June 8 -11, 2011 More birding Southwestern Manitoba

Spent the past 4 days birding R.M.N.P., Brandon area and extreme southwest Manitoba. Still lots of standing water, road closures, but great birding weather! Despite the road closure of Route 19 the birding was excellent in R.M.N.P. On June 8 and 9 birded various areas within the park and surrounding area. There was a good variety of warblers including Canada, Mourning, Cape May, loads of Tennessee, and a total of 18 species. Unfortunately didn't hear any Connecticut Warblers. Lots of Ruffed Grouse drumming, numerous Boreal Chickadee, a pair of both Black-backed and Am. Three-toed Woodpeckers, and a Black Bear. The Agassiz Ski Hill Road yielded 3 Golden-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee, and indigo Bunting. On June 9 and 10 birded the Brandon area and again the extreme southwest. Overall, good birding with most of the specialties including Loggerhead Shrike, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Grasshopper Sparrow, Ferruginous Hawk, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and finally 3 Sprague's Pipit displaying. Still no luck with Baird's Sparrow. Other species of note included Orchard Oriole, Sedge Wren, Upland Sandpiper and 2 Snow Geese. Most of these observations were again in the PR 256 and Antler Road 171W area south of Pierson. On June 10 birded Douglas Marsh, the Shilo area, and Brandon Hills. Highlights included both Le Conte's and Nelson's Sparrow at DM, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Gray Partridge, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Sprague's Pipit in the Shilo area, and Yellow-throated Vireo, Black-billed Cuckoo and Scarlet Tanager in the Brandon Hills.

Good Birding, Bruce

The striking Red-headed Woodpecker is a local species in southern Manitoba.

The Franklin's Gull is a common breeding species at Whitewater Lake.

A pair of Western Grebe's courting at Whitewater Lake.

An American Bittern tries to blend into the background.

The Chestnut-collared Longspur is a scarce breeder in south western Manitoba. One of the best areas is south of Pierson.

Another view of a Chestnut-collared Longspur on the ground.

The secretive Nelson's Sparrow is sometimes easier to hear than to see.

A Sharp-tailed Grouse near Pierson was easy to see in the short grass.



Sharp-tailed Grouse

Grasshopper Sparrow

The Sprague's Pipit is a local breeder in southwestern Manitoba. It is usually first detected by its song, a descending series of musical tzee, tzee notes given in flight, high overhead.

June 4-5, 2011 Birding Southwestern Manitoba

Spent June 4- 5 birding various sites in the southwest and extreme southwest. Many fields had standing water and there was substantial flooding along Souris River. Areas such as Coulter Park and the bridge at 12N were flooded. With many roads closed, especially in the Broomhill-Poverty Plains area and lot of standing water in the pasture land is was difficult to find some of the target species. I did manage to locate Ferruginous Hawk, Loggerhead Shrike, Say's Phoebe, Sedge Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow and Chestnut-collared Longspur. Most of these were found south of Pierson in the PR 256 and Antler Road 171W areas . On my way back to Brandon I made a brief stop at Whitewater Lake and again was greeted by high water levels but the road to the viewing mound was in good shape. Highlights included 16 White-faced Ibis, 2 Great Egret, 1 Cattle Egret along with 6 Red-necked Grebe, 3 Ring-necked Duck, 7 Hooded Merganser and 5 Bufflehead. The only shorebird habitat was in the flooded field as you drove down to the viewing parking lot and I observation 11 Stilt Sandpiper and 3 Ruddy Turnstone.

Many fields are still flooded in the southwest.

Blue-winged Teals were easy to find along with many other species of puddle ducks.

A Black-crowned Night-Heron at Whitewater Lake.

An Upland Sandpiper stands on a fence post watching another one across the dirt road.

A Loggerhead Shrike coming in for landing on a fence line near Lyleton.

The Ferruginous Hawk is an uncommon breeder in the extreme southwest.

Cliff Swallows building nests near Broomhill.

A Gadwall resting on a bail of hay in a flooded field.

Likely a result of all the standing water, I heard over 30+ Sora calling in the southwest.

High water along the Souris River resulted in many areas flooded including Coulter Park.

At Whitewater Western Grebes were easy to see along the road closeup due to the high water.

In Manitoba, the Chestnut-collared Longspur is primarily restricted to the extreme southwest nowadays.

June 2, 2011 LBJ outing.

My annual "Little Brown Jobs" Sparrow workshop went well despite a very slow start due to 35+ km/hr winds for most of the day. At 6:00a.m. we started out in the Kanata north area and work our way west to Dunrobin and Kilmaurs area. It was amazing how the wind and cool temperatures reduced the bird song, we managed 1 new sparrow an hour! at the end we saw and 8 species of the 10 that breed and heard 1 only, Vesper. Our miss was Graashopper Sparrow, it was even difficult to find a Savannah Sparrow! The day ended near Riceville with our 8th species Clay-coloured Sparrow. So not bad considering the weather. The 8 species were Swamp, Song, Chipping, Field, White-throated, Savannah, Lincoln's, and Clay-coloured Sparrow. The big surprise was a Least Bittern at Constance Creek at Thomas Dolan at around 7:00am. It flew in and disappeared on the south side of the bridge.

White-throated Sparrow at the Mer Bleu

The Clay-coloured Sparrow was very vocal despite the windy conditions.

A male Purple Finch was a nice find at the Mer Bleu Bog.

May 27-30, 2011 Eastern Ontario Tour

Birded Alfred Sewage Lagoon early morning on May 27,2011. The east cell was low and there were 500+ shorebirds mainly Dunlin and Semipalmated Sandpiper, highlight were 11 Red-necked Phalarope. Also had 70+ Ruddy Duck. At Embrun Sewage Lagoon 1 Whimbrel was observed until an immature Peregrine Falcon flew in and flushed the shorebirds.
In the afternoon at Lake Dore near Eganville we observed 2 Arctic Tern along with 80+ Common Tern, 1 Black Tern and 3 Bonaparte's Gull. The terns could be viewed from Lake Dore Road.
Good Birding, Bruce

DIRECTIONS: From the town of Alfred go east on Highway 17, then turn south on Peat Moss Road and drive for 2 km. The lagoons are on your left (east side of road). The birds are best observed from the viewing tower. Access to the viewing tower is free and no permit is needed.

Spent the morning, May 28th, birding various sites along Hwy. 60 in Algonquin Park. We observed 2 male Spruce Grouse along Arrowhon Road at Km. 4. Both males were displaying along the road and gave us excellent views. At West Rose Lake along the old railway bed we had a female Black-backed Woodpecker at a nest site, a Olive-sided Flycatcher singing and 3 Eastern Bluebirds, 2 male and 1 female which was checking either checking out a nesting cavity or nesting. There were a number of Moose along Hwy. 60 and on peongo Lake road we observed another 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers at the winter gate area. Unfortunately no Gray Jays were found.
Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: Algonquin Park is three hours north of Toronto, via Highways 400, 11 and 60. Follow the signs, which start in Toronto on Highway 400. From Ottawa, take Highway 17 to Renfrew, then follow Highway 60 to the park. Kilometre markers along Highway 60 in the Park go from the West Gate (km 0) to near the East Gate (km 56). Get your park permit and the park tabloid (with a map of birding locations mentioned here) at the gates.

With migration slowing down there was still a small flight of warbler today, May 29th at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. The later migrants included Blackpoll, Canada and Wilson's Warblers. At Owen Point and along Beaches #1-3 there were was small number of shorebirds mainly Dunlin, Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 2 Whimbrel and a flock of 24 Ruddy Turnstone flying over. At the Marsh Boardwalk a couple of Great Egrets were observed feeding and a Least Bittern put in a brief appearance as did an American bittern. With the high water levels on Lake Ontario the trails around Owen Point are flooded and rubber boots are necessary.

Directions:To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there.

Our final stop of the tour was Amherst Island on May 30th. We birded the east point area and observed 1 Whimbrel, numerous Wilson's Phalarope and 1 Brant. In the fields Bobolinks were easily found along with a few Upland Sandpiper. The Purple Martin colony on the KFN property was doing very well with lots of activity at both martin houses.

Difficult to find earlier this season, we were fortunate to have two males displaying along Arrowhon Road.

A second Spruce Grouse shows off to us.

Black-backed Woodpecker nesting site.

The female Black-backed Woodpecker in search of food.

This has been an excellent spring for Whimbrel sightings.

A Great Egret along Huff road near Brighton.

Another Whimbrel on Amherst Island.

May 26, 2011 Major Fallout along the Ottawa River!

There was a major fallout/grounding of a number of interesting water birds along the Ottawa River today between the Champlain Bridge and Constance Bay. I've been along the river since 7:00a.m. and haven't had a chance to post anything until now. Early this morning there were a number of large flocks of Brant resting on the water along with smaller groups of White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser and Long-tailed Duck. At around 8:45a.m. I observed a breeding plumage Purple Sandpiper at the end of the Britannia Pier. A flock of 14 Whimbrel flew by Shirley's Bay and 7 Red-necked Phalarope were observed along the river off Britannia Pier. At 12:30pm I observed an adult Franklin's Gull flying over Britannia Point and continuing up the rapids. Unfortunately could not relocate it but there are lots of gulls, some terns and 100's of swallows and Chimney Swifts fly catching over Deschenes Rapids. Later this afternoon at least 5 Arctic Terns were fly catching below Deschenes Rapids. The numbers recorded during the day are as follows:

Brant 11,500+
White-winged Scoter 280+
Surf Scoter 14
Long-tailed Duck 28
Red-breasted Merganser 74

Good Birding, Bruce

Directions (courtesy of NeilyWorld):

Deschenes Rapids, from Britannia Filtration Plant: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 129 (Greenbank & Pinecrest Roads). If travelling west, the 0.3 km offramp dumps you right or north onto Pinecrest Road. If driving east, a 0.3 km offramp brings you to Pinecrest/Greenbank Road, where you will turn left or north onto Pinecrest Road and in 0.4 km join the westbound offramp traffic. Both groups will now follow Pinecrest Road north 0.8 km from here to Richmond Road. Turn right or northeast onto Richmond and go 0.5 km, crossing Carling Avenue, to Poulin Avenue. Turn left or north onto Poulin and go 0.6 km to where a left only turn puts you on Howe Street. Follow Howe west 0.2 km to Britannia Road. Turn right or north onto Britannia Road and proceed 0.8 km to Cassels Street. Turn right or east onto Cassels and go 0.7 km to a small parking area on the end at the Britannia Filtration Plant.



OR: Deschenes Rapids, from Quebec shore: From Boulevard des Allumettières or Highway 148, take the Chemin Vanier exit. Turn left or south onto Vanier and go 3.9 km to the Ottawa River and the Deschênes Rapids at the end of Chemin Vanier.



Remic Rapids: From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 122 (Parkdale Avenue). The eastbound exit ramp comes to a stop sign at Parkdale Avenue in 0.1 km, while the westbound exit ramp becomes Westmount Avenue and reaches Parkdale Avenue in 0.2 km. Turn north onto Parkdale and proceed 1.7 km to the Ottawa River Parkway, passing Wellington and Scott Streets on the way. Pass under the Ottawa River Parkway. Continue 0.3 km round a 270 degree righthand turn to join the Ottawa River Parkway. Continue 0.8 km southwest along the Parkway to the Remic Rapids Lookout turnoff. Turn right or northwest into the parking area at Remic Rapids.



Directions: Shirley's Bay: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 west to the Moodie Drive exit and turn north (right) on Moodie Drive and continue to Carling Ave. Turn left at Carling Ave. and follow Carling to Rifle Road. Turn right (north) on Rifle Rd. Park at the lot at the end (boat launch).
Walk back to the road, and continue through the gate on the Department of National Defense property. There is a trail on your right (clearly marked with vehicle "No Entry" signs) which heads into the woods, and, eventually to the dyke. There is lots of POISON IVY along the dyke.



**** PLEASE NOTE**** YOU MUST OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE RANGE CONTROL
OFFICE BEFORE ENTERING THE DYKE AREA-- Call (613) 991-5740 and request permission to visit the dyke area for birding.



Directions: Britannia Pier and Dick Bell Park: Both areas are accessible from Carling Ave. west of Carling and Richmond Rd. intersection.

A large raft of Brant off Andrew Haydon Park was an indicator that there had been a grounding of water birds.

Later in the day a few flocks of Brant were on the move north.

The Purple Sandpiper is a very rare spring migrant in eastern Ontario.

This was only my third spring record for the Ottawa District in the past 40 years. I've observed Purple Sandpipers in May back in 1974 and 1976. Both observations at Shirley's Bay.

A Least Sandpiper and Dunlin find some shoreline at the Shirley's Bay boat launch.

A Semipalmated Plover waiting for the weather to clear.

May 25, 2011 Birding Amherst Island

Hi Everyone
Ben and I spent a good part of today birding Amherst Island. Overall,a good selection of birds including 3 groups of Brant totaling 212 along the south shore, 2 male Blue-winged Warblers in the Owl Woods, and a small selection of shorebirds including 3 Red Knot, 4 Ruddy Turnstone and 5 Short-billed Dowitcher at the east point on the KFN property. Other birds of note included 3 Upland Sandpiper, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 3 Willow Flycatcher and 1 late Rough-legged Hawk.
Good Birding, Bruce and Ben

Directions: Amherst Island: Located 18 km. west of Kingston. Exit off Hwy. 401 at exit 593 (County Rd. 4, Camden East) and drive south to the very end (Millhaven). Turn right on Hwy. 33 and drive 100 metres until you see the sign for the Amherst Island ferry. The ferry (20 minute trip) leaves the mainland on the half hour and leaves the island on the hour. Cost is $9.00 Canadian round trip. There are no gas stations on the island. There are restrooms on the ferry, and at the island ferry dock. The East End K.F.N. property is at the easternmost part of the island on the east side of the Lower Forty Foot Road.

Because of liability issues, visitors to the Kingston Field Naturalists' property at the east end of Amherst Island MUST be accompanied by a KFN member. For KFN contactinformation or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

A pair of Northern Rough-winged Swallows follow the Amherst Island ferry.

A male Northern Harrier over the Owl Woods.

A young Great Horned Owl ready to leave the nest on Amherst Island.

Canada Geese with young.

A male Blue-winged warbler was a surprise.

A small group of Brant grazing at the east point of Amherst Island.

The Wilson's Phalarope is a regular breeder on Amherst.

On our return home we made a quick stop at Opinicon Road and observed a banded male Cerulean Warbler.

May 16, 2011 Cool wet morning at Pelee

Rain persisted today with north winds and there was some movement overnight. We arrived at the tip early and observed a small number of land birds, mainly warblers and flycatchers flying in off the lake and landing on the trees near the tip. Some individuals were just clear of the waves as they made there way to land. During an hour we observed 9 species of warblers including Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Canada, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Bay-breasted and numerous Least and 1 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Unfortunately due to the cool temperatures few insects were around and treetop species were forced to forage at eye or ground level in search of food. I picked up a dead Red-eyed Vireo near the Tram stop which had starved to death. With this cool wet weather there will be a shortage of food for these insect eaters and likely more dead birds. One of the unfortunate aspects of bird migration.

Rough waters off the tip at Pelee.

Despite the cool wet weather, birders began gathering at the tip early.

A group of Barn Swallows tried to keep warm with 6 or 7 birds in one nest.