May 20 & 21 – Scouting for the Carden Challenge & Whip-poor-willing

This coming weekend I will be participating in another important fundraiser. The CARDEN CHALLENGE. I will be rejoining my team for another 24 hour attempt at winning the cup. We won a few years ago, but we have had to settle for a heart-breaking second or third place a few times. At the end of the day it is just a really fun way to bird in a very special habitat in Ontario, while also raising funds for the Couchiching Conservancy’s conservation work. There are a lot of rare, threatened and endangered species that call the Carden Plain home.

I’ve copied a link to our donation page below, should you feel the urge to sponsor our team!

http://www.canadahelps.org/GivingPages/GivingPage.aspx?gpID=26684

May 20 – The Carden Plain

I did a little scouting on my way up to Kingston, in the hopes of locating some of the harder species for the weekend. I was not disappointed. By far the highlight was a singing PRAIRIE WARBLER on Alvar Road. Most of the local breeding birds seem to be back, including 3 GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLERS on Wylie Road. A RUFFED GROUSE that ran across Alvar Road was my 3rd year bird for the day. I can’t wait for Friday/Saturday, the birding should be great!

Queen’s University Biological Station

After my quick visit to the Carden I headed up to Q.U.B.S. where I will be helping with some Eastern Whip-poor-will research over the next few weeks.

The main goal is to try and recapture birds that have geologgers on them to determine where they spent their winters. For the males this involves returning to last years breeding territory and using playback to lure them into a mist net. For the females, it is a little trickier. They generally don’t respond to playback, so we have to return to their breeding territory from last year, hope they return, try and find their nest, and wait to catch them when they are at the proper breeding stage. A lot harder!

With perfect weather we headed out to one of the study sites and tried for a few birds. Some nights we don’t catch anything, and sometimes you catch a few (the record is 4 in one night). This particular evening we caught 1 bird, and it had a GEOLOGGER! It wasn’t even the bird we were hoping for, so it was a surprise capture.

Photo: Me with a male Whip-poor-will. It was carrying a geologger!

With thunderstorms approaching, we had an early night (home before 1 am). On our way back down the trail we noticed a muskrat running in front of the jeep. I commented on how this little muskrat was totally going to get eaten by a Barred Owl (they are common up here, I heard several throughout the evening) if it didn’t get off the road. Literally 15 seconds later a BARRED OWL (# 277 for the year!) swooped out of nowhere and attempted to pick-off the muskrat. It flew about a foot over the little beasts head, but didn’t make contact. We continued to follow these two animals for about 1 km down the trail where the owl made continued swoops at the muskrat. We didn’t end up witnessing a predation event, but it was still amazing to watch these wild animals.

Photos: Top photo is of a Muskrat on the trail with a Barred Owl watching it in upper right corner. Bottom photo is of the Barred Owl. Photo credits: Philina English.

May 18 – Birdathon

It’s been a very good few days for birding, and for adding to my Big Year.

May 18, 2013 – BIRDATHON (I’ve copied a summary below) – It is also not too late to sponsor the team, so if you are interested in doing so (it is such a great cause), you can sponsor me online at: http://birdscanada.kintera.org/birdathon/ruthven

This year the Ruthven Park Ringers was comprised of Matt, Liz and Ben, all volunteers at Ruthven. We were aiming for 150 species, or at least an improvement upon the 141 species the team had last year. Our Birdathon took place entirely within Haldimand-Norfolk, an excellent place for spring birding.

We started Birdathon with a census at Ruthven Park. Upon arriving at 530 am I heard a Great Horned Owl hooting in a neighbouring woodlot. Once the team was fully assembled we made our way around the census route. Right on cue 3 COMMON LOONS flew overhead, on the way to their northern breeding grounds. We were treated to a nice movement of passerines, including several warbler species. Species we detected only at Ruthven included the loons, CHIMNEY SWIFT, EASTERN TUFTED TITMOUSE, BLUE-WINGED WARBLER, HOUSE FINCH and PINE SISKIN. We also had 12 species of warblers, including BAY-BREASTED, CAPE MAY and TENNESSEE. We were off to a great start.

We headed north to York where we had nesting CLIFF SWALLOWS at the bridge, and then south down the Grand River. Along the river we added EASTERN MEADOWLARK, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, BOBOLINKS, BROWN THRASHERS, and a nice flock of AMERICAN PIPITS. These birds were feeding in a plowed field and provided excellent looks. These were bonus birds!

We took the country roads down to the Haldimand shoreline, adding HORNED LARK and our only ROCK PIGEONS and RED-TAILED HAWK for the day.

Along the Lake Erie shoreline we added all the common gull species, including a banded GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL. Shorebirds were sparse, but we were able to find DUNLIN and LEAST SANDPIPERS. Ducks were nicely represented with RED-BREASTED and COMMON MERGANSER, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK, MALLARD, GADWALL, and a pair of REDHEAD.

It was time to head into Norfolk County. Our first stop was the Townsend Sewage Lagoons. As usual, there were a number of interesting birds here. Highlights included RUDDY DUCK, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN COOT, HOODED MERGANSER, WOOD DUCK (with babies), and singles of RING-NECKED DUCK and CANVASBACK. Shorebirds were scarce, but we added a single SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. We completed our swallow category with a few BANK SWALLOWS foraging over the lagoons.

A quick stop in Simcoe rewarded us with 3 CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS on territory, as well as 3 flyover SANDHILL CRANES.

We made our way to St. Williams (adding a BROAD-WINGED HAWK along the way), where we added PINE WARBLER, and heard our first of many HOODED WARBLERS.

Backus Woods was good to us with YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS, and singing NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH, CERULEAN WARBLER and WOOD THRUSH. A female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD was also new for the day. One of the highlights was watching a stunning male HOODED WARBLER sing and forage close to us.

With all the campers having arrived to Long Point for the long weekend, we decided our best bet for finding migrants would be in the day-use area of the new Long Point Provincial Park. We made our way to the parking area, had a nice picnic lunch and starting looking for migrants. We were not disappointed. In a small area (200 m or so) between the gatehouse and the parking area we had a fantastic wave of warblers. In a matter of minutes we added WESTERN PALM WARBLER, BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER. These were just 4 of the 18 warbler species that were would see in this area throughout the afternoon. Other new birds included LINCOLN’S SPARROW, LEAST FLYCATCHER, RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and VEERY.

With the afternoon half-over we decided to try for some water birds. A stop along the causeway added BLACK, COMMON and FORSTER’S TERN. We also added our only PIED-BILLED GREBES.

The Port Rowan Sewage Lagoons were full of common shorebirds, but a few SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS and a single WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER were nice additions.

With time quickly ticking away we targeted a few species, including VESPER SPARROW at my farm, and 2 pairs of BALD EAGLES at nesting sites.

We decided scanning the inner bay from Port Rowan could be good. Here we saw both GREATER and LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, and we heard a CAROLINA WREN singing from some thickets.

We decided since Long Point Provincial Park was so good to us, we would try there for another 30 minutes before heading to Big Creek for marsh birds. Bird activity was still high, and fortunately there were a few new birds. We had a nice NORTHERN PARULA, and right before we were about to leave a stunning RED-HEADED WOODPECKER flew onto a poplar for our viewing pleasure. While driving out of the park a flyover GREEN HERON was a welcome bonus, as was a calling AMERICAN BITTERN.

With light quickly fading we walked out to the viewing platform at Big Creek. Birds were pretty scarce, but we did have our first SWAMP SPARROWS and MARSH WRENS. Our only other new bird was a close flyover BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON.

We made our way back to St. William’s where we immediately heard a few EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL’S singing away, as well as a few displaying AMERICAN WOODCOCKS.

It was a long day, but we thought we might as well check Dry Lake on our way back to Ruthven for rails. After a few minutes we heard a VIRGINIA RAIL calling from some cattails. What a great way to end our Birdathon. At 143 species, we successfully achieved one of our goals!

Thank you to everyone who sponsored the team. We are already looking forward to 2014!

Note: Species that were new for the year included CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW, CERULEAN WARBLER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER, GREEN HERON, and VIRGINIA RAIL.

 

 

May 14-16 – Preparing for BIRDATHON!

It’s been a busy few days in Haldimand-Norfolk. The weather has finally turned nice, and the migrants are really starting to pour through. There are good numbers of migrants and local residents to keep things interesting. I am doing a Birdathon this weekend with some fellow volunteers at the Ruthven Park, so I am trying to line up some birding hotspots. A partial day of birding turned up 120+ species today, so hopefully we will have a very successful day.

 

Photos: One of the highlights over the past few days included a White-eyed Vireo at the old Long Point Provincial Park

 

May 14

No new species

 

May 15

RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD – Long Point

SCARLET TANAGER – Wilson Tract

While not a rare species, I did find my first ever Wild Turkey nest. Super cool! And slightly terrifying when she flushed at my feet.

 

May 16

Birding was fantastic everywhere today. There were migrants in most places, in good numbers.

New birds included:

PHILADELPHIA VIREO – old Long Point Provincial Park

MOURNING WARBLER – old Long Point Provincial Park

BLACK TERN – Turkey Point beach

COMMON TERN – Turkey Point beach

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – Townsend Sewage Lagoons

WILSON’S PHALAROPE (3) – Townsend Sewage Lagoons

As I mentioned, I will be doing Birdathon this Saturday. If anyone is interested in sponsoring me (or anyone on my team!), you can do so online by following instructions from the link below. A portion of the money raised goes directly to the Ruthven banding station where we volunteer, and the rest to Bird Studies Canada. Such a great fundraiser! We are aiming for 150 species, so stay tuned to see how our team does.

BIRDATHON fundraising link:

http://birdscanada.kintera.org/birdathon/ruthven

 

 

May 7-13, 2013 – A rough week…

Well, it has been a rough week! For the past 3 days or so I have been completely knocked out by a stomach bug. I am happy to report that I feel 100% today after A LOT of sleep and water. I have no idea what hit me, but whatever it was I wouldn’t wish upon anyone!

So, here’s the latest on my migration sightings.

Pre-flu:

May 7 – nothing to report

May 8 – EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE & SOLITARY SANDPIPER at Ruthven Park.

May 9 – AMERICAN REDSTART  at Rondeau. I dipped on the Western Kingbird by about 45 minutes, and a Summer Tanager by about 15 seconds (ahhhh!). I tried for the Chuck’s at Point Pelee, but nothing was calling in the evening.

May 10- 12 : Out of commission. Could barely move. The only consolation was that the weather was not great for large volumes of passerine migration, so I didn’t miss any waves of neotropical migrants.

May 13 – Back in action!

I had a CANADA WARBLER in Long Point Provincial Park, and a WILSON’S WARBLER in the old Long Point Provincial Park. Two INDIGO BUNTINGS in the old park were also new for the year.

Photos: Canada and Wilson’s Warblers

At the Port Stanley Sewage Lagoons I had 3 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS.

The definite highlight of my day was watching the AMERICAN AVOCET at the Aylmer Wildlife Management Area. It was easily viewed from the blind. This is only my second sighting of this species for Ontario, and my first in breeding plumage in Ontario. Cool!

Photo: AMERICAN AVOCET (I-phone pic from my scope). It was pretty far back, so this is as good as I could get.

Unfortunately with this cold weather we are having (I have seen very brief snow flurries over the past few days…WHAT is that about?!) a lot of the birds are having a hard time. Swallows seem pretty sluggish in many places, and most of the warblers I saw today were very close to, or on the ground. Hopefully they make it through this last day of cold weather.

Photo: Cold and miserable looking Barn Swallows at Long Point Provincial Park

May 6, 2013 – Point Pelee National Park

After successfully seeing the Black-necked Stilts JUST before dark, I decided to stay down in the region and bird Point Pelee in the morning.

Overall it was fairly quiet in the park. Diversity was good, but numbers were not overwhelming.

I spent several hours walking throughout various parts of the park. Most of the time I was alone, which is somewhat rare here in the spring! I was also the first one to the Tip in the morning, after a brisk walk from the visitor center at 5:30 in the morning. It was a spectacular sunrise!

Photo: The Tip of Point Pelee at sunrise

 Here are the new birds I had for the year:

EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL – I had 3 different birds before sunrise

LINCOLN’S SPARROW – I had multiple birds throughout the park

ORCHARD ORIOLE – There were several males throughout the park

SWAINSON’S THRUSH – 1 bird behind the VC

WHITE-EYED VIREO – 2 birds in the northern half of the park

TENNESSEE WARBLER – 1 bird singing away near Dunes

YELLOW-THROATED VIREO – 1 bird near Black Willow Beach

 

Photos: Yellow Warbler, Gray Catbird, White-eyed Vireo, Orchard Oriole, Wild Turkey

 

May 3 – 5 – The insanity continues!

May 3 – Ruthven Park

It was a pretty slow day of banding, but the diversity was pretty nice.

The morning started off with 2 GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS.

After closing nets for the day a group of us wandered down the Fox Den Trail where we encountered a nice mixed flock of warblers. Included in the flock were 4 BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS that were nice enough to hop down to eye level. They are simply stunning birds. A CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER was also a first for the year.

I also found my first nest of the year. I watched a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers building their nest, which we were later able to scope. I look forward to following the progress of their nest throughout the breeding season.

Photo: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher building its nest

May 4 – Toronto

I have been pretty good about getting out to bird over the past few weeks, but I knew this weekend was going to be a write-off. I had commitments for a friends birthday party on Saturday, so I just had to hope no major rarities would show up in Ontario. I contemplated going down to Pelee for the morning, then driving up to Toronto for the evening. Alas, I didn’t want to be too tired to partake in the festivities, so I opted to keep my day easy.

Needless to say it was torture to read the bird reports. Both Swallow-tailed and Mississippi Kites were reported in southern Ontario. I almost shed a tear. But that’s just the way it goes. My Big Year is just for fun, and I wouldn’t have missed a chance to celebrate with my friends for any rarity!

May 5 – A few big surprises!

It was a very slow start to my morning. After a great night in the city, it was time to head home. It was a frustrating exit from the city, as there was a marathon happening. After a few detours I was on my way.

I decided it was far too nice of a day to stay inside, so I headed to Long Point for a walk. Once there I noticed that a Harris’s Sparrow had been seen in the park. I read the posting on Ontbirds and headed right for the boat launch. Within minutes I was staring at a stunning HARRIS’S SPARROW! It was busily feeding with a small group of Eastern White-crowned Sparrows. It provided fantastic views. Of course, I didn’t have my camera with me, so I had to resort to an I-binocular picture with my phone. And yes, it was a terrible picture. This is only my second Harris’s Sparrow in my life (the other one was also in Norfolk County, in the 1990’s).

Photo: Harris’s Sparrow at Long Point Provincial Park

Satisfied, I headed home. I had just finished my dinner when I got a text from my friend, Jeremy Hatt. A few Black-necked Stilts had just been reported from Hillman Marsh.

I dropped everything, quickly packed an overnight bag and got in the car. It was a stressful drive, but I made it to the marsh just as the sun was beginning to set. I noticed that there were only a few cars left in the parking lot. Darn it, maybe the birds were gone. Then I noticed a small group of birders staring at the shorebird cell with their spotting scopes. I made my way over (ok, it was a brisk walk). As I neared I noticed several happy faces. A few moments later I was looking at 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS (#244 for my Big Year)! An Ontario and Canada lifer! What great birds. It was great to meet a few more of the local birders, and share these nice birds with them. In addition to the stilts, I also added SEMIPALMATED PLOVER for the year.

Photo: A pair of Black-necked Stilts at Hillman Marsh

I decided to spend the night here in Leamington so that I can get an early start at Pelee tomorrow with the hopes of seeing some more new birds. My wish list for tomorrow is Kirtland’s Warbler, Summer Tanager and Kentucky Warbler. I would also happily take a kite (or two, why not?). We shall soon find out!

I love May.

May birding has begun!

It has been a busy few days.

After my fantastic visit to Point Pelee, it has been much slower on the birding front in Haldimand-Norfolk.

May 1, 2013

Wednesday I spent banding at Ruthven. It was a pretty quiet day, but it was nice to see some of the local birds returning. New for the year included a flyover BOBOLINK and a singing BALTIMORE ORIOLE. In the next few days there should be several more local breeders trickling in.

A quick visit to Long Point in the evening was a good choice, as there were quite a few migrants about. I came upon 2 male HOODED WARBLERS, as well as a nice CAPE MAY WARBLER, a few LEAST FLYCATCHERS, and a WOOD THRUSH.

Photo: A stunning male Hooded Warbler.

 May 2, 2013

I got a late start to my birding, but I decided to head back down to Long Point Provincial Park. Activity was a little less than the previous day, but it was nice to hear (and see) a NORTHERN PARULA. Elsewhere in the park I saw my first VEERY for the year, as well as a nice MAGNOLIA WARBLER (thanks to the help of a few local birders who spotted it).

Photo: A nice Northern Parula singing away in a White Pine.

With the fantastic weather conditions, new birds are arriving every day/night. There aren’t overwhelming numbers of birds where I have been, but the diversity has been excellent. I am heading back to Ruthven tomorrow, so I hope to come across a few more new arrivals!