[Ontbirds] Franklin's Gull and Red-necked Phalarope still present at Hillman Marsh

Both individuals are still present at the shorebird cell of Hillman Marsh near Leamington. Hillman marsh is east of Leamington: take Oak St east out of Leamington. It turns into Mersea rd 2, which is the road that the entrance of Hillman Marsh is on. Good birding! Jeremy Bensette

[Ontbirds] Black Vulture at Point Pelee Visitor Centre

Alan Wormington just casually spotted a Black Vulture as we talked in the visitor centre parking lot of Point Pelee National Park, located Southeast of Leamington in Essex County. Jeremy Bensette, Jeremy Hatt, Alan Wormington, and Adam Pinch Sent from my iPhone

[Ontbirds] Lark Sparrow at Point Pelee

Chris Gaffan and I just found a juvenile Lark Sparrow at Point Pelee. It is currently in the parking lot of The Tip. Point Pelee is located on Point Pelee Drive, slightly Southeast of Leamington in Essex County. Good birding! Jeremy Bensette and Chris Gaffan

[Ontbirds] Yellow-headed Blackbird - Comber, Essex County

Kit McCann and I just headed out to Staples and Comber in search of blackbird flocks at some grain storage areas - in hope of finding a flock to search through for Yellow-headed Blackbird - and we were not disappointed!! We found a massive flock of 5000-1 blackbirds, nearly all Brown-headed

Re: [Ontbirds] probable Western Grebe Saddington Park Port Credit

We refound this grebe about an hour ago and although it's at least 1km away I am pretty confident that it's a Western Grebe due to the apparent amount of blackish colour on its upper face. It was much too far for even remotely identifiable photos or prolonged looks unfortunately, but it was

[Ontbirds] Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Port Elgin

Hi friends, If you are not yet aware, a Eurasian Tree Sparrow was photographed yesterday at the Port Elgin Harbour and posted to eBird (not by me - I only saw the checklist in the eBird alerts). Though very similar to House Sparrow, Eurasian Tree Sparrow is a pretty incredibly rare species in

[Ontbirds] American Avocets - Hillman Marsh in Leamington

I just found 13 American Avocets in the Shorebird Cell at Hillman Marsh at about 3 pm. I was about to leave for Chatsworth but figured I'd look at the shorebirds first since I was standing right there. Good thing I did! Hillman Marsh is on Mersea Rd 2 about 6km east of Leamington in Essex

[Ontbirds] Ruff - Bruce-Grey Line (Grey County)

The male Ruff is present this morning in the same fields described yesterday. It's been shifting between the three fields closest east to the bridge directly south of the intersection of Grey-Bruce Line and Sideroad 1 near Chatsworth in Grey County. It has been pretty distant in a field all

Re: [Ontbirds] Little Blue Herons - Sparta

Tim Arthur just called me and asked if I could post that he just saw the two Little Blue Herons in Sparta, Elgin County posted earlier. He spent a few hours at the location mentioned in Rose Welch's email and saw them fly over the road and once again out of sight at around 2 pm. They are

Re: [Ontbirds] Little Blue Herons - Sparta

at Jeremybirder.com > On Apr 18, 2017, at 2:23 PM, Jeremy Bensette via ONTBIRDS > <birdalert@ontbirds.ca> wrote: > > Tim Arthur just called me and asked if I could post that he just saw the two > Little Blue Herons in Sparta, Elgin County posted earlier. He spent a few > hours at the lo

[Ontbirds] Ivory Gull Colchester, Essex County

Hi Ontario birders, A short while ago Jim Frith posted to Facebook and sent me a photo of an Ivory Gull that he found this morning at Colchester Harbour near Harrow, Essex County. A number of us arrived here a little while ago and are not seeing it but are quite hopeful that it will return.

[Ontbirds] Oregon Junco +1 - Point Pelee

This afternoon I found a male 'Oregon' type Dark-eyed Junco AND a (probably 'Slate-colored' type) Dark-eyed Junco with white wing bars at the parking lot of the Delaurier Trail in Point Pelee National Park. I have seen both of them in the last hour, though it can be tricky refinding them with a

[Ontbirds] Marbled Godwit - Point Pelee Marsh

Hi there! Sarah Lamond and I found a Marbled Godwit on a grassy/muddy island in the Point Pelee marsh (kayak/canoe needed) this afternoon. It was on the small spongey mud islands along the north edge of Lake Pond. It was present for the hour or so that we were in Lake Pond and there is a

[Ontbirds] Wood Stork - Point Pelee - for real!!!!!!

The Wood Stork is sitting on the rocks beside the trail to The Tip right now, I'm not fucking kidding!! I drove back from Algonquin last night in record time and it flew away as I passed the Boardwalk. Point pelee national park is at the end of Point Pelee Dr., leamington, Essex county. Take

[Ontbirds] Black-headed Gull - Leamington

Hi there, I just found a Black-headed Gull in first summer plumage among a flock of a few hundred gulls resting behind the "no trespassing" fence at the end of the driveway and pier for the ferry in Leamington. This is likely the same individual found by Jeremy Hatt in Wheatley last week. If

Re: [Ontbirds] Tricolored Heron at TTP, Toronto

Hello! Tim Arthur and I just got in from Rainy River to find that the Tricolored Heron is still present in the previously reported location at Tommy Thompson Park! See below for Luc Fazio's directions to this spot. Jere Jeremy Bensette - Leamington, ON I'm doing an Ontario Big Year in

Re: [Ontbirds] Frigatebird, Point Pelee drive Leamington

The Magnificent Frigatebird is still present and currently perched in a tree on the rock jetty at Sturgeon Creek (near the bridge a few houses down from Pelee Wings). It will likely fly again but it has been hanging around within a few hundred metres of Pelee Wings on Point Pelee Dr. near

Re: [Ontbirds] Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Marie Curtis Park

Hi there, Since it hasn't been posted in a number of hours, the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is still present and putting on a show as of 8pm. It has perched low from time to time for 5-15 mins but comes back out regularly. Hopefully it stays a while! Directions below in Dave's email. Good

[Ontbirds] Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Newcastle

Hi there, This is not an update as to whether the YCNH has returned or not, but I would like to extend a request and suggestion to those searching for it. Please try to search for this bird only from cars on the road in front of the houses it has been seen at. I am well aware that this is

[Ontbirds] Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Brockville

Hi Ontario birders, I apologize for my delay in posting. I was so tired last night after Brockville that I needed to make my way through Toronto as soon as possible. I aimed to write this email then get some sleep when I did eventually stop, and by the time I woke up this morning I knew I had

[Ontbirds] Violet-green Swallow - Thunder Bay

Hi Ontario birders, Josh and I are currently looking at the female Violet-green Swallow at Thunder Bay Marina with Glenn Stronks. She is present and beautifully on display and getting a bit frisky with her male Tree Swallow companion, who is defending their nest box from other Tree Swallows!

[Ontbirds] Fish Crow - Point Pelee Visitor Centre

Tim Arthur and I just found a Fish Crow eating a Jolly Rancher (it smelled like watermelon flavour) in the parking lot of the visitor centre. It was silent at first and we noted its tiny size as it stood next to Red-winged Blackbirds, bluish sheen on its back, and regularly ruffled its throat

[Ontbirds] Stilt Sandpiper, American Avocets, Willets at Hillman Marsh in Leamington

Tonight just before sunset Richard Carr and I found 23 American Avocets and 6 Willets, then after Richard left I watched two more groups of Willets join the six for a total of 90 Willets. I then found a Stilt Sandpiper hanging with a Lesser Yellowlegs near the larger shorebirds. There were also

[Ontbirds] Western Sandpiper, Hudsonian Godwit at Windermere in Hamilton

Hi there, If anyone is still interested in either of these species in Hamilton this year, there are a Western Sandpiper and a Hudsonian Godwit present this morning at Windermere Basin in Hamilton. As I wrote this email, the Hudsonian Godwit (found yesterday by Mourad Jabra) apparently flew

Re: [Ontbirds] Pacific Loons, Short-eared Owl, Little Gull, Common Loons - Minet's Point Park, Barrie

Hi folks, I know it's been posted already yesterday and today, but might as well up the ante a bit with sightings in the last couple of hours. In a single right to left sweep counting loons one-by-one as distant as possible, we counted exactly 1776 Common Loons and 3 Pacific Loons (all

Re: [Ontbirds] Rock Wren

Hi there, >From what I understand (I am present where it was yesterday, with a bunch of >others) it has not been refound today. Hope is fading but not completely lost >yet! Our parking passes are good until lunch time :P Jere Jeremy Bensette - Leamington, ON I'm doing an Ontario Big Year

[Ontbirds] Glossy Ibis - West Perth Wetland

If anyone is interested in specifics, the ibis that we chased earlier today at the West Perth Wetland (Mitchell Sewage Lagoon) is in fact a Glossy Ibis. It has very young feather plumage but shows a pale bluish white edge of the visible skin on its face. Directions as per Dave Brown:

Re: [Ontbirds] Eurasian Collared-Dove at Rondeau PP

The Eurasian Collared-Dove that Jim and Keith Burk found in Rondeau Park earlier was still present when I left about 20 minutes ago. It had just flown out of sight but from what I hear it has done that a few times already today, always returning to approximately the same spot. It's been

Re: [Ontbirds] Fork-tailed Flycatcher - Cell 1. Tommy Thompson - Toronto

This fork-tailed stud is still present in the previously described location! If interested, do not wait until day two for flycatchers. Jere (Tim present, of course!) Jeremy Bensette - Leamington, ON I'm doing an Ontario Big Year in 2017! Fork-tailed Flycatcher makes 326!!! > On Sep 24,

Re: [Ontbirds] Western Sandpiper - Tollgate Ponds - Hamilton

Hi there, Sarah Lamond and I refound the Western Sandpiper tonight just before sunset along the inside of the north edge berm of Tollgate Ponds, roughly in the same spot that many of us saw it earlier today. It was moving around and actively feeding between the rocks at the edge of the pond

Re: [Ontbirds] Glossy Ibis Harrow Lagoons

I would like to add to the postings about the Ibis at Harrow for anyone curious about this bird's identity. I have not been to see this bird myself but based on photos from two friends, this bird is readily identifiable as a Glossy Ibis due to the pale whitish colouration of skin around the

[Ontbirds] Tufted Duck in Mississauga, & one more big year help request/update

Good evening Ontario birding community! I am pleased to report that a few of us watched the Tufted Duck off of St Lawrence Park in Port Credit through the afternoon until about 5:15 when the light became too dim to identify the ducks anymore. It will very likely be found at or near this

Re: [Ontbirds] Northern Gannet, Van Wagner's Beach in Hamilton

The Northern Gannet sat on the water until dark today in the location described by Cheryl and Richard! We got it!!! This breaks Ontario's big year record set in 2012 by Josh Vandermeulen, and it was so great to have three of the four people I mentioned, plus a number of other great friends

Re: [Ontbirds] Mountain Bluebird (Waterloo)

Hi Ontario birding community, I would like to report that the Mountain Bluebird found yesterday is still being seen at Snyder's Flats in Waterloo. It has been hanging out within 100m of Snyder's Flats Rd, about 50m before the last parking area all day today around the same spot it had been

Re: [Ontbirds] Townsend’s Warbler just outside Rondeau Park

We have refound the Townsend's Warbler a number of times in the last half hour in the central area of the block between Second St. and Third St. to the west of Centre St., more or less where it was seen much of yesterday. This is just outside of the entrance to Rondeau Park in Chatham-Kent.

[Ontbirds] Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Wawa

Hi there, This afternoon Owen Yates and I saw the previously reported Eurasian Tree Sparrow in Wawa. It spent much of the late afternoon at and around the bird feeders and yard at 2 Caverhill St. in Wawa, Algoma District, which is across the street from the waterfront of Wawa Lake. If you

[Ontbirds] Cave Swallow and Pacific Loon - Point Pelee

Hi Ontario birding community, Around lunch time today Tim Arthur and I found a Pacific Loon (immature/nonbreeding type) flying south past The Tip at least a few hundred metres east of us, and naturally it kept heading south. About half an hour later we found a Cave Swallow flying around

Re: [Ontbirds] Constance Bay: Razorbill

The Razorbill is still present! We are currently looking at it from the beach about a few hundred metres north of the beach parking lot behind The Point restaurant that Bruce described in his email below. It is swimming south along the beach rather quickly but was a few hundred metres north

[Ontbirds] My 2017 Big Year - summary and one more thank you

Happy New Year, Ontario birding community! Somehow I made it through the whole year without posting a single email specifically about my Big Year to Ontbirds... So here goes! I am not posting about a specific current bird sighting, but rather more of a wrap-up of a birding event, so to speak.

[Ontbirds] Purple Gallinule - Kingsville, Essex County

Early this morning Brad Ouellette found a Purple Gallinule at John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, and after some time searching we have just refound it!! It is currently resting out of sight around a bend in stream that flows in toward County Rd 50 at the east edge of this conservation

Re: [Ontbirds] Great Kiskadee @ Rondeau Provincial Park

The Great Kiskadee just made another very generous appearance, flying up and over the Marsh Trail where it perched atop a willow tree for about a minute before returning to the spot where it apparently roosted last night. This is within minutes of when it disappeared last night. The location

[Ontbirds] Common Teal - Hillman Marsh (Leamington)

I just spotted a male Common Teal in the shorebird cell while birding with Kate Derbyshire at Hillman Marsh CA!! It does not show any signs of intergradation/hybridization with our "American" Green-winged Teal. The entrance to Hillman Marsh CA is on Mersea Rd 2 near the intersection with

Re: [Ontbirds] Common (Eurasian) Teal @ Hillman - Yes

Hi there, I know it has been posted earlier today, but since a couple of birders were just here and left without seeing the Common Teal, it is worth noting that a number of Green-winged Teal have returned and the Common Teal is back in the shorebird cell as of about 19:10. Hopefully anyone

Re: [Ontbirds] Common Eider - Humber Bay West Park, Toronto

The Common Eider is still present, though it has flown to the other side of the tip of the dog park portion of Humber Bay West Park (this is the farthest southwest corner of the park), where it appeared to have landed to resume feeding with a loose flock of Red-breasted Mergansers and

[Ontbirds] Townsend's Solitaire - Point Pelee National Park in Essex County

Hi there, This morning Pat Schiller and I crossed paths with Tom Morrison, a local photographer, who had seen and photographed a Townsend's Solitaire earlier today in the bushes in front of the entrance to the Visitor Centre in Point Pelee National Park near Leamington (about 10 min drive to

Re: [Ontbirds] Slaty-backed Gull at Landfill in Essex County

Hi there, The Slaty-backed Gull found earlier today by Jeremy Hatt was present in the same field for a good portion of the afternoon today with short breaks when it would fly around or hide behind other gulls. It disappeared when most of the gulls few into the landfill at around 15:55 and

[Ontbirds] Niagara Falls OFO trip summary - December 2, 2018

Hi Ontario birders, Yesterday was another great time at the annual OFO Niagara Falls Gulls trip! We did not take an exact count of attendees, but we estimate that this event was attended by approximately 100 birders. This was a bit less than last year, likely due to the rainy weather forecast

[Ontbirds] Info for OFO trip tomorrow at Point Pelee

Hi there, I would like to add a bit of detail for tomorrow’s OFO trip that I will be leading in the Point Pelee area near Leamington, Essex County. It is labelled a birding photography trip, but I want to make it clear that any birders are welcome to come along, camera or not. We will focus a

Re: [Ontbirds] Mew Gull - Essex-Windsor Regional Landfill

I just refound the Mew Gull at Cedar Beach, Kingsville, Essex County. I’m keeping this brief so that those searching can hopefully see it before dark. My current gps coordinates are (42.0104451, -82.7796576) and it is sitting on the ice on Lake Erie at the back edge of the open water at the

Re: [Ontbirds] Mew Gull - Essex-Windsor Regional Landfill

> On Mar 14, 2019, at 7:30 PM, Jeremy Bensette via ONTBIRDS > wrote: > > I just refound the Mew Gull at Cedar Beach, Kingsville, Essex County. I’m > keeping this brief so that those searching can hopefully see it before dark. > My current gps coordinates are (42.01

[Ontbirds] OFO Trip Summary - Point Pelee area - April 6, 2019

This past Saturday, April 6 2019, twelve birders from across southwestern Ontario joined me for a very successful full-day outing in the Point Pelee area! We totalled 70 bird species between 7:30 am and about 5 pm in very comfortable sunny weather. Such nice weather that I now have a sun burn!

[Ontbirds] Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - Wheatley, Essex County

There are currently 9 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks (apparently found earlier today by Tim Dawson as per a photo posted to Facebook - thank you!!) at Muddy Creek in Wheatley, Essex County, across Deer Run Rd from Cavendish Factory a couple kilometres south of Wheatley. I just saw them. Please

[Ontbirds] Black-bellied Whistling Duck near Hillman Marsh

The Black-bellied Whistling Duck is currently in the flooded field north of Hillman Marsh where Mersea Rd 2 intersects Mersea Rd 21, east of Leamington, Essex County. I heard it calling yesterday evening after a storm and am now looking at it this afternoon in the middle of the large puddle

[Ontbirds] Snowy Egrets near Hillman Marsh, Leamington

I just found two Snowy Egrets in the field-turned-wetland at the intersection of Mersea Rd 2 and Mersea Rd 21 north of Hillman Marsh, east of Leamington in Essex County. This is the same location as the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck. They are foraging among at least 8 Great Egrets and might

[Ontbirds] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - Leamington

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is at Sturgeon Creek in Leamington again this afternoon. I just saw it across the water from The Happy Snapper marina. From the building near the entrance, look approximately southeast across Sturgeon Creek in the direction of the electrical box labelled “50

[Ontbirds] Red Phalarope - Point Pelee National Park

This evening I found a Red Phalarope flying around over Lake Pond in the Point Pelee marsh while I was out in my kayak. It was an adult part way through moulting into winter plumage, with an orange body, white undertail, and white face with black smudge over the eyes. I first heard it calling

[Ontbirds] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Leamington Marina

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is at Leamington Marina again this afternoon, after being absent from either of its two regular locations (I am pretty sure) since Friday night. It is in its regular spot at the corner of the black metal fence near the boat launch ramp and playground with a

[Ontbirds] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Leamington Marina

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is at Leamington Marina again for the first time since it was first found here. It is up close by the black fence near the playground, in the same location it was the other day when Victor Serrano found it here. Leamington Marina is on Robson Rd, a few hundred

[Ontbirds] Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at Leamington Marina

Hi there, Asher Warkentin and Stan Lee report that the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck is present at the Leamington Marina again today. It was not there yesterday. See my last post below for directions. > On Aug 7, 2019, at 3:04 PM, Jeremy Bensette via ONTBIRDS > wrote: > &g

[Ontbirds] Black-throated Sparrow - Burlington area

The Black-throated Sparrow found by Mark Jennings yesterday has been consistently at the same spot along the Sheldon Creek Trail near Cottontail Court all afternoon today. GPS coordinates: 43.3767158, -79.7299756 Jeremy Bensette Point Pelee and Essex County area guiding - Please contact me

Re: [Ontbirds] Spotted Towhee - Prince Edward Point

Tim and I had great looks at the Spotted Towhee about an hour ago (12:30 pm) after waiting nearly 2 hours. During those two hours it called a couple times, briefly flew by twice, and otherwise was completely out of sight. If still searching for it, bring warm clothes, some bird seed, and be

Re: [Ontbirds] Slaty-backed Gull, Mohawk Lake, Brantford

I am not there myself but I understand that the Slaty-backed Gull is currently being seen at Mohawk Lake, Brantford, the same location as it was found at yesterday. Again, I am not there and have no further info but want to get the word out for those interested in seeing it. Cheryl’s google

Re: [Ontbirds] Black-headed Gull at Whirlpool Niagara

The Black-headed Gull is still at the whirlpool at Niagara Falls. We are seeing it from the lookout at the Whirlpool Cable Cars along Niagara Parkway at the north end of Niagara Falls. There was also an adult Little Gull seen here a few times, and the rain has stopped for the most part. Good

[Ontbirds] Adult Black-legged Kittiwake - Leamington

Hi there, I found an adult Black-legged Kittiwake in the late afternoon at Leamington Marina. I was about 100 feet into a walk and of the hundreds of gulls all over the marina, this one was close enough to identify without binoculars! It looked comfy sitting on the water so I hurried back to

[ONTBIRDS] Swallow-tailed Kite Near Point Pelee

I just spotted a Swallow-tailed Kite flying over sturgeon woods campground, seen from Pelee Wings Store between Leamington and Point Pelee. It is about 500m inland from the lake and heading toward the park now. No doubt the same bird seen by a couple observers yesterday in PPNP. This is on

Re: [ONTBIRDS] Swallow-tailed Kite Near Point Pelee

experience with a meal along the lake through Pelee Wings this fall! Call the shop at 519-326-5193 or contact me if interested! > On Sep 6, 2020, at 11:44 AM, Jeremy Bensette via ONTBIRDS > wrote: > > I just spotted a Swallow-tailed Kite flying over sturgeon woods campground, >

[ONTBIRDS] Cave Swallow - Point Pelee National Park

I just spotted a Cave Swallow from the platform at the east end of the De Laurier Trail in PPNP while guiding a group birding tour. It was foraging over the marsh to the east of us and drifted south out of view. Be careful if searching, there are still Tree Swallows and probably Barn and

[ONTBIRDS] Magnificent Frigatebird - Leamington

Eric Briggs just called me to say that the Magnificent Frigatebird is perched on a pole at the Happy Snapper marina at the intersection of Bevel Line and Monarch Lane, southeast of Leamington, Essex County. Get it while it’s hot! Jeremy Bensette Contact me for guiding in the Point Pelee