August 29 (Sunday) Palgrave, Tottenham Sod Farms, Schomberg Lagoons
Leader: Dave Milsom.
Over 40 birders enjoyed today’s very warm weather and some good birds, particularly in the afternoon.
The morning at Palgrave Conservation Area was slow. Only 7 species of warbler were seen, best being Golden-winged, Canada and Tennessee. Pileated Woodpecker was seen well flying over the pond. Also, Northern Harrier, Eastern Wood Pewee, Wild Turkey, White-throated and Swamp sparrows were found.
The afternoon was productive for shorebirds and 11 species were seen. Best find was a juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpiper seen very well by all the group at Zander Sod Farms on the 10th Concession near Beeton. Also there were 14 Baird's Sandpipers and Black-bellied Plover.
At Schomberg Lagoons were both Yellowlegs, Solitary, Semipalmated and Least Sandpipers, Wilson’s Snipe, Killdeer and Spotted Sandpiper.
A total of 75 species were found throughout the day.
August 28 (Saturday) Toronto Islands
Leader: Ian Cannell.
The beautiful sunny day we enjoyed on the Islands today was matched only by the nice group of birders who made it a pleasure to lead this outing.
As has been usual for the past three years a large group of birders showed up to practise their skills at identifying those “confusing fall warblers” and practise they had, in full.
After 2 or 3 hours we had progressed no further than a few hundred metres from the Ward’s Island ferry dock as wave after wave of warblers, vireos, flycatchers and other species flew into a few willows in front of us. A beautifully plumaged male Canada Warbler was a big favourite as was a cooperative male Black‐throated Blue Warbler. Philadelphia Vireos and Yellow‐bellied Flycatchers were other popular sightings.
When we finally left the Ward's cottage area and headed west, we enjoyed seeing an Olive‐sided Flycatcher from Snake Island, at the very top of the highest bare snag, as is typical for this species.
Snake Island is a good place to find this species at this time of year.
If you have an opportunity to get over to the Islands in the next few weeks, particularly after northerly winds overnight you can be pretty sure of a great day of birding.
Two things:
Be sure you have the correct ferry schedule; it’s the summer schedule now, but will change to the fall schedule on Sept. 7th.
New ferry ticket machines are now in place, just outside the entrance to the ferry dock.
The good news is that they will now accept credit cards.
The bad news is that they are far from intuitive to use.
To use them:
Use the two buttons at the left to scroll up or down to choose the kind of ticket you want (Adult, or Seniors, etc.).
Then select the number of people for whom you want tickets on the number pad below.
Then push the green “Print” button.
The screen will then display the amount it expects from you.
Either enter the correct change in the yellow slot below ($6.50 adult or $4.00 Seniors) or enter your credit card.
Then push the green “Print” button again.
Finally remove the ticket when it drops down into the slot at bottom right (note that multiple tickets will be printed if you paid for more than one person).
I provide these details because I had to help most people to figure out how to use these new machines.
August 15 (Sunday) Durham Region and Lake Ontario Marshes
Leaders: Rayfield Pye, John Stirrat.
Thirty two participants met at the parking lot at Lynde Shores Conservation Area at 7:30 a.m. and walked through the Lynde Shores woodlot down to Cranberry Marsh. We saw few species on the way there– mainly Eastern Kingbirds, Cedar Waxwings and American Goldfinches.
Once there, we did get to see a variety of Herons–Great Blue, Great Egret, Green, and Black‐crowned Night‐Herons. Waterbirds consisted of Mute and Trumpeter Swans, Common Moorhen, Pied‐billed Grebe,and Mallard ducks. Caspian Terns and a Belted Kingfisher patrolled the marsh. A small area of shorebird habitat yielded Lesser Yellowlegs, Least and Pectoral Sandpiper. The highlight was a great long look at a Least Bittern sitting in the cattails on the far side of the marsh.
We next went to the small woodlot and beach at the foot of Gordon Street in Whitby where we had Red‐eyed and Philadelphia Vireo, Black‐and‐white Warbler and Blue‐gray Gnatcatcher.
We stopped for lunch at the local Tims and then went to Oshawa Second Marsh where we added American White Pelican and Wood Ducks on the marsh and American Redstart, Yellow, Cape May, and Magnolia Warblers on the walk down to the lake. Some, unfortunately, were also introduced to “European fire ants”–nasty, little guys.
We had 68 species for the day–despite the heat and humidity and, for the third consecutive year, having virtually no shorebird habitat.
August 8 Rock Point Provincial Park and Eastern Lake Erie Shore
Leaders: John Black with Jim Heslop and Kevin McLaughlin.
31 participants from 0800 to 1330 hours. 50 species, of which 15 species were shorebirds, were seen.
Rock Point
Strong winds off the lake led to a much reduced beach and very few shorebirds. Six Semipalmated Plover, a few Killdeer, and Spotted Sandpiper, a single Ruddy Turnstone, six Sanderling, two Least Sandpiper and fifteen Semipalmated Sandpiper were observed. Not one yellowlegs was seen!
Mosaic–Esterhazy Lagoons (Permission required for entry)
Here we added both yellowlegs to the trip list along with five Short‐billed Dowitcher, two Pectoral Sandpiper and, the highlight of the trip, a single Red‐necked Phalarope. Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper were also present. A lone Bald Eagle was also observed.
Sod Farms
On the grass, to the northwest of Canal Bank Road, northeast of Stromness and southwest of Hutchinson Road, 15 Black‐bellied Plover were observed. On the grass, to the north of athe intersection of Hutchinson Road and Poth Road, 12 Black‐bellied Plover were observed.
Shorebird totals
Black‐bellied Plover 28, Semipalmated Plover 12, Killdeer about 70, Spotted Sandpiper 20, Greater Yellowlegs 5, Lesser Yellowlegs 15, Ruddy Turnstone 1, Sanderling 6, Semipalmated Sandpiper 30, Least Sandpiper 5, Pectoral Sandpiper 2, Short‐billed Dowitcher 5, Red‐necked Phalaraope 1.
June 19 (Saturday) and June 20 (Sunday) Bruce Peninsula
Leaders: Cindy Cartwright, Alfred Raab.
32 participants enjoyed sunny skies and beautiful weather on the June 19/20 OFO trip. 105 species were observed including Piping Plover, Upland Sandpiper, Sandhill Crane, Brewer's Blackbird, Red‐headed Woodpecker, Black Tern, and a Virginia Rail with chicks. Nests of seven species were documented.
Other highlights included orchids, ferns and other specialty plant species, dragonflies, butterflies, and a young black bear.
Thank you to all the participants–it was a pleasure spending the weekend with you.
June 5‐6 Rainy River
Leader: Glenn Coady
I had the pleasure to lead this year’s OFO trip to Rainy River on the weekend of June 5‐6. There were 16 participants on the trip, coming from places as varied as Ottawa, Dryden, London, St. Catharines, Thornbury, Toronto and Friendswood, Texas!
Our group observed a total of 132 species over the two days. Contrary to most years, there was very little to be found at either the Emo or Rainy River sewage lagoons (other than the expected species of ducks). A large, newly‐created third lagoon at Rainy River should make this site much more productive in the years to come. A favourite feature of our trip was the excursion to Windy Point. There we had very close views of the Yellow‐headed Blackbird colony, a pair of Sandhill Cranes, migrant White‐rumped Sandpipers and Sanderlings in breeding plumage, two Forster’s Terns and a pair of Piping Plovers at the nest.
Here are some details of many of the specialties of the Rainy River area that we encountered:
American White Pelican–scores of pelicans were seen each day flying over, on the ground, or in the water, at places like the Rainy River sewage lagoons, Budreau’s Oak Grove camp, the Sable Islands, Harris Hill Resort, Burton Island, Gull Rock, Quick Island and Windy Point.
Bald Eagle–we had many sightings of adult Bald Eagles (Rainy River lagoons, Budreau Beach, end of Kreger’s Road, Quick Island, Highway 600 at the River Road and other spots) and also saw a few year‐old birds as well (including one flushed from a roadside kill on Kreger’s Road).
Sharp‐tailed Grouse–both mornings we observed birds dancing at a lek on the west side of Highway 600 halfway between Kreger’s Road and Harris Hill. We also saw a bird on the morning of the 5th that was perched in a tree on the west side of Worthington Road 3.
Yellow Rail–it was generally a very dry spring at Rainy River, with appreciable rain only coming in the 10 days before our trip. Consequently, there were no Yellow Rails to be found in any of the hay fields in the area. or in the usually poorly drained areas along the east end of Wilson Creek Road. On our first attempt to find this species in the suitable wet sedge habitat of the Big Marsh north of Fred’s Road on Saturday evening with most of the group, we failed to hear any Yellow Rails at all (although we knew they had been heard there the night before). After missing them Saturday night, only four of us returned to the Big Marsh Sunday night, but our persistence paid off. About 9:20 p.m. we heard 2 Yellow Rails in the marsh (in which the water was the lowest that I have ever seen it) about 1.2 km beyond the big solitary elm tree. As we walked toward the clicking of the rails with the sun still above the horizon, I flushed one of the rails up from out of the marsh. Instead of flying away from us, it flew directly back at me, and crossed right past us at shoulder height, affording wonderful views of its yellow bill, neck and breast and its golden plumes on the black back. It flew about 40 metres and then weakly fluttered down into the marsh behind us, giving nice views of its white secondaries as it did. Definitely this was a trip highlight!
Sandhill Crane–this species continues to become more common at Rainy River, with paired birds seen at more than a dozen sites, among them Worthington Road 3, Blue Road 2, Wilson Creek Road, River Road, several sites along Highway 600, Kreger’s Road and Windy Point.
Piping Plover–the highlight of our trip to Windy Point was a pair found at a nest, seen defending the nest area from a female Yellow‐headed Blackbird that was foraging too close to the nest.
Marbled Godwit–one of the first species that we found on Saturday morning, a pair were seen standing on fence posts near our meeting spot at Highway 11 and Worthington Road 3. Later that morning, we found a pair defending a nest site (saw the female come off the nest) in a field on Blue Road 3. The male flew and circled low over our heads, and the agitated female flew right out onto the road behind our parked cars and followed us down the road and back to our cars allowing several participants to take nice photographs.
Forster‐s Tern–among the many Common Terns seen out at Windy Point, we also found 2 adult Forster‐s Terns feeding.
Black Tern–several Black Terns were seen flying over the Big Marsh north of Fred’s Road.
Northern Hawk Owl–early on the morning of the 5th, we found a Northern Hawk Owl perched high in a tree top to the northwest of the corner of Hartnell Road and Embury Road north of Blue Road 3.
Great Gray Owl–on a tip from Alan Wormington, who had scouted the area in early May, we looked for a nest that he had found in a Black Ash woods next to a clear cut on Highway 600. Although we easily found the nest on the south perimeter of the clear cut (presumbably an old Broad‐winged Hawk nest by appearance), on both days there was no activity and no adult owls were found in this area, where they had been actively nesting a month earlier, so we assumed this pair had failed. After our Yellow Rail outing on the 6th, we stopped at another area (further south along Highway 600) at dusk, to listen to Whip‐poor‐wills and watch the flights of American Woodcocks. While doing that, an adult Great Gray Owl flew right over our heads across the road, and began to call repeatedly from the woods behind us. The following day (Monday), I searched this woods next to Highway 600 where we had seen and heard this bird, and I found a female at a nest with at least 2 large young. Another trip highlight, to be sure.
Long‐eared Owl–on the south end of the River Road (east of the Camp of the Woods), we found a nest with 2 young Long‐eared Owls in it, and two larger young which had already left the nest into adjacent trees. These were right beside the road and afforded nice scope views for everyone.
Short‐eared Owl–we saw a bird flying around near the southwest corner of Wilson Creek Road and highway 600 on the evening of the 5th.
Olive‐sided Flycatcher–a male was seen singing in the same tall, dead tree on Kreger’s Road in which I saw one in 1996, 2001 and 2005. Site tenacity is a great thing! Everyone was able to view this bird through scopes.
Yellow‐throated Vireo–we found this rare resident of the oak stands singing in the riparian area of the Camp of the Woods directly beside the Rainy River.
Black‐billed Magpie–this species continues to become more common in the Rainy River area and we saw well over 200 of them throughout the weekend, with a family of 6 young recently fledged from a nest right opposite our cabins at the Harris Hill Resort.
Sedge Wren–although the area was fairly dry, we did hear and see this species at more than 20 areas where we found wet, poorly drained meadows. At a couple of sites we obtained nice scope views of this species.
Connecticut Warbler–almost our entire group got to see a singing male in the canopy of an aspen stand on the west side of Highway 600 south of Kreger’s Road.
Clay‐colored Sparrow–we found this species singing at dozens of roadside sites throughout the area.
Le Conte’s Sparrow–although this was a drier than average year, there were still many Le Conte’s Sparrows present in some of the wetter hay fields of the area. We had nice scope views of this species at a couple of locations and heard them at a couple of dozen additional sites.
Western Meadowlark–one of the first birds of our trip, we saw and heard them singing at several sites, including Worthington Road 3, Worthington Road 2, Blue Road 3, River Road, Wilson Creek Road, Byrnes Road and Highway 600.
Yellow‐headed Blackbird–besides two that were coming to the feeders of the Harris Hill resort (along with Purple Finches and Pine Pine Siskins), we observed many birds at very close range feeding on the shorelines at Windy Point and in the colony at the extensive cattail marsh there.
Brewer’s Blackbird–this species was as ubiquitous as ever, found at virtually all the roadsides we travelled.
Specialties of this area that we missed altogether included Eared Grebe, Wilson’s Phalarope, Franklin’s Gull, Red‐headed Woodpecker, Western Kingbird and Golden‐winged Warbler.
I would like to thank Alan Wormington for sharing information on locations where he had found several key species during his May trip to Rainy River for the benefit of our group.
I would also like to thank Cheryl and Gary Gauthier of the Harris Hill Resort, who shared their knowledge of local bird sites and provided us with safe travel to Windy Point and comfortable and friendly accommodations at their Harris Hill Resort.
Thanks also to Dave Elder, who so popularized this area with OFO members with his birdfinding guides and in leading outings here over two decades, and who has helped me so much over the years in learning where to find the specialties of the Rainy River area.
June 6 (Sunday) Skunk’s Misery
Leaders: Rob Read, Gavin Platt.
The rain held off and it was actually sunny for some of the time for the Rob and Gavin annual Skunk‐’s Misery trip.
Nine people joined Rob and substitute leader Pete on a breezy cool journey touching into some of the best areas for much sought after species in South‐western Ontario.
We were able to hear and briefly see a couple of Hooded Warblers.
A group of very young wild turkeys were seen along the road but somehow they snuck away quickly through the tall verge grass.
We heard an Acadian Flycatcher but it moved off before we could find it and it’s nest wasn’t located either.
We could also hear a Cerulian Warbler but only a couple of folks saw it.
A Tufted Titmouse was more co‐operative as was a Scarlet Tanager. Also noted were Blue‐winged, Pine and Chestnut‐sided Warblers, Yellow‐throated and Red‐eyed Vireo, Eastern Towhee, and lots of Indigo Buntings.
A number of other mature forest species such as Ovenbird and Pileated Woodpecker were also heard.
It seems this was a listening day for the most part due to the leaves and their wind‐assisted movements and the droning of mosquitoes and their nasty stabs were also a bit distracting.
But all in all our target species were mostly accounted for and we left the Misery with satsfaction.
May 30 (Sunday) Ottawa (until noon)
Leader: Bernie Ladouceur.
Fourteen birders turned up to search for some of west‐end Ottawa’s breeding bird specialties and to catch what movement there was along the Ottawa River. The entire morning was overcast, not so great for breeding birds but not bad for bird movement.
We made a quick stop at the west end of Andrew Haydon Park along the Ottawa River, where we searched in vain for a Red Knot that had been reported the nigh before. We had a single Dunlin, a Semipalmated Plover and 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers.
From there it was off to the DunAmerican Robin area. Our first stop was at Constance Creek along the Thomas Dolan Parkway, just north of the DunAmerican Robin road. Highlights were Least Bittern, American Bittern, Virginia Rail and Common Moorhen (all heard only).
Next we drove south along the Thomas Dolan Parkway up onto the Carp Ridge, an outcrop of the Canadian Shield. The ridge is the only location for breeding Golden‐winged Warblers on the Ontario side of the Ottawa‐Gatineau region, and by far the most dependable area for Eastern Towhee in the entire region.
We stopped for Golden‐winged Warbler first. One bird sang persistently but just didn‐t want show itself, except for the quickest views in flight.
We had better luck with the towhees, with most participants getting a pretty good look at a male. A few people also managed to get a look at a Field Sparrow. A number of other breeding species were noted, but the morning was definitely quieter than usual.
We headed for Constance Bay. On our way, we made a stop along Dunrobin road, just before the Constance Bay exit. Here we had excellent views Eastern Meadowlark and Bobolink, and pretty good looks at 2 Upland Sandpipers.
We then headed to a small burnt area in Constance Bay for what may be the last Red‐headed Woodpeckers in the entire Ottawa‐Gatineau region. With a lot of patience, we were rewarded with an excellent look at a Red‐headed Woodpecker, a lifer for two of the participants. Nearby, we found a male Common Golden‐eye along the Ottawa River.
We headed back to the west end of Andrew Haydon Park. The highlight was a Caspian Tern, rare in Ottawa. Also putting in an appearance were a Black‐crowned Night‐Heron, a Common Merganser and a Hooded Merganser.
Our final stop was Britannia Point to look at the action over the Deschênes Rapids. There were about 15 Bonaparte’s Gulls and 7 Ruddy Turnstones, which landed on the exposed rocks in the rapids. This was in addition to the hundreds of nesting Ring‐billed Gulls, a number of Double‐crested Cormorants and a Black‐crowned Night‐Heron, two species that have only recently begun to breed in the area. (No Arctic Terns this time, but the next few days look promising.)
Our final tally was 77 species.
May 30 (Sunday) Carden Alvar
Leader: Jean Iron.
Forty‐five OFO members and guests found many of Carden’s specialty birds on today’s annual field trip. Most target species such as the Loggerhead Shrike and Sedge Wren were seen.
Loggerhead Shrike: We saw a distant Loggerhead Shrike in the morning on the east side of Wylie Road between bluebird boxes 3 and 7 a little north of the large White Birch. This year shrikes are not being seen west of bluebird box 10. After a picnic lunch at the Kirkfield Lift Lock, we had much better views of a Loggerhead Shrike on south side of McNamee Road opposite the gated unnamed road running north, two concessions east of Wylie Road. Recently a shrike was seen on the Cameron Ranch from the parking lot. Scan the tops of hawthorns and dead branches for shrikes in areas grazed by cattle. A scope is a big help.
Wrens: Several Sedge Wrens were singing at Sedge Wren Marsh and we had excellent views of two birds. Best area is the northeast corner along the road where grasses and sedges predominate. Caution: There was a Marsh Wren singing from the cattails just west of the marsh bridge. Later we saw and heard many Marsh Wrens at the Prospect Road Marsh. House Wrens were singing at several spots along Wylie Road.
Upland Sandpiper: We saw and heard several along Wylie and McNamee Roads. Watch for its flickering wing beats and listen for its curlew‐like song and calls.
Wilson’s Snipe: A few snipe were winnowing in flight and calling at wet areas along Wylie Road.
Rails: Both Sora and Virginia Rail are more common this year. The group heard both at the Sedge Wren Marsh and both at Prospect Marsh where we had close views of a Virginia Rail. We haven‐t heard Yellow Rails at the Sedge Wren Marsh this May. They may not like the slightly higher water level in the marsh this year caused by a beaver dam, but the wetter conditions seem to be favouring Soras and Virginia’s.
American Bittern: Two were seen briefly in flight at the Sedge Wren Marsh.
Osprey: Three nests with adults on them were observed at Canal Lake.
Black‐billed Cuckoo: At least two birds were seen and heard. Cuckoos and Baltimore Oriole numbers are up this year associated with a moderate outbreak of Eastern Tent Caterpillars. Cuckoos and orioles are among the few birds that eat the hairy larvae. Just how cuckoos and orioles know that there are abundant caterpillars and move into Carden is unknown.
Flycatchers: One singing Alder Flycatcher was observed at the Sedge Wren Marsh. Least Flycatchers were singing at many spots and are more common this year. No Willow Flycatchers were heard. We also saw Eastern Kingbirds, but numbers seem down. We had a close view of a Great Crested Flycatcher and heard others.
Golden‐winged Warbler: The group had great views of a singing male at the top of a dead tree along Wylie Road south of the Sedge Wren Marsh.
Grasshopper Sparrow: We saw several singing birds perched on rocks and shrubs along Wylie Road. A scope is helpful.
Clay‐colored Sparrow: We heard and eventually saw a singing bird on the west side of Prospect Road about 2 km south of Eldon Station Road.
Other good sightings today included two close Common Loons in breeding plumage on Canal Lake; calling Common Ravens lent a northern flavour to the alvar; Eastern Bluebirds; several singing Brown Thrashers; two singing Field Sparrows; a close Eastern Towhee sang and called beside Wylie Road, but it stayed out of sight in the thickets; and many Eastern Meadowlarks were seen and heard among the group’s 70 bird species.
Non‐bird sightings included a large basking Blanding’s Turtle and a Bullfrog at the Great Blue Heron colony pond east of Shrike Road and south of McNamee Road. Large areas of Prairie Smoke, Carden’s signature wildflower, and Balsam Ragwort brightened the alvar meadows.
Many of the group remarked that most birds were seen very well today.
It was a pleasure having Sean Smith, Visitor Experience Manager of Trent Severn Waterway, Parks Canada, on the outing. I thank Ron Pittaway, Ron Tozer, Eleanor Beagan, and Rick and Kim Brown for ensuring that the group had great views of birds.
May 29 (Saturday) Leslie Street Spit, Toronto
Leader: John Carley.
Today approximately 40 OFO members and guests birded the Leslie Street Spit (Toronto’s Public Urban Wilderness) under cloudless skies, in phenomenally clement weather, and hot temperatures, amassing a total of 71 species. What you receive in weather is taken away in species count.
However, there were some excellent sightings. A Prothonotary Warbler reported by the TTPBRS was heard by a few and seen by one fortunate birder, in the dense underbrush at the water’s edge near the tip of Peninsula D. A Red‐bellied Woodpecker flew over the group on the Spine Road, and an alternate‐plumage Horned Grebe was seen near shore, well east of the lighthouse. Willow Flycatchers were heard and seen at many locations; and, for those 10 birders who hung on till the end, their patience was rewarded at 4 pm by a flock of 55 Whimbrel landing and joining others on the brick shingle beach on the east side of the endikement arm opposite Cell 1. We counted approximately 85 in all. When 9 Black‐bellied Plovers joined them, a small flock of 30 Whimbrel promptly flew off, leaving the remainder settled on the shingle.
Additionally, 10 species of butterfly were tallied.
May 22 (Saturday) Napanee area and Amherst Island
Leaders: Kurt Hennige, Gary Ure.
Many thanks to Kurt Hennige and Gary Ure for a great OFO fieldtrip today to the Kingston area and Amherst Island.
A special thankyou to the Kingston Field Naturalists for allowing us to access their wonderful grassland and shorebird habitat on Amherst Island.
Car pooling enabled 29 birders to use 14 cars for the outing. A group total of 107 species included many highlights:
7 Wilson’s Phalarope (4 females) on Amherst, Short‐billed Dowitcher, Brant flock + one injured goose onshore, a flock of White‐winged Scoter, Common and Red‐throated Loons from the ferry, Least Bittern, Black Tern, both Cuckoos, 5 woodpecker species including Pileated, Loggerhead Shrike, 2 Golden‐winged and 2 Cerulean Warblers, a Scarlet Tanager singing from the top of a pine tree, and Grasshopper Sparrow.
May 2 (Sunday) Rondeau Provincial Park
Leaders: Maris Apse, Donald Pye.
Over 20 OFO members met at 8:00 am at the Visitor Centre seeing a Lincoln’s Sparrow at the feeders with some of the more usual “feeder birds”. The weather loomed but improved greatly until our last stop, when we had to abandon Blenheim Sewage Lagoon due to driving rain. We managed to tally just 86 species–surely quite a low count but an enjoyable and varied day of birding. Species highlights, more or less in order.
South Point Trail–Common Loon(6/7), House Wren, Blackburnian Warbler, Red‐headed Woodpecker, Eastern Towhee, Northern Mockingbird, Warbling Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Field, Chipping Sparrow.
Tulip Tree trail – Cooper’s Hawk on nest, Red‐bellied Woodpecker, Wood Thrush, Northern Waterthrush.
Spicebush Trail–Wood Duck, Nashville, Black‐throated Green Warbler (heard only), White‐throated, White‐crowned Sparrow.
Maintenance loop–Black‐and‐white, Yellow‐rumped Warbler.
Donald Pye and one or two cars proceeded directly to the Blenheim lagoons as they had other commitments wheras the rest of us drove to Erieau via Shrewsbury and then to Blenheim.
Shrewsbury–Great‐blue Heron heronry, Lesser Scaup, Bufflehead, Lesser Yellowlegs.
Erieau–Caspian, Forster’s Tern, Great Black‐backed, Bonaparte’s Gull and Cattle Egret at Erieau Road and Bisnett Line.
Blenheim Sewage Lagoon–Northern Shoveler, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Spotted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs and Dunlin as well as the Wilson’s Phalarope (who arrived about Mar 17), all six swallow species, Savannah Sparrow and a pair of Bobolink as we left.
May 1 (Saturday) Minesing Swamp
Leader: Dave Milsom.
Saturday 27 birders attended the OFO outing to Minesing Swamp. A total of 83 species were recorded with 8 more on the way home for a grand total of 91.
Highlights: 10 species of Sparrow including scope views for everyone of Grasshopper Sparrow.
6 warbler species, all seen well.
Despite the lack of standing water, Mackinnon Road proved to be very worthwhile with singing American Bittern & Sora, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, Killdeer and Wilson’s Snipe, many Rusty Blackbirds, 2 Great Egrets, plus Wood Ducks.
At the end of Baldwick we walked into the swamp to find Northern Waterthrush, Black‐throated Green, Yellow‐rumped and Black and White Warblers, Brown Creeper, Yellow‐bellied Sapsuckers, Great Crested Flycatcher and Red‐breasted Nuthatch.
Other good finds were 3 House Wrens, Purple Finch, 4 Brown Thrashers, Eastern Bluebird, Cliff Swallow, Virginia Rail, Warbling Vireo, an early Bobolink, Common Raven and Sandhill Crane.
Late finds included a second Bobolink, Caspian Tern, Spotted and Solitary Sandpiper at Earl Rowe Park, as well as an early Eastern Kingbird.
Many thanks to John Schmelefske and Gord Cameron for their able assistance on this trip.
April 18 (Sunday) Algonquin Provincial Park
Leader: Ron Tozer.
The 21st annual OFO Algonquin Park trip today had spectacular sunny conditions throughout. About 45 people in 21 vehicles explored the Highway 60 Corridor from 9 am to 6:30 pm., observing 57 species of birds
.All the northern species we sought were found:
Spruce Grouse: male and female at Spruce Bog Boardwalk, north from trail register box.
Black‐backed Woodpecker: Male excavating nest cavity in third utility pole west of road into Leaf Lake Ski Trail parking lot at km 53.9.
Gray Jay: single along Highway 60 between Lookout Trail and Eucalia Lake; pair near chain gate along old railway east of Arowhon Road; pair along old railway at West Rose Lake.
Boreal Chickadee: At least three vocalizing birds allowing brief but good views along old railway near West Rose Lake.
Other highlights included:
American Bittern: first of the spring, at Cache Lake marsh.
Osprey: one over Tea Lake Dam road.
Merlin: pair at Harkness Fish Lab on Lake Opeongo
Blue‐headed Vireo: singing male across from Cache Lake Marsh. This was a new early date for Algonquin; previous earliest was April 20.
Pine Warbler: two singing males near site 22 in Lake of Two Rivers Campground. (No Yellow‐rumped Warblers were observed today.)
We would like to thank everyone who came on today’s trip. We walked a long way, but it was a fun day.
April 17 (Saturday) Spring Waterfowl Migration East of Ottawa
Leader: Bob Cermak.
Twenty two hardy birders participated in the OFO east Ottawa spring waterfowl migration field trip yesterday, 17 April. Despite early morning cold and rain we had an enjoyable time travelling a total of 120 kilometres to find 60 bird species including 11 waterfowl species and Sandhill Cranes. The cranes (7) were distant and partially hidden but they could be heard trumpeting and were seen dancing and jumping.
Thanks to everyone who attended. We had a great time.
April 10‐11 (Saturday‐Sunday) Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island
Leaders: Gordon Cameron, Steve Hall.
On the snowy drive up, a Great Blue Herony of five active nests was observed at km 198 and a Northern Goshawk was seen at km 200 on Hwy 400 near MacTier.
Eight OFO members attended the trip which started with wintery weather on the way to and spring weather on the way back from Manitoulin Island. Weather on the island ranged from light snow flurries, rainshowers, strong winds and ice cold fog rolling in from Lake Huron to almost mild calm and clear skies.
Late Friday evening was spent on Airport Road, Gore Bay, listening to Wilson’s Snipe and American Woodcock display flights and Killdeer calls.
On Saturday morning, Steve Hall kindly agreed to guide us through his favourite birding haunts around Gore Bay. On Barrie Island, we heard the grouse before we saw them. We observed about a dozen male Sharp‐tailed Grouse displaying on their lek with several females watching. Everyone had great views of the yellowish eye combs and the inflated purplish neck sacs on the males. For six of the OFO members, except the leaders, this was a lifer. After seeing this undisturbed (by humans) lek habitat, it was easier to understand why the airport lek was closed to viewing for the first time in many years. Whereas the birds on Barrie Island were standing in short grass just up to head height, the Gore Bay Airport birds were literally dancing in the bushes which were two to three times the bird’s height. Other good birds seen were Bald Eagles, 4 dark morph and 1 light morph Rough‐legged Hawks, Sandhill Cranes displaying, Tree Swallow, Eastern Bluebird, Winter Wren, Wood Duck and two Savannah and four Fox Sparrows. After returning Steve to his home, we birded Kagawong including Bridal Veil Falls which produced a male and female Rusty Blackbirds, Brown Creeper and many Golden‐crowned Kinglets. The Kagawong River held Pied‐billed Grebe and Hooded Merganser. Mudge Bay produced 3 Common Loons, and a Merlin. Numerous Bald Eagles and Common Ravens were seen sitting on nests between Gore Bay Airport and Kagawong. All lakes were ice‐free. The Indian Point/Lake Wolsey area produced an Osprey building a nest and hundreds of waterfowl including a pair of Red‐necked Grebes. In the evening, one of only two Red‐tailed Hawks on the trip was seen and excellent views were had of both snipe and woodcock display flights on the Noble Sideroad.
Sunday was spent birding from Gore Bay to South Baymouth then to Little Current. Good birds seen or heard were two Lincoln’s and one Swamp Sparrows, numerous Sandhill Cranes, Pileated Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse, Ring‐necked Pheasant, Merlin, Northern Harrier, one Pine Pine Siskin, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Meadowlark, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Shrike, two Blue‐winged Teal, and seven Trumpeter Swans. Three more Sharp‐tailed Grouse were seen perched atop a tree. Thousands of waterfowl were seen in the Strawberry and the North Channels from the Hwy 6 lookout above Strawberry Channel between Sheguiandah and Little Current.
We observed 76 bird species on Manitoulin Island from Friday to Sunday including 20 species of waterbirds, nine species of raptors, but only three species of shorebirds.
Mammals seen were Mink, Porcupine, Red Squirrel, (white) Snowshoe Hare, two Coyotes, Red Fox with a vole, and several hundred White‐tailed Deer. Spring Peepers and Northern Leopard Frogs were heard. Only Common Blue Violet and Coltsfoot were seen in bloom.
OFO wishes to thank Steve Hall for sharing a morning of his time birding with the group, Irwin Meisner for suggesting birding hotspots, and Andrew Keaveney for providing his previous Ontbirds report. I wish to thank Steve Hall, as a passenger in my car, for sharing the birding and human history of the island, too.
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.