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ONTBIRDS for Thursday, November 1, 2007
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Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch (30 Oct 2007) 762
Raptors
From: reports(AT)hawkcount.org
Date: 1 Nov 2007 1:11am
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch
Port Stanley, Ontario, Canada
Daily Raptor Counts: Oct 30, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 218 20143 20385
Osprey 0 24 209
Bald Eagle 3 122 367
Northern Harrier 7 767 1999
Sharp-shinned Hawk 12 6967 16413
Cooper's Hawk 2 308 497
Northern Goshawk 2 23 23
Red-shouldered Hawk 29 635 636
Broad-winged Hawk 0 7 41018
Red-tailed Hawk 479 3285 3336
Rough-legged Hawk 0 10 10
Golden Eagle 10 63 63
American Kestrel 0 724 4426
Merlin 0 66 258
Peregrine Falcon 0 118 148
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 3
Unknown Buteo 0 5 7
Unknown Falcon 0 0 2
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 4 6
Total: 762 33271 89806
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 07:00:00
Observation end time: 16:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Su Ross-Redmond
Observers: Brian Hawthorne, Colin Horstead, Keith Sealy, Maris Apse,
Mark Cunningham, Mary Carnahan, Ronnie Goodhand
Weather:
Just a bit of cloud today and warmer temp to 14 C. Winds were light to
moderate from the SW.
Raptor Observations:
A total of 762 birds today...with the highlight being the 10 Golden Eagles.
Non-raptor Observations:
========================================================================
Report submitted by Dave Brown (thebrowns(AT)ezlink.on.ca)
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch information may be found at:
http://www.ezlink.on.ca/~thebrowns/HawkCliff/index.htm
Site Description:
Hawk Cliff Hawkwatch:
Oldest Hawkwatch in Ontario - since 1931 - located just east of Port
Stanley on the cliff overlooking Lake Erie
Directions to site:
>From east 401, take the Highbury south cut off at London, follow Highbury
(Hwy 30) south to St. Thomas. Highbury changes into South Edgeware at a
large curve in the road to the west. Follow South Edgeware west to the
first set of traffic lights - Burwell Road, turn left (south) and stay on
this road. It becomes Fairview Ave (Regional Road 22), which runs directly
into Hawk Cliff Road. You will see a sign for Hawkes Cliff Farm, where they
sell fresh vegetables and a gravel road just beyond sign. Just continue
down gravel road to viewing area.
>From west 401, take the Highway # 4 (Colonel Talbot Rd.) exit south,
through Talbotville, road now is Sunset Rd. continue towards St. Thomas;
you will come to a veer in the road, straight up to St. Thomas, veer to the
right for Port Stanley, follow Highway 4, now Sunset to Port Stanley. As
you approach Port Stanley you will come to a large curve in the road with
a sign saying East St, to the left. Take East St., and follow it to the
first road left, (opposite Port Stanley Water Tower) Dexter Line. Follow
Dexter Line approximately 2 km. and turn right down gravel road at Hawkes
Cliff Farm, and follow gravel road to viewing area
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Ross's Goose in Woodstock.
From: "Karl Egressy" <kegressy(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 4:29am
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Hi Birders,
Ross's Goose was still present and easily seen at Pittock Lake, =
Woodstock in the afternoon on Wednesday.
Direction as per James Holdsworth. (Thanks a lot James.)
Cheers:
Karl
Picture can be seen here:
http://kegressy.com/index_Oct07.html
Directions- from 401, take exit 230. Go north on Mill to Vansittart. =
Take =20
Vansittart north, over the Thames about .5km, to Pittock Park Road. East =
on =20
Pittock Park Road 1km, look for Park gates on your right. Follow roadway =
to the lake.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Reesor Pond Ross's Goose
From: "STAN LONG" <stan.long(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 11:05am
Here it is November and at Reesor Pond, the Ross's Goose, a relatively
rare bird, has show up again today in the company of five Snow Geese,
this bird seen 10 days in a row since the first reported sighting. It
has been a life bird for many. Reesor Pond lies just north of Hwy 407
on Reesor Road in Markham.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Iroquois Shoreline Raptor Watch October 30 &
31/2007
From: "Mike Williamson" <mdw49(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 1:28pm
ISRW HeberDown C.A.
Whitby,Ontario,Canada
November 1/2007
Totals 2Day Month Year
TurkeyVulture 3 2506 2947
Osprey 0 0 14
Bald Eagle 0 1 36
N.Harrier 0 22 59
Sharp-Shinned 3 344 969
Cooper`s 0 27 95
N.Goshawk 0 3 5
Red-Shoulder 1 79 113
Broad-Winged 0 11 5570
Red-Tailed 62 834 945
Rough-Legged 1 5 5
Golden Eagle 3 15 15
Am.Kestrel 7 28 73
Merlin 0 2 10
Peregrine Falcon 0 3 11
Unknown 0 8 45
Totals 80 3896 10922
Total Hours 7 49 114
Avg.per hour 95.8
Oct. 30/07 49 this includes 2 Juv. Golden Eagle
Oct. 31/07 31 " " 1 " " "
Observers;Betsy Smith,Eleanor Beagan,Jim Larkin. I`m must grateful for
their week day help!!
Report submitted by Mike Williamson coordinator for ISRW
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending November
01, 2007
From: "Terry Sprague" <tsprague(AT)kos.net>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 7:46pm
WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE
WEEK ENDING Thursday, November 01, 2007
PINE SISKINS continue to tantalize Quinte area residents with ambiguity as
two or three at some feeders are the norm in keeping with predictions for
this species, while other feeders in at least four locations have them
hanging off the feeders. A Glenora Road feeder this week had a flock of 20,
while flocks of similar size also turned up last week at other locations. A
scarcity of birch seeds in the north is supposed to gently usher redpolls
out of the boreal regions, and hopefully encourage them to make their way to
the Quinte area. And October 28th, a dozen did just that as they fed on
birch seeds behind the Town Hall in Bloomfield. EVENING GROSBEAKS are
turning up everywhere, but not in the numbers that stand out so vividly in
the memories of older birders who relate stories of many hundreds gorging on
sunflower seeds. Twenty-five turned up in Brighton during the week, a number
were seen in Bloomfield crunching down Manitoba maple seeds, and a flock
showed up for a few minutes on Crookston Road near Madoc. Not requiring any
particular reason to visit bird feeders in this area is the AMERICAN TREE
SPARROW, and increasing numbers of these are beginning to show up at feeders
across the region as winter gradually approaches even nearer.
PURPLE FINCHES are still staging appearances at several feeders in the
Quinte area and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES have been appearing as well. Even
more suggestive of winter's approach was an albeit small flock - only
three - SNOW BUNTINGS that showed up yesterday along the beach at Sandbanks.
A lone SNOW BUNTING was along the road to Prince Edward Point today. Babylon
Road today had AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, a NORTHERN SHRIKE and the first PINE
GROSBEAK of the season. Another bird often encountered along beaches, but
this time in a ploughed field along Benway Road on the 28th was a flock of
50 AMERICAN PIPITS. More typical of shorelines and taking advantage of
record low water levels was a GREATER YELLOWLEGS that called even before
full light early one morning at the east end of the Big Island Marsh.
Two RUDDY SHELDUCKS, likely escapees from a private collection somewhere,
have been hanging out with the MALLARDS along Belleville's Bayshore Trail
since last week, and were still there today. Another SNOW GOOSE was seen
during the week, this time off Green Point, south of Deseronto. Despite
heavy hunting pressure, thousands of ducks, mostly MALLARDS and AMERICAN
WIGEON remain in Muscote Bay at the west end of the Big Island Marsh. There
were six MUTE SWANS there today, as well as a single DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT. At Tremur Lake, just north of Carrying Place, the HOODED
MERGANSER population has increased to over 90, and scaup there now number
about 50. Now that the banding season and regular migration monitoring at
Prince Edward Point is over for another year until next spring rolls around,
observers will have to drive down there themselves to keep up to date on the
current waterfowl population. Those visiting there for the first time need
to be reminded to fill up their car with gas in Picton and pick up some
snacks as you are a long way from a Tim Horton's ! However, today, one
observer did make it down there and noted thousands of GREATER SCAUP off
Prince Edward Point, along with a few WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS and one female
BLACK SCOTER.
Ignoring some of the signs of colder weather in the offing have been several
species including a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET during the week at Wellington, a
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW still around near the junction of Jericho Road and
Highway 62, and two reports of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS - four at Chuckery Hill, 25
or so along Welbanks Road, three today along Babylon Road, and three really
optimistic individuals checking out a nesting box along Ridge Road. A late
FIELD SPARROW was seen along Welbanks Road, and a BARN SWALLOW, is still
coursing to and fro over the Brighton Sewage Lagoons where it has been for
several weeks. There were hundreds of AMERICAN ROBINS today in the Prince
Edward Point area.
WILD TURKEYS during the week were seen (6) along Harmony Road in Thurlow
Township, and 9 were seen in a field southeast of the Quinte Skyway Bridge
at Highway 49. The COMMON RAVEN has returned to Sprague Road after an
absence of more than two weeks, and with no dearth of this species in the
county now, we wonder if we even need to report them, as they continue their
expansion into Prince Edward County.
Patronage at local bird feeders is starting to pick up with all the regulars
present, some in rather startling numbers such as 40 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES at
a feeder along Glenora Road. RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are also clients at
that feeder, and others during the week appeared at feeders near Jericho
Road, Consecon, Wellington, Milford and Royal Road. A PILEATED WOODPECKER
showed up at one home in Thurlow during the week. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are
coming regularly to feeders at Big Island and Pleasant Bay. Of course, with
the arrival of songbirds at bird feeders, also comes the arrival of hawks
who like to do a little birding of their own. A COOPER'S HAWK on Green
Point Road consumed a MOURNING DOVE under a kitchen window at that location,
a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK did likewise at a feeder along Maitland Avenue in
Belleville, and another SHARP-SHINNED HAWK checked out a feeder this week on
County Road 7.
A rather amusing story, perhaps more so to me than to the person who
reported it, involved the appearance of a LONG-TAILED WEASEL that somehow
made its way into a local home. According to the observer, he first saw the
creature on the stairs and thought it was a large mouse. But when he
followed, it didn't scurry out of sight like a mouse. It hid behind chairs
and tables and cabinets, peered around them, then raced across the carpet to
another spot, as if playing hide and seek with him. He could hear its
footsteps on the carpeting. The weasel had a lithe body about eight or nine
inches, with brown back and tail, and white underside. At times he could
see it clearly because it paused five or six feet away. When it ran
upstairs again, he opened the porch door, but it refused to be herded
outside. Instead, it seemed to come looking for the home owner when he
adopted its own behaviour and hid round the hall corner. Stopping beside
the sofa, it looked up as if puzzled, then scampered down to the basement.
That was the last he saw of it. Some droppings, whether excreted in fear,
surprise or routine, were all it left behind. One was about two inches long
and slightly coiled, and might have made a curious souvenir. His wife was
quite upset when she returned home and was told about the intruder. Further
inspection of the basement and repeated assurances were not enough to calm
her. They were forced to sleep with the bedroom door closed and sealed at
the bottom with a barrier of books. As a child she had nightmares about her
feet being chopped off while she slept, so it didn't help when he joked that
weasels were carnivores especially fond of gnawing toes.
On that note, that's the Quinte Area Bird Report for this week. Our thanks
to Janet Foster, Evelyn Sloane, Donn Legate, Henri Garand, Fred Helleiner,
Pamela Stagg, John Blaney, Myrna Wood, Joanne Dewey, Serge de Sousa, Silvia
Botnick, Wayne McNulty, Fiona King, Ken & Shirley Joyce, Jack Campbell, John
Charlton and Yvette Bree for their contributions to this week's report. This
report will be updated on Thursday, November 8th, but sightings can be
e-mailed any time before the 6:00 p.m. Thursday deadline. Featured photos
this week in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report as well as on
the Main Birding Page of a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH are all by Dave Bell of
Belleville. Good birding.
Terry Sprague
Prince Edward County
tsprague(AT)kos.net
www.naturestuff.net
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Kingston Area: Eurasian Wigeon
From: "Bruce Di Labio" <bruce.dilabio(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 4:49pm
Hi Everyone
The adult male Eurasian Wigeon was still present this afternoon off the
DuPont Plant in Cataraqui Bay. It was in a flock of American Wigeon and
American Coots.
Earlier on Amherst Island we located 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl, 9 Long-eared
Owl, 1 American Woodcock, 2 Common Redpoll and 1 Pine Grosbeak in the Owl
Woods.
At the east end of the island (KFN property) there was 1 Brant and 1
Semipalmated Plover at the gravel point and 1 Blackpoll Warbler in the large
Willows.
Directions: DuPont Plant: From Hwy. 401 take exit 615 (Sir John A.
MacDonald) and proceed south to King St. West and turn right (west). Proceed
west past Portsmouth Ave. to Cataraqui (Elevator) Bay where King St. becomes
Front Rd. and where the Dupont (Invista) Plant property begins. The Dupont
Pond is located by turning left (south) at the traffic lights and left again
onto the road through the fence.
Directions: Amherst Island: Located 18 km. west of Kingston. Exit off Hwy.
401 at exit 593 (County Rd. 4, Camden East) and drive south to the very end
(Millhaven).
Turn right on Hwy. 33 and drive 100 metres until you see the sign for the
Amherst Island ferry. The ferry (20 minute trip) leaves the mainland on the
half hour and leaves the island on the hour. Cost is now $8.00 Canadian
round trip. There are no gas stations on the island. There are restrooms on
the ferry, and at the island ferry dock. The East End K.F.N. property
is at the easternmost part of the island on the east side of the Lower
Forty Foot Road. Please read below.
Because of liability issues, visitors to the Kingston Field Naturalists'
property at the east end of Amherst Island MUST be accompanied by a KFN
member. For KFN contact information or how to become a member, please visit
http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."
Please Note: The Owl Wood's is closed for public safety
due to deer hunting from Nov 24 - Dec 9.
Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O.Box 538
Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0
(613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell
Di Labio Birding Website
Courses and Field Trips
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)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
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Subject: [Ontbirds]High Parks Hawk Hill - Golden Eagles and Bluebirds
From: "Norman Murr" <normurr(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 5:07pm
Good evening
Today even though the weather gurus called for a West / Southwest wing I went
to Hawk Hill in High Park and the winds of course were not as advertised but an
ideal North / Northwest.
Among other birds spotted were 3 adult Golden Eagles from atop the hill and
from his parking lot vantage point Don Peuramaki added a fourth Golden Eagle.
We also observed 8 Common Loons high overhead, 12 Eastern Bluebirds, 11 Purple
Finches, some landed beside the hill plus some of the usual birds like both
Nuthatches and migrating A. Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles and
A. Goldfinches.
A nice day of observations with the promise ( a promise only so far ) of
favourable winds again this Saturday and again would may see Golden Eagles and
Eastern Bluebirds and besides there is always some good company on the hill and
especially on the weekends.
Directions:-
HAWK HILL IN HIGH PARK
High Park is located in the west end of Toronto and is bounded on the south by
The Queensway, the north by Bloor Street and on the east by Parkside Drive.
To reach High Park you can take the TTC Subway to the High Park Station or the
Queen Street Streetcar #501 to either the Parkside Drive or the Colborne Lodge
Drive streetcar stops or you may drive in from High Park Avenue at the north end
of the park.
Hawk Hill is east of or right beside the Algonquin Restaurant (about halfway
into the park) which is south of the soccer field. If you can not find the hill
for the trees then you can enquire at the restaurant as to the location as
almost everyone is aware of the goings on up there now.
There is always someone on the hill from Sep. 1st to around Nov. 30th.
Best days are days with a good NW or N wind and if a cold front comes along with
those winds after a rainy day then you should see lots of Raptors (No
Guarantees).
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
"Sils mordent, mords les"
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)hwcn.org
For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit
http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm
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[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [Ontbirds]HSR: SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark (01 Nov 2007) 2546
Raptors
From: reports(AT)hawkcount.org
Date: 1 Nov 2007 8:11pm
SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark
Brownstown, Michigan, USA
Daily Raptor Counts: Nov 01, 2007
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Species Day's Count Month Total Season Total
------------------ ----------- -------------- --------------
Black Vulture 0 0 0
Turkey Vulture 1326 1326 60732
Osprey 0 0 191
Bald Eagle 3 3 198
Northern Harrier 10 10 758
Sharp-shinned Hawk 17 17 9756
Cooper's Hawk 12 12 519
Northern Goshawk 0 0 2
Red-shouldered Hawk 47 47 471
Broad-winged Hawk 0 0 69574
Red-tailed Hawk 1116 1116 3820
Rough-legged Hawk 3 3 7
Golden Eagle 10 10 44
American Kestrel 2 2 1274
Merlin 0 0 38
Peregrine Falcon 0 0 61
Unknown Accipiter 0 0 0
Unknown Buteo 0 0 0
Unknown Falcon 0 0 0
Unknown Eagle 0 0 0
Unknown Raptor 0 0 8
Swainson's Hawk 0 0 2
Total: 2546 2546 147455
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Observation start time: 08:00:00
Observation end time: 17:00:00
Total observation time: 9 hours
Official Counter: Calvin Brennan
Observers: Darlene Friedman, Fred Kirn, Raburn Howland, Ron Harkness
Visitors:
Rodney Laura
Pete Przybylski
Anne and Saul Hanft
Bruce Roberts
Jim Maki
Larry Snyder
Weather:
Skies were clear throughout the day today with little or no cloud cover.
Winds were light west-southwest early becoming moderate west and finally
west-northwest.
Raptor Observations:
There was very little movement early in the day, building only gradually
during the late morning. By early afternoon though there was a heavy
passage of birds that peaked late, with the busiest hours being between 3
and 5. Perhaps most remarkable was how late birds continued moving
southbound with many seen up to a half hour before sunset. The Red-tail
migration was the most impressive during these later hours of the count
with kettles numbering from a few birds to a hundred or more, outnumbering
even the TVs during this part of the day. Other highlights of the day were
another fine Golden Eagle passage and several Rough-legs including one dark
morph.
Non-raptor Observations:
========================================================================
Report submitted by Calvin Brennan (common_raven(AT)hotmail.com)
SMRR- Lake Erie Metropark information may be found at:
http://www.smrr.net/
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)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
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: [Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending
November 1, 2007.
From: Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner(AT)trentu.ca>
Date: 1 Nov 2007 9:25pm
Judging from the paucity of recent entries in the book of bird sightings
at Presqu'ile Provincial Park, there have been few birders visiting the
Park this week. Thus there has been a corresponding diminution of bird
observations which can only partly be attributed to the fact that the
fall migration is winding down. Despite that, there have been a few
noteworthy sightings. The month of November often sees a surge of
visiting birders hoping to see one of the Presqu'ile specialties that
normally shows up during that month.
Waterfowl continue to be abundant in the marsh and the offshore
waters. Among others, a Tundra Swan was there on November 1, the first
of the season. Gadwalls are more plentiful than normal. A Northern
Pintail was in the marsh on October 31. A Canvasback was off the beach
on October 26. A Surf Scoter was in Presqu'ile Bay on October 30, and
White-winged Scoters are numerous, especially out in the open waters of
Lake Ontario. Long-tailed Ducks are becoming more plentiful each day.
Half a dozen Red-throated Loons were among the many Common Loons off
Beach 1 on October 26. A Red-necked Grebe was at Owen Point on November 1.
For the second consecutive week, an American Bittern was in the marsh
opposite the bird sightings board. A Turkey Vulture flew over Owen
Point on October 30 and another was sitting just off the point two days
later, perhaps attracted by all the avian corpses along the shore.
Northern Harriers, Red-tailed Hawks, and Merlins are the only other
raptors observed this week.
Among the seven species of shorebirds (mostly Sanderlings and Dunlins)
in the Park this week were a few lingering "peeps": a Least Sandpiper
on October 28, a White-rumped Sandpiper on November 1, and a Baird's
Sandpiper as recently as November 1. This is the month when Purple
Sandpipers regularly appear at Presqu'ile, most often around Gull Island
or Sebastopol Island. Look for them to arrive any day now.
Unlike the female Red-bellied Woodpecker that was spotted last week, the
bird that stopped briefly today at 186 Bayshore Road was a male, but it
flew off after consuming some of the bird food on a feeder. A Northern
Shrike was seen twice at the calf pasture, where that species has spent
the entire winter in the past. Anyone hoping to see the Carolina Wren
that has been present for over two months should watch the feeders at
186 Bayshore Road at dawn or at dusk, which is when it has been making
brief visits on a fairly regular basis. Most Ruby-crowned Kinglets have
left, but one was at the lighthouse today. At least a dozen Eastern
Bluebirds were at the west end of the day use (picnic) area today. A
few Yellow-rumped Warblers are the only members of that family still
being seen in the Park. Although only a few sparrows remain, there were
good numbers on High Bluff Island on October 30. Both Chipping Sparrow
and Field Sparrow were seen on October 31. One or two Lapland Longspurs
have been around Owen Point and Gull Island, usually with the scores of
Snow Buntings. Common Redpolls arrived on October 28 and have been seen
here and there since then. Over two dozen Pine Siskins have been
patrolling the eastern end of the peninsula, sometimes stopping at feeders.
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. It should be noted that, because
duck hunting is given priority on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and
Saturdays, Gull "Island", High Bluff Island, and part of the calf
pasture are not available for bird-watching on those days. Again this
year, birders and others have been permitted at Owen Point on hunting
days for the first few weeks of the hunting season. This afternoon a
duck blind was erected at Owen Point, so birders should exercise caution
in that area on hunting days until signs are erected restricting access
altogether.
Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be
directed to: FHELLEINER(AT)TRENTU.CA.
--
--
Fred Helleiner
186 Bayshore Road,
R.R. #4,
Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0
VOICE: (613) 475 5309
If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park.
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS(AT)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
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