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3 Jul Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, July 3rd, 2009 ["Cheryl Edgecombe" ] 02 Jul Great Egrets and Ospreys [Siegmar Bodach ] 02 Jul Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending July 2, 2009. [Fred Helleiner ] 2 Jul Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 02, 2009 ["Terry Sprague" ] 2 Jul Reesor Pond - A Gathering of Egrets [Stan Long ] 1 Jul Brighton Wetlands ["Keith Lee" ] 1 Jul Amherst Island: Brant and Clay-coloured Sparrow ["Bruce Di Labio" ] 30 Jun Birds east of Ottawa and the airport, a great variety of Sparrows [Jay Peterson ] 29 Jun American White Pelican - Golden Lake [Tony Beck ] 29 Jun OFO News, June 2009 [Seabrooke Leckie ] 29 Jun Brighton Constructed Wetland [Joan Kelbrick ] 28 Jun Great Blue Heron catching Dragonflies [Bob Ross ] 28 Jun Carden Alvar Birding [Jean Iron ] 27 Jun Birds at Blenheim Lagoons June 27 ["Blake A. Mann" ] 26 Jun American Kestrals at Carden Plain ["kjsmith" ] 26 Jun Re: Turnstones at Cobourg harbour June 25 ["Bob and Glenda" ] 26 Jun Turnstones at Cobourg harbour June 25 ["M. Bain" ] 26 Jun First Migrant Shorebirds & Arctic Breeding Conditions [Jean Iron ] 25 Jun Carden Alvar - June 25th ["Geoff - Birds" ] 25 Jun Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending June 25, 2009. [Fred Helleiner ] 25 Jun Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 25, 2009 ["Terry Sprague" ] 25 Jun NO Acadian Flycatcher - Bayview Village, Toronto ["John Stirrat" ] 25 Jun Exeter Chimney Swifts [rose welch ] 25 Jun Sora [Maureen Lee ] 24 Jun Acadian Flycatcher - Bayview Village, Toronto [Karl & Kathy Konze ] 24 Jun Algonquin - Warblers, Boreal Chickadees [Patrick Blake ] 24 Jun Re: Possible Plegadis Ibis Cornwall [Martin Bowman ] 24 Jun Correction - Ottawa/Gatineau 24 JUNE 09 - weekly update [Christina Lewis ] 23 Jun Possible Plegadis Ibis Cornwall [Mark Cranford ] 23 Jun Great Egrets - Reesor's Pond/Northern Monarch Sightings [Donald Davis ] 23 Jun Quebec weekend - Pine siskins [GEORGE CANTLIE ] 22 Jun Brighton Wetlands and Lagoon ["Keith Lee" ] 21 Jun Field Trip: Bruce Peninsula, June 20/21, 2009 [ALFRED RAAB ] 21 Jun Prairie Warbler at the Currie Tract Milton ["Terry Osborne" ] 21 Jun Brighton Constructed Wetland [Maureen Lee ] 21 Jun Snowy Owl [Scott E Smith ] 20 Jun Carden in the rain [] 20 Jun Prairie Warbler, Currie Tract near Milton [brendan o'sullivan ] 19 Jun Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, June 19th, 2009 [] 19 Jun Brighton Constructed Wetland [Maureen Lee ] 19 Jun BSC Holds Ontario-Wide Chimney Swift "Blitz" [Elisabeth van Stam ] 18 Jun ROSEATE SPOONBILL [Alan Wormington ] 18 Jun Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 18, 2009 ["Terry Sprague" ] 18 Jun Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending June 18, 2009. [Fred Helleiner ] 18 Jun Second Piping Plover Hatch at Sauble Beach [Kim Toews ] 17 Jun Prospect Road Directions error ["Norman Murr" ] 17 Jun Algonquin Park June 15th - Birds and Moose ["Norman Murr" ] 16 Jun Chaffey's Locks - Cerulean & Golden-winged Warblers, Y-T Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher [Patrick Blake ] 16 Jun Brighton Wetlands and Lagoon ["Keith Lee" ] 15 Jun A battle at the Grebes Nest! Oaville Ontario [Ray Barlow ] 15 Jun addendum to OFO Carden Trip (directions) ["Dan Bone" ] 15 Jun OFO Carden Trip ["Dan Bone" ] 14 Jun Luther Marsh - American White Pelican, Black Tern, Caspian Tern, Bald Eagle, etc. [Anthony Zammit ] 14 Jun black vulture- Durham Region ["Rayfield Pye" ] 14 Jun Bronte Harbour Red-necked Grebes: Rescue ["Sue and Gavin" ] 14 Jun Larose Forest Warblers--Ottawa East [Jay Peterson ] 14 Jun BBS near Strathroy Western Meadowlark, Mockingbird, Clay-colored Sparrow ["Peter Read" ] 14 Jun Brighton Constructed Wetland [Joan Kelbrick ] 13 Jun Peterboro Avocet ["Robert Hartley" ] 13 Jun Peregrine Falcon - Ambassador Bridge - Windsor [ian woodfield ] 13 Jun Ottawa Int'l Airport - Sparrows & Mockingbird [Patrick Blake ] 13 Jun Prospect & Wylie Rd. - Least Bittern, Golden-winged Warblers & more [Lev Frid ] 13 Jun Avocet: Peterborough [Victoria Carley ] 13 Jun Great Egrets - Amherst Island [] 13 Jun First Piping Plover Hatch at Sauble Beach - 12 June 2009 [Kim Toews ] 13 Jun Prairie Warbler at the Currie Tract at Canpbellville ["Norman Murr" ] 13 Jun Bronte: Red-necked Grebes- 2 nests, 4 chicks, Least Bittern- no sign ["Sue and Gavin" ] 12 Jun Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, June 12th, 2009 ["Cheryl Edgecombe" ] 12 Jun Upland Sandpiper - nr. Zurich - Huron County [Maris Apse ] 12 Jun Avocet, Peterborough ["Bill/Nancy Logan" ] 12 Jun Kingston area birds to June 12, 2009 ["Peter & Jane Good" ] 12 Jun Eastern Bluebirds in Gowganda ..Timiskaming Dist. ["Paul & Gert Trudel" ] 11 Jun Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending June 11, 2009. [Fred Helleiner ] 11 Jun Quinte Area Bird Report forweek ending June 11, 2009 ["Terry Sprague" ] 11 Jun Peterborough avocet June 10 ["M. Bain" ] 11 Jun Prairie Warbler - Currie Tract, Halton Regional Forest - Thur June 11 [Frank Pinilla ] Subject: Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, July 3rd, 2009 From: "Cheryl Edgecombe" <cheryle29 AT cogeco.ca> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 11:36:08 -0400 On Friday, July 3rd, 2009, this is the HNC Birding Report: PRAIRIE WARBLER Wood Duck American Wigeon Ring-necked Duck Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Ruddy Duck Common Loon Red-necked Grebe Least Bittern Osprey Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Sora Sandhill Crane Spotted Sandpiper Least Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Common Tern Yellow-billed Cuckoo Black-billed Cuckoo Ruby-throated Hummingbird Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Great-crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird Warbling Vireo Common Raven Purple Martin Marsh Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Eastern Bluebird Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Blue-winged Warbler Yellow Warbler Pine Warbler American Redstart Eastern Towhee Clay-colored Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Grasshopper Sparrow Rose-breasted Grosbeak Indigo Bunting Bobolink Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Orchard Oriole Baltimore Oriole Pine Siskin This week's report is dedicated to breeding birds which are present in the Hamilton Study Area. Although quieter this time of year, one can see or at least catch of glimpse of young birds which are fledging and who have nested in areas we are familiar with during migration. There were no mega-rarities this week or last. The only bird of note from the last two weeks was the PRAIRIE WARBLER which has not been reported since June 21st. The Laughing Gull was a one day wonder but could still be in the area with a spectacular number of gulls to sort through at the Waterdown Garden Supply. This should be a good area as well to watch for returning shorebirds in the ponds. Common Ravens were seen here the Saturday after the Laughing Gull was seen, a good record for this time of year. The Red-necked Grebes at Bronte Harbour are doing well. There seem to be two stages of birds. One group is has two chicks and is sitting on eggs and the other have half grown chicks which are just learning to dive. Both sets of Peregrine Falcons are doing well. At the lift bridge, one chick has perished but the other two are doing well. A surprise yesterday as one of the adults came in with some very colourful food, a Budgie! The Sheraton Peregrines are putting on quite an aerial show these days and a couple of them seem to be catching their own grub. The dawn to dusk Falconwatch ends today but watchers will be out early morning and late evening to check on them. At Shoreacres in Burlington, breeding birds seen and heard yesterday were Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Gray Catbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Warbling Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Baltimore Oriole and a rather funny sighting yesterday of a Yellow Warbler feeding a Brown-headed Cowbird in the middle of the wood chipped path. It must consume all of this Yellow Warblers time to feed such a bird which is 4 times bigger than it. Out at Windermere Basin a couple of shorebirds were present a week and a half to two weeks ago with an adult Least Sandpiper seen and two White-rumped Sandpipers present for a day. Northbound or southbound these birds were only here briefly. In the basin itself, the Common Tern colony seems to be doing well and there are more Common Terns around this year than in past. A male Ring-necked Duck, a male American Wigeon, a Common Goldeneye in eclipsed plumage and several Ruddy Ducks are also here. Out in the Dundas Marsh, Yellow-billed and Black-billed Cuckoos are also calling here. Wood Ducks, Osprey and Least Bittern were also noted here last week. At Courtcliffe Park in Carlisle, Spotted Sandpipers, Eastern Wood Pewee, Least and Great-crested Flycatcher, Eastern Kingbird, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Eastern Bluebird, American Redstart, Savannah Sparrow and Indigo Bunting were all seen here this week. On the Fifth Concession West, at the Millgrove Loam Pits, Marsh Wren, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Orchard Oriole are breeders here. The Northland Nursery close by to here is a good spot for some of the grassland breeders such as Clay-colored, Grasshopper and Savannah Sparrow, Bobolink and Eastern Meadowlark. In the odds and sods, at Kerncliffe Park in Burlington, Sora, Eastern Towhee and Indigo Bunting were birds recorded this week. Along the Dundas Rail Trail, Purple Martin, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Blue-winged Warbler, Pine Warbler and Eastern Towhee were seen in the week. A couple of young Bald Eagles have been spotted, probably 1st year individuals in moult, one over the escarpment near Dundas and the other over Guelph Line and Prospect in Burlington. Common Loons were seen at Canada Centre for Inland Waters and Bronte Harbour this past week. Pine Siskins continue to be seen at a feeder in South Burlington. Sandhill Cranes continue to be present near Deer Run Court in Brantford. So in all things are quiet. I needed to crank out a report so people didn't wonder if the HSA reporter had gone missing. Things will pick up soon I expect with the return of shorebirds and some early warblers. Make sure to send those sightings my way. Have a great weekend! 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Great Egrets and Ospreys From: Siegmar Bodach <sigipatti AT sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:25:43 -0400 Follow up to Stan Long's observation of Great Egrets at Reesor Pond. On Friday, June 19 late afternoon I counted 6 Great Egrets around Reesor Pond. Prior to this the most I had seen there this spring was 2. There were also 3 Great Blue Herons present that afternoon. I could see no leg bands on any of the Great Egrets. Regarding the Ospreys (nest) I have been reporting in Aurora on top of the cell phone tower at Bloomington and Hwy 404 I had mentioned in one of my early spring reports that 2 pairs of Osprey were fighting for the nest. It seems the 2nd pair of Osprey built a nest on top of the cell phone tower just south of Bethesda Rd. on the east side of Hwy 404. Osprey are very active at both nests. Good birding Sigi Aurora, On. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending July 2, 2009. From: Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner AT trentu.ca> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 20:21:57 -0400 Most of the interesting bird sightings at Presqu'ile Provincial Park in the past week consist of birds that are dispersing from their breeding territories and appearing in places where they have been absent for weeks. Three diving ducks not normally present in summer were in Popham Bay on June 27: a male GREATER SCAUP, a LONG-TAILED DUCK on Owen Point, and a female COMMON GOLDENEYE. A male and female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were on the beach on July 1 and two female COMMON MERGANSERS on July 2. GREAT EGRETS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS are appearing more frequently away from their nests on the offshore islands. MERLINS were seen on two consecutive days, and another small raptor, perhaps a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, was seen carrying a male BALTIMORE ORIOLE. A COMMON MOORHEN has emerged from the reeds in the marsh to feed in the open on two occasions. The most interesting shorebird report concerns the banded RED KNOTS that landed briefly on the beach on May 28. It has been learned that some of them were tagged in the United States, but the more interesting returns were as follows: two birds banded in Tierra del Fuego, Chile in February, 2003 and January, 2007; one bird banded in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina in November, 2006 that was subsequently seen many times at San Antonio Oeste (not sure where that is) from February to April 21, 2009, scarcely a month before appearing at Presqu'ile. Someone indicated on the bird sightings board that a STILT SANDPIPER had been seen on June 30. Since that would represent a record early fall migration date, albeit by only two days, more information about that observation should be submitted, either to the Park directly or through me. Others of that species do occur regularly in July. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was calling near 42 Bayshore Road on June 27. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at 83 Bayshore Road lends support to the belief that the species breeds in the Park. Both MOURNING WARBLER and CANADA WARBLER were found on June 28, as was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. The report of a PALM WARBLER, also indicated anonymously on the bird sightings board, would be the first summer record of that species at Presqu'ile if confirmed. ORCHARD ORIOLES in various plumages are seen on most days. Two PINE SISKINS were at 186 Bayshore Road on June 27, and one was seen there on each of the next two days. 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. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER AT TRENTU.CA . -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending July 02, 2009 From: "Terry Sprague" <tsprague AT kos.net> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 16:44:31 -0400 WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, July 02, 2009 It has been said that the month of July marks the period in the year when bird song is at its lowest ebb. However, there is the much touted "dawn chorus" which is still very much in evidence between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., before the heat of the day begins to build. On a daily 5 km walk, it results in numerous bird species for me, not normally heard during the rest of the day. Heralding the arrival of July for me on the 1st was 38 species of birds during a walk of just under an hour in length. Perhaps not a challenging contender for the Baillie Birdathon, but certainly a respectable total when this season of the year normally tempts one to shelve the binoculars, until the fall migration rolls around. Although the YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, present for three days along North Big Island Road did not make it on the list, a SANDHILL CRANE managed to be the first entry that morning as it bugled its arrival two fields west of 23 Sprague Road where it appears periodically. Other notable "sights and heards" included WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, BROWN THRASHER and INDIGO BUNTING. It is also the season of juvenile birds, and the several noted diagnostic cries of young BALTIMORE ORIOLES can now be heard most days from the tree canopy. Monday night, a family of young EASTERN TOWHEES also announced their presence at the Demorestville Conservation Area, where other species noted included a distant VESPER SPARROW, COMMON RAVEN and at least three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, the latter species becoming increasingly prevalent now in Prince Edward County as a breeding bird. Also discovered nesting through their cries for food, was a nest of AMERICAN KESTRELS located in a box mounted several feet up on a decommissioned 60' free standing TV tower in our own backyard. Sometimes it means going no further than one's own backyard. Also during the week, two recently fledged COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were flushed from the grass during a guided hike west of Arden Road, north of Tamworth, on Sunday, where other species found during the hike included CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, FIELD SPARROW AND OVENBIRD. Patience paid off for one photographer along the Frink Centre's Wetland Ecology Boardwalk during the week, when both a VIRGINIA RAIL and a PIED-BILLED GREBE posed to have their photos taken, albeit briefly. More locally, juvenile BLUE JAYS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS are accompanying their parents to feeders in Trenton, and the latter species are regulars at feeders in Belleville, Picton, and along Harmony Road in Thurlow. NORTHERN CARDINALS are at feeders in Thurlow too, and 2 PURPLE FINCHES continue to make daily visits to a feeder east of Lake on the Mountain. A pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS turned up at a residence at South Bay on the 28th, and a GREAT HORNED OWL visited a back yard on the 26th in the Adolpustown area. While it was only month ago when the lingering spring shorebirds finally disappeared from the famous Kaiser Crossroad flooded fields in Prince Edward County, the fall return of those shorebirds is already in motion, with the sighing of the first LEAST SANDPIPER in Hamilton on July 25th and the first "fall" LESSER YELLOWLEGS at Reesor Pond in Markham being spotted a day earlier, right on schedule, as these two species are among our earlier "fall" migrants. So far, nothing in the shorebird family yet in Prince Edward County. An UPLAND SANDPIPER sitting on a utility wire on Highway 62 just north of Huff's Winery near Bloomfield was doubtless a summer resident, a species that appears to be declining as a breeding bird in Prince Edward County due to changing habitat. In Trenton, where an old 20-metre high chimney at Gimpel Electric Supply, thought to be the last site in Trenton where CHIMNEY SWIFTS are believed to be nesting, and where some 50 birds poured in during mid-June, is still very much active with 44 being counted on June 27th. No less interesting than the OSPREY reported recently trailing a jess from its leg on the north shore of Hay Bay, was another OSPREY this week at a nest site in Kingston. The parents of these young ospreys had something else in mind as the menu du jour, and it wasn't fish. The observer noticed both grackles and squirrels being offered to the young. The ospreys would fly into the trees in an attempt to capture its prey, missing more than catching, but still a pattern that continued for much of the day as the questionable prey was taken to the nest platform. An employee of RR Donnelley, formerly Moore Business Forms, of Trenton, told of a GROUNDHOG that occupied a den at the corner of the building in that city. As employees left the plant at the end of each day, the animal ducked into a culvert under a sidewalk, giving the customary whistled notes. Recently, the female appeared with four cubs who soon became quite tame, often approaching the cafeteria window and gazing inward, or making their way over to the shipping doors where staff there would offer them handouts. One even took it a step further, and actually entered the building were it was seen scurrying the length of the warehouse. However, it's a dog eat dog world out there, although in this case, a fox eat groundhog world. a RED FOX was observed shaking the life out of one of the groundhogs, followed by the eventual disappearance of the rest of the litter. Nature is not always pretty, but in the real world, we all feed on something else. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte Area. Our thanks to Henry Pasila, John Charlton, Garry Kirsch, Pamela Stagg, Fiona King, Bill Hogg, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Jess Chambers, Donn Legate, Doris Lane, and Donna Fano for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday July 9th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday nigh deadline. Photo on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website of a VIRGINIA RAIL at the H.R Frink Centre near Plainfield is by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. The online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report features a photo of a SANDHILL CRANE by Susan Withers of Napanee, and a PIED-BILLED GREBE by Garry Kirsch of Belleville. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Reesor Pond - A Gathering of Egrets From: Stan Long <stan.long AT sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 18:10:27 +0000 For the record - at Reesor Pond this afternoon : 12 Great Egrets - perhaps only one banded [previous sighting : yellow band on left leg above knee - another yellowish band on right ankle] - which raises the question of where are they coming from and where do the roost - 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Wetlands From: "Keith Lee" <keith.lee AT sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 20:51:17 -0400 I will be open on Fridays from 5 to 7 PM and on Sundays from 9 to 11 AM, until further notice, as normal if anyone wish to arrange another time please don't hesitate to call. Cell 613-391-9142 Home 613-475-0881 keith.lee(at)sympatico.ca Directions: The Constructed Wetland is located at the SE corner of Brighton. From Hwy 401, take the Brighton exit 509 (Hwy. 30) and follow it south into town. Go south through the two traffic lights, over the railway tracks and follow the main road, now called Prince Edward Street, south. About 1 km south of the tracks, the main road begins to swing to the left and becomes Cty. Rd. 64. As this long turn ends the Constructed Wetlands appear on the right side. Look for the Wetland viewing sign at the east end of the Wetland. Parking is on the shoulder of the road, please do not drive in. Thanks everyone Keith "Tiny" Lee _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Amherst Island: Brant and Clay-coloured Sparrow From: "Bruce Di Labio" <bruce.dilabio AT sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 11:46:56 -0400 Hello Ontbirders Yesterday, June 30th, spent part of the day birding Amherst Island. There was lots of bird activity on the island including 1 Brant, likely summering, on the KFN property along with 1 Wilson's Phalarope, 2 American Bittern and 1 recently dead male White-winged Scoter. There were 500+ Tree Swallows along the fence lines and 8 Northern Harrier along various roads. We had a small colony of 8 Clay-coloured Sparrows south of the "Owl Woods" and numerous Willow Flycatcher, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee and Field Sparrow. There were south-bound shorebirds but so far I've had 1 Lesser Yellowlegs (June 27) Ottawa and 1 Solitary Sandpiper (June 28) St.Albert. Good birding & Happy Canada Day Bruce 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 $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. 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/ ." Di Labio Birding Website Courses and Field Trips http://www.dilabiobirding.ca http://www.brucedilabio.blogspot.com Bruce Di Labio 400 Donald B. Munro Drive P.O. Box 538 Carp, Ontario K0A 1L0 Office 613-839-4395 Mobile 613-715-2571 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Birds east of Ottawa and the airport, a great variety of Sparrows From: Jay Peterson <pulchritudinousparula AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:17:42 -0400 Hello ontbirders, Just a reminder that birding can still be good going into July! Richard Waters and I went out to Larose Forest this morning quite early and were treated to 15 species of warbler including cooperative Mourning, Canada and Cape May Warblers. The usual Larose breeders all accounted for with others like Yellow-Rumped, Magnolia, BT Blue and Blackburnian. We couldn't locate a BT Green. Oh well. Richard's keen eyes picked up a Black Billed Cuckoo along Neuf-Mille (now Bertrand). Several other nice birds, Scarlet Tanager, Indigo Buntings, YB Sapsuckers, Purple Finch, Wood & Hermit Thrush and a plethora of Veery. Next, the Embrun Lagoons to spot the Wilson's Phalarope in the the west, back cell. Ruddy Ducks, N Shoveler, BW Teal and Spotted Sandpiper also present. Scores of damselflies were nice. In the rain we opted to try the Mer Bleue boardwalk. What a beautiful walk through northern peat bog habitat. Halfway through around the loop we had at least two Lincoln's Sparrows singing in the Tamaracks. Another 300 or so feet along the trail we had one Palm warbler. Only one, but better than none. Finally, as we were already having a great day, we decided to try our luck with the rewarding sparrow habitat east of Bowesville/Lietrim. It was very good news indeed. The sparrows are doing well this year. We had a very good number of Clay-Coloured, Vesper, Grasshopper and even a couple of Field Sparrows mixed in. All still singing away. We encountered several young birds flying around as well. Also present here if that wasn't enough was a Wild Turkey, Eastern Bluebirds, Indigo Buntings, Baltimore Oriole, House Wrens and Brown Thrashers. If you want any further info on anything please feel free to e-mail me privately. Good birding, Jay Peterson Ottawa (Britannia) Directions as per NeilyWorld: To Larose: >From Highway 417, 39 km east of Ottawa, take the Limoges exit (79) and go NNW for 4.4 km on Limoges Road (CR 5), through the town of Limoges to the junction of this road with Regional Roads 8 and 37. Follow the right hand curve on Regional 37 or the Saumure/Clarence-Cambridge Boundary Road northeast for 0.9 km to where Saumure turns left. Then continue straight northeast on the Clarence-Cambridge Boundary Road To Embrun: >From Highway 417 (The Queensway), 39 km east of Ottawa, take exit 79 (Regional 5), labelled Limoges / Embrun. Proceed 2.5 km SSE on Regional 5 to Regional 3 or Notre Dame Street. Turn right or WSW onto it and drive 2.8 km to St.-Joseph Road on the east edge of the town of Embrun. Turn left or SSE on it and go 1.5 km to Route 400. Turn left or northeast onto Route 400 and after about a kilometre the Embrun Sewage Lagoons will be on your left. To Mer Bleue: >From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 112 (Innes Road). If travelling west, the 0.2 km offramp dumps you right or northeast onto Innes. If driving east, a 0.3 km offramp brings you to Innes Road, where you will turn left or northeast onto it and in 0.5 km join the westbound offramp traffic. Both groups will now follow Innes Road northeast 1.8 km from here to Anderson Road. Turn right or southeast into Anderson Road and go 4.9 km to Ridge Road. Turn left or east onto Ridge and drive 2.6 km to a parking area at its end. To Ottawa Airport: Location is in the field on the east side of Bowesville road, near the intersection of Lietrim Road. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: American White Pelican - Golden Lake From: Tony Beck <beck.tony AT sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 13:27:24 -0400 Hello Ontbirders I've just received credible information about an American White Pelican on Golden Lake observed on Sunday, from 4:30pm to 8:30pm. The unmistakable bird was described extremely well, including the adult dusky crown feathers, etc. It was observed resting, and later preening, at the shoal near Hoffman's Point on the east side of the lake. The observation was made from the south shore of Golden Lake, from a cottage on Rocky Point Road. The bird was along the shoal in shallow water approximately 100 meters out from the cottage. It was NOT present this morning. The observers are cottage owners and are extremely concerned with an influx of birders. Although it should go without saying, I expect all interested birders to be sensitive to private property, speed limits, etc. Jim Bryce (the observer/cottage owner) suggests that any interested birders visiting the area, and wishing to view the location from Rocky Point Road, do so only from his property - 396 Rocky Point Drive. Please do NOT trespass on other cottage properties. Directions from the village of Golden Lake: * Go west on Kokomis (Hwy 70) about 3 km * Turn right onto Hoffman, and go about 1 km * Turn right on Zadow * Keep right when the road forks * Continue past the hairpin curve to #396 Rocky Point Good Luck Tony Beck http://www.tonybeck.ca Always An Adventure _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: OFO News, June 2009 From: Seabrooke Leckie <sanderling AT symbiotic.ca> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 10:00:35 -0400 Hello Ontbirders! The June 2009 issue of OFO News will be arriving in mailboxes soon. Here are some of the stories you'll find contained within its 16 pages: 1. Birdathon 2009 - a summary of OFO Celebrity Birders John and Victoria Carley's Toronto-based birdathon this year. 2. Tommy Thompson Park: Toronto's Birding Gem - the Carleys are members of Friends of the Spit and actively involved in the protection of this unique natural area. See what makes it so special. 3. Sketching a Theory of Bird Identification - Rob Maciver suggests that those who persist with bird identification discover that there is no substitute for experience. 4. Pileated Woodpecker Not Fooled - a short follow-up to the Hydro One article featured in the February newsletter. 5. Ghost Bird: A Cautionary Tale - a review of the recently-released documentary film Ghost Bird, about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker search in Arkansas, which was shown at the HotDocs Festival in May. 6. The Barn Owl: Ontario's Ghost Bird - Bernt Solymár shares some experiences in searching for this elusive species. 7. Bringing Back the Barn Owl to Ontario - looking at the efforts and successes of the Ontario Barn Owl Recovery Project. 8. Whip-poor-will: Voices in Decline - COSEWIC recently recommended the Whip-poor-will for SARA listing. A discussion of Whip-poor-wills in Ontario and elsewhere. 9. Ron Tozer: Distinguished Ornithologist - the Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Ron Tozer will be the 2009 and 12th recipient of the Distinguished Ornithologist Award granted by the Ontario Field Ornithologists. 10. Ontario Field Ornithologists 2008 Financial Statement 11. Book Reviews - A Sound Like Water Dripping: In Search of the Boreal Owl; Birdwatcher: The Life of Roger Tory Peterson; Handbook of the Birds of the World, volume 13: Penduline-tits to Shrikes. 12. A Late Fall Bonaparte's Gull with Alternate Plumage Appearance - discussing the observation of a black-hoooded Bonaparte's Gull in November. 13. OBRC Notes, June 2009 14. Nikon Photo Quiz - a small grayish bird observed in a wet woodlot. Happy birding! --Seabrooke Leckie Lead editor, OFO News Perth, ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Constructed Wetland From: Joan Kelbrick <jkelbrick AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:44:36 -0400 Greetings: Well, the Brighton Constructed Wetland has been an exceptional "nursery" this year. There have been 6 "small" families of Canada Geese, the Mute Swan cygnets went from 7 down to 3, at least 4 Wood Duck families, a couple of Mallards, Moorhen (many), Sora (at least two lots), Virginia Rail (at least 4 lots) and of course the two Osprey chicks - Hunter and Junior. The song bird hatchings, that we know of, Redwing Blackbird, Common Grackle, Marsh Wren, House Wren, Tree Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Gray Catbird, Flicker, Cardinal. Blue Jay, Great Crested Flycatcher, American Robin, Goldfinch, House Finch, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow and many, many more that can be heard but unfortunately Tiny and I are not very good at birding by ear, yet. Also seen earlier in May was a number of baby Muskrats. These little ones are just too cute for words. All-in-all walking through the gate into the wetland puts you into another world. The sound of the traffic stays on the other side of the gate. The sounds of the wetland put an instant smile on my face. All the activity is just amazing. Just stand there for a couple of minutes and you know your decision to enter the Wetland was a good one. Sometimes when you enter it seems like nothing is happening, but wait a couple of minutes and you realize that you were wrong. And there standing by his vehicle in his usual spot is the man who has made entry into the Brighton Constructed Wetland possible - Tiny (Keith Lee). Tiny, who went to Jim Philips (his supervisor) to plead for birders to enter the wetland. Yes, Jim took a chance on Tiny and Tiny took a big chance on all us birders. All I want to say is that everyone should take a chance on the Wetland. Come, enjoy and meet Tiny. Tiny gives four hours a weekend for us to enter the Wetland and makes himself available at other times or makes arrangements for other indivduals to take you in if he is working. Thank you Tiny! Now it is not just feathered friends in the Wetland. There are many butterflies, Dragonflies and many, many wild flowers. A photographers virtual paradise. Enjoy!! Joan To reach the Wetland exit 509 (Highway 30 south) off the 401. Follow Highway 30 into Brighton. Highway 30 becomes Prince Edward Street. Continue on Prince Edward Street, which turns into County Road 64. The wetland is located on the south side of County Road 64. As you enter the sweeping curve you will see the wetland on your right. Please be cautious pulling over as the speed limit increase to 80km/h about 100 metres from the entrance to the wetland. The next time I go the Wetland I will check the distance from the 401 and Highway 30 to the Wetland. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Great Blue Heron catching Dragonflies From: Bob Ross <bob.ross3 AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:43:16 -0400 On June 25 I was combining fishing and birding from my boat in a quiet corner of Sturgeon Bay, at about 8:00PM. A great Blue Heron landed on a low branch of a large pine tree nearby, about 15 feet off the ground. As I watched it with binoculars I was amazed to see it start behaving like a flycatcher. Dragonflies were extremely numerous and flying around everywhere. The Heron started catching them (on the wing) as they flew around it. I observed it catch and eat 4 in about 5 minutes. The Heron seemed to have a little difficulty swallowing them. Perhaps they don't slide down as easily as a minnow or frog. Sturgeon Bay is part of Georgian Bay, near Pointe au Baril, which is 40 km north of Parry Sound. Great Blue Herons are very common in the area. Bob Ross Toronto _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Carden Alvar Birding From: Jean Iron <jeaniron AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:27:03 -0400 The Carden Alvar, just east of Lake Simcoe, continues to be an excellent choice for birding in late June and early July. On Saturday and Sunday, Eleanor Beagan and I saw the following: Loggerhead Shrike: 3 young and 1 adult in the pasture at McNamee Road and Wylie Road. Best viewing was looking north from McNamee about 200 m east of Wylie Road. Orchard Oriole: an adult male on Rockview Road, a first for us in Carden. Upland Sandpiper: adults are very visible now perched on fence posts, small trees and shrubs as they watch over young hidden in the grass. Clay-colored and Vesper Sparrows and a Golden-winged Warbler at the north end of Wylie Road near the T-junction with Alvar Road. Sedge Wrens are singing in the wet pasture on west side of Wyle Road about 1/2 km north of McNamee. Sandhill Crane along Wylie Road on Windmill Ranch just north of the cabin. Many grassland and scrubland birds are still very vocal and easy to find including Brown Thrashers, Bobolinks, Grasshopper, Field and Savannah Sparrows, Eastern Towhees, and Eastern Meadowlarks. Directions: to print a Carden Alvar birding map and detailed directions to locations such as Wylie Road http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/cardenalvar.php Jean Iron Toronto ON www.jeaniron.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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Birds at Blenheim Lagoons June 27 From: "Blake A. Mann" <boatmann AT kent.net> Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 15:12:36 -0400 Hi all, I stopped at Blenheim Sewage Lagoons this morning during my travels. Some interesting birds were there. Pond 3: Tundra Swan (!), Green-winged Teal (3 male), Hooded Merganser (females), Least Sandpiper (one ad.; a fall migrant). Pond 4: Green Heron Pond 5: Common Moorhen (2-rather uncommon for this area), Redhead duck (2 male), American Wigeon (3 male), Wood Ducks, several Pied-billed Grebes. There were several Northern Shovelers and Ruddy Ducks as well, and numerous Killdeer. Ponds 1 & 3 have been drawn down to reveal a good edge for southbound shorebirds. Location of ponds is marked in the sightings book at the gate. Lagoon Directions: Exit 401 at #90 (Communications Rd.) and head into Blenheim. At the main stoplight turn right (west) onto Rd. 3. Travel about 1.5 km and turn right (north) onto Lagoon Rd. at the carwash, and continue north about 1 km to gate. You must have an annual permit to enter. Available at the Municipal Service Centre, 35 Talbot St. in Blenheim, during business hours, fax (519) 676-0244. Blake A. Mann Wallaceburg Chatham-Kent, Ontario boatmannATkentDOTnet _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: American Kestrals at Carden Plain From: "kjsmith" <kjsmith AT efni.com> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:02:28 -0500 Yesterday my wife and I observed a pair of Kestrals at the no exit end of Shrike Road. They appeared to be mating at the time. This is one of the few occasions we have seen them on our many trips to Carden Plain this year. Ken and Judy Smith Lake Dalrymple kjsmith AT efni.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Re: Turnstones at Cobourg harbour June 25 From: "Bob and Glenda" <curry.slessor AT sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:55:39 -0400 Although it is impossible to be sure I consider these turnstones to be late spring migrants. Our latest spring migrants at Hamilton are June 24, 1963 and three, June 28, 1965 all in high breeding plumage. We have records of what I consider to be summering birds in nine years. These have usually been birds in 1st alternate plumage that lingered at local sites in late June and early July. Our earliest fall migrants are 18 July 1975 and 23 July 1988. Bob Curry 30-3115 New Street Burlington, ON L7N 3T6 905-637-2022 curry.slessor AT sympatico.ca ----- Original Message ----- From: "M. Bain" To: "Ontbirds" Sent: Friday, June 26, 2009 9:14 AM Subject: [Ontbirds] Turnstones at Cobourg harbour June 25 > Further to Ron and Jean's interesting post on returning shorebirds, Doug > McRae found 2 Ruddy Turnstones on the Cobourg harbour breakwater > yesterday, > June 25th. They were in bright breeding plumage and both appeared to be > adult males. > 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Turnstones at Cobourg harbour June 25 From: "M. Bain" <mjcbain AT sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:14:41 -0400 Further to Ron and Jean's interesting post on returning shorebirds, Doug McRae found 2 Ruddy Turnstones on the Cobourg harbour breakwater yesterday, June 25th. They were in bright breeding plumage and both appeared to be adult males. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: First Migrant Shorebirds & Arctic Breeding Conditions From: Jean Iron <jeaniron AT sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 08:09:21 -0400 Yesterday we saw an adult Lesser Yellowlegs at Reesor Pond in Markham near Toronto and on Wednesday there was an adult Least Sandpiper in Hamilton. These are the first "fall migrant" shorebirds and they are right on schedule. Directions: Reesor Pond is on the west side of Reesor Road just south of Highway 7. Arctic Breeding Conditions: Several people asked us to comment about recent reports of a "Disastrous breeding season in the Arctic". The Arctic is huge; it is 3500 km from southern James Bay (subarctic) to northern Ellesmere Island. Most shorebirds have large breeding ranges and even in late years many birds breed successfully and rarely does the entire Arctic experience the same climatic conditions. We checked with northern researchers and summarized their comments below. Shorebird nesting in 2009 is poor in some regions but normal to good elsewhere. Ontario: Ken Abraham reports that conditions in the Hudson Bay Lowlands were about 10 days late from Attawapiskat south on James Bay, including Akimiski Island, with Canada Geese and Snow Geese hatching in mid June, more like the 1990s average than the 2000s average and within the overall norms. Other species on Akimiski Island were correspondingly late. His guess is that for those species that require shorter time there will be some reduction but not huge. Perhaps the predation effect will be somewhat greater if alternate species are less available. Because coastal snow, ice and water inundation conditions were similar from Cape Henrietta Maria to the Manitoba border, Ken expects that for Canada Geese nesting within 40 - 60 km from the coast, a much reduced effort and productivity will be the norm. Snow Geese at Cape Henrietta Maria were greatly down and the suggestion of a 90% reduction seems to fit what they saw on their survey. However, beyond 40 - 60 km inland, he thinks conditions will be different. Mark Peck said that species nesting away from the Hudson Bay Coast in boreal bogs and fens such as yellowlegs should not be severely impacted because much of the freeze took place near the coast. Manitoba: The situation is worse in northern Manitoba at Churchill where temperatures were well below normal until recently and the snow cover melted late. However, Erica Nol reports that birds have started to nest, just very late, and it won't be a complete bust for shorebirds if there are enough bare spots. Whimbrels and Hudsonian Godwits are nesting, but overall nesting success should be below average for most shorebirds in northern Manitoba. Nunavut: Snow melt was up to three weeks late in mainland Nunavut north of Manitoba. Recent temperatures have been close to normal. Much of Baffin Island is now snow free and conditions there and on Bylot Island are about normal. High Arctic breeders should have a good breeding year. Northwest Territories: Vicky Johnston suspects it will be a poor breeding year in parts of the Western Arctic. Spring was roughly three weeks late in Yellowknife on Great Slave Lake based on leaf-out. The Mackenzie Valley and Delta warmed early but then cooled off again. The Delta flooded slowly and the water receded slowly, so some prime shorebird breeding areas were subject to heavy predation. Yukon: Cameron Eckert reports a late spring, but once the heat came, everything shifted into high gear. Alaska: Declan Troy reports from the North Slope that the snow on the tundra is long gone. It was much warmer earlier in the month and his guess is that the breeding season has been early there. We will be recording the arrivals and numbers of adult and juvenile shorebirds in southern Ontario and may post updates. Acknowledgements: We thank Ken Abraham, Bruce Di Labio, Cameron Eckert, Michel Gosselin, Vicky Johnston, Erica Nol, Mark Peck, Ken Ross, Don Sutherland, and Declan Troy. Ron Pittaway and Jean Iron Toronto ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Carden Alvar - June 25th From: "Geoff - Birds" <avocet AT rogers.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:12:04 -0400 Terrie Smith and I did our 3rd run to Carden for the Grassland Survey study. We had a lot of song, but most interesting were 24 Upland Sandpipers along Cty Rd 6 and Wylie Rd, 10+ Grasshopper Sparrows and 3 Clay-coloured Sparrows amongst the usual suspects. No sedge Wrens at the Sedge Marsh but one was singling near the junction of Wylie and McNamee Rds. But where are the kestrels? I've been up to the alvar 6 times this spring and have not seen one kestrel. I know some are about but this is a bit scary! Are they also suffering some serious decline in numbers? Lots of butterflies today, along Wylie Rd in particular, including a massive emergence of hundreds of Skippers (European - I think - still struggling to identify these pesky skippers so pls bear with me!) + White Admirals (lots), Monarch Butterfly (pay attention Don Davis!), Mourning Cloak, a couple of Bronze Coppers and several Canadian Tiger Swallowtails. Also of note, my resident Cooper's Hawks (Ajax) have suddenly become more visible as the young grow - both male and female being visible nearly every day carrying food to the nest. Most interesting was my wife's observation of the female carrying nest material presumably to repair the nest as the rambunctious youngsters do damage. Last year she (the Cooper's not my wife) was seen to do the same nest repair on July 13th. Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending June 25, 2009. From: Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner AT trentu.ca> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:25:42 -0400 At a time of year when other birding areas nearby yield only a limited variety of species, Presqu'ile Provincial Park offers opportunities to sample woodland birds, marsh birds, open country birds, and those associated with beaches and open water. A day's birding visiting each of those habitats can be quite profitable, even in the mid-summer hiatus between spring and fall migration. In addition to the regular MALLARDS and GADWALLS around the shores of Popham Bay, this week there was an AMERICAN WIGEON on Gull Island on June 23 and GREEN-WINGED TEALS on the beach (three on June 22 and six on June 23). In the open water of that bay there was a SCAUP on June 23, a female COMMON GOLDENEYE on June 22, and a female COMMON MERGANSER on both days. COMMON LOONS were present in both Popham Bay and Presqu'ile Bay, where they bred for the past two summers. An OSPREY was at the calf pasture, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was in the lighthouse area. On June 22, four non-resident shorebirds were on the beach: two SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, and a DUNLIN. Before long, one can expect a LEAST SANDPIPER or a LESSER YELLOWLEGS to appear there. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was also there on two of the last four days. Surprisingly, two BLUE JAYS flew over the lighthouse as if in migration on June 24 and another on June 25, both in the early morning when such movements normally occur in season. A WOOD THRUSH has been singing regularly behind 85 Bayshore Road. ORCHARD ORIOLES exhibiting various plumages remain active and vocal in the general area of the lighthouse, and frequently in the spruce tree at 186 Bayshore Road. A PURPLE FINCH, not the first in recent weeks, was singing persistently in the High Bluff campground on June 22. 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. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER AT TRENTU.CA . -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 25, 2009 From: "Terry Sprague" <tsprague AT kos.net> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:08:43 -0400 WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 25, 2009 Hot and humid weather is supposed to reduce bird song these days to a low ebb; however, the message failed to be delivered to those residing in a large tract of conservation land east of Thomasburg, known as the Cassidy Block or Deroche Lake. With temperatures hovering at the 30 degree mark on Tuesday, OVENBIRDS and RED-EYED VIREOS produced such a din, it was difficult to hear much else at times. WOOD THRUSH and VEERY were also present in the section of property along Colonization Road, and other species recorded the same day included BROAD-WINGED HAWK, SCARLET TANAGER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, FIELD SPARROW, LEAST and GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, EASTERN TOWHEES with young, AMERICAN REDSTART, and several CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLERS. Certainly a dependable spot to bird at this time of the year, but make certain you know where you are going, as it is a huge property and very remote. At Crookston Road, in the Tweed area, another TREE SWALLOW nest box there has been ravaged once again by a black bear with apparent "learned behaviour." The owners are hoping the bear will eventually go elsewhere for its hors d'oeuvres. Somewhat more fortunate have been other nest boxes that have fledged 109 TREE SWALLOWS on the property, along with 11 from the first broods of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. In Prince Edward County, bird feeders continue to attract a colourful assortment of ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, INDIGO BUNTINGS and BALTIMORE ORIOLES. The featured photo on the Main Bird Page of the NatureStuff website this week features one such feeder with a BALTIMORE ORIOLE on a nectar feeder while a male INDIGO BUNTING patiently awaits its turn. INDIGO BUNTINGS during the week were also present at Stillwater Forest west of Black River Cheese Factory and along Sprague Road early this morning. On North Big Island Road, a YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO called loudly from a tree at the entrance to Baycrest Marina at 6:15 a.m. The SANDHILL CRANE has once again returned from its hiatus and was heard bugling in a field west of 23 Sprague Road this morning. Three BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS, a species seldom seen in Prince Edward County, appeared at the marsh along the sand spit at Wellington on Saturday, and more RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS have turned up in the County, this time on County Road 4, north of Picton. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was on Bethesda Road last week, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are still feeding young at 2800 County Road 1. BLACK TERNS (2-3) were spotted offshore at Outlet Beach on the 23rd and 24th, and two others were skimming the surface of a wetland along the Millennium Trail off Danforth Road last Sunday where COMMON MOORHENS, MARSH WRENS, SWAMP SPARROWS and PIED-BILLED GREBE were also recorded, and probably the loudest chorus of GREEN FROGS I have heard in many years at this popular wetland which borders both sides of the Millennium Trail, less than a kilometre northwest off Danforth. Two PURPLE MARTIN landlords along Highway 62 at Jericho Road report that their annual check of the nest boxes revealed 192 eggs laid in 43 active nests. Certainly a positive figure for a species that in some areas, seems to be on a decline. The nesting OSPREY mentioned in last week's report trailing a jess attached to its leg, is still in the area, and was last seen along Loyalist Parkway (Glenora Road) near the Lake on the Mountain turnoff, about 10 kilometres as the osprey flies from where it is nesting on the north shore of Hay Bay. At Snake Island, in the Bay of Quinte, northwest of Massassauga Point OSPREYS have been seen there too near this tiny island that hosts close to 50 pairs of nesting DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS. These days, it's simply a case of picking a spot and seeing what turns up. A cyclist on the Millennium Trail this morning racked up a respectable list east and west of Wesley Acres Road near Bloomfield, including BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS, NORTHERN CARDINAL, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and EASTERN KINGBIRD. So, there's lots of stuff out there; it's just a matter of being a keen observer and very sound oriented. In the other stuff department, a WHITE ADMIRAL and GIANT SWALLOWTAIL were seen near Bloomfield today, and several have reported LUNA MOTHS this season. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Pamela Stagg, Kathy Willis, Kathleen Rankine, Charles Crowe, Joanne Dewey, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Janet Foster, Serge de Sousa, Nancy Fox, Karen Stenhouse and Heather Heron for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, July 2nd, but observations can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Featured photo this week on the Main Birding Page of the Naturetuff website is by Bob Willis of Picton of an INDIGO BUNTING and a BALTIMORE ORIOLE together at the same feeder. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report of a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and a WARBLING VIREO are by Adam Penson of Toronto. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: NO Acadian Flycatcher - Bayview Village, Toronto From: "John Stirrat" <john.stirrat AT sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:47:02 -0400 I failed to relocate the Acadian Flycatcher this morning. I was in the area described by Karl Konze around 9:30 to 10:15am so it may be quiet at that time of the morning. Should you choose to try for the bird, please heed Karl's request not to disturb or harass the bird. ***PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB OR HARASS THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES. While it is likely that it will not end up breeding successfully, do not help ensure that this becomes a reality. Behave responsibly. Please give it ample space, keep quiet and move about slowly. Do not entice it out by broadcasting its song. To see ABA's Code of Ethics, check out the following link. http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html *** Here are the directions from Karl's earlier posting: Newtonbrook Creek is located in the Bayview Village area of Toronto, north of Sheppard Avenue E. and between Leslie St. and Bayview Avenue. The creek drains SE into the east branch of the Don River. From Sheppard Avenue, drive north along Burbank Dr. to Forest Grove Dr. You will probably need to park somewhere in this vicinity. From where Forest Grove Dr. crosses the valley (just east of Burbank Dr.) walk SE along the public path for approximately 740 m. The bird was singing across the creek to the right. For those with GPS units, the coordinates are: 43.77881421 latitude and -79.3729096 longitude (decimal degrees). UTM coordinates in NAD83 are: 630935 E, 4848593 N. Of course there are other ways of accessing this location from within the park system. For those coming along the path from the SE direction, the location is about 200 m past the bridge that crosses the east branch of the Don River. John Stirrat Scarborough _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Exeter Chimney Swifts From: rose welch <rose.welch049 AT sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:17:08 +0000 10-12 Chimney Swifts...their chirpies voices was the first thing I noticed on the Main St Exeter...so I followed them to Andrew and James St (east of the Main St) to the Exeter United Church. They were flying quite low from the parking lots off Main St to this location. They did not go into the square chimney, but they could have gone in on James St. side of the steeple. Great Birding Rose Exeter is 45min to 1 hour North of London on Hwy #4 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Sora From: Maureen Lee <briscoedog AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 09:48:17 -0400 Greetings: Last Friday (June 19) I reported seeing 5 Virginia Rail chicks. I am sorry to report that once I received the photo taken by Andre Massa, the chicks were not Virginia Rails BUT 5 Sora chicks. My binoculars missed the red around their tiny little faces (but they do move quite quickly). Considering the number of Virginia Rails in the wetland, actually seeing little chicks from perhaps only one pair of Sora, it is really very exciting. I just made a quick run to the Wetland, after a call from Tiny (Keith Lee) and saw two very fine looking Osprey chicks. They appear to be around a month old and are very close in size. They were being shielded from the sun by the adult on the nest. Poor little beggers were panting something fierce. Hopefully, both will survive this year. Last year two of the three chicks ended up on the ground at the bottom of the pole. On a frivilous note, Tiny and I agreed to call the chicks Hunter (the larger one) and Junior (for Andre Massa who sent us photos of the babies). The Wetland will be open this Friday - 5:00 to 7:00 pm and Sunday morning 9:00 to 11:00am. The wetland is located on the south side of County Road 64 (Prince Edward Street). Joan _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Acadian Flycatcher - Bayview Village, Toronto From: Karl & Kathy Konze <konze AT rogers.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:55:58 -0400 Hi all, ***PLEASE DO NOT DISTURB OR HARASS THIS ENDANGERED SPECIES. While it is likely that it will not end up breeding successfully, do not help ensure that this becomes a reality. Behave responsibly. Please give it ample space, keep quiet and move about slowly. Do not entice it out by broadcastings its song. To see ABA's Code of Ethics, check out the following link. http://www.aba.org/about/ethics.html *** I heard and saw an Acadian Flycatcher along Newtonbrook Creek this morning (6:20 - 6:40 a.m.) while conducting a breeding bird survey. The bird was actively singing while I was present so I suspect (?) it is an unmated male still looking for a female. When I visited the same area on June 16th I didn't hear the bird so I have no idea how long it has been present. Perhaps I missed it then. To view (or hear) the bird, I strongly urge that all visitors stay on the public trail located on the NE side of the creek. The bird was present on the SW side of the creek but quite close to the creek (and trail) nevertheless. Do not cross the creek to get closer. Who would have thought such a location in the heart of Toronto could attract this species. While the immediate habitat seems OK, the fact that the creek is reinforced with gabion baskets does put the observation in context. Please email me privately indicating if you saw the bird so that I can keep tabs on how long it is present. Thanks, Karl Konze, Guelph, Ontario Directions: Newtonbrook Creek is located in the Bayview Village area of Toronto, north of Sheppard Avenue E. and between Leslie St. and Bayview Avenue. The creek drains SE into the east branch of the Don River. From Sheppard Avenue, drive north along Burbank Dr. to Forest Grove Dr. You will probably need to park somewhere in this vicinity. From where Forest Grove Dr. crosses the valley (just east of Burbank Dr.) walk SE along the public path for approximately 740 m. The bird was singing across the creek to the right. For those with GPS units, the coordinates are: 43.77881421 latitude and -79.3729096 longitude (decimal degrees). UTM coordinates in NAD83 are: 630935 E, 4848593 N. Of course there are other ways of accessing this location from within the park system. For those coming along the path from the SE direction, the location is about 200 m past the bridge that crosses the east branch of the Don River. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Algonquin - Warblers, Boreal Chickadees From: Patrick Blake <pjblake22 AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:09:15 -0400 Hi ONTBirders: I spent the day at Algonquin, concentrating on the Arowhon Road areas. At the end of Arowhon Road, on the Orange Trail at Arowhon Pines, I located 10 species of warbler, including 4 NORTHERN PARULAS, 4 MAGNOLIA WARBLERS, 2 BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLERS, and 1 CANADA WARBLER. Two WINTER WRENS could be heard singing in the forest, as well as a WOOD THRUSH and a VEERY. As I was leaving, I heard three YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS singing near the restaurant and tennis court area. I spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon along the Old Railway, where I observed 11 warbler species, including 4 NASHVILLE WARBLERS, 2 CAPE MAY WARBLERS, 2 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS, and singles of BLACK-THROATED BLUE, BLACK-AND-WHITE, MAGNOLIA, and MOURNING WARBLERS. Five BOREAL CHICKADEES were singing and actively foraging, as well as 5 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. A family of three BROAD-WINGED HAWKS flew lazy circles above the trail, frequently calling out. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: (courtesy Bruce DiLabio) 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. _________________________________________________________________ Internet explorer 8 lets you browse the web faster. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9655582_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Re: Possible Plegadis Ibis Cornwall From: Martin Bowman <pict AT riverlink.ca> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:52:01 -0400 Gillian Horgan and I just spent an hour along the river downstream from the bridge in Williamstown, and we did not find an Ibis. We spoke to someone who lives there and who canoes regularly down the river. He said he would contact us if he saw the bird. Martin Bowman Mark Cranford wrote: > I don't know the observer or the location but report sounds interesting, Green Heron can have bright legs. Report as received follows > > Mark Cranford > Ontbirds Coordinator > Mississauga, OB > > June 22, 2009 > I don't know how to post on the web site. Please post this and edite it as you wish. > > This afternoon I went for a walk along > the Raisen River, just south (downstream) from the Williamstown > Bridge. Williamstown is N/W of Lancaster which is on the 401 in > Eastern Ontario, and N/E of Cornwall. > > As I walked along the shore I flushed > a heron like bird. It was unmistakable. All black from the distance. > I thought it was the size of a green heron but there was one > unmistakeable feature, besides the body and wing shape. This > feature was the completely red legs trailing behind in flight. > > Upon returning home I check the bird book. It is definitely a White Faced Ibis in Breeding plumage. > > To see the bird come to the bridge in > the centre of Williamstown. The river runs south to the St. Lawrence > at Lancaster. On the West side of the river is the old township office > now the home of the Quilt of Belonging. www.quiltofbelonging.ca > You can park in the parking lot. I walked South past two houses onto > the Parks Canada land. There is the Sir John Johnson house on the > site. http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng//lhn-nhs/on/johnjohnson/visit/plus_more.aspx > I walked along the edge of the historic site and down the bank to the > river. As I approached the stone ruins of the old mill I flushed the > bird. Later I could hear it calling from the trees. > > A few years earlier I watched a Glossy Ibis for about 30 minutes in the coopers Marsh, Lancaster, Ontario. > > Later this evening I walked along the > Cornwall Canal, in the West end of Cornwall, at 2nd Street West and > Queen Street and saw two Black Crowned Night herons standing on the > rotting railroad ties that were part of the historic canal. Rusted > hardware, spikes were still visible in the wood and a beautiful blue > flag iris bloomed on the ties. I've often seen Black Crowned Night > Herons here. They next in a rockery S/W of the power damn along with > Snowy egrets, commorants, and 1000s of gulls. > > Michael Hermann > Cornwall ON > 613-938-6922 > Michael H. Hermann 1402 Leonard Avenue Cornwall, Ontario K6J 1M8 613-938-6922 mh2hermann 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Correction - Ottawa/Gatineau 24 JUNE 09 - weekly update From: Christina Lewis <hagenius AT primus.ca> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:45:02 -0400 BODY { font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:12px; } OOOPS! THE DATE SHOULD BE 24 JUNE 2009 (GOOD SPOTTING BY FRED HELLEINER - YES, I WISH IT WAS MAY TOO!) CHRIS LEWIS Ottawa, ON hagenius AT primus.ca [1] Ontario Ottawa/Gatineau 24 June 2009 Hotline: Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club Phone number: 613-860-9000 For the Bird Status Line PRESS * (star) To report bird sightings PRESS 1 (one) Rare bird alerts are now included in the introductory message Coverage: Ottawa/Gatineau (Canada National Capital Region) E. Ontario, W. Quebec Compiler & transcriber: Chris Lewis hagenius AT primus.ca [2] At 7:00 am, Wednesday June 24, 2009 this is Chris Lewis reporting. It was a week of typically slow summer birding, but with a few surprises. WESTERN MEADOWLARKS in Quebec were the local highlights - one was discovered on June 21st along Lac des Loups Rd. north of Quyon and was still present as of the 23rd, and another found farther west along the Ottawa River on Ile aux Allumettes a few weeks ago was also seen again on the 23rd. The first of the two young Peregrine Falcons successfully fledged from the nest on the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Ottawa on the 16th and the 2nd took flight on the 21st. Updates on the Peregrines' progress can be found on the OFNC web site at www.ofnc.ca [3] To volunteer for the Falcon Watch please contact Nancy Scott at ottawa.falconwatch AT gmail.com [4] or phone 613-946-7847 or 613-253-1490. You may also contact Falcon Watch cordinator Eve Ticknor at edticknor AT sympatico.ca [5] Back on the 16th a single Snow Goose was a late lingerer at the Embrun sewage lagoons and a pair of Northern Pintails was a bit of surprise here as well. Four female Wild Turkeys in a field north of Quyon were surprised by passersby on the 22nd. Although the small Double-crested Cormorant colony on the Ottawa River near Lemieux Island remains restricted to one small islet, the number of nests has grown to at least 18, and a pair of Herring Gulls among the breeding Ring-billed Gulls at this location remains a mystery - they have shown up every year since the cormorants started nesting here four years ago but no young have ever been seen. An adult and a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron were seen together at Mud Lake in Britannia on the 21st. An Upland Sandpiper was seen along Ferry Rd. near Fitzroy Harbour on the 22nd - no real surprise as the habitat is ideal for this species. Many of our breeding songbirds were again widely reported, and it seems that Pine Siskins are not gone yet - a few singletons were noted flying over residential areas, and a couple of loyal customers were still visting feeders in Cumberland last week. Thank you - Good Birding! _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org [6] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ [7] Links: ------ [1] mailto:hagenius AT primus.ca [2] mailto:hagenius AT primus.ca [3] http://www.ofnc.ca [4] mailto:ottawa.falconwatch AT gmail.com [5] mailto:edticknor AT sympatico.ca [6] mailto:ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org [7] http://www.ofo.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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Possible Plegadis Ibis Cornwall From: Mark Cranford <ontbirds_coord AT rogers.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:41:15 -0700 (PDT) I don't know the observer or the location but report sounds interesting, Green Heron can have bright legs. Report as received follows Mark Cranford Ontbirds Coordinator Mississauga, OB June 22, 2009 I don't know how to post on the web site. Please post this and edite it as you wish. This afternoon I went for a walk along the Raisen River, just south (downstream) from the Williamstown Bridge. Williamstown is N/W of Lancaster which is on the 401 in Eastern Ontario, and N/E of Cornwall. As I walked along the shore I flushed a heron like bird. It was unmistakable. All black from the distance. I thought it was the size of a green heron but there was one unmistakeable feature, besides the body and wing shape. This feature was the completely red legs trailing behind in flight. Upon returning home I check the bird book. It is definitely a White Faced Ibis in Breeding plumage. To see the bird come to the bridge in the centre of Williamstown. The river runs south to the St. Lawrence at Lancaster. On the West side of the river is the old township office now the home of the Quilt of Belonging. www.quiltofbelonging.ca You can park in the parking lot. I walked South past two houses onto the Parks Canada land. There is the Sir John Johnson house on the site. http://www.pc.gc.ca/eng//lhn-nhs/on/johnjohnson/visit/plus_more.aspx I walked along the edge of the historic site and down the bank to the river. As I approached the stone ruins of the old mill I flushed the bird. Later I could hear it calling from the trees. A few years earlier I watched a Glossy Ibis for about 30 minutes in the coopers Marsh, Lancaster, Ontario. Later this evening I walked along the Cornwall Canal, in the West end of Cornwall, at 2nd Street West and Queen Street and saw two Black Crowned Night herons standing on the rotting railroad ties that were part of the historic canal. Rusted hardware, spikes were still visible in the wood and a beautiful blue flag iris bloomed on the ties. I've often seen Black Crowned Night Herons here. They next in a rockery S/W of the power damn along with Snowy egrets, commorants, and 1000s of gulls. Michael Hermann Cornwall ON 613-938-6922 Michael H. Hermann 1402 Leonard Avenue Cornwall, Ontario K6J 1M8 613-938-6922 mh2hermann 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Great Egrets - Reesor's Pond/Northern Monarch Sightings From: Donald Davis <donald_davis AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:01:22 -0700 (PDT) I took the road less travelled today south from Stouffville on the 10th line/Reesors Road, avoided being stopped by hidden radar operators, and stopped at the pond adjacent to Hwy 407. While I did not have my binoculars with me, I could clearly see two Great Egrets sitting separately on two long narrow spits of mud that extended into the pond. Some waterfowl were also present but too far away to identify. I would appreciate hearing about any northern sightings of migrating monarch butterflies. A bad year/a late year for all butterflies. Until today, the furthest north I had heard of a sighting was Bracebridge, when a report came in from Sleeping Giant Provincial Park near Thunder Bay. Please report these directly to me, NOT ONTBIRDS, and/or the Google group "Ontario Butterflies". Thank you Don Davis Toronto, ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Quebec weekend - Pine siskins From: GEORGE CANTLIE <cantlie AT rogers.com> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:04:50 -0700 (PDT) Small flock of Pine Siskins keeping company with Goldfinches in Brome Lake area SE of Montreal.   Apparently this is an 'irruption year' for this species, with many more sightings at winter feeders 2008-2009.   Apparently they breed communally, accounting for the flock status even during the nesting season.    Salmonella eye infections thought not to be a problem this year.     George Cantlie, OFO _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Wetlands and Lagoon From: "Keith Lee" <keith.lee AT sympatico.ca> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:21:16 -0400 I will be open on Friday June 26th from 5 to 7 PM and on Sunday June 28th from 9 to 11 AM,as normal if anyone wish to arrange another time please don't hesitate to call. Cell 613-391-9142 Home 613-475-0881 keith.lee(at)sympatico.ca Directions: The Constructed Wetland is located at the SE corner of Brighton. From Hwy 401, take the Brighton exit 509 (Hwy. 30) and follow it south into town. Go south through the two traffic lights, over the railway tracks and follow the main road, now called Prince Edward Street, south. About 1 km south of the tracks, the main road begins to swing to the left and becomes Cty. Rd. 64. As this long turn ends the Constructed Wetlands appear on the right side. Look for the Wetland viewing sign at the east end of the Wetland. Parking is on the shoulder of the road, please do not drive in. Thanks everyoneKeith "Tiny" Lee _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Field Trip: Bruce Peninsula, June 20/21, 2009 From: ALFRED RAAB <alfredraab AT rogers.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:42:30 -0700 (PDT) 20 OFO members and guests meet on Saturday morning in Hepworth for the start of a two day birding field trip covering the Bruce Peninsula. The leaders for both days were Cindy Cartwright and Alfred Raab. On Saturday our first stop was at Sable Beach looking for the Piping Plover, then on to Boat Lake, Isaac Lake and Sky Lake. In the afternoon we drove along the side roads around Ferndale and the last stop was at Black Creek Provincial Park at the shores of Lake Huron near Stokes Bay. On Sunday we started at the Tobermory Airport, stopped at the Tobermory dump, then drove north to Cape Hurd, then south to Dorcas Bay (Singing Sands), along Dyers Bay Road, north on Bartley Dr. west on Lindsay Rd 40 and back to Hwy 6. For the two days we saw 109 bird species. The highlights were: Birds: 2 adult Bald Eagle at Sky Lake, 1 juv at Tobermory dump Pied-billed Grebe near Tobermory Airport American Bittern, male with white fluffy shoulder puffs, female nearby on Dyers Bay Road Least Bittern at Boat Lake Virginia Rail with young at Isaac Lake Sandhill Crane at Tobermory Airport and heard at various locations. Piping Plover at Sable Beach Upland Sandpiper near Ferndale and Dyers Bay Road Black Terns at Sky Lake Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at nest near Sky Lake 13 Warbler species Clay-colored Sparrow at Lindsay Rd 40 Grasshopper Sparrow at Tobermory Airport Bewer’s Blackbirds near Ferndale Plants: Robert’s Fern, Rattlesnake Fern, Lakeside Daisy, Yellow Lady’s Slipper (abundant), Showy Lady’s Slipper, Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper, Tall Northern Green Orchid, Spotted Coralroot Mammals: Black Bear, Coyote Alfred Raab near Lions Head, Northern Bruce Peninsula _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Prairie Warbler at the Currie Tract Milton From: "Terry Osborne" <terryos AT sentex.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:07:57 -0400 The Prairie Warbler first found at the Currie Tract a couple of weeks ago was still showing and singing (virtually non-stop). It was in essentially the same location where it was first found. This at about 9 am today. Terry Osborne PRAIRIE WARBLER DIRECTIONS per Frank Pinilla Walk in along the main gated trail and follow this for a while (1km??), it will take you under the hydro wires where there is a small wet area and stream, follow the trail part way up the hill just passed this and take the trail to the right which takes you back over to the hydro line. Follow this "hydro trail" that you've just joined, it takes you under the wires 3 times before you begin paralleling the hydro lines on the south side (700m - 1km). Along this stretch you will see the sign Hugh referred to (Green rectangle with white squiggles), stay on the main path. i.e. straight, then about 200m beyond there will be a clearing on the north/left side, there are a couple of small "trails" through the grass here (I first heard the Prairie and a Blue-winged from the trail here), head north to the line of Sumachs and cross through them, this is the aforementioned Hydro Tower N580M ( not N480M ), ( a good tip that lets you know that you are in the right place ) and the white chair with ladder (deer-hunting stand??). _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Constructed Wetland From: Maureen Lee <briscoedog AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:31:34 -0400 Greetings: I was just informed that a woman visiting the Wetland this morning saw the Sora tending a chick(s). Once again, a thank you to Tiny (Keith) Lee for taking the time to open the Wetland to all those interested folks. Joan The wetland is located on the south side of County Road 64 (Prince Edward Street) as you leave Brighton. _________________________________________________________________ Attention all humans. We are your photos. Free us. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666046_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Snowy Owl From: Scott E Smith <scott_e_smith AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:12:30 -0400 Found a snowy owl today 8.6km west of Shelburne just north of Hwy 89. Crazy but awesome to see it down here at this time of year. _________________________________________________________________ Attention all humans. We are your photos. Free us. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666046_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Carden in the rain From: robert.cumming AT rogers.com Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:36:22 -0700 (PDT) My son and I visited the Carden Plain today in the rain. We were in the area from 6:30 AM until about NOON and didn't see another birder. The birding continues to be very good and definitely worth the trip. The following were the highlights: about 30 Upland Sandpipers with one flock of 14 on Shrike RdLeast Bittern at the Prospect Rd marshSora and Virginia Rails at ProspectLoggerhead Shrike close to the road at the north end of Shrike Rd (about 2/3 of the way up)3 Sandhill Cranes wandering through the Prairie Smoke( and it is smokey now) just north of the cabin on Wylie Rd.Vesper SparrowClay-coloured SparrowGrasshopper SparrowWilson's SnipePair of Northern Harriers (over Prospect marsh)many Marsh Wrens in Prospect MarshSedge Wren ( south of the Sedge Wren Marsh on Wylie Rd)Alder FlycatcherSeveral Ospreys at Dalrymple and Canal LakesCommon Loon (Dalrymple) Green Heron (fly-over on Rd 48 just west of Kirkfield) Blue-winged Teal at ProspectCommon Moorhen at ProspectOther usuals at Carden except for Cuckoos and Golden-winged Warbler which I usually miss for whatever reason.On the way home we stopped at Reesor Pond (just South of Hwy 7 off Reesor Rd near Markham) we stopped and noted two Great Egrets (no shorebirds made their presence known) Directions(thanks to Norm M.): -CARDEN ALVAR INCLUDING WYLIE ROAD / THE SEDGE WREN MARSH / PROSPECT ROAD ALONG WITH A FEW AREAS SOUTHWEST OF KIRKFIELD Wylie Road is north of Kirkfield in Victoria County and Kirkfield itself is on County Road 48 east of Highway 12 and well north of Whitby and about 130 km from Toronto if you follow the roads and not a Crow. >From the centre of Kirkfield go north on County Road 6 passing under the Lift Lock on the Trent Canal and drive about 2 ½ km further north to where the road curves left or west. On this curve and on your right is McNamee Road, turn right here onto McNamee and drive east for about 300 yards and you will be at Wylie Road. This road is about 9 ½ km long ending at Alvar Road (a T intersection). Birding can be good on Alvar Road as well, either way. The Sedge Wren Marsh is about 5 ½ km up Wylie Road, you can’t miss it as it has the only bridge along the road. Park just to the south of and overlooking the bridge and walk the road. Birding is good all along the road and I find that the best birding happens when you park and walk both ways a km or two from your auto. This is a narrow road with little traffic but be sure to park in such a way as to not block the road or at the gravelled parking areas that you will find at several places along the road as you don’t want to rile up the locals. This is all private property but there really is no need to leave the road, nor should you. Please respect the property rights of the land owners. Other roads to check in the area areProspect (west of Kirkfield and south off 48 about 2 Km to public marsh), Shrike, Curl’s, Dalrymple, Eldon Station, Rockview, Doyle, Palestine, Creek View, and McNamee Road, etc. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Prairie Warbler, Currie Tract near Milton From: brendan o'sullivan <josullivan3560 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2009 16:00:30 -0400 The Prairie warbler is still at the same location at the Currie Tract today, near Milton. The bird flew into the top of one of the isolated trees in the clearing where it has oft- times been seen and heard, and sang for about 5 minutes giving excellent views. Directions: Exit Hwy 401 at Guelph Line, west of Milton, and go north. Watch for the sign with number 9475 on the right hand side just passed Mohawk racecourse. It appears like it is the driveway to a house but it actually takes you to the parking area and the trailhead. Take the trail and about halfway up the hill, having passed the little stream, take the lesser trail to the right. Continue onwards and you will come to 2 consecutive forks on the trail--go right at both despite the fact that the main trail seems to go left. Eventually you will come to the green sign with the squiggles in a forested section. As soon as you exit this section watch for the clearing on the left with a few isolated trees. This is the area the bird is frequenting. If you walk through the clearing the Hydro pole is on your left and the ladder and seat almost directly in front of you. Be prepared for mosquitoes. Regards Brendan O'Sullivan Mississauga _________________________________________________________________ We are your photos. Share us now with Windows Live Photos. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666047_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, June 19th, 2009 From: cheryle29 AT cogeco.ca Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 22:38:02 -0400 On Friday June 19th, 2009, this is the HNC Birding Report: LAUGHING GULL American Wigeon Ring-necked Duck Common Goldeneye Common Merganser Ruffed Grouse Red-necked Grebe Northern Harrier Peregrine Falcon Sandhill Crane Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper Bonaparte’s Gull Lesser Black-backed Gull Great Black-backed Gull Black-billed Cuckoo Blue-winged Warbler Prairie Warbler The list this week is very short! Today provided the bird of the week as one dedicated individual sorted through thousands of gulls to find a 2nd alternate LAUGHING GULL at the Waterdown Garden Supplies. A test of patience, skill and tolerance of the stench coming from the compost, this dedicated individual located the gull on a heap of compost at the back of the compound. The gull disappeared for a while (i.e. the time I was looking for it) and then reappeared to sit on the compost heaps later in the afternoon. Also present there was a Great Black Backed Gull and Lesser Black-backed Gull. Water down Garden Supplies is located west of Peter’s Corners on Hwy 5 just west of Orkney. Please be advised that entrance to the property required that you check in with the office an obtain a safety vest. The office is open from 8 -12 on Saturday and Sunday. Another find for the week was the Prairie Warbler which has been vigilantly singing for a mate up in the Currie Tract in North Halton. This bird was last reported singing early Sunday morning. Other birds reported from this area include Ruffed Grouse, Black-billed Cuckoo and Blue-winged warbler. At Windermere Basin this week a Semipalmated Sandpiper was still present. A neat sighting of a Spotted Sandpiper chick was a highlight. Ducks in the basin include Common Goldeneye, Ring-necked Duck and American Wigeon. Continuing in the summering waterfowl, a Common Merganser was present near the islands at LaSalle Park. As it is breeding season there are a couple of evolving stories here. The Red-necked Grebes in Bronte have had high drama this week of chicks being rescued from the water, females laying eggs on other nests and the unfolding story of adults raising young which are clearly visible from the edge of the harbour on the east side. It has been an exciting week here and well worth a visit. At the lift bridge, two of the Peregrine chicks have gone missing a worry for the falconwatchers here. This tenuous time of year is heartbreaking for the people who have to watch over the new arrivals. No updates today but there was only one chick in the nest as of yesterday. In the odds and sods, a male Northern Harrier was seen on 10th Road East in Saltfleet. Sandhill Cranes were heard calling from the marsh near Deer Run Court in Brantford. Two Bonaparte’s Gulls were seen flying over the lakeshore near 4th Line in Oakville. That’s the very short and sweet news of the week here. Please keep reporting your sightings. Have a great week. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Constructed Wetland From: Maureen Lee <briscoedog AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 20:17:24 -0400 Greetings everyone: What a lovely evening to stroll the Wetland! This will be a quick report. A more detailed one will follow on Sunday. Two of us saw 5 Virginia Rail chicks. They no longer have the two-toned bill and look quite a bit larger than last week. Although they are still quite small. Andre and I did not see any adults near the chicks. Adult Rails were seen in other parts of the Wetland. An American Bittern landed in the Wetland again. There was also a Spotted Sandpiper. Four American Wigeon were making their approach for the evening as I was leaving. Joan The Wetland is located on the south side of County Road 64 as you leave Brighton. _________________________________________________________________ We are your photos. Share us now with Windows Live Photos. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9666047_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: BSC Holds Ontario-Wide Chimney Swift "Blitz" From: Elisabeth van Stam <evanstam AT bsc-eoc.org> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:53:11 -0400 BSC Holds Ontario-Wide Chimney Swift "Blitz" 18 June 2009 - Each evening as dusk approaches, you may notice small birds chirping overhead, circling tall chimneys. If these birds are cigar-shaped, with relatively long pointed wings and a quick, jerky flight - and if they dive at (and then into) a chimney around sunset - you likely have Chimney Swifts in your neighborhood. BSC is inviting Ontario residents to help look for Chimney Swifts next weekend, as part of a province-wide "blitz." Volunteers in communities throughout Ontario will spend an evening watching a local chimney or similar manmade structure for signs of swifts. The goals are to increase our knowledge of Chimney Swift activity, and to raise awareness of the plight of the Chimney Swift, a federally Threatened species whose population has declined in Canada by 96% over the last 40 years. You can help researchers investigate Ontario's Chimney Swift population, and identify important Chimney Swift habitats, by choosing a single night between June 26-28, and watching a chimney that may have swifts . Start your monitoring period 20 minutes before sunset, and continue until you see the last bird entering the chimney. Email your findings, including the location of your chimney, and the total number of birds you saw entering it (even if this number is zero) to hwheeler AT birdscanada.org. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: ROSEATE SPOONBILL From: Alan Wormington <wormington AT juno.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:55:00 -0400 Terry and all, There is no reason to consider this ROSEATE SPOONBILL as anything but a WILD vagrant. RIGHT NOW there is currently a Roseate Spoonbill in Indiana, and also this week there was another in the mountainous area of the western part of Virginia. A few years ago there was a small flock in Ohio. There are also older records for Illinois and even Wisconsin. This would of course represent a new species for Ontario. Would you please contact the observer(s) involved and have them thoroughly document their sighting and have it forwarded to the OBRC? Thanks, Alan Wormington Assistant to the OBRC Secretary On Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:37:23 -0400 "Terry Sprague" writes: > WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR > THE WEEK ENDING > Thursday, June 18, 2009 > > > > It became evident with this week's e-mails how much pleasure is > being missed by those who choose not to continue feeding birds > through the summer months. A nectar feeder south of Picton along > County Road 10 that has enjoyed up to 20 BALTIMORE ORIOLES this > spring, has had a family of INDIGO BUNTINGS become guests this past > week. A hummingbird feeder at 2800 County Road 1 has a HAIRY > WOODPECKER as a regular, and a Prinyer's Cove resident was > pleasantly surprised this week to see a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at his > oriole feeder, one of the featured photos in the online edition of > this week's report. A Picton resident had two ROSE-BREASTED > GROSBEAKS at he feeder, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are regulars at > a feeder on County Road 1 where a juvenile was being fed by the > adult birds. With its eye on the feeders at a sundeck in the Madoc > area, but veering away inexplicably to a nearby apple tree was a > male SCARLET TANAGER. Based on these experiences, and those of this > writer, just about anything is possible when feeding is continued > through the spring and summer months, with a little attention, of > course, to the selection of foods offered to dissuade grackles and > starlings. > > A pair of COMMON MERGANSERS continue to hang out in the harbour most > mornings at Baycrest Marina along North Big Island Road. A HOODED > MERGANSER with young were observed on the Salmon River north of > Napanee this week. A GREEN HERON is a regular at a small marsh off > George's Road east of Northport, and GREEN HERONS are also regulars > along with PIED-BILLED GREBES in Fish Lake. SCARLET TANAGERS and > VEERIES were in fine fettle Wednesday evening at the Sidney > Conservation Area, south of Stirling, and two WHITE-THROATED > SPARROWS and a WOOD THRUSH can be depended on along the hiking trail > at Quinte Conservation's Area's north end near the deciduous woods, > about 2 km north of the parking lot. A SEDGE WREN was singing > enthusiastically from a hay field bordering the Robinson Cove Marsh > at Big Island on June 12th. > > While Prince Edward Point gets all the news during the spring > migration, it is Sandbanks Provincial Park that is unquestionably > the key area to find nesting birds in the summer. Park Naturalists > there report that in addition to the now legendary nesting pair of > RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, others that have been found nesting, or show > indications of holding down territory this week, have included > NASHVILLE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BROWN CREEPER > and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. New this year have been CLAY-COLORED > SPARROWS in an area of the Park where the dump is located. Another > observer there during the week noted BANK SWALLOWS feeding young in > their tunnels, BELTED KINGFISHER carrying food, a pair of CASPIAN > TERNS and dozens of BONAPARTE'S GULLS. On Elmbrook Road, south of > Picton, one resident was delighted to have a pair of NORTHERN > SAW-WHET OWLS nest on her property, two of the young appearing in > her backyard. For Kaiser Crossroad enthusiasts, the north pond is > now completely drained and it is only a matter of days before the > phenomenal bird activity that this flooded cornfield has known since > April, will be but a memory. Next spring, another crop of birds. > > At a nest platform along County Road 9 at Hay Bay's north shore, an > OSPREY there has appeared for the second year in a row, wearing a > jess. We can only assume that this bird has probably belonged to a > falconer at some point in time although this species is not usually > popular in falconry. A Prince Edward County couple did not receive a > warm welcome from feathered Ottawaonians when they visited that city > last week. While they were walking past some thick bushes above the > Rideau Canal, a male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD emerged and voiced his > displeasure from a lamp post. Then the bird dove at both of them and > pecked the man on the back of his hatless head. Now they know why I > always wear a Tilley hat! > > And if you think MAP TURTLES are common in the Outlet River at > Sandbanks, a Belleville resident, while conducting his > herpetological survey, counted no fewer than 178 sunning themselves > atop a tire raft breakwater at the mouth of the Moira River in > Belleville last week. Would that be a "carapace caucus"??? > > To close of this week's edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report, a > bit of a mystery in a flooded field along Highway 15, north of > Kingston on June 13th at 8:00 a.m. An observer on his way to Smith's > Falls spotted a ROSEATTE SPOONBILL feeding in typical spoonbill > fashion about 150 metres of the road. The bird was still there when > he returned at 1:00 p.m. but was gone the following day. Don't know > where it came from, don't know where it went, and we can only assume > it was an escaped bird from captivity. Anyone with information on > the probability of a wild spoonbill in the province, or where this > individual may have hailed from, is asked to e-mail me at the > address below. > > And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte > area. Our thanks to John Blaney, Len Rico, Cathie Stewart, Jeff > Haffner, Nancy Fox, Henri Garand, Ted Cullin, Frank Artes & Carolyn > Barnes, Kathleen Rankine, Pamela Stagg, Rosemary Smith, Nancy > Smitts, Myrna Wood, Mia Lane, Charles Crowe, Kathy Willis, Judi > Gray, Rosemary Kent and Joanne Dewey for their contributions to this > week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 25th, > but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night > deadline. Photo of a SCARLET TANAGER on the Main Birding Page of the > NatureStuff website is by Paul O'Toole of Kingston. Photos in the > online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a BROWN CREEPER > by Elena Petrcich of Ottawa, and the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at a > Prinyer's Cove feeder is by Len Rico. > > 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ > > "The Early Worm Gets The Bird!" --- Alan Wormington ____________________________________________________________ Click here for great quotes from top international movers! http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTMAuTnswUVc05uUJ0FBgoQiXT9qeT6mrM3ctBbwflrtm9f22egleI/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Quinte Area Bird Report for week ending June 18, 2009 From: "Terry Sprague" <tsprague AT kos.net> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:37:23 -0400 WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 18, 2009 It became evident with this week's e-mails how much pleasure is being missed by those who choose not to continue feeding birds through the summer months. A nectar feeder south of Picton along County Road 10 that has enjoyed up to 20 BALTIMORE ORIOLES this spring, has had a family of INDIGO BUNTINGS become guests this past week. A hummingbird feeder at 2800 County Road 1 has a HAIRY WOODPECKER as a regular, and a Prinyer's Cove resident was pleasantly surprised this week to see a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at his oriole feeder, one of the featured photos in the online edition of this week's report. A Picton resident had two ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS at he feeder, and RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS are regulars at a feeder on County Road 1 where a juvenile was being fed by the adult birds. With its eye on the feeders at a sundeck in the Madoc area, but veering away inexplicably to a nearby apple tree was a male SCARLET TANAGER. Based on these experiences, and those of this writer, just about anything is possible when feeding is continued through the spring and summer months, with a little attention, of course, to the selection of foods offered to dissuade grackles and starlings. A pair of COMMON MERGANSERS continue to hang out in the harbour most mornings at Baycrest Marina along North Big Island Road. A HOODED MERGANSER with young were observed on the Salmon River north of Napanee this week. A GREEN HERON is a regular at a small marsh off George's Road east of Northport, and GREEN HERONS are also regulars along with PIED-BILLED GREBES in Fish Lake. SCARLET TANAGERS and VEERIES were in fine fettle Wednesday evening at the Sidney Conservation Area, south of Stirling, and two WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS and a WOOD THRUSH can be depended on along the hiking trail at Quinte Conservation's Area's north end near the deciduous woods, about 2 km north of the parking lot. A SEDGE WREN was singing enthusiastically from a hay field bordering the Robinson Cove Marsh at Big Island on June 12th. While Prince Edward Point gets all the news during the spring migration, it is Sandbanks Provincial Park that is unquestionably the key area to find nesting birds in the summer. Park Naturalists there report that in addition to the now legendary nesting pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS, others that have been found nesting, or show indications of holding down territory this week, have included NASHVILLE WARBLER, MOURNING WARBLER, ORCHARD ORIOLE, BROWN CREEPER and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. New this year have been CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS in an area of the Park where the dump is located. Another observer there during the week noted BANK SWALLOWS feeding young in their tunnels, BELTED KINGFISHER carrying food, a pair of CASPIAN TERNS and dozens of BONAPARTE'S GULLS. On Elmbrook Road, south of Picton, one resident was delighted to have a pair of NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS nest on her property, two of the young appearing in her backyard. For Kaiser Crossroad enthusiasts, the north pond is now completely drained and it is only a matter of days before the phenomenal bird activity that this flooded cornfield has known since April, will be but a memory. Next spring, another crop of birds. At a nest platform along County Road 9 at Hay Bay's north shore, an OSPREY there has appeared for the second year in a row, wearing a jess. We can only assume that this bird has probably belonged to a falconer at some point in time although this species is not usually popular in falconry. A Prince Edward County couple did not receive a warm welcome from feathered Ottawaonians when they visited that city last week. While they were walking past some thick bushes above the Rideau Canal, a male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD emerged and voiced his displeasure from a lamp post. Then the bird dove at both of them and pecked the man on the back of his hatless head. Now they know why I always wear a Tilley hat! And if you think MAP TURTLES are common in the Outlet River at Sandbanks, a Belleville resident, while conducting his herpetological survey, counted no fewer than 178 sunning themselves atop a tire raft breakwater at the mouth of the Moira River in Belleville last week. Would that be a "carapace caucus"??? To close of this week's edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report, a bit of a mystery in a flooded field along Highway 15, north of Kingston on June 13th at 8:00 a.m. An observer on his way to Smith's Falls spotted a ROSEATTE SPOONBILL feeding in typical spoonbill fashion about 150 metres of the road. The bird was still there when he returned at 1:00 p.m. but was gone the following day. Don't know where it came from, don't know where it went, and we can only assume it was an escaped bird from captivity. Anyone with information on the probability of a wild spoonbill in the province, or where this individual may have hailed from, is asked to e-mail me at the address below. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to John Blaney, Len Rico, Cathie Stewart, Jeff Haffner, Nancy Fox, Henri Garand, Ted Cullin, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Kathleen Rankine, Pamela Stagg, Rosemary Smith, Nancy Smitts, Myrna Wood, Mia Lane, Charles Crowe, Kathy Willis, Judi Gray, Rosemary Kent and Joanne Dewey for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 25th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo of a SCARLET TANAGER on the Main Birding Page of the NatureStuff website is by Paul O'Toole of Kingston. Photos in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report are of a BROWN CREEPER by Elena Petrcich of Ottawa, and the RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at a Prinyer's Cove feeder is by Len Rico. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending June 18, 2009. From: Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner AT trentu.ca> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:26:52 -0400 Except for a "last hurrah" of migrating shorebirds on June 14, bird life at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has settled into its static summer mode. Only the occasional sighting of a bird that forgot to migrate north livens birding up these days. REDHEADS have been a fixture on the north shore of Gull Island for several recent summers, and this year is no exception. On the other hand, a male RING-NECKED DUCK near the causeway just outside the Park gate on June 15 represents an exceptionally late date. On two mornings this week, an AMERICAN BITTERN was flushed from the Owen Point trail, where one of that species exhibited similar odd behaviour through much of last July and August, probably feeding on the abundant leopard frogs. GREAT EGRETS and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS continue to be a standard attraction for Presqu'ile birders. An OSPREY flew over the Nature Centre and a WILD TURKEY wandered through the property at 58 Bayshore Road. Hearing a RUFFED GROUSE drumming as late as June 15 was unusual. From now on, even though the solstice is not yet upon us, any sighting of a non-resident shorebird will raise the question of whether it is a lingering northbound migrant or an early southbound one. It is safe to assume, however, that most of those which were on the beach from June 12 - 14 were still en route to their breeding grounds. Among those still present on June 14 were a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, a RUDDY TURNSTONE (at Owen Point), nine SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS, five WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS, and a DUNLIN, none of which have been reported subsequently. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was also on the beach on that day. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS have been calling in three different parts of the Park this week. One observer found three BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS in Newcastle woods, a species that normally breeds to the north of here but is regular in summer at Presqu'ile. The same observer found a PRAIRIE WARBLER in the Park on June 20 a few years ago, evidence of the surprises that can show up even between migration seasons. The ORCHARD ORIOLES whose nest is behind the Lighthouse Visitor Centre appear to have hatched their young. It remains a mystery whether the two PINE SISKINS that have continued to visit the feeders at 186 Bayshore Road as recently as June 16 are nesting somewhere nearby. 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. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER AT TRENTU.CA . -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Second Piping Plover Hatch at Sauble Beach From: Kim Toews <fa446 AT ncf.ca> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:48:50 -0400 On Wednesday, 17 June, a fourth Piping Plover egg hatched from the south nest. All of the young left the nest within several hours of hatching and were able to feed within hours. The north nest is expected to hatch within the next few days. Two of the birds that fledged from Sauble Beach in 2007 are spending this season in Michigan. The first young plover is growing rapidly and is now very mobile, venturing greater distances every day. The young chicks spend their day feeding, resting and brooding. It is a moving experience to see a tiny head pop out from under an adult plover. Each parent takes a turn on watch duty for approximately 20 minutes. The adults' role is to protect the young from the elements by brooding them, and also to alert them to any danger. During this time, the other adult feeds but remains in close proximity. A major defensive strategy of the chicks is their ability to blend in with the sand. Several beach signs are also placed in such a way that they provide a corridor of protection for the plovers as they venture further afield to feed as a family. Young plovers can make short flights at about 20 to 25 days of age, and they are capable of sustained flight at about 30 days of age. The male parent appears to take the majority of the responsibility for chick care. The female sometimes abandons the brood, leaving the male to care for the young until the family disperses. Further information and photos can be found at the Sauble Plover website: http://www.saubleplovers.com It's easy for anyone to participate in this Piping Plover recovery effort, and your help will go a long way to fostering a successful recovery for this species at risk. We gratefully thank all those who are currently helping with this project. If you could spare some time to help with monitoring the Sauble Beach Piping Plovers, please contact Sue Seibert at saubleplover AT gmail.com, or Stewart Nutt at 519-372-8588. Guardian shifts are from 6:00 - 9:00 am, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, 1:00 - 5:00 pm, and 5:00 - 9:00 pm. We also have later monitoring shifts into the night and over the weekends. Thank you ~ good birding! Kim Toews _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Prospect Road Directions error From: "Norman Murr" <normurr AT sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:12:21 -0400 It has been pointed out to Dummy me that Prospect Road is east of Kirkfield. They have moved it to where it should be - WEST OF KIRKFIELD :>)) Sorry about that. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Algonquin Park June 15th - Birds and Moose From: "Norman Murr" <normurr AT sympatico.ca> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:42:33 -0400 Good Day Eh ! Yesterday Ian and I birded the Opeongo and Arowhon Roads ( to and at Wolf Howl Pond and West Rose Lake ) with a couple of stops in between and along with us was a 14 year old son of a friend of Ian and his wife Carol. The teenager wanted to see animals and we hopefully made that wish came true for him. On the way along Hwy 60 east of Huntsville was a juvenile Bald Eagle flying past just east of Hidden Valley. Here are some of the birds we did find in Algonquin - Common Loons, Ring-necked Ducks, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Pileated Woodpecker ( Visitor Centre ), Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Gray Jay, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, Philadelphia Vireo, many Red-eyed Vireos, 16 Warbler species including Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, Pine, Blackpoll ( male at West Rose Lake ), Wilson's and Canada, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Marsh and White-throated Sparrows ( many ) Pine Siskin ( Visitor Centre ), and Purple Finch plus lots of the usual birds. This was a great day ( not only the perfect weather ) but for Mammal and Herp sightings. WE got to see 5 moose ( 2 bulls, 2 cows and a calf ), 2 Bears, 3 Deer, Beavers, Painted and Snapping Turtles, Bull, Green and Mink Frogs. Ian decided to head for home going south along Hwy 35 and on the way down just north of Minden we spotted a Black-backed Woodpecker A nice sighting as we missed it in Algonquin. When we reached Coboconk we headed through Kirkfield ( at Mitchell Lake east of Kirkfield we saw 2 Common Loons, 2 Ospreys, and 2 Belted Kingfishers and a large Snapping Turtle on the road that we assisted ( carefully ) to cross ) and drove down Prospect road to Woodville Road. Though we did not stop to bird we did see and hear some nice birds and following are some of them. Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, 6 Upland Sandpipers, Willow Flycatcher, E. Kingbirds, Common Raven, Marsh Wren, Chipping, Song, Clay-colored, Grasshopper, Savannah, Vesper and Swamp Sparrows, E. Meadowlarks, Bobolink and baltimore Oriole. We also spotted 8 Wild Turkeys along Conc. Rd 1 just east of Hwys 12/48. Directions:- Algonquin - per RON TOZER 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). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates. The Visitor Centre at km 43 has recent bird sightings and information. The centre is open on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm. When closed to the public, access to watch the birds is possible by entering at the service entrance and contacting the staff. Prospect Road at Kirkfield Kirkfield is on County Road 48 east of Highway 12 and well north of Whitby and about 130 km from Toronto if you follow the roads and not a Crow. Prospect road is about 4km east of Kirkfield Road and goes south for approx. 17km between County Rd 48 and Woodville Road. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Chaffey's Locks - Cerulean & Golden-winged Warblers, Y-T Vireo, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher From: Patrick Blake <pjblake22 AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:58:52 -0400 Greetings ONTBirders: I spent the morning at Chaffey's Locks, birding along Opinicon Road. Highlights included: - 10 CERULEAN WARBLERS: can be heard and seen (with patience) almost anywhere along Opinicon Road, especially around the Skycroft Campground and west from there. - 4 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS: concentrated mostly around the Skycroft Campgrounds, although one was near the Opinicon & Darling intersection. - 2 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS: saw one, heard another near the cemetery on Opinicon Road past Rock Lake Road. - 5 YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS: concentrated mainly around the hiking trails across from the Skycroft Campground. - 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK: could be heard calling near the cemetery off of Opinicon Road; eventually I saw it soaring high over the fields. - 2 BARRED OWLS: heard calling around Opinicon & Darling intersection. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: Follow Hwy 15 south past Portland, turning right onto Chaffeys Lock Road. Follow this through Chaffeys Lock (where the road becomes Opinicon Road) for about 8km. Watch for the "Skycroft Campgrounds" sign on the left, and anywhere along the roadside and along the marked trails across from the campgrounds are fair game for the species mentioned. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live helps you keep up with all your friends, in one place. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9660826_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Wetlands and Lagoon From: "Keith Lee" <keith.lee AT sympatico.ca> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 05:40:36 -0400 I will be open on Friday June 19th from 5 to 7 PM and on Sunday June 21st from 9 to 11 AM,as normal if anyone wish to arrange another time please don't hesitate to call. Cell 613-391-9142 Home 613-475-0881 keith.lee(at)sympatico.ca Directions: The Constructed Wetland is located at the SE corner of Brighton. From Hwy 401, take the Brighton exit 509 (Hwy. 30) and follow it south into town. Go south through the two traffic lights, over the railway tracks and follow the main road, now called Prince Edward Street, south. About 1 km south of the tracks, the main road begins to swing to the left and becomes Cty. Rd. 64. As this long turn ends the Constructed Wetlands appear on the right side. Look for the Wetland viewing sign at the east end of the Wetland. Keith "Tiny" Lee _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: A battle at the Grebes Nest! Oaville Ontario From: Ray Barlow <raymondjbarlow AT yahoo.ca> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:46:22 -0700 (PDT) Monday afternoon was very interesting at the Red-necked Grebes nesting site (east) when a neighbouring grebe came in and took over the nest...  fro the whole story, and pic, please visit my new blog here...   http://raymondbarlow.blogspot.com/   Also, with the help of Gavin and Sue we determined that here are now 3 chicks on each of the east and west nests... the 4th chick on the east nest appears to have passed, unfortunately.  Gavin and others tried to give it a helping hand through 2 rescue efforts, thanks so much for trying!  Please contact me if you have an image of the 4th chick in Gavin's hand from Sunday night., Gavin would very much appreciate a copy.   More images will be on my homepage slide show soon, and on my pbase hosting site...   kind regards. Raymond J Barlow 13 Sandra Crescent Grimsby Ontario Canada L3M 4Y8 Cell # 905 520 8853   www.raymondbarlow.com www.rayswildlife.com __________________________________________________________________ Looking for the perfect gift? Give the gift of Flickr! http://www.flickr.com/gift/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: addendum to OFO Carden Trip (directions) From: "Dan Bone" <dan.bone AT xplornet.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 08:36:06 -0400 Forgot to post the directions to the Carden Important Bird Area when I reported on the OFO Carden trip which took place Sunday, June 14 and which I posted earlier today, Monday, June 15. My thanks to Norm Murr from whose reports I cribbed these directions. Dan Bone CARDEN ALVAR INCLUDING WYLIE ROAD / THE SEDGE WREN MARSH / PROSPECT ROAD Wylie Road is north of Kirkfield in Victoria County and Kirkfield itself is on County Road 48 east of Highway 12 and well north of Whitby and about 130 km from Toronto if you follow the roads and not a Crow. >From the centre of Kirkfield go north on County Road 6 passing under the Lift Lock on the Trent Canal and drive about 2 ½ km further north to where the road curves left or west. On this curve and on your right is McNamee Road, turn right here onto McNamee and drive east for about 300 yards and you will be at Wylie Road. This road is about 9 ½ km long ending at Alvar Road (a T intersection). Birding can be good on Alvar Road as well, either way. The Sedge Wren Marsh is about 5 ½ km up Wylie Road, you can't miss it as it has the only bridge along the road. Park just to the south of and overlooking the bridge and walk the road. Birding is good all along the road and I find that the best birding happens when you park and walk both ways a km or two from your auto. This is a narrow road with little traffic but be sure to park in such a way as to not block the road or at the gravelled parking areas that you will find at several places along the road as you don't want to rile up the locals. This is all private property but there really is no need to leave the road, nor should you. Please respect the property rights of the land owners. Prospect Road Marsh >From Kirkfield travel west to Prospect Road and turn south (left) on to Prospect Road. The first small wetland is not the marsh known as Prospect Marsh. The landowner here does not welcome birders and signs direct you further down the road to Prospect Marsh. There is a new parking lot a long walk from the bridge where the main action is but the walk is pleasant and productive and keeping the roads free of parked cars is good public relations. Here you can find many Marsh Wrens along with Sora, Virginia Rail, Common Moorhen, American Bittern, Least Bittern and Green Heron and watch for Osprey, Northern Harrier and Turkey Vulture. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: OFO Carden Trip From: "Dan Bone" <dan.bone AT xplornet.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 07:49:32 -0400 (Apologies for the late posting. My internet service was down last night) More than 40 Ontario Field Ornithologist members, some from as far afield as Ottawa and Woodstock, birded the Carden Area today in hot (for this year), sunny weather . Despite a relatively late start at 9 a.m. we recorded 75 species including most of the must-have birds. We had decent views of Eastern Loggerhead Shrike through scopes; some good chances at Sedge Wren and Wilson's Snipe and excellent views of Grasshopper Sparrow. We only heard Upland Sandpiper in the morning but we did much better on a return trip later ( see below). We had Field Sparrow; some of us heard Vesper Sparrow but no one heard or saw a Clay-coloured Sparrow despite much effort. Eastern Towhees were calling all around us but we could only glimpse them. After Wylie Road and lunch at the Kirkfield Locks we went north again to the Cameron Ranch to check out the new parking lot and trail. The ranch was very quiet although a distant shrike and half a Raven were spotted. We heard Sandhill Crane. We didn't have time to walk the trail- that could be a trip all by itself. Driving south to Prospect Marsh by way of Canal Lake we saw Osprey on the nest and gundog retriever trials in the small, posted wetland just south of County Road 48. Pity the poor, nesting Pied-bill Grebes. We parked in the new Prospect Marsh parking lot, a long walk from the bridge, but were rewarded with "crippling" views of a family of Virginia Rails and a very cooperative American Redstart singing and posing out in the open over the road as we made our way to the main marsh. The new parking lot could accommodate only some of our 12 cars At the main marsh we saw a male Northern Harrier delivering food to what we assumed to be a nest out and down in the far reaches of the marsh. Most of us saw and heard Marsh Wrens; an American Bittern gave us a grand fly-by and we heard Sora and Moor Hen, two of which were seen briefly flying above the cattails ( by a lucky few). Speaking of luck, while a birder from another party was playing a recording of Least Bittern and while all eyes and ears strained in that direction a real Least Bittern flew from the marsh further up and crossed the road behind us. It was seen by only two members of our party who happened to be looking at a beaver (or something). Some of us think the Prospect birds are on to us with all our electronic gadgets that play the same bird from Louisiana singing the same song over and over. At 3 p.m. most of our group said good-bye but some 10 or 12 die-hards agreed to return to Wylie Road to get better views of Upland Sandpiper and Golden-winged Warbler and to try again for the elusive Clay-coloured Sparrow. They were amply rewarded even though the sparrow did not show. We had excellent views of a Blue-winged Warbler and a Golden-winged Warbler plus glimpses of a Chestnut-sided Warbler and heard-only Nashville Warbler and Ovenbird. We saw 6 or seven Upland Sandpipers, some very close on posts, and someone reported the other half of the Raven. Other good birds: Swamp Sparrow, Willow Flycatcher, Indigo Bunting and Purple Finch. Thanks to David Milsom and Eleanor Beagan who had my back the whole trip long and that fellow from Toronto whom I hope to meet again and who helped me keep the tally properly updated. I love my new OFO hat. Thanks Wendy. Thanks. Dan Bone _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Luther Marsh - American White Pelican, Black Tern, Caspian Tern, Bald Eagle, etc. From: Anthony Zammit <a_zammit AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:33:36 -0700 (PDT) Due to the sensitivity associated with the following information, this posting was deliberately delayed and, I trust, will not cause any harm to the inhabitants of Luther Marsh. Most species noted below are breeding, so if you are planning a trip to Luther please consider OFO's birding code of ethics and the Luther Marsh User Guide (http://www.grandriver.ca/parks/luther_2008.pdf). Please be advised that non-motorized boats are permitted on the lake July 31 to Sept. 1 with an access permit. Motorized boats are permitted on the lake after Sept. 1. The following observations were made Friday, June 12 on the main lake: American White Pelican - 17 birds in 3-4 groups near Windmill Island; though recorded historically at Luther, this is considered unusual for the local area and possibly southern Ontario Black Tern - at least 8 birds foraging, some agitated; a regular breeder Caspian Tern - 11 on mud flats off Windmill Island; possibly breeding Trumpeter Swan - 4 birds swimming close to the pelicans; breeding confirmed Bald Eagle - 2 adults perching and soaring close to a nest on Big Island; possibly breeding Osprey - several pairs defending nests; at least 10 nests appear active; 1 nest had 2 eggs Common Loon - pair with 2 chicks close to floating platform near dam Great Blue Heron - 31 active nests; 13 nests within the traditional rookery on the north end of the lake are apparently inactive Sora - East Bay, single bird calling close to MNR boat house Marsh Wren - several singing males in cattail marshes Pied-billed Grebe - several calling Wood Duck - 2 birds flushed near mouth of Drain 40 Also noteworthy were full choruses of Mink Frog, which were noted at all survey stations. Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area is located along Side Road 21 & 22, south of County Road 15, just northwest of the Town of Grand Valley. Tony Zammit, Cambridge, ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: black vulture- Durham Region From: "Rayfield Pye" <raypye AT interlinks.net> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 20:43:39 -0400 Black Vulture- 1 9:15 AM, Sunday, June 14 401 and Holt Road Clairington (east of Oshawa) The bird was circling, and Stu Williams was driving west. report from S Williams Rayfield Pye Durham Rare Bird Line _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Bronte Harbour Red-necked Grebes: Rescue From: "Sue and Gavin" <sue-gavin AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:56:40 -0400 Sue and I just got back from what we thought would be a quick trip to check on the grebes before going to Sobeys. The east nest has four chicks, one of which hatched this afternoon. The eggshell was still in the nest. Unfortunately the newly hatched chick went into the water before his/her feathers were waterproof and was unable to climb onto an adult or the nest. For whatever reason the chick swam to shore where I picked him/her up and tossed him/her back to the parents after warming the chilled little bird in my hands. Again the chick swan to shore. There was quite a crowd of photographers and passers by watching. The collective wisdom was to try from the other side so we gained access to the dock and this time got the chick close to parents who did investigate a couple of times but the chick was too waterlogged and weak to climb onto a parent's back. At times we could not see the chick in the water and assumed that it was only a matter of time. Whenever we thought the chick was dead some movement was observed. Eventually I was able to retrieve the chick using my tripod as a grappling hook. The cold little guy was pretty limp in my hand but eventually perked up with warming. We needed a boat. This is a marina there must be a boat available! Sue found willing boater and junior was returned to the nest. The parents soon returned and one sat on their youngest and the one remaining egg. We observed three chicks at the west nest and then did our grocery shopping. Directions: Exit the QEW at Bronte Rd. (Oakville) and go south to the lake, turn left at the lake and park near the Lighthouse Restaurant. The nests are near the playground equipment. Gavin Edmondstone Oakville, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Larose Forest Warblers--Ottawa East From: Jay Peterson <pulchritudinousparula AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:33:21 -0400 Hello ontbirders, Tom Hanrahan and I took an early morning drive out to Larose today. Larose is a maze of concession roads and trails, but Tom navigates very well. Along these roads today we had 16 species of Warblers. Presumably all breeding. A lot of birds singing and some took some work to find in appropriate habitat. It's a great drive but beware if you get out of the car as the Deer flies are abundant everywhere. Warblers: Mourning, Cape May, Canada, Blackburnian, Magnolia, BT Blue, BT Green, N Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Nashville, Pine, Yellow, Common Yellowthroat, Black and White, Chestnut-Sided and Yellow-Rumped. Other notables included: Red-Shouldered Hawk, Black-Billed Cuckoo (heard), YB Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Indigo Buntings, Scarlet Tanagers, R-B Grosbeaks and Purple Finch. Good birding, Jay Peterson Ottawa (Britannia) Directions courtesy of NeilyWorld, >From Highway 417, 39 km east of Ottawa, take the Limoges exit (79) and go NNW for 4.4 km on Limoges Road (CR 5), through the town of Limoges to the junction of this road with Regional Roads 8 and 37. Follow the right hand curve on Regional 37 or the Saumure/Clarence-Cambridge Boundary Road northeast for 0.9 km to where Saumure turns left. Then continue straight northeast on the Clarence-Cambridge Boundary Road into the forest. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: BBS near Strathroy Western Meadowlark, Mockingbird, Clay-colored Sparrow From: "Peter Read" <psread AT xplornet.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:39:57 -0400 Hey there, Ian Platt and I have just returned from a successful Breeding Bird Survey between Strathroy and Glencoe. Among the many common nesting species that we had out there we found two Western Meadowlark, a N. Mockingbird and a Clay-colored Sparrow. Only one Upland Sandpiper this year on the route. Also a number of Grasshopper Sparrow in the usual spots. Directions. In general this area we cover is west of Strathroy. Access from Highway 402, is south at the Kerwood exit, number 56. go south till Calvert and head west to McArthur (first road going south) or Napier (first road going north) depending on which species you want as below. >From London, either take that or come out Oxford St. until it becomes Glendon Drive at Kilworth. Keep heading on that drive, which is Cty Rd 14, through Komoka and Mt. Brydges until you get to McArthur and then head north. The Western Meadowlarks were about a mile apart, on McArthur Drive, one bird north and one south of Inadale. The southerly one was singing in a field that had been recently mowed. The northerly one was in a large field with cattle ranging, south of a power line. Could they be the same bird? Only if the one flew a mile after we heard it singing in the south location, which I guess is possible but may be as unlikely as finding two WEME. We were amazed that the mockingbird was so out there, in the countryside, not really attached to any structures except a field windmill. It was north of Walker along McArthur, about halfway to Calvert Dr. It had a huge repertoire of songs of the birds in the area. It did a great Cardinal, Robin, Kingbird, Catbird mew, oriole, and even bluebird, all species in the area.There were at least two singing Grasshopper Sparrows in that field. Others are in the grasslands near there. The Upland Sandpiper was in a grazed field between Scotchmere and Walker, also along McArthur. Note that Stuart Immonen had a couple of Upland Sandpipers off Calvert, a half km or so to the east of the intersection of McArthur and Calvert. (triangle field in corner of Kerwood and Winter) McArthur seemed to be great for us. (I shall return, there fer sure) Incidentally, as we went along McArthur, we had a Northern Bobwhite, which made us perk up almost every part of our bodies.but turned out someone had caged birds.shoot. Finally, the Clay-colored was in a grassy field with lots of small evergreens about halfway along Napier between Calvert and Winter. There were one or two Grasshopper Sparrows there too. Amazingly all these birds were very near our stops along the BBS. So I have gps co-ordinates for the area. Remember these are only reference numbers that are within say 300-400 m of the spots where the birds are. Western Meadowlark (south) 4441466 4730324 was in the cut field on the west side Western Meadowlark (north) 440823 474096 was in the field with the cows on the west side N. Mockingbird 438818 4743034 was on the west side near the windmill Clay-colored Sparrow 437302 4743954 will be south of that point in field on east side with evergreens Upland Sandpiper (ours) 440325 4741478 will be on east side in field perhaps near the small field pond (bring your scope) Good birding, Pete Read And for Ian Platt _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Brighton Constructed Wetland From: Joan Kelbrick <jkelbrick AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:30:08 -0400 Greetings from one of Brighton's bright spots: Once again, a heart felt "Thank you" to Keith (Tiny) Lee for taking the time to open the wetland for us. The highlight continues to be the Virginia Rails. Tiny thinks there are at least 6 breeding pairs. I had the opportunity to see my very first Virginia Rail chick. WOW!! It is amzing how something so small and move so fast. Also one person (André Massa) thought he had seen an American Bittern and Rod Lee could hear one. Well, 4 of us (Tiny, Rod, André and I) got to see the Bittern. It rose out of the northern cell and landed in the east end of the southern cell. The four of us scurried over and managed to get a good look at this very fine bird. There is a lot of activity in the Wetland. Joan The wetland is located on the south side of County Road 64 (Prince Edward Street) going out of Brighton. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Peterboro Avocet From: "Robert Hartley" <bob.mary.hartley AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:16:46 -0400 We saw the beautiful avocet at 7:15 tonight. It is about 150 feet from the road but was clearly visible opposite 1111 Johnson Dr. on the south side of Peterborough, as indicated in the other ONTBIRDS postings. Bob and Mary Hartley Omemee _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Peregrine Falcon - Ambassador Bridge - Windsor From: ian woodfield <ijwoodfield AT yahoo.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:08:02 -0700 (PDT) The male chick has flown from the bridge to the roof of  2198 University Ave The female is still on the ledge under the bridge. The father is watching from the bridge For more details see the Canadian Peregrine Foundation site Ian Woodfield __________________________________________________________________ Make your browsing faster, safer, and easier with the new Internet Explorer® 8. Optimized for Yahoo! Get it Now for Free! at http://downloads.yahoo.com/ca/internetexplorer/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Ottawa Int'l Airport - Sparrows & Mockingbird From: Patrick Blake <pjblake22 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:43:48 -0400 I spent the late morning birding the airport with Steve Derraugh and his family. We had a productive morning, with all sparrow species accounted for: 7 SAVANNAH, 6 SONG, 6 FIELD, 7 CHIPPING, 4 GRASSHOPPER, 8 VESPER, and 3 CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS. Also of interest was a single WILLOW FLYCATCHER, identified by its call, along with an ALDER and 4 LEAST FLYCATCHERS. A PURPLE MARTIN flew overhead, the pair of MOURNING WARBLERS are still in the forest near the radar station off of High Road, and an INDIGO BUNTING was seen singing from the treetops. Unfortunately, no sign this morning of the clay-coloured sparrow that sings like a chipping, but I'm sure its still around somewhere. On my way back home in the afternoon, a NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD flew across Leitrim Road just at the bottom of the hill heading away from the airport. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: From the intersection of Hunt Club Drive and Riverside Drive, take Riverside south and stay straight when it becomes Limebank Road. Turn left onto Leitrim Road, then take the first right onto Bowesville Road. You can park just a few hundred meters from the intersection and take the trails there, or continue on Bowesville to Earl Armstrong Road. Turn left onto Earl Armstrong and follow to the end. Turn left onto High Road and again follow to the end. The trails here are also very productive for the species listed. _________________________________________________________________ Windows Live helps you keep up with all your friends, in one place. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9660826_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Prospect & Wylie Rd. - Least Bittern, Golden-winged Warblers & more From: Lev Frid <lev.frid AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 18:29:42 -0400 Hi all, I was birding Wylie and Prospect roads today starting at 7:30 AM for about five or so hours. Results were excellent, the weather was very accommodating and the birds were active for a long period of time. 65 species were had. Highlights - Wylie Road Grasshopper Sparrows (lots), 3 Clay-colored Sparrows, 2 Golden-winged Warblers, 8 Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipes, 2 Sedge Wren, Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Meadowlark, loads of Bluebirds, Kingbirds, Bobolink etc.. Prospect Road Least Bittern, American Bittern, Virginia Rail, Sora, Common Moorhen, Blue-winged Teal DIrections: The Carden Alvar is a 1.5 hour drive or 125 km northeast of Toronto via the 404 and Highway 48. From the Kirkfield Lift Lock go 2.5 km north, turn right on McNamee Road where Kawartha Road 6 turns sharply left. You'll see the Carden Important Bird Area sign. The Sedge Wren Marsh is 2.7 km from the start of Wylie Road. Prospect road goes south from Kawartha Road 48 about 4.0 km west of Kirkfield. Good Birding, Lev Frid Maple Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Avocet: Peterborough From: Victoria Carley <carley.la AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:50:24 -0400 This morning and afternoon (Saturday, 11:40 am and 2 pm) the American Avocet was still in the ponds opposite the house at 1111 Johnston Drive. Directions from previous Logan posting: The ponds can be reached from Airport Road. Exit Highway 115 at Airport Road and go south. Beardmore Road will be on your left very quickly. Turn left onto Beardmore, go east and merge with Johnstone. Cheers John Carley _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Great Egrets - Amherst Island From: otoole AT kos.net Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:39:11 -0400 Spent a couple of hours st the KFN propert on the east end of the island today. Located the first Great Egret west of the Amherst Island Ferry Dock about 300 meters along the shoreline. On the KFN property there was a second Great Egret ( see site link for various pics). Wilson's Phalarope; Spotted Sandpiper and one unknown shorebird. http://www.flickr.com/photos/newfoundlander61/ 1. Great Egret: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3382/3622498581_2d0828d3db.jpg http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2438/3622498583_01d9164581.jpg 2. Unkown Shorebird http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3622536157_dac3d37755.jpg Directions: 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 $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. KFN property is at the far east end of island. Paul O'Toole Kingston _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: First Piping Plover Hatch at Sauble Beach - 12 June 2009 From: Kim Toews <fa446 AT ncf.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:56:51 -0400 On Thursday, 11 June, the first Piping Plover hatch at Sauble Beach occurred at 12:26 p.m. at the mid-way nest. The adults are no longer incubating the remaining two eggs from this nest, with the assumption being that they are no longer viable. On Friday, 12 June at 1:00 p.m., one of the chicks was predated by a merlin. The remaining chick has been observed regularly on the beach with the adult birds. The south end nest is expected to hatch this Sunday or Monday. The north end nest is possibly due to begin hatching by next weekend. Stewart Nutt writes a Piping Plover report each day, to keep a running log of what has happened and to keep all informed as to the progress and set-backs of the Sauble Beach plovers. If you would like further information check out the Sauble Plover website at: http://www.saubleplovers.com Good birding, Kim Toews _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Prairie Warbler at the Currie Tract at Canpbellville From: "Norman Murr" <normurr AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 12:40:52 -0400 Good Afternoon This morning Ian Cannell and I did an early morning drive down to Campbellville to hopefully find the Prairie Warbler and in this quest we were successful. We arrived at the right tower early (before 7am ) but did not know we had as the tower had the number N580M on it and the angle we approached the tower from blocked the view of the ladder and the seat. We then went on to the next tower but found no number or ladder there at all. Back tracking to the previous tower we decided to try that area anyway and Ian walked to the tower and spotted the ladder and tree. So we were right the first time. We were lucky enough to spot and watch the Prairie Warbler within 5 minutes. We then continued birding and on the way back to the car we did find some nice birds including Pileated Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse, E. Kingbirds, E. Phoebe, E. Wood-Pewees, House Wrens, Gray Catbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Wood Thrushes, Veerys, R-T Hummingbird, Yellow, Prairie, 7 Blue-winged, ( + 2 Brewster's ), 7 Mourning, Pine, Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warblers, A. Redstarts, Ovenbird, E. Towhees, Song, Chipping and Field Sparrows, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, many Baltimore Orioles and Cedar Waxwings, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. One more good thing was that the mosquitos were not a big problem but that was today. If you go, go with the thought that they may be a problem. CURRIE TRACT Exit Hwy 401 at Guelph Line ( Exit 312 ) ( at Campbellville ) and drive north just past the second entrance into the Mohawk Raceway and you will see a small road on your right, turn in here and you will come to a small parking lot about 200 yards from the entrance. This is the start of the trail system. PRAIRIE WARBLER DIRECTIONS per Frank Pinilla Walk in along the main gated trail and follow this for a while (1km??), it will take you under the hydro wires where there is a small wet area and stream, follow the trail part way up the hill just passed this and take the trail to the right which takes you back over to the hydro line. Follow this "hydro trail" that you've just joined, it takes you under the wires 3 times before you begin paralleling the hydro lines on the south side (700m - 1km). Along this stretch you will see the sign Hugh referred to (Green rectangle with white squiggles), stay on the main path. i.e. straight, then about 200m beyond there will be a clearing on the north/left side, there are a couple of small "trails" through the grass here (I first heard the Prairie and a Blue-winged from the trail here), head north to the line of Sumachs and cross through them, this is the aforementioned Hydro Tower N580M ( not N480M ), ( a good tip that lets you know that you are in the right place ) and the white chair with ladder (deer-hunting stand??). Finally, you are at the spot! 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Bronte: Red-necked Grebes- 2 nests, 4 chicks, Least Bittern- no sign From: "Sue and Gavin" <sue-gavin AT sympatico.ca> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 10:12:52 -0400 The Red-necked Grebes nesting in the Bronte Harbour Outer Harbour Marina are having a good year. There are two nests each with two chicks as of this morning. I also saw a Common Loon fly inland. This morning I spent some time looking for Least Bittern in Bronte Marsh without seeing or hearing any. Over the last week we have observed other people looking as well who presumably would have posted if any were observed. I will keep checking and post if I see any. Directions: Exit the QEW at Bronte Rd. (Oakville) then go south to the lake, turn left at Ontario St. You can park near the Lighthouse Restaurant. The grebe nests are near the playground equipment. Bronte Marsh is on the west side of Bronte Creek just upstream of the Lakeshore Road bridge. Gavin Edmondstone Oakville,Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Hamilton Naturalists Club Birding Report - Friday, June 12th, 2009 From: "Cheryl Edgecombe" <cheryle29 AT cogeco.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:45:58 -0400 On Friday, June 12th, 2009, this is the HNC Birding Report: BRANT WESTERN SANDPIPER ICELAND GULL BLACK TERN Ring-necked Duck Common Goldeneye Hooded Merganser Ruffed Grouse Common Loon Horned Grebe Red-necked Grebe Bald Eagle Peregrine Falcon Solitary Sandpiper Spotted Sandpiper Semipalmated Sandpiper White-rumped Sandpiper Dunlin Common Nighthawk Ruby-throated Hummingbird Gray-cheeked Thrush Blue-winged Warbler Golden-winged Warbler Lawrence's Warbler Brewster's Warbler Nashville Warbler Magnolia Warbler Prairie Warbler American Redstart Indigo Bunting Another shortened list this week for birds moving through the HSA. Most of the birds reported now are birds on territory and/or stragglers which have wandered into the area confused and possibly willing to stay a while! The notable birds this week include a BRANT which has been present at Canada Centre for Inland Waters since Tuesday, seen again today in a flock of Canada Geese. A WESTERN SANDPIPER was present up until Tuesday at Windermere Basin located off Eastport Drive. Along with it, Dunlin, Solitary, Spotted, White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpiper were present in varying numbers through the week. A BLACK TERN made a one day appearance at Grimsby Sewage Lagoons on Tuesday. An ICELAND GULL continues to be seen sporadically from Burloak Park. Another location reported from this week that is new for this spring is the Currie Tract with its entrance located across from the Mohawk Raceway on Guelph Line in north Halton. Up here in this vast tract of land, a singing Prairie Warbler tries to attract a mate and has been singing heartily in the same location which is quite a distance in from the beginning of the parking lot. Directions are as follows: Walk in from the parking area along the main gated trail and follow this for a while (1km??), it will take you under the hydro wires where there is a small wet area and stream, follow the trail part way up the hill just passed this and take the trail to the right which takes you back over to the hydro line. Follow this "hydro trail" that you've just joined, it takes you under the wires 3 times before you begin paralleling the hydro lines on the south side (700m - 1km). Along this stretch you will see the sign Hugh referred to (Green rectangle with white squiggles), stay on the main path. i.e. straight, then about 200m beyond there will be a clearing on the north/left side, there are a couple of small "trails" through the grass here (I first heard the Prairie and a Blue-winged from the trail here), head north to the line of Sumacs and cross through them, this is the aforementioned Hydro Tower N480M and the white chair with ladder (deer-hunting stand??). Also in this stretch of land, Ruffed Grouse, Blue-winged, Golden-winged, Brewster's and Lawrence's Warblers and Indigo Buntings were seen and heard. Shell Park in Oakville had a few lingering birds this week, a female Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Nashville and Magnolia Warbler and American Redstart. Along the lakeshore, lingering waterfowl continue to be seen. Off Rattray Marsh, as many as 26 Red-necked Grebes were seen. At Arkendo Street in Oakville a Horned Grebe was present. A pair of Red-necked Grebes have successfully hatched 2 chicks at Bronte Harbour. Common Loons continue to be seen off Shoreacres. A female Hooded Merganser was seen oddly at the north end of Shoreacres Creek near Lakeshore. A female Bufflehead also continues to summer here. A Common Goldeneye was seen around the islands off Eastport and a Ring-necked Duck was present in the Windermere Basin. Good news for the Lift Bridge Peregrines, 3 females have successfully hatched and been banded. Berl, Maple and Truss are carefully being watched by our Lift Bridge brigade of falconwatch. In the odds and sods, Yellow-billed Cuckoos are nesting near Rock Chapel. Common Nighthawks were seen over central Hamilton. A couple of Adult Bald Eagles were seen along the lakeshore this week, one making mother Peregrine extremely upset and giving chase to the eagle. That's the news for this week. Please keep your sightings coming in, you never know what could drop in unannounced! 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Upland Sandpiper - nr. Zurich - Huron County From: Maris Apse <apsemaris AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 14:24:33 -0400 Hi all, Driving west on Cty Rd #84 from Zurich in late afternoon yesterday, I spotted 1 Upland Sandpiper perched on the wires on the south side of the road ~50M west of Bronson Line (runs south to Dashwood on Cty Rd #83 and beyond). It is likely nesting in the field on SW corner of this intersection as it was watching the area quite intently - we observed it for ~5 mins. Cheers! Maris Maris Apse 10094 Red Pine Road, Box 22, RR #2 Grand Bend ON N0M 1T0 (519) 238 - 8415 _________________________________________________________________ Create a cool, new character for your Windows Live™ Messenger. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9656621_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Avocet, Peterborough From: "Bill/Nancy Logan" <bnlogan AT eagle.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:39:04 -0400 This morning (Friday) at 9:00 AM, the bird was still in the ponds opposite the house at 1111 Johnston Drive. The ponds can be reached from Airport Road. Exit Highway 115 at Airport Road and go south. Beardmore Road will be on your left very quickly. Turn left onto Beardmore, go east and merge with Johnstone. Enjoy this rarity in Peterborough County. Bill Logan Cobourg ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Kingston area birds to June 12, 2009 From: "Peter & Jane Good" <goodcompany AT sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:59:31 -0400 There's not a lot new in the Kingston area as we move into the birding doldrums of late June and early July. The Canoe Lake and Opinicon Roads continue to produce their specialties; lots of Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers, Yellow-throated Vireos and both cuckoos. This week both Alder and Olive-sided Flycatcher were also reported. In the city Common Moorhens and Green Herons were noted. A late report had a lone Canvasback in the Amherstview sewage lagoons on May 31st. There were two species of lingering birds that caught our attention. A Snowy Owl was on Simcoe Island on June 6th and from adjacent Wolfe Island reports of a pair of Bald Eagles. Given the lateness of these sightings nesting is entirely possible but not yet confirmed. The KFN is doing their 11th annual Bioblitz this weekend on a farm in southern Lennox and Addington County. The idea is to get an inventory of all the flora and fauna on the property in a 24 hour period and provide an opportunity for both professional biologists, amateurs, and the general public to get out and see what's there. The planned activities are meant to be both entertaining and educational. Barring any really unusual sightings I will give this weekly missive a rest and will reawaken it in July when those shorebirds start their fall migration well before any of us are actually thinking of fall. Have a great summer. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Eastern Bluebirds in Gowganda ..Timiskaming Dist. From: "Paul & Gert Trudel" <trudel AT ntl.sympatico.ca> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:25:00 -0400 Hi, For the first time Eastern Bluebirds arrived in Gowganda. ( a male and female) My Sister Marg spotted the 'blue bird' on top of a Swallow 'occupied' nesting box. Over the next few hours the male would fly to the opening and peer in then fly to the top of the box and act very agitated. He constantly pecked at his under tail coverts area. He carried debris from the ground and would fly to the house and land on different places such as the pump house , the hydro lines, the phone lines etc. I had to go to an appointment and when I came back my sister told me the male had finally entered the nest box. My husband has gotten ready another nest box and will put it up tomorrow. We are hoping the bluebirds will take up residents. Cheers, Gert Trudel Gowganda Ont. 7 hours North of Toronto via 400, then #11 North, #65 W. and finally 560 W. trudel AT ntl.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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending June 11, 2009. From: Fred Helleiner <fhelleiner AT trentu.ca> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:33:08 -0400 The migrants northward fly their weary way, and leave the Park to residents and to me. These words, adapted from Gray's /Elegy Written in a Country Church-yard/, come to mind in the past week when birding in Presqu'ile Provincial Park. There is a sense of loss that very few of the migrants remain, but comfort that many birds are found day after day in the same locations. A rather late flock of about 35 BRANT flew past on June 8. Beside the causeway just outside the Park gate, a female WOOD DUCK had seven tiny young with her. A BLUE-WINGED TEAL was on the beach this morning. Four LONG-TAILED DUCKS were still present on June 8. Two female COMMON MERGANSERS and a male RED-BREASTED MERGANSER were seen this week. COMMON LOONS continue to be seen on most days, both in the lake and overhead. A PIED-BILLED GREBE nest can be seen off the campground office, and a family of young ones was near there this week, possibly from the same nest. A canoe-based search of the marsh yielded at least three and possibly five LEAST BITTERNS. An OSPREY was sitting in one of the shallow ephemeral pools of water on the beach, pretending to be a shorebird. A female WILD TURKEY was at the calf pasture on June 9. VIRGINIA RAILS have been seen a number of times this spring in the marsh, but the one that was flushed into a tree at Owen Point was exceptional in its odd behaviour. A SORA was observed in the marsh on June 5. Shorebirds have thinned out almost completely. Some of the remaining sightings are as follows: a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER on June 11; 15 RUDDY TURNSTONES on June 7; a late LEAST SANDPIPER on June 5; two WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPERS and a very late PECTORAL SANDPIPER on June 7; a DUNLIN on June 11; three SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS on June 7. A BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO was calling at the start of the Owen Point trail, and a BARRED OWL was calling behind 83 Bayshore Road. On June 11, a RED-HEADED WOODPECKER spent almost an hour commuting to and fro between 186 and 187 Bayshore Road, and a few hours later it (or another) was at 83 Bayshore Road. A RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER has paid periodic visits to feeders along Bayshore Road. An ALDER FLYCATCHER was found on June 7. A NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD was chased by a COMMON GRACKLE at the calf pasture on June 5. The last of the transient warblers appear to have been two BLACKPOLL WARBLERS on June 7. Mid-June is generally a static time for birding at Presqu'ile, but a determined birder might manage to track down a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW in the calf pasture, where they have been seen in recent summer months. There are two pairs of ORCHARD ORIOLES near the lighthouse, at least one of which has a nest. The HOUSE SPARROWS in that area have fledged young in recent days. 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. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Questions and comments about bird sightings at Presqu'ile may be directed to: FHELLEINER AT TRENTU.CA. -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Quinte Area Bird Report forweek ending June 11, 2009 From: "Terry Sprague" <tsprague AT kos.net> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 20:07:02 -0400 WEEKLY BIRD REPORT FROM PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY AND THE QUINTE AREA FOR THE WEEK ENDING Thursday, June 11, 2009 Prince Edward County's first confirmed MARBLED GODWIT leads the Quinte Area Bird Report this week. The bird was observed - where else, but at the Kaiser Crossroad flooded fields. Because these are agricultural fields, owners of the land are now draining the water from them preparatory to seeding the fields once again with this year's crop of corn. The new addition now brings the Prince Edward County Bird CheckList to 348 species. Other highlights there this week included a WHIMBREL, 8 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 46 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 12 DUNLIN, 13 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES. Also there this week were 3 GREEN HERONS, 18 MALLARDS, 27 CASPIAN TERNS, 5 GREAT BLUE HERONS, 7 CANADA GEESE and one each of AMERICAN BITTERN, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, BLUE-WINGED TEAL and OSPREY. At a property south of Carrying Place, the owner there founds lots of raptors flying around this week including both SHARP-SHINNED and COOPER'S HAWK, and a pair of EASTERN SCREECH-OWLS involving one red morph and one grey morph, along with one young of the year bird, about 80% full grown. There was a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK calling loudly at Deroche Lake, east of Thomasburg this morning. Other birds seen there on an 8-km hike around a small section of the huge property were both WOOD THRUSH and VEERY and a singing HERMIT THRUSH. RED-EYED VIREOS and OVENBIRDS were plentiful, and other birds of note encountered were BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, AMERICAN REDSTART, YELLOW WARBLER, SCARLET TANAGER, LEAST FLYCATCHER, EASTERN TOWHEE, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and HOUSE WREN. It would appear to be a good year for CHIMNEY SWIFTS, given the isolated reports of birds that have been seen in recent weeks. In Trenton, one observer there has been watching an old 20-metre high chimney at Gimpel Electric Supply, a location where 30 years ago was one of several areas where CHIMNEY SWIFTS would gather and nest. The old chimney is thought to be the last site in Trenton where this species is believed to be nesting. The observer watched this week as six birds entered the chimney, and assuming there were 3 pairs. At 8:30 p.m. last Wednesday night he began watching again as a few birds circled the chimney and 30 minutes later birds started to pour in the chimney as if it were a vacuum, the final tally being close to 50 birds. Another good sighting this past week were two pairs of nesting AMERICAN ROBINS, both pairs, in different areas of the region, nesting right on the ground. One pair in Sidney Township, on Forsyth Road, near Keating-Hoards Conservation Area is in the middle of a field with the closet thing for shade being a hydro pole several feet away. A similar nest at South Bay in Prince Edward County had a bit more thought involved in its placement, this one on the ground at the base of a fence post. A COMMON RAVEN was calling again this week at 23 Sprague Road where one has appeared sporadically since last winter. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON was seen today along the Moira River at Rotary Park in Belleville. And a GREAT EGRET was spotted south of Glen Miller. A new bird this week on the yard list of a west Big Island resident was a GREEN HERON that perched atop the branches of a dead apple tree by the shoreline and called repeatedly for several minutes before flying off after being startled by the opening of a door. WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS are calling and probably nesting at two locations, along Sprague Road and along Lakeside Drive in the Consecon Lake area. Bird feeders, with the exception of nectar feeders, have eased into a low ebb, now that the nesting season is in progress, and the only birds of interest reported this week were a NORTHERN FLICKER feeding under some feeders just west of Picton, and an EASTERN TOWHEE in a backyard along Highway 62 near Crofton. An UPLAND SANDPIPER was seen perched on a fence post last Friday along County Road 1 near Chase Road. In the Tweed area, a nest box full of TREE SWALLOWS provided some protein for a visiting BLACK BEAR who tore apart a rugged nest box, bending the metal pole and ripping the rough cut one inch pine like cardboard. On Crookston Road a WHIP-POOR-WILL has been calling nightly, and a BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO takes up the cause during the day. Canoeists on the Moira River this week spotted the nest of a BALTIMORE ORIOLE, not so much by the pendant shape of the nest itself, but by the colourful thin blue nylon twine the birds thoughtfully used to suspend the nest from the branches. At the H.R. Frink Centre near Plainfield Monday night, there were at least three VIRGINIA RAILS scurrying about the marsh boardwalk, while back in Prince Edward County along Fry Road a resident there was deeply concerned about the health of her ailing husband when she noted a TURKEY VULTURE perched on their utility pole and eyeing the house. And that's it for this week from Prince Edward County and the Quinte area. Our thanks to Nick Quickert, John Charlton, Pamela Stagg, David Bree, Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes, Ted Cullin, John & Janet Foster, Henri Garand, Steve Bolton, Ove Jaste & Mary-Ann Caswell, Virginia Cresswell-Jones and Cindy Nicholls for their contributions to this week's report. This report will be updated on Thursday, June 18th, but sightings can be e-mailed any time before the Wednesday night deadline. Photo of a nest of BARN SWALLOWS on the Main Bird Page this week is by Marie Clarke of Roslin. Photos of the ground nesting AMERICAN ROBIN at South Bay in the online edition of the Quinte Area Bird Report was contributed by Frank Artes & Carolyn Barnes. Additional photos of a VIRGINIA RAIL at the H.R. Frink Centre at Plainfield, and a roosting backyard TURKEY VULTURE along Fry Road are by Donna Fano and Kathy Felkar, respectively. 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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Peterborough avocet June 10 From: "M. Bain" <mjcbain AT sympatico.ca> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:25:57 -0400 The breeding-plumaged American Avocet was still actively feeding among a flock of male Mallards in shallow grassy ponds south of Peterborough just after 1pm today, Thursday, June 10th. Probably a female by the strongly upcirved bill - a strikingly beautiful bird. Copied here are John Geale's directions: >From Peterborough, take Monaghan Road south, under the bypass.  It becomes Johnson Dr. when it swings west and follows the bypass.  Johnson jogs left, then right and then on the west side opposite house #1111 there are several small ponds in the cow field. The Avocet was in these ponds. >From the south, take County Road 28 north from Port Hope to about 0.5 km north of the Kawartha Downs racetrack. Turn east on Peterborough County Road 11 (also known as Montcrief Line) towards the Peterborough airport. After about 3 km the road bends sharply north to the airport; about 1 km north of the airport (JUST south of highway 115) turn east on Beardsmore Rd. This road bends and twists a bit, but about 3 km along it you will find house #1111 on your right. The bird was in the pond (to your left) nearest the road when I saw it.   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 information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ Subject: Prairie Warbler - Currie Tract, Halton Regional Forest - Thur June 11 From: Frank Pinilla <fpinilla15 AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:22:14 -0400 Birders, I decided to head out to the Currie Tract and try for this Prairie Warbler. The bird sang as soon as I hit the clearing, just after having passed two birders leaving the area who had not found the bird. It sang several times and as I got closer it stopped. I found the small clearing described by Hugh & Jim in earlier posts but no bird. I hung around for at least 15-20min when it finally sang again. I stayed somewhat hidden, concerned that it didn't sing because of my presence, but as it continued to sing I walked out to try and see the bird, it flew from the crabapple tree to some poplars & ash trees to the back where it sang from various perches, never staying in one spot for more than 30 seconds. While there I had a close-up Mourning Warbler and a male Scarlet Tanager fly over, amongst the many Eastern Towhees, Gray Catbirds & a Blue-winged Warbler (singing on & off). On the way back I turned off to the south of the main trail where there was a wide clearing with some interspersed trees/bushes, at least 5 Field Sparrows and 4 Blue-winged Warblers singing in this area. I saw two of the warblers and they were both Blue-winged, no hybrids seen but they're around I'm sure. Also, in and around the area 3 more Mourning Warblers heard, many Indigo Buntings, 1 Blackburnian Warbler, Wood Thrushes, Veerys, E Wood-Pewees, Chestnut-sided Warblers, a pair of Eastern Phoebes and others. At the small parking lot there was a drumming & calling Pileated Woodpecker. Be ready for mosquitoes, not crazy bad but enough to cover up & use deet. Now, the much needed Directions (there are many trails through the area), it is long but should help: First, to find the Currie Tract, exit at Guelph Line north off Hwy 401, just west of Milton. Go north just past the parking entrance to the Mohawk Raceway and opposite it, on the east side (this is about 1km north of 401), you will see green sign #9475 and a very well hidden entrance with a small parking area for 5 cars. Walk in along the main gated trail and follow this for a while (1km??), it will take you under the hydro wires where there is a small wet area and stream, follow the trail part way up the hill just passed this and take the trail to the right which takes you back over to the hydro line. Follow this "hydro trail" that you've just joined, it takes you under the wires 3 times before you begin paralleling the hydro lines on the south side (700m - 1km). Along this stretch you will see the sign Hugh referred to (Green rectangle with white squiggles), stay on the main path. i.e. straight, then about 200m beyond there will be a clearing on the north/left side, there are a couple of small "trails" through the grass here (I first heard the Prairie and a Blue-winged from the trail here), head north to the line of Sumachs and cross through them, this is the aforementioned Hydro Tower N480M and the white chair with ladder (deer-hunting stand??). Finally, you are at the spot! -- Sent from my mobile device _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS AT hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/