ONTBIRDS for Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Time   [Ontbirds]towhee in midtown Toronto   Skip Shand/GL/York/C   9:42am   [Ontbirds]Spring migration at Rattray Marsh   Wayne Renaud    9:56am   [Ontbirds]Partial Albino Cedar Waxwing north of Ridgetown   Craig Anderson    10:44am   [Ontbirds]yellow-rumped warbler at Lynde; phoebe, many duck species at Cranberry; horned grebe at Frenchman's Bay--April 8/08   Doug Lockrey   1:58pm   [Ontbirds]Fox Sparrows at Ottawa   Brian Mortimer    2:11pm   [Ontbirds]Port Burwell Area - Golden Crowned Kinglets, etc.   Joe Stephenson    4:35pm   [Ontbirds]2 RED FOX SPARROWS & 2 OSPREY by Newcastle & Bowmanville   markus lise   12:50pm   [Ontbirds]2 King Eiders Point Pelee National Park   Marianne Reid    12:50pm   [Ontbirds]Reesor Pond - Markham   STAN LONG   12:58pm   [Ontbirds]Nonquon Lagoons - Entry Code Changed   Jonathan Ward   2:10pm   [Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Osprey, Sapsuckers, Hermit Thrushes and Yes Bohemian Waxwings   Norman Murr   3:59pm   [Ontbirds]American Wigeon - Mooney's Bay/Rideau River, Ottawa   Peter Campbell   7:50pm   [Ontbirds]Ottawa/Gatineau 06Apr08... Flood of Migrants, Also Barrow's Goldeneye, Sandhill Crane, Townsend's Solitaire, Lapland Longspur, Gray Partridge   Gordon Pringle    8:54pm

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Subject: [Ontbirds]towhee in midtown Toronto
From: Skip Shand/GL/York/CA <sshand(AT)glendon.yorku.ca>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 9:42am

Hi all.

The Redpolls that have attended my nyjer feeders at Bathurst and Eglinton
every day since 8 December dwindled down to just two individuals yesterday.
To brighten things, however, beside the plentiful Goldfinches, there was a
Brown Creeper in the yard yesterday morning, and this morning produced the
first Eastern Towhee seen at this very urban mid-Toronto property in more
than 25 years--a very flashy male picking around under the feeders.

Must be spring!

Skip Shand

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Subject: [Ontbirds]Spring migration at Rattray Marsh
From: Wayne Renaud <wayne(AT)renaudwebber.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 9:56am

   The south winds over night have brought the first real visible migration
into the area.  Between 7:15 and 8:45 I did about 60% of the trails and I
counted 10+ Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, five Northern Flickers, 12 Downy
Woodpecker, 7 Hair Woodpeckers, one Pileated Woodpecker, 8 Eastern Phoebes
and one female Yellow-rumped Warber.  A good portion of these birds were in
the heavily flooded lower sections of Turtle Creek which forms the eastern
boundary of the CVC Rattray Marsh reserve.  There is informal path near the
east end of the bridge over the creek that runs along the east edge of the
channel for about 200 feet and you will have a great view of the flood reeds
and woods on the west side.
   The marsh continued to rise to impressively high levels ... over night
with yesterday's strong eastern winds driving up the large gravel bar even
higher than on previous days ... in some areas along the east side the water
is within 10 feet of the boardwalk and the level of the marsh has backed up
the channel of Sheridan Creek to the lowest bridge.
   There was a Swamp Sparrows singing in cattails just off the new look
toward on the knoll trail ... a Osprey landed in one of the big poplars near
the gravel dam at the south end of the marsh just as I was leaving.  The
Pied-billed Grebe, as well as a pair of Blue-winged Teal and several pairs
of Wood Ducks are still present on the marsh.
   Also yesterday I had a Pine Warbler singing from the Austrian Pines just
ne of the parking area at the south end of Bexhill and three Yellow-rumped
Warbler in red-osier dogwoods along Turtle Creek in Glenleven Park which is
located adjacent and west of Bexhill midway between Lakeshore and the marsh.
   People birding Rattray Marsh, especially in the morning, should visit the
lower sections of Turtle Creek because it gets the morning sun and warms up
a lot quicker the the much of Rattray Marsh, with subsequent early insect
(and bird) activity ... like this morning.  It's only about 200 meters east
of the access path to the beach at Rattray Marsh and also can be accessed
from the southwestern-most parking lot of Jack Darling Park.

Directions:
 Go south down to the end Bexhill which runs south of Lakeshore about 5 long
blocks east of Erin Mills Parkway.  Park at the metal gate.  The marsh and
knoll trail start at the bottom of hill from the parking area.  This gets
you into, more or less, the middle of main area of the marsh.  Mississauga
has a map of the marsh and surrounding trails on their web site:
http://www.creditvalleycons.com/recandleisure/maps/rattray.pdf'.

Wayne Renaud 
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Partial Albino Cedar Waxwing north of Ridgetown
From: Craig Anderson <tollboothcraig(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 10:44am

 
This morning at work I found a partial albino cedar waxwing.  It has regular
colour in its head, and has the yellow tail stripe and red wing marks. From the
neck to the tail is White.
The property that i found it on is private and I havn't been in contact with the
 owner.  If you want to see it, i'm going to run back to take a couple pictures
and will submit them if they are good enough.
If the owner allows people who are interested to come see it i'll send out
directions.
 
Thanks for you time
 
Craig Anderson
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Subject: [Ontbirds]yellow-rumped warbler at Lynde; phoebe, many duck
         species at Cranberry; horned grebe at Frenchman's Bay--April
          8/08
From: "Doug Lockrey" <lockrey33(AT)rogers.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 1:58pm

Tuesday, April 8-- With hopes to see vegetation popping forth I strolled through
 the mucky southwest corner of the Lynde Shores woodlot in Whitby--vegetation is
 still sparse. I had to be happy with my first Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Fox
Sparrow.

Next, the platform at the south pathway of Cranberry Marsh--in the open thicket
area just west of it an Eastern Phoebe was heard by John Stirrat. Courting
Brown-headed Cowbirds were along the path.

On the wetland--3 Pied-billed Grebes, many of each of Northern Shovelers,
Ring-neckeds, Gadwalls, and American Wigeons, along with American Coot,
Trumpeter Swans, Wood Duck, Scaup spp., Pied-billed Grebe, etc.

>From the east side of Frenchman's Bay-- close-up Horned Grebe, Bonaparte's Gull
 and White-winged Scoters and distant Common Mergansers, Scaup spp.

Lynde Shores woodlot--accessed from Victoria St. in southwest Whitby, just east
of the Lynde wetlands
Cranberry Marsh--accessed from Victoria St., south toward the lakefront.
Frenchman's Bay--straight down Liverpool Rd. in Pickering, turning west at
Commerce St., it taking you right to a bayside parking lot.

Doug Lockrey, Whitby, ON
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Fox Sparrows at Ottawa
From: Brian Mortimer <brian_mortimer(AT)carleton.ca>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 2:11pm

At noon today there was a pair of Fox Sparrows in our garden along with Tree
Sparrows and Juncos.
These are the first Fox Sparrows we have seen this year.
We live near Hogšs Back in Ottawa.

Brian Mortimer
Ottawa Ontario
brian_mortimer(AT)sympatico.ca

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Subject: [Ontbirds]Port Burwell Area - Golden Crowned Kinglets, etc.
From: Joe Stephenson <joestephenson11(AT)mac.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 4:35pm

8 April 2008

Hi All,

Someone has dropped a truckload of Golden Crowned Kinglets in Port  
Burwell, at least at my place.  Joined by E. Wood Pewee, Brown  
Creeper, fewer but still many Cedar Waxwings feasting on my crabapple  
tree. Before today we had about 100 Cedar Waxwings for the best part  
of the week on this tree - it was loaded with crab apples.

In addition, we have a pair of Screech Owls paired up in a nesting box  
towards the east of our place.  They come out between 7:30 and 8:00 pm  
so far, but sometimes peak out during the day in the afternoon too.

On top of that a pair of Coppers(?) Hawks nesting to the west of the  
house high in a maple tree.

Finally, Sunday saw a Golden Eagle soar over heading eastwards (maybe  
to Beamer?)

Regards,
Joe Stephenson

Directions
Port Burwell is in Bayham, Elgin County; north shore of Lake Erie, at  
the terminus of Highway 19.
You are welcome to bird at our place at 3 Bridge St which is the first  
right turn after the bridge as you head west. Then park at the base of  
the drive and walk up.

There are other places to go here to, including the harbour and beach  
area, and the Provincial Park trails.

Of course everyone probably has more birds now than they can take care  
of everywhere.
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Subject: [Ontbirds]2 RED FOX SPARROWS & 2 OSPREY by Newcastle &
         Bowmanville
From: "markus lise" <lise.markus(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 12:50pm

Hello Migrant Birders,

Yes, for the entire week we have been enjoying 2 RED FOX SPARROWS in our
yard.  At first we did not know what they were.  We thought that they were
THRUSHES but now that we know they are showing up everywhere else that is
what they are.  Several SONG SPARROWS, JUNCOS, AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS,
DOWNEY & HAIRY WOODPECKERS, WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCH, 2 TURKEY VULTURES (who
will probably nest in a barn on the corner of Metcalfe & Mill St.), 2
CAROLINA WRENS, 2 BROWN HEADED COWBIRDS, COMMON GRACKLES, RED WINGED BLACK
BIRDS, KILLDEER, SNOW BUNTINGS (singing during the night while it is still
dark at 0600 hours, 2 OSPREY (nesting on a manmade platform in the
Bowmanville Marsh, BUFFLEHEAD, LONG TAILED DUCKS, COMMON MERGANSERS,
AMERICAN GOLD FINCHES & HOUSE FINCHES.

Directions:  Exit Liberty St by Bowmanville and drive towards the lake, turn
right  West side Beach Rd. and just before the lake turn right on to Cove
Rd.  There are 4 platforms on high utility poles and the 3rd one is
occupied.  The were most entertaining.  One was re structuring the nest.  He
lifted up this long tree branch/log till he/she was on top of the nest and
slowly let it down like a professional crane.  The other OSPREY was perched
on a lower level eating what appeared to be a Gold fish.  People have dumped
their Gold fish in the Marsh who are ruining the natural habitat to the
advantage of the OSPREY but destructive to nature.  Please do not dump your
Gold fish in any body of water.

Markus Lise
Newcastle, On
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Subject: [Ontbirds]2 King Eiders Point Pelee National Park
From: Marianne Reid <mbreid3(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 12:50pm

Hello,
 
This morning around 8:30 a:m, I met Alan Wormington along the south end of the
West Beach parking lot, who was looking out over Lake Erie with 2 female King
Eider in his scope.
 
Migrants are more on the move now including large movements of Golden-crowned
Kinglets, along with Flickers, a few Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Winter Wrens.
  Warblers, except for the odd Yellow-rumped, appear to be absent....for now.
 
Out in the Onion Fields, 12 Dunlin, and 6 Pectoral Sandpipers were seen at a
mudflat along Concession D, along with the usual migrant waterfowl and
Boniparte's Gull.
 
Just the calm before the storm of spring birding here in the Pelee Area.
 
Good Birding,
Marianne Balkwill
peleechickadee(AT)gmail.com
 
Directions:
Point Pelee National Park is as far south as you can drive in mainland Canada
:-)
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Reesor Pond - Markham
From: "STAN LONG" <stan.long(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 12:58pm

   3.30pm  today  at  Reesor  Pond  :  1  adult  Glaucous  Gull + 1 adult
   Kumlien's Gull - also first Lesser Yellowlegs and one Northern Mocking
   Bird  - first Ruddy Ducks etc - Reesor Pond lies just North of Hwy 407
   on West side of Reesor Road in Markham
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Nonquon Lagoons - Entry Code Changed
From: "Jonathan Ward" <jonward(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 2:10pm

My wife and I went to Port Perry today to get our permits for the Nonquon
Lagoons. We were told at the Transfer Station that the number was the same
as last year. We then went to see if we could get in - wrong entry code. We
went back to the transfer station and after a bit of a wait they managed to
get the new entry code for us. We again went to try this and the code works
fine. 
 
The Lagoons are still frozen, however with the one closest to the entry gate
having some open water. 
 
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 Street, 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 new lock code will be provided when you purchase your permit.

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.]

 
Jonathan Ward (jonward(AT)sympatico.ca)
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Subject: [Ontbirds] Toronto Islands - Osprey, Sapsuckers, Hermit
         Thrushes and Yes Bohemian Waxwings
From: "Norman Murr" <normurr(AT)sympatico.ca>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 3:59pm

Good evening 

 Just got back home from a day with Margaret  Liubavicius on the Toronto islands
 and as well as it being a beautiful day to be birding we found some pretty nice
 and interesting birds the best being 300 Bohemian Waxwings in the morning ( 200
 behind the houses on Wards Island, 75 on Algonquin Island and 25 on Snake
Island ) and all these birds were still there as we moved on.

 Some of the other decent birds seen were - Blue-winged Teal, N. Shoveler, A.
Wigeon, Canvasback, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup, all 3 Mergansers,
Turkey Vultures, Osprey, N. Harrier, Cooper's Hawk, Killdeer, 31 Yellow-bellied
Sapsuckers, 18 N. Flickers, 9 E. Phoebes, 6 Tree Swallows, 8 Brown Creepers, 6
Winter Wrens, 47 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 5 Hermit Thrushes, 59 Cedar Waxwings,
2 Eastern Towhees, 19 A. Tree Sparrows, 19 Fox Sparrows, 54 Song Sparrows,
White-throated Sparrow, 33 Dark-eyed Juncos and both Purple and House Finches.

 Not bad for two kids from the city.

Directions:-
TORONTO ISLANDS - WINTER SCHEDULE

(Wards Island to Hanlans Point - without side trips is 5 km)

To get to the Toronto Islands from Queen and Yonge Streets on the TTC. If your
on the subway southbound stay on it and get off at Union Station, walk south
about 1 km to the ferry docks at the foot of Bay Street at Queens Quay and you
are there. If in an auto on the Gardener Expressway or on Lakeshore Blvd, then
exit at Bay Street and drive south to Queens Quay, there are lots of parking
lots nearby (fee).

There is a fee for using the island ferries ($6.00 adult / $3.50 for seniors &
students) and to find out the sailing times you can phone (416) 392-8193. There
are washrooms on the islands as well as the city side at the ferry docks and you
 can pick up a schedule at the docks or check on line.

The 1st boat to Wards Island (my preferred starting point) is 6:35 am and the
2nd is 7:00 am Monday to Friday.

The 1st is at 6:35 am and the 2nd boat is at 7:15 am on Saturday, Sunday and
Holidays.

The 1st boat to Hanlans Point is 9:00 am - Monday to Friday only.There are no
boats to Centre Island in the Winter

Note:- If you start at Wards Island then be aware that the only ferries from
Hanlans Point are at 9:15 am, 11:15 am, 1:15 pm and the last one at 3:45 pm. If
you miss this one you will have to walk all the way back to the Wards Island
ferry dock.

If arriving in early am you must obtain your ticket from a machine just inside
the gate so be sure to have $1.00 and $2.00 and/or 25 cent coins before you
arrive at the docks as there is no place to get change and the machine does not
make change. (There is a change machine there if you want to chance it).

There are coffee shops across from the ferry docks in the building on the
northwest corner and they are open early. Food and beverages on The Islands are
not available during the winter and the water fountains are turned off until at
least April.

For a detailed ferry schedule check the following web site. 

http://www.toronto.ca/parks/island/springschedule.htm 

 Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON

"Sils mordent, mords les"
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Subject: [Ontbirds]American Wigeon - Mooney's Bay/Rideau River,
         Ottawa
From: "Peter Campbell" <pagcampbell(AT)rogers.com>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 7:50pm

Hi Ontbirders,

Today, 8 Apr, between about 4 and 4:30 PM Debbie Campbell and I observed the
Rideau River from Mooney's Bay Park (from the vicinity of the children's
play structures by the beach house). Looking SW in the direction of the
Moffat Farm area (across the river, now a subdivision), we observed one pair
of Am Wigeon among the ice flows. Also one male Bufflehead, a pair of Hooded
Mergansers plus two other males, and some Common Goldeneye (M/F). There are
some open areas, but still a lot of river ice off the park.

Happy birding,

Peter Campbell
Ottawa, Ontario

Directions (courtesy of NeilyWorld): From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take
exit 121A (Bronson Avenue). Go SSE on Bronson for 3.6 km, crossing the
Rideau River on the Dunbar Bridge and going over Riverside Drive, before
bearing right to take the Brookfield Road exit. In 0.1 km merge right onto
Brookfield Road and drive 0.5 km to Riverside Drive. Turn left onto
Riverside Drive and go 0.6 km to Ridgewood Avenue. Turn right or west here
into the parking area for Mooney's Bay.
 For those more familiar with Ottawa, Mooney's Bay Park is on the east side
of the Rideau River adjacent to Riverside Drive and between Hog's Back Road
(to the north) and Walkley Road (to the south).

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Subject: [Ontbirds]Ottawa/Gatineau 06Apr08... Flood of Migrants, Also
          Barrow's Goldeneye, Sandhill Crane, Townsend's Solitaire,
         Lapland Longspur, Gray Partridge
From: Gordon Pringle <parula(AT)magma.ca>
Date: 8 Apr 2008 8:54pm

- RBA

* Ontario
* Ottawa/Gatineau
* 06 April 2008
* ONOT0804.06

- Birds mentioned

Snow Goose
Canada Goose
Northern Pintail
Ring-necked Duck
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE
GRAY PARTRIDGE
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
SANDHILL CRANE
Killdeer
American Woodcock
Iceland Gull
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Eastern Phoebe
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Bohemian Waxwing
Song Sparrow
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Snow Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Pine Grosbeak
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
Evening Grosbeak

- Transcript

hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club
date: 06 April 2008
Number: 613-860-9000
For the status line PRESS * (star)
To report bird sightings, PRESS 1 (one)
Rare bird alerts are now included in the introductory message
coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Can. Nat. Capital Reg.), E.Ont., W.Que.
compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis  hagenius(AT)primus.ca
internet: Gordon Pringle  parula(AT)magma.ca

THE OFNC BIRD STATUS LINE @ 7:00 pm, MONDAY APRIL 7, 2008.

This is Chris Lewis reporting.

Despite below normal temperatures during most of the past week, the
birds want to come back and are arriving pretty much on time. Several
recent excursions to the agricultural fields near Navan and Bourget east
of Ottawa revealed that there is still a lot of snow, no flooding, and very
few waterfowl other than Canada Geese and a few Northern Pintails,
but with the warmer forecast, things could happen very quickly.  Greater
Snow Geese are building up along the St. Lawrence River in the Long
Sault and Cornwall areas with approx. 4,000 seen here on April 6th and
they may soon head our way.

Reports from all over the Ottawa-Gatineau area since the 29th included
all the common expected migrants, some in large numbers on the 6th,
as if a gate had suddenly been opened to finally allow them in!
Canada Geese, Great Blue Herons, Turkey Vultures, Northern Harriers,
American Kestrels, Killdeer, Eastern Phoebes, Horned Larks, Tree Swallows,
American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds, Song Sparrows, Red-winged
Blackbirds, Eastern Meadowlarks, Common Grackles and Brown-headed
Cowbirds are all back in force. The first Ring-necked Ducks and Golden-crowned
Kinglets of the season were spotted along the Rideau River this
week. Three Red-shouldered Hawks were noted in both rural and urban
locations, Merlins have been noted performing courtship displays in at
least 3 urban areas over the past week, and a SANDHILL CRANE flew
over downtown Ottawa heading southeast on the 4th. American
Woodcocks were seen and heard south of Munster Hamlet on the 2nd
and 5th along with a Northern Saw-whet Owl, and a Short-eared Owl
was seen near Carlsbad Springs on the 6th.

A good-sized flock of Horned Larks and Snow Buntings along Rushmore
Rd. on the 6th contained 3 LAPLAND LONGSPURS - the first reported this
year.  A pair of very wary GRAY PARTRIDGE was also seen nearby.  A
Carolina Wren was discovered near the Britannia filtration plant on the
5th, and another was in the Beacon Hill neighbourhood on the 4th along
with a small number of Pine Siskins. Bohemian Waxwings continued to
move through during the week in flocks of up to 150 birds and small
numbers of Pine and Evening Grosbeaks are still around here & there.

Winter "leftovers" included the male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the
Rideau River near the Hurdman bridge on the 2nd, a 1st-winter Iceland
Gull at the Trail Rd. landfill on the 6th, the TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE in
Parkwood Hills on the 3rd, the Tufted Titmouse in Forest Park (Embrun) on
the 5th, and one of our successfully over-wintering Hermit Thrushes was
still at the Hurdman feeders on the 3rd along with a Hoary Redpoll
among approx. 30 Common Redpolls.  The ONLY redpoll at the feeders
by Shirley's Bay back on March 30th was a Hoary as well.

Thank you - Good Birding!

- End transcript

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