and peaked at 550 on the 28th. Only two warbler species were seen this week with YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS numbers peaking at 30 on the 25th and a BLACKPOLL WARBLER near the lighthouse on the 27th. FOX SPARROWS are becoming more common and 7 were seen on the 25th. WHITE-THROATED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS have both numbered around 8 - 10 all week. DARK-EYED JUNCOS peaked at 35 on the 25th. Three NORTHERN CARDINALS were present on the 27th. Blackbirds continue to move and 1000 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were seen on the 27th as were 20 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. COMMON GRACKLES meanwhile peaked at 3000 on the 25th. PURPLE FINCHES have been increasing with peaks of 70 seen on the 26th and 60 on the 28th. PINE SISKINS are starting to show with 15 seen on the 22nd and 35 being counted the following day. An EVENING GROSBEAK was present on the 22nd and a HOUSE SPARROW appeared briefly on the 27th. There were two birds of the week this week - a WHITE-EYED VIREO that was banded on the 23rd and seen again on the 26th and a BOREAL CHICKADEE that was banded on the 26th. The Observatory will close for the year after banding on the 31st. For more more sightings, be sure to check out the Quinte Area Bird Report on the Main Birding page at www.naturestuff.net. And for more news from the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, be sure to visit their website at www.peptbo.ca . Terry Sprague Prince Edward County tspra...@kos.net ___ 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] Swallows at Point Pelee
I was able to get out today (October 28) for only 2 hours or so, and it was quite productive: CAVE SWALLOW: flying S at Hillman Beach (S end) at 9:29 a.m. -- 11 birds flying S at Hillman Beach (S end) at 9:30 a.m. -- 2 birds Sanctuary Pond from 5:00 p.m. to sunset -- 25 birds (none here at 10:00 a.m.) Marsh Tower at 5:45 p.m. -- 10 birds DeLaurier Trail at Pelee Marsh (wood platform) at 6:20 p.m. -- 12 birds -- a total of (60) birds. CLIFF SWALLOW: North Dike in a.m. -- 1 bird Sanctuary Pond at 5:00 p.m. -- 1 bird BARN SWALLOW: Sanctuary Pond at 5:00 p.m. -- 1 bird TREE SWALLOW: Sanctuary Pond from 10:00 a.m. to sunset -- 35 birds Interesting feeding behaviour. The Cave Swallows were feeding along the marsh / forest edge, grabbing flying tiny midges amongst the thick cattails and tall willows. In contrast, the Tree Swallows were picking items off the water's surface and also off lilypads in the water. Yesterday (October 27) Marianne Reid and myself saw a single Cave Swallow. Alan Wormington Leamington, Ontario Hate Carrying Pet Food? Join the PetFlow auto-delivery service and save 25% It's free to join! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL3141/4cca0235efdfa5a0c6m07duc ___ 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] HSR: DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark (28 Oct 2010) 523 Raptors
DRHW- Lake Erie Metropark Brownstown, Michigan, USA Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2010 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 504 110658 112029 Osprey 0 10 62 Bald Eagle 0 54192 Northern Harrier 1123385 Sharp-shinned Hawk 5 1402 6357 Cooper's Hawk3459696 Northern Goshawk 1 5 7 Red-shouldered Hawk 0262267 Broad-winged Hawk0209 79572 Red-tailed Hawk 6924 1172 Rough-legged Hawk0 0 0 Golden Eagle 0 12 12 American Kestrel 0 98671 Merlin 3 20 44 Peregrine Falcon 0 15 35 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 17 Prairie Falcon 0 1 3 Swainson's Hawk 0 0 5 Total: 523 114252 201526 -- Observation start time: 09:00:00 Observation end time: 14:15:00 Total observation time: 5.25 hours Official Counter:Rob Payne Observers:Raburn Howland, Rodney Laura Visitors: Nobody beyond the every-days and the regularly scheduled. Good company, exciting hawk watching, and doughnuts, seems everybody else missed out. Weather: Our horrible wind conditions continued to make for long cold days. Winds from the west were averaging out at about 9mph, but a few gusts touched the upper 20s. Temperatures topped off at 52f, but the wind chill must have dropped it to the upper 30s. Turns out scattered showers is so named for the immediate reaction of hawk watchers when their cameras start getting wet. Most were short, but a larger afternoon downpour put an end to the day. Raptor Observations: Despite the bad weather a few hardy birds gave it a go. Early in the day I had seen a distant kettle of Turkey Vultures on my way in to the Metro Park. It's only a guess, but I believe those to be part of yesterday's group from Canada, who could not make it across in the wind. At about 10:30am (EDST) our first couple of streams came up over the islands to our north east, and continued to stream slowly in the high winds for the remainder of the count period. We counted a total of 504, and it's a tough call to say they're not yesterday's birds, but I believe those left earlier in the day. Other raptors were few, but quality over quantity was the theme today. We had all 3 Accipiters, the single juvenile Northern Goshawk came through at about 1:30pm. A total of 3 Merlins for the day is always fantastic. A total of 523 raptors were counted of 7 species. Non-raptor Observations: Due to the winds switching from south west to west last night, our little channel of the Detroit River had receded by about 3ft. Mudflats and landlocked minnows attracted 76 Great Egrets, about 100 Ring-billed Gulls with a few Herring, and for a short time at least 250 Dunlin. A Red-headed Woodpecker was seen at the closest trail to the count site. Our first American Tree-sparrow of the season was seen today near the end of the same trail. A pair of Field Sparrows was noted in the same mixed flock. Predictions: Tomorrow should be sunny, but these winds will continue their recent pattern. They will slow down a little, and migration should pick up by quite a bit. Report submitted by Greg Norwood (greg_norw...@fws.gov) SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at: http://www.drhawkwatch.org ___ 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] WNY Buffalo Bird Report 28 Oct 2010
- RBA * New York * Buffalo * 10/28/2010 * NYBU1010.28 - Birds mentioned --- Please submit email to dfsuggs localnet com --- [BOS Field Trip - Saturday, October 30, to the Lake Ontario Plains. Meet at 8:00 AM at the Tops Market parking lot at Routes 78 and 104 in Wrights Corners, north of the City of Lockport. Bring a lunch, and visitors are always welcome on BOS trips. Thank you.] DICKCISSEL CLAY-COL. SPARROW SEDGE WREN CATTLE EGRET Red-throated Loon Common Loon Horned Grebe Tundra Swan Snow Goose Cackling Goose American Black Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Common Goldeneye Chukar Dunlin Wilson's Snipe L. Black-b. Gull Common Raven Tufted Titmouse Eastern Bluebird Hermit Thrush Northern Shrike Orange-cr. Warbler Amer. Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow White-cr. Sparrow Pine Siskin American Goldfinch - Transcript Hotline: Buffalo Bird Report at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 10/28/2010 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report:Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs localnet com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Website: www.BuffaloOrnithologicalSociety.org Thursday, October 28, 2010 The Buffalo Bird Report is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received October 21 through October 28 from the Niagara Frontier Region include DICKCISSEL, CLAY- COL. SPARROW, SEDGE WREN and CATTLE EGRET. A very rare DICKCISSEL in the Niagara County Town of Porter this week. Found in a field adjacent to 1073 Youngstown- Wilson Road on October 22 and still present on the 25th. Also very rare in fall, a CLAY-COL. SPARROW at the same location and a probable SEDGE WREN heard across the road. Eleven to 12 sparrow species were noted in the field, plus several EASTERN BLUEBIRDS and HERMIT THRUSHES. October 24, a CATTLE EGRET in a pasture on Gasport Road, just north of Route 93 in the Niagara County Town of Royalton. First report of NORTHERN SHRIKE this season - October 26 at the Tifft Nature Preserve mounds on the Buffalo waterfront. FOX SPARROWS were widely reported this week. Highlighted by 11 FOX SPARROWS plus ORANGE-CR. WARBLER, 11 TUFTED TITMICE and 6 HERMIT THRUSHES October 24 on the west side of Two Mile Creek Road in the Town of Tonawanda. Other FOX SPARROW locations - Tifft Nature Preserve, the Lake Ontario shore, Grand Island and the Grover Cleveland Golf Course in Buffalo. From the Iroquois Refuge, October 25, 13 CACKLING GEESE and one SNOW GOOSE among abundant CANADA GEESE at Ring-necked Marsh. Nearby along Route 77 west of the Alabama intersection, first report of 2 TUNDRA SWANS in a field with 15 DUNLIN and a WILSON'S SNIPE. PINE SISKINS this week - In Allegany County, 14 with a flock of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES on Route 19 in the Town of Caneadea; 7 PINE SISKINS in South Wales; and two PINE SISKINS migrating along the Lake Ontario shoreline in Porter. Also this week - a likely COMMON RAVEN in the Town of Holland, a species that is extending its range from the Southern Tier. In Niagara Falls, New York, 4 L. BLACK-B. GULLS at Goat Island and waterfowl along the Moses Parkway included arriving COMMON GOLDENEYES plus GADWALL, AMERICAN WIGEON, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, GREATER SCAUP and LESSER SCAUP. On Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park, 2 RED-THROATED LOONS with 46 COMMON LOONS and 9 HORNED GREBES. And in Amherst, on Sundown Trail, an always surprising CHUKAR, generally an escaped gamebird. The Bird Report will be updated Thursday evening, November 4. Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting. - End Transcript ___ 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] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending October 28, 2010.
Although the land bird migration at Presqu'ile Provincial Park is slowly winding down, there have been enough other birds of interest to make trips to the Park worthwhile. The coming month is usually a quiet time of year for birding, but it also often produces some exceptional rarities, strays from the far west or from the east coast. TUNDRA SWANS are due to arrive with the next cold front. Meanwhile, the focus on waterfowl has been on the marsh, where a male EURASIAN WIGEON, one of very few fall records and the only one outside September, was present throughout the day on October 27. Unfortunately, it was not reported today. NORTHERN PINTAILS have been there consistently in small numbers for the past week. October 24 was the day of the loons at Presqu'ile. One count near the lighthouse produced two RED-THROATED and 40 COMMON LOONS. On the following two days, one or two of the former were in Popham Bay and an estimated 60 of the latter were spread out along the waterfront. Hundreds of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS have suddenly re-appeared. Birders visiting Presqu'ile should be alert to the possibility that a CATTLE EGRET which was on the north side of Presqu'ile Bay yesterday might show up in the Park. The most recent sighting of the OSPREY that has been frequenting the cove at the calf pasture was on October 27, a rather late date for that species. A BALD EAGLE has also been seen regularly in that area, most recently on October 26. The shorebirds of the past week were represented by seven species, none of them unexpected at this time of year, but as yet none of the soon-to-be-expected PURPLE SANDPIPERS, which are the featured attraction for birders at Presqu'ile every November. LITTLE GULLS were seen in one's and two's for four of the past five days over Popham Bay and off the lighthouse in the late afternoon. A surprising but frustrating find on October 26 was a hummingbird of unknown species that was glimpsed briefly at 186 Bayshore Road as it flew away. At this late date (three weeks later than any previous record here), it seems unlikely that it was a RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD. Two RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS were seen on the same day. Also fairly late but nowhere near a record are the EASTERN PHOEBES being seen as recently as October 27. A COMMON RAVEN was at the day use area on October 26. There is no record of CAVE SWALLOW for Presqu'ile, but local birders have been diligently searching for them for the past few days. Perhaps that species will follow the pattern that other swallows exhibit prior to their fall departure, coming in to roost in the marsh at dusk. A CAROLINA WREN has appeared (usually near dusk) on each of the past five days at either 186 or 191 Bayshore Road, probably the same individual that was there two weeks earlier. Five EASTERN BLUEBIRDS were on Paxton Drive today. There was a report of a very late WOOD THRUSH on October 24. For the second time this month, an EASTERN TOWHEE showed up at 191 Bayshore Road. The first AMERICAN TREE SPARROW of the season appeared on October 26, the same date as the first of that species last year. Both that bird and a FIELD SPARROW on October 24 were on Gull Island. FOX SPARROWS, up to six at a time, have been frequenting the feeders at 191 Bayshore Road for the past five days, occasionally wandering to the lighthouse and to 186 Bayshore Road. A SWAMP SPARROW was at 83 Bayshore Road. The most recent WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW sighting was on October 25. LAPLAND LONGSPURS were on Gull Island on October 24 and 27. SNOW BUNTINGS, sometimes several dozen, have been there and on the beach. PURPLE FINCHES are patronizing the feeders at 191 Bayshore Road. PINE SISKINS have been there and elsewhere in the Park, including a flock of about 70. Three EVENING GROSBEAKS were encountered along one of the trails today. Both male and female HOUSE SPARROWS, never common at Presqu'ile, appeared singly at feeders in the past week. To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Visitors to Gull Island not using a boat should be prepared to wade through shin-deep water in which there is often a swift current and a substrate that is somewhat uneven and slippery. It should also be noted that, because duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, Gull Island, High Bluff Island, Owen Point, and part of the calf pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: fhellei...@trentu.ca. -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road,
[Ontbirds] 2 Cave Swallows - Port Rowan
This evening I spent some time hastily checking areas around Long Point hoping to relocate some of the Cave Swallows reported earlier in the day. I didn't make it to Old Cut, but I did check Big Creek Marsh and Hasting's Drive where I failed to spot a single one. In a last ditch effort I checked Port Rowan harbour since it's a bit more sheltered and right away I spotted two swallows feeding overhead. This was around 6:00 p.m. so there wasn't much light left but they did have square tails, buffy rumps, pale throats, and a cap-like appearance. They were not moving west and seemed to vanish around 6:30. I suspect they might spend the night in one of the boat houses down there so it might be worth a check in the morning. Directions: From Highway 59 head east on the Front Road into Port Rowan.The harbour is on the right. Adam Timpf Walsingham, ON ti...@rogers.com ___ 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] Swallows and Martin sp. past Holiday Beach CA, Essex
The swallow movement continued past Holiday Beach CA in Essex County today as well with the following birds noted from 9 am to 3 pm: Martin (Progne) sp. - 1 heading W at 9:54 am. Clearly a Martin by size, shape, and flight style, being Starling-sized but with slender profile, longer wings, obvious notched tail, and flowing flight. Coloration was dark solid blackish above and on the head, throat, and underwings. Underparts (breast, belly, undertail) were clean white and unmarked, while I could detect a bit of dark grayish mottling where the throat met the white breast, but otherwise it appeared fairly clean cut. So far with very limited references, the best candidates for this bird seem to be one of the Snowy-bellied Martins (Caribbean, Cuban, or Sinaloa) or an immature male Purple Martin. Conditions were heavy overcast at the time and I observed the bird for around 20 seconds at around 80 m and just above eye level (from the top of the hawktower) through 10x bins. Unfortunately no photos were taken and all said and done, this bird's true ID is likely to remain a mystery. Interestingly, a similar martin was observed and photographed in Massachusetts, USA in mid-October and is detailed by Jeremiah Trimble in a post to the ID-Frontiers bird list on 27 Oct. here: _http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/FRID.html_ (http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/FRID.html) Cave Swallow - 1 heading W @11:46 (with 2 Tree Swallows), 1 W @2:05 (with Cliff Swallow and Petro Swallow), 1 swinging back to the SE at 2:17. Cliff Swallow - 1 heading W @2:05 (as noted above) Petro (Cave/Cliff) Swallow - 1 heading W @2:05 (as noted above) Tree Swallow - 2 heading W @11:46, 6 heading W @12:02, 5 heading W @ 12:41, 2 heading W @1:16, 2 heading W @2:32, 1 heading W @2:43 All of the swallows were passing about 100-200 meters N of the tower and once clearing the treeline, most dropped down to below eye level (as viewing from the tower), skimming the vegetation just above the water's surface (the Martin sp. was the exception, staying at eye level the whole time). Jim Pawlicki Amherstburg, Essex ___ 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] HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (24 Oct 2010) 95 Raptors
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 24, 2010 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 69 15750 16818 Osprey 0 58336 Bald Eagle 5 74214 Northern Harrier 0595 1409 Sharp-shinned Hawk 15 6065 13318 Cooper's Hawk0157259 Northern Goshawk 0 5 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 0186197 Broad-winged Hawk0509 99105 Red-tailed Hawk 6830894 Rough-legged Hawk0 2 2 Golden Eagle 0 22 22 American Kestrel 0872 4389 Merlin 0 37177 Peregrine Falcon 0 28 80 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 95 25190 137226 -- Observation start time: 10:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 4 hours Official Counter:Jim Dunn Observers:Keith Sealy Visitors: A couple was visiting from Vancouver ...didn't get their names. Weather: A pox on the weatherman. Very cloudy today ans rotten light winds from the SW. Raptor Observations: Just 95 birds total over 4 hours of observing. TV's (69) accounted for the bulk of the birds today along with Sharpies (15). Some Bald Eagles (5) were high and headed westward...as were a few Redtails (6). Non-raptor Observations: Non-raptor highlights for today included a PILEATED WOODPECKER sighting as well as EASTERN MEADOWLARK, HORNED LARK, AM. PIPITS in the fields. Other winter birds included PINE SISKINS (first reported sighitng for this season), DARK-EYED JUNCO, RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER. Also 2 COMMON LOONS and a GREAT BLUE HERON were seen. Thanks to Jim Dunn for today's sightings. Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebro...@ezlink.on.ca) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm ___ 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] HSR: Holiday Beach Conservation Area (28 Oct 2010) 283 Raptors
Holiday Beach Conservation Area Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2010 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Turkey Vulture 254 30816 31896 Osprey 0 24132 Bald Eagle 0 46143 Northern Harrier 5250587 Sharp-shinned Hawk 21 3526 9141 Cooper's Hawk2294394 Northern Goshawk 0 4 4 Red-shouldered Hawk 0182183 Broad-winged Hawk0651 16133 Red-tailed Hawk 0724912 Rough-legged Hawk0 3 3 Golden Eagle 0 5 5 American Kestrel 1339 1440 Merlin 0 28101 Peregrine Falcon 0 22 47 Unknown Accipiter0 1 2 Unknown Buteo0 9 12 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 2 2 Mississippi Kite 0 0 1 Total: 283 36926 61138 -- Observation start time: 08:00:00 Observation end time: 14:00:00 Total observation time: 6 hours Official Counter:Jim Pawlicki Observers: Visitors: Jim McCoy was around the park briefly in the morning. Weather: Mostly cloudy, windy, and cold with a high of 12C. Winds were steady 20-25 km/hr out of the WSW with gusts to 30. Raptor Observations: Vultures were up and flying, but making little progress in the strong winds. Most stuck around a while before eventually passing to the west. Small numbers of Sharp-shins were darting through the winds, along with a few Harriers, Cooper's Hawks, and a Kestrel. One of the local juv. Ospreys, as well as a local ad. Bald Eagle put in a few appearances as well. Non-raptor Observations: Late swallows were on the move (see separate Ontbirds post for details). Totals: 1 Martin sp., 18 Tree Swallows, 1 Cliff Swallow, 2-3 Cave Swallows, 1 Cave/Cliff Swallow. Also moving were 120 Rusty Blackbirds, 18 Horned Larks, and 3 Purple Finches. Predictions: Sunny with WNW winds 20 km/hr and a high of 11C. Sun and the first northly wind component in the last several days should get raptors on the move. Report submitted by Jim Pawlicki (jmpawl...@aol.com) Holiday Beach Migration Observatory information may be found at: http://hbmo.org/ ___ 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] Kingston area birds to Oct. 29, 2010
There have been no Cave Swallows reported locally as yet, but we were part of the Cattle Egret influx with one reported from Amherst Island last weekend. There were 3 Black-crowned Night-Herons at the Hillview Marsh as well as an Eastern Phoebe last Thursday. N. Harriers and Short-eared Owls have returned to Amherst in good numbers. An Osprey was near the Leo Lake Road until at least last Thursday and that same day a Northern Goshawk was at the Amherstview sewage lagoons. Shorebird numbers are down considerably but Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Dunlin and Pectoral Sandpipers were all seen this week. Lots of Purple Finches and a few Pine Siskins are moving through and there were several reports of Fox Sparrows. There was an Eastern Bluebird near Sydenham on Wednesday. Am. Pipits seem to be the most abundant passerine with flocks in excess of 200 birds seen on Wolfe and Amherst Islands on the 23rd and 28th respectively. 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 ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
[Ontbirds] HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (28 Oct 2010) 39 Raptors
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 28, 2010 --- SpeciesDay's CountMonth Total Season Total -- --- -- -- Black Vulture0 0 0 Turkey Vulture 23 15776 16844 Osprey 1 59337 Bald Eagle 0 74214 Northern Harrier 5601 1415 Sharp-shinned Hawk 8 6082 13335 Cooper's Hawk1158260 Northern Goshawk 0 5 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 0186197 Broad-winged Hawk0509 99105 Red-tailed Hawk 0830894 Rough-legged Hawk0 2 2 Golden Eagle 1 23 23 American Kestrel 0872 4389 Merlin 0 37177 Peregrine Falcon 0 28 80 Unknown Accipiter0 0 0 Unknown Buteo0 0 0 Unknown Falcon 0 0 0 Unknown Eagle0 0 0 Unknown Raptor 0 0 0 Total: 39 25242 137278 -- Observation start time: 07:00:00 Observation end time: 11:30:00 Total observation time: 4.5 hours Official Counter:Colin Horstead Observers:Don Campbell, Jim Dunn, Mary Carnahan, Tom Stewart Visitors: None today. Weather: Winds were VERY strong from the W...a continuation from the previous couple of days with the passage of a large storm. Cloud coverage was complete for the entire count period. Temp started at 11C and dropped through the day to 8C. Raptor Observations: Total birds for today was just 39. Most were TV's (23) along with harriers (5) and a single juv. Golden Eagle just after 11:30and there were 2 Osprey in the areaboth fishing in a nearby pond...and just one that eventually headed west. The other Osprey seems to be hanging around. Non-raptor Observations: This morning's overcast, chilly and blustery weather did not prevent the ROBINS and STARLINGS from singing and foraging all over the place and flying back and forth across the road. Several water-filled tire ruts provided ample drinking and bathing space for both species as well as 60 + CEDAR WAXWINGS. Today's highlights also included a single ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a couple of WHITE-TAILED DEER. Predictions: Hopefully, if the morning freaks with fairly clear skies east towards T.Oand with predicted NW winds...there's a chance that we'll finally see a flight get going on Friday. The large storm from this week has held migration up for days now. Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebro...@ezlink.on.ca) Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at: http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm ___ 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/
