What. An. Evening.
On a day where a number of texts and Ontbirds posts were indicating a great day at Pelee, I was excited when work was done and I could head over to try my luck at some of the rarities that were around.
On the way over, I picked up a drink and a burrito at Birdie's Perch. Upon leaving, I drove slowly by the Pelee Wings Nature Store feeders thinking I might catch another glimpse of the female Painted Bunting. I didn't see the bird but I did see two people pointing and laughing at me. How rude, I thought. I sped up to escape these mean people. Only when I saw my Dr. Pepper rolling down and spilling across my back window did I realize they were right to laugh at me. Oh well...could have been worse. Could have been my wallet I left up there (again).
Once I got to the park, I headed straight to the VC to catch the tram down to try for the Henslow's Sparrow, which Josh Vandermeulen told me had been seen on and off throughout the day. As soon as I parked the tram arrived. Good timing! I ran over and sat down on the tram. I waited patiently. Waited some more. Waiiiited....the huh? Someone who had pity on me walked over and politely told me the tram was done running to the Tip for the day. I mumbled something like "Oh, uhh, ya, I knew that, I was just...resting...." and scuttled away.
Turns out the gates open just after 5pm once tram service ends, which is excellent since the Tip was the place to be this evening. I started at the West Beach Footpath, ready to search for the Henslow's Sparrow reported from near the Serengeti Tree. Not far along the trail I saw Josh V., David Bell, and Dwayne Murphy all looking straight down at the ground. Could it really be that close?! I gingerly tip-toed over, which was completely unnecessary since this is the tamest Henslow's Sparrow ever, walking around the feet of observers looking very much like a mouse creeping through the grass. Mindblowing views.
From there we started walking toward the Tip to see what other migrants we could find but were stopped short by a text from Brandon Holden. They'd found a Kentucky Warbler around the corner from where we were walking on the main road to the Tip. We rushed over. I arrived out of breath...somewhat pathetic to be out of breath from jogging 50 metres, I know...but I think it was the excitement of the moment. My mom would say it's because I'm vegetarian. As soon as we got there, the warbler popped up and gave short but good looks. My adrenaline was thru the roof, let me tell ya.
I feel incredibly lucky to be seeing a number of species that I did not see last year during my Big Year. Here's the list so far:
Gray Partridge
Willet
Townsend's Solitaire
Kentucky Warbler
Worm-eating Warbler (heard last year but not seen)
Louisiana Waterthrush (heard last year but not seen)
Henslow's Sparrow
Blue Grosbeak
Painted Bunting
And y'know what's crazy...? It's not even May yet.
Showing posts with label Big Year. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Big Year. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Spring.
Spring. It's the best time of year. The time of year when a birder's life gets HECTIC. A time where you see friends you sometimes haven't seen in a year, waiting in line for a birdseed cookie behind the Visitor Centre. Conversations turn quickly from pleasantries to exchanging bird sightings. So many birds are new for the year. The first of each is exciting. A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is exciting. A Yellow Warbler sighting is exciting. A Dunlin is exciting. A Bell's Vireo or a Kirtland's Warbler sends you into convulsions. Yes, it's the time of year you might be 100 feet into the Woodland Trail and then a text, a radio call, eBird alert, or Ontbirds email changes your direction and now you're speeding toward Hillman Marsh. At times you are forced to make tough decisions. What bird should I go for? The Golden-winged at the Tip or the Cerulean on Tilden? How far am I willing to chase a rarity before it's considered insane? Do I want a Green Goddess or a Black Bean Burrito?
April is ending and for the next month, birding will consume me. Normality will return in June. The last few weeks have been a great start to the season. Since my last post, I've added a species to my Life List: Blue Grosbeak. This was one of my target species for 2013 since I missed it during my Big Year in 2012. So on April 19th when Paul Pratt posted to Ontbirds that Tom Preney had seen a male coming to the feeder system at Ojibway Nature Centre in Windsor, I was exhilarated. The moment I was done work, I drove to Windsor and joined a group of local birders as we watched the grosbeak, my fourth lifer of the year. I still need it for Pelee though.
There are other highlights. My first 4 warblers of the year were Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush. That's knocking off two uncommon species for the Pelee area before even seeing a Yellow (my 5th warbler for the year). Now if I manage to see a Kirtland's and a Kentucky this spring, it'll be sweeeeeeet. The Worm-eating was originally seen by Ellen Smout and the next morning found again by my good friend, Matt Timpf. It was, of course, the first bird he saw as he entered the Woodland Trail. Louisiana Waterthrush I got w/ Marianne on Tilden. There had been a number of reports coming from Pelee so we wanted to make sure to get this species before they moved through. We saw one and heard another.
Today ended up being quite a good day of birding despite the showers. My day started w/ a slight disappointment after an early morning trip to the Hillman Marsh Shorebird Cell produced no Willet (one was seen the night before). Follow that up w/ a no-show for the Clay-coloured Sparrow at Delaurier and I was all like, bleh blehhhh blehhhhhhhh, but fortunately, a Grasshopper Sparrow feeding w/ Chipping Sparrows in the parking lot turned things around. Marianne and I joined up at this point and decided to go after a Sedge Wren spotted by Kory Renaud on Woodland Trail. We met up w/ Josh Vandermeulen and learned it would be a Pelee bird for him. We searched for quite some time in the rain until finally Marianne and I gave up and left to head back to the warmth of the VC. Literally 30 seconds later my phone starts ringing. It's Josh V. He's letting us know that the moment we left, the Sedge Wren popped back up. Marianne and I exchanged embarrassed glances for giving up too soon, and w/ tails b/w our legs, returned to see the Sedge Wren.
Later in the day, after a long break, an omelet, fries, toast, 2 granola bars, a milkshake, and enough coffee to keep a Snorlax awake, I went to Kopegaron Woods just to try something different. I hadn't even entered the main trail when a Worm-eating Warbler jumped out of the brush! I started texting. My phone rang. It was Josh V. 17 Willets at Hillman Marsh. 17?!?! I waited w/ the Worm-eating until he arrived to see it w/ David Bell and then flew over the Hillman. I only saw 13 of the reported 17 but I'm really happy about this sighting. It was another species I missed during my 2012 Big Year.
This is all just the beginning of course. We're not even in May yet. Looking forward to seeing y'all out there and sharing some more great sightings!
April is ending and for the next month, birding will consume me. Normality will return in June. The last few weeks have been a great start to the season. Since my last post, I've added a species to my Life List: Blue Grosbeak. This was one of my target species for 2013 since I missed it during my Big Year in 2012. So on April 19th when Paul Pratt posted to Ontbirds that Tom Preney had seen a male coming to the feeder system at Ojibway Nature Centre in Windsor, I was exhilarated. The moment I was done work, I drove to Windsor and joined a group of local birders as we watched the grosbeak, my fourth lifer of the year. I still need it for Pelee though.
There are other highlights. My first 4 warblers of the year were Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pine Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush. That's knocking off two uncommon species for the Pelee area before even seeing a Yellow (my 5th warbler for the year). Now if I manage to see a Kirtland's and a Kentucky this spring, it'll be sweeeeeeet. The Worm-eating was originally seen by Ellen Smout and the next morning found again by my good friend, Matt Timpf. It was, of course, the first bird he saw as he entered the Woodland Trail. Louisiana Waterthrush I got w/ Marianne on Tilden. There had been a number of reports coming from Pelee so we wanted to make sure to get this species before they moved through. We saw one and heard another.
Today ended up being quite a good day of birding despite the showers. My day started w/ a slight disappointment after an early morning trip to the Hillman Marsh Shorebird Cell produced no Willet (one was seen the night before). Follow that up w/ a no-show for the Clay-coloured Sparrow at Delaurier and I was all like, bleh blehhhh blehhhhhhhh, but fortunately, a Grasshopper Sparrow feeding w/ Chipping Sparrows in the parking lot turned things around. Marianne and I joined up at this point and decided to go after a Sedge Wren spotted by Kory Renaud on Woodland Trail. We met up w/ Josh Vandermeulen and learned it would be a Pelee bird for him. We searched for quite some time in the rain until finally Marianne and I gave up and left to head back to the warmth of the VC. Literally 30 seconds later my phone starts ringing. It's Josh V. He's letting us know that the moment we left, the Sedge Wren popped back up. Marianne and I exchanged embarrassed glances for giving up too soon, and w/ tails b/w our legs, returned to see the Sedge Wren.
Later in the day, after a long break, an omelet, fries, toast, 2 granola bars, a milkshake, and enough coffee to keep a Snorlax awake, I went to Kopegaron Woods just to try something different. I hadn't even entered the main trail when a Worm-eating Warbler jumped out of the brush! I started texting. My phone rang. It was Josh V. 17 Willets at Hillman Marsh. 17?!?! I waited w/ the Worm-eating until he arrived to see it w/ David Bell and then flew over the Hillman. I only saw 13 of the reported 17 but I'm really happy about this sighting. It was another species I missed during my 2012 Big Year.
This is all just the beginning of course. We're not even in May yet. Looking forward to seeing y'all out there and sharing some more great sightings!
Friday, February 22, 2013
2012 Year List - 305
This post is a bit late but I got it up before 2014 so that's something.
Many thanks to all who made my 2012 Big Year possible. There were countless people across Ontario who either alerted me to birds I still needed for the year, encouraged me along the way, inspired me w/ their own Big Years, gave me tips and advice for where I should visit and in what month to reach my goal of 300, or simply listened to me gripe about the birds I was missing without punching me in the face. Thanks to each and every one of you.
I have to especially thank 3 people:
Mark Field, who was my traveling partner, co-conspirator, and confidant throughout the year...well, until I left Toronto and only got to 305 while he made it 311 and moved 1 place ahead of me in the eBird final standings...but who's keeping track? But seriously, the year would have sucked without you, Mark.
Matt Timpf (Mr. Canada Big Year 2013!), who helped me find many of my early year birds and continuously boosted my confidence along the way, which is actually quite a feat considering my confidence is usually somewhere between 0.01 and flatline...beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
And Marianne, who always texted or called me to see how my year was going while I was away and eventually helped me get to 305 once I returned to Leamington even though I was ready to call it a day when I hit 300 (so happy you were there to share the experience of me reaching my goal with Red Phalarope).
Here is my final list for 2012 in Ontario, more or less in chronological order (unfortunately I did not keep track of when I saw each individual species on a specific day so the numbers do not always correspond with the exact order in which I saw each species, but rather in taxonomic order on the date I first saw them):
January 1 - family farm, Staples
1. Red-tailed Hawk
2. Ring-billed Gull
January 2 - train from Chatham to Toronto (story here)
3. Tundra Swan
4. Wild Turkey
5. Rock Pigeon
6. American Kestrel
7. American Crow
8. Horned Lark
9. European Starling
10. House Sparrow
January 10 - Concession 1 - Puslinch
11. Canada Goose
12. Mourning Dove
13. Red-bellied Woodpecker
14. Hairy Woodpecker
15. Blue Jay
16. Black-capped Chickadee
17. White-breasted Nuthatch
18. Mountain Bluebird (lifer)
19. Dark-eyed Junco
20. House Finch
21. American Goldfinch
22. American Robin
January 10 - Mounstberg Conservation Area, Hamilton
23. Rough-legged Hawk
24. Downy Woodpecker
25. American Tree Sparrow
26. Northern Cardinal
27. Pine Siskin
January 10 - Marilynn Bell Park, Toronto
28. Mute Swan
29. Gadwall
30. American Wigeon
31. American Black Duck
32. Mallard
33. Redhead
34. Bufflehead
35. Common Merganser
36. Red-breasted Merganser
37. Herring Gull
January 25 - High Park, Toronto
38. Northern Pintail
39. Cooper's Hawk
40. Red-breasted Nuthatch
41. Gray Catbird
42. Common Grackle
January 25 - Sunnyside Beach, Toronto
43. Greater Scaup
44. Long-tailed Duck
45. Common Goldeneye
46. Ruddy Duck
47. American Coot
48. Glaucous Gull
49. Great Black-backed Gull
January 31 - Point Pelee National Park
50. Northern Harrier
51. Sharp-shinned Hawk
52. Bald Eagle
53. Bonaparte's Gull
54. Eastern Screech-Owl
55. Northern Shrike
February 1 - Onion Fields, Leamington (story here)
56. Great Horned Owl
57. Snowy Owl
58. Long-eared Owl
59. Red-winged Blackbird
60. Rusty Blackbird
61. Brown-headed Cowbird
February 2 - family farm, Staples
62. Ring-necked Pheasant
February 7 - Thunder Bay
63. Common Raven
64. Brown Creeper
65. Harris's Sparrow
66. Common Redpoll
67. Pine Grosbeak (lifer)
68. Golden Eagle
69. Pileated Woodpecker
70. Red Crossbill (lifer)
February 8 - Longlac
71. Spotted Towhee
72. White-winged Crossbill
73. Evening Grosbeak (lifer)
74. Hoary Redpoll (lifer)
February 8 - Beardmore
75. Common Redpoll
February 8 - Everard Road, Thunder Bay
76. Ruffed Grouse
February 9 - Rocky Bay
77. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (lifer)
78. Purple Finch
February 9 - Wishart Conservation Area, Thunder Bay
79. American Three-toed Woodpecker (lifer)
February 14 - Whitby Harbour
80. Trumpeter Swan
81. Hooded Merganser
82. Northern Mockingbird
February 15 - Adam Beck, Niagara
83. Thayer's Gull
84. Iceland Gull
February 15 - Fort Erie
85. Canvasback
86. White-winged Scoter
87. Fish Crow (Ontario lifer)
88. American Pipit
February 15 - Niagara Falls - upper falls
89. Lesser Black-backed Gull
February 15 - Queenston Heights overlook, Niagara
90. Double-crested Cormorant
91. Black Vulture
92. Turkey Vulture
93. Little Gull
94. Tufted Titmouse
February 15 - LaSalle Marina, Burlington
95. Lesser Scaup
96. King Eider
February 16 - Whitby Harbour
97. Greater White-fronted Goose (story here)
February 16 - Oshawa Second Marsh
98. Northern Saw-whet Owl
February 16 - Professor's Lake, Brampton
99. Wood Duck
100. Merlin
February 17 - Toronto
101. Peregrine Falcon
February 23 - Spencer Smith Park, Burlington
102. Surf Scoter
February 23 - 10th Road East, Stoney Creek
103. Short-eared Owl
February 28 - Elgin County
104. Eastern Bluebird
February 28 - Port Burwell
105. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
106. Field Sparrow
107. Song Sparrow
February 28 - Norfolk County
108. Northern Flicker
February 28 - Long Point area
109. Ring-necked Duck
110. Sandhill Crane
111. Swamp Sparrow
112. Great Blue Heron
113. Belted Kingfisher
March 7 - Leamington
114. Eastern Meadowlark
115. Killdeer
March 10 - Point Pelee National Park
116. Northern Shoveler
117. Green-winged Teal
118. Eastern Phoebe
119. Hermit Thrush
120. Yellow-rumped Warbler
121. Eastern Towhee
122. Fox Sparrow
March 10 - Onion Fields, Leamington
123. Ross's Goose (lifer)
March 17 - Long Point area
124. Horned Grebe
125. Golden-crowned Kinglet
126. Tree Swallow
127. Pied-billed Grebe
128. American Woodcock
March 18 - Long Point area
129. Winter Wren
130. White-throated Sparrow
March 18 - Townsend Sewage Lagoons
131. Snow Goose
March 22 - Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto
132. Red-necked Grebe
March 22 - Rattray March, Mississauga
133. Carolina Wren
March 22 - High Park, Toronto
134. Virginia Rail
March 26 - Prince Edward Park
135. Bohemian Waxwing (lifer)
136. Cedar Waxwing
March 26 - Russel Road, Bourget
137. Cackling Goose
March 26 - Ottawa area
138. Wilson's Snipe
March 27 - Algonquin Provincial Park
139. Spruce Grouse (lifer)
140. Black-backed Woodpecker (lifer)
141. Boreal Chickadee
March 27 - Carden Alvar
142. Loggerhead Shrike
March 27 - Townsend Sewage Lagoon
143. Eurasian Wigeon
144. Greater Yellowlegs
March 31 - High Park, Toronto
145. Black-crowned Night-Heron
146. Chipping Sparrow
April 6 - Leslie Street Spit, Toronto
147. Great Egret
148. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
149. Barn Swallow
150. Pine Warbler
April 7 - Norfolk County
151. Common Loon
152. Vesper Sparrow
153. Savannah Sparrow
154. Lesser Yellowlegs
April 7 - Long Point area
155. Purple Martin
156. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
157. Forster's Tern
April 7 - Cootes Paradise, Hamilton
158. Caspian Tern
April 7 - Peterborough
159. Osprey
April 14 - Gairloch Gardens, Oakville
160. Harlequin Duck
April 16 - Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto
161. Blue-winged Teal
162. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
April 17 - Everard Road, Thunder Bay
163. Sharp-tailed Grouse (lifer)
April 17 - Hurkett Cove Conservation Area, Thunder Bay
164. American White Pelican
April 17 - Thunder Bay
165. Lapland Longspur
April 22 - Rondeau Provincial Park
166. Chimney Swift
167. White-eyed Vireo
168. House Wren
169. Brown Thrasher
170. Blackburnian Warbler
171. Yellow-throated Warbler
April 22 - Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
172. Sora
173. Pectoral Sandpiper
174. Dunlin
April 27 - High Park, Toronto
175. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
176. Nashville Warbler
177. Palm Warbler
April 28 - Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
178. Piping Plover
April 28 - Bruce Peninsula
179. Western Tanager (lifer)
180. Brewer's Blackbird (lifer)
April 30 - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
181. Cerulean Warbler
May 5 - Toronto Islands
182. Spotted Sandpiper
183. Common Tern
184. Great Crested Flycatcher
185. Eastern Kingbird
186. Blue-headed Vireo
187. Warbling Vireo
188. Bank Swallow
189. Cliff Swallow
190. Northern Waterthrush
191. Black-and-white Warbler
192. Cape May Warbler
193. Northern Parula
194. Magnolia Warbler
195. Yellow Warbler
196. Chestnut-sided Warbler
197. Black-throated Blue Warbler
198. Black-throated Green Warbler
199. White-crowned Sparrow
200. Orchard Oriole
201. Baltimore Oriole
May 7 - Rattray March, Mississauga
202. Least Flycatcher
May 7 - Townsed Sewage Lagoon
203. Semipalmated Plover
204. Least Sandpiper
May 7 - Aylmer Sewage Lagoons
205. Bobolink
May 7 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
206. Black-bellied Plover
207. American Avocet
208. Short-billed Dowitcher
209. Common Yellowthroat
May 8 - Point Pelee National Park
210. Eastern Whip-poor-will
211. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
212. Red-headed Woodpecker
213. Eastern Wood-Pewee
214. Yellow-throated Vireo
215. Red-eyed Vireo
216. Sedge Wren
217. Veery
218. Swainson's Thrush
219. Wood Thrush
220. Ovenbird
221. Golden-winged Warbler
222. Tennessee Warbler
223. American Redstart
224. Bay-breasted Warbler
225. Wilson's Warbler
226. Lincoln's Sparrow
227. Scarlet Tanager
228. Indigo Bunting
May 9 - Point Pelee National Park
229. Black Tern
230. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
231. Marsh Wren
232. Prothonotary Warbler
233. Canada Warbler
May 10 - Point Pelee National Park
234. Broad-winged Hawk
235. Black-billed Cuckoo
May 10 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
236. Cattle Egret
237. Marbled Godwit
238. Ruddy Turnstone
May 10 - St. Clair National Wildlife Refuge
239. Common Gallinule
May 11 - Point Pelee National Park
240. Gray-cheeked Thrush
241. Worm-eating Warbler
242. Blackpoll Warbler
May 11 - St. Clair National Wildlife Refuge
243. American Bittern
244. Least Bittern
245. Green Heron
246. White-faced Ibis
247. Yellow-headed Blackbird
May 12 - Point Pelee National Park
248. Black Scoter
May 12 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
249. American Golden-Plover
250. Willow Flycatcher
May 13 - Point Pelee National Park
251. Red-throated Loon (lifer)
May 14 - Rondeau Provincial Park
252. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
May 14 - Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
253. Stilt Sandpiper
May 15 - Point Pelee National Park
254. Hooded Warbler
May 15 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
255. Semipalmated Sanpdiper
May 16 - Point Pelee National Park
256. Mourning Warbler
May 16 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
257. Clay-colored Sparrow
May 16 - Wheatley Provincial Park
258. Solitary Sandpiper
May 17 - Point Pelee National Park
259. Olive-sided Flycatcher
260. Philadelphia Vireo
261. Blue-winged Warbler
262. Orange-crowned Warbler
263. Connecticut Warbler
May 18 - Pelee Island
264. Yellow-breasted Chat
May 19 - Point Pelee National Park
265. California Gull (lifer)
May 19 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
266. Red-necked Phalarope
May 20 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
267. White-rumped Sandpiper
May 21 - Backus Wood Conservation Area, Long Point area
268. Acadian Flycatcher
269. Louisiana Waterthrush
May 21 - East Quarter Line, Norfolk
270. Grasshopper Sparrow
May 21 - St. Williams Forest, Long Point area
271. Northern Goshawk
May 21 -Haldimand County
272. Snowy Egret
273. Laughing Gull
May 22 - Carden Alvar
274. Upland Sandpiper
275. Common Nighthawk
May 24 - Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto
276. Whimbrel
May 26 - Carden Alvar
277. Alder Flycatcher
May 31 - Presqu'ile Provincial Park
278. Brant
279. Barred Owl
June 4 - Westover Tract, Flamborough
280. Prairie Warbler
June 6 - Parry Sound
281. Red-shoulder Hawk
June 8 - Rainy River District (story here and here)
282. Black-billed Magpie (lifer)
283. Le Conte's Sparrow
June 9 - Rainy River Sewage Lagoon
284. Wilson's Phalarope
June 9 - Rainy River District
285. Western Meadowlark
June 9 - Lake of the Woods - Windy Point, Rainy River District
286. Franklin's Gull (lifer)
June 11 - Rainy River District
287. Dickcissel
June 13 - Wawa Sewage Lagoons
288. Eared Grebe
July 3 - Rondeau Provincial Park area
289. Magnificent Frigatebird (lifer)
July 25 - Rock Point Provincial Park
290. Sanderling
291. Baird's Sandpiper
July 25 - Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Amherstburg
292. Little Blue Heron
July 26 - Walpole Island
293. King Rail
August 12 - Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
294. Long-billed Dowitcher (story here)
August 25 - Onion Fields, Leamington
295. Buff-breasted Sandpiper
August 29 - Presqu'ile Provincial Park
296. Thick-billed Kingbird (lifer)
August 31 - Little Piskwamish Point, James Bay (story here)
297. Red Knot
September 1 - Little Piskwamish Point, James Bay
298. Hudsonian Godwit
September 2 - Little Piskwamish Point, James Bay
299. Nelson's Sparrow
September 23 - Point Pelee National Park
300. Red Phalarope (story here)
October 30 - Point Edward Lighthouse, Sarnia (story here)
301. Black-legged Kittiwake
302. Sabine's Gull (lifer)
November 1 - Pelee Days Inn / Sturgeon Creek, Leamington
303. Snow Bunting (story here)
November 24 - Point Pelee National Park
304. Cave Swallow (lifer) (story here)
December 31 - Point Pelee National Park
305. Purple Sandpiper (story here)
Many thanks to all who made my 2012 Big Year possible. There were countless people across Ontario who either alerted me to birds I still needed for the year, encouraged me along the way, inspired me w/ their own Big Years, gave me tips and advice for where I should visit and in what month to reach my goal of 300, or simply listened to me gripe about the birds I was missing without punching me in the face. Thanks to each and every one of you.
I have to especially thank 3 people:
Mark Field, who was my traveling partner, co-conspirator, and confidant throughout the year...well, until I left Toronto and only got to 305 while he made it 311 and moved 1 place ahead of me in the eBird final standings...but who's keeping track? But seriously, the year would have sucked without you, Mark.
Matt Timpf (Mr. Canada Big Year 2013!), who helped me find many of my early year birds and continuously boosted my confidence along the way, which is actually quite a feat considering my confidence is usually somewhere between 0.01 and flatline...beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep
And Marianne, who always texted or called me to see how my year was going while I was away and eventually helped me get to 305 once I returned to Leamington even though I was ready to call it a day when I hit 300 (so happy you were there to share the experience of me reaching my goal with Red Phalarope).
Here is my final list for 2012 in Ontario, more or less in chronological order (unfortunately I did not keep track of when I saw each individual species on a specific day so the numbers do not always correspond with the exact order in which I saw each species, but rather in taxonomic order on the date I first saw them):
January 1 - family farm, Staples
1. Red-tailed Hawk
2. Ring-billed Gull
January 2 - train from Chatham to Toronto (story here)
3. Tundra Swan
4. Wild Turkey
5. Rock Pigeon
6. American Kestrel
7. American Crow
8. Horned Lark
9. European Starling
10. House Sparrow
January 10 - Concession 1 - Puslinch
11. Canada Goose
12. Mourning Dove
13. Red-bellied Woodpecker
14. Hairy Woodpecker
15. Blue Jay
16. Black-capped Chickadee
17. White-breasted Nuthatch
18. Mountain Bluebird (lifer)
19. Dark-eyed Junco
20. House Finch
21. American Goldfinch
22. American Robin
January 10 - Mounstberg Conservation Area, Hamilton
23. Rough-legged Hawk
24. Downy Woodpecker
25. American Tree Sparrow
26. Northern Cardinal
27. Pine Siskin
January 10 - Marilynn Bell Park, Toronto
28. Mute Swan
29. Gadwall
30. American Wigeon
31. American Black Duck
32. Mallard
33. Redhead
34. Bufflehead
35. Common Merganser
36. Red-breasted Merganser
37. Herring Gull
January 25 - High Park, Toronto
38. Northern Pintail
39. Cooper's Hawk
40. Red-breasted Nuthatch
41. Gray Catbird
42. Common Grackle
January 25 - Sunnyside Beach, Toronto
43. Greater Scaup
44. Long-tailed Duck
45. Common Goldeneye
46. Ruddy Duck
47. American Coot
48. Glaucous Gull
49. Great Black-backed Gull
January 31 - Point Pelee National Park
50. Northern Harrier
51. Sharp-shinned Hawk
52. Bald Eagle
53. Bonaparte's Gull
54. Eastern Screech-Owl
55. Northern Shrike
February 1 - Onion Fields, Leamington (story here)
56. Great Horned Owl
57. Snowy Owl
58. Long-eared Owl
59. Red-winged Blackbird
60. Rusty Blackbird
61. Brown-headed Cowbird
February 2 - family farm, Staples
62. Ring-necked Pheasant
February 7 - Thunder Bay
63. Common Raven
64. Brown Creeper
65. Harris's Sparrow
66. Common Redpoll
67. Pine Grosbeak (lifer)
68. Golden Eagle
69. Pileated Woodpecker
70. Red Crossbill (lifer)
February 8 - Longlac
71. Spotted Towhee
72. White-winged Crossbill
73. Evening Grosbeak (lifer)
74. Hoary Redpoll (lifer)
February 8 - Beardmore
75. Common Redpoll
February 8 - Everard Road, Thunder Bay
76. Ruffed Grouse
February 9 - Rocky Bay
77. Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (lifer)
78. Purple Finch
February 9 - Wishart Conservation Area, Thunder Bay
79. American Three-toed Woodpecker (lifer)
February 14 - Whitby Harbour
80. Trumpeter Swan
81. Hooded Merganser
82. Northern Mockingbird
February 15 - Adam Beck, Niagara
83. Thayer's Gull
84. Iceland Gull
February 15 - Fort Erie
85. Canvasback
86. White-winged Scoter
87. Fish Crow (Ontario lifer)
88. American Pipit
February 15 - Niagara Falls - upper falls
89. Lesser Black-backed Gull
February 15 - Queenston Heights overlook, Niagara
90. Double-crested Cormorant
91. Black Vulture
92. Turkey Vulture
93. Little Gull
94. Tufted Titmouse
February 15 - LaSalle Marina, Burlington
95. Lesser Scaup
96. King Eider
February 16 - Whitby Harbour
97. Greater White-fronted Goose (story here)
February 16 - Oshawa Second Marsh
98. Northern Saw-whet Owl
February 16 - Professor's Lake, Brampton
99. Wood Duck
100. Merlin
February 17 - Toronto
101. Peregrine Falcon
February 23 - Spencer Smith Park, Burlington
102. Surf Scoter
February 23 - 10th Road East, Stoney Creek
103. Short-eared Owl
February 28 - Elgin County
104. Eastern Bluebird
February 28 - Port Burwell
105. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
106. Field Sparrow
107. Song Sparrow
February 28 - Norfolk County
108. Northern Flicker
February 28 - Long Point area
109. Ring-necked Duck
110. Sandhill Crane
111. Swamp Sparrow
112. Great Blue Heron
113. Belted Kingfisher
March 7 - Leamington
114. Eastern Meadowlark
115. Killdeer
March 10 - Point Pelee National Park
116. Northern Shoveler
117. Green-winged Teal
118. Eastern Phoebe
119. Hermit Thrush
120. Yellow-rumped Warbler
121. Eastern Towhee
122. Fox Sparrow
March 10 - Onion Fields, Leamington
123. Ross's Goose (lifer)
March 17 - Long Point area
124. Horned Grebe
125. Golden-crowned Kinglet
126. Tree Swallow
127. Pied-billed Grebe
128. American Woodcock
March 18 - Long Point area
129. Winter Wren
130. White-throated Sparrow
March 18 - Townsend Sewage Lagoons
131. Snow Goose
March 22 - Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto
132. Red-necked Grebe
March 22 - Rattray March, Mississauga
133. Carolina Wren
March 22 - High Park, Toronto
134. Virginia Rail
March 26 - Prince Edward Park
135. Bohemian Waxwing (lifer)
136. Cedar Waxwing
March 26 - Russel Road, Bourget
137. Cackling Goose
March 26 - Ottawa area
138. Wilson's Snipe
March 27 - Algonquin Provincial Park
139. Spruce Grouse (lifer)
140. Black-backed Woodpecker (lifer)
141. Boreal Chickadee
March 27 - Carden Alvar
142. Loggerhead Shrike
March 27 - Townsend Sewage Lagoon
143. Eurasian Wigeon
144. Greater Yellowlegs
March 31 - High Park, Toronto
145. Black-crowned Night-Heron
146. Chipping Sparrow
April 6 - Leslie Street Spit, Toronto
147. Great Egret
148. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
149. Barn Swallow
150. Pine Warbler
April 7 - Norfolk County
151. Common Loon
152. Vesper Sparrow
153. Savannah Sparrow
154. Lesser Yellowlegs
April 7 - Long Point area
155. Purple Martin
156. Ruby-crowned Kinglet
157. Forster's Tern
April 7 - Cootes Paradise, Hamilton
158. Caspian Tern
April 7 - Peterborough
159. Osprey
April 14 - Gairloch Gardens, Oakville
160. Harlequin Duck
April 16 - Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto
161. Blue-winged Teal
162. Northern Rough-winged Swallow
April 17 - Everard Road, Thunder Bay
163. Sharp-tailed Grouse (lifer)
April 17 - Hurkett Cove Conservation Area, Thunder Bay
164. American White Pelican
April 17 - Thunder Bay
165. Lapland Longspur
April 22 - Rondeau Provincial Park
166. Chimney Swift
167. White-eyed Vireo
168. House Wren
169. Brown Thrasher
170. Blackburnian Warbler
171. Yellow-throated Warbler
April 22 - Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
172. Sora
173. Pectoral Sandpiper
174. Dunlin
April 27 - High Park, Toronto
175. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
176. Nashville Warbler
177. Palm Warbler
April 28 - Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
178. Piping Plover
April 28 - Bruce Peninsula
179. Western Tanager (lifer)
180. Brewer's Blackbird (lifer)
April 30 - Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto
181. Cerulean Warbler
May 5 - Toronto Islands
182. Spotted Sandpiper
183. Common Tern
184. Great Crested Flycatcher
185. Eastern Kingbird
186. Blue-headed Vireo
187. Warbling Vireo
188. Bank Swallow
189. Cliff Swallow
190. Northern Waterthrush
191. Black-and-white Warbler
192. Cape May Warbler
193. Northern Parula
194. Magnolia Warbler
195. Yellow Warbler
196. Chestnut-sided Warbler
197. Black-throated Blue Warbler
198. Black-throated Green Warbler
199. White-crowned Sparrow
200. Orchard Oriole
201. Baltimore Oriole
May 7 - Rattray March, Mississauga
202. Least Flycatcher
May 7 - Townsed Sewage Lagoon
203. Semipalmated Plover
204. Least Sandpiper
May 7 - Aylmer Sewage Lagoons
205. Bobolink
May 7 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
206. Black-bellied Plover
207. American Avocet
208. Short-billed Dowitcher
209. Common Yellowthroat
May 8 - Point Pelee National Park
210. Eastern Whip-poor-will
211. Ruby-throated Hummingbird
212. Red-headed Woodpecker
213. Eastern Wood-Pewee
214. Yellow-throated Vireo
215. Red-eyed Vireo
216. Sedge Wren
217. Veery
218. Swainson's Thrush
219. Wood Thrush
220. Ovenbird
221. Golden-winged Warbler
222. Tennessee Warbler
223. American Redstart
224. Bay-breasted Warbler
225. Wilson's Warbler
226. Lincoln's Sparrow
227. Scarlet Tanager
228. Indigo Bunting
May 9 - Point Pelee National Park
229. Black Tern
230. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
231. Marsh Wren
232. Prothonotary Warbler
233. Canada Warbler
May 10 - Point Pelee National Park
234. Broad-winged Hawk
235. Black-billed Cuckoo
May 10 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
236. Cattle Egret
237. Marbled Godwit
238. Ruddy Turnstone
May 10 - St. Clair National Wildlife Refuge
239. Common Gallinule
May 11 - Point Pelee National Park
240. Gray-cheeked Thrush
241. Worm-eating Warbler
242. Blackpoll Warbler
May 11 - St. Clair National Wildlife Refuge
243. American Bittern
244. Least Bittern
245. Green Heron
246. White-faced Ibis
247. Yellow-headed Blackbird
May 12 - Point Pelee National Park
248. Black Scoter
May 12 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
249. American Golden-Plover
250. Willow Flycatcher
May 13 - Point Pelee National Park
251. Red-throated Loon (lifer)
May 14 - Rondeau Provincial Park
252. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
May 14 - Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
253. Stilt Sandpiper
May 15 - Point Pelee National Park
254. Hooded Warbler
May 15 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
255. Semipalmated Sanpdiper
May 16 - Point Pelee National Park
256. Mourning Warbler
May 16 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
257. Clay-colored Sparrow
May 16 - Wheatley Provincial Park
258. Solitary Sandpiper
May 17 - Point Pelee National Park
259. Olive-sided Flycatcher
260. Philadelphia Vireo
261. Blue-winged Warbler
262. Orange-crowned Warbler
263. Connecticut Warbler
May 18 - Pelee Island
264. Yellow-breasted Chat
May 19 - Point Pelee National Park
265. California Gull (lifer)
May 19 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
266. Red-necked Phalarope
May 20 - Hillman Marsh, Leamington
267. White-rumped Sandpiper
May 21 - Backus Wood Conservation Area, Long Point area
268. Acadian Flycatcher
269. Louisiana Waterthrush
May 21 - East Quarter Line, Norfolk
270. Grasshopper Sparrow
May 21 - St. Williams Forest, Long Point area
271. Northern Goshawk
May 21 -Haldimand County
272. Snowy Egret
273. Laughing Gull
May 22 - Carden Alvar
274. Upland Sandpiper
275. Common Nighthawk
May 24 - Colonel Samuel Smith Park, Toronto
276. Whimbrel
May 26 - Carden Alvar
277. Alder Flycatcher
May 31 - Presqu'ile Provincial Park
278. Brant
279. Barred Owl
June 4 - Westover Tract, Flamborough
280. Prairie Warbler
June 6 - Parry Sound
281. Red-shoulder Hawk
June 8 - Rainy River District (story here and here)
282. Black-billed Magpie (lifer)
283. Le Conte's Sparrow
June 9 - Rainy River Sewage Lagoon
284. Wilson's Phalarope
June 9 - Rainy River District
285. Western Meadowlark
June 9 - Lake of the Woods - Windy Point, Rainy River District
286. Franklin's Gull (lifer)
June 11 - Rainy River District
287. Dickcissel
June 13 - Wawa Sewage Lagoons
288. Eared Grebe
July 3 - Rondeau Provincial Park area
289. Magnificent Frigatebird (lifer)
July 25 - Rock Point Provincial Park
290. Sanderling
291. Baird's Sandpiper
July 25 - Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Amherstburg
292. Little Blue Heron
July 26 - Walpole Island
293. King Rail
August 12 - Blenheim Sewage Lagoons
294. Long-billed Dowitcher (story here)
August 25 - Onion Fields, Leamington
295. Buff-breasted Sandpiper
August 29 - Presqu'ile Provincial Park
296. Thick-billed Kingbird (lifer)
August 31 - Little Piskwamish Point, James Bay (story here)
297. Red Knot
September 1 - Little Piskwamish Point, James Bay
298. Hudsonian Godwit
September 2 - Little Piskwamish Point, James Bay
299. Nelson's Sparrow
September 23 - Point Pelee National Park
300. Red Phalarope (story here)
October 30 - Point Edward Lighthouse, Sarnia (story here)
301. Black-legged Kittiwake
302. Sabine's Gull (lifer)
November 1 - Pelee Days Inn / Sturgeon Creek, Leamington
303. Snow Bunting (story here)
November 24 - Point Pelee National Park
304. Cave Swallow (lifer) (story here)
December 31 - Point Pelee National Park
305. Purple Sandpiper (story here)
Friday, January 11, 2013
Butterflies of 2012
In putting together a mammal and herptile list, I figure I might as well share my butterfly list for last year as well (I'll also eventually get back to birds and post my final 305 bird list from 2012 and a summary at some point!). 2012 was an amazing year for butterflies in Ontario w/ many rarities recorded in high numbers. My personal list is going to be a bit patchy as I'm putting it together from rough notes, emails, and eButterfly entries but I think I can remember most of the species I saw (butterfliers, please let me know if any of my picture ID's are incorrect). One of my new years resolutions this year is to keep better field notes of other wildlife sightings than just birds. Butterflies marked w/ a '*' were lifers.
Skippers
Silver-spotted Skipper
*Northern Cloudywing
*Dreamy Duskywing
*Sleepy Orange - 1 Point Pelee (NW Beach) w/ Marianne Reid Balkwill, Tom Preney, and Russ Jones
*Dainty Sulphur - multiples at Hillman Marsh
Coppers, Hairstreaks, Blues
Bronze Copper
Banded Hairstreak
*White-M Hairstreak -first seen at Sparrow Field w/ Matt Timpf. Saw another later in the summer w/ Marianne
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Spring Azure
Summer Azure
*Silvery Blue
Brushfoots
American Snout
Variegated Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary
*Silver-bordered Fritillary
Skippers
Silver-spotted Skipper
*Northern Cloudywing
Photo by Mark Field - Rainy River District
*Dreamy Duskywing
Photo by Mark Field - Everard Road, Thunder Bay District
*Common Checkered-Skipper
Photo by me - iBinned (record shot...?)
Common Least Skipper
European Skipper
Fiery Skipper
*Indian Skipper
Photo by Mark Field
*Sachem
*Hobomok Skipper
Photo by Mark Field - Everard Road, Thunder Bay District
Swallowtails
Black Swallowtail
Giant Swallotail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Photo by me - Everard Road, Thunder Bay District
Spicebush Swallowtail
Whites and Sulphurs
Cabbage White
*Mustard White - first seen at Moosonee Sewage Lagoons
Clouded Sulphur
*Little Yellow - multiples seen at Point Pelee*Sleepy Orange - 1 Point Pelee (NW Beach) w/ Marianne Reid Balkwill, Tom Preney, and Russ Jones
*Dainty Sulphur - multiples at Hillman Marsh
Photo by me -Hillman Marsh, Shorebird Cell
Coppers, Hairstreaks, Blues
Bronze Copper
Photo by me - iBinned at Couture Dyke, Hillman Marsh
Banded Hairstreak
*White-M Hairstreak -first seen at Sparrow Field w/ Matt Timpf. Saw another later in the summer w/ Marianne
Photo by me (I need a real camera)
Gray Hairstreak
Eastern Tailed-Blue
Spring Azure
Summer Azure
*Silvery Blue
Photo by Mark Field - Rainy River District
Brushfoots
American Snout
Variegated Fritillary
Great Spangled Fritillary
*Silver-bordered Fritillary
Photo by Mark Field - Rainy River District
*Silvery Checkerspot
Photo by Mark Field - Agawa Bay
Pearl Crescent
Photo by me - Hillman Marsh
Northern Crescent
Baltimore Checkerspot
Photo by me -Sunnybrook Park, Toronto
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Mourning Cloak
Photo by Mark Field - Everard Road, Thunder Bay District
American Lady
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Common Buckeye
Photo by me - Comber Sewage Lagoons
White Admiral
Photo by Mark Field - Rainy River Sewage Lagoons
Viceroy
Photo by me - St. Clair National Wildlife Refuge
Hackberry Emperor
Appalachian Eyed Brown
Little Wood Satyr
Photo by Mark Field - Rocky Point
Common Ringlet
Common Wood-Nymph
Monarch
Red-spotted Purple
Total Species: 52
Total Lifers: 14
Wednesday, January 09, 2013
Canada Big Year - Matt Timpf
I would like to bring attention to the Big Year of my good friend, Matt Timpf, who has decided to do a CANADA Big Year in 2013. As soon as I heard, I got very excited as he's a great birder, a great person to bird w/, and well, a great person in general. I wish him the best of luck! I hope I can get him on at least a few rarities in the Pelee Area since Ontario will be his home base during the year. He was also extremely helpful at finding birds for my pursuit to 300 last year in Ontario so I owe him some birds. He is currently planning a trip to the east coast followed by a trip to the west.
I highly recommend checking out his blog. For me, it will be a good way to see what birds are easier/harder to find in areas of the country that I haven't been able to birdwatch yet. I'm also curious to find out what the current record is and how many species one can expect to find in Canada in a calendar year if they put the work in. And of course, w/ any endeavor like this, the birds are wonderful, but it's as much about the discovery of new places and the people that you meet along the way that make a Big Year worthwhile.
Here is a link to Matt's blog: http://canadabigyear2013.wordpress.com/
I highly recommend checking out his blog. For me, it will be a good way to see what birds are easier/harder to find in areas of the country that I haven't been able to birdwatch yet. I'm also curious to find out what the current record is and how many species one can expect to find in Canada in a calendar year if they put the work in. And of course, w/ any endeavor like this, the birds are wonderful, but it's as much about the discovery of new places and the people that you meet along the way that make a Big Year worthwhile.
Here is a link to Matt's blog: http://canadabigyear2013.wordpress.com/
Monday, December 31, 2012
Ontario Big Year: #305 - Purple Sandpiper
It's been a great year of birding for me in Ontario. Of course, I want to do a few summary posts of my year in the near future but this post will just be about my last new year bird of 2012: Purple Sandpiper.
A fireplace. A chair. A window. A coffee. A book.
Oh yes, I was in my happy place. I was relaxing at home, periodically looking out at the birds at my feeder, when my phone vibrated in my pocket. A direct message on Twitter from @blacklite9900. Interesting. I opened my Messages and there in my inbox was the following message:
"Don't know if you're working...PUSA at the tip" I kid you not, my first reaction was, 'that is one helluva late Purple Martin.' I facepalmed. 'You fool,' I thought to myself, 'it's a Purple Sandpiper. RUN!!!'
I scrambled around the house grabbing warm clothing for the outdoors, sent Kory a message to say I was on my way, and ran out the door, slipping and sliding across the laneway, scarf sailing.
Snow Buntings flying out of the way, my car smashed against snow drift after snow drift as I plowed my way south to Pelee, sweaty palms gripping the wheel and praying that I wouldn't careen off the road into a ditch on New Years Eve.
'With my luck,' I thought, 'I'll run into a ride program.'
Imagine it!
Police Officer, "Have you had anything to drink today?"
Me: "OUT OF MY WAY, I'M TRYING TO GET TO A PURPLE SANDPIPER!!!!!"
Police Officer: "Sir, please take your hands away from my holster and blow into this breathalyzer."
Eventually arriving at the Tip, I walked at a quick pace to the end and spotted Kory, Alan Wormington, and Richard Carr looking through their scopes. I somehow managed to get to them without slipping and falling (I assumed this would happen). I aimed my scope at the Tip and got the Purple, feeding on the east side with a group of European Starlings.
305!
Huge thanks to Kory for alerting me of this bird and thanks to Al and Richard for finding it.
Other highlights at the Tip while I was there included White-winged Scoter, Horned Grebe, Savannah Sparrow, American Pipit, and a hybrid Herring x Great Black-backed Gull.
A great way to end the year!
A fireplace. A chair. A window. A coffee. A book.
Oh yes, I was in my happy place. I was relaxing at home, periodically looking out at the birds at my feeder, when my phone vibrated in my pocket. A direct message on Twitter from @blacklite9900. Interesting. I opened my Messages and there in my inbox was the following message:
"Don't know if you're working...PUSA at the tip" I kid you not, my first reaction was, 'that is one helluva late Purple Martin.' I facepalmed. 'You fool,' I thought to myself, 'it's a Purple Sandpiper. RUN!!!'
I scrambled around the house grabbing warm clothing for the outdoors, sent Kory a message to say I was on my way, and ran out the door, slipping and sliding across the laneway, scarf sailing.
Snow Buntings flying out of the way, my car smashed against snow drift after snow drift as I plowed my way south to Pelee, sweaty palms gripping the wheel and praying that I wouldn't careen off the road into a ditch on New Years Eve.
'With my luck,' I thought, 'I'll run into a ride program.'
Imagine it!
Police Officer, "Have you had anything to drink today?"
Me: "OUT OF MY WAY, I'M TRYING TO GET TO A PURPLE SANDPIPER!!!!!"
Police Officer: "Sir, please take your hands away from my holster and blow into this breathalyzer."
Eventually arriving at the Tip, I walked at a quick pace to the end and spotted Kory, Alan Wormington, and Richard Carr looking through their scopes. I somehow managed to get to them without slipping and falling (I assumed this would happen). I aimed my scope at the Tip and got the Purple, feeding on the east side with a group of European Starlings.
305!
Huge thanks to Kory for alerting me of this bird and thanks to Al and Richard for finding it.
Other highlights at the Tip while I was there included White-winged Scoter, Horned Grebe, Savannah Sparrow, American Pipit, and a hybrid Herring x Great Black-backed Gull.
A great way to end the year!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
#304 Cave Swallow!
This morning I arrived at the Tip at about 8:30 hoping that the change in temperature would perhaps get a Cave Swallow on the move. I wasn't disappointed. It ended up being one of the first birds I saw!
As I was walking past the Solar Panel Display on my way to the Tip, I was watching a flock of American Robins flying by and then thought, wait, what is that small thing? I brought my bins up. A SWALLOW! I watched it bank and saw its rump, then its throat, and that's when my heart skipped. Pale, Pale, Pale. Though I certainly wish I would have had a better look (like the one that was within 5 feet of birders at the Tip a week before!), I saw it well enough (LIFER!) and I continued to watch it as it flew against strong west winds almost over the lake, then turned and headed southeast. I hurried to the Tip thinking it might have been hanging around down there out of the wind but never relocated it. This species was my 304th in Ontario this year. Although my Big Year definitely slowed down once I hit 300, I was always hoping to reach 305 so that should be attainable w/ one more month to go (Purple Sandpiper...?).
I was later joined by Alan Wormington and Richard Carr but none of us stuck around long as there wasn't much activity on the lake. Large numbers of scaups and Redhead off the east side, a couple of Common Loon flyovers, about a dozen distant Tundra Swans, a handful of Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye, 4 Horned Grebes, only 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, and of course, lots of Red-breasted Mergansers.
There was a decent number of raptors flying today on account of the winds including Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Sharp-shinned, and Cooper's Hawks, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, and Merlin. Reminded me of my time helping out w/ the hawk watch at Holiday Beach Conservation Area this fall. Looking forward to reading the results of the count from there today. Thanks to my good friend, Vee, for somehow managing to memify my love of hawks w/ Jeremy Renner:
I also finally checked out the new sculpture near the entrance of Point Pelee where the old admin building used to be. The artist is Teresa Altiman and the sculpture is of a turtle, symbolizing the Ojibwe legend of Turtle Island. There are four feathers hanging around the turtle that represent the four directions that people travel from to visit Point Pelee.
The sculpture stands upon a rock w/ this inscription:
As I was walking past the Solar Panel Display on my way to the Tip, I was watching a flock of American Robins flying by and then thought, wait, what is that small thing? I brought my bins up. A SWALLOW! I watched it bank and saw its rump, then its throat, and that's when my heart skipped. Pale, Pale, Pale. Though I certainly wish I would have had a better look (like the one that was within 5 feet of birders at the Tip a week before!), I saw it well enough (LIFER!) and I continued to watch it as it flew against strong west winds almost over the lake, then turned and headed southeast. I hurried to the Tip thinking it might have been hanging around down there out of the wind but never relocated it. This species was my 304th in Ontario this year. Although my Big Year definitely slowed down once I hit 300, I was always hoping to reach 305 so that should be attainable w/ one more month to go (Purple Sandpiper...?).
I was later joined by Alan Wormington and Richard Carr but none of us stuck around long as there wasn't much activity on the lake. Large numbers of scaups and Redhead off the east side, a couple of Common Loon flyovers, about a dozen distant Tundra Swans, a handful of Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye, 4 Horned Grebes, only 2 Great Black-backed Gulls, and of course, lots of Red-breasted Mergansers.
My view of the Tip this morning.
There was a decent number of raptors flying today on account of the winds including Red-tailed, Red-shouldered, Sharp-shinned, and Cooper's Hawks, Northern Harrier, Bald Eagle, and Merlin. Reminded me of my time helping out w/ the hawk watch at Holiday Beach Conservation Area this fall. Looking forward to reading the results of the count from there today. Thanks to my good friend, Vee, for somehow managing to memify my love of hawks w/ Jeremy Renner:
I also finally checked out the new sculpture near the entrance of Point Pelee where the old admin building used to be. The artist is Teresa Altiman and the sculpture is of a turtle, symbolizing the Ojibwe legend of Turtle Island. There are four feathers hanging around the turtle that represent the four directions that people travel from to visit Point Pelee.
The sculpture stands upon a rock w/ this inscription:
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Pelee Birding
I had a good day birding w/ Marianne around the Pelee Birding Circle today. Our day started early at the Tip on account of southwest winds (I still need any jaeger species this year believe it or not!). It was very nice to see the number of birders at the Tip this morning w/ a total of 7 of us scanning for most of the morning. I got to congratulate Josh Vandermeulen in person on his Big Year record. He, along w/ Marianne and I, were hoping for a Cave Swallow flyby at the Tip. It's possible 1 or some will show up in the next few days, especially on Tuesday when a cold front passes through. Unfortunately not a single swallow flew by today.
The highlight was a Black-legged Kittiwake that Marianne spotted first and eventually everyone got on it. Blake had a distant Red-throated Loon and a Northern Goshawk making a brief appearance was a new Pelee bird for me, so a personal highlight there. Though I consider a Kittiwake I had last year my first for the Pelee area, it was on the brink of death (found later the same day dead and sent to the ROM) so this flyby was a bit of a more exciting sighting. Not too much activity besides, though there were a good number of goldfinches and siskins flying over as well as a single Snow Bunting. I was hoping for an Evening Grosbeak as Sarah Rupert had a number of them in the Visitor Centre parking lot this week. I need that for my Pelee List (as well as Red Crossbill...this might be the year).
Later in the day, Marianne and I drove the border of Hillman Marsh and came up w/ a decent flock of Dunlin and a single Killdeer. Not much else around but we did have a good number of American Tree Sparrows on the dead end of Seacliff Drive E.
Our next stop was Wheatley Harbour where we met up w/ Brandon Holden and Josh. There was a whole lotta nothing!!
We finished the day w/ a slow walk through Two Creeks Conservation Area, which gave us a bit of time to talk about life and end the day on a pleasant note. Our only birding highlight was an Eastern Phoebe, now a "confirm" bird on eBird since we've rolled over into November.
We also had a couple herptiles today including a Gartersnake in the Sparrow Fields of Pelee and a Spring Peeper calling from Seacliff Drive E. Only a sulphur and an unidentified butterfly that was likely a Buckeye in the insect department.
I'll be birding again tomorrow and hope for at least 1 new year bird (considering any jaeger or a Cave Swallow would be new for my year, it's not actually asking for too much!). There are a lot of eyes in the Pelee Circle this week though so something rare is bound to show up.
Observers at the Tip of Pelee
The highlight was a Black-legged Kittiwake that Marianne spotted first and eventually everyone got on it. Blake had a distant Red-throated Loon and a Northern Goshawk making a brief appearance was a new Pelee bird for me, so a personal highlight there. Though I consider a Kittiwake I had last year my first for the Pelee area, it was on the brink of death (found later the same day dead and sent to the ROM) so this flyby was a bit of a more exciting sighting. Not too much activity besides, though there were a good number of goldfinches and siskins flying over as well as a single Snow Bunting. I was hoping for an Evening Grosbeak as Sarah Rupert had a number of them in the Visitor Centre parking lot this week. I need that for my Pelee List (as well as Red Crossbill...this might be the year).
Later in the day, Marianne and I drove the border of Hillman Marsh and came up w/ a decent flock of Dunlin and a single Killdeer. Not much else around but we did have a good number of American Tree Sparrows on the dead end of Seacliff Drive E.
Our next stop was Wheatley Harbour where we met up w/ Brandon Holden and Josh. There was a whole lotta nothing!!
We finished the day w/ a slow walk through Two Creeks Conservation Area, which gave us a bit of time to talk about life and end the day on a pleasant note. Our only birding highlight was an Eastern Phoebe, now a "confirm" bird on eBird since we've rolled over into November.
We also had a couple herptiles today including a Gartersnake in the Sparrow Fields of Pelee and a Spring Peeper calling from Seacliff Drive E. Only a sulphur and an unidentified butterfly that was likely a Buckeye in the insect department.
I'll be birding again tomorrow and hope for at least 1 new year bird (considering any jaeger or a Cave Swallow would be new for my year, it's not actually asking for too much!). There are a lot of eyes in the Pelee Circle this week though so something rare is bound to show up.
Friday, November 02, 2012
#303 - Snow Bunting (!)
Yessir, I got my 1st Snow Bunting o' the year in Nov. Isn't that redonk?! I mean come on! A common Code 1 on 11/1/12 instead of 1/11/12. And it was a twitch! Sarah Rupert tweeted to tell me where one was hanging out behind Towlie's Harbour in Leamington and I had to drive out to get it. In my defense, I am from the deep south where they're just arriving.
Oh well, I've seen one now so y'all know I'll see a flock of 50 tomorrow. There wasn't much else around Pelee Days Inn. The long-staying group of shorebirds has finally departed.
Only other bird of note for the day was a juvenile Red-necked Grebe at Hillman Marsh (N Lakeshore side) along w/ a good # of Horned Grebes and Common Loons. As far as I remember, this is a new species for my Point Pelee List so I was quite pleased w/ it. There was also an Iceland Gull on the lake at this location and LOTS of Bonaparte's Gulls (no Black-headed Gulls or Ross's Gulls mixed in unfortunately).
Going to Pelee in the morning w/ Marianne so we're hoping for a Hurricane bird if we're really lucky. I'd be beyond happy if I got another year bird.
Oh well, I've seen one now so y'all know I'll see a flock of 50 tomorrow. There wasn't much else around Pelee Days Inn. The long-staying group of shorebirds has finally departed.
Only other bird of note for the day was a juvenile Red-necked Grebe at Hillman Marsh (N Lakeshore side) along w/ a good # of Horned Grebes and Common Loons. As far as I remember, this is a new species for my Point Pelee List so I was quite pleased w/ it. There was also an Iceland Gull on the lake at this location and LOTS of Bonaparte's Gulls (no Black-headed Gulls or Ross's Gulls mixed in unfortunately).
Going to Pelee in the morning w/ Marianne so we're hoping for a Hurricane bird if we're really lucky. I'd be beyond happy if I got another year bird.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Point Edward - October 30
With the Holiday Beach hawk count shut down due to the stormy weather and severe winds, I had a free day to roam. Though it would seem Van Wagner's was the place to be (Wilson's AND Leach's Storm-Petrels, jaegers, Purple Sandpipers, Brant, Black-legged Kittiwake, etc.! and I know I shouldn't do this to myself, but if I had spent the day there today, I would have potentially seen 7 year birds, 5 Ontario birds, and 4 lifers), I went to a place a bit closer for me, Point Edward near Sarnia (for those who have seen the van I drive for birding, you know that even Point Edward was a stretch for such a rust-infected rust-bucket). Hurricane Sandy and the resulting weather in the province is moving a lot of birds around, producing pretty unbelievable rarities, and making things quite exciting for Ontario birders looking to see what else shows up in the next few days (oh, a Razorbill, too, waa?!). All in all, I had a great day at Point Edward.
This was the first time I'd visited the spot. It was quite the scene. You essentially parked your car at the south end of Lake Huron and pray for birds to get blown into your windshield so you can see them through the wind and rain while turning on your (non-existent in my rust heap) heat periodically to remember what fingers feel like but in all seriousness, this is actually as much fun as one can have as a birder because, well, I mean, come on now(!) you're sitting w/ other birders in a row of cars in a storm scanning birds being blown all over the place and shouting out sightings from cracked windows while trying to adjust your scope that's propped up with your emergency brake and when every once in a while you run out of the vehicle to go shout to another birder, water splats at you from all angles like running through a car wash despite winds only coming from one direction and then you find out you missed a distant jaeger. I loved it.
Spent the time watching the action w/ Andrew Keaveney, Blake Mann, and Josh & Michael Bouman for about 6 hours. A lot of Brant are in the area right now. I estimated around 125 birds but I'm sure that's a conservative count. It was hard to get an accurate count as birds would fly by in flocks, land on the lake and then get pushed back into the river where they flew back out again into the lake. This happened all day. Bonaparte's, Herring, and Ring-billed Gulls were all present in good numbers (5 Great Black-backed and 1 Lesser Black-backed were also present) but the highlights were 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls (lifer!) and 3 juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake (new year bird). We also had a gull that was a probable "Nelson's" Gull, a hybrid Herring X Glaucous. The bird was large and pale and had a Glaucous appearance but had brown to dark grey wingtips.
Other birds included 3 Red-necked Grebes, good numbers of White-winged and Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Canvasback, Redhead, lots of scaups, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Mergansers, a handful of Mallards, and a flock of Sanderlings. No Red Phalaropes while I was there but others had one earlier in the morning. My one disappointment was missing the jaegers that were spotted. I blame my windshield wipers, which don't work properly...they basically just press water around on the window rather than off it so that when I looked through, I was just seeing a kind of grey smear.
I have job training tomorrow but boy do I wish I could spend the day at Van Wagner's. I look forward to seeing what shows up on Lake Ontario tomorrow in the upcoming days.
This was the first time I'd visited the spot. It was quite the scene. You essentially parked your car at the south end of Lake Huron and pray for birds to get blown into your windshield so you can see them through the wind and rain while turning on your (non-existent in my rust heap) heat periodically to remember what fingers feel like but in all seriousness, this is actually as much fun as one can have as a birder because, well, I mean, come on now(!) you're sitting w/ other birders in a row of cars in a storm scanning birds being blown all over the place and shouting out sightings from cracked windows while trying to adjust your scope that's propped up with your emergency brake and when every once in a while you run out of the vehicle to go shout to another birder, water splats at you from all angles like running through a car wash despite winds only coming from one direction and then you find out you missed a distant jaeger. I loved it.
Spent the time watching the action w/ Andrew Keaveney, Blake Mann, and Josh & Michael Bouman for about 6 hours. A lot of Brant are in the area right now. I estimated around 125 birds but I'm sure that's a conservative count. It was hard to get an accurate count as birds would fly by in flocks, land on the lake and then get pushed back into the river where they flew back out again into the lake. This happened all day. Bonaparte's, Herring, and Ring-billed Gulls were all present in good numbers (5 Great Black-backed and 1 Lesser Black-backed were also present) but the highlights were 2 juvenile Sabine's Gulls (lifer!) and 3 juvenile Black-legged Kittiwake (new year bird). We also had a gull that was a probable "Nelson's" Gull, a hybrid Herring X Glaucous. The bird was large and pale and had a Glaucous appearance but had brown to dark grey wingtips.
Other birds included 3 Red-necked Grebes, good numbers of White-winged and Black Scoters, Long-tailed Ducks, Canvasback, Redhead, lots of scaups, Bufflehead, Red-breasted Mergansers, a handful of Mallards, and a flock of Sanderlings. No Red Phalaropes while I was there but others had one earlier in the morning. My one disappointment was missing the jaegers that were spotted. I blame my windshield wipers, which don't work properly...they basically just press water around on the window rather than off it so that when I looked through, I was just seeing a kind of grey smear.
I have job training tomorrow but boy do I wish I could spend the day at Van Wagner's. I look forward to seeing what shows up on Lake Ontario tomorrow in the upcoming days.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
My 300 (full breakdown will come at the end of 2012)
1
|
Here they are
(in taxanomical order):
All 300.
Greater White-fronted Goose
|
2
|
Snow Goose
|
3
|
Ross's Goose
|
4
|
Brant
|
5
|
Cackling Goose
|
6
|
Canada Goose
|
7
|
Mute Swan
|
8
|
Trumpeter Swan
|
9
|
Tundra Swan
|
10
|
Wood Duck
|
11
|
Gadwall
|
12
|
Eurasian Wigeon
|
13
|
American Wigeon
|
14
|
American Black Duck
|
15
|
Mallard
|
16
|
Blue-winged Teal
|
17
|
Northern Shoveler
|
18
|
Northern Pintail
|
19
|
Green-winged Teal
|
20
|
Canvasback
|
21
|
Redhead
|
22
|
Ring-necked Duck
|
23
|
Greater Scaup
|
24
|
Lesser Scaup
|
25
|
King Eider
|
26
|
Harlequin Duck
|
27
|
Surf Scoter
|
28
|
White-winged Scoter
|
29
|
Black Scoter
|
30
|
Long-tailed Duck
|
31
|
Bufflehead
|
32
|
Common Goldeneye
|
33
|
Hooded Merganser
|
34
|
Common Merganser
|
35
|
Red-breasted Merganser
|
36
|
Ruddy Duck
|
37
|
Ring-necked Pheasant
|
38
|
Ruffed Grouse
|
39
|
Spruce Grouse
|
40
|
Sharp-tailed Grouse
|
41
|
Wild Turkey
|
42
|
Red-throated Loon
|
43
|
Common Loon
|
44
|
Pied-billed Grebe
|
45
|
Horned Grebe
|
46
|
Red-necked Grebe
|
47
|
Eared Grebe
|
48
|
Magnificent Frigatebird
|
49
|
Double-crested Cormorant
|
50
|
American White Pelican
|
51
|
American Bittern
|
52
|
Least Bittern
|
53
|
Great Blue Heron
|
54
|
Great Egret
|
55
|
Snowy Egret
|
56
|
Little Blue Heron
|
57
|
Cattle Egret
|
58
|
Green Heron
|
59
|
Black-crowned Night-Heron
|
60
|
White-faced Ibis
|
61
|
Black Vulture
|
62
|
Turkey Vulture
|
63
|
Osprey
|
64
|
Golden Eagle
|
65
|
Northern Harrier
|
66
|
Sharp-shinned Hawk
|
67
|
Cooper's Hawk
|
68
|
Northern Goshawk
|
69
|
Bald Eagle
|
70
|
Red-shouldered Hawk
|
71
|
Broad-winged Hawk
|
72
|
Red-tailed Hawk
|
73
|
Rough-legged Hawk
|
74
|
King Rail
|
75
|
Virginia Rail
|
76
|
Sora
|
77
|
Common Gallinule
|
78
|
American Coot
|
79
|
Sandhill Crane
|
80
|
Black-bellied Plover
|
81
|
American Golden-Plover
|
82
|
Semipalmated Plover
|
83
|
Piping Plover
|
84
|
Killdeer
|
85
|
American Avocet
|
86
|
Spotted Sandpiper
|
87
|
Solitary Sandpiper
|
88
|
Greater Yellowlegs
|
89
|
Lesser Yellowlegs
|
90
|
Upland Sandpiper
|
91
|
Whimbrel
|
92
|
Hudsonian Godwit
|
93
|
Marbled Godwit
|
94
|
Ruddy Turnstone
|
95
|
Red Knot
|
96
|
Sanderling
|
97
|
Semipalmated Sandpiper
|
98
|
Least Sandpiper
|
99
|
White-rumped Sandpiper
|
100
|
Baird's Sandpiper
|
101
|
Pectoral Sandpiper
|
102
|
Dunlin
|
103
|
Stilt Sandpiper
|
104
|
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
|
105
|
Short-billed Dowitcher
|
106
|
Long-billed Dowitcher
|
107
|
Wilson's Snipe
|
108
|
American Woodcock
|
109
|
Wilson's Phalarope
|
110
|
Red-necked Phalarope
|
111
|
Red Phalarope
|
112
|
Bonaparte's Gull
|
113
|
Little Gull
|
114
|
Laughing Gull
|
115
|
Franklin's Gull
|
116
|
Ring-billed Gull
|
117
|
California Gull
|
118
|
Herring Gull
|
119
|
Thayer's Gull
|
120
|
Iceland Gull
|
121
|
Lesser Black-backed Gull
|
122
|
Glaucous Gull
|
123
|
Great Black-backed Gull
|
124
|
Caspian Tern
|
125
|
Black Tern
|
126
|
Common Tern
|
127
|
Forster's Tern
|
128
|
Rock Pigeon
|
129
|
Mourning Dove
|
130
|
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
|
131
|
Black-billed Cuckoo
|
132
|
Eastern Screech-Owl
|
133
|
Great Horned Owl
|
134
|
Snowy Owl
|
135
|
Barred Owl
|
136
|
Long-eared Owl
|
137
|
Short-eared Owl
|
138
|
Northern Saw-whet Owl
|
139
|
Common Nighthawk
|
140
|
Eastern Whip-poor-will
|
141
|
Chimney Swift
|
142
|
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
|
143
|
Belted Kingfisher
|
144
|
Red-headed Woodpecker
|
145
|
Red-bellied Woodpecker
|
146
|
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
|
147
|
Downy Woodpecker
|
148
|
Hairy Woodpecker
|
149
|
American Three-toed Woodpecker
|
150
|
Black-backed Woodpecker
|
151
|
Northern Flicker
|
152
|
Pileated Woodpecker
|
153
|
American Kestrel
|
154
|
Merlin
|
155
|
Peregrine Falcon
|
156
|
Olive-sided Flycatcher
|
157
|
Eastern Wood-Pewee
|
158
|
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
|
159
|
Acadian Flycatcher
|
160
|
Alder Flycatcher
|
161
|
Willow Flycatcher
|
162
|
Least Flycatcher
|
163
|
Eastern Phoebe
|
164
|
Great Crested Flycatcher
|
165
|
Thick-billed Kingbird
|
166
|
Eastern Kingbird
|
167
|
Loggerhead Shrike
|
168
|
Northern Shrike
|
169
|
White-eyed Vireo
|
170
|
Yellow-throated Vireo
|
171
|
Blue-headed Vireo
|
172
|
Warbling Vireo
|
173
|
Philadelphia Vireo
|
174
|
Red-eyed Vireo
|
175
|
Gray Jay
|
176
|
Blue Jay
|
177
|
Black-billed Magpie
|
178
|
American Crow
|
179
|
Fish Crow
|
180
|
Common Raven
|
181
|
Horned Lark
|
182
|
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
|
183
|
Purple Martin
|
184
|
Tree Swallow
|
185
|
Bank Swallow
|
186
|
Barn Swallow
|
187
|
Cliff Swallow
|
188
|
Black-capped Chickadee
|
189
|
Boreal Chickadee
|
190
|
Tufted Titmouse
|
191
|
Red-breasted Nuthatch
|
192
|
White-breasted Nuthatch
|
193
|
Brown Creeper
|
194
|
House Wren
|
195
|
Winter Wren
|
196
|
Sedge Wren
|
197
|
Marsh Wren
|
198
|
Carolina Wren
|
199
|
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
|
200
|
Golden-crowned Kinglet
|
201
|
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
|
202
|
Eastern Bluebird
|
203
|
Mountain Bluebird
|
204
|
Veery
|
205
|
Gray-cheeked Thrush
|
206
|
Swainson's Thrush
|
207
|
Hermit Thrush
|
208
|
Wood Thrush
|
209
|
American Robin
|
210
|
Gray Catbird
|
211
|
Northern Mockingbird
|
212
|
Brown Thrasher
|
213
|
European Starling
|
214
|
American Pipit
|
215
|
Bohemian Waxwing
|
216
|
Cedar Waxwing
|
217
|
Lapland Longspur
|
218
|
Ovenbird
|
219
|
Worm-eating Warbler
|
220
|
Louisiana Waterthrush
|
221
|
Northern Waterthrush
|
222
|
Blue-winged Warbler
|
223
|
Golden-winged Warbler
|
224
|
Black-and-white Warbler
|
225
|
Prothonotary Warbler
|
226
|
Tennessee Warbler
|
227
|
Orange-crowned Warbler
|
228
|
Nashville Warbler
|
229
|
Connecticut Warbler
|
230
|
Mourning Warbler
|
231
|
Common Yellowthroat
|
232
|
Hooded Warbler
|
233
|
American Redstart
|
234
|
Cape May Warbler
|
235
|
Cerulean Warbler
|
236
|
Northern Parula
|
237
|
Magnolia Warbler
|
238
|
Bay-breasted Warbler
|
239
|
Blackburnian Warbler
|
240
|
Yellow Warbler
|
241
|
Chestnut-sided Warbler
|
242
|
Blackpoll Warbler
|
243
|
Black-throated Blue Warbler
|
244
|
Palm Warbler
|
245
|
Pine Warbler
|
246
|
Yellow-rumped Warbler
|
247
|
Yellow-throated Warbler
|
248
|
Prairie Warbler
|
249
|
Black-throated Green Warbler
|
250
|
Canada Warbler
|
251
|
Wilson's Warbler
|
252
|
Yellow-breasted Chat
|
253
|
Spotted Towhee
|
254
|
Eastern Towhee
|
255
|
American Tree Sparrow
|
256
|
Chipping Sparrow
|
257
|
Clay-colored Sparrow
|
258
|
Field Sparrow
|
259
|
Vesper Sparrow
|
260
|
Savannah Sparrow
|
261
|
Grasshopper Sparrow
|
262
|
Le Conte's Sparrow
|
263
|
Nelson's Sparrow
|
264
|
Fox Sparrow
|
265
|
Song Sparrow
|
266
|
Lincoln's Sparrow
|
267
|
Swamp Sparrow
|
268
|
White-throated Sparrow
|
269
|
Harris's Sparrow
|
270
|
White-crowned Sparrow
|
271
|
Dark-eyed Junco
|
272
|
Scarlet Tanager
|
273
|
Western Tanager
|
274
|
Northern Cardinal
|
275
|
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
|
276
|
Indigo Bunting
|
277
|
Dickcissel
|
278
|
Bobolink
|
279
|
Red-winged Blackbird
|
280
|
Eastern Meadowlark
|
281
|
Western Meadowlark
|
282
|
Yellow-headed Blackbird
|
283
|
Rusty Blackbird
|
284
|
Brewer's Blackbird
|
285
|
Common Grackle
|
286
|
Brown-headed Cowbird
|
287
|
Orchard Oriole
|
288
|
Baltimore Oriole
|
289
|
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
|
290
|
Pine Grosbeak
|
291
|
Purple Finch
|
292
|
House Finch
|
293
|
Red Crossbill
|
294
|
White-winged Crossbill
|
295
|
Common Redpoll
|
296
|
Hoary Redpoll
|
297
|
Pine Siskin
|
298
|
American Goldfinch
|
299
|
Evening Grosbeak
|
300
|
House Sparrow
|
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