From avocet at rogers.com Mon Feb 8 09:09:10 2010 From: avocet at rogers.com (Geoff - Birds) Date: Mon Feb 8 09:05:52 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Hamilton - Niagara Feb 7th Message-ID: <50D8A4218E9D4BE986045F01812A8529@avocet6c7ed173> Dying to see "George" the non-Barnacle Goose at Grimsby (yes I know there was a real one!), Dave McDonald (visiting birder from Texas) and I did the cold trek to Hamilton and Niagara yesterday. First - yes we did see George but not the real Barnacle Goose Lift Bridge - Burlington - one Peregrine eating breakfast Fruitland Rd.- 3 female King Eiders and White-winged and Surf Scoters McNeilly Rd - 1 King Eider and all three scoters (including 6 Blacks) Burlington Canal - too windy to walk out to mouth and part by lift bridge was closed due to construction Redhill Creek- usual suspects but no Wood Duck or Night-herons Niagara - breakwall above the falls - 1 glaucous (first winter), 1 Iceland (subadult) and two Kumlien's (adult and subadult) and one Thayer's (first winter) Adam Beck - two Kumliens (adult and subadult) and 4-5 Icelands (various ages) Queenston - the only Bonies of the day, one first winter Glaucous and one adult Little Gull then we went inland looking for land birds but didn't find much worth reporting. Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com From mcnorton at iprimus.ca Mon Feb 8 13:57:40 2010 From: mcnorton at iprimus.ca (David McNorton) Date: Mon Feb 8 13:54:11 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Northern Flicker at Little River, Windsor Message-ID: <4B705EA4.3080403@iprimus.ca> At 1 pm today (Feb. 8), I heard, then saw a Northern Flicker patrolling the oxbow at Little River. It's definitely a nice bird to add if you're keeping a winter list. Little River woodlot is best accessed from the parking lot past the bridge at the eastern end of Little River Road. From cataniac at hotmail.com Mon Feb 8 18:25:59 2010 From: cataniac at hotmail.com (Chris Kinkartz) Date: Mon Feb 8 23:19:35 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Northern Pintail Duck in Port Credit Message-ID: Hey fellow birders, Today I scoured the western shores of lake ontario from Grimsby to Etobicoke and would have to say that the highlight of my day (aside from meeting a lovely fellow birder at Colonel Samuel Smith Park) was finding a single male Northern Pintail Duck in Ben Machree Park, Port Credit- Missisauga. He was dabbling along side a small group of Mallards (5-6 birds total) very close to the rocky shoreline and allowed me to view him from as close as 15 feet... He really liked to stay close to the rocky shore so it may be a bit tricky to find him at first. Directions are as follows: *Take Mississauga Rd Southbound all the way into JC Saddington Park (Park your vehicle here) *Head to the path along the water and walk westbound until you come into Ben Machree Park (about a 5-10 minute walk). Happy birding, Chris Kinkartz _________________________________________________________________ Check your Hotmail from your phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708121 From Ken.McIlwrick at NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca Tue Feb 9 09:49:44 2010 From: Ken.McIlwrick at NRCan-RNCan.gc.ca (McIlwrick, Ken) Date: Tue Feb 9 09:46:26 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Brown Thrasher - still around and looking good - Sault Ste. Marie, ON Message-ID: <8E69C9E47359D64D89A7CB9B0375FB99040FF2E1@S0-OTT-X3.nrn.nrcan.gc.ca> Hi folks, The Brown Thrasher that I first reported back on Dec 6th, 2009, and counted during the CBC is still alive and well. It continues to come to a feeder in town (86 Essex Lane in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario ) where it consumes meal-worms, suet, seeds, nuts and oatmeal. It has been feeding at this backyard location since the middle of Nov 2009. The last photos of this bird (go enough for ID...not worthy of display) were taken in early January so I will try this week to get some photos for February. It is pretty skittish to the presence of humans, but is now becoming a dominant bird at the feeder (it used to get scared off by Mourning Doves). The best way to observe the bird is actually from inside the house where it appears unaware that it is being watched. Unfortunately photos taken from inside the house are not exactly high quality. It still feeds first in the morning (7:30-8:30am) but now makes brief noon hour appearances on sunny days at its favourite garden Trellis/Bench combo. At night it takes refuge in the Cedar hedges that surrounds this residence. Sault Ste. Marie is located 3 hours west of Sudbury. Essex Lane is located in the east end of Sault Ste. Marie, west of Boundary Road just off of Chartwell Drive. Ken McIlwrick Sault Ste. Marie, ON From rtafel at sympatico.ca Tue Feb 9 15:37:41 2010 From: rtafel at sympatico.ca (richardtafel) Date: Tue Feb 9 16:06:51 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Northern Hawk Owls; Message-ID: This is just to let you know that there seem to be a fair number of Northern Hawk Owls gracing our North Bay, Sturgeon Falls region this winter. At least 5 are about ? in different local areas. If any are interested, just phone me. Dick Tafel, 705 472-7907 From alan1woods at bell.net Tue Feb 9 18:16:45 2010 From: alan1woods at bell.net (alan1woods@bell.net) Date: Tue Feb 9 18:44:01 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] mockingbird,redheads at in whitby Message-ID: Today Doug Lockrey and I saw a mockingbird at pringle creek and 6 redhead ducks in whitby harbour both at the end of brock st in whitby regards alan From tandjpepper at cogeco.ca Tue Feb 9 20:12:44 2010 From: tandjpepper at cogeco.ca (Todd Pepper) Date: Tue Feb 9 20:09:25 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Ontario Winter List Message-ID: <7uhmjv$2l366v@fipsb01.cogeco.net> Hello Ontario Birders. The latest update to the Ontario Winter List has been posted on Blake Maybank's website: http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/maybank/other/onwinter.htm The late report of an American Woodcock from the Kingston CBC and a female Cape May Warbler going to a suet feeder in Windsor a couple weeks ago brings the 2009/2010 Ontario Winter List to 187 species and 3 sub-species. We are down about 10 species from the last 2 years missing "regular" winter species such as: Eared Grebe; Eastern Phoebe; Sabine's Gull; Vesper Sparrow, and Hoary Redpoll. If anyone has reports of those species, or any other species missing from the winter list, please let me know personally. Thanks. Todd Pepper Leamington, Ontario tandjpepper@cogeco.ca "One touch of nature makes the whole world kin" William Shakespeare From hagenius at primus.ca Wed Feb 10 07:00:27 2010 From: hagenius at primus.ca (Christina Lewis) Date: Wed Feb 10 06:56:54 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Ottawa/Gatineau 10 Feb 10 - recent sightings Message-ID: <00D2CC24E3384D51A708AEA4F8B56EA0@mycomputer> Ontario/Quebec Ottawa/Gatineau 10 February 2010 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@primus.ca Wednesday February 10, 2010: this is Chris Lewis reporting. The local birding scene has been pretty much status quo over the past 2 weeks - in other words, very quiet. The most interesting report was of a WILSON'S SNIPE that has apparently been wintering near a small creek west of Quyon, Quebec; it was most recently seen on the 8th. A CAROLINA WREN remains faithful to a property on Rue Millar in Hull, Quebec as of the 7th, and a BROWN THRASHER was seen again in the same general area on the 3rd. Another CAROLINA WREN was spotted at a feeder in the Manor Park area of Ottawa back on the 28th. Although there have been no recent updates on the whereabouts of BARROW'S GOLDENEYES on the Ottawa or Rideau Rivers, the four reported last month are likely still present. A HOODED MERGANSER continues to hang out below the rapids in Deschenes, Quebec and a few COMMON MERGANSERS can be seen here and there in open areas of the Rideau River. A few WILD TURKEYS were again noted below the Eardley escarpment in the Gatineau hills, and sightings of BALD EAGLES were reported from widespread locations on both the Ontario and Quebec sides. A NORTHERN GOSHAWK flew over Hwy 417 near Walkely Rd. on the 2nd, a single ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was at the Trail Rd. landfill on the 31st, and one or more PEREGRINE FALCONS are still frequenting the Tunney's Pasture, Carlington and Carlingwood neighburhoods. At the Trail Rd. landfill last week there were at least 12 GLAUCOUS and 1 ICELAND GULL, and a dump on Lafleche Rd. east of Casselman has also been a good spot for gull-watching with 15 GLAUCOUS and 3 ICELAND noted on the 6th. A NORTHERN SHRIKE in the Carling Ave. / Moodie Dr. area was seen again on the 2nd. The Britannia Conservation Area remains a haven for several AMERICAN ROBINS as well as a group of 5 CEDAR WAXWINGS that have been here since at least the 24th of January. Approx. 60 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were seen near Shirley's Bay on the 6th. Visits to the Eardley-Masham and Steele Rds. in the Gatineau hills early this week revealed once again that there are very few birds in the bush; the only highlights were 5 BALD EAGLES on a deer carcass on the 9th, an adult GOLDEN EAGLE spotted from Therien Rd. on the 7th, and 8 PURPLE FINCHES and about a dozen EVENING GROSBEAKS at a feeder, also on the 9th. Thank you - Good Birding! From jaba1961 at yahoo.com Wed Feb 10 11:08:51 2010 From: jaba1961 at yahoo.com (Chris Grooms) Date: Wed Feb 10 11:32:20 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Amherst Island's-Owl Woods new rules Message-ID: <694468.96651.qm@web33108.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Dear ONTBIRDERs In accordance with the wishes of the landowners of Owl Woods, the Kingston Field Naturalists would like to state the following conditions for visiting this privately owned property. Many of you have heard of and many of you have observed the disturbance to owls caused by large numbers of people visiting the Owl Woods on Amherst Island. This privately-owned nature reserve became popular a few decades ago when a small pine plantation was discovered to be a daytime roosting site for a number owl species. The owners of this property graciously allowed birders and interested people to enter their land to view and count the owls during their migration and the winter each year. Since then, many people have enjoyed the Owl Woods and benefitted from the unique, close-up contact with nature. It has been a great educational and inspiring experience for all. These days, it is not uncommon to have well over 100 people visit the Woods on a weekend day. Somewhere along the way the drive to see an owl for a bird list or to snap that perfect picture has out-stripped the sense that this rare site and its inhabitants should be revered and respected. As has happened with many popular natural phenomena, people have begun to threaten the object of their affection. The Kingston Field Naturalists have been aware of and concerned about these developments for some time, and with the property owners, are working towards solutions. The intention is to find ways to reduce the impact of people on the owls to a level that permits the Owl Woods to afford the owls the protection they need and continue to serve as a nature education experience for people. Failure to soon bring the situation under control may well mean that the owl woods could be closed to visitors by the owners. You can help the situation in several ways. If you have been to Owl Woods in recent years, consider being satisfied with that experience and not visiting for a while. Don?t come just to tick your year or winter list or get another photo of an owl. Because of the pressure on the owls, the landowners would like people to stop posting owl observations from Owl Woods on ONTBIRDS.???Please respect this request; do not post reports from Owl Woods. If you do visit the Owl Woods follow these simple rules as set out by the landowners: The reserve is open only from sunrise to one hour before sunset. Do not spend more then two hours in the reserve per day. Absolutely no dogs are allowed. Keep a minimum distance of five metres from owls. Be silent; speak in whispers. Do not linger in front of an owl more than a couple of minutes. If you cause an owl to fly, do not pursue it. Do not bait owls with rodents. No flash photography allowed. No sound devices allowed. Do not remove branches or vegetation. Stay on the existing trails. Persons entering roped-off areas will be prosecuted. Report harassment of owls to 1-877-TIPS-MNR (847-7667). Sincerely, Chris Grooms, President, Kingston Field Naturalists From pjblake22 at hotmail.com Thu Feb 11 13:22:22 2010 From: pjblake22 at hotmail.com (Patrick Blake) Date: Thu Feb 11 13:19:04 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] St. Rose: Snow Geese, Lapland Longspur Message-ID: Along Concession 19 east of Casselman I found a single LAPLAND LONGSPUR foraging with at least 150 SNOW BUNTINGS in an exposed tilled field. The real highlight of the day was three SNOW GEESE flying high over the area, heading northeast. Is it too early to hope that spring might be on the way with snow geese already moving northward? Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: From 417E, take exist 58 for Hwy 138. Turn left on 138, then turn right onto Concession 20 Road. Scan the fields here for flocks of snow buntings; horned larks and longspurs may be hiding in the larger flocks. _________________________________________________________________ From etbeagan at sympatico.ca Thu Feb 11 14:19:40 2010 From: etbeagan at sympatico.ca (Eleanor Beagan) Date: Thu Feb 11 14:16:16 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] 2010 OFO Membership renew Final notice Message-ID: OFO Members, Thanks to the great majority of OFO members who renew in a timely manner. It really helps to spread the work out. For those who have not renewed for 2010, this is the final request. OFO News will be mailed out before the end of the month. Please renew immediately in order to get your copy of this informative publication. Membership status can be found on your mailing label. Life members please send me any changes to your address or email Happy Spring birding, Eleanor Beagan Ontario Field Ornithologists Vice President & Membership Secretary etbeagan@sympatico.ca www.ofo.ca From fhelleiner at trentu.ca Thu Feb 11 19:42:32 2010 From: fhelleiner at trentu.ca (Fred Helleiner) Date: Thu Feb 11 19:39:08 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Presqu'ile Birding Report for Week Ending February 11, 2010. Message-ID: <4B74A3F8.1070104@trentu.ca> With the exception of three surprises on Monday morning and the continued presence of uncommon or rare birds that have been present for a while, birding at Presqu'ile Provincial Park has slowed to the customary mid-February doldrums. Moreover, there is no southerly component in the forecasted winds for at least the next week, indicating that there is unlikely to be much change until later in the month. With half of Presqu'ile Bay still frozen, there have been very few CANVASBACKS and REDHEADS in evidence, and most of the GREATER SCAUP (up to 3,000) have been in the open lake off Chatterton Point. A careful scan often reveals WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. The male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE that has been attracting birders to Presqu'ile has been less regular than before in its habits, often staying barely within range of a good spotting scope. At other times, it reverts to its usual haunts off the lighthouse in the vicinity of a red marker buoy and is there as I type this. With the Waterfowl Viewing Weekends barely five weeks away, any significant change in the wind direction should entice the ducks that are now in the Niagara River and other more southerly locations to move to Presqu'ile. Both COOPER'S HAWK and NORTHERN GOSHAWK have been seen in the eastern part of the peninsula in the past week. On February 8, a rare-in-winter PEREGRINE FALCON made a desultory pass (if any peregrine pass can be described in those terms) over a group of ducks near the lighthouse before turning back in the direction whence it came. That may be the same bird that was in the area in late December and is the first February record for the Park. RUFFED GROUSE were in a tree in two different locations today. An ICELAND GULL was also seen today. A SNOWY OWL continues to sit on the ice off the calf pasture, and photogenic BARRED OWLS continue to wow visiting birders and photographers. A CAROLINA WREN, last seen over a month ago, returned twice to the feeders at 115 Bayshore Road, and was last noticed on February 5. An AMERICAN ROBIN took advantage of a heated bird bath to have a long drink on a cold day. A SONG SPARROW, which must certainly have been hiding nearby for the past 2-3 months, was discovered at a feeder at 116 Bayshore Road. The RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD that has been wintering on Bayshore Road was last noticed on February 5, but may still be present. A BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, the only one at Presqu'ile this winter, paid a brief visit to a feeder at 186 Bayshore Road. 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. The narrow channel between Owen Point and Gull Island is normally ice-covered at this time of year, but the ice, while appearing to be thick, might not support the weight of a human. However, the water beneath the crust is only ankle-deep. The surrounding shoreline can be very slippery. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground office by The Friends of Presqu'ile Park and to fill out a rare bird report for species not listed there. -- -- Fred Helleiner 186 Bayshore Road, Brighton, Ontario, Canada, K0K 1H0 VOICE: (613) 475 5309 If visiting, access via Presqu'ile Provincial Park. From dfsuggs at localnet.com Thu Feb 11 20:13:33 2010 From: dfsuggs at localnet.com (dfsuggs@localnet.com) Date: Thu Feb 11 20:10:13 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] WNY Dial-a-Bird 11 Feb 2010 Message-ID: <20100211201333.eyj7164htc80g8g4@webmail.localnet.com> - RBA * New York * Buffalo * 02/11/2010 * NYBU1002.11 - Birds mentioned ----------------------------------------- Please phone in rare sightings for update Submit email to dfsuggs localnet com Thank you, David ----------------------------------------- RED-SHOULDERED HAWK ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK SNOWY OWL Canvasback Redhead Greater Scaup Common Goldeneye Bufflehead Common Merganser Red-br. Merganser Bald Eagle Bonaparte's Gull Glaucous Gull Pileated Woodpecker Horned Lark Common Raven Brown Creeper Northern Shrike Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow White-thr. Sparrow Lapland Longspur Snow Bunting - Transcript Hotline: Dial-a-Bird at the Buffalo Museum of Science Date: 02/11/2010 Number: 716-896-1271 To Report: Same Compiler: David F. Suggs (dfsuggs at localnet com) Coverage: Western New York and adjacent Ontario Website: www.BOSBirding.org Thursday, February 11, 2010 Dial-a-Bird is a service provided by your Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo Ornithological Society. Press (2) to leave a message, (3) for updates, meeting and field trip information and (4) for instructions on how to report sightings. To contact the Science Museum, call 896-5200. Highlights of reports received February 4 through February 11 from the Niagara Frontier Region include RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK and SNOWY OWL. February 7, two pairs of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS along the Genesee-Wyoming County line. One pair at Warner and Mamott Roads in the Town of Darien, and a second pair less than two miles away on Woodley Road in Bennington. Finally reported this winter, a few ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS. In the Southern Tier, two ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS on February 5 on Swamp Road in the Cattaraugus County Town of Machias. And February 6, in the Lake Ontario Plains, one ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK on Lake Road in the Orleans County Town of Yates. February 6, SNOWY OWL still in the fields around at Sawyer Cemetery on Route 18 in Somerset. From Grand Island this week, two reports of a PILEATED WOODPECKER - at the BOS refuge on Love Road and in a nearby backyard. Likely the same bird, PILEATED WOODPECKER has not been reported on island in many years. The waterfowl spectacle continues on the upper Niagara River. Between the ice boom and Peace Bridge, thousands of BUFFLEHEADS and RED-BR. MERGANSERS, outnumbered by dense flocks of SCAUP, CANVASBACKS and REDHEADS. Passing BALD EAGLES sometimes flush the massive flocks into the air. Downriver at Strawberry Island, abundant COMMON MERGANSERS and COMMON GOLDENEYES stretch the width of the river, and a pair of BALD EAGLES on Strawberry Island. Other reports this week - NORTHERN SHRIKE on Whitaker Road in Sheridan. At Dunkirk Harbor, 2 GLAUCOUS GULLS, only one BONAPARTE'S GULL and 3 BALD EAGLES. Along Wolf Run in Allegany State Park, 13 RUFFED GROUSE, 3 BALD EAGLES and a COMMON RAVEN. At the Canadaway Creek Area in Arkwright, 3 COMMON RAVENS and 3 BROWN CREEPERS. In the Town of Alexander, on Brown's Mill Road, LAPLAND LONGSPUR, 25 SNOW BUNTINGS and 30 HORNED LARKS. And a CHIPPING SPARROW, with WHITE-THR. SPARROW and SONG SPARROW continue to winter at a feeder in the Town of Shelby. Dial-a-Bird will be updated Thursday evening, February 18. Please call in your sightings by noon Thursday. You may report sightings after the tone. Thank you for calling and reporting to Dial-a-Bird. - End Transcript From rtozer at vianet.ca Thu Feb 11 21:07:05 2010 From: rtozer at vianet.ca (Ron Tozer) Date: Thu Feb 11 21:03:28 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Algonquin Park Birding Update: 11 February 2010 Message-ID: Algonquin Park continued to provide magnificent winter scenery this week, but little change in the birds reported. A pair of Red Crossbills on Barron Canyon Road just before Sand Lake Gate on February 7 was noteworthy. These were likely Type 2 birds, a few of which may be finding a a very small number of cones among the white pines and red pines of Algonquin's East Side forests this winter. The white-striped morph White-throated Sparrow continues to thrive at the Visitor Centre feeders. A Black-backed Woodpecker was reported on the Leaf Lake Ski Trail near Junction B on February 6. There were three Pine Grosbeaks on Highway 60 between the West Gate and the West Boundary on February 8. Very few are being seen. One hundred plus American Goldfinches are visiting the Visitor Centre feeders on most days now. Such numbers in the absence of virtually all other finch species this winter is unprecedented in Algonquin Park. However, very few goldfinches are being seen away from feeders. Martens have been less frequent at the Visitor Centre feeders this week. Some are still being reported around campsites in Mew Lake Campground. We would appreciate receiving your bird observations for our Visitor Centre records. Ron Tozer Algonquin Park Naturalist (retired) Dwight, ON Directions: 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 near 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 details on recent sightings, feeders, and park information. It is open to the public this holiday weekend from 10 am to 5 pm on February 13, 14 and 15. Birder access to the Visitor Centre through the service entrance to observe the feeders is usually possible on weekdays. Hot and cold drinks and snacks are available in the restaurant this winter on weekends, but not full meal service. Algonquin Park birding updates and information are available at: www.algonquinpark.on.ca From goodcompany at sympatico.ca Thu Feb 11 21:16:04 2010 From: goodcompany at sympatico.ca (goodcompany@sympatico.ca) Date: Thu Feb 11 21:12:39 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Kingston area birds to Feb. 11, 2010 Message-ID: Other than common feeder birds, waterfowl are the most noteworthy sightings this week. There are more than half a dozen species at the Dupont lagoon and despite the cold weather there is still considerable open water outside the lagoon to the southeast. There was nothing out of the ordinary today but the mix does change from day to day. Most of the south shore of Amherst was frozen on Tuesday but in the few open leads there were hundreds of Common Goldeneye, several Tundra Swans, and a few Gadwall, Bufflehead, and Long-tailed Ducks. North of the city, Trumpeter Swans were reported from Bedford Mills, Lower Brewer's Mills and Chaffey's Lock. Barred Owls are all over the place; Battersea, Elginburg, the Orser Road, and 3 at Lemoine Point. A new development in the owl picture locally is two reports of Great Gray Owls this week; one near the Sydenham Ski Hill and the other on Hwy. 41 near Erinsville. Neither bird could be located on follow-up visits. Bald Eagles are still abundant in the Rideau Lakes north of the city and accipiters continue their wintertime feeder patrol. Both Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks are in the Reddendale area and another Sharp-shinned and a N. Goshawk put in appearances at Bedford Mills. The Peregrine Falcon continues to be seen on the Queen's campus. The only out-of-the-ordinary feeder birds are singleton Pine Siskins at Bedford Mills and Elginburg and a White-throated Sparrow near Battersea. Cheers, Peter Good Kingston Field Naturalists 613 378-6605 From csam at sympatico.ca Fri Feb 12 10:22:55 2010 From: csam at sympatico.ca (Craig McL.) Date: Fri Feb 12 09:19:35 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Killdeer in Toronto 02 11 10 Message-ID: Sorry for the late post on this I have just wokin up . But yesterday will working at a stood in down town Toronto on Lake shower east wich is east of Carlaw , west of Leslie st . I heard first and then saw 2 seprit migrating Killdeer !! first at 12:30 and then at 2:15 pm , sheer which I was winterlisting !!:) Craig McLauchlan " if you have a hard time reeding this dont fell bad I have a hard time reeding yours to !! I am Dislexic " you can learn moor about it by Googleing Dislexea " From chrisgevans55 at gmail.com Fri Feb 12 12:16:55 2010 From: chrisgevans55 at gmail.com (Chris Evans) Date: Fri Feb 12 12:13:38 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Fwd: Juvenile Golden Eagle in Peel County In-Reply-To: <9e1fd1f61002111223y210fd8b8x4dd396a65c5934f6@mail.gmail.com> References: <9e1fd1f61002111223y210fd8b8x4dd396a65c5934f6@mail.gmail.com> Message-ID: <9e1fd1f61002120916g798ab194wc2b0fcea32c9304a@mail.gmail.com> Dear Raptor Lovers, I had to do a bit of driving for work Thursday, February 11th, 2010 and had the splendid good fortune to observe a magnificent juvenile Golden Eagle contouring in blue skies in the Forks of the Credit area SE of Orangeville, W of Caledon Village at 11:30 A.M. today. It was catching some good air rising up out of the Credit River valley and contouring along effortlessly at about 60 km/h in a Northwesterly direction between 300 and 400 m West of Willoughby Road from just North of Charleston Sideroad/County Road 24 to just past Beechgrove Sideroad where it did a few circles to show off its large dark brown tail, half white to the base and dark brown wings with white patches at the base of the primaries above and below. The median secondary coverts were somewhat golden and the head was relatively small but at the distance I did not notice the golden nape because I was more focussed on the diagnostic white wing patches and white base of the tail. I was observing it with 8.5x42 binoculars and smiling broadly, while safely stopped on the (narrow) shoulder of the road, of course. Incidentally, I had just observed a Red-Tailed Hawk and a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk at 11:25 A.M. West of McLaren Road above the quarry NW of the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park. I should drive for work more often ... Happy Valentine's Day, Chris Evans, Midhurst, Ontario -- Chris - The Dragonhunter's Apprentice From lindacrome at gmail.com Fri Feb 12 12:20:43 2010 From: lindacrome at gmail.com (Linda Crome) Date: Fri Feb 12 12:17:24 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Snow buntings and mabe sandhill cranes? Message-ID: <1f9cadb1002120920i4f143d17w5e7a4d4361cafd24@mail.gmail.com> There is still three flocks (about 200 in total) of snow buntings in the Wellington North area. Some were just five minutes north of Arthur on Hwy 6 and the others where on the on the eleventh sided road near Kenelworth. Threre was a red tailed hawk sitting on the hydro line in Kenelworth. Later while traveling south on Hwy six just south of Guelth seven to nine very large birds flew over in formation and I think by there silhouette they were Sandhill Cranes. Is there anyone out there that might have seen them to confirm? Linda Crome, Brereton Field Natrulists From vulpes_dhondt at hotmail.com Fri Feb 12 13:32:28 2010 From: vulpes_dhondt at hotmail.com (David D'hondt) Date: Fri Feb 12 13:29:02 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] (no subject) Message-ID: I heard a woodcock in Windsor last at approximately 9:15. I heard it by the railroad tracks immediately behind the WFCU Arena. The WFCU sits west of the Little River corridor in East Windsor. Happy Birding, Dave _________________________________________________________________ Introducing Windows? phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708122 From akovaloff at gmail.com Fri Feb 12 13:46:31 2010 From: akovaloff at gmail.com (Alex Kovaloff) Date: Fri Feb 12 13:50:03 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] bald headed eagle: Marie Curtis Park Message-ID: We saw a bald headed eagle today at around 11 am in Marie Curtis park. We were walking through the woods on the western side of the park. It was doing low circling loops just over the tree tops. The park is on 42 second street in Etobicoke. You can park in the eastern side then walk over the bridge into the western side. Alex Kovaloff From bob.mary.hartley at sympatico.ca Sat Feb 13 16:57:14 2010 From: bob.mary.hartley at sympatico.ca (Robert Hartley) Date: Sat Feb 13 16:53:42 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Cowbird and Barred Owl near Omemee Message-ID: At 9:50 this morning we saw a cowbird on a feeder at 67 Peace Rd., in Reaboro. Our first for the year. For the past hour we have watched a Barred owl hunting in front of our house from the cedar tree beside our feeders. We live at 829 Peace Rd. Directions. From Peterboro take Highway #7 to Omemee. At the only traffic light go north on Sturgeon Rd to the third crossroad which is Peace Rd. Go right to our home and left to Reaboro. Bob and Mary Hartley From scarbropengyou at yahoo.ca Sat Feb 13 19:07:52 2010 From: scarbropengyou at yahoo.ca (Mark) Date: Sat Feb 13 19:04:21 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Red-breasted Merganser, Humber River Message-ID: <974362.39710.qm@web31404.mail.mud.yahoo.com> I had a Red-breasted Merganser on the Humber River at the foot of Dee Avenue in Etobicoke this morning. I am posting this as I have never before had a Red-breasted Merganser inland on a river. Indeed, in 30 years of birding, this is my first record for this area of Dee Avenue, Resources Road Ravine and Pine Point Park (the 199th species I have recorded herein). ? I photographed the bird and one thing I am puzzling over, given it's generally female appearance but area of green surrounding the eye and on the lore, is whether it is a female or whether it could be, at this time of year, a male not yet in breeding plumage. If there is anyone who?would be willing to look at the photos and give me their opinion on this, please contact me directly. ? Dee Avenue is the first street running west off Weston Road immediately south of Hwy 401. The park here lies across the river from an area known as Resources Road Ravine, which can be accessed by way of a metal footbridge. __________________________________________________________________ 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/ From sskevington at xplornet.com Sat Feb 13 22:04:27 2010 From: sskevington at xplornet.com (Sharron Skevington) Date: Sat Feb 13 22:00:43 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Long Point area Sparrows Message-ID: Today while birding the Long Point area, Adrian Juurlink and I were checking out a feeder across the road from Lee Browns. We had 1 Savannah, 1 White-crown, 2 Song and severalTree sparrows. There were also cow birds, Ju cos, cardinals and House sparrows. Just west of there we had a flock of 90 Red-winged blackbirds. Lee Browns is located on the Lakekshore Road, aprox. 3 klm west of the intersection of Hyw. 59 and the Lakeshore road. Richard Skevington sskevington@xplornet.com From mtryan at quadro.net Sun Feb 14 18:47:23 2010 From: mtryan at quadro.net (mtryan) Date: Sun Feb 14 19:30:56 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Bald Eagles-St. Marys Message-ID: <756739BAD96C47DEB85F75EA3633EF1C@esprit> We saw two mature bald eagles in St. Marys today around 5pm. Initially we spotted one flying over the downtown, then we followed it along the Thames river (out along Thomas St.) After it flew farther than we could follow, we turned back & spotted the second one sitting in a tree on the side of the river. Theresa, Marcus, Charlie & Fiona Ryan http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington+St+S&daddr=43.238897,-81.167729&hl=en&geocode=FToSlAIdUd8p-w%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=15&sll=43.235824,-81.163859&sspn=0.023043,0.038581&ie=UTF8&ll=43http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Wellington+St+S&daddr=43.238897,-81.167729&hl=en&geocode=FToSlAIdUd8p-w%3B&mra=mi&mrsp=1,0&sz=15&sll=43.235824,-81.163859&sspn=0.023043,0.038581&ie=UTF8&ll=43.246891,-81.153173&spn=0.046077,0.077162&t=h&z=14 From robert.falconer at gmail.com Sun Feb 14 20:06:54 2010 From: robert.falconer at gmail.com (Robert Falconer) Date: Sun Feb 14 20:03:23 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Snowy owls Keswick area & Snow Buntings Message-ID: <697b359b1002141706v61e27622x7d46b10e8e94b403@mail.gmail.com> We looked all over the Holland Marsh area for Snowy Owls without any luck tho' we did see a large flock of Snow Buntings right where Canal Roal exits from Hwy 400. We then headed further east and were rewarded with two Snowy Owls at the very south end of that little piece of Yonge street that runs southward from the west end of Ravenshoe Road weatst of Leslie Bob & Corinne Falconer From owletdb at hotmail.com Sun Feb 14 23:40:18 2010 From: owletdb at hotmail.com (dian bogie) Date: Sun Feb 14 23:36:52 2010 Subject: [Ontbirds] Mr. P Message-ID: Dear Fans of Mr. P: I know that it's been a very long time since I have posted and there is a reason for that. As the weather became increasingly colder and more winter-like, it became apparent that Mr. P went further and further afield to sustain himself and keep warm. Where he went on those numerous days and nights without being found, I have no idea. However, from time to time, he would show up at his usual haunts but those occasions were few and far between. Even though Sue and I continued to keep a watchful eye, there seemed to be no pattern to his habits, as there had been in the past. He would disappear for a week to 10 days at a time and therefore, one could not guarantee his whereabouts. He also became increasingly cautious ( a good thing ) and seemed to spook much more readily. His continued existence became the main focus as all of his resources were required to just keep him alive. Outside influences would have perhaps hindered his chance of survival. For all of these reasons I did not post and I hope that everyone will understand, that the life of Mr. P outweighed all else. Up until Feb. 8th, I had not seen Mr. P for 2 weeks. As I set about my twice daily walks in hopes of once again sighting him, I came home after my morning walk 'without a bird in hand' and very disappointed. However, in the back of my mind I always thought "well he's surprised you before, don't give up hope". As I scoured his usual haunts, late in the afternoon of the 8th, I nearly missed him but there he was mingled with the late afternoon shadows, foraging for berries on the ground. I recall a quick intake of breath and then holding my breath for fear of alarming him into flight. I watched for almost an hour as he struggled to find food. A couple of times he ascended into the branches of a multiflora rose and took a few rose hips. Just before dusk he departed for his nightly roost but his flight was very low. I felt concerned. The next morning Rick (my husband) and I were getting ready to go to the greenbelt to harvest more buckthorn berries and rose hips to stock up various feeding areas for Mr. P, ahead of the forecasted snow storm. Upon looking out our window to the backyard, there was Mr. P in the very multiflora bush in which I had very first spotted him. He was on a very low branch and made a few weak attempts to garner rose hips and was successful with 3. However, after sitting on the low branch once again, he then fell onto the ground. We watched and waited, with anguish and hoped that he would recover but it became obvious that he was too exhausted to remove himself from the snow and leaves on which he was laying. We realized that we must do our best to rescue him. Fortunately, we were able to do so. Rick, gently ensconced Mr. P in a light wrap, from which we transferred him to a rescue box. In so doing, I actually held Mr. P in my hands for a few brief seconds. What a moment. We are pleased to tell everyone that Mr. P is alive and recovering wonderfully at SOAR. He's "eating like a madman" and needed to have his face washed because it was quite 'jammy'. He's also taken a bath that was offered to him and continues to eat everything in sight. His prognosis seems optimistic. SOAR is an avian songbird centre, ( charitable foundation ) run by a wonderful, able, concerned , recognized woman who devotes her life to saving songbirds. We know that Mr. P is in excellent hands and will surely survive with the great care that is being given him. With all due respect and I totally appreciate how interested people are to see Mr. P, I humbly request that you do not visit or send emails to SOAR. It truly is a hospital for sick songbirds, that need calm, quiet and respite to ensure their recovery. The Lady that runs this facility is dedicated to her task and is humble in the wonderful work that she performs. For this reason we request that your desire to see Mr. P be put 'on hold' In the meantime, I will be glad to post a weekly update of Mr. P's recovery. If any one feels inclined to offer assistance to the maintenance of Mr. P or to the other songbirds being rehabilitated, please contact me personally and not Ontbirds. I'll be glad to assist. Sincerely Dian _________________________________________________________________ Check your Hotmail from your phone. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9708121