July 31-August 1, 2012 More Churchill Birding.

On July 31st we spent most of our time birding around the townsite and along Goose Creek/Hydro Road and one trip east along Launch Road to Bird Cove. Agian, lots of activity in most ponds with many family group of American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, and Greater Scaup.

We finally observed our first family of Pacific Loons with 2 young  and counted a total of 22 adults in small flocks flying along the coast and inland. A few individuals were carrying food. While driving along Launch road, Ben spotted an American bittern in flight. At Bird Cove we observed a flock of adult Hudsonian Godwits resting along the coastline and one of the birds was banded. It had a white flag with black letters, AK on its left leg. Likely a locally banded individual from field studies at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. There were also a couple of breeding plumage Black-bellied Plover and 1 American Golden-Plover. Along Goose Creek/Hydro Road there was a nice concentration of 46 juvenile Short-billed Dowitcher feeding, and a  almost fledged amily of Lesser Yellowlegs. In the willows at the Pumphouse we observed a number of birds feeding along the shoreline including 12 Northern Waterthrush, 7 Yellow Warbler, 1 Orange-crowned Warbler, 2 Lincoln's Sparrow, 10 White-crowned Sparrow, 2 Fox Sparrow, 6 Rusty Blackbird and 7 Savannah Sparrow. They all appeared to be feeding on insects low over the water and on the vegatation.

The next day we headed to the Twin Lakes area where the old burn site is located. Back in mid June is was very quiet with few birds so I was surprised at the activity which included a family of northern Flicker, 60+ American Robin, and a Hairy Woodpecker which is very rare in the region. My first visit to the burn site was back in June 1999, 2 years after the blaze. The variety of birdlife after the fire was amazing and included breeding Black-backed Woodpecker, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Northern Shrike, Hermit Thrush and Brown Creeper. Nowadays most of the large trees trees have been cut down for fire woods and most of the remaining trees are to small for nesting cavities. Along Twin Lakes road we observed Gray Jay, Boreal Chickadee, 3 Rough-legged Hawk, and 150+ Rusty Blackbirds. On our return to Churchill we saw our first downy young Long-tailed Ducks along Launch Road. At the Granary Ponds there was an immpressive 156 juvenile Stilt Sandpiper, 1 Sora and lots of smaller numbers of juvenile Least Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, and Lesser Yellowlegs. Off the gravel point at the Grain Elevator we observed an adult Common Tern resting with Arctic Terns, another rare visitor to the region.

A family of American Wigeon.

Our first flying  juvenile Arctic Tern. 

A juvenile Bonaparte's Gull resting along the Churchill River.

A family of Green-winged Teal at the Granary Ponds.

A group of juvenile Least Sandpiper resting.

The juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes will be on their way south soon.

An adult American Tree sparrow searching for food.

Caught in a storm in 1961 the ship "Ithica" sits rusting along the shore of Bird Cove in Hudson Bay.

A distant view of the Grain Elevator and Churchill.

A family of Northern Shoveler along Goose Creek Road.

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This Northern Waterthrush was actively catching insects along the shoreline of the Churchill River.

A family of Lesser Scaup was a surprise along Hydro Road.

A male Pine Grosbeak feeding in a spruce tree.

An adult and young Gray Jay responded to my squeaking.

This male House Sparrow visits our feeding area in the parking lot of the hotel. It took three days before the local birds found the feeder. We now have had 4 species, mainly House Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Common Redpoll and American Tree Sparrow.

A Yellow Warbler bathing along the shoreline of the Churchill River.

Rusty Blackbirds appear to be doing well in the Churchill region. We have had counts of over 100+ birds on 2 days so far.

The summer months are the time to see Belugas at Churchill.

An adult and young Beluga swimming off Cape Merry.

One of a number of juvenile European Starlings we observed in the Churchill area.

An adult and juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.

The Hudsonian Godwit is a regular breeder in the Churchill area.

A flock of Hudsonian Godwit feeding at Bird Cove which included a banded individual. The colour band was AK.

These adult Greater Yellowlegs were resting at the Granary Ponds. Note the wing moult on the right hand bird in flight.

A juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs takes one of it's first flights.

A family of Northern Pintail make their way to deeper water.

A juvenile Stilt Sandpiper.

July 29-30, 2012 Fall birding at Churchill, Manitoba

       Ben and I arrived at Churchill late on July 29th for a week of birding. I've lead tours to Churchill for the past 13 years during spring migration in June and this was my first visit during summer/fall season. Our first stop was at the Granary Ponds were we observed a number of Greater Scaup broods and lots of shorebirds including juvenile Stilt Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, and Short-billed Dowitcher. Also present were young Arctic Tern and Herring Gull. A flock of 44 adult Greater Yellowlegs rested on exposed rocks. It was amazing to see that the House Sparrow population had exploded from a high count of 44 back in June, to 100+ now. They're obviously doing well with the Grain Elevator. At Cape Merry, a number of family groups of Common Eider along with the hundreds of Belugas. A few flocks of Whimbrel were observed both flying and feeding.

       The following morning we had an early start checking birding various areas around the townsite. At low tide, we went to the Tidal Flats and counted 21 Bald Eagles that were either on the ground or sitting up on large rocks while 1500+ Canada and 72 Snow Geese fed alongside the river. It would appear this concentration of eagles was due to the presence of all these geese. We did see one young Bald Eagle feeding on a dead Canada Goose. Also at the Tidal Flats were a large flock of adult Hudsonian Godwit. We ended up counting 156 of them and 220 Ruddy Turnstone were also present. Along Goose Creek/Hydro Road, we spent a couple hours birding, and had 2 Nelson's  and 1 Leconte's Sparrow which are very rare in the Churchill region. Also, we had a large flock of 100+ Rusty Blackbird. Numerous species of sparrow were also observed including, American Tree, White-crowned, Lincoln, Fox and Savannah. Many of these individuals were juveniles. Along the Churchill River, at the marina, we observed 24 Redhead and 6 Ring-necked Duck. Both species of ducks are rare in Churchill.  Many Bonaparte's Gull and Arctic Tern were flycatching at the weir. At the Goose Creek Cottage area a Black-backed Woodpecker was observed and 2 Barn swallow near Akudlik Marsh were likely the same individuals I saw back in mid june. One of our biggest suprises was the lack of mosquitos so far but black flies are making themselves known.

Adult Arctic Tern.

Ben scanning over the mouth of the Churchill River and Hudson Bay.

A juvenile Actic Tern begging for food.

A female common Eider with young.

 A juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs hiddens in the vegatation as one of the adults calls overhead.

The best location for  Nelson's Sparrow  is along Goose Creek Road.

A total of 21 Bald Eagles were obsevered at low tide.

Ben checking out the Granary Ponds.

A flock of Whimbrels flying over Cape Merry.

The Red-necked Phalarope is a regular breeder in the Churchill area.  

Flocks of Rusty Blackbirds were found along Goose Creek Road.

The White-crowned Sparrow was one of the few species still singing.

An adult White-crowned sparrow with two juveniles.

July 27-28,2012 Eastern Ontario birding

Hi Everyone

Spent the past 2 days birding various sites in eastern Ontario. Overall, lots of activity and migration. Yesterday at the Alfred Lagoon we observed 7 families of Ruddy Duck with 4-9 young, 3 families of Redhead with 3-7 young and numerous families of American Coot and Common Gallinule. Near the Alfred Bog there was a flock of 80+ Bobolink and 3 Upland Sandpiper. We checked a number of the other eastern sewage lagoons and the most productive was the St. Albert Sewage Lagoon with over 200 shorebirds including 2 adult Stilt Sandpiper and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper. There were 150+ Lesser Yellowlegs,1 juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and 3 Black Tern. All birds were in the south east cell due to low water conditions.

At the Amherstview S.L. west of Kingston 9 adult Stilt Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Wilson's Phalarope, 1 adult Short-billed Dowitcher were observed along with numerous Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Today at Presqu'ile we observed 1 adult Baird's Sandpiper and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon at Owen Point.

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

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Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 east to exit 66 and go south on St. Albert Road. Proceed around a large corner where the road becomes Cty Rd 7.After passing through St.Albert watch for the sign for the lagoon on the south side of the road, opposite house #1664.

Directions: Courtesy Fred Helleiner: 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. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground.

Directions: Amherstview Sewage Lagoon: From Hwy. 401 take exit 599 (County Rd. 6, Odessa) south on County Rd. 6 to Taylor-Kidd Blvd. Turn left (east) on Taylor-Kidd and drive approx. 1 km watching for a lane on your right after crossing railway overpass. This is the entrance to the lagoon. If you're coming from Amherst Island, drive east on Hwy 33 approx. 9 km. and then turn left on County Rd 6. Continue north about 1.5 km and turn right (east) onto Taylor-Kidd Blvd. MUST be accompanied by a KFN member. For KFN contact information or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

Chipping Sparrows

Stilt Sandpiper feeding.

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Owen Point. 

Juvenile Black Tern at St. Albert 

Lots of shorebird activity at St.Albert.

Stilt Sandpiper in flight. 

Great Crested Flycatcher

Adult Pectoral Sandpiper at Amherstview Sewage Lagoon. 

Adult Solitary Sandpiper at Embrun Sewage Lagoon. 

Cedar Waxwing displays. 

A young Gray Catbird.

Killdeer in flight. 

A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was a surprise at Presqu'ile. 

 Yellow Warblers are now migrating south in numbers throughout eastern Ontario.