CBCReport - Wed, 27 Dec 2000

This is probably what I will be sending to Audubon later next week. Let me know if you see any glaring errors. But tell me gently please; I'm very sensitive.

Don

101st Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count, December 16, 2000

After two easy winters, the twin Soos area was in for a change. And this year, winter came quite early, and stayed. By mid-November the ground was frozen, and snow soon blanketed everything. By Count Day, December 16, both local birdlife and local birders were accustomed to the winter conditions prevailing.

This is not to say that the weather was severe. Actually, temperatures hovered around the freezing mark, warming up towards the late afternoon, and a pretty, Christmas-like snowfall, beginning in the early morning, turned heavier and heavier as the day progressed, finally turning to wet snow and even freezing rain in some areas. A brisk wind from the east continued almost all day.

The weather affected birding in three ways: the snowfall obscured visibility for most observers; and, the mild day, and the mildness of the weeks previous, left almost all water open. This made it harder to find waterfowl, as the areas in which they could be found were quite extensive. The harlequin ducks, for instance, were known to be in the area but impossible to locate. Also, the brisk wind not only made it difficult for small birds (such as chickadees) to forage in the open, but it added to the windchill factor, encouraging at least one compiler-birder to huddle in the warmth of a vehicle and suggest numerous stops for coffee.

Birders, both in the field and at feeders, did a tremendous job of finding both good species and good numbers. Several Unusual Bird Report forms were sent in this year with the totals, including Green-winged Teal (Sam Rosa), Wood Duck (Cynthia Suhay), and Iceland Gull (Bob Knudsen). Cliff Wallwork’s group found a Sharp-shinned Hawk. Donna Ryckman’s group added a Boreal Chickadee to our list. Robert Cohen’s group, at the dump this year, was one of two parties to add Glaucus Gull to their tally. Klaas Oswald’s hiking group spotted a Brown Creeper at Hiawatha Lodge. A Goshawk charged through Manitou Park while Chris Sanders’ group enjoyed the show. Euan Aitken’s group found this year’s lone American Robin. John Tibbles, birding from his property at Wayne Court, added a flock of over 800 Bohemian Waxwings to this year’s already excellent numbers in that species.

Over in Michigan, Chuck Bosley’s group enjoyed watching an encounter between a Bald Eagle and an Otter. (The otter decided that he would be more likely to keep his fish dinner if he went back into the river.) Ken Willis’s group was one of two groups to find a Red-tailed Hawk this year. The Ffrench’s, in Michigan this year, added to this year’s excellent numbers of Bald Eagles - fourteen, both mature and immature. Tony Walker’s group found a flock of 23 Hooded Mergansers. Doug Munson’s group found the best numbers of grouse in the Count Circle: 6 Sharp-tailed and 6 Ruffed!

Feeder counters did everything they could, not only to increase the totals of the more common varieties, but also to fill in some gaps left by the field observers. For instance, the only Northern Cardinals tallied this year were at feeders. Two Gray Jays dropped in to Joanne Knudsen’s feeder to sample the food left there. A single White-throated Sparrow was counted at Chris Sanders’ feeder, and Dr Paul Syme had the only House Finches recorded this year.

Good numbers this year include the totals for Bald Eagles (already mentioned) and the total for Bohemian Waxwings (1,594). The total number of species was 53 (plus 3 more for Count Week species) and the total number of individuals on Count Day was 7,133. Also in good numbers were the participants in this year’s count: 52 in the field and 18 at feeders!

Species and numbers

“A” List

Snow Bunting            202
Black-capped Chickadee	466
American Crow       	447
Mourning Dove           116
Rock Dove               668
Black Duck		7
Goldeneye Duck		125
Mallard Duck       	702
Common Loon        	1
Common Merganser        47
American Goldfinch      471
Evening Grosbeak (CW)	5
Pine Grosbeak         	11
Snowy Owl               2

Don and Karen Wilshere
dandk.books@sympatico.ca

Border Birder Hotline Update - Thu, 28 Dec 2000

Thank you for calling the Sault Ste. Marie Border Birder Hotline. Sponsored by the Sault Naturalists of Ontario and Michigan. This update brought to you on December 28, 2000, by Bob Knudsen.

GREAT GRAY OWL sightings have been the highlights over the past 2 weeks in the twin Saults. On December 15th, 2 Great Gray Owls were seen near the MTO yard on Hwy 638 about 1km north of Hwy 17. On the 19th, another Great Gray Owl was seen on 13 Mile Rd. in Michigan and on the 26th, a very cooperative Great Gray Owl perched on a hydro pole on Hwy 638, 3.3 miles east of Echo Bay.

Highlights are in from the 101st Annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count held on December 16th. With 52 birders in the field and results from 18 feeder watchers a total of 53 species were tallied with three additional species found during count week. On count day the total number of individual birds was 7133. Best birds seen were; 1 COMMON LOON, 1 WOOD DUCK, 23 HOODED MERGANSER, 2 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 3 GLAUCOUS GULLS, 1 ICELAND GULL, 1 RING-BILLED GULL, 14 BALD EAGLE, 1 NORTHERN GOSHAWK, 2 SNOWY OWLS, 6 SHARP-TAILED GROUSE, 2 GRAY JAYS, 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, 1 BOREAL CHICKADEE, 1 BROWN CREEPER, 1594 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, 1 AMERICAN ROBIN, 3 NORTHERN CARDINALS, 3 HOUSE FINCH, 11 PINE GROSBEAK, 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and 202 SNOW BUNTINGS.

Possibly the same NORTHERN CARDINALS reported on the CBC, are a male and a female visiting a feeder on Bainbridge and another male can be found at 36 Borron Ave. An AMERICAN ROBIN was reported on Dec 15th, flying past the gas station on Tancred St. in the Sault Ontario downtown area.

Remarkably, there is still an immature TUNDRA SWAN in the Sault area. It was last seen on the Thessalon River south of the first bridge on Centre Line Rd. on December 24th.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Border Birder Hotline Update - Wed, 13 Dec 2000

Birders in the Sault area are gearing up for the excitement of our Christmas Bird Count this coming Saturday, December 16th. Reports of birds are coming in now with the hope that they will stay long enough for the count.

The Harris’ Sparrow that was reported visiting a feeder in Elliot Lake on November 19th, is still there and visiting daily. It can be seen at 19 Frame Cres. in Elliot Lake. While there look for the Oregon Junco, Northern Shrike, Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks and a late Common Grackle. North of there at Quirk Lake was a Northern Hawk Owl on the 10th. In Algoma Mills, along hwy 17 there were 200 Bohemian Waxwings seen feeding on mountain ash berries. At the Blind River dump a first and second winter Glaucous Gull and a first winter Iceland Gull can be seen.

Closer to home in the Sault, the Snowy Owl that was seen two weeks ago at the steel plant turned up in a snow pile dead on the St. Mary’s Paper Mill property. It was brought into the OMNR on December 8th. On December 1st another late Common Grackle was seen in the downtown area.

On November 22nd, a male Varied Thrush was reported eating winterberry along Pine Shores Rd. it remained until the 29th. In Batchawana a Northern Cardinal is visiting a feeder and down the road at emergency number 578 a Towhee also is visiting another feeder.

The first report of a Great Gray Owl comes from two lucky birders on St. Joseph’s Island. It was seen on Sunday December 10th, along the “D” Line one kilometer west of the 10th Sideroad. Yesterday, at 87 Wayne Crt., birders were surprised when a Northern Hawk Owl paid a visit to their backyard long enough to be video taped and photographed.

On the 9th, along the Searchmont Hwy at the Belleview hanging delta 4 Black-backed Woodpeckers were tallied.

A report from the Upper Peninsula where two birders drove from Brimley to Raber, Goetzville, Stalwart, Pickford and Rudyard in search of owls, found their only Snowy Owl on the return trip home in Brimley. They tallied 3 Rough-legged Hawks, 2 Horned Larks, 1 Northern Shrike and many Sharp-tailed Grouse.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Sault Ste. Marie,ON

Border Birder Hotline Update - Mon, 27 Nov 2000

It certainly is beginning to appear to be shaping up as a long awaited owl year. The first Snowy Owl for the season was reported on the 16th at Belleview Park. Another Snowy Owl turned up at the Algoma Steel Plant on the 23rd and another unfortunate one was struck by the Wisconsin Central train at Mile 53.

A Great Gray Owl was reported on Echo River Rd. at a road washout on the 23rd and another was seen by a group of visiting southern Michigan birders on the 25th on Neebish Island about 2 miles east of the ferry on Mile 15. That same group counted 12 Northern Shrikes south of the Sault Michigan, several Sharp-tailed Grouse along Riverside Dr., 1 Northern Hawk Owl at Shunk Rd. south of 11 Mile Rd., 1 Northern Hawk Owl at the northwest corner of Riverside Dr. and 12 Mile Rd., and a Black-backed Woodpecker at the junction of Scenic Dr. and 15 Mile Rd. The Northern Hawk Owl that was reported at the Sault Locks on the 19th was last seen on the 21st, but another or the possibly the same bird was seen at 6458 Killacky Rd. south of Sault Michigan on the 24th.

North of the Sault in Lake Superior Provincial Park on the 19th, several Boreal Chickadees were reported with flocks of Black-capped Chickadees. Further south at Agawa Bay was one Sharp-tailed Grouse, a small flock of Snow Buntings and one Northern Shrike while a River Otter scurried along the beach. That same observer also watched at least six Bald Eagles harassing the gulls that roost on the Montreal River Provincial Park.

A trip out east of the Sault Ontario began on Manitoulin Island on the 18th with a Northern Hawk Owl at Hwy 552 west of Sandy Bay. That same day 1700 Long-tailed Ducks were tallied in West Bay. There was 1 Northern Cardinal and 2 Gray Jays visiting a feeder in Rydall Bank. 4 Black-bellied Plovers were seen at Laird Park and 23 Pectoral Sandpipers counted at the sod farms at Lake George Rd. and Hwy 17.

The first report of Bohemian Waxwings came in on the 22nd with 25 seen feeding on Mountain Ash berries in the “P” Patch southeast of Sault College. A second flock of 25 was seen along Hwy 17 in Sowerby on the 24th.

And finally, the first Gyrfalcon of the season was seen today at Black Rd. and Second Line in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Border Birder Hotline Update on the Update - Wed, 29 Nov 2000

Hi All,

A Black-billed Magpie was reported along the railway tracks directly north of White Pines High School in the Sault at 8:00 this morning. It was verified at 3:30pm when it was seen on the front lawn of White Pines High School under the large white pines.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Sault Ste. Marie,ON

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 19 Nov 2000

Hi All,

The second Northern Hawk Owl for the season has been reported at the Sault Locks near the park superintendent’s building this morning at 9:30am and was last seen an hour later directly south of the interpretive center. While observing the Northern Hawk Owl, a Belted Kingfisher flew downstream along Whitefish Creek. The first Northern Hawk Owl reported was seen on November 6th on Hwy 638 north of Bruce Station. The male Harlequin Duck that was reported on Oct. 16th, above the compensating gates has not been re-located since.

On November 18th, one adult and five immature Bald Eagles were seen across from 59 River Rd on the St. Mary’s River.

In Elliot Lake on Nov. 18th, a first winter Iceland Gull was seen at the Elliot Lake dump. Also nearby there were 2 American Robins and one Great Blue Heron. This morning on the 19th, that same observer reported a juvenile Harris’ Sparrow visited his feeder along with 6 Dark-eyed Juncos. The location is on Frame Cres. in Elliot Lake.

In Sylvan Valley, on the 19th, one Great Blue Heron was seen along Hwy 638 and Bar River. In the village of Bar River, a Northern Shrike and a Rough-legged Hawk were seen near the CP train tracks.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca
(705)256-2790

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 15 Oct 2000

The highlight for this fall migration is a Harris’ Sparrow that is visiting a feeder in Echo Bay at 34 Church St. and was last seen at 5:30 pm today on October 15th. American White Pelicans have also been the highlights for the past month in the Sault Ste. Marie area with one feeding on dead salmon at the St. Mary’s River Rapids and another visiting the beach at Havilland Bay. The pelican at the rapids was last reported this afternoon.

At Pumpkin Point, on the 15th, as many as 50 Tundra Swans can be seen and heard, 14 Greater Yellowlegs, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, 55 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Fox Sparrow and 160 Sandhill Cranes were counted migrating south. There are also large mixed flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Rusty Blackbirds at Pumpkin Point along with the usual large flocks of American Water Pipits and Horned Larks.

On September 23rd, a male and female Black-backed Woodpecker were seen 19 km up the Tilley Lakes Rd. On September 29, 1000 Sandhill Cranes were tallied on Government Road north of Desbarats. Other migrants included American Water Pipit, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier and Merlin.

At Bell’s Point on September 29th, 2 Red-throated Loons, 2 Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 8 Common Snipe, Turkey Vultures, 2 Pileated Woodpecker and 1 Fox Sparrow were seen. On September 30, 250 Ring-necked Ducks, 40 Wood Ducks, 20 Pied-billed Grebes were seen at Lake Lauzon, Blind River.

From Michigan on September 30, 200 Sandhill Cranes were standing at attention in two fields near Mindemoya. At Birch Point on October 7th, a Sault Naturalist waterfowl count produced 3 Common Loon, 30 Double-crested Cormorants, 11 Sandhill Cranes, 200 Lesser Scaup, 1 American Black Duck, 14 Common Goldeneye, 1 Bufflehead, 70 Common Merganser, 2 Red-breasted Merganser, 300 White-winged Scoter and 2 Oldsquaw.

On October 12th, a large flight of Rough-legged Hawks moved into the area between Thessalon and the Sault. Both light morphs and dark were observed both migrating and hunting over the agricultural fields. A dark morph was seen on the 15th near the Bar River.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Border Birder Hotline Update - Wed, 06 Sep 2000

Fall migration has been rather slow to date in the Algoma area. Large flocks of mixed family groups of vireos and warblers can be seen traveling slowly southwards. Sandhill Cranes have been building in numbers in their traditional staging area near Desbarats. The first count on August 20th, produced a total of 380 cranes. The second count on September 2nd, totaled 672.

On Neebish Rd. and Government Rd. on the 3rd, a flock of 50 Eastern Bluebirds were a pleasant surprise for a crane counter. There were also good numbers of American Kestrels and Northern Harriers observed nearby. At Pumpkin Point marsh, 1 Osprey, 12 Wood Ducks, 35 Blue-winged Teal and 1 American Coot were seen that same day.

On the 3rd at Whitefish Island, an unusual sighting of one Green Heron was reported perched and then flying to the alder shoreline of the St. Mary’s River Rapids. There have been as many as 10 Black Crowned-night Herons reported feeding along the St. Mary’s River headrace and tailrace. Best times for viewing these birds are at dawn and dusk.

The fall run of Pink and Chinook Salmon are drawing the usual large numbers of Bald Eagles to the Garden River and the St. Mary’s River. On September 1st, 2 adults were seen over Hwy 17 and Echo River Rd. and 1 immature was seen over Squirrel Island and Hwy 17. As the salmon run progresses many more eagles will build in large numbers along the rivers.

Finally, from the Cedarville Michigan area, 2 Black Swans were seen with 2 unidentified white swans off of St. Martin’s Point during the week of August 31st.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca

Hammer Lake Region Bird Report 7/22-29 - Thu, 17 Aug 2000

Gord,

I made my annual 'northern pike survey' of the Hammer Lake region during the week of July 22-29. This is the 13th year of this survey and yes, there are northern pike in the area. I have also kept my bird list and below is this year's species list. Things were a little quiet and the species list is down somewhat. Not many species still singing at this late date but lots of young birds and family groups. For the second year in a row we had Turkey Vulture which seems a bit north to me. Also, we had a House Wren and Northern Shoveler with young at the Wawa sewage ponds. We had a total of 86 species. The 13 year average is 96 species with a high of 109 and a low of 76. This was our 3rd lowest count.

Common Loon                     American Crow
American Bittern                Common Raven
Great Blue Heron                Tree Swallow
Canada Goose                    Cliff Swallow
Wood Duck                       Barn Swallow
Gadwall                         Black-capped Chickadee
American Wigeon                 Boreal Chickadee
American Black Duck             Red-breasted Nuthatch
Mallard                         Brown Creeper
Northern Shoveler               House Wren
Redhead                         Winter Wren
Ring-necked Duck                Golden-crowned Kinglet
Lesser Scaup                    Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Common Goldeneye                Veery
Hooded Merganser                Swainson's Thrush
Common Merganser                Hermit Thrush
Turkey Vulture                  American Robin
Osprey                          European Starling
Bald Eagle                      Cedar Waxwing
Northern Harrier                Nashville Warbler
Broad-winged Hawk               Chestnut-sided Warbler
Red-tailed Hawk                 Magnolia Warbler
Merlin                          Cape May Warbler
Spruce Grouse                   Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruffed Grouse                   Black-throated Green Warbler
Solitary Sandpiper              Bay-breasted Warbler
Spotted Sandpiper               American Redstart
Herring Gull                    Common Yellowthroat
Ring-billed Gull                Chipping Sparrow
Rock Dove                       Song Sparrow
Ruby-throated Hummingbird       Lincoln's Sparrow
Belted Kingfisher               Swamp Sparrow
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker        White-throated Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker                Dark-eyed Junco
Hairy Woodpecker                Red-winged Blackbird
Northern Flicker                Common Grackle
Pileated Woodpecker             Purple Finch
Alder Flycatcher                Red Crossbill
Eastern Kingbird                White-winged Crossbill
Solitary Vireo                  Pine Siskin
Red-eyed Vireo                  American Goldfinch
Blue Jay                        Evening Grosbeak
Gray Jay                        House Sparrow

Hammer Lake is between Wawa and White River, Ontario. We fish mainly small 'beaver' ponds and small lakes by canoe. Great way to bird and fishing is excellent.

Tom Bartlett
Tiffin, Ohio
tbartlet@mail.heidelberg.edu

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 08 Jul 2000

Highlight for the past two weeks have been the reports of Peregrine Falcon nests in the Algoma area. The Peregrine pair at the Robertson Lake Cliffs is once again with young. There are three nests along the east coast of Lake Superior each with three young and the pair at the International Bridge has been observed defending the south end of the bridge. Also on June 19th, a canoeist observed two Peregrines locking talons over the Aubinadong River two km north of the Ranger Lake Rd. Another pair was reported in the North Channel in the Cutler area, having three young.

Clay-coloured Sparrows have been reported nesting in the Gordon Lake area again and also at Second Line east of Black Rd. Leconte’s Sparrows have been reported at Echo River Rd. and Echo Lake Rd. Listen for them in the early morning hours, singing along side of the Savannah Sparrows. Grasshopper Sparrows were heard and seen on the “H” Line south of the “D” Line on St. Joseph’s Island.

Brewer’s Blackbirds are well into their nesting season along agricultural roads at Black Rd., Hwy # 17 from Echo Bay to the St. Joseph’s Island cutoff and on Carpin Beach Rd. south of Baseline.

>From the Upper Peninsula, on June 23rd, one northern Mockingbird was found on the Tilson Rd. south of 17 Mile Rd. northwest of Rudyard. There were many good sightings of Sedge Wrens, Clay-coloured and Leconte’s Sparrows on Hwy 129 and 10 Mile Rd. Still regular, but visits must be within 45 minutes of sunset, are at least 9 Short-eared Owls in various locations between Rudyard, Brimley and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Finally, on June 23rd, a trip to the new Garden River Conservation Reserve Park, north of the Sault, yielded three immature and one adult Bald Eagles.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca

Pancake Bay Provincial Park - Fri, 30 Jun 2000

On Tuesday, June 27 I walked the Pancake trail at this park which is on the transcanada highway about 45 minutes north of Sault Ste Marie.

Birds seen (or heard) included: Redstart, blackburnian, magnolia, yellow rumped, common yellow throat, ovenbird, black and white, black throated green, black throated blue, and parula warblers, red eyed vireo, hermit thrush, bluebird, least flycatcher, flicker, red breasted nuthatch, goldeneye and red breasted merganser, winter wren, and white throated, song, and chipping sparrows.

Brian Wilkie
brian.wilkie@mnr.gov.on.ca

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 18 Jun 2000

Now that we are well into the breeding season there have been several reports of breeding birds coming into the hotline. A pair of Northern Mockingbirds has been reported at Hwy. # 17 and Maple Leaf Rd., east of Echo Bay. Another pair has set up their territory on Lake George Rd. and the Bar River.

A pair of Short-eared Owls are frequenting the fields near Centre Line Rd. and Old Soo Rd. and as many as 6 Short-eared Owls have been counted between Brimley and Rudyard in Michigan. Also in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, there have been many nesting sites of Leconte’s Sparrow and Sedge Wren found while one Field Sparrow was heard singing on Dick Rd. across from the airbase. A late Rough-legged Hawk was seen on the 18th near Centre Rd. near Pickford.

The Green Herons have returned to the Bruce Station area again for the second year. Near Echo Bay on Echo River and Echo Lake Rd., at least three singing male Leconte’s Sparrows were heard and seen on June 3rd. Across the road from that field, a Merlin was observed defending his territory.

Today, the 18th, several flocks of Red Crossbills have finally moved into the Sault area. One flock was seen behind White Pines High School, while four flocks passed overhead at Ranger Lake Rd. and Lewis Rd., north of the Sault.

Wood Thrushes are still being counted in good numbers near Ranger Lake Rd., and Lewis Rd. and further east near Garden Lake Rd. Two species of warblers have increased in numbers from the past two years. Cape May Warbler and Bay-breasted Warbler are being tallied regularly on forest bird monitoring plots along Ranger Lake Rd.

Sandhill Cranes have moved their young into their upland brooding fields and can be seen foraging for grasshoppers.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Lake Superior Park - Thu, 8 Jun 2000

On June 7, I birded the Nokomis trail (I think that's the name) at the north end of the park not far from Wawa. It is a beautiful, rugged trail overlooking Lake Superior. Heard or saw the following:

Northern Parula, black and white, black throated green, black throated blue, redstart, ovenbird, yellow rumped, and magnolia warblers, red eyed vireo, purple finch, downy wood pecker, red breasted nuthatch, chickadee, least and yellow bellied flycatcher, winter wren, chipping and white throated sparrow, ruffed grouse. Also heard a loon calling from the lake below.

A number of plants were flowering along the trail including nodding trillium, moccasin flower, clintonia and bunch berry.

Also saw a river otter in a creek on the left hand side of the road to the Wawa dump, about a kilometre off of highway #17.

brian.wilkie@mnr.gov.on.ca ??

Re: Haviland Bay sightings - Mon, 08 May 2000

Gord:
I guess I just assumed EVERYONE knew where Haviland Bay was :)
Sorry, it's a small community about 45 km north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario on Hwy 17 North. I have seen Goulais mentioned in 'Algoma West' which is just south of us. I did notice there wasn't an Algoma North listing, would my area fall under Algoma West?

I now have my 24th bird that has visited my yard, two Northern Flickers came by on Sunday May 7, and on May 5th I spotted a White Throated Sparrow-tan striped form. Again my apologies for not mentioning the area.

Ritva Longstreet
Haviland Shores Drive
Haviland Bay ON

---

Hi Rita, thank you for letting us know where you are located. You are in the Algoma West area - as far as my reports go. Anything north and west of Sault Ste. Marie is considered Algoma West in my "Recent Birding Reports" site.

Gord Gallant .... gord@web-nat.com

Haviland Bay sightings - Sun, 07 May 2000

I now have 23 bird varieties that have visited my back yard feeders plus the Common Merganser and Mallard (May 2nd & 3rd) in my front yard, the most recent on April 9- a Red Winged Blackbird, April 17, a Brown headed Cowbird, April 30th- 8 evening Grosbeak stopped by but haven't returned, on May 3rd a common Grackle stopped by, May 6th, -American Goldfinch and my first Ruby throated humming bird, May 7th- 8 Blue Jays. Regular visitors- 8 Purple finch, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White throated Sparrow, Tree Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Pine Siskin, 3 Mourning Doves, White breasted nuthatch, Red breasted Nuthatch, 2 Robins and my Black-capped Chickadee count has fallen from the regular dozen or so to around 2.

Ritva Longstreet
Haviland Bay, Ontario
ritva@sympatico.ca

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 07 May 2000

The warm weather has brought many migrants back into the Sault Ste. Marie area the over past three days. On the 4th, a movement of White-crowned Sparrows was noted on Old Garden River Rd. and in Echo Bay. Along with those 1 Lincoln’s Sparrow and Purple Finch visited a feeder on Church St. in Echo Bay. Nearby, Palm Warblers and Black and White Warblers sang.

>From the Gordon Lake area on the 4th, an early Brown Thrasher was reported with Pine Warbler and Palm Warbler.

A strong migration of warblers was reported from the Stobey Creek to the Desbarats area on the 4th, with Nashville, Northern Parula, Yellow, Magnolia, Cape May, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Blackburnian, Blackpoll, Black and White, American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat and Northern Waterthrush were tallied. Other sightings were White-throated Sparrows, Swamp Sparrow, 2 Common Terns, 2 Caspian Terns and 1 Red-shouldered Hawk.

On the 6th, a rare bird for Algoma, 1 House Wren was heard singing in the Lake St. and Queen St. area. A Northern Cardinal was heard by two different birders at the same time in the Parkdale to Thornloe Cres. area on the 6th. Another Northern Cardinal was singing at Mark St.

The first report of Clay-coloured Sparrows came from south of Second Line on the east side of Leigh’s Bay Rd on the 6th. On Wall’s Rd. south of Second Line, a male Eastern Bluebird was seen along with Chipping Sparrows, Northern Flicker, 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Yellow-rumped Warbler and a flight of Broad-winged Hawks.

In Echo Bay on the 6th, the first Eastern Kingbird was seen and on Watson’s Rd., the first Bobolink. Two Common Terns and 2 Caspian Terns were seen at Lake George north. Also on the 6th at the Forest Ecology Trail near the airport, the first Tennessee Warbler was seen with Nashville, Blackburnian and Pine Warblers.

On the 7th, at Lake George north the first Solitary Sandpiper was reported. In Echo Bay, Brown Thrasher and an early Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrived.

There will be no posting until May 22nd as I am in the field until then.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 29 Apr 2000

Over the past two weeks, bird migration has been described as a trickle of birds each day. The series of high pressures have forced just the over anxious northwards.

At Whitefish Point, the highlights have been the long-awaited arrival of large numbers of Broad-winged Hawks. On the 26th, this finally occurred with well over one-thousand passing through. Other highlights include, a Great Gray Owl, a Peregrine Falcon, good numbers of Red-necked Grebes, a Field Sparrow and a lingering Fox Sparrow.

A trip to Gros Cap on the 28th, yielded very few migrating hawks, but an excellent view of a male and female Harlequin Duck were only feet away from the shoreline.

Tundra Swans have been building in numbers at Lake George on schedule. There have been reports of as many as 104 that can be viewed from the elk park. Look for the different species of ducks like Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Gadwall, Lesser Scaup and Bufflehead. On the 25th alone Lapland Longspur flew overhead.

Results from several Algoma owl survey routes have been disappointing this year. There have been no Northern Saw-whet Owls and only Barred Owls have been tallied. Ironically, on the 22nd, a Northern Saw-whet was heard calling at 2:30pm on the north side of Rock Lake. The Red-shouldered Hawk and spring woodpecker survey routes have yielded the usual good population of Red-shoulders on St. Joseph’s Island with numbers down along the new Highway 17 extension in Garden River First Nation. Northern Flicker numbers are down from previous year counts because the majority have yet to arrive in Algoma from the south. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have been in full courtship antics for two weeks now.

The Bruce Mines Sewage Lagoons are very high and attracting good numbers of waterfowl. On the 22nd, there were; 1 male Ruddy Duck, 1 American Coot, Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck, Redheads, and Mallards. The first report of 2 Cliff Swallows came from Centre Line Rd. and Gordon Lake on April 22nd. The first Barn Swallows were seen at Watson’s Rd. and Highway 17 on the 26th.

Finally, two reports from a golfer on St. Joseph’s Island and another from the Goulais area who have left their practice balls in their fields have had them stolen by Common Ravens.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie,ON
jknuds@soonet.ca

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 16 Apr 2000

At the beginning of this past week migration had halted abruptly but the short warm spell of the end of the week has brought in many new migrants.

On April 8th, 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen at Port Findlay Rd., 1 Double-crested Cormorant and 1 Turkey Vulture were at Lake George north, and Northern Flicker, Purple Finch and 3 Fox Sparrows arrived on Frame Crescent in Elliot Lake. On the 9th, 2 Killdeer were at the east treatment sewage plant in Sault Ste. Marie. From the Gordon Lake area on the 9th, 6 Rough-legged Hawks, 4 Eastern Phoebes, 20 Sandhill Cranes, 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets, 1 Bufflehead, 2 Common Goldeneyes, 2 Northern Harriers, 2 Song Sparrows, 50 Canada Geese and 4 Red-winged Blackbirds. That same day at Pumpkin Point there were 2 Bald Eagles and 1 Double-crested Cormorant and 30 Tundra Swans at Echo Bay.

At Echo Lake, several Sandhill Cranes have been feeding along the lakeshore a bit unusual for this species. There are 4 Bald Eagles there also.

At Whitefish Point the 12th was the last day the Golden Eagle was seen. Large numbers of Red-tailed Hawks and Rough-legged Hawks have been counted throughout the week. This has been the best week for owling there with a Northern Hawk Owl being the highlight as well as Long-eared Owl, Barred Owl, Short-eared Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl. Red Crossbills and Yellow-rumped Warblers have also made their appearance since the 13th.

The results of the first owl survey from St. Joseph’s Island on the 14th, yielded 8 Barred Owls with American Woodcock and Common Snipe displaying. Also on the 14th, at Gros Cap, some of the raptors crossing from Whitefish Point were counted. Six Red-tailed Hawks, 1 Northern Goshawk, 2 American Kestrels and 8 Turkey Vultures.

Finally, a long awaited warm front arrived on the 15th so a trip out east of the Sault for several birders yielded new migrants. 2 Common Loons at the St. Joseph’s Island bridge, 1 Snow Goose at Bar River Rd. east of Highway 17, 100 Green-winged Teal, 3 Blue-winged Teal, 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Lesser Yellowlegs at Pumpkin Point, 14 Tree Swallow at Echo Bay, 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler at the parking lot on Stribling Point, 2 Vesper Sparrow at a feeder on Hilton Rd. and 10 Sideroad, St. Joseph’s Island, several mixed flocks of Common Grackles and Rusty Blackbirds with 1 Brewer’s Blackbird at the west end of Calabogie Rd. and 1 Chipping Sparrow at a feeder behind White Pines High School. Just a reminder that a Wood Turtle Survey Workshop will be held at Sault College on Wednesday April 19, at 7 to 9 with Jim Trottier (OMNR Biologist) as the guest speaker. If you enjoy an outing along Algoma streams, this an excellent survey to participate in.

Bob Knudsen
Border Birder Hotline
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca

Border Hotline Update - Fri, 07 Apr 2000

The Sault Ste. Marie birding area is now beginning to come alive with the sounds of spring. Sandhill Cranes, American Robins, Song Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows have been in full chorus for the past week. Common Ravens are defending their nests against marauding crows, Barred Owls are well into their nesting season and Great Blue Herons and Bald Eagles are incubating eggs at the colony in Lake George and Echo Bay areas, respectively.

On Sunday, March 26th, the male Peregrine Falcon returned to the Robertson Lake Cliff site. That same day the first Peregrine sighting was reported at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory.

On the 24th, at the Spanish Marina, three Tundra Swans, 1 adult Bald Eagle and hundreds of James Bay Canada Geese were attracted by abnormally low water levels. Two days later on the 26th, two Tundra Swans were seen far away while two adult Bald Eagles fed on one Tundra Swan, while two immatures watched nearby. This is the first report the Sault Naturalists have received, of the possibility that Bald Eagles have preyed upon a Tundra Swan.

Owls are beginning to move through Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, with Short-eared Owl on the 1st, Long-eared Owl, Boreal Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl and Northern Hawk Owl on the 2nd. Eastern Phoebe and Golden Eagle were also present that day. The following day the first Cliff Swallow was seen.

A report across from Whitefish at Holiday Beach Drive included 1 adult Peregrine Falcon landing on a deck, probably hunting the many Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos at a feeder.

Spring arrivals included, the first Turkey Vulture along Highway 17 east of Desbarats on the 26th, a Northern Flicker at Echo Bay on the 26th, 1 Eastern Meadowlark at the Sault Airport on the 26th, Blue-winged Teal at Echo Bay Marsh on the 2nd, and 1 Fox Sparrow on the 6th at Walls Rd.

Bob Knudsen
Border Birder Hotline
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
705 256-2790
jknuds@soonet.ca

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 26 Mar 2000

This past week has brought a trickling of early migrants back to the Sault area. At Havilland Bay 6 White-winged Crossbills were seen on the 19th. In Echo Bay a flock of 50 Red-winged Blackbirds were counted.

On the 20th, the first Song Sparrow sang behind White Pines High School, while 6 Bald Eagles and 2 Rough-legged Hawks were seen at Pumpkin Point. On the 21st, at the Sault Locks, 1 Merlin and 1 first winter Iceland Gull were observed. At the Echo Bay Marsh, 1 Tundra Swan and 1 American Wigeon were found. That same day, 8 Great Blue Herons were seen on their nests at the island heronry in Lake George.

The 22nd saw the first report of Eastern Meadowlark at Highway 17 and Port Findlay Rd. and the first American Woodcocks were reported displaying on Maple Leaf Rd. and in Echo Bay. Three Killdeer were also seen in Echo Bay. Also on the 22nd, a mixed flock of Ring-necked Ducks and Lesser Scaup were in Lake George, while a Sault College owl hoot produced 1 Barred Owl on Reid’s Rd. and 2 Barred Owls at Lakeview Rd. and Pumpkin Point Rd. One Long-eared Owl was heard on Pumpkin Point Rd. east of Highway 17.

A report from Echo Bay on the 23rd, tallied 3 Tundra Swans, 100 Canada Geese, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser and 1 immature Bald Eagle. At Pumpkin Point, that same birder saw another immature Bald Eagle, 2 American Black Ducks, Buffleheads and Common Goldeneyes. On the 24th, 2 Sandhill Cranes flew over the Old Garden River Rd. and Great Northern Rd. area.

This report will include the first report from the Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. Highlights for the week have been Red-shouldered Hawks and Red-tailed Hawks migrating every day. Sandhill Cranes, all three accipiter species and Golden Eagles have been migrating each day since the 20th. For a daily update go to their website at www.wpbo.org.

On the 19th, Great Lakes Power and Sault Naturalists erected a new Osprey nest platform at the end of Lake St. in Echo Bay. Osprey nesting should prove interesting to follow throughout the up-coming breeding season.

Bob Knudsen
Border Hotline
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 19 Mar 2000

Bird activity has dramatically slowed over the past week. The arrival of colder weather has slowed the early spring migration with most of the over-wintering birds moving further north, leaving the early migrants here.

Bald Eagles are still dominating reports as they build in numbers at Echo Bay and Lake George. On the 11th, at the Echo Bay Marsh, 8 immatures and 5 adults were counted. Then on the 13th, they had increased to 17. Also in Echo Bay, there were 3 Hooded Mergansers and 2 Canada Geese. On the 13th, the Canada Geese had increased in numbers to 60 and 12 Common Mergansers had moved in. At a feeder on Church St., in Echo Bay, 1 Hoary Redpoll visited.

At Pumpkin Point, on the 12th, 1 immature and 2 adult Bald Eagles were seen. Between Calabogie Rd. and Lake George Rd. on Highway 17, 1 light morph Rough-legged Hawk was reported.

The Gordon Lake area had 1 Bald Eagle and 1 Red-tailed Hawk being harassed by the nesting Common Ravens on March 13th. An American Kestrel and a Rough-legged Hawk hunted in the area.

The American Robins that migrated into the area, are now feeding on the leftover flowering crabapples. A flock of 12 Common Grackles were seen on Boundary Rd. on the 16th.

There have been reports of Northern Cardinals singing on territory; one on the 10th, near Victoria and Leo Streets; one on Mac Donald Ave. and Lake St. and another on the 12th, on Wayne Court.

Both Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers have begun their territorial courtship drumming during the past week and European Starlings have been imitating Killdeer and Pine Siskin. Gulls have returned in big numbers and can be seen pairing off along the St. Mary’s River ice edges.

Finally, a late report of an over-wintering Red-winged Blackbird at Red Rock Lake in Lake Superior Provincial Park, feeding at the park office feeder is extremely out of the ordinary.

Bob Knudsen
Border Birder Hotline
Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Border Birder Hotline - Sat, 11 Mar 2000

Spring has definitely sprung in Algoma this past week, with many
migrants reported moving in. On March 4th, the first Northern Harrier
was seen along Hwy 17 and Watson’s Rd. On March 5th, 4 Red-winged
Blackbirds and 2 Bald Eagles were reported from the Echo Bay Marsh. The
following day, Canada Geese moved into the Echo Bay area.

But the 7th was the best day for spring migrant reports. At the Echo Bay
marsh, 4 Red-winged Blackbirds, 10 Bald Eagles of which 4 were adult, 6
Canada Geese on three nests and 1 Common Merganser. At Pumpkin Point, 14
Bald Eagles of which 9 were adult, 28 Common Goldeneye, 1 Hooded
Merganser and 6 Canada Geese. At Gordon Lake, 4 Pine Grosbeak and 6
Sharp-tailed Grouse. On Ranger Lake Road eight km west of Hwy 129, 5
Black-backed Wood peckers remain after a high three weeks ago of 16. On
Hwy 129, two small flocks of Snow Buntings were observed moving north,
while 1 American Robin and 3 Golden-crowned Kinglets were seen near
Gravelly Creek.

>From the Blind River area, 2 Red-winged Blackbird, 1 Red-tailed Hawk and
1 Rough-legged Hawk were seen from Hwy 17. Glaucous Gulls, Herring Gulls
and Ring-billed Gulls are building in numbers from the south shore of
Manitoulin Island to the St. Mary’s River Rapids.

Northern Shrikes seem to be on the their way back north with two
reported from the Paradise Michigan area on Route 23, however the 4
Snowy Owls that have over-wintered in the Rudyard area were still there
through the 6th and 7th. The 2 Boreal Chickadees that over-wintered at
the feeder on White’s Side Road, near Brimley Michigan are still
visiting the feeder.

Victor the Varied Thrush was last reported seen visiting the feeder at
33 Nokomis Beach Rd. on the 7th. The 2 male Harlequin Ducks were seen in
front of the Station Mall on the 7th and the 2 Peregrine Falcons were
last reported over the steel plant on the 7th.

On the 8th, a very early report of 4 Chipping Sparrows and 1 singing
male Northern Cardinal visited a backyard feeder on Mark St. The
following day 6 Common Grackles made an appearance. Also on the 9th,
Fairmount Dr. was invaded with 35 Bohemian Waxwings, 2 Pine Siskin, 125
Common Redpolls, and 5 American Robins.

Bob Knudsen
Border Birder Hotline
Sault Ste. Marie, ON