Apparently "updates soon" means "updates in 3 months"

As I sit blowing warm air into my cold fingers before typing a few words on my horrendously slow home computer writing an update to the least-updated blog in the universe while watching a hunter's truck slow down in front of our house with a rifle pointing out the window (probably hunting the pheasants that we are so happy to have around our house) and hearing Josh Groban pelt out Silent Night in the dining room (my Mom's choice), there is a big ol' crooked smile on my facade at the improbability of me actually having spotted the Spotted Towhee that has now been hanging around Point Pelee since November (...October?!).

Although it was an astonishingly beautiful day on Saturday that would have been ideal for going to Point Pelee to see the bird, which is a great rarity for the area, I decided instead to go on Sunday, quite possibly the windiest day of the year. With trees falling down around me and ice pellets blowing into my face, I bravely ventured out into the park from the warmth of my car to visit the 42nd Parallel sign where the bird has been reported for weeks.

The first good sign was that there were birds around. With the slightest amount of pishing, a large group of Juncos immediately surfaced, followed by a pair of Northern Cardinals, a few American Tree Sparrows, and a Downy Woodpecker. I had been there for about 2 minutes at this point when suddenly another bird popped up from behind a fallen log. THE SPOTTED TOWHEE! Hands now shaking from excitement instead of the cold, I was able to watch the bird for about a minute in my bins before it was concealed again. I got on the phone and gave a self-congratulatory phone call to Marianne, which seemed like a good idea at the time but the long distance fees added to the roaming charges will have me sighing at my Koodo bill in another month's time.

I decided to walk to the tip area to check out if there were any rafts of ducks on the open water. Nothing extraordinary but there was a flock of about 15 Northern Pintail, which was quite interesting. The warm weather must have had them moving. I could only huddle next to the rocks at the tip for so long before I started to get cold so I headed back to the safety of the forest to take one more look at the Spotted Towhee. This time, the bird flew in front of me across the path, which allowed a great look at its wing-pattern (beautiful).

Other birds for the day included 2 Brown Creepers behind the Cattail Cafe along with both a Ruby-crowned and Golden-crowned Kinglet, a few White-throated Sparrows, and of course, more juncos.

The next day, I went to the park again, this time meeting up with Marianne in the morning. Boy, did it ever help to have someone there with me to keep my mind off the fact that I was wearing thin boots with large holes in them, no other protection on my legs but jeans, and gloves that kept my fingers warm for most of the morning until I decided to try to get photos of the Spotted Towhee (which we relocated easily). Now "try" is definitely the key word of the last sentence. I will be posting these "photos" on my blog once I get back to Toronto (you might not see them until 4 months from now but I do plan to get them up!). Marianne had a good point that they are good enough for records (you can see the bird) but a couple of them look like those shots of Nessie that provide evidence for the Loch Ness monster.

We had some other interesting birds including quite a few finches flying over (Goldfinches and Purple Finches), a large flock of 29 American Robins flying over the tip, two Bald Eagles, a couple of other raptors (a nice Cooper's Hawk flew right over the Spotted Towhee location), and the regular wintering birds.

More to come!

MIA? No. BIA!

Holy Moly! Updates soon!

Peterson's Field Guide to the Birds of North America

Another quick update while summer winds down and fall migration slowly begins (a post on Ontbirds has already listed some of the fall migrants that can be seen on the Toronto Islands...I plan to take a couple trips there mid-fall for the warblers).

So I went to Chapters to check out the new Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of North American and I can say, with a slight touch of disappointment, that I will not be purchasing the guide (though it is tempting after seeing the beautiful cover art). If I get it for my birthday, that's fine, but it's not worth the purchase for me after looking through the guide. That's not to say it's not a good guide. For anyone starting birdwatching, this is the guide to buy! Peterson's plates and layouts are simple, easy to comprehend, and the arrow system is pivotal to learning. Since my first Peterson Guide, improvements have been made in various publications including simple maps next the plates rather than only in the back of the guide (where larger, more detailed maps appear). Also, up-to-date lumps and splits have always been included. However, while looking through the new guide, which combines Eastern and Western regions (whereas older publications had these two regions split into separate guides), I quickly realized that everything looked very familiar. This is not to say I wanted them to change Peterson's wonderful plates. That would be blasphemy. For me, however, an owner of 3 different versions of the Eastern Guide and 1 Western Guide, there was nothing more to get from the book.

It is handy though. Having a North American Guide versus splitting it into two versions is much more convenient for trips, as well as comparing species between regions. Also, many western birds appear out of range in the east so it's beneficial to have them all in the same guide anyway. I did not have a lot of time to look through the maps, but if I was ever to decide to purchase the book, it would be to compare the maps from the new publication to my older copies. I have my doubts that much would be different though. I also quickly skimmed some of the recent splits/lumps and subspecies and was surprised to see very little text on the potential (and daunting) 9 species of Red Crossbill, as well as Cackling Goose (which does have a separate plate and species account but nothing we haven't read from other guide books).

All in all, the merger of Peterson's Eastern and Western Guides was a good idea and an update on species account was in need, but for me, the $25 can be spent elsewhere (or at least put away in my new RBC spotting scope/iPod account).

Further reading

If I may, a couple of plugs for my friends' birding blogs:

Marianne's Birding Blog
- right now, Marianne has some excellent posts regarding her trip (honeymoon) to the east coast.

'Burg Birder
- Blake Mann has been updating his blog throughout the summer with detailed posts of bird and butterfly sightings from the Wallaceburg area.


Both sites are worth checking out for their pictures as well. I am without camera so my blog is visually underwhelming if I may say so myself...but I'm working on it.

2008 OFO Convention

I finally sent away my registration form for the 2008 Ontario Field Ornithologists Convention on October 4th and 5th. I was able to attend last year's convention at Point Pelee so I didn't want to miss this year's event in Hamilton. I'm pretty excited (although I have a lot of planning to do...where am I going to stay? How am I going to get to Hamilton?). There is a trip to Van Wagner's Beach on Saturday morning led by Brandon Holden so I want to check that out for potential Jaeger's (any of which would be lifers for me). Then on Sunday (I truly hope it's not overbooked), there is a workshop with Donald Kroodsma on recording birds and how to use the equipment he uses. I read a great book about Kroodsma last year that I highly recommend titled Birdsong that details his research and his somewhat -and I mean this in a good way- eccentric lifestyle. Being able to see him speak at the convention and possibly meeting him is something I truly look forward to.

For more details of the OFO convention, click here.

Marine Blues

In my previous post, I mentioned a morning of birding (but it mostly turned into a search for butterflies). A short while ago, the first record of Broad-winged Skipper for the Pelee Birding Area was seen along Concession E north of the park. No matter the time of year, whenever I am home, Marianne and I make it a point to go out birding at least once. This weekend was no exception and although we only had 3 hours, we still had a fun time (minus missing the aforementioned Broad-winged Skipper).

We decided to start our search for butterflies (and possibly shorebirds) at Hillman Marsh. After poisening ourselves with bug spray (I had already applied sunscreen earlier in the morning so I felt like I had just waded through toxic sludge at this point), we set off. It was a typical July day with no shorebirds found but some highlights in the birding department included a few Willow Flycatchers, both species of Cuckoo, 2 Belted Kingfishers, a ton of Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warblers, as well as the usual summer suspects (a huge flock of swallows over the Pelee Marsh was a highlight for me). Note to self: even the strongest bug sprays do not deter Deerflies...ouch!

We ended up with 14 species of butterfly in total:

Black Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger-Swallowtail (black and yellow forms)
Summer Azure
Cabbage White
Orange Sulphur
Bronze Copper
Eyed Brown
Painted Lady
Eastern Comma
Pearl Crescent
Orange Crescent
Monarch
Viceroy
Least Skipper

I also learned this weekend of a butterfly listserv that I need to find and become a member of. If I had been on it, I may have heard about the Marine Blues that were featured in the Toronto Star!

I wish I had had more time to stay out today but only having 2 vehicles on a farm where 4 busy people live causes obvious scheduling conflicts. In other news, it's been made official! I am the membership secretary of the Toronto Ornithological Club! *Currently floating on a cloud*

Evelyn Hatt 1920-2008

On Wednesday of last week, I got a call from my parents to tell me that my Grandma Hatt had passed away. She had come down with pneumonia, which led to congestive heart failure, and although she had a fighting spirit, this time it was just too hard on her. On her last birthday (her 88th year), however, she told my aunt that she had, "reached her goal." She must have been prepared. She had lived a long, eventful life and her funeral was as much a celebration of that life as a time to mourn her passing.

Like my grandpa, who passed away last year, my grandma was always asking about the birds I had seen. In fact, just this May (during our last visit together), she asked me how my week of birding had gone and how many lifers I had seen. When she was still living next to us on the farm, I would come back from a long walk looking for birds or butterflies and she would invite me in for peach juice and a few home-made cookies (she was an incredible baker). There were times when she thought I was crazy for how much time I spent birding and wouldn't hesitate to tell me that, but I'll remember her for all the good times we had together on the farm.

This weekend was a good time for me to take a break from life in the city, breathe a deep breath of country air, and spend time with close friends and family (and of course, a morning of birding). But now I'm ready to get back to Toronto, rejuvinated and ready for the oncoming fall migration, the OFO convention, and working with the TOC. Finally, one of the first things I'm going to try to do when I get back is see the Red Crossbills that are being reported across the northern areas of Toronto.

Was that really 6 years ago?? Also, 2008 MAY LIST

Before I get down to business, I have a couple of things to get out of the way. Firstly, I think I need an updated picture for my blog. Although I love this photo and it appears on the back of Henrietta O'Neill's Birding At Point Pelee, it's way back from the year 2002...and besides, my hair looks really greasy (and don't get me started on that coat, which lasted for 8 long years).

It's hard to believe I was only 17 when this photo was taken. I remember the day quite vividly but not the bird I was looking at. The full photo (the one on my profile is cropped to only show me) is of a group of birders searching for the first Painted Bunting to ever be seen at Point Pelee (there are now two sightings that I know of, including a female from a couple years back). Marianne and I searched for 4 hours at Sleepy Hollow to see that bird and it was only once we left the large group and walked down a separate trail that we finally found it. I remember the day well enough, but my memory of the bird itself is quite unclear. I saw the bird. I saw a glimpse of its red underside and the blue head but don't remember seeing the green back. The sighting lasted for about 4-5 seconds before another birder yelled to a large group on another trail that we had. Next thing we knew, we were being trampled. I will never forget the old lady who tried to see the bird and had her glasses knocked off her face due to the pushy, aggravated crowd. For anyone who thinks birding is a relaxing hobby, think again. It can get pretty rough from time to time. So, a new picture is necessary. The problem is I rarely get my photo taken while birdwatching.

The other thing I am currently needing to update is my equipment. It's time to buy a spotting scope. Living in Toronto certainly creates a black hole in my bank account so it's been very difficult to save any money but if I can just become a bit more thrifty and actually start a separate savings account, I should be able to afford a new scope within a year or two.

O.K. let's get down to business: THE MAY LIST! (note: new species marked with '*'; new species for Pelee marked with '~')

Cackling Goose~
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mottled Duck*~
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
King Rail*~ (note: heard not seen, therefore not on my life list)
Sora
Common Moorhen
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Laughing Gull~
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Bunting*~
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 170
Total Warblers: 30
New Species: 2
New Species for Pelee: 5

Yet another great spring at Point Pelee National Park.

June 28, '08 - what this date meant to me

Since it has become a trend on Cerulean Sky to describe events of the distant past instead of describing events of today (part of the reason for this is my lack of birding this summer season due to a busy city schedule), I will include another post in the same vein. This time, I travel all the way back to June 28, 2008.

It was a simpler time. The Apple iPhone wasn't on Canadian shelves yet, gas prices were a mere average of 1.324, and no one had any idea that Steven Page was in possession of cocaine. It was also a bittersweet time in my life. I was still dealing with the fact that I had turned 23 just four days prior, thereby fearing the cruel effects of time and an ever-approaching quarter-life crisis. Pride week was reaching a close and I was able to spend a good amount of time celebrating on Church street, which was an amazing and gratifying experience. It was a week that saw the start of many new relationships and the end of others.

What does this all have to do with birding and why is Cerulean Sky becoming a journal of the author's mundane life, you demand??? Nothing. And that's why I'm going to finally get to the actual topic at hand. June 28, 2008 also marked a key development in my birding career. I was invited to the Toronto Ornithological Club's first retreat since the club's inception in 1934. The retreat (featuring a handful of councilors and honorary members) was held in Barrie and the goal was to lead the club in new directions (in conservation, membership, fundraising, guest speakers, etc.), as well as iron out the purpose/stance of the club and determine ways to improve it. Of course, I can't get into too much detail as the results of the meeting have not yet been published (and plus, you probably don't want to hear about the paddling ceremony they hold for new members anyway). Needless to say, I was honoured to be included in the retreat as the youngest member of the club and the newly appointed Acting Membership Leader (crossing my fingers that the council will vote me in as the official Membership Secretary in the fall).

I am thrilled to become a more active member of the club and I cannot wait for more duties to come my way. I am currently in charge of answering any email inquiries about membership, updating the membership list and contacting inactive members, and in the fall, I will be responsible for introducing guests at meetings and introducing new members to the club. I'm both nervous and excited (my public speaking skills certainly have plenty of room for improvement). However, I've already met some truly great individuals that I respect and look up to, I look forward to meeting more people in the Toronto birding community, and it is a pleasure to be part of the rich history of the club, especially due to its reputation.

The summer months are a slow time for the TOC (there are no meetings or outings) but once fall migration begins, I'll be a busy birding boy. My goal for this fall/winter/spring is to submit a lot more of my sightings from the GTA as the records committee in the city keeps detailed reports and lists. This is extremely important citizen science. Everyday people finding short-term and long-term trends in bird populations, migration patterns, and breeding evidence. The 2 Ontario Breeding Bird Atlases show just how far citizen science can lead us in conservation and the study of birds. If there is ever to be a 'Birds of Toronto' published, I want to feel like I really took part in it.

Things are genuinely exciting for me right now as a birder and I have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming months. As for now, hopefully I'll finally get my May summary up soon (only 2 months late!).

Click here to see the Toronto Ornithological Club's website.

Day 9, May 18, 2008 or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Birds

The final day. My Greyhound leaves at 6:15 at night from Chatham to arrive at Toronto at 10:30. My list stands at 169 species. My goal for the week: 170 species. I decide my 170th bird has to be Bobolink. I am convinced I will hear their maniacal warble if I just drive around the Onion Fields and concession roads north around Hillman Marsh. Gas prices are high. The sky shows rain. I still have to visit with various family members in the early afternoon. Panic sets in. I get desperate. I stop my van and look in vain. There are no Bobolinks. I give up.

I reflect. Why was it so important that I see 170? Is 169 insufficient? Does it say anything about my skills as a birder? No, probably not. But 170 is an even number and that annoyed me. Not to mention, I hadn't seen any Bobolinks within the Pelee Birding Circle, and yet, every night I got back home in the country, I could hear and see them taunting me from the back of our property where they nest annually. I'll let you in on a little secret, though. My final May list wasn't 169. It was 170. Here is how it happened.

As mentioned, I had given up. I arrived at home in the early afternoon, ready to drive with my parents back to town to visit my grandparents. They asked if I had hit 170. Oh if looks could kill. My glare must have instilled some kind of pity in my dad. As we were driving from Wheatley to Leamington, he suddenly slowed down on the highway and took an unexpected left. We were entering Kopegaron Woods. I groaned. He was reigniting that last ounce of hope I had left for one more species. I was bound to be disappointed, right? Wrong! Upon exiting the vehicle, we walked over to check out the patches of Trilliums that thrive in the small woodlot and I heard a drumming sound on a nearby tree. Assuming Downy, I let my eyes scan the trunk until they fell upon my 170th species for the week: Hairy Woodpecker.

Of course, all of this makes me seem like a raving lunatic but I'm really not. Keeping a May list is all in fun. I actually stop to enjoy the birds once in a while. I'm not going to trample a Prairie Warbler in pursuit of something common I haven't seen yet...say, an Eastern Screech-Owl that I could very well see any other time. Well, unless it's close by of course.

Perhaps it is a burden to keep a list. Probably not. Keeping a May list keeps me motivated. On an afternoon when I'm tired, dehydrated, sunburned, covered in bug bites, and hungry, it's the May list that keeps me going. What if something good shows up as soon as I leave? It's happened countless times. In fact, it happened this year: Lark Bunting!

Oh, and for the record, I never actually gave up looking for the Bobolink. Not until our van crossed the outer boundary of the Pelee Birding Circle. But once we got home, I spotted one; flying in its peculiar way, like a bird that has hit one too many windows. It perched on a fence post near our house. I smiled smugly and shouted to him, "Nyha nyah! I didn't even need you to make it to 170 so there." The bird cocked its head to one side and then flew from its perch. He could care less.

Lifer! White Admiral

On June 28, the day I went on a retreat with the Toronto Ornithological Club to Barrie (more on this soon), Hugh Currie and I decided to take a short birding trip after the retreat. We took a detour to a marshy area where there was rumoured to be a pair of Wilson's Phalaropes but didn't have much luck in the birding department. However, I did get to see a new butterfly for my list: White Admiral. It's one heck of a beautiful insect and reminded me that summer can be good for birds, but it's great for butterflies. I hope to get over to High Park a few more times to check out some of the areas that are good for butterflies there. Last summer, I found a couple new species and tallied a good list for the park.

Day 8, May 17, '08 - Time is dwindling and the day list shortens because I was only pursuing new species for my May list!

This Saturday ended up being a pretty relaxing day despite an attempt to look for new May birds. I spent most of the day birding with friends, the park was quite quiet, and I decided to just enjoy the weather and appreciate the few birds we could find. Looking for an Orange-crowned Warbler and a Summer Tanager (both on Woodland Trail) didn't pay off but I still had a fun last day for my week home.

Here is the day list, which is pretty dismal for the reasons I've mentioned as well as skipping Hillman Marsh for the day (it makes a HUGE difference for your numbers!):

Canada Goose
Mallard
Red-breasted Merganser (yes, that's IT for ducks!!!)
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
Bald Eagle
Killdeer
Sanderling (yes, those are the ONLY shorebirds!!!)
Laughing Gull (the 2 birds at the tip stayed for quite some time)
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (new the for week! 1 bird at the tip)
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 75

Day 7, May 16, '08 - An attempt to restore Cerulean Sky to its former greatness (or at least reach that same level of mediocrity)

What a pain it is to exhume my May notes and try to figure out certain events from the 16th that made it stand out from the other days of birding on my week off. A post that should have been made a month and a half ago now emerges after everyone has stopped thinking about spring migration and are now looking forward to the summer breeders, the first fall shorebird migrants, and those (like me) who are really overzealous, are already itching to get out to a hawk tower to witness the first trickling in of raptors in 2008!

However, I'm determined to finish this series of posts if it takes me till May 2009. Here we are at day 7 when my week was dwindling down and I was running out of time to get new birds for the trip. Days became longer, friends and family lost track of my existence, Pelee became my home away from home, and the Bobolink became my new nemesis (refer to future post: "May Misses"). You can't waste a single minute, see.

The day list:

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
King Rail (the story: earlier in the week, the first reports came out of a King Rail calling at the northeast end of Hillman Marsh. Of course, this meant business. The first evening I had free, my mom and I took a trip to the location and sure enough, the rail was calling not far from the road and a group of onlookers listened attentively. Of course, the bird never came out of the reeds it was hidden in - that would be too easy - so I can't list it as a lifer, even it was my first time being int he presence of the species. A little frustrating, but neat to hear the bird's call anyway, and it does count as an addition to my Pelee, Ontario, and May lists, all of which have far less stringent guidelines than my Life List).
Common Moorhen - another tick for the week, 2 birds were hanging out near the location of the King Rail at Hillman
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 107 (Marianne and I had a discussion this spring recollecting years back when she and I went through great pains to try to get 100 species in 1 day. To think of this as a challenge now is almost laughable...it simply requires more time, more diligence, and a much better ear for sound identification).
Total Warblers: 19

Day 6, May 15, '08 - Resurrection. My highest day-count for the trip and a lot of new species for the week.

So I am ONCE AGAIN resurrecting my birding blog from the abyss after neglecting it for eons. And what a time to stop writing. Midway through my trip home during spring migration. I was hoping to get all of it finished the week after my trip. Then, a promotion at work occurred, I got right back into the Toronto life, and an array of other time-burglars arose, and next thing I knew, it was the end of June and I realized a month had passed since my trip. Well, it's going to be hard to write satisfying posts from the rest of the days I was home (my memory of specific events day to day has dwindled over the expanse of time) but I will include my lists. I also want to get to my "May Misses", which I was most looking forward to writing anyway.

Without further ado, here is my list for Thursday, May 15: (*Note: most times I would have described the weather or my route through Pelee for the day but once again, memory gaps and lapses will be evident with my next few posts!)

Canada Goose
Tundra Swan (same single bird on Concession E)
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup
Mottled Duck
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Ring-necked Pheasant
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Peregrine Falcon
Sora
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Ruddy Turnstone
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Eastern Screech-Owl (a second bird than the first on the main road provided decent views on the Woodland Nature Trail)
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Willow Flycatcher (the individual at the tip was identified through process of elimination by a large group including Ron Tozer. The consensus was Willow. Shortly after the group left, another smaller group that waited heard the bird singing. It was indeed a Willow).
Least Flycatcher
Great Crested Flycatcher (surprisingly my first sighting of the week)
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Kirtland's Warbler (one of the spring highlights. Brandon Holden was the original finder when he heard the bird calling between the main road and west beach birding footpath south of the halfway bus stop. There was some confusion and groups of birders ended up on both sides but eventually everyone realized there were better chances at seeing the bird on the west beach. I believe it stayed for most of the morning/afternoon. I had to wait an hour with the bird constantly singing before it finally was spotted on a bush very close to the trail. Subsequently, I got great views).
Prairie Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-coloured Sparrow (my first and only Clay-coloured Sparrow was a single bird at the tip but I think more than one was in the vicinity in the morning)
Field Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 120 (my best day of birding in terms of numbers. 120 was my highest count for the trip)
Total Warblers: 19

One thing I do remember about this day was that I had a number of new birds for the week that I hadn't seen previously. Many others shared the same experience.

Day 5, May 14, '08 - Marianne's Birthday, heavy rain, and a four hour nap

Wednesday was a write off. The morning started off o.k. in the park but by about 11:00 in the morning, it started to pour rain. Marianne decided to go home and wait for the rain to pass then re-enter the park. I took the chance to get some visiting in with family and to take a nap in the afternoon before a large group of birders got together to celebrate Marianne's marriage (congratulations!). Well, I guess the 6 hours of sleep a night had caught up to me because I laid down at around 1 in the afternoon and by the time I woke up, it was already 5 and I had to leave right away to get to the meal! Long story short, not a good day of birding, but a good day nonetheless.

I did manage to get a new species for the week though. Since the meal was at Freddy's, a restaurant right on Pelee Drive, and lasted till 9 at night, I decided to take a late trip into the park to watch the American Woodcock displays at the Delaurier Trail. As soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I could hear the tell-tale 'meep' coming from the grasses adjacent to the lot and within a few minutes, those present witnessed the spectacular display of the male woodcock. The male flies directly into the air and then performs a series of amazing aerial maneuvers to impress the females who watches from the ground. This was the first time I had went to the park late enough to witness the displays (at dusk, just before nightfall) and it was well worth it. This is going to become an annual event for me.

In closing, no list for Wednesday, just a lot of rain, a lot of sleep, and a lot of visiting. And knowing that Thursday, Friday, and Saturday were going to be long, long days of birding to make up for it!

Day 4 - May 13, '08 - Exclude Hillman and you don't get 100 for a day. That's what I learned this spring.

Whereas Monday experienced a mini-fallout at the tip, Tuesday experienced quite a drop in diversity and abundance (at least in my observation). However, it was the first day Marianne and I were able to spend a day birding together so I didn't mind a slower day of birding. We had a lot of catching up to do! I also didn't get out to Hillman Marsh on Tuesday so my day list once again is fairly low for a mid-May day.

Here's the list:

Canada Goose
Mallard
Greater Scaup (a late pair off the west beach. These were my only Greater Scaup for the period)
Lesser Scaup
Red-breasted Merganser
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Killdeer
Laughing Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Forster's Tern
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo
Chimney Swift
Red-headed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren (surprisingly, my first for the week)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Blue-winged Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warblr
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Palm Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 77
Total Warblers: 16

Day 3, May 12, '09 - Highlight: American White Pelican and a mini-fallout of new passerines

Can't believe I'm only at Day 3! I have to speed these posts up! Day 3 was definitely a good day for numbers as you'll see from my day list. I caught the 6 o'clock train on this one and was out until after 7pm due to an Eastern Screech-Owl. I was planning on heading home after the shorebird cell but a report of an easy-to-find Screech-Owl made it to my ears to I went back to the park to see the bird in case I couldn't find one later in the week (turns out the same bird came back to the same spot another day and I saw yet another bird on the Nature Trail. But if you're working on a list, it's always better to be safe than sorry). Another highlight was a pair of American White Pelicans on the lake at West Beach. Being such a large species, the two enormous white birds stood out in a raft of Cormorants.

This day also marked a mini-fallout at the tip area, a great day for new warblers and passerines. I spent most of my morning searching out all the birds that were being reported in the vicinity.

Here's my day list:

Canada Goose
Tundra Swan - same bird on Concession E
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mottled Duck
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Lesser Scaup - same bird at the shorebird cell
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck - a single bird at the shorebird cell
Common Loon
Ring-necked Pheasant
American White Pelican - 2 of West Beach
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Sandhill Crane
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper - my first of the week
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs - first of the week
Ruddy Turnstone - first of the week
Sanderling - first of the week - 4 birds on the east beach of Pelee near the tip
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Black-billed Cuckoo - first of the week - a single bird near the south train loop
Eastern Screech-Owl - this bird was so camouflaged on its perch in front of a Sycamore tree that I had to follow the exact directions from another birder to pinpoint it.
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Red-headed Woodpecker - first of the week
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo - amazingly, this was the only Blue-headed Vireo I saw during my entire visit home!
Warbling Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo - first of the week; east side of tip
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch - same bird on Tilden Trail
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush - first of the week - 2 birds at the tip
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush - a late bird on Tilden Trail (and my only one for the entire week home)
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler - first of the week
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Palm Warbler - first of week
Bay-breasted Warbler - first of week
Blackpoll Warbler - first of week
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 120
Total Warblers: 19

Day 2, May 11, '08 - Lifer! Lark Bunting

My second day in was quite an interesting one. Whoever set the date for Mother's Day wasn't a birder. The holiday falls right smack dab in the middle of birding season and my family gets together annually on the day. So, my day at the park was split up. Bird the morning for 4 hours, go to brunch at the Car Barn in Wheatley for Mother's Day Brunch, then back to the park in the afternoon (after a call from Marianne informing me of a Lark Bunting on the main road north of the train loop!).

I had actually just got home from brunch and was visiting with family when she called and I immediately informed my family what was happening. Seeing as it's May and they have come to understand over the years that I might drop everything and leave for Pelee any minute, they were understanding. Anyway, I got the bird so that's the main thing! And so did a lot of others.

When I arrived, there were already a lot of people on the main road searching/waiting for the bird to feed along the side of the road as it was reported doing earlier in the afternoon. After an hour or two, there finally came a yell from within Loop Woods on the east side of the main road, "I'VE GOT THE BIRD!!." After a mini stampede of birders rushed into the tiny seasonal trails of Loop Woods, the bird was eventually found by most who were willing to wait and provided great looks (and a few photos). Then, the icing on the cake was a call-out of the Black Vulture hanging out on east beach (about a 2 minute walk away). Missing the last train, a group of us walked over to see the Vulture then started our 2.5km walk back to the Visitor Center. Another highlight of my birding week by far as this species was on my most-wanted list for the spring.

Here's my list for the day (shorter because of the break in the afternoon and I didn't go to the Shorebird Cell):
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Wood Duck
Mallard
Red-breasted Merganser
Wild Turkey - astonishingly, this was the only Wild Turkey I saw in the park for my entire week home! They must make themselves scarce when so many people are around.
Common Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Black Vulture - this was my second bird for Pelee, but congratulations to Blake for finally seeing his nemesis bird!!
Turkey Vulture
Sharp-shinned Hawk - this was a lucky find; a single bird flying over my Grandma's residence in Wheatley. Many struggled to find or simply missed this bird for their May lists.
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper - 4 birds on the east beach
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow - most days, good numbers of swallows were feeding off the tip and east/west beaches. On mornings where there was not much activity, I'd admire their aerial maneuvering as they dipped, dived, and turned for insects.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch - a single bird hanged around the east side of Tilden Trail for most of the week I was home
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Redstart
Kentucky Warbler - only heard, not seen on Tilden Trail
Common Yellowthroat
Scarlet Tanager
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Bunting - !!!!!
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 77

Day 1 - May 10, '08 - Lifer! Mottled Duck

When my alarm went off at 6:00am on my first day, I had one thought on my mind: Mottled Duck. Throwing together everything as quickly as humanly possible, I hopped into the silver bullet. That's what Marianne calls my family's Ford Windstar when it's used as a birding vehicle...mostly because it does a lot of speeding for rarities. Years ago, when a stunning 'orange' Ruff was present at Wheatley Harbour, I drove 140 without my license to see the bird. Well, I'm a bit smarter nowadays (back then I was in highschool, you see) and as surprising as it might sound, I do put more value on my life than a lifer.

Well, good news. I saw the bird!!! When I got to the shorebird cell, Kevin Maclaughlin was already there and we started to scan for the bird. Eventually we found a bird that looked good and after careful study of the appropriate field marks (thin neck, darker overall body tone than female Mallard, black pockmark at the gape, and warm, buffy throat), I added one more species to my life list. Fortunately, the bird stuck around for my entire week home to I got quit a few good looks with better lighting on later days. This bird is certainly out of its range (Florida and the Gulf Coast) and it's thought that it probably joined up with a flock of Black Ducks or Mallards and made its way north). Whether the bird will be accepted by the OBRC is the next question, but I doubt they won't accept this one. The bird had no leg bands, it's not tame, and it looked and acted like a wild bird to me). This was the first time this species has ever been seen in Canada so it was definitely one of the highlights of my week off at Pelee. Also nice was a trio of Cackling Geese that was swimming in the shorebird cell near the Mottled Duck. Not a bad start.

My first day was a mix of heavy birding and visiting. Seeing as I was out of Pelee last May, there were friends I hadn't seen for over a year, which meant a lot of catching up.

Here's the day's list:

Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan - a single bird in the shorebird cell
Tundra Swan - a bird has been hanging out on Concession E for quite some time apparently. Maybe it's an injured bird?
Wood Duck
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mottled Duck - !!!!!!!!!!!
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Redhead - a single bird in the shorebird cell at Hillman
Lesser Scaup - a lingering pair at the shorebird cell
Red-breasted Merganser
Ring-necked Pheasant - heard at Hillman
Common Loon - 2 birds flying over the shorebird cell towards the lake
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Green Heron - a single bird at the north dyke on Concession E
Turkey Vulture
*Northern Harrier - I saw this bird outside of the Pelee birding circle so couldn't count it on my day list
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk - flying over the Visitor Center parking lot in Pelee
Sandhill Crane - heard calling from the back of the Nature Trail
Black-bellied Plover - at least a thousand flying off the east side of the tip
American Golden-Plover - a single bird at the Shorebird Cell
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope - a male bird at the Cell
Bonaparte's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo - I don't know if I just got lucky, but I saw so many Yellow-throated Vireo's this year. I felt spoiled!
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Purple Martin - this was my 100th bird for the day
Tree Swallow
*Northern Rough-winged Swallow - seen outside the Pelee Circle
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Veery
Swainson's Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Prothonotary Warbler - 2 birds, male and female at the Woodland Nature Trail bridges. The Nature Trail was the place to be for passerines on Saturday. There was a great diversity and abundance of warblers at the water areas on the trail.
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Louisiana Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Scarlet Tanager - it took me until midway through the week to see a male!
Eastern Towhee
Chipping Sparrow
*Vesper Sparrow - 2 birds outside of the Pelee Birding Circle. I never did end up getting this species within the circle, which is always frustrating.
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
*Bobolink - this was one of my most frustrating species! For all the effort, I never saw or heard a single bird within the Pelee Circle during my week off.
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird - Woodland Trail is always reliable for this species
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Total Species: 113
Total Warblers: 20 (I think this was my best warbler day in fact)

MAY AT PELEE '08 - a summary

After seven intense days of waking up every morning at 5:00am, birding for 12 hours almost every one of those days, scarfing down whatever available food I could find (I actually bought out of all the Nature Nook's stock of Snickers bars), chasing rarities, chasing common species, tick checks, sun burn, back pain, neck pain, leg pain, stomach pain, headaches, day lists, May lists, life lists, Ontario lists, Pelee lists, socializing, and few (but heavenly) naps, I'm back in Toronto regrettably shutting the door on another amazing trip to Point Pelee during spring migration. Phew, as run-ons go, that one's a marathon.

The trip was far too short. My greyhound left Friday night from Toronto at 6:45pm and I didn't get home until after 11:00pm. After quickly unpacking and preparing for the next day, I set my alarm for 5 in the morning and tried to get a wink of sleep before my first exciting day of birding commenced. Each day brought new surprises, new birds, sometimes new disappointments, but in the end, I think I put in a good week of birding. Before May, I debated the best time to take a week off during the month. Do I take off the first week and catch the early migrants but risk missing a lot of the later arrivals and rarities? Do I go at the end of the month when there are fewer people but the opportunity for some late migrants and potential late migrant gems? I ended up deciding on May 10th to May 18th, relatively in the middle but still early enough to catch some of the earlier migrants. I think I made the right choice as I ended up with 2 lifers, 4 Pelee/Ontario birds, and a final count of 170 species, the exact goal I set out upon arrival to Pelee on Saturday (hilariously and stupidly, I original set an unreachable goal of 200 species and quickly altered that number. I hope next year to get the first 2 weeks of May off and then that number will be achievable). Now, the spring season in Pelee goes on without me.

Aside from the birds, Pelee in May is simply my favourite place to be for the people as well. Birders are a special breed. Encouraging, friendly, upbeat, witty, a tad bit strange...sometimes, but always passionate. It's always great to meet up with friends that I only see once a year during spring migration, or at the odd convention or special meeting. To hear of the trips people have taken, the birds they've seen, and the experiences they've had is a pleasure and inspires me each and every time. There is one group in particular that I love to birdwatch with at least a few days, unofficially led by Ron Tozer and Mike Tate. To them, May is a time to see as many species as physically possible during their short stay, over 200 species this year, and to rack up the numbers every day they bird. To a lesser degree, I try to do the same thing. There were a couple days that I could have gotten much higher counts but decisions to stay dry or catch up on some needed sleep made my numbers slip on a few occasions. It might sound like listing, but that's simply not the case. I still appreciate all the birds I see (except for maybe Yellow Warbler, which becomes just a check-mark after the first day of birding). If I already have 1 Prairie Warbler, I'm not going to walk by a second one if it's right in front of me just because I've already ticked it off. Unless of course there's a new bird for my May list down the trail. Hmmm, maybe I'm not sounding convincing here (please note the firm placement of tongue in cheek). For me, a May list sometimes makes a common species a spectacle. Harder to find birds during spring that I see year-round elsewhere become birds to chase after. White-breasted Nuthatch, Bobolink, American Kestrel, and Pine Siskin to name a few. Mind you, it can also have its downsides. I spent a ridiculously outlandish amount of time driving around trying to hear a Bobolink while I could have been searching the under-birded sections of the park, but that's all part of the fun (or frustration depending on how you look at it). I guess the point is I'm still there to study the birds and appreciate their beauty...but there's just a kind of silly excitement I get from keeping a May list. And you still find new birds, even if you are on the hunt for a specific species.

Getting back to the birders, it's always hard to say goodbye when the days are dwindling down, and birders have to go back to their other lives and routines. Each time another birder leaves, a little bit is lost as a large part of the thrill of birding for me is the sharing of sightings. It's exciting being part of the radio system at the park where someone will throw their sighting on the airwaves while anyone listening rushes to get the bird. When you have something good, you want others to share the experience.

In the next few days, I will provide readers with each of my day list statistics, a few posts dedicated to lifers, and a heaping helping of the experiences that go into making May what it is. It's certainly been my best week of birding yet this year hands down.

Mottled Duck....there's still hope

A helpful Ontbirds post by Bob Curry and Glenda Slessor tells me that the Mottled Duck is still at Hillman Marsh as of May 5th. As Marianne tells me, this is probably the first record for not only the Pelee Birding Circle but for Ontario and Canada as well. That means it's the biggest sighting since the Neotropic Cormorant of 2005. I'm starting to develop a nervous twitch as I anxiously check my hotmail hoping that another sighting will appear telling me the duck is still around. Only 4 more days until I go home. The optimist in me wonders where a Mottled Duck would decide to go. It's not as if it's migrating. It's going to be hard-pressed to find a mate. Saturday, May 10 will be the deciding day. I see myself spending my first day of birding at Hillman Marsh desperately searching...just 4 more days, 4 more days, 4 more days.

As an added bonus to some of those searching for the Mottled Duck, a Mississippi Kite made an appearance. My last sighting for a Mississippi Kite is also my first...May 6, 2000. Another painful miss! And how nice would it be to be able to take a trip to try to see the adult male Scissor-tailed Flycatcher?! I love spring migration!!

Now for something a little lighter - IT'S MAY AND I'M HEADED SOUTH!!

Spring migration has once again started without me. Fortunately, I've been able to get out birding in some of Toronto's prime locations to witness the first of billions of birds that will make their way across North America on their way towards their breeding grounds to the north. It's difficult to check my email daily and see the reports from my stomping grounds to the south, especially when there are great birds that I might have to miss. Of course, I'm talking about the Mottled Duck, a species that has never before been reported in the Pelee Birding Circle. Now, one is present at Hillman Marsh, being seen by hundreds while I eagerly await getting on the Greyhound to come home for the middle part of May. It's been seen at various locations and I hope hope hope hope hope it will stay for the next week. This is a species I don't want to miss.

For a quick sightings update (I'm doing this by memory so I'll probably miss some), at High Park this week I've noted the following:

- Good numbers of Cormorants are starting to make there way into the area.
- More Great Egrets are around now, displaying their magnificent plumes.
- The common, early migrants have been around for a while now and some of them are already collecting nesting materials including Red-winged Blackbirds, Robins, Grackles.
- Spring migrants include a good number of cheb-ecking Least Flycatchers, Tree and Barn Swallows, Blue-headed Vireo, Golden-crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Veery, Gray Catbird, Yellow, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green, and Blackburnian Warblers, high numbers of White-throated, White-crowned, Song, and Chipping Sparrows, and quite a few striking American Goldfinches.

Not an hour goes by where I don't think about getting home to Pelee. My trip will last from May 9th to May 18th and my goal (perhaps a bit of a challenge with the time constraint) is to get 200 species for the week I'm home. That will not be nearly enough time and the week will go by way too fast but that's what I somehow hope to miraculously manage.

Weekend Reflections

Last week, I took a trip home to Leamington for the Easter Weekend and, without much effort, saw some good spring birds there. The highlight by far were the high numbers of Tundra Swans in the onion fields north of Pelee (Concession D) and also flying over at various locations. Also along Concession D were Northern Pintails, new for my year list, and a few of the usual suspects. I tried Wheatley Harbour for Canvasback and a pink-billed Greater Scaup Marianne told me about but all were MIA. I was also pleased to get out to the countryside to see good numbers of Grackles (not Boat-tailed as a poor Ontbirds poster accidentally reported!), Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins, Killdeer, Horned Lark, and a few others, all of which are virtually absent within Toronto. This weekend, I'm probably going to try to find some Bohemian Waxwings flocks that are being reported frequently from Leslie Street.

On a personal note, last Monday marked the anniversary of my grandpa's passing last year. Although he was suffering from dementia in his last few years, I could always count on him immediately asking if I had seen any good birds every time I visited him. When he was still at home and I had to call from Guelph, he would tell me what birds he had at his feeder, always with excitement in his voice. Above all though, his favourite bird was the Purple Martin and he maintained martin houses for years. He took me birding quite a few times when I was younger to Wheatley Harbour, Hillman Marsh, and Holiday Harbour. I could tell he enjoyed the trips as much as I did.

My Grandma, Mom, and I visited his resting place in the early afternoon on Monday. As we were getting out of the car, a large flock of Tundra Swans in 'V' formation flew over the graveyard singing their melancholy notes. It's the kind of moment we used to love sharing together. When you simply have to stop, forget everything around you, and admire the flock in silence.

Half-lifer! - Harlequin Duck male

Someone told me this week that Sunday was supposed to go below 0 degrees but fortunately, the afternoon ended up being really nice (except for a chilly wind). Therefore, I decided to try again for the male Harlequin and after about 10 minutes of being at Humber Bay East, I found it along with the 2 females. I had seen a single female a while back on a TOC trip but I missed the male then. Thankfully it stuck around. There were quite a few people taking photos and watching the trio. They were right where the latest poster on Ontbirds said they had them Saturday. I was able to see the male within about 30 feet of the shoreline, diving and sometimes being chased by the other waterfowl present (Long-tailed Ducks and Greater Scaups).

What a beautiful bird. My best bird of 2008 so far. There will be more good birds though. The year has just started and May is just around the corner. I'm trying for a week to two weeks off during spring migration and I'll be making the most of it. I really can't wait. I also want to be around the area so I'm not out of the loop on news of the cull as I'm sure it will be a hot topic of debate at Pelee this spring.

Is Histrionicus Histrionicus History?

Probably not. The more likely situation? I didn't check every possible place. The trio of Harlequin Ducks has been hanging out at Humber Bay East for weeks now; a male and two females which have been described as being "easy to find" by many. So unless they're actually gone, which I don't think is the case, I'll probably see them soon. I just have to do a more extensive search next time. I was on a schedule today and it was tough to leave the park on such a beautiful day. The snow was melting, I was actually sweating in a hoodie and winter jacket, and I was able to wear my sneakers without my toes freezing solid.

Other birds present were the usual suspects. All three Mergansers, Long-tailed Duck, a ton of Mallard and Canada Geese, the family of Trumpeter Swans, Gadwall, Scaup, Redhead, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, and a few Horned Grebes. A singing Cardinal was a nice addition. Apparently the temperature is supposed to drop tonight but I hope it doesn't stay cold for long. It only takes one day like today to really bring on the winter weariness.

And as a last note, congratulations on getting married, Marianne!!!

Update: As I expected, the male Harlequin was reported today between 4:30-6:00pm. I'll be back out there looking for it tomorrow then! This time I'm checking every spot.

I So Hate Hiatuses

No, I have not quit birding. I have, however, neglected Cerulean Sky for far too long. But not to fear. I'm back, the weather is showing signs of warmth, early migrants are being reported, male passerines are beginning to sing, and I am ready to leave the cold and snow behind and enter my favourite season. Spring.

Of course, with spring on the way, some planning must take place. A week vacation is in the works so that I can actually get to Point Pelee this May (it was torture having to miss the entire month of May in 2007 since I was already in the city). Since I'm now quite used to many of the Toronto hot-spots, I'll actually be able to get some good birding done in the city as well.

In the short term, I'm heading out to Humber Bay East this coming Saturday to check out the trio of Harlequin Ducks (2 females and a lucky male). I'm also running out of chances to look for Pine Grosbeak and there are no more reports coming in from the GTA. I've tried various locations, but not frequently enough. I have a valid excuse though, I swear! Before February, I was taking daily walks to the waterfront to look for gulls and waterfowl as well as taking trips to farther-afield GTA locations for Pine Grosbeaks. This was before we were hit with back-to-back storms that left the entire city covered in snow and ice. The other problem. I no longer have winter boots. The boots I was using were not proper winter boots at all to begin with. Now the right boot has a large hole in the ankle, which makes walking through snow cold and painful. To go out birding, I either need to suck it up and purchase winter boots for the remaining bit of winter, or just go out in running shoes and risk frostbite. I'll keep you posted.

Well, the break from extensive birding is over and I'm so glad spring migration is on the way. So, expect a few more posts in the next little while, some of which will likely turn into environmental/ethical rants so be prepared. I have some things to say about the last TOC meeting, a lot to say about the Cormorant cull on Middle Island, and potentially a brief discussion of another controversy regarding Point Pelee...(I'm going to leave that last point vague for the time being).

The Launch of the 2001-2005 Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

The 1981-1985 Breeding Bird Atlas, a project that will take place every 20 years (the 2001-2005 Atlas features a Prairie Warbler).

The Atlas Launch at the ROM on Feb. 10, 2008 was a huge success. A capacity crowd was in attendance as Mike Cadman, Gregor Peck, Donald Sutherland, Denis Lepage, and Andrew Couturier introduced the 2001-2005 Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario. Most importantly, it was a place where politicians, conservationists, researchers, professors, environmentalists, and the public were able to get together to discuss the results of the Atlas, its importance to Ontario birds, and the next steps that have to be taken now that the 2001-2005 Atlas is over (the next will take place in 20 years, as 20 years before now the last Atlas was published). You could sense the magnitude of the project when talking to any birder or naturalist. The excitement in the room was palpable.

When Mike Cadman was called upon to make his speech, he received a much-deserved standing ovation. A project of this undertaking requires passion, perseverance, and hard work that only the most dedicated individual would be able to accomplish. An 8 year project spanning the province with thousands of volunteers, researchers, representatives, writers, and editors volunteering their time and efforts. His speech had a hard-hitting message. The launch certainly does not mean the end for the 2001-2005 Atlas. Addressing the members of Environment Canada, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and other organizations, Cadman stressed that now is the time to use the wealth of knowledge available to us on Ontario's bird populations to examine (and hopefully solve) the many problems facing birds due to human activity. Bird populations that are on the rise are perfect examples of the success of conservation. Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Trumpeter Swan. These species are prime examples of how peoples' conservation efforts have not gone unnoticed. On the other hand, species such as grassland birds and insect-eating species like swallows and nighthawks are on the decline. Although we can only begin to guess why this is the case, the results of the Atlas provide an imperative baseline for any future research on these and other species.

I have had a chance to look through my Atlas and it is a spectacular publication. Hundreds of photos are available, maps for every species (including possible, probable, and confirmed breeding sites as well as abundance maps which were made possible by the hundreds of point counts performed across the province). If you haven't already ordered or purchased a copy, now is the time to get it. All added proceeds go directly to the conservation of Ontario birds.

For me, the launch was not only an opportunity to make contacts and talk with some of Ontario's best birders, but also a reminder of the importance of bird study. As I've said before, birds are one of our best environmental indicators we have and this Atlas provides a starting point for addressing environmental impact in the future. The launch was an inspiration. I left feeling empowered to get out there and continue to study and watch birds, which brings me to my final point. Yes, there are men and women who are leaders in bird research and conservation but where would they be without birdwatchers? Birdwatchers that go out on their own time and volunteer their own eyes and ears to the study of birds every day. Birdwatchers whose skills and reports provide a basis for bird study in Ontario and beyond. Birdwatchers are making a difference. They really are. And in my own eyes, I can't think of a better, more rewarding hobby.

Website Copyright Plight

My apologies for the lack of Cerulean Sky updates of late. I'm actually reworking many of my past posts as I received two separate notices in one week regarding copyrighted pictures and posting them illegally on my blog. I am sorry to anyone who was affected by this. I am currently removing any and all pictures that I did not have permission to post on my blog (perhaps all but five). It's taken a while because I've had this blog for months now but I'm almost finished. Further apologies for how plain/bland things are going to look from now on (unless I get a better camera, but a spotting scope is next on my wish list)! In the future, I hope to find a few people who will be willing to allow me to use their pictures so I can at least spice up my blog a wee bit...but also to improve my writing skills to make up for the lack of visual stimulation. To be frank, I was pretty surprised when I got the first email but I completely understand the concern from a photographer's perspective. I'm sure it can be difficult to sell photos and a lot of work went into each and every one of them. So it makes sense that someone would want to copyright their work so they receive credit for it. In my ignorance, I simply posted pictures all over, basically stealing someone else's work for the benefit of beautifying my little ol' blog space.

A is an Auk of the Arctic Sea

Project Gutenberg is a website that allows free viewing of published works whose copyrights have expired in the United States. It's a great website where you can view a ton of ebooks online (even though it can hurt your eyes to read off the screen for too long). Anyway, check out the simple but great Illustrated Alphabet of Birds when you get the chance. It's a quick read. There are some really interesting books on the site dealing with identification and avian art from years back that are worth a look, too.

GTA Reporting Guidelines "out of date," says Compiler Roy Smith

To update an earlier post on the subject, I received an email back from Roy Smith about how Toronto sightings are compiled. Unfortunately, the Greater Toronto Area Bird Checklist and Reporting Guidelines of 2000, written by Glenn Coady and Smith, is out of date (excellent, but out of date). Year to year, the significance of individual species sightings can change drastically. Take, for example, this year. At the end of 2007 and into 2008, the guidelines changed to include all sightings of Common Redpoll concentrations as well as Pine Grosbeaks to monitor the invasion of winter finches due to seed crop failure in the north. Another Toronto-specific example is the Glaucous Gull. Pre-2000, the cutoff # for reporting this species was 5. Now, however, all Glaucous Gulls are to be reported after the Keele Valley Landfill was shut down as fewer birds are now seen. Another good example, as Roy explained, is the case of birds affected by the West Nile virus. American Crow apparently has very poor data at the current time because very few people report sightings of this species (particularly numbers). Therefore, the only data for the GTA area on the crow is from Christmas Bird Counts or other specific events through the year. Smith also informs me that the number of people reporting in the GTA has dropped significantly, an unfortunate problem that I bet almost every area compiler experiences.

As of now, I do not believe the GTA has a seasonal status book like most other areas do. Bob Curry's book on the birds of Hamilton is excellent and Point Pelee has decently updated seasonal bars, but ideally, a book will be published for Pelee exploring early and late migration dates, peak numbers, and notable sightings. Personally, I think seasonal statuses can be a great learning tool, even if they are only averages and the next year might prove quite different from that preceding it. Although the status and distribution of birds is static and ever-changing, there is always the need to keep reports and observations up to date, not only for the benefit of birders but also to monitor populations. Particularly now, as climate change will no doubt largely affect movement, migration, and distribution of many North American species.

Good Idea, Bad Idea

Usually, I wouldn't provide advertising for a company on Cerulean Sky, but this Superbowl ad for FedEx is just too good to pass up.

You can watch the link here. I plan to expand my blog more in the future, discussing issues on conservation as well as providing all of my sightings, any interest stories from Ontario and worldwide, and also fun stuff like this video. Hope you enjoy!

The Rise and Fall of Ontario's Birds

While reading Blake Mann's blog, I noticed that he mentioned the decline of grassland species. A recent article in The Toronto Star also eluded to this concern after the results of the latest Ontario Breeding Bird Survey indicate a drop in grassland and insect-eating species due to habitat fragmentation and pesticides (and possibly climate change, as suggested in the Star article). I'm looking forward to there being more information presented at the Atlas launch this Sunday at the ROM and I can't wait to get my hands on my copy. I'm also planning on reading Silence of the Songbirds, which also provides evidence of farming, pesticides, and habitat fragmentation as the key problems affecting songbird populations.

On the other hand, apparently there has been an increase in species such as Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle, which have benefited greatly from conservation programs and the banning of DDT. It should be no surprise that other species that are on the rise include the swans (great effort has been put into the reintroduction {introduction?} of Trumpeter Swan into its proposed historical range) and the Wild Turkey, another species showing success after numerous reintroduction programs. Undoubtedly, hardy species that adapt quickly to the presence of humans will flourish in the next century.

Perhaps most worrisome is the drop in insect-eating species, particularly the Chimney Swift and Common Nighthawk, which are now considered threatened species in Ontario.

From the article:

Top 10 decreasing bird species in Ontario:

Common nighthawk
Chimney swift
Bank swallow
Blue-winged teal
Red-headed woodpecker
Barn swallow
Cliff swallow
Brown-headed cowbird
Spotted sandpiper
Killdeer

Top 10 increasing bird species:

Canada goose
House finch
Blue-headed vireo
Turkey vulture
Wild turkey
Merlin
Eastern bluebird
Pine warbler
Bald eagle
Sandhill crane

Some interesting finds include Pine Warbler and House Finch being in the top ten increasing species list (particularly the House Finch after the breakout of fatal diseases in some finch species), Brown-headed Cowbird on the decline (a grassland species that replaces other songbird eggs with its own), and Blue-winged Teal in the top 10 declining species. The Blue-winged Teal is one of my favourite birds and to see it on this list is disheartening (mind you, to see that any of these species are showing significant declines is worrisome). To me, this demonstrates the importance of bird counts such as Christmas Bird Counts, feeder watches, and the Breeding Bird Survey in pushing for conservation and providing the 'canary in the coal mine' with birds as environmental indicators.

Lifer! Barred Owl / and also: Leslie Street Spit and the search for Pine Grosbeaks

Due to work, I've had little time to provide an update for last weekend but I'm happy to now report it was a great success. I finally know why so many people talk about the Leslie Street Spit, which must be one of Toronto's most unique birding locations; a large peninsula piercing Lake Ontario on the city's east end and made up of concrete, metal, and stone. The area, also known as Tommy Thompson Park is a 5 kilometer stretch that is man-made and through much effort, the land is now a safe-haven for many birds, mammals, and other wildlife. I was not disappointed with my first trip.

8:30 in the morning was our starting point as Anne Marie, a friend I met through the TOC, gave me a tour of the park, finding many of the highlights that have been reported over the last few weeks. Not long into our walk, we found an American Kestrel along the road in the center of the peninsula. Shortly after, the flashing wings of a Northern Shrike compelled us to venture into the various woodlots within the park. There we saw our first owl, a resting Great Horned that was quickly perturbed by a group of photographers (we had two birds for sure, possibly even three individuals). To me, you really haven't experienced the beauty of the Great Horned Owl until you've heard its rhythmic, mourning call at dusk, or seen it fly by on silent, richly coloured wings. We were fortunate to have one fly just over our heads; a bulky bird the size of a buteo that eventually perched high in a deciduous tree where it apparently spent the rest of the day. Owls we missed (but that have been reported this winter) included Northern Saw-whet Owl, Short-eared Owl, and Long-eared Owl.

Being a milder weekend, we were able to find some landbirds including American Tree Sparrow, Hairy Woodpecker, a single Northern Flicker (an unexpected surprise), Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Song Sparrows, and a small flock of Snow Buntings in the fields adjacent to the aptly named 'Cormorant Graveyard'. During the summer months, skeletons of nestling birds demonstrate the grisly reality of natural selection (larger, strong birds often push small, weak birds out of the nest). Black-feathered carcasses hang from some branches.

Along the way, we found the Barred Owl, a first for me and a great bird. Perched on a branch not 20 feet from the ground, we had good looks and were able to walk full circle around the bird to admire all of its features. The owl was well aware of our presence, its black eyes following us wherever we walked.

We also had a few Red-tailed Hawks and an assortment of common waterfowl on the lake (the highlight was that many ducks are pairing off right now so we were able to watch the mating displays of Red-breasted Mergansers and Common Goldeneye while the incessant OW OWELEP! of the Long-tailed Ducks provided song).

We ended the trip around 2:00 in the afternoon fairly exhausted from the long walk through deep snow (my lack of proper winter boots is definitely a problem, but heated socks help immensely). On Sunday, I took a walk around Mt. Pleasant Cemetery hoping to find a flock of Pine Grosbeaks but to no avail. I did, however, see a few White-breasted Nuthatches, Dark-eyed Juncos, a few Goldfinches, a Red-tailed Hawk, and of course, Black-capped Chickadees. On my trips to work (which sometimes requires taking transit way out to Scarborough), I've been watching the tops of trees for any large finches but haven't been lucky enough yet...and anyway, imagine the frustration of seeing a new species through the window of a speeding subway car.

Lifer! Harlequin Duck (and TOC trip)

On January 7th, the Toronto Ornithological Club held its first trip in 2008, a winter gull expedition spanning the Lakeshore between Sunnyside Park and Humber Bay West led by Glenn Coady. The trip started at 1:30 and run until dusk with a focus on gulls and waterfowl. We were not disappointed.

Along Sunnyside Park, there were decent-sized flocks of gulls, but only three species present: Herring, Ring-billed and Great Black-backed. There were also the regular locals including Canada Geese, Mute Swan, and Mallards as well as Redhead and Long-tailed Ducks beyond the break walls. As we walked west, we spotted 2 hardy Yellow-rumped Warblers, probably surviving on berries and the odd insect on milder days at this point. At the same location, a female Harlequin Duck was present close to shore but the group was not able to locate the male, which has also been reported in the vicinity. This was my first time seeing this species and we had great views through the scopes some members brought along. For the most part, she had her head tucked away but she looked up to show her white face patches eventually. Glenn noted how dark the bird was compared to female Buffleheads and although it is superficially similar to the scoters, size and bill shape easily separate it. I'll probably take a walk down to the shore to look for the male soon (we guessed that it was hidden in the rocks along the shoreline). Here on the lake, we also picked up Greater Scaup and a few Lessers along with many more Redhead, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, and all three merganser species (but only a few Hooded and a handful of Common).

At Humber Bay East, we found a small flock of Northern Shovelers, 4 Trumpeter Swans, American Black Duck, Gadwall, 1 Horned Grebe, 2 American Coots, but no American Wigeon (I had seen a few along this stretch earlier in the week). All in all, a great day for waterfowl! On the walk back, we saw a Northern Mockingbird tirelessly attacking a group of Starlings that were trying to eat the berries it was protecting as well as a Kestrel hanging around where we had seen the warblers earlier. The last bird we ticked off was a Glaucous Gull flying in the distance with a large group of gulls flying east towards downtown.

No winter finches, no Iceland Gull, and no owls (I was only REALLY expecting an Iceland Gull but I set up a trip this Saturday to go, for the first time, to Leslie Street Spit where Barred Owl is nearly guaranteed). Today, the phone rang and it was my roommate, Jess', dad on the phone who was providing a play-by-play of a Barred Owl right in their backyard! Erg, I have to see this bird!

Here is the day's list:

Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan (4: 2 adults, 2 juveniles, a family group that is now tame due to visitors feeding them)
Gadwall
American Black Duck
Mallard
Northern Shoveler (20 in total)
Redhead
- I asked Glenn about Canvasback and he says there are many on Lake Ontario but you have to look to the east. I'll hopefully see some good numbers this weekend at the Spit)
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Harlequin Duck (lifer!!! woohoo!)
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye (many are starting to pair up)
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Horned Grebe (it never ceases to amaze me how long these guys can stay submerged)
American Kestrel
American Coot (2)
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker (not on the trip but I had a few on the walk over)
Northern Mockingbird (Humber Bay East and West are very reliable spots for this species)
European Starling
Black-capped Chickadee (same as Downy)
Dark-eyed Junco
House Sparrow

Total: 32

Barred Owl Photos

Glenn Hendry, a friend from the University of Guelph sent me some photos he took today at Ken Reid Conservation Area just north of Lindsay, Ontario of a Barred Owl. This is now the third series of photographs he has sent me of a species that is on my most-wanted list, starting with Bohemian Waxwing, then Pine Grosbeak (which I am determined to see), and now these great shots of the Barred Owl (which I am going to look for on the Leslie Street Spit this coming Saturday). I will post the results of the TOC winter gull trip along Sunnyside Park soon.

Sunnyside Gulls

As I wrote in an earlier post, I have been taking a walk down to the waterfront along Sunnyside Park, Toronto every day before the TOC trip on Sunday. What I have discovered is that I wish I had been taking this walk more often because there is always the possibility of something good showing up. Thursday I had a Glaucous Gull, Friday a possible Iceland (more on this in a minute), and today a Great Black-backed Gull flyby (my first for Sunnyside Park).

In his blog, Blake Mann has quipped that gulls love ice and I do believe he's onto something. Today had the highest number of gulls I've seen yet along the waterfront; there was more ice, it was snowing, and the sky was overcast but the gulls seem to like it that way. Unfortunately, for all of the gulls that were present, I couldn't pick out anything out of the ordinary Ring-billed/Herring except for the Great Black-backed Gull I already mentioned. The same Redhead flock must be spending the evenings in the same location as around 200-300 birds are always present in a large group along with a spattering of dabblers and the rare Long-tailed Duck when they venture closer to shore.

After talking with Marianne, I'm confident that the bird I had on Friday was an Iceland Gull. When resting on the ice, this individual had limited white on its primaries and was about the same size as the surrounding Herring Gulls. It also had limited streaking on the head and neck. When it took flight, there seemed to be even less dark at the end of the wing and I knew I had a white-winged gull but I didn't see the bird long enough to convince myself it couldn't have been a Thayer's. My experience with studying gulls is pretty dismal at this point so I'm not sure I'm confident enough to start identifying gulls as if it's a simple task. Especially since I'm without scope in Toronto right now, so although the gulls are close enough for me to get a good idea with binoculars, I can't really put together enough different field marks to get the full picture.

Any tips for the next time I get a white-winged gull? What should I look for between Glaucous/Iceland, Iceland/Thayer's, etc.?

And although this has nothing to do with birding, a quick word about Heath Ledger, who was on the rise towards becoming one of our generation's great actors. I will remember him best for his role as Ennis in Brokeback Mountain. His passing is a great loss.

GTA Sightings

A short trip to the Toronto Harbourfront at Sunnyside Park produced some interesting birds today. I'm going to be going for a walk in this location every day now before the TOC trip on Sunday so that I can get a good idea of what is in the area to help the leader, Glenn Coady, out if I can (gulls are not my strong suite just yet but I've been studying them). There are still quite a few ducks along the shore, this time a group of about 250 Redheads, which had been ensconced in an area that wasn't frozen yet between the break wall and the beach. Also in this flock were Greater Scaup, Bufflehead, 1 Hooded Merganser, 1 Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Merganser, and Canada Goose. Farther west, I had some dabbling ducks including Mallard and Gadwall (7) as well as a few Long-tailed Duck farther out in the lake past the break wall. Oddly, only 1 Mute Swan was in the vicinity.

I only found one group of gulls (hardly enough to be considered a galaxy) that included Ring-billed and Herring Gulls. I also had a nonbreeding adult Glaucous Gull, which ended up flying east from its respite on the ice. I'm hoping for an Iceland Gull sometime in the next while but of course a Glaucous on Sunday would be a good bird for the trip.

I'm also currently trying to figure out how the compilation of sightings works in Toronto. In the Pelee Birding Circle, Alan Wormington compiles all sightings and there are no set guidelines but rather the sending along of sightings you find notable. Toronto has a set of guidelines with cutoff #'s, which means that if you see more than that number of a certain species in one area, you should report it. The last guideline update was 2000 however, and also, there are some species that have very low cutoff #'s as I see it. More on this when I chat with the Toronto compiler, Roy Smith.