August 9 2026 (Sunday) Durham lakefront

Leader: Geoff Carpentier.

Twenty-five OFO members and guests joined leader Geoff Carpentier as we explored a few of the many waterfront destinations in Durham Region. Starting early at 7:30 we met on Hall's Road and ventured southbound to Cranberry Marsh where we enjoyed several species of birds, Green Heron, Great Egrets and Least Bitterns. overhead a few shorebirds tested our skill at flying bird ID. We then ventured to Whitby harbour where a couple of locally rare Purple Martins put on a show with an adult Bald Eagle in the background. Then we headed west to Corner Marsh in Ajax - although the birding was a bit slow we did see an incredible four Least Bitterns among myriad other birds. Finally we birded a wetland at the foot of Liverpool Road in Pickering, where close encounters with nesting Common Terns put a nice touch to the day. All in all we saw 62 species. The Trip Report from ebird can be viewed at this link.

OFO Durham Lakefront - eBird Trip Report

July 11 2026 (Saturday) Durham lakefront

Leader: Dave Milsom, Cathy Douglas, Brian Wales.

A dedicated OFO group enjoyed a beautiful day's birding along the Whitby lakefront on July 11. Best sightings were 7 Green Herons at Thickson's Point, including two fledged juveniles in a Pine tree, a singing male Orchard Oriole, at least 2 Willow flycatchers, a sub-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull in Whitby harbour, plus 10 Bonaparte's gulls, Common and Caspian terns, and 3 Gadwall. Cranberry disappointed but we still found an adult Bald Eagle, Merlin, Osprey, Marsh wrens, Spotted Sandpiper, and a close-by Virginia Rail. Once again,many thanks to a great group of participants, and co-leaders Cathy Douglas and Brian Wales.

Species Observed : 53 4 Checklists 4 Species with Photos Species Observed Show all details Native or Naturalized 196 Canada Goose Checklists 3 26 Mute Swan Checklists 2 3 Gadwall Media 2Checklists 2 14 Mallard Checklists 3 6 Mourning Dove Checklists1 1 Virginia Rail Checklists1 1 Spotted Sandpiper Checklists1 10 Bonaparte's Gull Checklists1 46 Ring-billed Gull Checklists2 3 American Herring Gull Checklists1 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull Checklists1 13 Caspian Tern Checklists3 5 Common Tern Checklists1 89 Double-crested Cormorant Checklists3 7 Green Heron Media1Checklists2 5 Turkey Vulture Checklists3 1 Osprey Checklists1 1 Bald Eagle Checklists1 2 Belted Kingfisher Checklists2 2 Downy Woodpecker Checklists2 1 Merlin Checklists1 2 Willow Flycatcher Checklists1 1 Eastern Phoebe Checklists1 3 Eastern Kingbird Checklists1 4 Eastern Warbling Vireo Checklists1 1 Red-eyed Vireo Checklists1 1 Blue Jay Checklists1 1 Common Raven Checklists1 3 Black-capped Chickadee Checklists1 80 Bank Swallow Checklists1 5 Tree Swallow Checklists2 1 Northern Rough-winged Swallow Checklists1 2 Barn Swallow Checklists1 1 Northern House Wren Checklists1 2 Marsh Wren Checklists1 28 European Starling Checklists1 2 Gray Catbird Checklists1 5 American Robin Checklists3 4 Cedar Waxwing Checklists2 2 House Sparrow Checklists1 10 American Goldfinch Checklists3 12 Song Sparrow Checklists4 5 Swamp Sparrow Checklists2 4 Orchard Oriole Media1Checklists1 1 Baltimore Oriole Checklists1 27 Red-winged Blackbird Checklists3 8 Brown-headed Cowbird Media1Checklists1 7 Common Grackle Checklists1 1 Common Yellowthroat Checklists1 2 American Redstart Checklists1 12 Northern Yellow Warbler Checklists2 5 Northern Cardinal