June 7 2019 (Friday) Rainy River
Leader: Nick Escott, Chris Escott.
Nineteen birders from across the Province arrived in Rainy River on June 6th eager to find some of the area's specialties. Many of them couldn't wait, so we headed out that evening along Wilson Creek Road. Patience was rewarded when we found a LeCONTE's SPARROW perched in a small willow giving everyone fabulous scope views for more than ten minutes. Soon afterwards a SHORT-EARED OWL flew in front of our motorcade as we drove slowly down the road. Rounding out the evening were the night sounds of AMERICAN WOODCOCK and EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL.
The first CONNECTICUT WARBLER of the season had been found two days earlier so we decided to head there first thing on Friday morning, June 7th . Sure enough, the bird was singing non-stop in the tamarack and spruce woods along Highway 619. Next up was a known SHARP-TAILED GROUSE lek in a distant field along Highway 621. They weren't dancing as there were raptors in the area, but the heads of two vigilant birds were seen keeping watch. The first of a number of WESTERN MEADOWLARK was found on Worthington 3 Road, as well as a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE, BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS and SANDHILL CRANES. Farther north were the first of many SEDGE WREN.
Heading west on Blue 3 Road the only known MARBLED GODWIT did a raucous fly-by with a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW singing from a nearby fencepost. From there we drove south on Worthington 1 Road and again a LeCONTE'S SPARROW was spotted high in a willow bush affording everyone scope views. Rainy River sewage lagoons was next, and didn't disappoint with WILSON'S PHALAROPE. A quick stop in town produced CHIMNEY SWIFT and we then we headed for a picnic lunch at the old Oak Grove Camp. In addition to a colony of PURPLE MARTIN the group also recorded a RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER and a pair of YELLOW-THROATED VIREO.
Driving north and east along River Road we saw a pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKER at a nest hole, then on Antonson Road and another pair of RED-HEADED WOODPECKER. We were unable to make the boat trip to Windy Point as the pontoon boat that has served OFO well in the past was out of commission with a burned out motor and all the other boats were booked by fishermen. Nevertheless, most folks were able to get scope views of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD from the dock at Harris Hill Resort through the heat haze of an astonishing 34C. Throughout the day we had been seeing AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN flying overhead.
We took a break from the heat and went for dinner in nearby Baudette, Minnesota. The only restaurant in Rainy River had burned down two years earlier so crossing the bridge to the U.S. for dinner was the only practical choice! Later that evening, back in Canada, some participants went owling while others went off on their own to explore the area. The owling group once again found SHORT-EARED OWL, then split into a half dozen who went to Fred's Marsh while the others continued driving the area roads in search of night birds (and had good looks at AMERICAN WOODCOCK and EASTERN WHIP-POOR-WILL). Fred's Marsh was not productive. Water levels again seemed too low for Yellow Rail, and few other birds were noted.
Saturday morning we began the trip at the Highway 621 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE lek where we watched seven birds fly into the lek and, a few minutes later, start performing. From there we drove back to the Highway 619 location where most participants jumped the ditch and bushwhacked into the mosquito-infested woods on a deep cushion of moss where they were delighted with close-up views of a singing CONNECTICUT WARBLER. We then closed out the morning at Emo sewage lagoons where we found a great variety of waterfowl.
Many participants spent time before and after the official one and a half day field trip, and we ended with 139 species overall. Rainy River is a unique ecosystem in Ontario. Alan Wormington was the first to recognize this, and anyone since then who has visited the region will certainly agree. We thank Dave Elder for spending two days with us scouting the area before the field trip started, and everyone who participated in the trip for making it a success.
May 26 2019 (Sunday) Carden Alvar
Leader: Jean Iron.
Today's outing was OFO's 28th annual field trip to the Carden Alvar.
In great weather, our group of 50 tallied 99 species by walking Wylie Road from the cabin to north of Sedge Wren Marsh in the morning and visiting other birding sites in the afternoon.
We saw and/or heard many of the target birds including: Loggerhead Shrike, Grasshopper Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Towhee (lots), Brown Thrasher, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Eastern Bluebird, Alder and Willow Flycatchers, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Least Bittern, Wilson's Snipe, Virginia Rail, Golden-winged Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrow.
We saw and heard Soras in several locations, possibly favoured by high water levels. An American Bittern flushed from beside the main road. From the parking area at Bluebird Box 10 we watched a Groundhog climb a tree to eat the buds.
Butterflies were active, including many Red Admirals, Spring Azures and Black Swallowtails. Prairie Smoke, Carden Alvar's signature wildflower, was just starting to bloom on the alvar meadows. A large portion of the alvar is now protected by Carden Alvar Provincial Park (includes Cameron and Windmill Ranches) and other properties owned by The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Couchiching Conservancy.
May 25 2019 (Saturday) Tiny Marsh
Leader: Kevin Shackleton.
Most participants were at the Tim Hortons in Elmvale by 6:45 am. A few species were noted before the group moved off to Tiny Marsh and the west trail out to the viewing mound, this despite some rain, heavy at times.
Two and a half hours later the 7 participants had identified over 50 species including 12 warblers species, three species of vireo and five species of flycatcher as well as two Sandhill Cranes. We stopped briefly to look for Black Terns from the North/South dike without success.
Our next stop was for coffee at Tim Hortons in Wasaga Beach before going to Beach #1 where we did see a Piping Plover sitting tight to the nest in the rain.The weather began to clear as we headed for Collingwood Harbour where we hoped to find late migrating ducks and Common Ravens. We did find a female Greater Scaup, a male Common Merganser and many Yellow-rumped Warblers along with active Purple Martin houses.
A brief stop in downtown Collingwood netted some of the group Chimney Swifts. The airport turned up Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and Savannah Sparrow, but no Upland Sandpipers.The last stop, Stayner Sewage Lagoons, held the best bird of the day. In the far western lagoon were a Least Sandpiper, five Spotted Sandpipers and a Hudsonian Godwit. A total of 26 species were seen at this location. We drove approximately 180 kilometres, made 11 stops and identified 87 species. Those who would eBird checklists should email me directly.
May 25 2019 (Saturday) Leslie Street Spit, Toronto
Leader: John Carley.
This morning, at times in heavy rain, 3 OFO members joined the 4 leaders for the annual OFO Leslie Street Spit Field Trip in Toronto. 23 species were tallied in one hour of birding at the Wet Woods, another 28 species were noted in 75 minutes at Ashbridge's Bay Park, where again the flooding has created great shorebird habitat. The cumulative species total was 38.
Notable were 2 Fish Crow, heard and seen at Ashbridge's, along with 95 Dunlin and 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper at the flooded beach.
May 20 2019 (Monday) Lac Deschenes IBA, Ottawa
Leader: Bernie Ladouceur.
With the extremely high water levels and flooding this year, the big question was how much of the Lac Deschenes IBA were we going to be able to access. Nine participants showed up to find out and were rewarded with trip that found about 88 species, including 20 species of warbler.
We started at Constance Creek. Among the birds we found were 3 Trumpeter Swans, a calling American Bittern, a Black Tern and 4 Common Terns.
We drove south on Thomas Dolan Parkway, just outside the IBA. We had a Sora at Casey Lake marsh and then made a few stops on the Carp Ridge. Highlights included 2 male Golden-winged Warblers, 4 Eastern Towhees, Black-billed Cuckoo, Virginia Rail, and a Solitary Sandpiper; and the Trumpeter Swans that had left Constance Creek while we were there circled over us a few times while we were on the Carp Ridge.
We were debating whether to try and sneak into Britannia (it was officially out of bounds due to the high water levels) but then we received a report of a Vermillion Flycatcher on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River (but still within the IBA). We decided to go for it. In the end, the report of the flycatcher was dubious, but we did find an excellent pocket of warblers in the woods adjacent to Parc Brebeuf, including excellent views of Northern Parula, Canada and Black-throated Blue Warblers.
A fine half day birding despite not being able to visit some of our usual locations. Thanks to the participants, and especially to Bob Cermak who assisted me in leading this field trip.
May 19 2019 (Sunday) Murphy's Point Provincial Park, Lanark
Leader: Mark Read.
Ten members joined me for an excellent morning's birding at the park, from 7am to midday. In total we saw 75 species, including 22 species of warbler! Warbler highlights included almost a dozen Golden-winged Warblers, 2 Blue-winged Warblers, 2 Cerulean Warblers, and a good mix of the others, including first of the year Blackpoll Warbler. A Canada Warbler was heard but not seen.
We also picked up both species of cuckoo, with great views of Black-billed, as well as 3 Yellow-throated Vireos, numerous Scarlet Tanagers and 3 Red-shouldered Hawks.
Unfortunately we missed Indigo Bunting but everyone seemed to be happy despite that miss.
May 5 2019 (Sunday) Munster-Richmond Area, Ottawa
Leader: Colin Gaskell, Dave Moore.
Seven enthusiastic birders joined leaders Colin Gaskell and Dave Moore for a most enjoyable day searching for early returning migrants under the finest weather conditions of what has been an otherwise cold, wet Ottawa spring. Wood-warblers sighted included the expected Black-and-White, Nashville, Yellow, Palm, Yellow-rumped and Black-throated Green. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Warbling Vireo were other passerines of note. A tour of the ponds and cattail marshes at the Richmond Conservation Area afforded excellent views of American Bittern, Pied-billed Grebe, two extremely cooperative Virginia Rails and fleeting glimpses of two Soras. Several other individuals of both rail species were heard only as we circled the lagoons.
Shorebird diversity is still quite limited locally (the group recorded Wilson's Snipe, Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs at several different locations), however, the highlight was a pair of recently returned Upland Sandpiper at a traditional breeding location along the Franktown Road.
A male Purple Finch and a flyover Evening Grosbeak at a tamarack/spruce habitat near the Marlborough Forest added an additional boreal touch to the outing as did an earlier sighting of several Rusty Blackbirds foraging in a moist woodland habitat at the north end of Twin Elm Road. In all, the group tallied 72 species for the outing. Special thanks to Martha Burchat for compiling and sharing an eBird checklist with the participants.
May 4 2019 (Saturday) Toronto Islands
Leader: Gavin Platt.
Just under 30 birders were treated to excellent birding on yesterday's outing to Toronto Islands. During our 8+ hours in the field (all on foot), we found a collective total of 104 species. Highlights included great looks at a Sedge Wren, a Blue-winged Warbler, Iceland, Glaucous and Lesser Black-backed Gulls and 2 species of owls (Barred and Saw-whet). The only lowlight of the day was missing flyby Marbled Godwits by less than 5 minutes. Overall, a great day!
April 28 2019 (Sunday) Rondeau Provincial Park
Leader: Donald Pye.
It was a cool start. But the Sun came out to provide a good Day for Birding.
We had 11 Birders at the start of the trip. We had some birds at the VC including a Junco. Next to find the White-winged Dove, it was in the usually spot. Since the SPT was flooded with water we headed of to find the Clay-colored Sparrow. We had to look through a lot of Sparrows ; about 50 Chipping, 6 Field and some Song Sparrows. We found 1 Clay-colored.
Next we did the Maintenance area and Pony Barn area where we got our only 2 Warblers.
After Lunch we headed outside the Park to the McLean Marsh area. We added some Ducks to our list. Also we had 7 Bald Eagles - 2 Adults and 5 immatures. Plus an Osprey carrying lunch.
The next place was Erieau with a couple of stops along the way. The Eagles nest near Shrewsbury has 2 young Eagles in it and a good view. After Erieau it was time to go home.
I had 84 species checked off.
A list of the Birds is on E bird under my name : Chatham Kent
April 27 2019 (Saturday) Peterborough Area
Leader: Dave Milsom.
Our OFO outing Saturday from Peterborough Zoo attracted a small number of 8 birders due to the very cold temperatures and driving snow, which persisted all morning.
Despite the weather conditions, we still recorded 76 species throughout the day.
Highlights included 42 Evening Grosbeaks, Common Redpoll, Red-shouldered Hawk on the nest, Broad-winged Hawk, Bald Eagle, Ruffed Grouse, Purple Finch, Field Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird, Hermit Thrush, Pine Warbler, Brown Creeper, Sandhill Crane, Hooded and Common Merganser, Common Loon, and Raven.
At 2 pm, we decided to drive to Thickson's Woods, where we were able to see the very rare Hermit Warbler as well as Palm, Black & White, Yellow-rumped warbler and Blue-headed Vireo.
Many thanks once again to my co-leader, Matthew Tobey.
April 21 2019 (Sunday) Minesing Swamp
Leader: Mark Cranford.
Today Andrew Don and myself lead an annual early spring trip to the Minesing Swamp area north of Angus and CFB Borden for the Ontario Field Ornithologists. 13 birders in nine car participated. The trip started at 8:30am and wound down around 3pm. After a couple days of rain the day started in fog but visibility improved as the temperature rose to 14C. We covered a couple of different habitats but the main focus of our trip was migrating waterfowl visiting wet and flooded field draining into the Minesing Swamp. In total we had recorded 64 mostly expected species.
Links to three eBird checklists covers what we saw and heard.
Highlights included hundreds of Northern Pintail, a lingering Northern Shrike on McKinnon Road, singing Winter Wren on territory at north end of Baldwick Road and aggressive Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers also at the north end of Baldwick.
April 20 2019 (Saturday) Algonquin Provincial Park
Leader: Ron Tozer.
The combined total list for the day was a very respectable 51 species recorded by about 30 participants and four leaders. Unfortunately, the heavy rainfall and melting of snow and ice during the two days preceding this trip had a major impact on where we were able to search for the target species. However, Saturday's weather was actually better than the forecast, with no rain until late afternoon. That was a real bonus.
The return section of the Bat Lake Trail between Highway 60 and Bat Lake was our main planned location for all four boreal residents, but the trail was inaccessible for the group due to flooding of the creek and ice on the short boardwalk over it. We did find a single Canada Jay on Opeongo Road later, but no Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker or Boreal Chickadee this year. Five finch species were tallied, including a late Pine Grosbeak, a White-winged Crossbill and several Common Redpolls. The Visitor Centre produced good views of Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow and Rusty Blackbird.
Many photos were taken of a beaver lodge that was largely submerged by flood waters of Costello Creek along Opeongo Road. A female Canada Goose had built a nest on top of the lodge and was incubating eggs. Just inches away from her on top of the lodge was a family of five beavers (two adults and three young) that obviously had been flooded out of the lodge. The beavers appeared to be sleeping and the goose ignored their presence.
I would like to thank everybody that attended this 30th annual Algonquin Park trip for your assistance and understanding when target birds are hard to find and the conditions are challenging. The logistical and bird-finding contributions of Kevin Clute, Dawn Sherman and Laura Tozer were much appreciated.
