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ONTBIRDS for Friday, April 4, 2008
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Sandhill Crane at Ottawa
From: PETER HALL <halljp(AT)rogers.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 8:38am
Hi Ontbirders:
At 8:20 am today, a single Sandhill Crane flew low over my house in Old Ottawa
South and then over Billings Bridge on Bank Street heading in a southeast
direction, likely towards Mer Bleue bog. This is a backyard lifer for me after
living in my house in downtown Ottawa for thirty years.
Good birding
Peter Hall
Directions: Directions:From Highway 417 going east, exit at number 120 to Bank
Street. Turn right on Bank (south) and follow it until it crosses the Rideau
River at Billings Bridge.
_______________________________________________
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/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Ottawa - GBH at the Bruce Pit
From: <michael.broughton(AT)servicecanada.gc.ca>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 8:50am
On the way home yesterday spotted a familiar shape out on the Bruce Pit. There
are only a couple of small patches of open water, but the first GBH of the year
was making full use of them. Made for some good photographic opportunities for
the shutterbugs in the area as it circled over the ice.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/2386579817_1495b93a69_o.jpg
Nothing too exciting to report in my usual area - Riverain Park. The blackbirds
are out in force, there are several pairs of wood ducks frequetning the river
now, and a small flock hooded mergansers was present - making up for the absence
of the goldeneyes who seem to have almost all left over the past few days. The
numbers of gulls of is really on the rise, especially along the ice on the West
side of the river at Strathcona Park - but I haven't noticed any exceptional
species yet.
Directions to the Bruce Pit - from Neily World: From Highway 416 take exit 72
(West Hunt Club Road). If northbound, the 0.2 km offramp brings you to Cedarview
Road, where you will turn left or NNW onto it. If southbound, a 0.4 km offramp
dumps onto West Hunt Club Road, where you will turn left or northeast and in 0.4
km turn left or NNW onto Cedarview Road and in 0.2 km join the northbound
offramp traffic. Both groups will now follow Cedarview Road NNW for an
additional 1.4 km to the parking area, on the right, for the Bruce Pit
_______________________________________________
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/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Kingston area birds to April 4, 2008
From: "Peter and Jane Good" <goodcompany(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 9:22am
Spring is reluctantly moving into eastern Ontario. Most of the back lakes
and swamps are still frozen but the birds seem to have their own timetable
and are returning nonetheless. Thousands of Canada Geese were on the move
yesterday morning taking advantage of the southwest winds. There were 4 Snow
Geese mixed in with Canadas west of the Lennox generating station and a
Greater White-fronted Goose was in the Amherst Island ferry channel last
Saturday. Two Northern Shovelers and a Canvasback were in the Amherstview
sewage lagoons along with 30 Bonaparte's Gulls on Wednesday. Pied-billed
Grebes were at Gananoque on the 26th and on the Clogg Road on the 2nd. A
Common Loon was flying along the Bath Road on Wednesday and 5 Double-crested
Cormorants flew along the St. Lawrence to the east of the city yesterday.
Osprey have come back in numbers; Elginburg on the 31st, Lennox generating
station and Gananoque on the 1st. There was also a Broad-winged Hawk at
Elginburg last Sunday. The number of hawks on both islands remains
substantial with a notable increase in the number of N. Harriers.
A few signs of "real" spring include a Tree Swallow on Garden Island last
Saturday, 20 more on Creekford Road on Wednesday, Am. Woodcock displaying at
Elginburg and Camden East, Common Ravens nesting in a farm shed near
Gananoque, (this has become an annual occurrence), 2 Eastern Phoebes; the
first at Elginburg on the 2nd and another at Camden East on the 3rd, and a
female Red-winged Blackbird at Camden East on Wednesday. Other migrants
included a Belted Kingfisher on the Napanee River north of Yarker on
Wednesday and 2 Rusty Blackbirds and 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets seen at
Little Cat yesterday.
Winter birds have not yet disappeared. There were 13 Bohemian Waxwings at
Elginburg last Saturday and there has been a mixed flock of Cedar and
Bohemian in Henderson Place all week. Evening Grosbeaks are still in the
Bedford Mills area and several local feeders are still entertaining large
numbers of Common Redpolls. There have been a couple of sightings of Snow
Buntings this week and there was a Snowy Owl on Hwy 15 south of the 401 on
Wednesday.
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(AT)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
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Subject: [Ontbirds] Hamilton Naturalist Club Birding Report - Friday,
April 4, 2008
From: "Cheryl Edgecombe" <cheryle29(AT)cogeco.ca>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 12:02pm
On Friday, April 4th, 2008, this is the HNC Birding Report:
KING EIDER
BLACK VULTURE
CALIFORNIA GULL
* denotes new migrants
Snow Goose *
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Ruddy Duck
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Turkey Vulture
Osprey *
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Sandhill Crane
Greater Yellowlegs *
Lesser Yellowlegs *
Wilson's Snipe *
American Woodcock
Bonaparte's Gull *
Glaucous Gull
Caspian Tern *
Belted Kingfisher
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker *
Eastern Phoebe
Tree Swallow *
Tufted Titmouse
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Field Sparrow *
Fox Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Pine Grosbeak
Evening Grosbeak
Its been a very busy week here in the Hamilton Study Area. Looking above at
the list we have had a number of migrants return this week with warmer
temperatures and snow and ice FINALLY disappearing here.
Excitement was high this week at the Niagara Peninsula Hawk Watch On Tuesday
during high winds a BLACK VULTURE cruised past the tower heading west and
then a few minutes later passed by again traveling east. For the brave who
stood on the tower in these high winds it paid off. Excitement was not high
however by someone who was just 15 minutes away cruising the roads up there
and then returning home to see this post. Other raptors passing by Beamer
this week include Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier,
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk(in good numbers),
Red-tailed Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, American Kestrel, and Merlin. Other
species seen this week include Sandhill Crane, Bonaparte's Gull,
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Tree Swallow, Golden-crowned
Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Fox Sparrow and a flyby of Evening
Grosbeaks. The fields in the area are primed for migrating waterfowl and
shorebirds. This week as the ice melted flocks of Northern Pintail,
Mallard, and Green-winged Teal were seen in the flooded fields and yesterday
seen from Ridge Road between 8th and 10th Road were 4 Greater Yellowlegs.
The Hamilton Bay was a good place to bird this week. A watch from the high
level bridge last Tuesday produced a number new migrants and some on their
way out of the area. Among those seen were Tundra Swans, Northern Pintail,
American Wigeon, Wood Duck, 51 Bonaparte's Gulls, our first Caspian Tern of
the year, 4 more were found the next day on the islands off Eastport Drive,
American Pipit and departing from the area, Pine Grosbeak. On Wednesday,
the areas first Osprey was seen flying along Northshore Blvd. and over
Carroll's Point. Also seen on the bay this week at various access points
were Wood Duck, Northern Pintail, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Greater
Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Common Loon, Pied-billed, Horned and Red-necked Grebe and
some lingering Glaucous Gulls. On the lake side the KING EIDERS were last
reported last weekend seen from both Green Road and Fruitland Road.
Another hotspot this week was at the east end of the Hamilton Study Area at
Rattray Marsh at the end of Bexhill Drive in Mississauga. This week
Killdeer, Lesser Yellowlegs, American Woodcock, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern
Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglets (many), Song and Fox Sparrows were migrants
seen here. Two Bohemian Waxwings were seen in a flock of 30 on Bexhill
Drive.
Winter finches and other wanderers still aren't finished with us. There
were many reports of Bohemian Waxwings from several areas this week,
Burlington, Stoney Creek, Hamilton and Oakville Harbour often in the
accompaniment of Cedar Waxwings. Two Evening Grosbeaks were seen again on
Cedar Springs Road near Sideroad 2. Pine Siskins are being reported
sporadically at feeders. Common Redpolls are also still being reported
although in fewer numbers.
At Shoreacres/Paletta Park this week two Tufted Titmice were seen yesterday
by the bridge near the lake. Other migrants include Horned Grebe, Eastern
Phoebe, Golden-crowned Kinglet and Fox Sparrow.
In the odds and sods this week, another CALIFORNIA GULL was seen and well
photographed at the composting station just west of Waterdown Garden
Supplies on Hwy 5 near Peters Corners. This appears to be a different
individual from the other one found a few weeks ago. The first Wilson's
Snipe, a Snow Goose and Chipping Sparrow were reported from the Brantford
area. Eastern Meadowlark and American Woodcock were seen at Bronte Creek
Provincial Park. An Eastern Towhee visited a feeder on Rock Chapel Road
earlier in the week and a Sandhill Crane passed over this observers head
last Friday in the Guelph Line and New Street area, made my day.
That's the long and windy report for the week, thanks for sending your
sightings along.
Good birding,
Cheryl Edgecombe
HNC Hotline
905-381-0329
_______________________________________________
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/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Algonquin Park birding update: 3 April 2008
From: Ron Tozer <rtozer(AT)vianet.ca>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 6:10pm
A pulse of new migrants arrived this week (listed below).
Most were a few days later than the average first date
(in brackets). However, this gap is narrowing (compared
with last week's first arrivals) as migrants increasingly
push north on milder days despite the knee-deep snow and
scarcity of open water. This pattern is normal in late springs
like this one.
Canada Goose (Giant form): March 30 (March 25)
Wood Duck: April 3 (April 5)
Mallard: April 3 (April 1)
Common Merganser: April 3 (March 29)
Great Blue Heron: April 2 (March 28)
Turkey Vulture: March 29 (April 2)
Merlin: March 28 (April 6)
American Robin: March 29 (March 24)
Song Sparrow: March 30 (March 29)
Snow Bunting: April 2 (March 22)
Common Grackle: March 27 (March 24)
Brown-headed Cowbird: March 30 (March 28)
FINCHES:
Pine Grosbeak: There were still three at the West Gate
feeder on April 2. This finch usually lingers here into
April only during major flight years and when cold
temperatures persist, as is the case this spring.
Common Redpoll: Up to 75 were at the West Gate
feeder this week, and up to 50 at the Visitor Centre.
Daily changes suggested birds moving through.
Hoary Redpoll: There was one at the Visitor Centre
feeder on March 30, and one at the West Gate feeder
on April 3.
Evening Grosbeak: A male at the Visitor Centre feeder
on April 3 was the first of this species reported here since
mid-February, and probably was a bird returning from a
wintering location farther south.
BOREAL RESIDENTS:
Spruce Grouse: One was seen at Spruce Bog on March 30 .
Black-backed Woodpecker: One was at Spruce Bog on
March 29, and a male was excavating a hole in a utility
pole at the Little Madawaska (km 21.4) on April 3.
Gray Jay: They were observed at Spruce Bog Boardwalk,
and Opeongo Road.
Boreal Chickadee: Try Spruce Bog and Opeongo Road,
and listen for the musical call which they should be uttering
now.
OTHER NOTEWORTHY SPECIES:
American Three-toed Woodpecker: A male was at Spruce Bog
on March 28, and two males were seen there on March 29. A
male was in the Costello Creek Bog, east of Opeongo Road,
on March 30.
House Finch: A female was briefly at the Visitor Centre feeder
on April 3. The House Finch is very rare in Algonquin.
Marten and Fisher: Individuals of both these weasel species
were regularly observed eating suet and black sunflower seeds
at the Visitor Centre this week.
BIRDERS:
Please let us know the date, number and location of birds you
observe when you visit Algonquin Park. This information is
stored in the Algonquin Visitor Centre database, and will help
us to assist other birders here.
Arowhon Road is officially closed to public travel until further
notice. Do not use this road.
Good birding.
Ron Tozer
Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired)
Dwight, Ontario
Directions:
Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways
400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on
Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then
follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway
60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to the East Gate
(km 56). Permits and information are available daily at both gates
throughout the winter, including the Algonquin Information Guide
showing locations discussed here.
The Visitor Centre has recent bird sightings and information, plus
feeders. Birders visiting during the week are welcome to contact
staff for birding information and access to the viewing deck, via the
service entrance (right end of the building as you face it from the
parking lot). Exhibits and restaurant are open on weekends through
April 20, 10 am to 5 pm.
_______________________________________________
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/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Nonquon lagoons still frozen April 4
From: "M. Bain" <mjcbain(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 6:45pm
Thanks to Geoff Carpentier for arranging the permits to visit the Nonquon
sewage lagoons in Port Perry.
I dropped in to the Works Dept. today, Friday April 4, and they were able to
give me my permit and take my $5, but not to give me the new numbers for the
lock on the gate! It may take a few days before these are available.
So I went round to the lagoons and punched in last year's code and the gate
opened. The lagoons are still completely frozen, covered in a thick layer of
ice and snow, but given the forecast they may not take long to melt. The
only shorebirds were a couple of Killdeer and the only waterfowl 2 or 3
noisy pairs of opportunistic Canada Geese. But I saw my first Eastern Phoebe
of the year and a Northern Flicker and heard a Brown Creeper in the north
woods. There were gazillions of singing robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, and
Song Sparrows, an adult Red-tailed Hawk was chased by blackbirds, a
beautiful adult male Northern Harrier flew by, and crows were mobbing a
Great Horned Owl.
I would suggest getting your permit in a week or so when there's more to see
and you have the new entry code - I don't know when the changeover will take
place.
Copied below are Geoff's instructions:
I have just been advised that the permits for access to the Port Perry
lagoons will be available starting tomorrow, April 3rd. A new lock code will
be provided when you purchase your permit.
Permits must be purchased in advance of entering the lagoons. Each
individual must have his/her own permit. They cost $5.00 as they did last
year.
The permits may be purchased at the Durham Region Transfer Site located at
1623 Reach Rd, Port Perry during the following business hours .... Tuesday,
Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday from
8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. To get to the transfer station, travel north on Hwy 12
past Port Perry [Hwy 7A] to the next traffic lights [Regional Road 8 = Reach
Rd.] and travel east to #1623 on the north side of the road.
The lagoons are located one road north of the transfer site east off Hwy 12
on Concession Rd. 8 [don't get confused as, despite the fact that these
roads are both numbered "8", they are two different roads - one is a
regional paved road, the other a dirt concession road.]
Margaret Bain
Cobourg
mjcbain(AT)sympatico.ca
_______________________________________________
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/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Osprey, Tundra Swans, Woodcock, etc. - York Region
From: RON FLEMING <flemingron(AT)rogers.com>
Date: 4 Apr 2008 8:36pm
Last weekend was a great one for raptors in York region, but not for waterfowl.
As temps steadily rose this week, however, ice and snow melted into open water
for numerous ducks and geese. The flooded fields at the north end of Bathurst
have hosted at least 2,000 waterfowl since Tuesday and, although most have been
Mallards and Canada Geese, feathered guests have also included TUNDRA SWANS (8),
loads of N. PINTAIL (approx. 300), AM. WIGEON (10), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (25),
RING-NECKED DUCK (50), LESSER SCAUP (8), WOOD DUCK (5), COMMON GOLDENEYE (3),
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (2), HOODED MERGANSER (2), AMERICAN COOT (1), and one CACKLING
GOOSE. (Many thanks to Chris, Keith and Bruce for this information).
On Wednesday I observed four different NORTHERN HARRIERS coursing low over the
fields in this same area. Chris Dunn observed the first OSPREY of the season
at this location the next day, as well as a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. He also had
the first SONG SPARROW of the spring for York (that I've heard about anyway).
In the West Holland River there were 17 COMMON MERGANSERS swimming together on
Wednesday at the west end of Bernhardt Ave. and one lone male Cm. Merg was at
the Holland Landing lagoons. At this latter location I was surprised to see a
late day push of Turkey Vultures going by at 7:00 p.m. A stream of 19 TVs flew
over me, following the same NNW flight path. Some very vocal BROWN CREEPERS
provided a pleasant soundtrack from the swamp on the north side of the lagoons.
On Wednesday evening an unplanned rendezvous with Keith Dunn at the top end of
Yonge St. in Holland Landing yielded our first AMERICAN WOODCOCKS of the
season. There were at least two of them "peenting" from the ground, then rising
into the air to do their famous "Dance of The Timberdoodle" east of Silver
Lakes golf course. While we were standing there chatting, Keith and I also
heard a WOOD DUCK fly over and a group of coyotes howling and yipping in the
distance. My golden retriever hung tight by my leg for that canine chorus.
On Thursday evening Bruce Brydon had another Woodcock at the top end of
Bathurst St. Thursday's balmy weather brought out the first EASTERN PHOEBE of
the season just west of Hwy. 400 near Bradford.
Last Sunday I finally observed my first two KILLDEER of the spring while
hiking in the Mary Lake property just north of King City (where the Oak Ridges
Trail runs west from Dufferin St.). By Wednesday they were everywhere. Also
present and making a seriously spacey sibilance at Mary Lake that day was a very
vocal flock of about 100 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS. In central Newmarket Chris Dunn
has had flocks of Bohemians ranging from 50 to 150 along Bolton Ave. just north
of Davis Drive all week long.
This weekend's pleasant conditions should bring in a whole new group of
migrants. Ironically, many of us "locals" will be in the Hamilton area on a
field trip.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
York Region is just north of Toronto and south of Lake Simcoe. The north end
of Bathurst Street is accessed by taking Yonge St. north from Newmarket. Halfway
between Holland Landing and Bradford there is a stoplight indicating Bathurst
St. North. Turn right, then a quick left, then Bathurst crosses the RR tracks
and runs straight north. Take it to the flooded fields north of Queensville
Sdrd. and Albert's marina. A scope definitely helps if you have one.
_______________________________________________
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/information/ontbirdssetup.php
ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at
http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
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