July 30,2010 A.O.U. Checklist updates "51 supplement"

The 51st supplement to the AOU Checklist has been published. The only definite English name change affecting Ontario bird species is the split of the Whip-poor-will, which is now going to be known as Eastern Whip-poor-will and if you have been to Arizona you will have likely seen or heard the Mexican Whip-poor-will. The only other name change that effects our birds is the splitting of Black Scoter into two species. The Black Scoter name will continue in North America and in Eurasian it will be called Common Scoter. Another interesting split is the Winter Wren. This widespread Eastern North American species retains the name Winter Wren, while the western bird counterpart is now called the Pacific Wren. There are quite a few changes in taxonomy, mostly at the generic and family levels involving raptors, warblers and some of the bunting allied species. For those who are interested in the AOU information check out this website http://xenospiza.com/.

Update on Black-bellied Whistling-Duck

The Black-bellied Whistling-Duck first observed on July 13th is still being reported at the ponds along CR 10 near Milford in Prince Edward County. This accidental visitor to Canada appears to be part of a movement that was first detected earlier in late May and early June as birds were found in Kentucky, New York, Pennsylvania, 54 in Tennessee and more recently 3 at Cape May, July 18-20th and 1 in Virginia July 19th.

Still hanging around Milford, Ontario.

July 29, 2010 Juvenile shorebirds, southbound.

I spent a few hours birding along the Ottawa River between Britannia and Shirley's Bay this morning. With the cooler overnight temperatures and winds Nw there was a small increase in shorebirds. I saw my first juvenile Least Sandpiper, with a total of 12 at Shirley's Bay along with 4 Great Egret, 100+ Wood Duck, 8 American Wigeon, 3 Northern Pintail, both Green and Blue-winged Teal, 6 Hooded Merganser and 1 male Lesser Scaup. At Britannia I had my first juvenile Bonaparte's Gull feeding over the rapids.
Good Birding, Bruce

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.

July 28, 2010 Chimney Swifts eggs hatch!

Our nesting Chimney Swifts in our chimney in Carp finally hatched, at least 2 of the 3 eggs. Their little naked pink bodies were visible from the top of the chimney. Hopefully they will survive the next few weeks before they're fledged.

Adult Chimney Swift on nest.

Two of the three eggs have hatched.

A close-up view of the young.

July 25, 2010 Southbound land bird migration starting

Over the past few days I've noticed a small movement of Yellow Warblers, numerous Bobolinks flying over head plus a couple of flocks including 30+ near Dunrobin. These are all signs that the breeding season for many species is over for another year. There are still a few late nesting species such as American Goldfinch and Cedar Waxwing. The Chimney Swift is still sitting on the nest which is very late compared to other years. I'd except the eggs to hatch any day. A number of Osprey nests in the area have young that are almost ready to take there first flight. Hopefully they all will be successful.

The Chimney Swift is still on eggs in Carp.

Osprey young are almost ready to leave the nest.

July 24, 2010 Birding Britannia to Shirley's Bay

The birding along the Ottawa River continues to improve with record low water levels and lots of exposed mudflats mainly at Shirley's Bay, Andrew Haydon Park and Britannia Pier. Ben and I did a quick check at various locations along the river and observed 9 Great Egret, 6 at Britannia and 3 at Shirley's Bay, 21 Black-crowned Night-Heron at Britannia including 19 juveniles! These are likely from the small breeding colony at Deschenes Rapids. Hundreds of ring-billed Gulls roosting at the rapids along with 8 adult Great Black-backed Gull. Shorebirds along the river included small numbers of Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Solitary Sandpiper and 10+ Spotted Sandpiper. There were 3 American woodcock feeding along the trail at Shirley's Bay at dusk.


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.

July 21, 2010 Birding Presqu'ile Provincial Park

With the breeding season coming to an end for many species the number of young around is evident at Presqu'ile Provincial Park. A view from Owen Point of Gull and High Bluff Island showed 100's of birds resting and feeding including young Caspian Tern, Ring-billed Gull, and Double-crested Cormorant. There were 19 Great Egrets in the area including 12 on High Bluff Island. Unfortunately no migrant shorebirds were seen but there were a number of Yellow warblers and 1 Northern Waterthrush at the point. Along Owen Point Trail there were 3 Willow Flycatchers calling. Over the next few weeks more land birds will be on the move south!

Shorebird habitat at Owen Point

A view of Sabastopol Island, a nesting site for Black-crowned Night-Heron.

A view from Owen Point looking towards Gull Island.

A distanct view of High Bluff Island with 100's of Double-crested Cormorants nest.

July 19 , 2010 Red Knots at Shirley's Bay

The shorebird watching continues to improve along the Ottawa River at Shirley's Bay. Did a quick check early this afternoon (after a few late morning showers) and observed 12 species of shorebirds. There were around 160+ shorebirds including 6 adult Red Knot in worn breeding plumage which were on the far side of the mudflat, resting. Also present were 3 Stilt Sandpiper, 1 Short-billed Dowitcher, 80+ Semipalmated Sandpiper, 48 Lesser Yellowlegs, 11 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 9 Least Sandpiper, 3 Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Killdeer,8 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Wilson's Snipe and 2 American Woodcock along the trail. There were 5 Great Egret and 15+ Great Blue Heron feeding in the bay.

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.

Yellow-nosed Albatross Update July 21, 2010

The Yellow-nosed Albatross continues to recover at the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre in Napanee, Ontario. Its condition on arrival was very poor, it was emaciated and very weak. Since it has survived the last few days, the bird's prognosis is better but guarded. It remains in critical condition. Currently, it is being re-hydrated with fluids and fed a special diet. It only weighs 1.5 kg which is half the weight of an average healthy bird. Unfortunately, the birding world will not be able to see the bird while in recovery.

Yellow-nosed Albatross continues to recover.
Photo: Sue Meech

July 18, 2010 Yellow-nosed Albatross found on Wolfe Island!

Probably the most exciting find in recent birding history was the discovery of a Yellow-nosed Albatross in the Kingston, Ontario area. If you live in Ontario or anywhere inland, for that matter, the ocean going albatross probably isn't on your "wish" list of possible finds! As the story goes on July 4th a good friend of mind, Paul Martin called me on my cell phone and left me a message about an albatross he had seen along the water front in Kingston. Thinking I had misinterpreted his message, I played it again. Yes, Paul said ALBATROSS in Kingston! Since I was leading a birding tour in Arizona when Paul discovered this bird, I called him that evening to get all the details about the albatross. I've always been a firm believer that "anything is possible in the birding world", but an albatross in Ontario?? That stretches my mantra to the limits!
Over the years we've all had a moment in birding when we've come across a Mega-rarity. It's a moment you remember forever. I think this sighting will be one such moment. Here's Paul's email to Ontbirds on July 4th, 2010.


Email: July 4th, 2010


At 11:45 today (4 July) an albatross (not identified to species) flew low over the parking lot between the smoke stack and the helicopter pad at Kingston General Hospital near the end of Barrie Street at Lake Ontario. The bird was at the lake shore, but flew over land the entire
time observed. The bird was as low as 10m above the ground and very close to the walking trail along the water edge (but on the hospital side). The bird passed back and forth 3 times, sometimes with Ring-billed Gulls in pursuit. The bird was last seen circling upward above the smoke stack drifting eastward.



The bird was predominantly white with fairly even black along the front edge of the underside of the wing, extending the full length of the wing. The upperside of the wing and back were uniform black. The bill appeared somewhat dusky, with a line at the top edge of the bill. The actual top of the bill may have been a different colour - I couldn't see for sure. The head may have been somewhat dusky, particularly around the eye.



The bird flapped when low with fixed, stiff wings. When soaring, the wings were arced, not bent. The bird appeared about 2.5-3 x the size (wingspan) of the Ring-billeds, although they were usually diving at it making comparisons difficult.



Context: I was walking my son in a wagon when the bird flew by - I had no binoculars or camera. I saw the bird for about 5 minutes, at times extremely close (15m) when it was at its lowest point, and left the bird as it was soaring to phone my wife to return with a camera. We could not relocate the bird later on.



Directions: From 401, take Division Street south to Johnson St. Turn left, then right on Barrie Street. Take Barrie Street south to the Lake. The bird was seen just to the west at the visible smoke stack opposite the hospital.




Now to finish the story. Yesterday an email was forwarded to me (via Paul Martin and Terry Sprague) from Sue Meech, from Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre. The albatross was found in emaciate condition on Wolfe Island, right across from Kingston, where Paul had last seen the bird on July 4th. The albatross was taken to the Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre but likely will not survive its ordeal. How it managed to make it inland is anyone's guess. One interesting note is that there is a sight record of Yellow-nosed Albatross in upper New York State on Lake Champlain on May 8, 1994. Below is the email from Sue Meech.


Email: July 17, 2010

Hi Terry

Have an unusual visitor.

Any idea what might have happened to bring it to Ontario? It was found
beached off of Wolfe island. Found by a cottager. Very emaciated and weak.
Sue

Sue Meech
Sandy Pines Wildlife Centre
Napanee Ontario
Canada

Yellow-nosed Albatross found on Wolfe Island.

July 18,2010 Birding the Kingston area

Spent the morning birding Amherst Island and various locations in the Kingston area. On Amherst Island there was lots of sign that the breeding season has been successful with 100's of young swallows mainly Barn and Tree lined up along the fence lines and telephone wires. Many young Eastern Kingbirds were also observed in family groups. The KFN property had a variety of species including 30+Bobolink, 1 Black-crowned Night-Heron, 4 Caspian Tern, a late lingering(summering) Horned Grebe and a family of downy young Common Merganser. Later on we did a quick check at the Amherstview sewage lagoon and had a good variety of adult shorebirds including 2 Stilt Sandpiper and 2 Short-billed Dowitcher. Overall another good day birding in the heat and humidity!
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 $8.00 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 contact information or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

Normally associated with marshes and waterways the Great Blue Heron is at home hunting in open fields for frogs, voles and anything that may cross its path.

A female Common Merganser with 7 downy young along the shoreline of Amherst Island.

The Caspian Tern is a regular sight along shoreline of Lake Ontario and nearby lakes.

A breeding plumage Horned Grebe was a surprise off Amherst Island. A regular Spring and Fall migrant it is rare during the summer months.

July 16, 2010 Black-bellied Whistling-Duck still at Milford, Prince Edward County

Just back from seeing the Black-bellied Whistling-Duck on the pond along CR 10 near Milford. It was still present at 2:15p.m. This vagrant to Canada was new for my Canada and Ontario list. Unfortunately Ben wasn't home!
Good Birding, Bruce



Directions: (from earlier post) From the west end of Picton at the traffic lights take Lake Street from the LCBO and follow south (Lake Street becomes County Road 10) to Cherry Valley. At the Stop sign in Cherry Valley, turn left and follow C.R. 10 for another 6 km to Milford. Upon reaching Milford, turn left at the Stop sign, then right again at the post office in Milford, and continue on C.R. 10 for about 2 km. and the ponds are on the bend of the highway almost across from the intersection of Royal Road.

A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck has been present in Prince Edward County since July 13th!

July 15, 2010 Chimney Swifts nesting in Carp.

Chimney Swifts returned to the Carp area back in late April and I had an opportunity to check the nest out and found an adult sitting on eggs. It appears that an earlier attempt to nest may have been washed away by a heavy rain fall. you can see the remains of an early nest and possible two. usually by now the eggs have hatched and I can see young. I'll take another look later next week.

Chimney Swift on nest.

July 14, 2010 birding along the Ottawa River

With the continued low water levels along the Ottawa River, today, July 14th, Ben and I birded the river searching for shorebirds. The highest concentration, all adults in various stages of moult, was at Shirleys Bay with 68 Lesser Yellowlegs, 7 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 11 Least Sandpiper, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper, 4 Short-billed Dowitcher, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Sandpiper and 1 Killdeer. Also present were 3 Great Egret. We observed 1 adult Red-headed Woodpecker at the old burn site at Constance Bay.

Good Birding,
Bruce & Ben

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.

Low water levels at Shirley's Bay attract southbound shorebirds and both herons and egrets.

Great Egret are becoming almost a regular site along the Ottawa River.

The extensive mudflats at Constance Bay can be very good for shorebird watching later in August.

The old burn site at Constance Bay is still the best location for the Red-headed Woodpecker in the Ottawa area.