March 13 (Saturday) Long Point Area
Leaders: George Pond, Barry Jones, Jim Heslop, Bob Stamp.
Today about 35 intrepid field naturalists braved the inclement weather to participate in the annual early spring OFO field trip to Long Point. Not one of whom can ever be called a “fair‐weather” birder. Although the wind and rain made viewing a tad tough and kept the raptors grounded, we still managed, as a group, to view forty some‐odd avian species.
Maybe more importantly, we did see the “big three” advertised species those being Tundra Swans both on Long Point Bay, in flight and on surrounding corn fields, at least four Bald Eagles in the same locales, (both adults and younger individuals) and, luckily, a pair of Sandhill Cranes in a field along Front Road just west of Hwy 59. New for the year for many included, a sizable flock of American Coots, a number of Killdeer, several Eastern Bluebirds and American Robins. The wily Wild Turkeys managed to elude us this year but some fortunate individuals saw some on their drive down.
Thank yous go to George Pond and Bob Stamp for co‐leading the outing, George again for arranging and Birds Studies Canada for allowing us to use their Old Cut Field Station as a lunch room, what a godsend. Also to Diane Salter for arranging access to the St. Williams Forestry Station powder rooms and especially for allowing us to visit her well‐stocked feeders in Walsingham which never fail to “produce” a few species we miss elsewhere. Last, but not least, thank you to Wendy Hunter for making the trek down to make available to folks OFO merchandise such as checklists, hats and sweatshirts. If you don't know all that is available, check the OFO website.
Any way, we look forward to doing it all again next March, in bright sunshine – Bob and George guarantee it.
February 6 Fisherville Area, Haldimand‐Norfolk County
Leader: David Milsom.
The day started with a strong cold east wind and flurries but ended with sunshine and a decreasing wind. There were 46 birders and 26 cars on the outing. By day’s end there were still 20 cars at 5.30!
Our first stop at Ruthven Park produced 6 Eastern Bluebirds in the valley. On River Road near Cayuga we found several Red‐bellied Woodpeckers, Tufted Titmouse, Chipping and White‐throated Sparrows.
At a feeder near the lake south of Selkirk were Red‐winged Blackbird and Song Sparrow.
Altogether we saw 9 species of raptor: Cooper’s and Sharp‐shinned Hawks, Red‐tailed Hawk, both colour morphs of Rough‐legged Hawk, Merlin, American Kestrel, at least 6 Northern Harriers, 3 Bald Eagles at Nanticoke, and opposite Hagersville dump were 4 Short‐eared Owls.
We also tallied several ducks including both Scaup and all 3 mergansers.
At dusk there were over 1000 American Crows just west of Clanbrassil.
A total of 50 species was recorded.
January 23 Ottawa Area
Leader: David Britton.
A group of about 25 birders met in Ottawa this morning for the annual OFO January winter field trip. It was a beautiful mid‐winter morning–sunny and almost windless, if a bit cold first thing. While winter birding has been a bit slow in the Ottawa area this winter with a dearth of owls and finches, we had a very enjoyable morning and saw 29 species, including a number of the regional specialties.
We began the trip along Maple Grove Road in Kanata, where we quickly found 3 GRAY PARTRIDGE coveyed up underneath the pines at the City of Ottawa public works yard. Heading south from there along Huntmar Drive, some of the group members spotted a NORTHERN SHRIKE. Our next stop was a storm water management pond off of Iber Road in the Goulbourn Industrial Mall, where the combination of a little bit of open water and a nearby backyard birdfeeder has concentrated ducks including 4 CANADA GEESE and a male WOOD DUCK (unusual in winter in Ottawa).
We headed south through the agricultural lands between Ottawa and Richmond, adding a few SNOW BUNTINGS and a darkly‐barred SNOWY OWL. Along Akins Road we also had another small group of GRAY PARTRIDGE running about between rows of corn stubble in the fields.
At the frozen Moodie Drive quarry ponds we found a group of 100+ gulls loafing on the ice. The presence of a coyote on the ice nearby made the gulls skittish, but we still got great scope looks at the birds, which were unusually close to the gate. The group was composed mainly of GREAT BLACK‐BACKED and HERRING GULLS, but there were a few adult and juvenile GLAUCOUS GULLS and at least 1 juvenile ICELAND GULL. A couple of RED‐TAILED HAWKS were present in the area, as well as a single light morph ROUGH‐LEGGED HAWK.
We moved on to the Jack Pine Trail feeders where amongst the usual suspects we had good looks at an obliging BROWN CREEPER and a close encounter with an 8‐point buck White‐tailed Deer. At the Hilda Road feeders we added AMERICAN GOLDFINCH and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW.
It was already noon, but a few of the group decided to continue on to Remic Rapids. Unfortunately, the Peregrine Falcon that I had seen perched on the nearby R.H. Coates building early that morning hadn’t stuck around, but a male BARROW’S GOLDENEYE was quickly found amongs the COMMON GOLDENEYE off of the lookout and provided great views.
January 1 (Friday) Peterborough
Leader: Dave Milsom.
Only 4 birders, James Smith (Dundas), Bill Logan (Cobourg), Maurice Sherman (Toronto) and myself attended the OFO New Year’s Day trip around Peterborough today.
We had snow most of the day but the roads were generally fine. Only 33 species were recorded but we found some “quality” species.
At Hall’s Glen on County Road 6 north of Lakefield were 56 Bohemian Waxwings. Just north of there at a feeder were 4 Evening Grosbeaks, 2 male, 2 female.
Along County Road 6 were 12 Northern Common Ravens. At Nephton a 1st‐year Golden Eagle flew overhead. We missed the Red Crossbills seen earlier in the day at Petroglyphs Provincial Park. but were satisfied with Black‐backed, Pileated, Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers, White and Red‐breasted Nuthatches, Golden‐crowned Kinglet and Brown Creeper.
Close to the Petroglyphs Park, a Barred Owl sat on the wires adjacent to the road. Near the highway, a 2nd‐year Bald Eagle was roosting in a Hemlock.
Along the Otonabee River near Lakefield were Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, American Black Duck, Mallard and Canada Geese. We also saw 2 Sharp‐shinned Hawks, one at Lakefield and one at Young’s Point.
Animals included 2 Red Fox and a White‐tailed Deer.