November 10 2024 (Sunday) Ccolonel Sam Smith Park Toronto
Leader: Peter Sproule, David Creelman, Monika Croydon.
November 10 2024 (Sunday) ? Colonel Samuel Smith Park (CSSP), Toronto
Leader: Peter Sproule
Co-leaders: David Creeelman, Monika Croydon
Twenty-four participants joined the leaders on this early November tour of Colonel Sam Smith Park in south Etobicoke, observing a total of 29 species of birds with mild temperatures and the threat of rain.
The walk commenced after brief introductions at the meeting spot ? two celebrity birds had been reported in the vicinity during the preceding two days, and a new celebrity was reported the morning of the walk. The leaders opted to take the group to Whimbrel Point to observe the ?new? celebrity ? a Purple Sandpiper that was a ?lifer? bird for approximately half of the participants, with much rejoicing. Three Snow Buntings made a brief appearance on the breakwater rocks as well, prompting some participants to jokingly mention they could leave the walk satisfied.
The walk continued to West Point, where Red-breasted Mergansers, Gadwall, American Black Duck, Long-tailed Duck, Mallard, Bufflehead, American Wigeon, Canada Geese, and 1 Mute Swan were observed.
Returning from the walk to West Point, 3 Yellow-rumped Warblers and several Blue Jays greeted the group on the walk towards North Creek Wetland, as well as 2 American Coot. More Bufflehead and 6 Common Goldeneye were observed off-shore at this area, and 1 Great Blue Heron and 5 Green-winged Teal gave nice views in the wetland area.
Thank you to the participants that joined myself and the co-leaders for the tour of this area.
Peter Sproule
Full summary of species observed at https://ebird.org/checklist/S202037869
November 3 2024 (Sunday) Cobourg to Presqu'ile
Leader: Dave Milsom, Brian Wales, Leo Weiskittel.
16 participants joined us for a rewarding day of birding along the shoreline of Northumberland County between Cobourg and Gosport. Our morning began at Cobourg Harbour, where we observed thousands of diving ducks (mostly westbound Red-breasted Mergansers) migrating on Lake Ontario, boding well for our next stop, a lakewatch at the Chub Point lookout. There we picked up considerable numbers of Greater Scaup, Long-tailed Ducks, and Red-breasted Mergansers, as well as smaller flocks of Redheads, Surf and White-winged Scoters, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneyes, and Common Mergansers. Other waterbirds included Bonaparte?s Gulls, Horned Grebes, and a very distant Red-throated Loon. Wicklow Beach was largely unproductive, though we were surprised to see an escaped Chukar along the roadside! The flagship section of our outing was Presqu?ile Provincial Park. A large portion of the group elected to wade to Gull Island, which yielded many shorebirds including 16 Black-bellied Plovers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 21 Sanderlings, and 113 Dunlin. Also present on the island were 7 Horned Larks of the alpestris subspecies, 53 Snow Buntings, and 1 Lapland Longspur. The participants who did not cross to Gull Island managed to observe thousands of Greater Scaup and several Red-necked Grebes at the Presqu?ile Point lighthouse. The trip totalled 67 species.?
Leo Weiskittel
October 26 2024 (Saturday) Nephton Ridge
Leader: Dave Milsom, Brian Wales, Leo Weiskittel.
3 participants joined us for a fairly productive day of birding at Nephton Ridge on Saturday, October 26th. With mild temperatures, clear skies, and strong northwest winds, the conditions were ideal for observing the active migration of raptors, waterbirds, and passerines. The morning started off strong with a group of 10 White-winged Crossbills flying overhead at the meeting spot, as well as several species of dabbling ducks and a small flock of Rusty Blackbirds in the wetland just up the road. We were then escorted by Cale and Cynthia of Covia Canada Ltd. to 2 overlooks on the Nephton Mine property. Though the road and tailing ponds proved largely unproductive, the first hawkwatch site did not disappoint. Despite a somewhat slow raptor movement, the group was able to observe 2 Golden Eagles, an adult and a first-year bird. Finches certainly appeared to be on the move with 4 Red Crossbills and dozens of Pine Siskins migrating along the ridge. Brian Wales spotted a flock of 8 Snow Buntings on the road to the second overlook, which was later seen by the whole group. The second site provided another Golden Eagle as well as a flyover Evening Grosbeak. A very distant flock of stocky waterfowl with rapid wingbeats was also observed (likely Brants). Impressive numbers of migrating corvids made up for low raptor counts, with triple digits of Blue Jays and American Crows. Upon our return to the meeting spot, a few participants elected to spend a few minutes scanning the sky and were rewarded with 32 Sandhill Cranes migrating overhead. The group totaled 41 species.
Leo Weiskittel
October 26 2024 (Saturday) Niagara Hotspots
Leader: Bob Highcock, Jean Hampson.
On Saturday October 26, four OFO members joined Bob and I as we introduced them to some of the Niagara Region?s top birding hotspots. We met at 8 am at the Grimsby Wetlands and immediately began finding interesting birds such as a colourful Fox Sparrow hopping on the path. An American Bittern had been reported here the previous day so we searched for a glimpse of this elusive bird from the Watchers Pond observation platform. We did see a pair of Rusty Blackbirds which happened to be life birds for some of our participants. Other birds observed were Song and Swamp Sparrows, Wood Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Coot, Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Marsh Wren. Then I spotted the American Bittern and everyone had great looks at it through their binoculars, camera and our scope. Next we travelled to 40 Mile Creek, also in Grimsby, and had some incredibly close views of Golden-crowned and a single Ruby-crowned Kinglet. We were all entertained by a singing Carolina Wren and three feisty Winter Wrens. After a lunch break we headed to Niagara-on -the -Lake?s Outlet Collection ponds to look for the Wilson?s Snipes that had been reported throughout the week. We were not disappointed and found three of the reported birds. The ponds behind Niagara College were also productive with Gadwalls, American Wigeons and a single Pied-billed Grebe. We finished the day at Malcolmson Eco Park in St.Catharines, introducing the group to one of the best birding spots in the region during migration. We had a calling Raven flyover and our only Brown Creeper for the day. We totalled 44 species of birds on our checklists. As we parted from our happy guests one of them told us that we were great ambassadors for birding in Niagara!
Jean Hampson
October 19 2024 (Saturday) Killarney Provincial Park
Leader: Mark Calhoun.
On October 19th I had the great privilege of leading a small group through parts of Killarney Provincial Park. Though the birds were not numerous the beauty of Killarneys rugged terrain certainly did not disappoint.
We started off on the Cranberry Bog Trail which has the opportunity for good birding as it visits great Near North habitats. We had some great close encounters with two pairs of Ruffed Grouse. The males were displaying showing off their namesake ruffed neck plumes. Certainly the highlight species was a small flock of Red Crossbills.
We hiked the Chikanishing Trail as well. Birds were not prevalent once again but we did see four Eastern Bluebirds which was certainly a surprise.
We finished off the afternoon in the town of Killarney visiting a pair of sewage lagoons and a lighthouse.
In total we managed just 19 species.
Mark Calhoun
October 5 2024 (Saturday) Rondeau area
Leader: Peter Sproule.
October 5 2024 (Saturday) ? Rondeau, Erieau and Blenheim
Leader: Peter Sproule
Rondeau, Erieau and Blenheim
The seven participants on this fall tour of the Rondeau -Erieau area observed a total of 70 species of birds with mild temperatures but windy at times.
The tour commenced at Rondeau?s Visitor Centre, concentrating observations within a 500 metre radius of the parking lot. The group was treated to views of several fall warbler species here ? Black-throated Green, Blackburnian, Black-throated Blue, Tennessee, Nashville, Northern Parula and American Redstart. Ring-billed and Herring Gulls were observed on the beach, with one Great Black-Blacked Gull seen hovering over the water.
The next stop was Keith McLean Conservation Area, where Nelson?s Sparrows were reported but not seen by the group. Several shorebird species were present on a mudflat, with an impromptu workshop done on ID. Of Semipalmated Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Baird?s Sandpiper, Stilt Sandpiper and both Yellowlegs sp. Many Green-winged Teal were present on the far shore.
The Marsh Trail at Erieau was visited next ? many kinglets, with the main highlights being good views of a Rusty Blackbird, and rafts of ~3000 Redhead and ~1000 American Wigeon seen floating on and flying above the water.
The trip ended at the Blenheim Sewage Lagoons. Water levels were high in 4 of the 5 cells; Northern Shovelers were observed from a distance in the low-water cell, and ~20 Ruddy Ducks in the high-water cells.
Thank you to the participants that joined me on this quick tour of this area.
Full trip report summary of species observed at https://ebird.org/tripreport/285796?welcome=true
Peter Sproule
