I'm Still Here

Yes. It has been while since my last post. A little prodding seems to have done the trick and I have awoken from my slumber.

A few birds were added to the year list since posting my last tale, including a lifer on April 7. For now it's best to inform you all of a recent addition (prior to the OFO Carden Alvar trip) to the year list since it is still fresh in my memory. Though I don't think the 2012 lifers have faded just yet. Do any of them?

It was Victoria Day and it was a perfect day to go chasing a reported bird. A Snowy Egret was observed near the Grand River on the Saturday and any wish we had to add this bird to the Ontario list would have to wait until the holiday Monday. So after a long day of counting birds for the BOS May count, I checked the reports Sunday evening. The egret was still hunting in the same small pond in Dunnville.

Jean and I have birded this pond a few times so there were no worries we would not find its location. It is one of the stops during the OFO Rock Point trip and you can usually find Great Egrets and herons wading in the shallow waters.

When we first arrived, we could not see any wading birds in the pond. No splash of white amongst the green reeds led me to believe that the egret had left the area. Jean and I stepped out of the car and crossed the road to scan the pond from behind the chain-link fence. The Snowy Egret was there. It was hidden on the north side of the pond and as we approached the fence, we flushed the egret from the reeds. Its trailing black legs with yellow feet were easily seen as it flew to the south side of the pond.

Views of the Snowy would have to be distant. We were without our spotting scope. Yes, no scope to get a closer look at #266 on our Ontario list. I'm relieved to say the glass is fine. The scope was sent to the U.S. for repairs to the mounting foot and we'll be without it for approximately 4 to 6 weeks. Ouch! "Scopeless in the Carden Alvar" sounds like a fine title for a future blog post.

We watched the Snowy Egret as it continued to hunt on the far side of the pond. The movement of a small rail-car at the nearby factory did not disturb the egret. I was hoping it would fly back to the south side and allow us a closer look.

A few friends arrived and the small egret was a lifer for one of them.

Before leaving the Dunnville area, we tried looking for a reported adult blue morph Snow Goose at the Mosaic ponds down the road. It was observed with a group of Canada Geese and though one of our friends had seen it the previous day, we could not find it.

Jean and I have visited the Mosaic ponds during OFO trips and we have observed our lifer Stilt Sand Piper and Marsh Wren at this Haldimand County hot spot.


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During the trips, the gates are opened by an employee of the company that owns the property and OFO members are allowed to explore a large area of the wetland. This day, our views were limited to a few spots along the roads, north and south of the ponds. If the Snow Goose was there, it was hidden.

No worries. I left Dunnville satisfied with the Snowy Egret tick. In a few days, Jean and I would be travelling to the Kawartha Lakes. Hopefully we would have a repeat of last year's observations while birding the Carden Alvar.

A Golden Day on Big Creek

For the last three years Jean and I have attended the OFO trip at Long Point to observe migrating waterfowl and cranes. This year, we joined our fellow Peninsula Field Naturalists and the Niagara Falls Nature Club for a Sunday drive to Norfolk County in search of our main target species the Sandhill Crane. If an adult male Smew just happened to get in the field of view of our spotting scope, well I guess that would make the list too.

The previous day was the OFO trip and a total of 62 species were observed. Highlights included, Little Gull, Great Horned Owl, Eastern Meadowlark, and White-winged Crossbill. A lucky few spotted a Golden Eagle. The Smew (first observed by Ron Ridout on March 8) was not seen.

The next morning, a parking lot in Fonthill was abuzz with talk of the most recent Smew sighting. The adult male was seen in flight with mergansers, scaup and buffleheads by Josh Vandermeulen shortly after 8:00 am.

We left Fonthill behind and had Carol and Arlene along for the ride. All the better to spot firsts of the year during the 2 hour drive to the Long Point area. Just south of Simcoe, on Regional Road 24, we ticked a FOY Turkey Vulture. Approaching Port Rowan, the skies were empty. The large white blobs with wings seen in a clear blue sky during our first trip were absent.

After a pick-me-up coffee and toast with marmalade, I stood in the parking lot of the restaurant and looked south towards the Causeway and the point. Somewhere out there, either in the inner bay to the east or Big Creek National Wildlife Area to the west, was a male Smew.

From the Causeway we observed a small flock of Tundra Swans in the creek. Surprisingly, this was the only observation of Cygnus columbianus while birding the Long Point area.

Standing on the viewing platform, we had a broad view of Big Creek National Wildlife Area.

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There were a few Mute Swans spotted in the channels but if there were any large flocks of waterfowl they were well hidden by the cattails and Phragmites.  In the distance, we spotted an immature Bald Eagle following the route of County Road 42. Another large raptor appeared and circled high above the wildlife area.

We studied the bird as it continued to soar. This one was different. A birder sharing the platform indicated this one was a Golden Eagle. There was white patch at the base of the tail. Our lifer Golden Eagle (#314) was a juvenile. It suddenly dived and spiraled as it plummeted towards the ground. As it disappeared behind the golden-coloured grasses, a large mass of ducks flew up in every direction. It was like the eagle had dived into a pool of waterfowl. The juvenile raptor reappeared and flew low towards a mound of earth. There it sat to dine on an undetermined species of duck. This attracted the attention of a juvenile Bald Eagle and we watched the standoff through the scope. The Bald Eagle was unsuccessful in its attempts to steal some brunch.

While on the platform I heard the calls of Sandhill Cranes (FOY) and though some were able to view them (including Jean) I never did see the long, grayish-red bodies flying across the horizon. No worries. I would see them when we stopped at Lee Brown. Right?

A bit further down the road, our group stopped at the viewing platform that looks out onto Long Point Inner Bay. This time, I was able to watch a Sandhill Crane in flight. It was flying in a northwesterly direction, perhaps heading to the fields near the Lee Brown WMA. I would meet up with this bird later. Based on the last three visits, the cranes would be there.

We then birded the forested area surrounding the Old Cut Field Station. Ticked a first of the year Golden Crowned Kinglet, followed by finding a lifer Black-legged Tick (seen at the right on the Lyme Disease widget) on my sock while having lunch in the parking area of the Old Cut. Not sure where I picked up the sesame seed-sized arachnid but its appearance suddenly increased the numbers of times I scratched an imaginary itch.

We moved back to the mainland and stopped at Lee Brown WMA.

Scoping the small, artificial pond, we found geese, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck and American Wigeon (FOY). Despite the fact that cranes breed in the marshes to the south, none were found in the surrounding corn fields. If not for the brief observations while out on the point, we just might have gone home without a crane tick.

We moved further inland and stopped at two locations in the Big Creek valley.

Our stroll along the 'A Road' was pretty quiet. The Wood Duck boxes did not produce an Eastern Screech Owl tick.

North of the A Concession Road, we stopped at another popular birding spot on Big Creek. The field south of the First Concession Road floods in the spring and with the recent creation of a wetland habitat, migrating waterfowl can be easily observed from the roadside.

Waterfowl found this sunny afternoon included, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Redhead, Ring-necked Duck, Lesser Scaup (pair) and Hooded Merganser (pair). Hidden in the grasses and dabbling frequently, were a few male Northern Shovelers (another target species ticked for the day).

The trip concluded when the sewage lagoons came up empty but there was one last stop for Jean, Carol, Arlene and I. The marina at Port Rowan. Unlike previous years, there was no ice in the harbour or any snow on the ground. There were quite a few waterfowl in the inlet west of the park but back lighting from the sun made identification difficult. An exceptionally close, immature Bald Eagle fly-by was well worth the stop. Sightings of an American Coot and a couple of Bonaparte's Gulls concluded the day's observations.

Overall, Jean and I observed 32 species and ticked 6 firsts of the year while in Norfolk County. The Smew refused to cooperate for our group but the lifer Golden Eagle tick, well, that was somewhat inspirational. Considering the juvenile eagle was too far away to capture a reasonable digiscoped image, Jean did the next best thing to mark the ticking of lifer #314.

Can't wait to see how she recreates a day at the Niagara Peninsula Hawkwatch.

Fishing for a Bird-a-Day

After a good day of birding along the Niagara River on the the last Saturday of January, my excursion the next day was limited to the late afternoon. A fine blowing snow made it difficult to observe the progress of the new regional hospital and interfered with the spotting of a possible Cackling Goose mixed in with the hundreds of Canada Geese.

Each goose scanned as they took flight was your standard Canada. The several Dark-eyed Juncos observed at the backyard feeder during my weekend Project Feeder Watch would have to do. I was hoping there would be some improvement during the work week.

On Monday January 30, Jean picked me up after work and we went for a stroll along 12 Mile Creek. A few ducks on the creek which included American Black Duck (ticked 4 days earlier) Bufflehead (already picked) and Mallard (too soon). But there were some male and female Common Goldeneyes. The species I sought. Nothing else materialized that would would have kept Bucephala clangula off the list so Goldeneye was penciled in at the start of another work week.

The next day was unbelievably warm (10 degrees Celsius) and it influenced me to try something new. I decided to try for Hooded Merganser in the forebay above the Falls. Though they were not found at this location during a recent nature outing it was worth a shot. If not there, I could always use Gadwall as a backup. After finishing work, I was at the Falls in less than 20 minutes. Over the last few years, I think I've visited this site more often to spot gulls and waterfowl than to see the thundering waters of the American and Horseshoe Falls. Hoodies and Gadwalls there be in the forebay but a smaller bird caught my attention. It was a species that you don't normally see at this time of year and it required confirmation when entering my checklist to eBird Canada. For the last day of January, a FOY Pied-billed Grebe.

On the first day of February, I headed west along the QEW after work. This year, I was extending my reach a little further and I was at Jordan Harbour in no time and I began my search for a reported Snowy Owl. No owl but there was one female Hoodie and even better, an American Coot in the marina. So the coot was the bird-of-the-day and Mallard remains off the list.

A flock of American Robins made for a quick and easy pick the next day and on the Friday a different approach was set. I was scheduled to close at the end of the week and it allowed me to take some time in the morning to find something out of the ordinary. Down at Martindale Pond while walking along the path in Rennie Park, I heard the song of Carolina Wren (FOY). I could not see the bird but its quick three-part song was coming from the far side of the pond near the Henley Grandstand. Good enough for a Bird-a-Day tick.

Image Courtesy of Dave Van de Laar

Jean and I did not bird for an extended period of time on the Saturday but we took our bins and scope with us when visiting friends in Beamsville. We planned to stop in Jordan on the way home to St. Kitts. A Snowy Owl was reported the day before and it would have been unwise to pass by the marina without a look. Jean's mum was with us and all three of us had a good view of a heavily barred Snowy Owl through the scope. We watched the female owl for a few minutes as it stood on the marina's breakwall and a woman asked if she could pay me for a look at the owl. No payment was necessary for a view of her very first owl. There were now two owls on my 2012 Bird-a-Day Challenge. Priceless.

On Sunday February 5, Jean and I went to the southern edge of the Niagara Peninsula to chase another reported species. For the last few weeks, a member of the Corvidae family was attracting Ontario and New York birders to a short stretch of residential road in the town of Fort Erie. Fish Crows (3-5 at a time) were being observed with many American Crows. I had been looking for a chance to take a crack at spotting one of these Fish Crows and Super Sunday seemed like an ideal day for it. Ingredients for the game-day chili were purchased in the morning and by early afternoon Jean and I did not need to look far when approaching  the road from the south. To our left was the golf course and straight ahead, a couple of parked cars. There were three birders looking north towards a clump of trees containing crows. The crows were calling and mixed in with the caws we could hear the distinctive nasal call of a Fish Crow. If we did not get a visual on the calling bird it would be okay. Jean and I observed our lifer while vacationing in the Panhandle of the Sunshine State. All five of us were concentrating on one particular crow and when we set up our scopes for a closer look it soon flew from its roost.

The crows changed there position and were collecting on the ground and in the trees approximately 150 metres away from where we all stood (two more birders had joined our little group).

There was a house immediately to the right of the spot we were studying and it most have been an interesting view for the homeowner. She did come out but that was only to retrieve her concerned dog that had approached our group. Once the dog was sure we were no threat and retrieved by the owner, we continued our search for a Fish Crow. The nasal calls could still be heard and one crow sitting in a tree attracted my attention. It was slightly smaller than the other crows in the neighbouring trees. Our scopes were fixed on the bird and I informed three birders about to leave that it may be worth staying a bit longer. Turns out it was a Fish Crow. Watching the crow through the scope until it called sealed the i.d.

The large flock of crows continued to move but we got on the Fish Crows again and both Jean and I captured some digiscoped images. We observed two Fish Crows in one tree and a third was heard calling.

So, Fish Crow was added to the Ontario list, the 2012 list, the Winter Bird list, and of course, the Bird-a-Day list.

A couple more images before heading to the river for a picnic lunch while observing waterfowl drift by and a drive along the Parkway. The rafts of Redhead and Canvasback were back.

After some good finds on the weekend it was time to enjoy some chili and American football before setting a plan of attack for another work week.



  

Avoiding a Dip in the Lake

In less than a week, there was another rarity reported in the Niagara Region. On Tuesday November 8, a Razorbill, an alcid that nests on rocky cliffs of the north Atlantic, was spotted at the mouth of the Niagara River. This was a special one. Even more enthralling than the Franklin's Gull Jean and I observed the previous weekend. There are only three records of Razorbill in the Niagara Region.

We have never travelled to eastern Canada since taking up the rush of adding bird species to a list. If we were lucky enough to observe the Razorbill, it would be a lifer. Like most birders my age, chasing a bird during the work week can be rather difficult. On Thursday November 10, I attended the STAO conference. The last time I was representing my company at the annual conference in Toronto, a rarity was entertaining Ontario birders in a subdivision in Brampton. Do I sense another trend? The Razorbill would have to wait until the weekend. 

Jean and I arrived in Niagara-on-the-Lake around noon on Saturday and set up our scope in Queens Royal Park, an excellent spot for viewing waterfowl and loons during the winter months. We scanned the waters of Lake Ontario ( I was asked by a tourist what the large lake in front of us was called) between Fort Niagara and the green buoy, a distance of approximately 1 kilometre.

New York state birders were positioned at the west wall of the fort. Well worth the $10.00 U.S. entry fee if they spot the Razorbill.

There were many Horned Grebes, 3 Red-throated Loons (FOY #206) and 1 Common Loon spotted while we scanned the lake for the Razorbill, but the reported bird did not make an appearance during the 90 minutes we stood in the public park. A couple we talked to had seen it west of the NOTL golf course earlier in the day so we would try two more public accesses along the Lake Ontario shoreline. Gulls and waterfowl were observed, but no lifer on Saturday. We left with an addition to year list and a plan to return Sunday morning.

The lack of reported sightings in the inbox of our e-mail Sunday morning did not discourage Jean and I from loading the car for another attempt to tick the Razorbill. After crossing the Garden City Skyway and exiting the QEW, any thoughts of a positive outcome suddenly vanished when our car stalled and failed to restart. Was this how it would end? Do not pass Go. Do not tick that Razorbill.

I called CAA and Jean contacted her mum. I doubted there would be room in the cab of the tow truck for two disenchanted birders and their spotting scope (and there certainly was not). Jean's mum arrived first and took Jean and the scope back to St Kitts while I waited for the arrival of a tow truck to transport our disabled vehicle to a garage for repairs. The delay was not long and with a simple reorganization of our schedule, we were once again heading to the mouth of the Niagara River. My mother-in-law offered the use of her car until our vehicle was repaired. I checked the reports. The Razorbill was present and seen by many in the morning (with the exception of Bob & Jean). I really did not need to see that, but it was reassuring.

Upon joining a small group of birders in Queens Royal Park, we were informed the Razorbill was still in the area and was observed fairly recently. Despite the morning hindrance, Jean and I still had a chance.

Using the scope, I scanned the lake for the Razorbill and spotted the black underwings of a Little Gull as it flew amongst a small flock of Bonaparte's. A Common Loon was floating near the fort on the U.S. side of the river, but the Red-throated Loons seen the previous day were absent Sunday afternoon.

Barry Cherriere called out that the bird was up and flying eastward, but it quickly landed and dove before we could get on it.

The Razorbill continued to tease those that had not seen it yet. It was up one moment, then gone the next and when a birder announced it had resurfaced, I did my best to locate the patch of water described by the spotter.

After a brief period of anxious waiting and searching, we were finally able to observe the stout, black and white bird with a distinctive large bill. When diving, the large auk would spread its wings and the tail would point skyward before it disappeared beneath the surface for moments at a time. Jean and I continued to observe the Razorbill each time it resurfaced. This was one awe-inspiring birding moment for Jean and I. Sharing the view with other birders and assisting those in their search after being helped ourselves made the tick all the better. Though the last Razorbill to visit Niagara remained for 50 consecutive days (Black and Roy, 2010) there was no guarantee that this one would stay for an extended length of time. I am forever grateful that my mother-in-law permitted us to borrow her car the same day. If not for the substitute vehicle, we just might have had our biggest dip ever. Our car now has a new fuel pump and is eager to transport us to tick #208 and beyond.

Image Courtesy of Dave Van de Laar

Franklin's My Dear

November 6

It was a beautiful day in the Niagara Region on Sunday. The sun was shining and the temperature reached a day time high of 15 degrees Celsius. The weather could not have been better to go searching for the 205th tick of the year. On Saturday, Willie D'Anna posted that a first winter Franklin's Gull was seen from Artpark in Lewiston, New York. It was observed for 30 minutes and if still in the area, could easily be observed from the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

Franklin's Gull breeds in western Canada and winters in the Pacific from Guatemala to Chile so this would be an invaluable addition to the year list as well as the Ontario list. Our lifer was observed in Calgary, Alberta during a trip to British Columbia in June of 2009.

This western species is a rare fall and winter visitor to Niagara and prior to 1990, it was found annually. For the next 16 years, there were only 15 observations recorded (Black and Roy, 2010).

So on Sunday afternoon, Jean and I headed for the lower Niagara River, our first planned stop was in Queenston. If not found, we would try the Adam Beck Overlook, followed by the Whirlpool. As we left St. Catharines, I noted that we would arrive in Queenston around the same time the gull was observed the day before. With a bit of luck, the gull was a creature of habit.

We parked in the parking area above the boat ramp and started our hike upriver. Hopefully the annoying noise created by the jetskis had not sent the gulls packing.

We scanned the river through the trees as we walked along the unmarked trail. The sounds of the jetskis were abated and gulls were seen moving up and down the river, but none of them had the dark half-hood of a first winter Franklin's. They were all Bonaparte's.

We reached an open spot where we observed a dozen gulls milling around and occasionally diving into the fast flowing water of the Niagara River. More Bonaparte's. I could see a slightly larger gathering of gulls 100-150 metres further up the river.

At this location, the Niagara Gorge begins. The escarpment wall is very steep and the many sedimentary layers are quite apparent. Four Turkey Vultures soared overhead on the Canadian side of the gorge.

Jean was first to spot a gull, circling above the river that had a dark head and she noted the body shape was slightly different than that of the Bonaparte's. Jean described the gull's flight path and I got on it and observed the same distinguishing field markings. The gull had a dark half-hood, an incomplete tail-band, and was slightly larger than the accompanying Bonaparte's Gulls. Wow! I wish they were all that easy. In less than an hour we had ticked the reported Franklin's Gull. This was very lucky, but checking the location at the same time it was observed the day before may have contributed to the successful tick.

Only three shy of last year's personal best. Missing three Boreal species earlier this year does burn but hopefully we can add Red-throated Loon, Black Scoter and Lesser Black-backed Gull to assure a tie with last year's provincial list. Throw in a Cackling Goose, Thayer's Gull, and a California Gull and we have a new personal best. The only trouble with that is we'll have to tick more in 2012.

A Long Line of Birders at Darlington

A Willow Ptarmigan, a possible lost migrant or an extreme overshoot from last year's irruption, was found at the Darlington Nuclear Station on Lake Ontario east of Toronto on Wednesday June 8. The ptarmigan, normally found in the Arctic Tundra, was observed again two days later at the same site.

On Friday June 10, an ontbirds e-mail sent by Jean Iron informed all subscribers that the Ontario Power Generation (OPG) would kindly allow birders to visit the site the morning of June 12. Instructions were given and all interested were asked to meet at the Darlington Nuclear Visitor Information Centre Sunday morning. Unfortunately for my wife and I, her work schedule was changed recently and prevented us to share a rare opportunity with our fellow Ontario birders. Yeah, it does suck!

On Sunday morning the OPG bussed 150 birders to the secure site and they were not disappointed. Details of the viewing can be found at Jean Iron's web site.

Video of the molting male was captured by Luc Fazio and posted on YouTube.

Many thanks to the staff at the OPG and Beacon Environmental for allowing this to take place. Events like this will continue to happen when they run this smoothly and hopefully the next one will occur on a day that both Jean and I are not working.

Hits, Misses and an Annual Visitor

March 29

The ink of my Horned Grebe and Ruddy Duck ticks was still drying when I read an e-mail report sent by Kayo Roy. A White-winged Crossbill was observed in a Fonthill yard by the home owner. The only observation of this finch species for Jean and I occurred during the 2008 St. Catharines Christmas Bird Count. It was a female and not only was it a first for us, it was also a first for the CBC.

No time on Monday between work and the monthly PFN meeting. "PFN meeting?", you ask. Jean and I joined a local nature club late last year (details to follow in a future post) and at the March 28 meeting, the group was informed that the White-winged Crossbill was sighted that day. So on the following day, Jean picked me up after work and we headed to Fonthill. With little effort (I wish they were all this easy), Jean and I observed what we determined to be an immature male White-winged Crossbill feeding on berries as it sat at the top of a tree. #84 for the year and still slightly ahead of the pace.

April 2

To start the second quarter of birding this year, Jean and I were given a request. My mother-in-law had asked if we could find her some bluebirds, so on the first Saturday of April, Jean and I became tour guides. The pressure was on to spot an Eastern Bluebird and I planned a route that could possibly have us revered by my mother-in-law and her partner, though I think that may be the case already.

I commenced our hunt for bluebirds outside of the Niagara Region at a vineyard in Stoney Creek. The same vineyard Jean and I visited back in March. If we were able to spot the male Eastern Bluebird and the reported female Mountain Bluebird not only would we have done our job, we also would add the western species of bluebird to our provincial list.

The staff at Ridge Road Estate Winery have been very welcoming to visiting birders and we were once again allowed access to the vineyard behind the winery. All we could find while we stood outside was the Eastern Meadowlark we spotted during our March 24 visit. Our bluebird watch was taken indoors. While we tasted wine, we looked through large windows towards the vineyard. We left our first stop with a few bottles of great wine but without a bluebird tick.

No worries. The plan was to work eastward from Stoney Creek to St. Catharines and stop at areas where Jean and I have observed Eastern Bluebirds in the past. Slightly east of the winery, I drove down 10th Rd East. This stretch of rural road has produced some good finds and this day did not disappoint. Jean remarked that the scrub-filled land would be perfect for finding a shrike and like magic, I looked to my left as we were returning to the main road and spotted a bird I suspected to be the species Jean had just mentioned. I backed up our vehicle and all four of us had a few minutes of observing a Northern Shrike as it flew from tree to tree before it eventually disappeared in the distance. Not a bad start for the trip so far. Jean and I had found a lifer for our group.

We moved on and stopped at a few spots along the Niagara Escarpment but the nest boxes and fence posts were devoid of any Eastern Bluebird activity. I had one last spot that just might have positive results. Jean and I had observed a male Eastern Bluebird at a farm near Short Hills Provincial Park on March 29. On this sunny April day, I caught a glimpse of our quarry perched in a tree but before our apprentices could see it, Jean and I watched the bluebird disappear over the barn to never return. "Missed it by that much."

On Schedule

As the month of April approached, I would scan the trees near our yard for the return of our annual visitor. For the last three years, a member of the family Picidae stops and relaxes near downtown St. Catharines for a week or two before continuing on to its final destination. On the evening of April 3, I observed a woodpecker flying from tree to tree that did not resemble our resident Downy. The bird flew off before I could get my binoculars but its size and shape had me thinking he had returned. The next day it was confirmed. The male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker had returned for the fourth year in a row. Here are a few digiscoped images that Jean and I captured later in the week.

Around the Bay

March 27

Only a few days had past since the attempt to tick Mountain Bluebird for my provincial list. With the lack of positive reports on ONTBIRDS, another try did not seem worthwhile. A report telling of the avian activity at La Salle Marina in Burlington caught my attention though. There were two species present that were not yet on the year list. So on Sunday, instead of exiting at Fifty Road to reach a winery where the only sky-blue observed was the sky itself, Jean and I continued along the QEW until we reached the marina on the north side of Burlington Bay in Halton Region. Travelling around the bay was left to those brave enough to run the 30 KM course on the sunny but freezing day.

At the beginning of the week, I listened to the local TV weatherman discuss the future forecast for the Around the Bay Road Race and then quickly forgot about the event until I approached the Burlington Skyway. "Northshore Boulevard closed?" "Oh yeah. The Around the Bay race." We had to cross the boulevard to reach the marina but it did not take that long for a gap to appear between the runners and we quickly crossed after getting the OK from a police officer.

I had not even stopped our vehicle when Jean called out the first of our two target species. "Horned Grebe straight ahead!" We were still in the car and Jean called out the second species. "...and Ruddy Duck over there."

Well, that was easy. What do we do now? There were a few Horned Grebes in the water near the boat launch and west of it, even more. The diving grebes proved very difficult to digiscope.

A male Ruddy Duck was more cooperative.

After viewing Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye and a couple of White-winged Scoter we scanned the always present gaggle, east of the marina.

We walked along the Waterfront Trail and observed a few more species before calling it a day. Ticking our target species, especially the grebe, helped keep us ahead of last year's pace. Horned Grebe was not observed in 2010.

Later that evening, I checked e-mails and read a report posted by our birding friend Kayo that caught my interest. No, it was not the Mountain Bluebird. This was for a finch species that we have only observed once and was another bird that remained off of last year's list. 210+ in 2011 is starting to look good.

Chasing the Blues

March 24

The weekend was practically over when I became aware of the latest vagrant observed in the Hamilton Study Area (HSA). On Saturday March 19, a female Mountain Bluebird was seen in the company of a male Eastern Bluebird by some birders tasting wine on top of the Niagara Escarpment.

There are no records of Mountain Bluebird in the Niagara Region and this is only the second for the HSA. A male was observed for 3 days in Flamborough in April of 1989 (Bob Curry, Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas).

As for our observations of Mountain Bluebird, only one for Jean and I. We viewed a pair during our vacation out west in 2009. The last lifer of our BC/Alberta trip was viewed while travelling along the Bow Valley Parkway in Banff National Park. This western species of thrush would be a welcome addition to the Ontario list. It would be a few days later, the day after a Spring snow storm, when we attempted an observation of the Mountain Bluebird. The bird was observed only once this day, but I was coaxed into trying for the tick by the afternoon sunshine.

Jean and I are familiar with this area of Stoney Creek. We searched for Orchard Oriole along a trail, south of the winery, last summer but our best ticks occurred in 2007. A lifer Eurasian Collared-Dove in July and on Boxing Day, a Northern Hawk Owl was added to the life list.

The birder that observed the Mountain Bluebird on Thursday afternoon was still at the winery when Jean and I arrived. He had not seen the female since mid-afternoon and he believed it did not stay long after discovering the male Eastern Bluebird was absent. Insect larvae easily found earlier in the week had disappeared after Wednesday's snowfall. Jean and I viewed the vineyard at the back of the winery with the birder/photographer for approximately 45 minutes as migrating Turkey Vultures flew overhead. On March 20, he captured this image which can be found on the OFO photo page.

No addition of Mountain Bluebird to the Ontario life list for Jean and I but the trip was not all wasted. Before we left, all three of us observed an Eastern Meadowlark at the front of the property. Our first for 2011. I'll keep watch over the reports more closely. I would definitely like another shot at adding this species to my Ontario list. Hopefully, the Mountain Bluebird has sought shelter in the brush and woods neighbouring the winery and once the snow has melted, she will return to sitting on the posts long enough for two St. Catharines birders to see it.

There's Aways the Niagara River

March 5



The day my Bird-A-Day challenge came to an end, a Great Horned Owl sighting was posted on the ONTBIRDS ListServ and I did not see the e-mail until later in the week. A few days had past since the sighting but I was anticipating that the owl may have a mate and was set to raise young in the Town of Fort Erie. If Jean and I could not find the Great Horned Owl, we could always take a side trip home along the Niagara River. That way, the day would not be totally wasted.




Saturday was a mild and damp day. The rain did not make it easy to scope a tree 100-150 metres away from where I stood. The nest appeared to be mostly leaves and as far as I could tell, it did not contain an owl. On a sunny day, I would have stayed a bit longer. It appeared to Jean and I that the owl was elsewhere. So we headed east to the Niagara River for a leisurely drive towards Chippawa.


The usual variety of ducks were encountered, each species preferring their own section of river when gathering in large numbers.





A small quantity of of Tundra Swans were observed this time. They will soon leave the region, possibly joining the thousands of swans at Long Point before heading to their breeding grounds in the Arctic.


Further down river, we paused to view an adult Bald Eagle perched in a tall deciduous tree. There are quite a few trees at this location, a preferred spot for resting Bald Eagles and we have found them here on two previous occasions this year.


A large float of Greater Scaup near Baker's Creek concluded our trip of searching for waterfowl along the upper Niagara. Nothing new was found between Fort Erie and Chippawa. Looks like a change of scenery is required. With early spring migrants on the move, it was time for the annual OFO trip to the Long Point area. 10, 000 Tundra Swans awaited our arrival the afternoon of Friday March 11. I was hoping there would still be room left for one or two Sandhill Cranes. A target species I could not afford to miss.

Last Chance in Bruce (or more aptly named, Misses in Perth)

OK. This post is slightly out of order. We jump back to August for a moment. Shorebirds were on the move and the waters of Lake Huron were warm enough for swimming.

August 18

Three days had past since Jean and I observed our lifer Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and that's one tick I will surely never forget. We were now relaxing on the shores of Lake Huron. Hiking the Tower Trail at MacGregor Point produced no first of the years but we may have influenced a young lad from Michigan to pursue a life of birding. 9 species were added to the Bruce County list, including Wild Turkey observed in a field after leaving the provincial park. South of MacGregor Point, we scoured the rocky shoreline near Brucedale Conservation Area. No birds but the glacial deposited rocks were interesting though.

The morning of the 18th, we hiked the dunes in the nearby Inverhuron Provincial Park. Last year we observed a Swamp Sparrow on the banks of the Little Sauble River. The bird was an addition to the 2009 list and I was looking for a repeat this year.

No Swamp Sparrow north of the bridge this year. Only Song and Chipping Sparrows made appearances this fine morning.

While hiking the dunes of Inverhuron P.P. we observed many Black-capped Chickadees flying across our path. Mixed in the conifers with the chickadees were a few Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Heading towards the park's beach, we found some Black-throated Green Warblers (3) east of the bridge.

After birding Inverhuron, it was time to take it easy at the public beach.

A relaxing twitcher reading The Reluctant Twitcher.

August 19

Our vacation in Bruce County would soon be over. A pleasant sunset was enjoyed in Kincardine the previous evening but any chance of birding Thursday morning was washed out by a heavy rainfall.

We left Inverhuron and Tiverton early in the afternoon and headed south on Highway 21.

The morning rain had flooded a small section of a field east of the highway. If I had not stopped in a construction lot to obtain an item from the back of the car we would have missed the shorebirds and an addition to the year list. A Solitary Sandpiper (#180) was wading in the pond with a few Greater Yellowlegs, a couple Semipalmated Sandpipers and a Least Sandpiper. A Wilson's Snipe was well hidden in the grass but Jean's keen eyes spotted it as if it was out in plain sight.

We reached the town of Mitchell late in the afternoon and stopped at the same picnic area we did the previous year. In addition to the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher found at the Luther Marsh, daily sightings of some exciting birds were occurring at the Mitchell Sewage Lagoons while Jean and I were at the cottage. Though it is a toy I can do without, a Blackberry would have been extremely advantageous in this situation. On the 16th, a birding friend of ours posted that he had seen a Hudsonian Godwit. The next day, another post indicated that along with the Hudsonian, a Marbled Godwit was also present. In all, a total of 14 shorebirds were hanging out at the Mitchell Sewage Lagoons while I was viewing Tree and Barn Swallows flying over Whirl Creek. Arrrgh! Not only would we be past 200 species for 2010 (as of today), the life list would have 2 more birds on it. Next year, a stop at the Mitchell Sewage Lagoons in Perth will be on the itinerary and hopefully the life list will have a couple of godwits.