JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUB Protecting Nature Since 1919 Volume 71 Number 7 March 2018 In This Issue: e 2018 "Duck Count" Summary e Wonderful Gray Jay - Hopefully soon Canada Jay A History of the Owl Foundation Fall 2017 Noteworthy Bird Records e Results of the Peach Tree CBC White-eyed Vireo at Shoreacres Park, 28 November 2017. "The vireo has caught a Brown Marmorated Snk Bug, a fairly large meal. The bird disappeared aſter this and hopefully enjoyed its catch" - photo and text by Tom Thomas. This bird was one of the excing finds in the Hamilton Area in late November 2017. Turn to the fall Noteworthy Bird Records on page 151 to see other late season finds.
Transcript
JOURNAL OF THE HAMILTON NATURALISTS’ CLUBProtecting Nature Since 1919
Volume 71 Number 7 March 2018
I n T h i s I s s u e :The 2018 "Duck Count" Summary
The Wonderful Gray Jay - Hopefully soon Canada Jay A History of the Owl Foundation
Fall 2017 Noteworthy Bird Records The Results of the Peach Tree CBC
White-eyed Vireo at Shoreacres Park, 28 November 2017. "The vireo has caught a Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, a fairly large meal. The bird disappeared after this and hopefully enjoyed its catch" - photo and text by Tom Thomas. This bird was one of the exciting finds in the Hamilton Area in late November 2017. Turn to the fall
Noteworthy Bird Records on page 151 to see other late season finds.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 146
Table of Contents
The Owl Foundation Peter Thoem 148 3rd Annual Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count Report Bruce Mackenzie 150 Noteworthy Bird Records - September to November (Fall) 2017 Bill Lamond 151 Ontario Mid-Winter Waterfowl Census (aka Duck Count) 2018 Chris Motherwell 155 Dates to Remember – March and April Rob Porter/Liz Rabishaw 156 Gray Jay Research in Algonquin Park with Alex Sutton Michael Rowlands 165
White-rumped Sandpiper at Red Hill Storm Water Pond, 5 November, 2017 - photo Bob Curry. Part of the Noteworthy Bird Records database on display starting on page 151.
Eight Great Egrets at SWP along Downey Rd and Teal Dr, Guelph, 5 October 2017 - photo Randy Husson.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 147
Publications Committee: Christine Bishop, Martin Daly, Rob Dobos, Kevin McLaughlin, Don McLean, Herman van Barneveld, Glenda Slessor, Jean Stollard, Jim Stollard and John Struger.
The Wood Duck is the official publication of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club and produced by members of the Club. It is published nine times a year from September to May, inclusive. Deadline for receipt of material is the 5th of the month preceding publication date.
As long as credit lines are included, articles may be reprinted without permission, unless otherwise specified. Opinions expressed in the Wood Duck are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor or of the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club.
The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club promotes public interest in the study, conservation and appreciation of our natural heritage. Meetings are held monthly September to May inclusive and field events are scheduled throughout the year. Visitors are welcome.
The HNC is a registered charity and all donations as well as membership fees are tax deductible.
Report rare bird sightings to: Cheryl Edgecombe 905-637-5923Send Noteworthy Bird Records to: Bill Lamond, 238 St. George St, Brantford, N3R 1W7 email: [email protected]
MEMBERSHIP FEES – Please remit to The Membership Director, Hamilton Naturalists’ Club P.O.Box 89052, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4R5
HNC PUBLICATIONS - To order, contact Elaine Serena905-639-2702 or [email protected]
Life Membership $750.00 Hamilton Nature Counts 2003 $75.00
Single Membership $45.00 Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2007 $2.00
Senior Single Membership $40.00 Head of the Lake Nature Guide $8.00
Student Single Membership (on-line-only ac-cess to Wood Duck; for those 25 or under) free What’s Alive in Hamilton - from HCA website. free
Checklist of Ontario Butterflies $1.50
Senior Joint Membership $45.00 Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas(order from Glenn Barrett at [email protected]) $45.00Family Membership $50.00
Junior Naturalists - 1st child $80.00 Hamilton Mammal Atlas $15.00
Junior Naturalists - additional children $70.00 A Monthly Guide to Nature and Conservation $5.00
Honorary Life Member n/a Reptiles and Amphibians of Hamilton Area (check local library)
Volume 71 Number 7
CN ISSN 0049-7886 http://www.hamiltonnature.org
March 2018 - Publications Mail Contract No. 40048074
Editor’s Notes.....If ever an issue of the Wood Duck could be called "the bird issue", this is it. Every single article within is about birds. This was not by design but coincidence. Of course birds do get special treatment in our Club. After all, we were originally called the Hamilton Bird Protection Society and our logo is a Wood Duck, as is the name of our journal. Of course we all know we are much more than birds. Much, much more. However, birds dominate in this issue with the Noteworthy Bird Records, the "Duck Count" report, the Peach Tree CBC results, a report on the Owl Foundation, and a BSG talk summary on the Gray Jay. If you don't enjoy reading the rather copious list of bird records in the NBR, I at least hope you enjoy the 34 bird photographs by 29 different area photographers within the report!
In closing, our Membership Director Jill Baldwin, and the entire HNC Board, would like to welcome the new HNC members who joined during January! Welcome Lee Alexander, Alex Graham & Robyn Smith, and Robert & Julia Morrow!
H N C M o n t h l y M e e t i n g - 8 J a n u a r y 2 0 1 8
The Owl Foundationby Peter Thoem
This report on the January 2018 general meeting is slightly different from the usual account. It is a report from the
driver’s seat, because not only am I your scribe but I was also the speaker. Perhaps I should declare a conflict of interest.
The topic was billed as "The Owl Foundation – Not a fly-by-night Organization"; I credit the pun to former Club President Bruce Mackenzie. The presentation was a tribute to Kay McKeever, the founder and genius behind The Owl Foundation (TOF).
Kay started rescuing animals, any and all injured or orphaned, in the late 1960s. In time she refined her skills and interests and focused more on birds, then to raptors in general and to owls in particular. Kay was a compelling public speaker on her favourite topic, owls, and literally wrote the book on owl treatment and rehabilitation. Kay is no longer able to take on speaking engagements; you got me instead.
I became involved as a casual volunteer driver for The Owl Foundation, a role that involved being part of an on-call relay team that transfers owls to or from TOF’s facilities in Vineland Station. One New Year’s morning, I was asked to ferry a roadside-casualty Snowy Owl from Burlington to TOF. When the owl was examined by one of the Foundation’s zoologists, it was found to
have suffered catastrophic burns to the flight feathers of one wing. We think it had unwittingly flown over the gas flare at the Burlington Lakeshore Sewage Treatment Plant, thereby losing all ability to fly and crashed to the shoulder of the highway. First impressions were that it should recover given some de-lousing, nourishment and time to re-grow those flight feathers. However that was not to be, it had probably been down at the road side for too long and it died a few days later.In April of that same year, I was asked if I could collect a Great Horned Owl chick from a golf course where it had been picked up from the greens below some Scots Pines. The chick was a fierce-looking fluffball but engagingly cute nevertheless. One of the groundsmen at the golf club had appealed to his wife for permission to bring it home and hand-rear it. She wisely turned down the suggestion; Who is going to stay up all night to feed it? Where will we keep it? What if it attacks the neighbours’ cat? Not to mention it keeping us up all night hooting and flapping! She was absolutely right, but not necessarily for those reasons; quite apart from their own domestic harmony, this chick had imprinted on its own species. I took it to The Owl Foundation where it was a perfect candidate to be introduced to Big Red, a seasoned Great Horned Owl foster mom, who knew exactly what to do.
The presentation digressed into the Snowy Owl irruptions of the Polar Vortex Winter of 2013/ 2014, and the less dramatic irruption
Speaker, and author, Peter Thoem.
X-ray of injured owl with shotgun pellet.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 149
unfolding this winter of 2018. The sudden appearance in 2014 of large numbers of Snowy Owls inspired the hasty creation of Project SNOWstorm and uncovered new information about Snowy Owls’ biology, including hunting strategies and migration. Project volunteers attached lightweight solar-powered transmitters to 48 Snowy Owls in 11 states, and were also able to conduct a range of DNA, chemical isotope, and toxicology studies on hundreds of live owls captured for banding, and salvaged owls that were killed or died while on the wintering grounds.
One of the surprises (which perhaps shouldn’t have been) was that once the Great Lakes freeze over to any appreciable extent, many hungry Snowy Owls leave the land (where birders had been spotting them) and head out to prey on the many ducks then crowding into open water leads; easy pickings. When not hunting, all they need out there is a convenient spot to hunker down.
Project SNOWstorm’s website has many interesting stories about individual owls, lessons learned and interactive maps tracing both summer and winter tracks of named owls. It’s a site well worth visiting, www.projectsnowstorm.org
The appearance of Snowy Owls inexperienced in urban dangers inevitably leads to casualties and TOF sees them. Two, now flightless, 'snowies' from the previous irruption winters remain at TOF as a breeding pair and raise a clutch of chicks every year to be released in Churchill, Manitoba.
Casualties and orphans arriving at The Owl Foundation get a thorough examination by staff zoologists and receive any feasible treatment. After initial treatment, the patients are settled into a darkened unit for rest and observation. Too often the prognosis is poor, but about 55% of TOF patients end up being released, usually to where they came from.
If it’s possible to find humour in human-caused owl injury, The Owl Foundation has seen it. One December they took a call from a family who had an Eastern Screech-Owl on the loose in their living room. It had emerged from the depths of a just-unwrapped Christmas tree they’d brought home from Ikea. When the tree’s now
untied branches slowly relaxed, the owl was able to fly free. TOF captured the owl, gave it some food and rest and then released it.
Another day, a sad looking, singed and scorched Eastern Screech- Owl arrived for treatment. It had found a comfortable roosting spot within the chimney flue at a hunt camp. One cold weekend a party of hunters arrived, stomping snow off their boots, and they hastened to get a fire going in the stove. To their horror and dismay, a smoking screech owl burst from the stove and flew across the room to become entangled in curtains opposite. The Owl Foundation attended to the burns knowing that they’d have to hold the bird through its next molt cycle when it would replace the lost feathers. The bird is now generally okay, but that next molt cycle has come and gone and it hasn’t replaced its tail feathers. They’ll hold onto it, but so far it’s in the category of "Hope for the Best".
TOF’s success may be best measured by a release back into the wild and we saw several shots of Barred, Great Horned and Snowy Owls all as they leapt into free flight from a carrying box.A questioner from the floor asked if a person could visit The Owl Foundation to see the owls. The answer is no - and yes; it’s not a zoo where you pay admission to walk in, but anyone who donates $50 or more will receive an invitation to a guided tour at the annual sponsor tour days in September. A small price I’d say for the privilege. You can make a general donation or sponsor a juvenile owl scheduled for release or an injured owl undergoing rehabilitation.
The presentation included many wonderful shots of healthy owls out somewhere where they belong. Club members Sandra and Frank Horvath, without whom it might have been a rather workaday production, provided many of these flying-free photos.
As the presenter, I tried to entertain you with some great owl stories but I made no bones about my mission to support The Owl Foundation. You were a very generous group, over $400 was raised that evening and I know other donations have followed.
You can learn more about The Owl Foundation at www.theowlfoundation.ca
"Big Red" - the fabled foster mom at the
Foundation.
Snowy Owl release at Churchill, Manitoba.
"Big Red's" foster chicks.
Great Horned Owl chick to be placed in the care of "Big Red".
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 150
3rd Annual Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count Reportby Bruce Mackenzie
Thirty-four determined birdwatchers braved the cold winds on Tuesday, January 2, 2018 to record 19,784 birds on the 3rd
Annual Peach Tree Christmas Bird Count, CBC. Temperatures stayed around -10oC for the day and wind speeds did not appreciably change during the day remaining near 30 km/hr plus with gusts up to 61 km/hr providing a wind chill of -20oC.
The Peach Tree Count is one of over 2,000 Christmas Bird Counts conducted throughout the Americas. The first one took place in New York City in 1900. Every year the number of counts has been growing and the Peach Tree Count is one of the newest in North America. Hamilton carried out its 97th CBC on Boxing Day.
CBCs target an area 15 km in diameter and the Peach Tree CBC has its centre in Fulton and covers an area from east Stoney Creek to east Grimsby, through Smithville and to Caistor Centre in the southwest. Birds were counted from the shores of Lake Ontario to the
farmlands and hamlets on the escarpment. The circle is divided up into 18 sections and three Bruce Trail segments and there were three stand-alone feeder counters. 67 hours were spent in the field by the counters.
Of the almost 20,000 birds observed on the Count 13,861 were waterfowl on Lake Ontario. The most common bird again this year was Long-tailed Duck, with 6,250 observed. This number is significantly down from the last two years and this is likely because of the difficulty in counting birds in the strong west winds and rough water conditions on Lake Ontario during the day.
Another factor in finding less birds this year was the date for the Count. In the last two counts, January 2nd did not fall on a work day. This year it did, and this prevented some counters from participating or reduced their time in the field. For future counts a date should be selected near New Year's Day that does not fall on a work day.
Overall the Count was down by 32,480 compared to last year. In 2015 and 2016 there were 35,340 and 52,264 birds seen respectively. Even with the extreme weather some species were found in expected numbers such as Wild Turkeys, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Northern Cardinals, Dark-eyed Juncos and sparrows. Bird feeders were active on January 2nd and a number of counters attributed much of their count totals to observations made at feeders found on their route. One of our observers goes out before the Count and asks residents who have feeders to fill them for the count day and this has been quite productive.
Fifty-nine species were recorded, down from the 73 species observed last year when the weather on the Count Day was very different as the overall weather pattern last year was much warmer. Again, the bone chilling temperatures and high winds on January 2 affected not only the birds and their behavior, but it also affected the ability of birdwatchers to observe the birds. While trying to count ducks on Lake Ontario at Fifty Point, observers were getting ice cream headaches from holding the eye rim of their binoculars in contact with their eyebrows. There were no Count Week birds observed.
The participants were generally pleased with the number of varieties of birds and especially with the birds of prey with 78 Red-tailed Hawks, eight Rough-legged Hawks, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, five Cooper’s Hawks, five American Kestrels, three Great Horned Owls, one Saw-whet Owl, one Snowy Owl, three Peregrine Falcons, three Northern Harriers, and a Bald Eagle. Twenty-three Turkey Vultures were sighted near Caistor Centre and a chicken farm might just be the attraction there. The abundant and very evident Meadow Vole population in the Grimsby area this winter may well have contributed to the variety of raptors. The five kestrels is concerning compared to the 29 found in 2016 and 22 in 2015.
Even with the frosty winds, 136 robins and 12 mockingbirds were counted. Most of the reduction in the Count was due to lower numbers of waterfowl but European Starlings show a very different number for a land bird with 590 seen this count but 6181 in 2016 and 3067 in 2015. A species worth noting in 2018. New species for this count were Saw-whet Owl, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Evening Grosbeak, Common Grackle and Field Sparrow.
One particularly interesting note this year was the discovery of a one acre patch of unharvested sunflowers near Caistor Centre in a field planted for Honey Bees and other pollinating insects. The field was alive with American Goldfinches, American Tree Sparrows and Mourning Doves. Rob Porter, the counter for that area was very pleased to find this gigantic bird feeder and about half of his daily total birds for the day, including 250 goldfinches, came from this one.
Considering that the Count was down by 32,000 birds this year from last year seeing only 59 species is not a surprise. Blame the weather of the day and the prevailing cold of the Christmas Season.
Species observed. (Count numbers for the previous year in brackets following this year's total.) Canada Goose 2502 (8257), American Black Duck 21 (55), Mallard 139 (1813), Surf Scoter 92 (223), White-winged Scoter 1484 (2780), Black Scoter 14 (19), Long-tailed Duck 6250 (21972), Bufflehead 19 (63), Common Goldeneye 3035 (2858) ,Red-breasted Merganser 305 (178), Wild Turkey 70 (30), Turkey (continued on page 155)
Peach Tree CBC coordinator, Bruce
Mackenzie.
Peach Tree CBC observers Alex Graham (L) and Deb Wood - photo Bruce Mackenzie.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 151
Noteworthy Bird Records — September to November (Fall) 2017by Bill Lamond
Underlined species or dates require documentation to be submitted to the newly reorganized Hamilton Bird Records Committee [HBRC] (Barb Charlton, Bob Curry, Rob Dobos, Bill Lamond, Ross Wood). Those records where documentation
has been received are marked with a double asterisk “**”. Records where documentation has not been received are marked with a double pound “##”. The HBRC realizes that it is unclear which dates require documentation for a species as the Date Guide to the Birds of the Hamilton Area is not readily available and the dates listed in that publication for many species need revision. For the time being, the HBRC is using the first three migration dates (or last three) given in Birds of Hamilton as documentation criteria. Species observed within those dates require documentation as date rarities. This will be the case until the new Date Guide comes out in 2019. Underlined species are geographic rarities in the Hamilton area. These rarities are listed in Hamilton Area Bird Checklist 2007. All documentation submitted here has not yet been reviewed by the HBRC.Capitalized species require documentation by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. For species marked with “#”, all reported records for the period are listed. For all other species, only highlights are listed. Note that the species order follows the most recent American Ornithologists’ Union checklist and supplements.
Legend:* - first occurrence for the yearF - first occurrence for the migrationL - last occurrence for the migrationSM - singing maleterr. - territorial birdSWP - storm water pond** - documentation received## - documentation not received
Observers: Alfred Adamo (AA), Isabel Apkarian (IA), Tim Arthur (TA), Heather Bagg (HB), Andrew Bailey (ABa), Dinu Bandyopadhyay (DBa), Jeff Barbour (JBa), Rex Bartlett (RBar), Glenn Barrett (GBa), Gerten Basom (GB), Richard Beardon (RBe), Jeremy Bensette (JBe), Luke Berg (LB), John Bick (JBi), Christine Bishop (CB), Jerry Bloom (JBl), Mike Boyd (MBo), David Brewer (DBr), George Bryant (GBr), Rob Buchanan (RB), Alvan Buckley (ABu), Peter Burke (PBu), Jim Burrell (JB), Ken Burrell (KB), Mike Burrell (MB), Daniel Butty (DBut), Mike Cadman (MC), Adam Capparelli (AC), Barb Charlton (BCha), Chris Cheatle (CC), Barry Cherriere (BCh), Sheena Chisholm (SC), Curtis Combdon (CCo), Barry Coombs (BCo), Jeff Costa (JC), Mark Cranford (MCr), Bill Crins (BCr), Bob Curry (BC), Jeff Daley (JDa), Ken Dance (KD), Sandy Darling (SD), Bill Davis (BD), Julian Diener (JD), Matt Dil (MD), Rob Dobos (RD), Andrew Don (AD), Dave Don (DD), Randy Droniuk (RDr), Felix Eckley (FE), Rick Eckley (RE), Cheryl Edgecombe (CE), Brandon P.M. Edwards (BPME), Kevin Empey (KE), Chris Escott (CEs), Neil Faulkenham (NFa), Luc Fazio (LF), Nils Foss (NFo), Brett Fried (BF), Nancy Furber (NF), Przemyslaw Garbacz (PG), Denys Gardiner (DG), David Gascoigne (DGa), Cory Gibbs (CG), Eric Giles (EGi), Kevin Giles (KG), Ethan Gosnell (EG), Athena Gubbe (AGu), Todd Hagedorn (TH), Dominik Halas (DH), Mike Hallett (MH), Shelly Hamilton (SHam), Lyn Hanna-Folkes (LHF), Marlene Hart (MHa), Erika Hentsch (EHe), Brandon Holden (BH), Nathan Hood (NH), Jerry Horak (JH), Ellen Horak (EH), Frank Horvath (FH), Sandra Horvath (SH), Rebecca Howe (RHo), Larry Hubble (LH), Jackson Hudecki (JHu), Randy Husson (RH), Jean Iron (JI), Mourad Jabra (MJa), Jarmo Jalava (JJa), Rhondda James (RJ); Ian Jarvie (IJ), Forest Jarvis (FJ), Beth Jefferson (BJ), Mark Jennings (MJ), Dawn Johnson (DJ); Marc Johnson (MJo), Carol Jones (CJo), Colin Jones (CJ), Morgan Kain (MK), Bonnie Kinder (BK), Frank King (FK), William Konze (WK), Pasha Kristensen (PK), Gordo Laidlaw (GLa), Sarah Labrie (SLa), Bill Lamond (BL), Sarah Lamond (SL), Greg Laverty (GL), James Lees (JL), Mike Lepage (ML), Rick Ludkin (RL), Robert Maciver (RMa), Bruce Mackenzie (BMac), Stuart Mackenzie (SMac), Mike MacLeod (MMac), Dan MacNeal (DMac), Len Manning (LM), Michelle Martin (MMa), Reuven Martin (RM), Sheldon McGregor (SMc), Kevin McLaughlin (KM), Nancy McPherson (NMc), Janet Medelko (JMe), Marvin Medelko (MMe), Bill Mehlenbacher (BM), Dawn Miles (DMi), Jason Miller (JMi), Martha Miller (MMi), Nathan Miller (NM), Tom Miller (TM), Kai Millyard (KMi), J.W. Mills (JWM), Frank Morley (FM), Samreen Munim (SM), Buddy Myles (BMy), Alec Napier (AN), George Naylor (GN), Derek Neumann (DNe), Andrew Nguyen (ANg), Mike Norton (MN), Owen Novoselac (ON), Ben Oldfield (BO), William Olenek (WO), Kalin Orcana (KO), Thomas Ouchterlony (TO), Henrique Pacheco (HP), Rob Palin (RPa), Mark Patry (MP), Mallory Peirce (MPei), Mike Peleschuk (MPe), Michel Poissant (MPo), Richard Poort (RPo), Rob Porter (RP), George Prieksaitis (GPr), David Pryor (DPr), Joanne Redwood (JR), Brian Rennie (BRe), Dan Riley (DR), Garth Riley (GR), Craig Ritchie (CR), Judy Robins (JRo), David Rooke (DRo), Toby Rowland (TR), Dan Salisbury (DS), Greg Salter (GSa), Yves Scholten (YS), Caleb Scholtens (CSc), Peter Scholtens (PSc), Jeanie Selva (JSe), Elaine Serena (ES), Joan Sims (JSi), George Sims (GSi), Janet Sippel (JSip), Richard Skevington (RSk), Nancy Smith (NS), Rick Snider (RS), Paul Strong (PSt), Greg Stuart (GSt), Dave Szmyr (DSz), Paul Tavares (PTa), Neil Taylor (NT), Lisa Teskey (LT), Tom Thomas (TT), Kevin Tupman (KT), Tristan Uchida (TU), Fred Urie (FU), Brenda Van Ryswyk (BVR), Rohan van Twest (RvT), Josh Vandermeulen (JV), Mike Waldhuber (MW), Rob Waldhuber (RW), Riley Walsh (RWa), Jim Watt (JWa), Carl-adam Wegenschimmel (CaW), Jo Werba (JW), Quinten Wiegersma (QW), Bill Wilson (BWi), Angie Williams (AWi), Karen Wood (KWo), Ross Wood (RWo), Brian Wyatt (BWy), Owen Yates (OY), Anthony Zammit (AZ), many observers (m.obs.).
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 152
Greater White-fronted Geese#: Two over Brantford dump ** 5 Nov (BL,SL).Snow Goose#: One at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 16 Oct (YS); 14 over N Service Rd and Ontario St, Beamsville [NG] 20 Oct (MMac); 63 over Van Wagners Beach 4 Nov (BCha,m.obs.); six at Barrie’s Lake [WT] 5 Nov (MB,JB); two at pond by William Dam Seeds along Hwy 8 [HM] 25 Nov (RD/JL); one at Hagersville Quarry [HD] 28 Nov (RPo); one at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 28-29 Nov (AZ,KT).Ross’s Goose#: One at Hagersville Quarry [HD] ** 28 Nov F (RPo).Brant#: Nine at Hamilton Beachstrip 11 Oct F (CE,RD); two at Van Wagners Beach 12 Oct (DPr,RPa), one there 17 Oct (RPo), and six there 4 Nov (m.obs.); one at Windermere Basin 13-18 Oct (JC/KM,BCh); 14 on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 29 Oct (ON); one at Bronte Harbour 31 Oct – 6 Nov (MJ,m.obs).Cackling Goose#: Two at Bronte St. S and Britannia Rd, Milton [HL] ** 4 Oct F (YS); one at Van Wagners Beach ## 11 Oct (DPr); one at Bronte Harbour ## 13 Oct (RPo); three at 87 Acre Park [HM] ## 13 Oct (MMac); one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 21 Oct (RvT); one at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 28 Oct (RPo); four at pond at William Dam Seeds on Hwy 8 [HM] 23 Oct (JL) and 14 there 25 Oct (JL); one Mattamy National Cycling Centre [HL] 3 Nov (RWo); two at James Snow Pkwy pond, Milton 6 Nov (YS); 14 at Hagersville Quarry Pond [HD] 15 Nov (RPo) and 15 there 28 Nov (RPo); one at Sioux Lookout (HL] 18 Nov (GPr); one at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 30 Nov (FU).Tundra Swan: 27 at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Nov F (NF); nine over Dundas Valley 9 Nov (JL); four at CCIW 13 Nov (JR); two at LaSalle Park 24 Nov {photo} (BMy); two at Bayfront Park 26 Nov (RM); two at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 26 Nov (DNe).Wood Duck: One at LaSalle Park 30 Nov (RB).Gadwall: 45 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 21 Oct (RvT); 10 at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 28 Oct (RPa); three at Brant Park C.A., Brantford 6 Nov (MH); three at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 8 Nov (YS); 20 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 21 Nov (anon.).American Wigeon: One at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 5 Sep (MJ); eight at Van Wagners Beach 13 Sep (MB), 19 there 2 Oct (RD,CE), 30 there Oct 9 (RD), and 36 there 11 Oct (BH); six at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 5 Oct (IJ); 25 at heronry on 4th Line Nassagaweya [HL] 7 Oct (IJ); 10 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 14 Oct (MC); 240 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 19 Oct (MC) and 110 there 19 Nov (MC,MHa,ML); six at Millgrove Loam Pits [HM] 22 Oct (RD); four on Lake at Jones Rd [HM] 17 Nov (KM).Blue-winged Teal: Four at Windermere Basin 4 Sep (BC) and five there 14 Oct (QW); nine at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 17 Sep (RP); 20 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 22 Sep (TH); one at Tollgate Pond 3 Oct (RD); one at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 19 Oct (AZ); two at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 24 Oct L (YS).Northern Shoveler: 45 at Windermere Basin 14 Oct (QW) and 71 there 15 Nov (JL); 27 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 22 Oct (TA) and 30 there 24-25 Nov (TH/NH); 10 at Tollgate Pond 22 Sep (RD) and 60 there 15 Nov (JL); 26 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 29 Nov (BD).Northern Pintail: Three at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep (RPo), 35 there 2 Oct (RD,CE), 50 there 11 Oct (BH), and 21 there 4 Nov (AC); four at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 7 Oct (IJ); 25 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 21 Oct (RvT); 25 at Woodland Cemetery 29 Oct (RD,CE,DD); five at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 3 Nov (BD).
Green-winged Teal: 40 at Windermere Basin 16 Sep (BC), 60 there 29 Sep (BC), 132 there 5 Nov (BC), and 50 there 19 Nov (RM); 24 at Tollgate Pond 28 Sep (LF); 70 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 1 Oct (AZ) and 170 there 20 Oct (TH); 25 at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 5 Oct (IJ) and 32 there 28 Oct (RPa); 60 at Van Wagners Beach 11 Oct (BH); 30 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 19 Oct (MC); 40 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 3 Nov (BD).Canvasback: Three at Tollgate Pond 9 Sep (RPo), 25 there 5 Nov (RWo), and 60 there
19 Nov (RM); five at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 5 Nov (RvT); 150 at LaSalle Park 19 Nov (RM); 55 over Cootes Paradise 24 Nov (EGi).Redhead: Six at Van Wagners Beach 13 Sep F (MB,CJ) and 35 there 9 Oct (RD); five at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 17 Sep (MJ); five at Tollgate Pond 22 Sep (RD); three at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 31 Oct (AZ); 100 on Hamilton Harbour 29 Oct (RD) and 59 there 5 Nov (RWo); 77 on Lake at Lewis Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 40 at LaSalle Marina 19 Nov (RM); 50 on Lake at Falcon Rd [HM] 19 Nov (MMi).Ring-necked Duck: One at Hagersville Quarry Pond [HD] 10 Sep F (RPo,AD); one at Van Wagners Beach 13 Sep (MD,CJ) and three there 30 Sep (RD,DD); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 6 Oct (MJ) and two there 26 Nov (MJ); 30 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 19 Oct (MC) and 15 there 21 Oct [WL] (RvT); 42 at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 21 Oct (YS); 31 at Cowan’s Lake [WT] 31 Oct (KD); 178 at Mt. Nemo quarry [HL] 4 Nov (BO); 56 at Aberfoyle Pit, Puslinch Twp [WL] 17 Nov (NH); 200 at LaSalle Park 19 Nov (RM); 30 at Windermere Basin 19 Nov (RM); four at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 28 Nov (AZ).Greater Scaup: Four past Burloak Park [HL] 15 Sep F (MJ); 35 at Van Wagners Beach 9 Oct (RD); 11 at Bronte Harbour 9 Oct (MJ); 10 at Puslinch Lake [WL] 14 Oct (MC,ML); 364 at NE corner of Hamilton Harbour 5 Nov (RWo); 200 at Bayfront Park 12 Nov (RM) and 1500 there 26 Nov (MB); 204 on Lake from Lewis Rd to Fifty Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 250 on Lake at Sioux Lookout [HL] 18 Nov (GPr); 250 at LaSalle Park 19 Nov (RM); 50 on Lake of Shoreacres Park 28 Nov (TO).Lesser Scaup: One at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep F (RPo,RD,CE) and 40 there 9 Oct (RD); six at Tollgate Pond 23 Sep (BH), 15 there 2 Oct (JL), 60 there 13 Nov (BH), 120 there 15 Nov (JL), and 120 there 26 Nov (KB,BH); 20 at Windermere Basin 9 Oct (LB), 35 there 12 Oct (KB), 83 there 5 Nov (BC), and 150 there 19 Nov (RM); 20 on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 19 Oct (RPo); 16 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 19 Oct (MC); four at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 21 Oct (YS); 122 on NE Harbour 5 Nov (RWo); 87 at LaSalle Park 18 Nov (DNe); 100 at Bayfront Park 26 Nov (RM).King Eider: Two on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 14 Nov (KM) one there 15-20 Nov (LM,m.obs); one on Lake at Fifty Rd [HM] 18 Nov {photo} (MJa); one at Burlington Ship Canal 22-24 Nov {photo} (m.obs.).Surf Scoter: One ad. at Van Wagners Beach ## 20 Sep F (RD,CE), 35 there 9 Oct (RPo), 30 there 12 Oct (KB), and 60 there 9 Oct (RD); one at Bronte Harbour 9 Oct (MJ); two at Watersedge Park [PL] 21 Oct (RM/RPa); six on Lake at Shoreacres Park 20 Oct (RPo); 100 on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] (RB) and 200 there 26 Oct (MMac); 200 on Lake off Sayers Park [HM] (AWi); 200 on Lake at Green Rd [HM] 3 Nov (CEs); 100 on Lake at Dewitt Rd [HM] 18 Nov (CSc); 1045 on Lake between Fruitland and McNeily Rds [HM] 18 Nov (anon.)White-winged Scoter: Two ad. males at Windermere Basin ## 15 Aug (WK); three on Lake at Dewitt Rd [HM] 31 Aug (LM); one at
Flock of 63 distant Snow Geese (mix of blue and white morph) over Van Wagners Beach on 4 Nov observed by many birders. 15 eBird checklists were created for this location on this date and the number of Snow Geese reported ranged from 50 to 80 with three checklists at 50, one at 60, three at 70, and two at 80. Two checklists reported 65, very close to the actual number - photo
Bonnie Kinder
Tundra Swan at LaSalle Park, 24 November - photo Buddy Myles.
King Eider at Burlington Beach Canal, 23 November - photo Mike Veltri.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 153
Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep (RPo), two there 20 Sep (RPo), 40 there 22 Sep (OY), 500 there 9 Oct (RPo,RD), and 500 there 4 Nov (AC); one at Tollgate Pond 29 Sep (JR) and four there 30 Sep (RD et al.); 30 at Watersedge Park [PL] 21 Oct (RM); 300 at Sayers Park [HM] 28 Oct (AWi); 450 on Lake at Millen Rd [HM] 8 Nov (JL); 300 at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 13 Nov (BCha,KB); 2000 on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 14 Nov (GR,NMc); 436 on Lake at Lewis Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 192 on Lake at Fifty Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 150 on Lake at Hunter Rd [NG] 19 Nov (GPr); 150 at Bayfront Park 26 Nov (RM).Black Scoter: One on Burlington Beachstrip 11 Oct F (RD,CE); seven on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 19 Oct (RPo); 20 on Lake at Confederation Park [HM] 28 Oct (BK); 50 off Sayers Park [HM] 28 Oct (AWi) and 70 there 5 Nov (RPo); 251 on Lake - Ship Canal to Grays Rd [HM] 5 Nov (BCr); 72 on Lake at Millen Rd [HM] 5 Nov (DNe); five off Spencer Smith Park [HL] 8 Nov (DH); two on Lake at Watersedge Park [PL] 16 Nov (LF); four on Lake at Sioux Lookout [HL] 18 Nov (GPr); six on Lake at Hunter Rd [NG] 19 Nov (GPr); nine at Burlington Ship Canal 26 Nov (DNe).Long-tailed Duck: One at Bronte Harbour 24 Aug (MJ); one at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep (RPo,RD,CE), 80 there 9 Oct (LB/RD), and 3000 there 4 Nov (JL/JV,JBe); 500 on Lake off Sayers Park [HM] 28 Oct (AWi) and 2000 there 18 Nov (CSc); one at McNally Pit, Puslinch [WL] 29 Oct (CCo); 12 at Mill Creek Pit, Puslinch [WL] 29 Oct (CCo); 1000 on Lake at Millen Rd [HM] 29 Oct (LM) and 8000 there 11 Nov (JL); 600 on Lake at South Shell Park [HL] 30 Oct (MJ); 3000 off Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 8 Nov (JL); 4000 on Lake off Walkers Line [HL] 18 Nov (BJ); 1500 on Lake off Sioux Lookout [HL] 18 Nov (GPr); 4358 on Lake at Fifty Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 3243 on Lake off Lewis Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 2180 on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 18 Nov (LM); 3000 on Lake at Green Rd [HM] 18 Nov (CSc); 2000 on Lake at Dewitt Rd [HM] 18 Nov (CSc); 675 on Lake off Hunter Rd [NG] 18 Nov (MJa); 400 on Lake at Burloak Park [HL] 26 Nov (MJ); 600 at Burlington Ship Canal 26 Nov (SL,TH); 2000 on Lake off Shoreacres Park [HL] 27 Nov (YS).Bufflehead: One at South Shell Park [HL] 30 Sep F (MJ); one at Van Wagners Beach 12 Oct (DPr/KM); 30 on Grand River at Glenhyrst Gardens, Brantford 1 Nov (BL); 29 at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 2 Nov (AZ); 45 at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 3 Nov (BD); 123 on NE shore of Harbour 5 Nov (RWo); 53 on Lake at Lewis Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa).Common Goldeneye: One at Valley Inn on Harbour 25 Sep F {photo} (JBa); one at Van Wagners Beach 1 Oct (GSt et al.); 880 on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 18 Nov (LM); 327 at Fifty Rd at Lake [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 1855 on Lake at Lewis Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); 200 of Van Wagners beach 20 Nov (CC); 820 at Winona Rd at Lake [HM] 20 Nov (SH,FH); 400 on Lake off Shoreacres park [HL] 27 Nov (RW).Common X Barrow’s Goldeneye#: Returning male from previous years was off Grays Rd/Confederation Park [HM] ** 29 Oct – 29 Nov {photo} (KM/BK).
Hooded Merganser: 118 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 11 Nov (MC); 80 at Bayfront Park 12 Nov (RM); 130 at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 14 Nov (KT,AZ); 50+ at Valens C.A. [HM] 16 Nov (DBr); 60 at Desjardins Canal 26 Nov (KB,BH).Common Merganser: 15 past
Burloak Park [HL] 2 Sep (MJ); 22 at Lakeside Park [PL] 16 Sep (LF);
29 on Grand River at Ruthven Park [HD] 6 Nov (RL); 100+ at Valens C.A. 16 Nov [HM] (DBr) and 400 there 26 Nov (BH,KB); 110 at Christie C.A. [HM] 25 Nov (RD); 55 at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 28 Nov (AZ).Red-breasted Merganser: One at Van Wagner’s Beach 20 Sep F (RD,CE,RPo); one at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 22 Oct (MC,BWy); one at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 5 Nov (AZ); two at Puslinch Lake [WL] 5 Nov (NH).Ruddy Duck: One at Windermere Basin 2 Sep (FJ) and 50 there 26 Nov (WO); one at Bronte Marsh [HL] 4 Sep (GPr); 10 at Tollgate Pond 28 Sep F (LF), 25 there 30 Sep (TA,JBe), 263 there 18 Oct (FU), 300 there 23 Oct (JR), 320 there 5 Nov (RWo), and 36 there 25 Nov (FH,SH); 150 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 19 Oct (DBr) and 82 there 26 Oct (MC); 510 at NE Harbour 5 Nov (RWo); 50 at LaSalle Park 19 Nov (RM); 35 at McNally Pit, Puslinch [WL] and 12 at Puslinch Lake [WL], both 19 Nov (MC,MHa,ML).Ring-necked Pheasant#: One at 25 Side Road and Nassagaweya-Esquesing Townline [HL] 9 Oct (YS).Pied-billed Grebe: Two at Windermere Basin 1 Sep (GPr); one at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 4 Sep (RP); 15 at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 6 Oct (DMac); 21 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Oct (MC,BWy); five at Puslinch Lake [WL] 3 Nov (DMac); two at Grimsby Beach [NG] 7 Nov (MMac); two at Hagersville Quarry Pond [HD] 15 Nov (RPo); four at Burlington Ship Canal 22 Nov (DNe).Horned Grebe: One at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep F (BCha,BF,EHe); four at Bronte Harbour 8 Oct (KMi); four at Richards Memorial Park [PL] 21 Oct (RM); 16 on Lake at Green Rd [HM] 29 Oct (RD,DD); 26 on Harbour off Bayshore Park 29 Oct (RD); one at Grand River at River Bluffs Park, Cambridge 31 Oct {photo} (HB); three on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 1 Nov (RPo); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 3 Nov (DMac); one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 5 Nov (RvT); four at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 11 Nov (NS); five at Grimsby Harbour [NG] 12 Nov (LF); three on Lake at Millen Rd [HM] 12 Nov (LF); three on Lake at Lewis Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa).Red-necked Grebe: One at Windermere Basin 2 Sep (MMac); one at Watersedge Park [PL] 9 Sep (RM) and 55 there 21 Oct (RM); 42 at Rattray Marsh [PL] 16 Sep (LF) and two there 16 Nov (LF); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 18 Sep (RPo); five at Bronte Harbour 21 Sep (MBo); one at Van Wagners Beach 11 Oct (DPr); 30 at Richards Memorial Park [PL] 21 Oct (RM); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 3 Nov (DMac); one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 5 Nov (RvT); one at Bayfront Park 12 Nov (RM); two off Burloak Park [HL] 18 Nov (BJ); one on Lake off Grays Rd [HM] 18 Nov (KM).EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE#: One at Caledonia [HD] 3 Sep {photo} (GN,RJ) – third record for HSA.Yellow-billed Cuckoo: One banded at Ruthven Park [HD] 5 Oct (RL) and another banded there 7 Oct L (RL).Black-billed Cuckoo: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 24 Sep L (RL).Common Nighthawk: Nine over 91 Alderson Rd, Hespeler [WT] 6 Sep (RMa); six over High Level Bridge [HM] 9 Sep (DD); 16 over Cootes Paradise 10 Sep (JL); nine over Franklin Pond [WT] 12 Sep (AZ); 13 over McMaster Forest [HM] 12 Sep (RP); 12 over Cootes South Shore 12 Sep (MB,CJ); 12 over Beverly Swamp [HM] 13 Sep (BVR); three over York Rd, Dundas 14 Sep (JL); seven over Dundurn Park [HM] 15 Sep (CSc,PSc); eight over Caledonia [HD] 15 Sep (GB); 20 over Ruthven Park [HD] 25 Sep L (NF).Chimney Swift: 40-50 over Bay St & Charlton St, Hamilton 1 Sep
Common Goldeneye at Valley Inn, 25 September - photo Jeff Barbour.
Common x Barrow's Goldeneye, male - 21 November at Confederation Park
- photo Kevin McLaughlin.
Eurasian Collared-Dove at Caledonia, 3 September -
photo George Naylor.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 154
(GLa); nine over Hwy 8 and Beverly St, Galt [WT] 1 Sep (DGa); five over Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Sep (RL); 74 at chimney roost in Dundas 5 Sep (JL); 39 over Cootes Paradise 10 Sep (JL); 21 over HCA HQ, Dundas Valley 26 Sep L (TU).Ruby-throated Hummingbird: Six at Shoreacres Park [HL] 10 Sep (RP,BCo); four at Ruthven Park [HD] 12 Sep (RL); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Oct (DBa); one at Haller Cres, Caledonia [HD] 11 Oct (GSa); one at Orkney St W, Caledonia [HD] 12 Oct (CJo); one at East 36th Ave, Hamilton ca. 20 Oct L (FM).Virginia Rail#: Five at Kerncliff Park [HL] 29 Sep (EH,JH) and one there 8 Oct (DNe).Sora#: One at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 9 Sep (BCha); two at Clappison’s Corners Wetland [HM] 12-13 Sep (RB/RDr); three at Kerncliff Park [HL] 23 Sep, one there 24 Sep (OY,RP) and one there calling 5 Nov ** (BJ et al.); one calling at City View Park 5 Nov ** (BJ et al.).Common Gallinule#: Ten at Niebaur’s Pond [WL] 2 Sep (MC), 12 there 5 Sep (RH), four there 8 Oct (DMi), and one there 22 Oct L (JSip); three at Boardwalk Marsh, Cootes Paradise 10 Sep (JL) and two there 4 Oct (JL).American Coot: Two at Bayfront Park 13 Sep F (RP), 25 there 28 Sep (MPa), 154 there 12 Nov (DNe), and 75 there 26 Nov (BH,KB); six at Rattray Marsh [PL] 21 Oct (SH); 100 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 22 Oct (MC,BWy) and 30 there [HM] 11 Nov (MC); six at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 27 Oct (BD); six at LaSalle Park 4 Nov (RSk,NFa); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 28 Oct – 16 Nov (MJ/DH); eight at Puslinch Lake [WL] 17 Nov (NH) and three there 25 Nov (NH).Sandhill Crane: Two at Cowan’s Lake [WT] 3 Sep (KD); four at African Lion Safari [HM] 9 Sep (KD); 10 at Grass Lake [WT] 27 Sep (EH,JH); four over 12 Deer Run Court [BR] 2 Oct (GSi,JSi); four at Franklin Pond [WT] 17 Oct (NH); four near Crieff [WL] 18 Oct (DBr); four over Halton County Forest 30 Oct (SLa); 10 over 10th Road E and Ridge Rd [HM] 4 Nov (RBe); 33 over Dundas Valley 19 Nov (TU); 125 over Cootes Paradise 19 Nov (GSe); 42 over Dundas Valley C.A. 20 Nov (NFo); 44 over Dundas Valley C.A. 22 Nov (JL); 32 over 8575 1st Line Campbellville [HL] 27 Nov (KWo).Black-bellied Plover#: One at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 1-3 Sep (NH/BWi) and one there 8-14 Oct (AZ/MC); two at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep (MP); one at Cootes Paradise 12 Sep (MB,CJ); three at Windermere Basin 26 Sep (MC), eight there 5 Oct (JBe,TA), three there 18 Oct (JL), and one there 23 Oct L (ABa); one at Tollgate Pond 28 Sep (DH/LF); one at Beachway Park [HL] 29 Sep (YS); one at Red Hill SWP 22 Oct (JR).American Golden-Plover#: Three at Windermere Basin 1 Sep (AWi/JV), 15 there 3 Sep (DNe), two there 16 Sep (BC/RP), seven 24 Sep (RD,CE), five there 29 Sep (JL), three there 8 Oct (GPr) and one there 15 Oct (RB), and 12 there 16 Oct L (RPo); seven at Haldibrook Rd and Glancaster Rd [HM] 3 Sep (RD); two at Tollgate Pond 10 Sep (AD/RPo), seven there 28 Sep (Anon) and four there 30 Sep (BCha et al.); one at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 15 Sep (MJ); three at Airport Rd [HM] 28 Sep (JL); one at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 15 Oct (RD,DD,CE); one at Van Wagners Beach 17 Oct (ON).Semipalmated Plover: One at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 1 Sep (MC); 18 at Windermere Basin 2 Sep (BF,EHe), 20 there 3-4 Sep (RPo/RM), nine there 14 Sep (BC), eight there 25 Sep (LM) and one there 8 Oct L (GPr); six at Van Wagners Beach 4 Sep (RPo); four at wetland at 407
& Britannia Rd [HL] 4 Sep (CaW); one at Tollgate Pond 17 Sep-2 Oct (m.obs.); one at Clappison's Corners Wetland 6 Oct (YS).Killdeer: 52 at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 9 Sep (MJ) and 74 there 3 Oct (MJ); 49 at Gulfbeck development, Milton 21 Sep (YS); 53 at Airport Rd E [HM] 25 Sep (JL); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 19 Nov (SM).Whimbrel#: One at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 4 Sep (RP); one over Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 8 Sep L (RP).Hudsonian Godwit#: At Windermere Basin: continuing bird observed there until 11 Oct (NM); also seen at Red Hill SWP on 7 Oct (LM) continuing there until 3 Nov L (CC/JR).Marbled Godwit#: One continuing bird at Windermere Basin until 8 Oct {photo} (m.obs/KE).Ruddy Turnstone#: One on Harbour near CCIW 1 Sep (JR); three at Tollgate Pond 9 Sep (RPo), with four there 18-22 Sep (RD), one bird there 23 Sep (m.obs.), and one bird there 5 Oct L (LM); two at Windermere Basin 10 Sep (BPME); three birds on NE shore of Harbour 12 Sep (RD).Red Knot#: Continuing birds (2) until 7 Sep (m.obs.) with one bird until 22 Sep L (RD). Stilt Sandpiper#: Continuing birds (2) at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] until 1 Oct (m.obs, AZ); continuing birds (2) at Windermere Basin, with five birds on 3 Sep (JL) and two birds continuing until 6 Sep (RM) and one bird there until 29 Sep (m.obs.) and a different bird on ** 5 Nov {photo} (BC).Sanderling#: Eight at Windermere Basin 1 Sep (RPo), four there 3 Sep (SL,BL), and six there 29 Oct (JW,MK); seven at Van Wagners Beach 1 Sep (PTa), 12 there 13 Sep (MB,CJ), 18 there 4 Nov (TA) and one there 11 Nov (HP); five at Tollgate Pond 16 Sep (RPo), 10 there 22-29 Sep (RD), and 11 there 28 Sep (LF); three at Burlington Ship Canal 4 Nov (ABu) and one there 12 Nov L (MSe,GSe); three at Bronte Harbour 2-6 Nov (TM,LF/RPo); one at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 15 Oct (RD,CE,DD) and one there 11 Nov (TA,JRo).Dunlin: Two at Windermere Basin 24 Sep F (RD,CE), 32 there 7 Oct (MMa), 41 there 15 Oct (BCha), and seven there 12 Nov (DJ); 21 at Tollgate Pond 7 Oct (LM); 52 at Van Wagners Beach 15 Oct (BCha), 20 there 4 Nov (AC,MPa), and one there 21 Nov L (JJa); eight at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 30 Oct (FU); 13 at Red Hill SWP 31 Oct (BK,JR), and seven there 16 Nov L (LM); 30 at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 1 Nov (AZ); 246 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 3 Nov (DMac); three on Burlington Beachstrip 12 Nov (DD).Purple Sandpiper#: One at Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] ** 14 Nov* (LM).Baird’s Sandpiper#: Three at Windermere Basin 1 Sep (GPr), and again on 9 Sep (CEs), and two there 9 Oct L (LB,m.obs.); one at wetland at 407 and Britannia Rd [HL] 4 Sep (CaW); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 6 Sep (TH) and one there 22 Sep (TH); one at Tollgate Pond 10 Sep (RPo/AD), two there 16 Sep (RPo,LM), and one there 28 Sep (LM).Least Sandpiper#: 15 at Windermere Basin 1 Sep (GPr), 26 there 3 Sep (JL), three there 13 Sep (RW), and one there 18 Oct L (JL); eight at wetland at 407 and Britannia Rd [HL] 4 Sep (CaW); three at Binbrook C.A. [HM] 12 Sep (BMy); three at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 20 Sep (TH); three at Tollgate Pond 23 Sep (RPa,m.obs.).White-rumped Sandpiper#: One at Windermere Basin 3 Sep (WK/JR/RD,CE), two there 24 Sep (RD,CE), and one there 8 Nov (FK); one at Tollgate Pond 30 Sep (BCha,m.obs.); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 14 Oct (MC,ML), and five there 20 Oct (TR); three at Red Hill SWP 31 Oct – 4 Nov (JR,BK,m.obs.) with four there 3 Nov (CEs), and one there 12 Nov L (LM); three at Van Wagners Beach 4 Nov (NH,EG); one at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 7 Nov (FU). (continued on page 159)
Virginia Rail, Kerncliff Park - photo Yves Scholten.
Sandhill Cranes at Grass Lake, 27 September - photo Jerry Horak.
Hudsonian Godwit at Red Hill SWP, 7 October - photo
Joanne Redwood..
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 155
Vulture 23 (2), Northern Harrier 3 (6), Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (5), Cooper’s Hawk 5 (7), Bald Eagle 1 (0), Red-tailed Hawk 78 (191), Rough-legged Hawk 8 (5), Ring-billed Gull 76 (130), Herring Gull 84 (116), Great Black-backed Gull 5 (17), Rock Pigeon 170 (516), Mourning Dove 512 (825), Great Horned Owl 2 (4), Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 (0), Red-bellied Woodpecker 34 (51), Downy Woodpecker 47 (100), Hairy Woodpecker 10 (17), Northern Flicker 3 (5), American Kestrel 5 (29), Peregrine Falcon 3 (0), Northern Shrike 1 (2), Blue Jay 309 (317), American Crow 47 (127), Horned Lark 16 (18), Black-capped Chickadee 90 (285), Tufted Titmouse 2 (3), White-breasted Nuthatch 11 (76), Brown Creeper 2 (2), Golden-crowned Kinglet 7 (2), Eastern Bluebird 11 (36), American Robin 136 (573), Northern Mockingbird 12 (29), European Starling 590 (6181), Snow Bunting 155 (331), American Tree Sparrow 577 (538), Field Sparrow 2 (0), Dark-eyed Junco 508 (611), White-crowned Sparrow 28 (21), White-throated
Sparrow 9 (9), Song Sparrow 2 (6), Northern Cardinal 133 (139), Red-winged Blackbird 8 (1), Common Grackle 2 (0), House Finch 96 (269), American Goldfinch 422 (228), Evening Grosbeak 1 (0), House Sparrow 1513 (1715).
Species absent this year, but recorded from previous two counts: Cackling Goose, Tundra Swan, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Greater Scaup, King Eider, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Common Loon, Red-necked Grebe, Double-crested Cormorant, American Coot, Glaucous Gull, Eastern Screech- Owl, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Common Raven, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Cedar Waxwing, Lapland Longspur, Fox Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, Purple Finch.
Counters: Lyn Brown, Timothy Brown, Rob Buchanan, Rob Dobos, Kathy Ellis, Beth Ferguson, Gary Fuchs, Alex Graham, Lynda Goodridge, Bev Hadler, Marcie Jacklin, Mark Jennings, Sheryl Kampen, Ken Linde, Joyce Litster, Dennis and Gwen Lewington, Bruce and Laurie Mackenzie, Len Manning, Chelsea Marcantonio, Jason and Karen Miller, Matt Mills, Dawn Pierrynowski, Rob Porter, Loretta Shields, Nancy Smith, John Stevens, Lisa Teskey, Liz Vanderwood, Rob Waldhuber, Deb Wood.
(continued from page 150)
Mourning Dove on sunflower stalk near Caistor Centre - photo Rob Porter.
Ontario Mid-Winter Waterfowl Census (aka Duck Count) 2018Count date: January 7th
(Note: This report has been updated since it was posted on Hamilton Birds)
by Chris Motherwell
First of all, I want to send a hardy "thank you" to the 12 souls who braved the extreme cold - in the neighbourhood of -22oC
in the AM, and then there’s the wind chill - to go and count ducks. Due to the extended cold spell, much of the lake and a large majority of other water bodies were frozen, which meant many of the traditional count hot spots had no birds at all. The resulting concentrated areas of birds made it easier to count, though the individual numbers of some species were quite high, forcing our hands to estimate totals for some species - had we attempted to count the 1,000 or so Canada Geese in our area, we would have been frozen in place, becoming a statistic ourselves. Other than
the canal under the York Street bridge and a small section at the west end of the Desjardins Canal, there was no open water west of Bay Front park/Willow Cove, so limited numbers in those areas. Fortunately, LaSalle Park had a small area of open water that had a good number of birds. So even with birds concentrated in specific areas, this Count had the lowest number of individuals since 1992, with just over 18,000 and all-time lows for Greater & Lesser Scaup, American Black Duck and Bufflehead. The species total of 29 ties our previous 32 year average. (1986 is the 1st year I inherited data for, along with three years in the mid-sixties, which I didn’t use in the above numbers).
Although Canvasback was not observed by counters, one was photographed on Count Day at LaSalle Park, which makes this the lowest total for this species since 1996, when it was missed. Notable birds we did miss on the day, yet were observed during Count Week, were (continued on page 158)
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D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R - M a r c h 2 0 1 8
1 March - 15 May: The Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch’s 44th season of monitoring the migration of hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures at Beamer Memorial Conservation Area, Quarry Rd. off Ridge Rd. W., Grimsby. Except in very bad weather, counters are present every day from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. EST/9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. EDT. Visitors always welcome. Information: Bruce Mackenzie 905-973-4869, [email protected] or Mike Street - 905-648-3737, [email protected].
3 March (Saturday) 9 to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Not Just a Birding Club at RBG Nature Centre. RBG staff Jackson Hudecki and the club of like-minded birders! All skill levels welcome. Pre-registration required. Part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 (HST included).
4 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Hendrie Valley, meet at Cherry Hill Gate parking Lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
4 March (Sunday) 2 to 4 p.m. RBG - Tree Bark ID at RBG Nature Centre. Tree ID in the winter, using the ridges and furrows, scales and plates of bark. Dress for an outdoor hike. Pre-registration required. Part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 (HST included).
7, 24, 31 March (Saturdays) 10 a.m. to noon. RBG - Amphibian Club at RBG Centre. The Winter Exhibit Club for ages 6 to 10. Information about frogs, toads, salamanders discovered during games, activities, and exploration. Pre-registration required. Fee: $60 / 3 Saturdays, or, $20 per class.
10 March (Saturday) 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. HNC - Eramosa Karst C.A. hike. Join Bron and Debbie for a look at some interesting & unique geological features and a look for some early migrants on this gentle walk through mostly flat trails. Bring your binoculars. Gentle walk. Cancelled for inclement weather. Please contact Bron [email protected] 905-637-7136 to register. Bring your ices and poles too if you have them. Parking fee in effect. Check out the trail at http://conservationhamilton.ca/conservation-areas-2/eramosa-karst. Eramosa Karst Conservation Area, Upper Mt Albion Rd, Stoney Creek.
11 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Princess Point, meet at the parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
11 March (Sunday) 2 to 4 p.m. RBG - Trees: Come Explore the Forest at RBG Nature Centre. Learn how to ID trees in winter by their bark and twigs. Discover how animals and plants support each other in the cold months. A Family Fun event. Pre-registration required. Fee: Adults, $15, Child (4-12) $10, Children under 3, free.
12 March (Monday) 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. HNC - Madagascar – The Lost World of Lemurs (and other creatures). Madagascar, sometimes called the Eighth Continent, is truly a lost world – an experiment in evolution that has pushed forward in isolation for 88 million years. Today, over 80% of all life here is endemic, existing nowhere else on earth. Famous for its fascinating and adorable lemurs, this island offers an amazing variety of flora and fauna, many of which are facing a life-or-death struggle to survive against the encroachment of the only real predator - man! Past President Maggie Sims is our speaker and she will discuss the local history, culture of Madagascar, but especially its natural environment and its unique wildlife. All Welcome - 7 p.m. meet & greet. [email protected] for more information. Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington.
18 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes North Shore, meet at the Nature Centre, Arboretum location, Old Guelph Road. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
19 March (Monday) 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. BSG - Madagascar: A World Apart. Speaker Sandy Darling will lead us through Madagascar and the surrounding islands which have been separated from other land masses for 88 million years, and so are home to many distinct species that are found nowhere else: four families of birds found only in this region, lemurs, roughly 50 per cent of chameleon species and many plants. Sandy’s talk will focus primarily on the endemic birds of the region, but will also include some mammals, reptiles and the unique spiny forest. All welcome. Meet & greet at 7:00 p.m. Contact Bruce at [email protected] for more information. Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St, Burlington.
25 March (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes South Shore, meet at the Aviary parking lot, Oak Knoll Drive, Hamilton. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
30 March (Friday) 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch (NPH) Open House at Beamer C.A. This is a date that should provide a good variety of raptors, and possibly the first Osprey of the season. We hope that the day and fine weather will draw lots of raptors and crowds. Although counting will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., the Open House starts at 10:00 a.m. The Hamilton Naturalists' Club is one of the sponsors this year. The event provides a forum for other nature groups and we hope to have over ten exhibitors. We shall again have live birds, one of the major attractions. Mike Street will give two talks on raptors and their migration, and there will also be a children’s program provided by Carla Carlson of Niagara Nature Tours.
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D AT E S T O R E M E M B E R - A p r i l 2 0 1 8
1 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Hendrie Valley, meet at Cherry Hill Gate parking Lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
7 April (Saturday) 9 to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Not Just a Birding Club at RBG Nature Centre. RBG staff Jackson Hudecki and the club of like-minded birders! All skill levels welcome. Pre-registration required. Part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 (HST included).
8 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Princess Point, meet at the parking lot. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
9 April (Monday) 7:30 p.m. HNC Monthly Meeting - Wild Bee Diversity and Pollination Services: Are Cities a Refuge? In this talk, Scott MacIvor will provide an overview of the bees of Hamilton and southern Ontario. He will examine the primary drivers of bee diversity and pollination services in cities based on the most recent scientific literature from around the world, and questions whether or not cities could be a refuge for these essential pollinator species. This region supports hundreds of native bee species and this talk will conclude with some key criteria for home and community gardeners interested in supporting and enhancing their populations. Scott MacIvor is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto Scarborough. He is interested in plants and pollinators in cities and more broadly, the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of green infrastructure, including public and private gardens, parks, and green roofs. All welcome. Meet & greet at 7:00 p.m. Contact Bronwen - [email protected] for more info. Royal Botanical Gardens, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington.
15 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes North Shore, meet at the Nature Centre, Arboretum location, Old Guelph Road. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
21 April (Saturday) 7:00 p.m. HNC Annual Trivia Night. Join us for our annual Trivia night fundraiser for our sanctuaries. Great prizes for winners and door prizes. $15 each Wine & beer. See page 166 for details.
21 April (Saturday) 9 to 11:30 a.m. RBG - Not Just a Birding Club at RBG Nature Centre. RBG staff Jackson Hudecki and the club of like-minded birders! All skill levels welcome. Pre-registration required. Part of the Adult Education Series. Fee: $20 (HST included).
22 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Cootes South Shore, meet at the Aviary parking lot, Oak Knoll Drive, Hamilton. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
23 April (Monday) 7:30 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. BSG - Uganda Birding. Peter Thoem will talk about his work surveying in Uganda. All welcome. Meet & greet at 7:00 p.m. Contact Bruce at [email protected] for more information. Burlington Seniors’ Centre, 2285 New St, Burlington.
28 April (Saturday) 5:00 p.m. Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch Banquet. The Annual Meeting and Dinner will again be held at St Andrew’s Church Hall in Grimsby on Saturday. We hope that many of you will attend and bring guests. Our speaker will be our own Matt Mills who will speak about Hawkwatching in Western North America. Matt has spent a lot of time in the west, and assures us that hawk-watching sites and the nature of hawk-watching is different from our experience at Beamer, so it will an interesting evening. The evening will feature stunning photographs of the unique raptors and expansive landscapes awaiting our discovery in the Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Pacific coast and southwest. Dark morph buteos, rare southwest and Texas specialties, eye-level mountain ridge views, abundant eagles and more serve to illustrate why the West is an incredible place to rediscover the joys of hawkwatching. Socializing and the bucket raffle will begin at 5:00 p.m., and the pre-supper wine and cheese at 5:15. Dinner will start around 6:15. As always, we welcome donations for the bucket raffle – please contact a member of the executive if you can make a donation. Tickets are $40.00 for members and $50.00 for non-members. Please contact Mike Street - 905-648-3737, [email protected] tickets.
29 April (Sunday) 2 to 3:30 p.m. RBG - Get Back to Nature Walk. Free RBG Nature hike (donations welcome). Rock Chapel Sanctuary, meet at the parking lot, Hamilton. If the weather is inclement, call Program Update Line 905-527-1158 ext. 404.
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Northern Pintail and Harlequin Duck, while Tundra Swan was not seen in either, and though they have been missed in previous counts, we always hope we will find at least one every year. (There was Barrow’s Goldeneye in Scarborough two days before, yet not on Count Day).
Also in the Count Week were 24 Bald Eagles and one species we’ve never had before on the Count - two Ross’s Geese were photographed in a Stoney Creek field on Jan 5th. The finder thought they were Snow Geese, yet when Joanne Redwood saw the photos, she determined they were actually Ross’s. Also, our area was the only one to get Red-necked Grebe, Pied-billed Grebe and Black Scoter. For those interested in adding to your winter list, a Tufted Duck was found in Etobicoke - the last year we had one on our count was 1995 (of course superceded by the one in Hamilton Harbour in January/February - Ed.).
Quite a few hybrids this year - along with our Common Goldeneye x Barrow’s Goldeneye and Canvasback x Redhead, also found were a male Redhead x Ring-necked Duck, Tufted Duck x scaup sp. and Mallard x Northern Pintail, as well as the almost common American Black Duck x Mallard.
Other notable birds seen on the Count were Northern Harrier, Glaucous Gulls, well over 60 Great Black-backed Gulls (at Windermere), and a Peregrine Falcon.
The following were the brave souls: David Brewer, Barrie Coombs, Barb Charlton, Rob Dobos, Beth Jefferson, Joan Kotanen, Joyce Lister, Vicky Mason, Kevin McLaughlin, George Naylor, Rob Porter, Mary Ellen Starodub.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper#: One at Windermere Basin 6-10 Sep L (JL/RPa et al.) and one 18 Sep L (KM).Pectoral Sandpiper: 12 at Windermere Basin 3 Sep (JL), 12 there 6 Oct (MMa), and two there 21 Oct (LF); eight at Haldibrook Rd & Glancaster Rd [HM] 3 Sep (RD); 35 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 13 Oct (BH), 17 there 21 Oct (FU), 22 there 23 Oct (NH), and one there 8 Nov L (BH); five at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 3 Nov (DMac) and two 7 Nov (FU); one at Van Wagners Beach 4 Nov (AC).Semipalmated Sandpiper: 75 at Windermere Basin 1 Sep (GPr), 55 there 4 Sep (BC), 26 there 14 Sep (BC), and one there 12 Oct L (MMac); two at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 2 Sep (MC) and one there 25 Sep (BH); two at Tollgate Ponds 9 Sep (RPo), seven there 18 Sep (RD) and one there 28 Sep – 3 Oct (LF/RD); four at wetland at 407 and Britannia Rd [HL] 9 Sep (CaW).WESTERN SANDPIPER#: One at Windermere Basin 29 Sep (JL,m.obs.) continuing until 8 Oct L (NH). Also seen at Tollgate Pond 30 Sep-2 Oct {photo} (m.obs.).Short-billed Dowitcher#: One-two birds at Windermere Basin 1-10 Sep (m.obs.), four there 22-25 Sep (KM/GSe,MSe/LM), and one there 27 Sep L; one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 2-7 Sep (HB/TH).Long-billed Dowitcher#: One at Windermere Basin 24-25 Sep (RD,CE/LM). Wilson’s Snipe#: One at Windermere Basin 5 Sep (BJ) and one there 24 Sep (RD,CE); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 19 Sep (FU), three there 13-14 Oct (BH/HB), and four there 23 Oct (BH); one at African Lion Safari [HM] 20 Sep (RW); one at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 30 Sep (RWo,KWo); one at 3249 Cosby Rd, S of Beamsville [NG] 22 Oct (NS); one at Lockie Rd and Sager Rd [HM] 5 Nov (NH); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 10 Nov L (MJ).American Woodcock: Five at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 17 Oct (BO); one at Shaver Rd and Wilson St parking lot, Ancaster 2 Nov (SMc); one at Hardy Rd, Brantford 5 Nov L (BL).Spotted Sandpiper: Three at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 1 Sep (RPa); four on Harbour at CCIW 4 Sep (RM); one at Preservation Woods, Guelph 1-25 Oct L (FU); one at Windermere Basin 8 Oct (GPr).Solitary Sandpiper: Four at Cootes Paradise 16 Sep (JL) and one there 20 Sep (JL); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 1 Oct (AZ); one at pond on Clair Rd E [WL] 3 Oct L (FU).Greater Yellowlegs: 11 at Windermere Basin 14 Sep (BC) and 20 there 24 Sep (RD,CE); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 21 Nov L (BH); five at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 25 Oct (BD/DJ); seven at Red Hill SWP 29 Oct (JR); four at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 3 Nov (DMac).Lesser Yellowlegs: 30 at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 1 Sep (TH), 30 there 17 Oct (TH), 13 there 21 Oct (FU), and one 19 Nov L (NH,IA); 20 at Windermere Basin 4 Sep (BC) and 12 there 9 Oct (JJa); 10 at Cosby Rd, S of Beamsville [NG] 22 Oct (NS); one at Bronte Marsh 5 Nov (GPr).Red-necked Phalarope#: 11 on Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 21 Sep (LM).Red Phalarope#: Seven at Van Wagners Beach 1 Nov* (MJa,LM) and nine (possibly same birds as previous) on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] (RPo); two on Lake off Lakeside Park [HL] 24 Nov L (DPr).Pomarine Jaeger#: One at Van Wagners Beach 9 Oct* (RD,m.obs.), one there 12 Oct (RD,CE/DPr,RPa), and one there 4 Nov L {photo} (RD,m.obs.).Parasitic Jaeger#: Birds at Van Wagners Beach: one 1 Sep (RPo), four 2 Sep (MPa), three 9 Sep (CEs), four 11 Sep (BCh,EH,JH), eight 20 Sep (RPo,CE,RD), three 2 Oct (JI), six 9 Oct (LM), 12, 11 Oct (RD,CE,
BH,DPr,m.obs.), seven 12 Oct (DPr), one 27 Oct (RD), and three 4 Nov (TA,m.obs.). Three on Lake at Dewitt Rd [HM] 11 Sep (LM); one at Burlington Ship Canal 5 Nov L (ABu).Long-tailed Jaeger#: One at Van Wagners 20 Sep (RPo), one there 9 Oct (RD,CE), one there 11 Oct (BH,DPr,m.obs.), and one there ** 4 Nov {photo} (JV,m.obs.); one on Lake off Bronte Bluffs Park 12 Oct (RPo).Black-legged Kittiwake#: One at Van Wagners Beach 11 Oct (BH/RD,CE), two there 4 Nov (BH,m.obs.), and one there 11-12 Nov L (HP/LF,GBr,DS); one on Lake at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 3 Nov (KM); one on Lake off Burloak Park [HL] 4 Nov (MJ).
Sabine’s Gull#: Three at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep* (RD,RW,m.obs.), two there 9 Sep (RD,m.obs.), 22 (!) there 13 Sep (RPo), and one there 11 Oct L (RPo,BH,RPa); one at J.C. Saddington park [PL] 4 Sep (LF); two on Lake off South Shell Park [HL] 11 Oct L (YS).Bonaparte’s Gull: One on
Grand River, Brantford 28 Sep (MH); 46 at Ruthven Park [HD]
7 Oct (RL); 32 at Van Wagners Beach 9 Oct (RD,m.obs.) and 25 there 4 Nov (RPa); four at CCIW 26 Nov L (BPME).Little Gull#: One at Van Wagners Beach 4 Nov (SL, m.obs).Iceland Gull: One at Riverwood [PL] 1 Nov F (LF, et al.); one at Van Wagners Beach 4 Nov (CSc); one at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 15 Nov (AZ); one on Lake off Spencer Smith Park [HL] 25 Nov (KM); one at Burlington Ship Canal 26 Nov (MB,BH); one at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 30 Nov (TH)."Thayer’s" Iceland Gull#: One juv. at Burlington Beach 22 Nov F (RD).Lesser Black-backed Gull#: One 2nd ba. at Van Wagners 4 Sep {photo} (TM), one juv. there 18 Sep F (KM), one juv. there 11-12 Oct F (BH/LM), three birds there 4 Nov (RPo), and two birds there 21 Nov (JJa); one at Bronte Beach [HL] 8 Oct (DH); one juv. on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 21 Oct (AC); eight past Hamilton Beachstrip (one 3rd ba.,7juv.) 11 Oct (RD,CE); one juv. 31 Oct – 1 Nov Bronte Bluffs Park (RPo, et al.); two at Mohawk Lake, Brantford 1 Nov (DG) and one there 17 Nov (MH); one ad. at Cootes Paradise 5 Nov (RD,CE); one juv. at Burlington Ship Canal 5 Nov (ABu); four at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 15 Nov (AZ); one at Cambridge landfill 20 Nov (NH); one juv. at Beachway Park to Burlington Ship Canal 22 Nov (BCha,JI/DPr); two ad. at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 30 Nov (TH/FU).Glaucous Gull: One 1st ba. at Grimsby Beach [NG] 7 Nov F (MMac); one 1st ba. at Windermere Basin/Beach Canal/Van Wagners Beach 12 Nov (DJ/MSe,GSe/LF); one at Ben Machree Park [PL] 16 Nov (LF); one 1st ba. at Grimsby Harbour [NG] 14-15 Nov (KM/BK,CC,BD); one ad. at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 26 Nov (FU).Great Black-backed Gull: 30 at NE shore of Harbour 9 Nov (RD) and 110 there 29 Nov (RD).Caspian Tern: 60 at Windermere Basin 3 Sep (SL), five there 1 Oct
Pectoral Sandpiper at Van Wagners Beach, 15 October
November, Van Wagners Beach - photo Josh Vandermeulen.
Black-legged Kittiwake, 4 November, Van Wagners Beach - photo Josh
Vandermeulen.
Sabine's Gull, Van Wagners Beach, 2 September - photo Brett Fried.
(continued from page 154)
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(TO), and one there 7 Oct L (MMa); five at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 4 Sep (IA,NH).Black Tern#: One at Windermere Basin 2-7 Sep (RB,m.obs./MC); one at Van Wagners Beach 13 Sep L (RPo).Common Tern: 12 at Van Wagners Beach 2 Sep (BCha), 60 there 13 Sep (RPo), and three there 11 Oct L (BH/RD,CE); 10 over Cootes Paradise 8 Oct (IA,NH); two on Lake at Dewitt Rd [HM] 11 Oct L (LM).Red-throated Loon: Two at Van Wagners Beach 9 Oct F (RD,m.obs.), five there 11 Oct (BH) and 15 there 4 Nov (RD/AC); three over Margaret Ave, Stoney Creek 25 Oct (RW); two on Lake off Grays Rd [HM] (RPo); two at Burlington Ship Canal 5 Nov (ABu); four off Bronte Harbour 9 Nov (RPo/MJ); six on Lake between Van Wagners Beach and Sayer’s Park [HM] 18 Nov (KM); three on Lake between Lewis and Fifty Rd [HM] 18 Nov (MJa); one on Lake off Gairloch Gardens [HL] 19 Nov (TM,RB); one off Confederation Park [HM] 20 Nov (RPo); three off Beachway Park [HL] 24 Nov (RPo,RD,CE); one off Spencer Smith Park [HL] 27 Nov (LB/DH).Pacific Loon#: One over Van Wagners Beach ** 11 Oct* (BH, NM,DPr); one off Hamilton and Burlington Beachstrips ** 20-25 Nov {photo} (RD,m.obs.).Common Loon: One at Mountsberg Reservoir [HM] 28 Sep (RWo,KWo); 25 over Van Wagners Beach 11 Oct (BH) and 40 there 4 Nov (JBe,JV); eight at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 15 Oct (DD,CE,RD); 16 on Lake at Grays Rd [HM] 26 Oct (MMac); three over Ruthven Park [HD] 4 Nov (RL); seven on Lake off Bronte Harbour 9 Nov (RPo); one at Puslinch Lake [WL] 19 Nov (IA,NH); one at Tikal Pit, Puslinch [WL] 26 Nov (WK).NORTHERN GANNET#: One juv. past Fifty Point [NG] ** 20 Nov* (BMac) and seen shortly after at Fruitland Rd at Lake [HM] (LM) and later off Confederation Park and Van Wagners Beach (m.obs.). Also seen on 22-27 Nov off Beachway Park and Burlington Ship Canal (m.obs.).Double-crested Cormorant: 23 on Grand River, Brantford 1 Sep (NFa) and 18 there 25 Oct (BL); 200 over Ruthven Park [HD] 13 Oct (NF); 19 at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 25 Sep (RWo,MBo); 16 at Shade’s Mills C.A. 24 Oct (AZ); one at Mohawk Lake, Brantford 24 Nov (MH).American Bittern#: One at Cootes Paradise 3 Sep (AN); one at Rattray Marsh [PL] 5 Oct L (CaW).Great Egret: Three at Hespeler Mill Pond [WT] 2 Sep (MC) and again on 1 Oct (RHo); two on Grand River at S.C. Johnson Trail, Brantford 5 Sep (MH); six at Windermere Basin 9 Sep (RPo,TM); one at Scotch Block Reservoir [HL] 10 Sep (YS); four at pond S of Teal Dr, Guelph 10 Sep (FU) and eight there 5 Oct (RH); 12 at Cootes Paradise on 10 Sep (JL), 25 there past Princess Point [going to roost at Carroll’s Point] 10 Sep (RD,CE), 15 there 16 Sep (JL), 18 there 4 Oct (RP), and 11 there 10 Oct (PK); two at Van Wagners Marsh 23 Sep (JWM); eight at SWP at 11 Waxwing Cres, Guelph 7 Oct (MPei); four at Valley Inn [HL] 26 Oct (BK), three there 7 Nov (BK), and two there 9 Nov L (JR).Cattle Egret#: Six in pasture along Old York Rd, Burlington ** 28 Oct (DBut); five over Stoney Creek ** 31 Oct (LM); one in field near Grassie [NG] ** 5 Nov L (RPo).Green Heron: Three at Teal Dr-Downey Rd area, Guelph 12 Sep (RH); two at Cootes Paradise 20 Sep (JL); one at Lion’s Valley Park, Oakville 10
Oct L (DH); one at Windermere Basin 10 Oct L (MN).
Black-crowned Night-Heron: Two on Grand River at Mill Race Park, Galt 3 Sep (KG); 11 at Bayfront Park 3 Sep (JW,MK); one at Franklin Pond [WT] 7-28 Sep (NH); one at Teal Dr-Downey Rd area, Guelph 10 Sep (RH); 25 at Cootes Paradise 16 Sep (JL); eight near RBG Fishway 20 Sep (MPei); seven at Windermere Basin 24 Sep (LM); three at SWP at Appleby Line and Dundas St, Burlington 28 Sep (EH,JH); six at Desjardins Canal, Dundas 13 Oct (FK); seven at West Pond, RBG 30 Sep (JL); 11 at Ottawa St boat slip [HM] 26 Nov (KB,BH).Turkey Vulture: 200 over Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 1 Sep (BVR); 150 over Dundas Valley 9 Oct (TU); 250 over High Level Bridge [HM] 12 Oct (JHu); 285 over Tiffany Falls [HM] 16 Oct (JL); 100 over Hendrie Valley [HL] 17 Oct (BK); 63 over Mohawk St, Brantford 5 Nov (MH); 15 Over Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 8 Nov (JMe,MMe).Osprey: One at Bronte Harbour 3 Nov (EH,JH); one along Grand River, Brantford 5 Nov (DBr).Northern Goshawk: One at Dundas Marsh 1 Oct F (JBe,SL); one at Dundas Valley 29 Oct (TU); one at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 5 Nov (JW,MCr); one at Mohawk St, Brantford 5 Nov (MH).Red-shouldered Hawk: Two over Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 17 Oct F (JMe,MMe); one over Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 17 Oct F (JL); two over 401 near Milton 27 Oct (KWo,RWo); seven over 378 Aurora Cres, Burlington 3 Nov (RPo,CE); two over Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 6 Nov (RPo); one over LaSalle Marina 19 Nov L (RM).Broad-winged Hawk: Two over Hespeler [WT] 2 Sep F (MC); 26 over Downey Rd-Teal Dr area, Guelph 11 Sep (RH); 21 over 8575 1st Line Campbellville [HL] 18 Sep (RWo,KWo); four over Riverwood [PL] 30 Sep (JMe,MMe); one over Dundas Valley 30 Sep L (JL).Rough-legged Hawk: One over 378 Aurora Cres, Burlington 3 Nov F (RPo,CE); two at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 13 Nov (MMac); one over CCIW 28 Nov (RD).Golden Eagle#: One over Margaret St, Stoney Creek 24 Oct F (RW); one over HCA HQ, Dundas Valley 9 Nov (JL); one over Hwy 403 and Alberton Rd [HM] 9 Nov (TA,OY); one over Hwy 403 and Garden Ave, Brantford 12 Nov L (RPo).Snowy Owl#: One at CCIW breakwall 4 Nov F (RD) and two there 30 Nov (RD); one near Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 12 Nov (MJ et al.); one at Tollgate Pond 12 Nov (MSe,GSe), one there 13 Nov (roadkilled) (LM), two there 15 Nov (JR), three there 16 Nov (JR), five there 18 Nov (EH,JH/KM,m.obs.), four there 18 Nov (BC), one roadkill there 19 Nov and two there 30 Nov (RW); one roadkill near Lift Bridge [HM] 14 Nov (GBa); one at Lake at Fruitland Rd [HM] 18 Nov (LM); four at Suncor Pier [HL] 23 Nov (SC); one at Confederation Park [HM] 24 Nov (LM); one on Beach Strip near Dexter Ave [HM] 24 Nov (MJa); one at Windermere Basin 25 Nov (MSe,GSe); one at Burloak Park 26 Nov (MJ/DH); one at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 26 Nov (LM); one at Hamilton Airport 27 Nov (anon); three at Bronte Harbour area 27 Nov (RPo); one at QEW and Red Hill Exp interchange 29-30 Nov (JD/LM);
Pacific Loon at Beach Canal, 25 November - photo Ella Fu.
Northern Gannet at Beach Canal with Ring-billed Gull, 24 November -
Photo Barry Cherriere.
I was walking our dog [28 Oct] and I noticed these white duck-sized birds almost herding our horses [along Old York Road, Aldershot]. I’m not a birder, but I watched these birds for about 15 minutes at about 20 meters. I realized they were not white ducks, I have never seen these birds before. I’m 100% certain that they were Cattle Egrets. I ran to get my camera but they had left by the time I got back. I used the internet to identify them - Daniel Butty - eBird report.
Snowy Owl at Beach Canal, 24 November - photo Mike Veltri.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 161
one at Bayfront Park 30 Nov (LM); one in downtown Galt [WT] 30 Nov (MD); two at CCIW 30 Nov (JC).Barred Owl#: One calling S of Mountsberg C.A. [HM] ** 2 Oct (JBl); one at Woodland Chase Trail, Mississauga ** 20 Nov {photo} (JMe,MMe). Long-eared Owl#: One at Windermere Basin 15 Oct F (RE,FE); one on Nipegon Trail, Oakville (DH); one at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 29 Oct (JL).Short-eared Owl#: One over Van Wagners Beach 9 Oct F (RD,m.obs.); two over Van Wagners Beach 11 Oct (BH,m.obs.); one at Red Hill SWP 12 Nov (LM); two at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 24 Nov (CG).Northern Saw-whet Owl#: Birds at Ruthven Park: three 21 Oct (EG); six there 26 Oct (CSc); and one there 1 Nov (RL).Red-headed Woodpecker#: One at HCA HQ, Dundas Valley 7 Sep (JL); one at 5th Line and Side Road 5 [HL] 13 Sep (YS); one on Miles Rd, just S of English Church Rd [HM] 22 Sep L (GN).Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: One at Woodland Cemetery 9 Sep F (CE,DD,RD); four at Jaycee Sports Park, Brantford (ANg); six at Ruthven Park [HD] 6 Oct (RL); six at Riverwood [PL] 7 Oct (JMe,MMe) and one there 13 Nov L (AA); five at Dofasco Trail 14 Oct (TU).Black-backed Woodpecker#: One off Southdown Rd, just S of QEW [HL] ** 24 Sep* {photo} (JSe). Olive-sided Flycatcher#: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 3 Sep (RL); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 4 Sep (MMe,JMe/RB); one at Preservation Woods, Guelph 5 Sep (FU); one at Franklin Pond [WT] 6 Sep L (AZ).Eastern Wood-Pewee: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] 6 Oct (RL); one at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 13 Oct L (MH).Yellow-bellied Flycatcher: Three at Edgelake Park [HM] 1 Sep (RP); one at Laird Rd Pond, Guelph 27 Sep (MC); one at Hendrie Valley 10 Oct L (LHF). Willow Flycatcher: Three at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep (BCha); one at Guelph Arboretum 6 Sep (CCo); one at Confederation Park [HM] 10 Sep L (RD,CE,DD).Least Flycatcher: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 18 Sep L (RL).Eastern Phoebe: One at Woodland Cemetery 9 Sep F ((DD,RD,CE); three at Coldspring Valley/McMaster 5 Nov L (RP); one at McMaster Forest 5 Nov (RP); one along Grand River, Brantford 5 Nov (DBr); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 5 Nov L (LF/MCr,AD,RPa); one at 2536 Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 5 Nov L (GPr).Great Crested Flycatcher: Two at Guelph Arboretum 12 Sep (CCo); one at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 20 Sep (BO); one at Fifty Pt C.A. [NG] 13-16 Sep L (NS/KO).Eastern Kingbird: One at Teal Dr-Downey Rd area, Guelph 10 Sep (RH); one at Windermere Basin 14 Sep L (BC).Northern Shrike: One at Hwy 25 near Lower Baseline Rd [HL] 20 Oct F (DJ); one at Preservation Woods, Guelph 25 Oct (RH); two at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 5 Nov (MCr,JWa); one at 10th Road E [HM] 11-19 Nov (NS/RP); one at Valens C.A. [HM] 16 Nov (DBr); one at McMillan Pit, Puslinch [WL] 17 Nov (NH); one at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 24 Nov (RP); one at Confederation Park [HM] 26 Nov (DNe).White-eyed Vireo#: One at Spencer Creek trails, Dundas ** 22 Oct (JL); one at Arkendo Park [HL] ** 18 Nov (RM); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] ** 25-29 Nov {photo} (CE,m.obs.).Yellow-throated Vireo: One at Sedgewick Park 3 Sep (MK); one at
2536 Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 4 Sep (GPr); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 11-20 Sep (RL) and one there 21-27 Sep L (RL/NF); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 16 Sep (RPo,LM).Blue-headed Vireo: Six at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 29 Sep (TU); three at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 10 Oct (BO); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] ** 26 Nov L (MJa).Philadelphia Vireo: 12 at Confederation Park [HM] 10 Sep (RD,DD,CE); three at Edgelake Park [HL] 7 Oct (RW/MMa); two at Burloak Woods 8 Oct (MJ); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 Oct (CSc/RL). Warbling Vireo: Seven at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 7 Sep (MH); one at Beach Canal 20 Sep (MC); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 21 Sep (RL); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 7 Oct (DS).Red-eyed Vireo: 10 at Confederation Park [HM] 1 Sep (CE,RD,DD); one at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 14 Oct (RP); one at Victoria Park, Galt [WT] 5 Nov (MB,JB); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] ** 22 Nov {photo} (CE); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] ** 25-29 Nov {photo} (CE/m.obs./CE).Fish Crow#: Two calling at Waterdown Memorial Park [HM] ** 21 Nov (BCha).Purple Martin: Three at Glen Morris [BR] 5 Sep L (EH,JH).Tree Swallow: 10 at Windermere Basin 4 Sep (RBar) and two there 10 Oct (JBi); 42 at Ruthven Park [HD] 29 Sep (RL), 13 there 9 Oct (RL), and one there 11 Oct (NF).Northern Rough-winged Swallow: Eight at Sedgewick Park [HL] 5 Sep L (RB).Bank Swallow: 10 at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Sep (RL) and one there 9 Sep (RL,EG); one at Van Wagners Beach 10 Sep L (YS).Cliff Swallow: Three at Riverwood [PL} 2 Sep (PStr); two at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep (BCha); three at Bronte Marsh 4 Sep (GPr); two at wetland at 407 & Britannia Rd [HL] 9 Sep (CaW).Swallow Sp: Four over Cootes Paradise 5 Nov (RD,CE).Barn Swallow: 120 at Sedgewick Park [HL] 3 Sep (MK); 110 at Tollgate Pond 3 Sep (LM); 55 at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep (BCha); 40 at North Service Rd and Ontario St, Beamsville [NG] (MMac).Tufted Titmouse#: One at Caleb’s Walk, Cootes Paradise 12 Sep (MB,CJ); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 14 Sep (EH,JH); two at LaSalle Park [HL] 14 Sep (BCr); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 19 Sep – 14 Oct (RL,CSc); one at RBG Arboretum 28 Sep (EH,JH); four at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 5 Oct and five there 24 Nov (MH); one at Watersedge Park [PL] 21 Oct (RM); one at HCA HQ, Dundas Valley 26 Oct (JL); four at River Rd and Birkett Lane, Brantford 5 Nov (BL,SL); one at Beachway Park [HL] 22 Nov (JWM).Red-breasted Nuthatch: 30 at Hyde Tract [HM] 30 Nov (BL).Brown Creeper: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] 16 Sep F (AN); 15 at Edgelake Park [HM] 29 Sep (RW); 12 at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby 15 Oct (BCha).House Wren: One at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 15 Oct (BCha); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 21 Oct L {photo} (EG).Winter Wren: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Sep F (RL); two at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Sep (WK); one at Shell Park [HL] 10 Sep (MJ).Sedge Wren#: One at Cootes Paradise (willows) ** 24 Sep* (AD,MN,RPa,OY).Marsh Wren: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Sep F (RL); four at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 21 Sep (RP); one at Windermere Basin 1 Oct (DD,RD,CE); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 17 Nov L (BD).Carolina Wren: (continued on page 163)
Red-eyed Vireo at Shore-acres Park, 26 Nov - photo
Dinu Bandyopadhyay.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 162
BRUCE PENINSULA – NATURE WEEKEND25-27 May, 2018
BIRDING FIELD TRIPSGENERAL NATURE FIELD TRIPS BUCKET RAFFLE AND BIRD QUIZ
Limestone cliffs and sand beaches, hardwood forests and cedar swamps, fens and alvars – this variety of ecosystems on the Bruce Peninsula makes it a special place for naturalists. South Peel Naturalists’ Club extends an invitation to join us to explore the Bruce Peninsula. This annual weekend event provides the opportunity to see the best of the Bruce with expert leaders and in the company of fellow naturalists.
The cost per person for the weekend: - $20 registration fee to cover cost of bucket raffle prizes and lodging for volunteer leaders - $236 (+ 13% taxes) for two nights’ accommodation at Evergreen Resort, Mar, ON (includes all meals and snacks)
For further information: [email protected] or contact Donna at 905-815-0933 or Audrey at 905-820-2571Audrey Oswald South Peel Naturalists’ Club
Please join us at the 2018 PADDLING Film Festival at the Ewart Angus Centre at McMaster University hosted by the Hamilton Naturalists' Club and the McMaster Outdoor Club. Proceeds to benefit HNC Stewardship in the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark. March 23, 2018, 7:00 p.m. Tickets to be sold through Eventbrite.The PADDLING Film Festival is an international adventure film tour presenting the world’s best paddling films of the year – whitewater, sea kayaking, canoeing, Stand-Up paddling - action and lifestyle – in more than 120 cities and towns across Canada, United States and around the world.
Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch Begins March 1st
This is certainly good news for all of you winter-weary naturalists. The hawkwatch at Beamer Memorial C.A. is a wonderful spot to welcome spring. It is more than just hawks; there are great views from the Escarpment too!
Since 1975, birders have been monitoring the annual spring migration of hawks, eagles, falcons, and vultures over the Niagara Peninsula. Starting on March 1, and continuing every day until the middle of May, the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch has people stationed at Beamer from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Standard Time (9:00 a.m.
-5:00 p.m. DST) to identify and record every bird of prey that passes overhead. Information is freely available,
there is no admission charge, and the best hours are between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
This year's NPH Open House at Beamer C.A., on top of the Escarpment just south of Grimsby, is on 30 March (Good Friday) from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The event features talks about raptor
migration, displays by nature groups, live raptor display and a children’s program.
Jack Ryan, counter for the day, standing at table; Roy Baker, counter, in green shirt and hat at telescope behind Jack; Phil Waggett, counter, at right of table, Bob Yukich
in middle of photo - from NPH website - photo from 1997.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 163
One at 91 Alderson Dr, Hespeler [WT] 18 Sep (RMa,HM); one at 8575 Campbellville Rd [HL] 21 Sep – 7 Oct (KWo,RWo); one at Preservation Woods, Guelph 30 Oct (BPME).Blue-gray Gnatcatcher: One at Lakeside Park [PL] 25 Oct – 8 Nov L (JW/DPr).Golden-crowned Kinglet: Three at Van Wagners Ponds 23 Sep F (LM,LT); 25 at Edgelake Park [HM] 29 Sep (RW); 50 at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley (TU); 45 at Confederation Park [HM] 9 Oct (JMi); 59 at River & Ruins Trail,
Lowville [HL] 10 Oct (BO); 50 at Ruthven Park [HD] 12 Oct (RL); 35 at Hyde Tract [HM] 30 Nov (BL).Ruby-crowned Kinglet: One at Rattray Marsh [PL] 9 Sep F (RM); 25 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 29 Sep (MW), 40 there 15 Oct (MK), and one there 29 Nov L (PG,MJa, et al.); 75 at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley (TU) and one there 24 Nov (JL); 40 at Edgelake Park 29 Sep (RW); 42 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 14 Oct (MJ); 40 at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 Oct (RL); 18 at Hendrie Valley 16 Oct (ES); one at Captain Cootes Trail, RBG 24 Nov (ES); one at Lakeside Park [PL] 25 Nov (RM); one at Arkendo Park [HL] 25 Nov (RM).Eastern Bluebird: One at Woodland Cemetery 30 Sep F (CE,RD,DD); 20 at Ruthven Park 12 Oct (NF) and 27 there 4 Nov (RL); 12 at Hwy 407 and Burnhamthorpe Rd [HL] 26 Oct (DJ); 15 at Dundas Valley C.A. 29 Oct (TU) and 10 there 11 Nov (TU); 11 at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 29 Oct (RP); 16 in Branchton area [BR] 5 Nov (NT).Veery: One at Guelph Arboretum 1 Oct (RHo); one at Sherwood Forest Park, Oakville 7 Oct L (CE).Gray-cheeked Thrush: One at S.C. Johnson Trail, Brantford 6 Sep F (MH); four at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Sep (RL); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 9 Oct (RW); one at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 14 Oct L (BO).Swainson’s Thrush: One over Brantford 31 Aug F (SL); 10 at Ruthven Park [HD] 8 Sep (RL) and 20 there 17 Sep (RL); eight at Confederation Park [HM] 9 Sep (JL); 10 at Edgelake Park 16 Sep (RPo,LM); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 21 Oct L (RPa,LF, et al.).Hermit Thrush: One at Smith Property Loop [WL] 10 Sep F (RvT); 10 at Ruthven Park [HD] 6 Oct and 11 there 10 Oct (RL); six at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 10 Oct (BD); seven at Edgelake Park [HM] 11 Oct (RW); three at Hyde Tract [HM] 30 Nov (BL).Wood Thrush: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 7 Oct (RW,MMa); one at Burloak woods [HL] 8 Oct (MJ); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 8 Oct (RW); one at Borer’s Falls C.A. [HM] 9 Oct (SD); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 10 Oct L (RL).Gray Catbird: One at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 28 Oct (MJ); one at 1st Road E [HM] 29 Oct (RW); one at Concession 4, Puslinch [WL] 29 Oct (CCo); one at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 30 Oct (JL); one at Cootes Paradise 5 Nov L (SR).Brown Thrasher: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 7 Oct (RW,MMa); one at Walker’s Line and Lakeshore Rd, Burlington 8 Oct (CR); one in Hendrie Valley 10 Oct (BK); one at Preservation Woods, Guelph 17 Nov L {photo} (RH).Northern Mockingbird: One at Franklin Pond, Cambridge 12 Sep (NH); one at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 17 Sep (RP); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 25 Sep (RL).American Pipit: One at Van Wagners Beach ** 2 Sep F (RPo, m.obs.) and six there 23 Sep (LM, et al.); 20 at Lockie-Sager Rd [HM] 5 Nov
(NH); 15 at Brantford dump 5 Nov (SL,BL); 45 at Settler’s Rd [HM] 5 Nov (NH); 38 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 11 Nov (MJ); 40 at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 17 Nov (MJ); one at Beachway Park [HL] 24 Nov (WK); one at Windermere Basin 27 Nov L (LF).Purple Finch: One over Jack Darling Park [PL] 2 Sep F (RM); five at Bronte Creek P.P. [HL] 5 Nov (MCr,AD,RPa).Red Crossbill#: Two at Headwaters Trail, Dundas Valley 7 Nov F (JL).Common Redpoll#: Three at Stoney Creek feeder 27 Oct F (LM); two at Dundas Valley C.A. 19 Nov (TU).Pine Siskin: One at Shoreacres Park [HL] 30 Sep F (WK); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Oct (RL); eight at Hendrie Valley 18 Oct (GLa); 21 at McMaster Forest 21 Oct (RP); 20 at Spencer Creek trail, Dundas 21 Oct (RPo); 30 at Brant Park, Brantford 23 Oct (MH); 29 at Devil’s Punch Bowl [HM] 24 Oct (JL); 30 at Rattlesnake Pt C.A. [HL] 29 Oct (JDa); 44 at N Service Rd & QEW, Beamsville 8 Nov (MMac); 75 at Dundas Valley C.A. 18 Nov (TU); 35 at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 24 Nov (JL); 15 at Erindale College 27 Nov (SM).Lapland Longspur#: One at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 7 Oct F (JL); one at Preservation Woods, Guelph 30 Oct (FU); 47 at Sheffield Rd near Troy [HM] 5 Nov (RP).Snow Bunting: Two at 131 Arrowhead Dr, Hamilton 25 Oct F (TU); 50 at Windermere Basin 5 Nov (BC); 100+ at Confederation Park [HM] 9 Nov (BM).Ovenbird: Six at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Sep (RL); one at Burloak Woods [HL] 8 Oct (MJ); one at East 36th St, Hamilton 29 Oct L (FM).Northern Waterthrush: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 17 Sep L (RL); one at Edgelake Park [HM] 17 Sep L (CE,DD,RD); one at Petro Canada Park [HL] 17 Sep L (MJ).Golden-winged Warbler#: One at Woodland Cemetery 2 Sep F (RD); one at Joe Sam’s Park, Waterdown 5 Sep L {photo} (TT).Blue-winged Warbler#: Two at Ruthven Park [HD] ** 1-7 Sep (RL) and one there until 13 Sep (RL).Black-and-White Warbler: Five at Morrison Trail, Oakville 8 Sep (AGu); six at LaSalle Park [HL] 10 Sep (BCo,RP); one at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 13 Oct L (BD).Tennessee Warbler: Four at Deer Run Court [BR] 16 Sep (GSi,JSi); four at Beamer C.A. [NG] 20 Sep (MMac); five at Ruthven Park 8 Oct (RL), five there 13 Oct (NF), and one there 14 Oct (RL,EG,CSc); one at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 14 Oct (JL) and one there ** 24 Nov L {photo} (JL); one at South Shell Park [HL] 30 Oct {photo} (MJ).Orange-crowned Warbler: One south of Derry Rd and James Snow Pkwy [HL] 26 Sep F (YS); four along Spencer Creek Trail, Dundas 9 Oct (JL); five at Ruthven Park [HD] 10 Oct (RL); four at Preservation Woods loop, Guelph 10 Oct (FU); four at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 14 Oct (MJ); one at Erindale Park [PL] 1 Nov L (MJo).Nashville Warbler: 20 at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 28 Sep (JL); six at Preservation Woods loop, Guelph 9 Oct (FU); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 17 Oct (GL); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 17 Oct {photo} (RPo); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 27-30 Nov {photo} (CE/m.obs.).Connecticut Warbler#: One at Shade’s Mills C.A. [WT] 6 Sep (KT); one at Hilton Falls C.A. [HL] 25 Sep L (RWo,MBo); one at Merrick Orchard, Dundas
(continued from page 161)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Lakeside Park [PL] 8 Nov - photo David
Pryor.
Veery at Edgelake Park, 1 Sep - photo Rob Buchanan.
Golden-winged Warbler at Joe Sam's Park, 2 September - photo
Tom Thomas.
Nashville Warbler at Sedgewick Park, 29 Nov - photo Iain Fleming.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 164
Valley 25 Sep L (JL).Mourning Warbler: One at Bronte Harbour 19 Sep L (MJ).Common Yellowthroat: 11 at Ruthven Park [HD], 10 there 8 Sep, 10 there 10 Sep, 10 there 15 Sep, and 7 there 22 Sep (all RL); six at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 6 Sep (BO); eight at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 11 Sep (PBu); seven at Taquanyah C.A. [HD] 17 Sep (RP); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 11 Nov (LF,RPa); one at Bayfront Park 12 Nov L (RM).American Redstart: Seven at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 2 Sep (NS); eight at Edgelake Park [HM] 3 Sep (RPa,AD); 13 at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 4 Sep (BO); seven at Morrison Trail, Oakville 8 Sep (AGu); 14 at Confederation Park [HM] 9 Sep (RWa); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 6-8 Oct (RL); one at 153 Ridge Rd [HM] 8 Oct (SMac); one at Cootes Paradise 9 Oct (MMac); one at Walter Bean Trail and George St N, Cambridge 28 Oct L (IA,NH).Cape May Warbler: Four at Sedgewick Park 10 Sep (WK) and four there 17 Sep (GSt); four at Fifty Pt C.A. [NG] 13 Sep (NS) and six there 16 Sep (KO); two at Rock Chapel [HM] 7 Oct L (SD).Northern Parula: One at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep F (BCha); five at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 9 Sep (MN,RPa); six at Smith Property loop [WL] 10 Sep (RvT); four at Sedgewick Park 17 Sep (GSt) and one there ** 3-11 Nov L {photo} (MMe,JMe/TM).Magnolia Warbler: 12 at Edgelake Park [HL] 3 Sep (WK); nine at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep (BCha); 15 at Confederation Park [HM] 9 Sep (JL) and 17 there 10 Sep (RD,CE,DD); nine at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Sep (BCo,RP/AD); 10 at Smith Property loop [WL] 10 Sep (RvT); 15 at Forty Mile Creek, Grimsby [NG] 11 Sep (BD); 10 at Ruthven Park [HD] 15 Sep (RL) and one 13 Oct L (NF).Bay-breasted Warbler: Seven at Ruthven Park [HD] 5 Sep (RL) and one there 7 Oct L (RL); five at Guelph Arboretum 7 Sep (BRe); five at Rattray Marsh [PL] 9 Sep (RM); eight at Confederation Park [HM] 10 Sep (DD,CE,RD); five at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Sep (BCo,RP); five at Woodland Cemetery 10 Sep (BCo,RP); two at Edgelake Park [HM] 7 Oct L (RW,MMa).Blackburnian Warbler: Five at Fifty Pt C.A. [NG] 6 Sep (NS); six at Preservation Woods, Guelph 6 Sep (FU); 12 at Smith Property loop [WL] 10 Sep (RvT); five at Edgelake Park [HM] 10 Sep (AD); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 7 Oct L (LF,RPa).Yellow Warbler: Five at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep (BCha); one at Britton Tract [HL] 10 Sep (YS); two at Rattray Marsh [PL] 10 Sep (MPo); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Sep (WK/AD); one at Van Wagners Ponds 10 Sep (IJ); three at Princess Point, RBG 11 Sep (RP).Chestnut-sided Warbler: Five at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 7 Sep (MH); five at Edgelake Park [HM] 9 Sep (DNe); five at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 8 Sep (RPa); five at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 8 Sep (BO); one at Jaycee Sports Park, Brantford 8 Oct L (ANg).Blackpoll Warbler: 50 at Merrick Lane, Dundas Valley 8 Sep (JL); eight at Princess Pt, RBG 11 Sep (RP); 30 at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 14 Sep (JL); 18 at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 14 Sep (NS); 50 at Ruthven Park (RL), 12 there 17 Sep (RL), 10 there 21 Sep (RL) and one there 11 Oct (NF); one at 8 Eagle Ridge Cres, Glen Morris [BR] 1 Nov L {photo} (EH,JH).Black-throated Blue Warbler: Five at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Sep (RP,BCo); four at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 29 Sep (TU); one at
LaSalle Park [HL] 14 Oct L (SL,BL,CB).Palm Warbler: Seven at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 9 Sep (KO); five at Woodland Cemetery 9 Sep F (CE,RD,DD); 14 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 15 Sep (MJ) and 11 there 9 Oct (MJ); 16 at McMaster Forest 9 Oct (RP); one at Princess Point, RBG 5 Nov (RD,CE); one at Sedgewick Park [HL] ** 24-30 Nov {photo} (TM,m.obs.).Pine Warbler: Four at Lake Wabukayne [PL] 10 Sep (CaW); four at Preservation Woods, Guelph 24 Sep (FU); two at Mountsberg C.A. [HM] 25 Sep (RWo,MBo); two at McMaster Forest 9 Oct L (RP).Yellow-rumped Warbler: 15 at Petro Canada Park [HL] 3 Oct (RB); 14 at Fifty Point C.A. [NG] 6 Oct (NS); 30 at Ruthven Park [HD] 8 Oct (RL), 40 there 11 Oct (NF), 150 there 12 Oct (NF), and 20 there 15 Oct (EG); 20 at Sedgewick Park [HL] 9 Oct (PSt), six there 30 Nov (m.obs.); 55 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 9 Oct (MJ); 14 at Fern Hill School, Burlington 10 Oct (RL); 17 at Dofasco Trail [HM] 14 Oct (TU); 16 at Oak Park Trail, Brantford 15 Oct (GSi,JSi); two at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 18 Nov (RM); one Shoreacres Park [HL] 27 Nov (LF); one at S.C. Johnson Trail, Brantford (NFa).“Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warbler#: One at Sedgewick Park [HL] ** 28-30 Nov {photo} (CE/m.obs.).Black-throated Green Warbler: Six at Beamer C.A. [NG] 2 Sep (MMac); six at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 8 Sep (GL); six at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 8 Sep (BO); six at Confederation Park 9 Sep (JL); six at Dundas Valley C.A. 19 Sep (TU); six at Ruthven Park [HD] 24 Sep (RL) and one there 13 Oct (NF); three at Bronte Bluffs Park [HL] 7 Oct (RB); three at Edgelake Park [HM] 8 Oct (RW); four at Preservation Woods, Guelph 8 Oct (FU); one at Shoreacres Park [HL] 20 Oct L (RP).Canada Warbler: Two at Watersedge Park [PL] 2 Sep (RM); two at Shell Park [HL] 10 Sep (AD); one at Shoreacres Park 18 Sep L (RPo).Wilson’s Warbler: Four at Lakeside Park [HL] 2 Sep (RM); four at Fifty Point C.A. [HM] 2 Sep (NS); four at Rattray Marsh [PL] 10 Sep (MPo); four at Sedgewick Park [HL] 10 Sep (RP,BCo); three at Edgelake Park [HM] 17 Sep (DD,RD,CE); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 13 Oct L (NF). Yellow-breasted Chat#: One at rare Charitable Research Reserve [WT] ** 16 Sep (LH).Eastern Towhee: Two at McMaster Forest 9 Oct (RP); two at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 14 Oct (JL); three Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 4 Oct (LF) and one there 1 Nov L (LF, et al.); one at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 1 Nov L (TU).American Tree Sparrow: One at Woodland Glen Dr, Guelph 12 Oct F (BWy); 94 at 5th Line wetland, N of Britannia Rd [HL] 30 Oct (YS).Chipping Sparrow: 12 at Deer Run Ct [BR] 25 Sep (GSi,JSi); 11 at Van Wagners Beach 20 Oct (LM); 22 at Gates of Heaven Cemetery [HL] 21 Oct (RD); one at Franklin Pond [WT] 1 Nov (NH); two at King's Forest [HM] 3 Nov (TU); two at Ruthven Park [HD] 4 Nov (RL); one at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 8 Nov L (LF, et al.).Clay-colored Sparrow#: One at HCA HQ, Dundas Valley 22 Sep {photo} (TU); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] ** 14 Oct {photo} (MJ). Field Sparrow: Seven at Oak Park Trail, Brantford 3 Oct (MH); 12 at Gates of Heaven Cemetery [HL] 8 Oct (RD); seven at Fern Hill School, Burlington 10 Oct (RL); 11 at McMaster Forest 13 Oct (RP); seven at 10th Road E at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 15 Oct (RP); eight at Fifty Point C.A.[NG] 23 Oct (RS); one in Brantford backyard 25 Oct (BL); one at Franklin Pond [WT] 1 Nov (NH); one at 242 Junction Rd, Cayuga [HD] 16 Nov L (EGi). (continued on page 167)
Northern Parula, 11 Nov, Sedgewick Park -
photo Tom Miller.
Chestnut-sided Warbler at Edgelake Park, 5 Sep - photo
John Vieira.
Audubon's Warbler at Sedgewick Park, 29 Nov - photo Mike Veltri.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 165
B i r d S t u d y G r o u p M e e t i n g S u m m a r y – J a n u a r y 1 5 , 2 0 1 8
Gray Jay Research in Algonquin Park with Alex Suttonby Michael Rowlands
At our January meeting, Bird Study Group director Bruce Mackenzie recalled meeting a man on a hike many years
ago who greatly enjoyed walking in Canada’s forests because it was something he could not do safely in his native Colombia. The January issue of National Geographic magazine features a story about how Colombia is starting to heal in the aftermath of its 52-year civil war and how its forests are now safe again for naturalists to wander. This year is the 100th anniversary of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act that protects birds from needless killing, so the National Geographic Society (along with other groups) is declaring 2018 the “Year of the Bird” and its popular magazine will feature lots of birding content in each month’s issue.
Next, Peter Scholtens was recognized for successfully managing the Hamilton Birders Google group for 10 years. (If you’re not a member and would like to join the group to receive messages of interesting bird sightings in the Hamilton Study Area, please send an email to: [email protected].) Bruce also mentioned that Peter was responsible for finding our evening’s speaker, whom he’d met when hiking in Algonquin Park a year ago. (If you know someone you feel could be a potential speaker on a relevant birding topic, please let Bruce know!) Our speaker, Alex Sutton, is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Guelph working with Professor Ryan Norris in the department of Integrative
Biology. His topic for the evening was “Life on the edge: what we have learned from the Gray Jays of Algonquin Park.”
Gray Jays, also known as Canada Jays and Whisky Jacks, are curious, intelligent passerines widely distributed across the boreal forest and subalpine districts of North America. Some will even be bold enough to come to your hand if offered food. Found in all Canadian provinces and territories, they
have been recommended by Canadian Geographic magazine as its nominee for Canada’s national bird (even though the federal government is not thinking of naming a national bird - see sidebar on next page). They don’t migrate south in the winter, but instead stay in their territories year-round, surviving the harsh winters by caching food throughout their habitats under bark flakes or arboreal lichen in the late summer or early fall. Having food supplies available in the dead of winter allows them to start breeding much earlier than most other birds, laying eggs between late February and March, sometimes in snow-surrounded nests.
Alex first explained that the study area for the research on Gray Jays has been the parts of Algonquin Park along the Highway 60 corridor, which is the southern edge of the Gray Jay’s range. Park naturalist Russ Rutter was curious about Gray Jays back in 1967 and started identifying birds he could easily capture with coloured leg bands to study their year-round activities. After Russ retired,
his successor Dan Strickland continued the research for over 40 years, thus making their study of Gray Jays’ ecology one of the longest known! In 2008, Ryan Norris became involved and he and his students have been continuing the field work ever since.
Monitoring individual banded jays is particularly intense during their winter breeding season and begins with finding the nests, a sometimes cold and difficult task! The researchers offer nesting material such as feathers to the jays, then follow them to the nest sites when possible. The females will incubate the eggs for 18 days through harsh conditions – sleet, blizzards, -30°C temperatures – and be fed by the males from their food caches.
One experiment was conducted to find whether female Gray Jays experienced a weight gain before laying their first egg, given that fresh food is limited in their habitat. The jays were lured to an electronic balance that held cheese attached to its pan so the researchers could determine the weights of individuals. They confirmed that the females did indeed increase their weight, whereas the males did not.
Another experiment found that supplementing the jays’ food supply with cat food from special feeders in the pre-breeding period advanced the laying date of the eggs and increased the brood size. Similarly, jays near parts of the Park most frequented by visitors, who feed the jays through the winter, also had earlier first hatchings and bigger broods. Earlier nests have a higher survival rate and the juveniles are more likely to stay in the population – perhaps from having longer to learn survival skills from the adults.
Accessing Gray Jay nests to band and assess the nestlings can be quite a challenge for the researchers as these jays nest from 10 to 45 feet off the ground in Black Spruce trees. Ladders need to be carried over difficult terrain by foot, canoe, or car in all kinds of weather. When the ladders were too short, Dan Strickland even built additional steps from 2x4s nailed between two trees to reach a nest! Nowadays, Alex explained, they have the sense to hire professional tree climbers to reach the highest nests.
Monitoring the banded nestlings’ behaviour throughout their life cycles has also led to insights about population trends. Sadly, since the 1980s, the population of Gray Jays in the Park has declined by 50%. Habitat quality seems directly correlated with conifer coverage, which varies throughout the Park. To find out what drives this, they examined the ability of conifers versus deciduous trees to preserve cached food. Resins in Black Spruce have antimicrobial properties not found in the bark of Sugar Maples, for instance, so raisins deliberately cached by the researchers had less weight loss from June to November in the conifers than in the hardwoods.Strangely, the data from 33 years of study counter-intuitively
Speaker Alex Sutton - photo Mike Rowlands.
Mike Rowlands selfie.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018Page 166
show that territory quality does not directly predict population survival. Instead they suggest that, in difficult years, adults may choose to allocate resources away from reproduction and focus instead on their own survival. It’s also interesting that the conifer coverage in Algonquin Park has not declined over time, so why are the Gray Jay populations decreasing?
One hypothesis is that warmer fall temperatures are spoiling cached food. To test this “hoard-rot” theory, in September 2014 artificial caches were placed at different latitudes – from Guelph in the south, to Algonquin Park as the study base, to Cochrane in the north – and monitored every 60 days until March. The study showed that increases in average fall temperature in Algonquin Park over the previous 25 years were responsible for a 10-15% loss in food availability. Increases in average temperatures also will increase microbial growth on the cached food. The study also found that the more freeze-thaw cycles in a season, the more food degradation there is and the smaller the brood size will be.
Alex then gave us an overview of the current status of Gray Jay research. He and his colleagues are building a population model for the Gray Jay that will account for the effects of immigration, emigration, survival rate, and the numbers of young. Another project is tracking juvenile dispersal and survival using radio
tagging – initially following the birds from the ground in the summer, when they are hard to see in the foliage, and then later in the year by telemetry from a turbo-prop Beaver aircraft as the young jays establish their own territories away from where they were hatched. Studies on the effects of freeze-thaw cycles are in progress, and new study sites on Vancouver Island and in Alaska (and for other species of birds as well) are also being established.
Saying that there is still much more to learn, Alex thanked his mentors, Dan Strickland and Ryan Norris, and the countless volunteers who have contributed to the Gray Jay research. He invited us to visit the website of the Algonquin Park Wildlife Research Station at http://www.algonquinwrs.ca for further information or to make a donation. From the healthy number of questions from the floor, it was apparent that the group enjoyed Alex’s talk immensely and was unanimously concerned about the welfare of this widespread, curious bird.
Canada Jay Name Change Proposal
At the February 2016 Toronto Ornithological Club (TOC) meeting, our speaker Dan Strickland of Algonquin Park told us that the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) changed the name Canada Jay to Gray Jay in 1957. Canadian ornithologists and birders were saddened and disappointed, but did not protest. Dan’s recent investigations have found that the 1957 name change was arbitrary and unnecessary. The topic has again come to the forefront because Canada does not have an official national bird. The Gray Jay was selected by the Royal Canadian Geographic Society in 2016 as its candidate for Canada’s national bird after carefully considering thousands of public and expert comments. However, the federal government has shown little interest in the Gray Jay as a national bird, possibly due to its uninspiring name and the American spelling of grey.
To reinstate the name Canada Jay, Dan Strickland and American ornithologist Carla Cicero (University of California, Berkeley) recently made a joint proposal to the American Ornithological Society (AOS) to “Restore Canada Jay as the English name of Perisoreus canadensis.” It is one of the few birds whose scientific name is derived from Canada. The proposal is supported by five Canadian ornithologists including the president of the Society of Canadian Ornithologists. The Gray Jay is the logo bird of its journal Avian Conservation & Ecology. The AOS’s decision on the name change will be announced this July 2018 in the Fifty-ninth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds published in the journal The Auk: Ornithological Advances. I’m confident that Gray Jay will be changed back to Canada Jay.
It is hoped that the federal government will be more likely to adopt the Canada Jay as our national bird after an official name change. It is non-migratory and found in all 10 provinces and 3 territories. Luckily, it has not been chosen as a provincial or territorial bird, making it eligible as a national bird with no conflicts. In our 151st year as a country, it is time we had the Canada Jay / Mésangeai du Canada as our national bird. Lastly, an Act of Parliament will be needed to make the Canada Jay our official bird emblem.by Ron Pittaway - reprinted from Toronto Ornithological Club Newsletter, February 2018.
Gray Jay on nest at Algonquin Park - photo Dan Strickland.
The Wood Duck - March, 2018 Page 167
Vesper Sparrow: Three at 10th Road E at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 1 Oct (RP) and one there 13 Oct (MMac); one at Franklin Pond [WT] 4 Oct (NH); six at William Halton Pkwy [HL] 6 Oct (MJ); one at Spencer Creek Trail, Dundas 22 Oct (RPa,MN); one at Paddy Greene Rd, Ancaster 31 Oct L {photo} (TU,JL).Savannah Sparrow: 14 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 1 Oct (MJ), eight there 9 Oct (MJ), and one there 10 Nov L (MJ); 22 at Wyecroft/McPherson SWP [HL] 3 Oct (MJ); four at William Halton Pkwy [HL] 6 Oct (MJ); six at 10th Road East at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 8 Oct (RP); seven at Heritage Green Park [HM] 10 Oct (RP); one at Coldspring Valley [HM] 5 Nov (RP).Grasshopper Sparrow#: One at Keystone Crescent, Hamilton 17 Sep (LM); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] ** 9 Oct {photo} (MJ).Nelson’s Sparrow#: Two at Cootes Paradise 28 Sep* (LM), 10 there 30 Sep (RPo et al.); eight there 1 Oct (SL,JBe), two there 8 Oct (IA,NH), and one there 14 Oct (MMac); one at Mt Albion C.A. [HM] 29 Sep (RP); one at Windermere Basin 15 Oct (BCha); one at Valens C.A. 19 Oct L (BL).Fox Sparrow: One at Riverwood Conservancy [PL] 7 Oct F (LF,JWM); 11 at Sheffield Rd N of Troy [HM] 5 Nov (RP); one at Eramosa Karst C.A. [HM] 29 Nov L (TU).Lincoln’s Sparrow: One at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 4 Sep F (BCha); five at Confederation Park [HM] 10 Sep (DD,RD,CE); six at 10th Road East [HM] 1 Oct (RP); three at Mt Albion C.A. 3 Oct (RP); three at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 9 Oct (MJ); two at Spencer Creek trail, Dundas 15 Oct (DR); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 22 Oct L (EG). Swamp Sparrow: One at Ruthven Park [HD] 1 Sep F (RL); four at J.C. Saddington Park [PL] 29 Sep (PBu); 16 at Dundas Hydro Pond 21 Oct (RD).White-throated Sparrow: One at 2536 Ridgeside Lane, Oakville 4 Sep F (GPr); one at Windermere Basin 4 Sep (MMac); 50 at Shoreacres Park [HL] 29 Sep (MW); 45 at Merrick Orchard, Dundas Valley 29 Sep (JL); 50 at Edgelake Park [HM] 1 Oct (TO); 96 at River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 10 Oct (BO) and 41 there 17 Oct (BO); 50 at Burlington Beachstrip 13 Oct (RD); 78 at Confederation Park [HM] 14 Oct (AWi); 65 at Ruthven Park [HD] 14 Oct (RL); 55 at Fifty Point C.A. 15 Oct (RD,DD,CE); 40 at Smith Property loop [WL] 22 Oct (RvT).White-crowned Sparrow: One at Franklin Pond [WT] 15 Sep F (NH); 40 at Ruthven Park [HD] 12 Oct (RL); 23 at 10th Road East at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 13 Oct (MMac); 46 at Windermere Basin 13 Oct (JC); 28 at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 14 Oct (MJ); four at Shoreacres Park 29 Nov (BCo); three at Sedgewick Park [HL] 29 Nov (RPo).Dark-eyed Junco: Four at Cootes Paradise 20 Sep F (JL); 250 at HCA HQ, Dundas Valley 28 Oct (JL); 40 at Ruthven Park [HD] 27 Nov (RL); 36 at Mt Albion C.A. 1 Nov (TU).Scarlet Tanager: One at Mt Albion Trail, Red Hill Valley [HM] 21 Sep {photo} (BK); one at Turner Tract, Halton County Forest 24 Sep (TH,RM); one at Sherwood Forest Park, Oakville 7 Oct (CE); one at Ruthven Park 14 Oct (RL,EG); one at Joe Sam’s Park, Waterdown 25 Oct L {photo} (TT).Rose-breasted Grosbeak: Six at Ruthven Park [HD] 2 Sep (RL), three there 9 Sep (EG,CSc), and one there 26 Sep (RL); four at Riverwood
Conservancy [PL] 13 Sep (PSt); five at Hendrie Valley [HL] 17 Sep (PSt); two at Gilkison Flats, Brantford 18 Sep (MH); three at Beamer C.A. [NG] (MMac); one at 8575 1st Line, Campbellville [HL] 22 Sep (KWo,RWo); one at south Guelph 22 Sep (FU); two at Turner Tract, Halton County Forest 24 Sep (TH,RM); one at Dundas Valley Trail Centre feeder 24 Oct L {photo} (JL).Indigo Bunting: Five at Sulphur Creek Trail, Dundas Valley 16 Sep (JL); five at 3391 Steeles Ave, Milton [HL] 26 Sep (DSz); two at Fern Hill School, Oakville 2 Oct (RL); two at Cootes Paradise 3 Oct {photo} (BK); three at Margaret Ave, Stoney Creek 3 Oct (RW); two at Oak Park Trail, Brantford 3 Oct (MH); one at Ruthven Park [HD] 4 Oct (RL); one at Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP [HL] 9 Oct L {photo} (MJ).Bobolink: One at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 19 Sep (LM); one over River & Ruins Trail, Lowville [HL] 1 Oct L (BO).Eastern Meadowlark: Nine at 10th Road East at Vinemount Sanctuary [HM] 9 Sep (RP) and one there 15 Oct (RP); one at Grass Lake [WT] 2 Oct (DRo); seven at Downey Rd-Teal Dr area, Guelph 2 Oct (RH); three at Heritage Green Park [HM] 10 Oct (RP); one at Grimsby Wetlands [NG] 17 Oct (BD); two at Oak Park Trail, Brantford 18 Oct (MH); one at Windermere Basin 19 Oct (MMac).Yellow-headed Blackbird#: One at Cootes Paradise ** 1 Oct (SL,JBe).Rusty Blackbird: One at Windermere Basin 10 Sep F {photo} (IJ,m.obs); four at Cootes Paradise 24 Sep (AD,et al.); 30 at Ruthven Park 6 Oct (RL) and eight there 28 Oct (RL); 20 at Franklin Pond [WT] 16 Oct (NH); 13 at Hendrie Valley 16 Oct (ES); 16 at Puslinch SR 12 N [WL] 1 Nov (MHa); 45 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 3 Nov (DMac); 25 on Valens Rd [HM] 5 Nov (DG); 35 on Sheffield Rd N of Troy [HM] 5 Nov (RP); 30 at Flamborough Downs [HM] 5 Nov (BCha).Common Grackle: 125 at Mountsberg C.A. [WL] 3 Nov (DMac); 25 at Hwy 5 E of St George [BR] 12 Nov (BL).
Baltimore Oriole: Three at Ruthven Park [HD] 7 Sep (RL) and one there 8 Sep (RL); one at Mt Albion Trail, Red Hill Valley [HM] 13 Sep {photo} (BK); one at Bayfront Park ** 14-30 Nov (RWo/m.obs); one at feeder at 1142 Leaside Rd, Hamilton ** 15-30 Nov {photo} (SHam/BCha).
(continued from page 164)
Grasshopper Sparrow, 9 Oct, Great Lakes/Rebecca SWP -
photo Mark Jennings.
Scarlet Tanager at Joe Sam's Park, 25 Oct - photo Tom Thomas
Rose-breasted Grosbeak at Hendrie Valley, 9 September -
photo Anna Porter.
Rusty Blackbird at Windermere Basin,
9 Sep - photo Ian Jarvie.
Baltimore Oriole at a feeder at Leaside Rd, Hamilton, 27 Nov- photo Shelly Hamilton.
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