Border Birder Hotline Update - Wed, 26 Dec 2001

The highlights for the past month have been a Mountain Bluebird showing
up at Holiday Beach Dr. on Dec. 7th, for a minute after the severe wind
storm. A Sabine’s Gull was seen on two occasions on the rocky shoreline
of Whitefish Bay, just west of Brimley Michigan on December 11th. A
Gyrfalcon was seen east of Hwy 129 on Barbo Rd. and Seymor Rd. on Nov.
25th, and a Bewick’s Wren is visiting a feeder in the town of Massey at
405 King St. A female Red-bellied Woodpecker visited a feeder on Stoney
Point near Havilland Bay on Nov. 25th while a male re-visited a feeder
on Peace Tree Dr. in Heydon that same day. The following day 3
White-winged Crossbills visited a feeder in Echo Bay.

A trip to Mackinaw Straits on Dec. 2nd, yielded 2 Red-breasted
Merganser, 50 to 100 Bufflehead and Common Goldeneyes, 2 Red-necked
Grebes and a Black Duck. West along the shore past Father Marquette’s
Statue, one female Snowy Owl was found. Also on Dec 14th, a Rough-legged
hawk was reported at Riverside Dr. and Eleven Mile Rd. Nearby a deer
hunter saw a Barred Owl while in his tree stand.

On Dec. 5th, a male and female Northern Cardinal visited a feeder at 432
Boundary Rd. On Dec. 8th, as many as 194 Tundra Swans were tallied
between Echo Bay and the south end of Lake George. Two Sharp-tailed
Grouse were seen at the intersection of Calabogie Rd. and Lakeview Rd.
An adult Bald eagle was also seen at Reid’s Rd. and Porchuk Rd. A very
late adult Double-crested Cormorant was seen in Lake George that same
day. In Sylvan Valley, on the 8th, 17 Pine Grosbeak, 12 Common Redpoll,
5 Evening Grosbeak, 1 Rough-legged Hawk and 2 Sharp-tailed Grouse were
observed along Hwy 638. A female ring-necked pheasant was reported
visiting a front lawn feeder on Bowker St. for the past two weeks.

Highlights from the Sault Ste. Marie Christmas Bird Count held on the
15th, reported by 60 participants, included 2 Snowy Owls, one of which
was located at the Sault locks, which was brought into the OMNR District
office two days later after dying from starvation. 5 Tundra Swans were
found for the first time within the circle at Sugar Island. A late
Northern Flicker and a Belted Kingfisher were also present near the
Sugar Island Ferry. A total of 7 Glaucous Gulls, 25 Ring-billed Gulls
and 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were recorded at the Sault locks and the
waste disposal site on 5th Line. Two Boreal Chickadees, 1 Black-backed
Woodpecker and 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet were found by the group that
hikes through Hiawatha. With 16 feeder watchers, Evening Grosbeak, Pine
Grosbeak and Common Redpolls were the common species while 2 Boreal
Chickadees and 3 Hoary Redpolls visited a feeder behind White Pines High
School.
For count week, a Lincoln’s Sparrow visited a feeder on Parkdale Dr. and
on Dec. 16th, two Harlequin Ducks surprised a fisherman on the St.
Mary’s River rapids.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie
256-2790

Border Birder Hotline Update - Mon, 19 Nov 2001

With the mild weather the Sault Ste. Marie area has been experiencing
the past two weeks, birds have been spread out with good sightings
reported from many different areas. On October 28th, in Echo Bay, a late
Gray Catbird visited a feeder and on November 3rd, an Eastern Towhee
visited the same feeder. On November 1st, a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk
was seen near Gordon Lake. On Lake George on the 3rd, 14 Tundra Swans by
one observer and 22 were tallied by another. 12 Common Goldeneye, 1
Bufflehead, 15 Hooded merganser, several Double-crested Cormorants, 2
American Kestrel and 2 Northern Harrier were seen in the Bar River area
that same day.

On the 5th of November at the MNR Sault District front lawn, a first
winter Iceland Gull was viewed by many as it poked the grass searching
for food while a Red-necked Grebe dove for food out on the river. In
front of the Canadian Forest Service building on the St. Mary’s River on
the 6th, 3 Canada Geese and 3 Common Loons have been lingering.

>From Pancake Bay Provincial Park on the 8th, 2 Black-backed Woodpeckers,
American Robins and many Pine Grosbeaks could be seen. That same
observer reports that there seem to be more White-breasted Nuthatches
around this year. At the St. Mary’s River Rapids on the 11th, a Snowy
Owl was seen being chased by 3 American Crows heading west, while a
light morph Rough-legged Hawk hunted over the field along the headrace.
At Shore Ridges Conservation Area, west of the Sault on the 12th, a
morning walk produced Gray Jays, Pine Grosbeaks and 1 Snowy Owl.

On November 16th, at the Kinsmen Park pond, a very rare adult Little
Gull was reported. That same day, there were two reports of one female
Red-bellied Woodpecker in Heydon on Peacetree Dr. and another in the
town of Blind River. In a field at the north end of Landslide Dr. 2
Cattle Egrets were seen in the fields feeding with cattle. On November
18th, on Caribou Lake, east of the Sault, 12 Hooded Mergansers, 18
Buffleheads, 60 Common Goldeneyes, 30 Common Mergansers and Mallards
were observed indicating that the lack of ice cover is keeping waterfowl
inland. At White Pines High School on the 19th, 3 Gray Jays, 120 plus
Red Crossbills, 1 Ruffed Grouse, 1 Merlin and 1 Peregrine Falcon were
seen.

>From the Sault Michigan side of the area, a Snowy Owl was seen at the
Mackinaw Bridge during the third week of October. In Brimley, last week
Pine Grosbeaks (one albino), Purple Finch, Evening Grosbeaks, Common
Redpolls, American Goldfinches, Pine Siskin, Tree Sparrows, Red-winged
Blackbird, Common Grackle, White-breasted Nuthatch and Red-breasted
Nuthatches visited a busy feeder. That same observer has reported that
they are seeing lots of Rough-legged Hawks, Northern Harriers and Horned
Larks in the nearby fields.

Finally, from Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, on the 15th 10 Bohemian
Waxwings, 43 Pine Grosbeaks, 41 Red Crossbills, 3 White-winged
Crossbills and 35 Common Redpolls were tallied. 2 Northern Cardinals
were seen on the 14th and 15th. One Northern Shrike appeared on the 14th
and 2 Hoary Redpolls were seen on the 14th and one on the 13th.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie,ON
[705] 256-2790

Border Birder Hotline Update - Tue, 30 Oct 2001

Winter finches and sparrows have been the migrating highlights for the
past 3 weeks in Algoma. Small waves of Evening Grosbeaks, Pine
Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, American Goldfinches and Common Redpolls have
visited feeders in several areas across the Sault. I addition,
White-winged Crossbills were seen and heard at Turkey Lakes north of
Sault Ste. Marie on October 29th. The first Snow Buntings were reported
along Laughing Lake Rd. on the 25th. More were seen on the Turkey Lakes
rd. on the 29th along with small flocks of Dark-eyed Juncos, Pine
Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls and American Goldfinches.

At the Sault locks on the 28th, 1 Great Black-backed Gull immature and 3
Sharp-tailed Grouse were seen. While there fishing, two birders reported
3 Snow Buntings, and the first 50 Bohemian Waxwings of the season.
Another flock of Bohemians were reported in the “P” Patch. Also on
Pelican in the “P” Patch on the 18th, a Boreal Owl was reported seen
hiding in a shrub. On the 24th 14 Long-tailed ducks were reported flying
west along the St. Mary’s River in front of the Canadian Forest Service.

On October 21st, the first 66 Tundra Swans were reported in Echo Bay
along with 3 American Coots. That same day, Evening Grosbeaks,
White-crowned Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and 1 Fox Sparrow
visited a feeder on Walls Rd. A very late report of about 200 Sandhill
Cranes were observed along Hwy 129 on the 21st. The day before 1 Snow
Goose was reported with at least 300 Canada Geese on Second Line west of
Leigh’s Bay.

>From the Hornpayne area from the 5th to the 15th, Rough-legged Hawks,
Northern Harriers, some Red-tailed Hawks and 1 immature Bald Eagle were
seen frequenting cutovers. The most interesting bird from that report
was a high number of Northern Hawk Owls observed hunting from tall
perches in the cutovers. On the 12th 1 male Eastern Bluebird was seen
with a flock of sparrows near the village of Oba.

Finally from Whitefish Point Bird Observatory a Townsend’s Solitaire, 14
Bohemian Waxwings, 3 Lapland Longspurs, 23 Pine Grosbeaks, 25
White-winged Crossbills, 1 Black-backed Woodpecker, and 1 Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher were the highlights for the 28th. On the 27th, 95 Snow Geese
and all three Scoter species were tallied. On the 26th, a Black-legged
Kitiwake appeared and on the 25th a very late Indigo Bunting was seen.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Tue, 25 Sep 2001

Migration has been in full swing this past two weeks in the twin Saults.
The highlight was a pair of female Varied Thrushes that paid a brief 30
minute visit on a front lawn on Holiday Beach Dr. on September 23rd.
They could still be in the area but have not been seen since. Another
highlight was an Eared Grebe at the Wawa Sewage Lagoons, first reported
on Ontbirds, seen on the 19th and the 22nd.

Reports of hundreds of American Pipits migrating the area have been
coming into the hotline. Flocks of twenty to thirty have been reported
in Goulais Bay, Walls Rd., Desbarats and at Megisan Lake in Algoma
Headwaters Signature Site. Some Horned Larks have been seen along with
the American Pipits while the first report of Lapland Longspurs were
seen at Whitefish Point and behind White Pines High School on the 22nd.

On September 12th, at the corner of Baseline Rd. and Townline Rd., 1
Snow Goose accompanied several Canada Geese.

A Sault Naturalists outing for Sandhill Cranes on the 16th, tallied a
one-day high total of 2410 from between Government Rd. and Gordon Lake
Rd. Three flocks totaling 50 Eastern Bluebirds were seen near the crane
staging areas.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory has had some very good birds passing by
since the 20th. On the 20th 117 Red-throated Loons, 1 Pacific Loon and
220 Red-necked Grebes passed by the point. That same day had a visit
from 1 Golden Eagle and 1 Sabine’s Gull. On the 21st there were 2
Peregrine Falcons and 1 buff-breasted Sandpipers. On the 22nd, 28
Red-throated Loons, 713 Red-necked Grebes, 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls and
21 Red Crossbills were the highlights.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
[705] 256-2790

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 29 Jul 2001

The highlight for the past week has been the appearance of early fall migrants such as a Parasitic Jaeger at Gros Cap on July 28th. It was observed at midday and was a light morph juvenile bird.

Some shorebirds are beginning to pass through the Sault Ste. Marie area with 4 Short-billed Dowitchers seen flying south at Laird Park near Pumpkin Point on the 28th. Several flocks of Killdeer were seen nearby with some Spotted Sandpipers.

On July 19th, two Solitary Sandpipers were reported near Point Lake in the new Algoma Headwaters Signature Site 90 km northeast of the Sault.

A search of the Sault area on July 28th for Sandhill Cranes proved that the local population numbering at least 250, are beginning to gather in fields in family groups beside the sub-adults. Migrants have not begun to stage with the locals as of yet.

Mixed flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds and Common Grackles can be seen foraging throughout the Sault area. Northern Flickers are appearing with their young as they feed them ants along the logging roads and even in a backyard on Wayne Court.

Young gulls have left their parents and can be seen foraging for their own now, while some Common Tern young are still waiting for handouts from the parents. At least 7 Black-crowned-night Herons return nightly to the tailrace at the Sault Locks. Best time for viewing them as they fly onto their rock feeding perches is around 9:00pm.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 17 Jun 2001

The highlights for the past two weeks have been the one-day appearance
of 12 American White Pelicans on June 8th at the east end of Batchawana
Island and the return of 7 Black-crowned Night-herons at the Sault Locks
tailrace on the 14th. Best time for viewing is after 9:30 pm. A one
evening siting of a Cattle Egret was reported on May 27th along Baseline
Rd. and Carpin Beach Rd.

Now that all of the birds are back home on their territories it is more
difficult to locate and identify them. For atlassers looking for unusual
breeding birds a pair of Northern Mockingbirds were seen on Lake George
Rd. and Lakeview Rd. east of Echo Bay. A pair of Green Herons were
observed at the Sault Locks on Whitefish Island, displaying courtship
behavior.

The infestation of forest tent caterpillars in the Sault Ste. Marie area
has been followed with an increase of Black-billed Cuckoos. Birders have
been reporting seeing the cuckoos preying on the caterpillars from their
tree perches to the ground as the caterpillars travel to new feeding
trees.

A trip to the Spanish Lake west of Sudbury, on May 31st, yielded an
adult Glossy Ibis feeding with mallards in a flooded sand bar at the
north end of the lake. Nearby downstream on the Spanish River, Scarlet
Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Olive-sided Flycatchers could be
heard singing on their territories.

Another trip to the new Ontario’s Living Legacy, Algoma Headwaters
Signature Site during the week of June 6th, yielded many breeding
southern species like Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Wood Thrush, Scarlet
Tanagers and Whip-poor-wills.

As always, please leave news of any of your bird observations. Remember
to include your name and phone #, date and location of your
observations. Until July 20th, or earlier, Great Birding in the Border
Area.

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

FW: Sault Naturalists Outing - Thu, 31 May 2001

Hi All,

There has been a small change to the June 9th outing lead by Chris Sanders.
THIS TRIP WILL NOW START AT 0600 HRS AT THE OLD ZELLER'S PLAZA. Please call
Chris to confirm. 

Please pass this message onto your friends and other off-line members.
Don/Vivian could you please post this on the web site.

Thanks.

Lothar
DahlkeL@DFO-MPO.GC.CA

RARE BIRD ALERT!!! - Mon, 28 May 2001

Hi All,

I received a phone call from Bill Crins who arrived at the Sault Ste. Marie airport tonight and was travelling along Baseline west of Carpin Beach Rd. when he saw a Cattle Egret on the south side of the road. I phoned as many folks as I could reach and went out and saw it at 8:30pm. Locals in the area told us that the strange bird had been there for at least a week. This bird may still be there for the next few days. Look for it on both sides of the road between the Allen Side Road and Townline.

Bob Knudsen
jknuds@soonet.ca

Sault Naturalists Outing - Wed, 16 May 2001

Hi All,

Ijust realised that the May 19 outing to Mica Bay has not been
advertised. This outing was cancelled last month and will take place on
Saturday May 19. It should be quite an interesting outing because Sue
Meades, Gerry Bennett and myself will be leading it. We will be
botanising, birding, rock-hounding nand maybe turtling. So don't miss
this opportunity to come out to a new Lake Superior Park Addition that
has special natural features. We will be meeting at the Zeller's Plaza
at 10:00 am on Saturday May 19/bring a lunch and bug dope. Hope to see
most of you there.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Naturalists
Ornithological Records Chair
jknuds@soonet.ca

P.S. Please pass this message onto your friends and other off-line
members

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 06 May 2001

This past week has seen many new migrants in the Sault Ste. Marie area,
however the highlight was a visit from 2 Hudsonian Godwits on April 30th
at Belleview Park. From May 1st to May 5th, one could be seen in the
same location on the mud flat on the west side behind the OFRI building.

An early sighting of the area’s first Ruby-throated Hummingbird was
reported on the second on Holden Dr. at Sunset Point on St. Joseph
Island. The following day the first Baltimore Oriole showed up at the
same location.

An adult Yellow-headed Blackbird was reported from Ranger Lake on May
4th. This bird was photographed and appeared to have an injured leg.
House Wrens are  rare for the Sault, but on May 5th one was singing
behind White Pines High School and another returned to his home in Echo
Bay. Many species of warblers have arrived with most of them passing
over the Sault and landing on their breeding territories. Nashville,
Northern Parula, Yellow, Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rumped and
Black-throated Green, stopped over in the Sault, while Magnolia, Cape
May, Bay-breasted, Ovenbird and Northern Waterthrush arrived on their
breeding territories over the past three days.

At Whitefish Point a rare sighting of a Wilson’s Plover was reported on
May 4th and 5th. On the first there were 6 Boreal Owls, on the 5th 3
Golden Eagle and one more on the 6th. Hundreds of Common Loons have been
tallied during the counts with dozens of Red-throated Loons counted.

Wood Thrushes have returned with two heard singing north of Poplar Dale
on the Carpenter Lake Rd. on the 6th. Many Least Flycatchers and 2
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks sang during a Red-shouldered Hawk and spring
Woodpecker survey.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 29 Apr 2001

Over the past two weeks migration has begun in earnest with many new
birds seen in Algoma. On April 15th and 16th, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers,
Winter Wrens, Hermit Thrushes, Eastern Meadowlarks, Fox Sparrows and
Brewer’s Blackbirds could be heard and seen across Algoma.

Results from an owl survey on April 13th, on St. Joseph’s Island west
route tallied 1 Northern Goshawk, 8 Barred Owls and 1 Northern Saw-whet
Owl. On the 15th another owl survey route on Echo River Rd. and Sylvan
Valley tallied the first Common Snipe, 1 Barred Owl, 1 Short-eared Owl
and 6 Northern Saw-whet Owls.

On the 15th at Whitefish Island 2 Belted Kingfishers and 1 Osprey were
reported. On April 16, a Cooper’s Hawk was observed for half an hour
feeding in the backyard at 87 Joel Court. Also on the 15th the first
Chipping Sparrow was reported and the following day an immature
White-crowned Sparrow showed up at a feeder on Mark St.

On April 23rd, a large movement of Broad-winged Hawks came through the
Sault with several observers reporting large numbers from locations
along the St. Mary’s River to as far north as the Goulais area. The
largest number tallied was 550 at the Pine St. Marina.

From Whitefish Point on the 28th, a rare Summer Tanager greeted many
birders during their big weekend. Also seen were 4 Osprey, 7 Bald Eagle,
4 Northern Harrier, 43 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 6 Cooper’s Hawks, 2 Northern
Goshawks, 4 Red-shouldered Hawks, 31 Red-tailed Hawks, 20 Rough-legged
Hawks, 4 Golden Eagles, 7 American Kestrels, 1 Merlin, 2 Peregrine
Falcons, 1 Barred Owl, 1 Long-eared Owl, and 6 Boreal Owls.

Results from 6 Red-shouldered Hawk and Spring Woodpecker Survey Routes
have proved that Red-shouldered Hawks have almost doubled in numbers
from last year with 18 tallied in 1999, 19 in 2000 and 37 over the past
week. Warblers are beginning to appear sporadically with Pine, Black and
White, Palm and Black-throated Green being seen over the past two days.

Not birds but the first turtles were reported out basking on the 23rd
with 2 Midland Painted Turtles at the Sault Locks, 1 Blanding’s Turtle
near Blind River and 2 Wood Turtles north of the Sault on the 28th.

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

Sharp-Shinned Hawk or Cooper's Hawk - Mon, 16 Apr 2001

       
Hi just spent half and hour watching a Sharp-Shinned or Cooper's Hawk
feed on my back patio about 10 yards from my patio doors. Took pictures
but still not sure what I saw. I have Peterson Field Guide and it talks
about the tail being rounded or notched. Hard to tell. Would think it
must be Sharp-Shinned as Cooper's is rare. This was right in the middle
of a residential area in Sault Ste.Marie. This made my day. 

Norm Neilson
neilsonn@yahoo.com

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 14 Apr 2001

This past week has been a busy week with many migrants arriving in
Algoma. On April 9th, the first 2 Eastern Phoebes were seen near the
first 4 Tree Swallows on Old Soo Rd. at the west end of Ottertail Lake.
The following day 2 Eastern Bluebirds returned to fresh Bluebird boxes.
On St. Joseph’s Island on the 9th, the first Eastern Meadowlark was
reported on the Huron Line. At the St. Joseph’s Island Bridge there were
22 Ring-necked Ducks, 12 Common Goldeneye and 1 Greater Scaup. At Barr
Rd. and Hwy 17, there was 1 American Kestrel and 1 Northern Harrier.

Throughout the week Double-crested Cormorants were observed flying up
and down the St. Mary’s River. On the 13th, 52 Double-crested Cormorants
were tallied in Lake George and 5 were seen on the island colony west of
Kemptville off St. Joseph’s Island. At least 5 Great Blue Herons have
returned to their colony in Lake George.

Results from the third Algoma owl survey route on the Jardun Mine Rd. in
Garden River Reserve on the 10th, had 10 Barred Owls, 2 Great Horned
Owls and 1 Northern Saw-whet owl.

At Whitefish Point on the 9th, 14 Northern Saw-whet Owls were tallied.
On the 11th, 4 Boreal Owls, 4 Long-eared Owls, 3 Northern Saw-whet Owls
and the first Yellow-rumped Warbler were migrants. The 12th was a good
day with 1 Osprey, 3 Bald Eagle, 1 Northern Harrier, 44 Sharp-shinned
Hawk, 1 Cooper’s Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldered Hawk, 34
Red-tailed Hawk, 1 Rough-legged Hawk, 1 Golden Eagle, 1 American Kestrel
and 2 Merlin.

Back on the Ontario side on the 13th, the first 2 Yellow-rumped Warblers
were reported at Gilbertson’s Sugar Shack on the Huron Line of St.
Joseph’s Island and 3 at Pumpkin Point. A Red-necked Grebe, 6 Bald
Eagles, 12 Tundra Swans, 50 Green-winged Teal, 2 Northern Pintail, 4
American Wigeon, 3 Redheads and 1 Greater White-fronted Goose could be
seen in the nearby marsh. In Echo Bay there were 52 Tundra Swans, 100
Ring-necked Ducks and 1 Osprey. At the Desbarats Sewage Lagoons, the
blue phased Snow Goose could be seen from Hwy 17 amongst 500 Canada
Geese. Along Government Rd. between Gordon Lake Rd. and McKnight’s Rd.
118 Sandhill Cranes were tallied in several flocks on April 13th.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 07 Apr 2001

Today, the long awaited warm low-pressure area from the south finally
made its way into Algoma bringing with it many migrants. Song Sparrows
could be heard singing throughout the Sault Ste. Marie area for the
first time this year. Hooded Mergansers, Common Mergansers and Common
Goldeneyes are building in numbers along the St. Mary’s River. Along
side them were 4 Bufflehead and 3 Ring-necked Ducks near Squirrel Island
on the 6th. Behind the Great Lakes Forestry Centre that same day the
first Common Flicker made an appearance.

The first 2 Double-crested Cormorants were reported along the St. Mary’s
River at Belleview Park on the 2nd. On the 1st, at Little Basswood Lake,
1 American Robin, 2 Blue Jay and 2 Great Blue Herons were reported.

The highlight for this report is a sighting of 2 Greater White-fronted
Geese on the west side of Highway 17 at the divided highway section on
April 6th and one single Greater White-fronted Goose on the Huron Line
on St. Joseph’s Island on the 7th.  A blue phase Snow Goose was found
with 300 Canada Geese on Gordon Lake Rd. north of the CPR train tracks.
At the Lake George, a flock of 20 Lesser Scaup and 2 Greater Scaup have
the Tundra Swans. The first Pied-billed Grebe was seen on the 7th, in
the shipping channel along Sailor’s Encampment on St. Joseph’s Island.

The first 20 Tundra Swans arrived on the 4th at Laird Park near Pumpkin
Point and have doubled in numbers on the 7th. A Bald Eagle was seen
nearby and the first 2 Turkey Vultures were seen that same day at
Leeburn on Hwy 638 and near Pumpkin Point. On the 4th over Algoma
University, a small kettle of 2 Red-tailed Hawks and 4 Broad-winged
Hawks were seen migrating on a northeasterly direction.

Results of the first owl survey route have been tallied with 1 Great
Gray Owl, 3 Northern Saw-whet Owls, 1 Long-eared Owl, 1 Great Horned Owl
and 5 Barred Owls on the Carpenter Lake Road route north of Poplar Dale.
Another route from Milford Haven on St. Joseph’s Island produced 3
Barred Owls and 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls.

Whitefish Point Bird Observatory counts are increasing with migrants. On
April 5th, raptor tallies included, 2 Northern Harriers, 1 Sharp-shinned
Hawk, 2 Northern Goshawk, 2 Red-shouldered Hawk, 10 Red-tailed Hawks, 3
Golden Eagles, 1 Merlin and 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 01 Apr 2001

Mild weather has continued in Algoma but early migrants are still just
trickling in each day. The first Common Loon of the season arrived on
March 30th, on the St. Mary’s River behind the Bushplane Museum.
American Robins, Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds are slowly
building in numbers.

Purple Finches are beginning to join the large flocks of American
Goldfinch and Pine Siskins at local feeders. The first Great Blue Herons
were reported at Bruce Mines and Spanish on March 29th.

Two birders from Elliot Lake traveled the circle route along Hwy 101 and
the Lake Superior coast on March 23rd and 24th. At Prairie Bee
Provincial Park, 2 Gray Jays, at Potholes Provincial Park 40 Common
Ravens on a moose carcass, at Hawk Junction large flocks of Common
Redpolls, 2 Hoary Redpolls, Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeaks and 1
Dark-eyed Junco were highlights.

On March 25th and 26th, the east end Northern Hawk Owl made another
appearance when chasing starlings on Florwin Drive. Another Northern
Hawk Owl was seen on the 29th along Highway 17 at the Sudbury/Algoma
District Line.

The first Golden Eagles were tallied at Whitefish Point Bird Observatory
on March 30th. Some Red-shouldered Hawks have been counted migrating
along with Northern Goshawks and Cooper’s Hawks.

The results from the first “Owl Hoot” with Sault College on the 30th, on
St. Joseph’s Island, produced, 3 Great Gray Owls, 2 Barred Owls and 1
Northern Saw-whet Owl. One American Woodcock was recorded during its
courtship flight. Not birds but notable was an excellent view of
“Snowball” the albino white-tailed deer and a family of coyotes
declaring their territory.

Sandhill Cranes finally made their first appearance back home on the
31st, with 2 seen and heard at the Echo Bay marsh, 3 at Pumpkin Point
marsh and 3 at Gibboney marsh east of the Sault.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 24 Mar 2001

This past week the Sault Ste. Marie area has received its first warm
spell of the year. A few early migrants have begun to trickle in. Over
5000 Herring Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls have been reported on the St.
Mary’s River in front of the Station Mall. With them on the 17th and
18th, was an adult Great Black-backed Gull.

Large mixed flocks of singing Pine Siskins and American Goldfinch
brought in the first day of the warm weather on March 17th in the Pine
Shores area of Goulais and Walls Rd. near the airport.

On March 20th, the first flocks of Canada Geese were reported along the
river and near the airport on Parkewood Dr. A lone Sharp-shinned Hawk
was also seen. On March 19th, a male and female Northern Cardinal were
seen at 71 Fairmount Dr. That same day had the first American Robin
reported on the “W” Line on St. Joseph’s Island. On the “U” Line west of
Baseline the two Northern Cardinals and one Eastern Towhee that
over-wintered still remain.

>From the Michigan side of the Sault Ste. Marie birding area comes a
report of a Barred Owl on the 20th, on White Rd. An over-wintering
Dark-eyed Junco still remains. The first dancing Sharp-tailed Grouse
were reported on Centerline Rd. south of M-48 on the 22nd. In the area
American Robins, Killdeer and Horned Larks are seen regularly. The first
Northern Harrier was reported on Hantz Rd. just north of M-48. On the
22nd, 1 Eastern Bluebird was seen on 19 Mile Rd. and Tilson Rd. Eastern
Meadowlarks were also located on Townline Rd. and Jarvie Rd.

At 237 MacLennan Rd. in Laird Township, on the 9th, 6 Purple Finches
returned on the 9th, and a Great Gray Owl visited on the 11th. On March
19th, the first American Kestrel was reported along Highway 17 between
Rydall Mill Rd. and Reid’s Rd. Two days later 3 American Robins were
seed there. Another Great Gray Owl was photographed at Sailor’s
Encampment on St. Joseph’s Island on the 21st. That same day saw the
first Common Grackle return to the Kerr and Queen St, East intersection.
The following day two more were seen on Mark St. and the first
Red-winged Blackbird was reported at the west end of Lake St. in Echo
Bay.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 17 Mar 2001

Bird reports have been scarce over the past two weeks. With spring
conditions in the south portions of the Ontario, we have been
experiencing late winter conditions with at least 2 feet of snow and
lakes and rivers still frozen migrants have not ventured this far until
March 9th, when the first large flock of gulls braved the trip. 1000,
mostly Herring Gulls with some Ring-billed Gulls flew into the Sault
over the Sugar Island Ferry at 2:00 pm. The gulls have settled into
courting on the ice edge on the St. Mary’s River across from the Station
Mall. While there look for the female Wood Duck that has over wintered
there.

On March 8th, the first Red-necked Grebe was reported in an open water
patch on the St. Mary’s River between the sugar Island Ferry and Pine
St. Marina. The 2 adult Bald Eagles that over wintered can be seen
regularly in the same area.

In the “P” Patch near Paradise Ave., a mixed flock of 50 Bohemian
Waxwings and Cedar Waxwings have been feeding on flowering crabapples.
At least 4 Dark-eyed Juncos are in that area.

On March 10th, 2 Peregrine Falcons were seen on the blast furnace of the
Algoma Steel plant. This is the first report of two birds since last
November. It was known that one Peregrine over wintered in the Sault.

>From the upper peninsula of Michigan, three birders from Ohio visited
from the 9th to the 11th. They reported many Sharp-tailed Grouse feeding
at feeders on 6 Mile Rd. and 7 Mile Rd. On the 9th, along White Rd.,
they found Red Crossbills and singing White-winged Crossbills. At the
south end of Town Hall Rd. on Sugar Island they found a Boreal Chickadee
at the dead end. At the park office of Tahquamenon Falls they saw one
Spruce Grouse.

Back on the Ontario side on the 7th, 2 Pileated Woodpeckers were
reported in Birchwood Park. Two Northern Cardinals were seen at a feeder
on Mark St. on the 7th. The varied Thrush that has over wintered in the
Goulais River area made a rare appearance again on the week of March
1st. It has been seen a few times throughout the winter on Pine Shores
Dr. and Watercress Rd. On March 10th, at a feeder behind Echo Bay on top
of the hill on Hwy 638, 50 Snow Buntings and one Lapland Longspur were
reported.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 03 Mar 2001

For the past two weeks the hotline has been receiving excellent bird reports from Michigan birders in the Upper Peninsula. On the 27th, a Northern Hawk Owl was seen on 7 Mile Rd. 1.5 miles west of Shunk Rd. A large Great Gray Owl was seen on 7 Mile Rd., .5 miles east of Shunk. The next day, a Northern Shrike was hunting over the fields on 7 Mile Rd., .5 miles east of Shunk Rd.

Pine Grosbeaks were found on the west side of Sugar Island and on Maple Leaf Rd. and the cemetery on the 28th. Several dozen Pine Siskins were reported from the south tip of Sugar Island that same day. On March 1st, small flocks of Red Crossbills were seen at Whitefish Point and in Eckerman. A small flock of Gray Jays also made their appearance in Eckerman. Many flocks of up to 50 Evening Grosbeaks were seen throughout the northern part of the Upper Peninsula on the 1st.

On February 24th, on Mark St. the Sault east end Northern Hawk Owl put on a show for several birders after it captured a pigeon and defended its prey. On the 25th, two lucky birders had a Boreal Owl fly into a balsam fir twenty feet from their home on Fairmount Dr. On the 26th, Pine Siskins for the first time this winter, showed up at a feeder in Bar River. On the 27th, 2 Northern Cardinals, 1 American Robin and two Mourning Doves displaying courtship behavior at 473 Boundary Rd were reported.

In the Admiral Dr. area, 5 Sharp-tailed Grouse have visited a feeder on the first and second of March. One of the birds began a courtship display. A dead Great Gray Owl was brought into the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources yesterday. It was found on Big Point Rd. on St. Joseph’s Island.

Finally, On March 2nd, at the foot of Pine St. signs of spring were observed with 250 Common Goldeneyes displaying and calling. Nearby an unusual winter plumaged Red-necked Grebe was seen eating a small fish. There were also two adult Bald Eagles on the ice, 50 Mallards, 1 Hooded Merganser, 16 Common Merganser and 23 Herring Gulls courting.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 24 Feb 2001

Owls are still providing birders with exciting views and story telling. An immature Snowy Owl was seen perched on top of the Station Mall on Sunday February 17th. It was hunting the pigeons that live on the roof. A very large Great Gray Owl was reported on the 18th on Maple Leaf Rd. at the bottom of the hill below the cemetery. Two days later another but smaller Great Gray Owl was seen there.

There have been several sightings of Great Gray Owls on Hwy 638, in Sylvan Valley behind Echo Bay, on Town Line and on Bar River Rd.

The gray phased Gyrfalcon was seen again perched on the hydro pole on the west side of the east sewage treatment plant on Wednesday February 21st.

A late report from the northern part of Lower Michigan had a Boreal Owl roosting in a plum tree on February 11th. This was at a house ½ mile north of the Alpena County Road on Long Lake near U.S. 23. On February 18th, the gray phased Gyrfalcon was seen on Shunk Rd. and 5 Mile Rd. At 129 and 7 Mile Rd. a Northern Hawk Owl and a Northern Shrike was observed.

On February 23rd, a Snowy Owl was seen south of Brimley, Michigan, at 8 Mile Rd. and M-221. A small flock of Red Crossbills was reported at the Raco Cemetary on M-28 that same day. Another one was a casualty with a cal collision near the Raco Store.

On February 18th, a male Golden-crowned Kinglet was seen in the woodlot at the east end of Northland Lake off the Searchmont Highway. In Sault Ontario, a Northern Shrike was observed successfully hunting Black-capped Chickadees at a feeder at 131McMeekin St. Bohemian Waxwings are still in the twin Saults with flocks of 50 or more seen on Chambers Ave., Pentagon and east of the Sugar Island Ferry.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 17 Feb 2001

Once again, raptors have made the highlights for this past week. On February 11th, a Great Gray Owl hit the spotlight for many Michigan birders. It was seen hunting at the intersection of 9 Mile Rd. and Hay Lake Rd. this bird was reported in the same area on the 14th. A Great Gray Owl was found on 7.5 Mile Rd. 2 blocks east of Nichol Lake on the 11th. Another Great Gray Owl was seen ½ mile north of 5 Mile Rd. on Seymour. There were two Rough-legged Hawks nearby on Seymour between 5 Mile Rd. and 3 Mile Rd. One more Great Gray Owl was seen hunting behind the Loving Care Kennel on 7 Mile Rd. west of Ridge Rd.

The gray phased Gyrfalcon was seen 9/10 of a mile north of 5 Mile Rd. on Seymour on the 11th. A Northern Goshawk was perched at the top of a spruce tree at Northscape Landscaping located on 9 Mile Rd. west of Riverside Rd. The regular Northern Hawk Owl was seen again on the 11th on 7 Mile Rd. east of M-129 and another Northern Hawk Owl was on 9 Mile Rd. south of Hay Lake Rd. Sharp-tailed Grouse were reported abundant in the area. A large flock of Red Crossbills were observed picking salt and grit from M-28 two miles east of Raco.

Northern Shrikes were reported at M-129 between 8 and 9 Mile Rds., one at 6 Mile Rd. and Forest Side and another on 7 Mile Rd. and Ridge Rd. On the 15th, a Great Gray Owl was seen on the Tilson Rd. 3.2 miles south of M-28. A Northern Goshawk was observed the same day 1 mile north of Simmons Rd. on 3 Mile Rd.

From the Spanish River area near Shakwa Lake north of Espanola a report of a flock of 50 Common Redpolls were observed hovering over open water for a drink.

In the Goulais River area 5 Sharp-tailed Grouse were observed flying overhead on Pine Shores Rd. on the 15th. The 2 Bald Eagles that have over wintered along the St. Marys River were absent for several days until they reappeared on the ice at the foot of Pine St. on the 15th.

This is the weekend for the fourth annual Great Backyard Bird Count. Observers are invited to count all birds seen in their backyards and report their findings at the Bird Source Website of the Cornell University. The site is updated daily and provides current bird sightings across North America.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sun, 11 Feb 2001

Weather has played an important role in bird activity over this past week. On the 9th, just before the storm, 3 Common Redpolls, 2 Pine Siskin, 2 Gray Jays, 1 Pileated Woodpecker, 9 Pine Grosbeaks, 50 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 150 American Goldfinch and 3 Mourning Doves fed at a feeder behind White Pines High School. The gray phased Gyrfalcon made its first appearance in two weeks on the 9th, at the East Sewage Treatment plant on Queen St.

After the storm passed through, the St. Mary’s River froze over concentrating waterfowl and predators closer to the only open water at the Sault Locks. An adult Snowy Owl was observed harassed by 4 Crows on the 10th, at the foot of the rapids. A male Hooded Merganser lingered at the mouth of Fort Creek amongst 3 Common Merganser, 5 Mallard, and 5 Common Goldeneye. On Pentagon Blvd. and McNabb St. on the 10th, a Bohemian Waxwing fed on crabapples beside 6 Cedar Waxwings.

Earlier in the week, on the 6th, several reports of 2 Great Gray Owls along Hwy. 638 in Sylvan Valley, came in. The two were reported between Echo Bay and McCarrol Lake Rd. That same day yielded three birders, 4 Pine Grosbeak on the road nearby, 40 Bohemian Waxwings on Fisher Rd., 2 Downy Woodpeckers, 2 Blue Jays, 4 American Tree Sparrows and 2 American Goldfinch at a feeder on Town Line Prince Township. At Airport Rd. and Baseline there was 1 Northern Shrike seen near where the Boreal Owl was photographed on the 3rd.

From the Michigan side, On Feb. 6th, 1 Boreal Owl was found on Bay Rd. 1.5 miles south of M-48. Three Horned Larks were seen at the corner of Posima Rd. and Mile 17 Rd. The Snowy Owl was seen still sitting on the barn on Centerline Rd. south of Rudyard. Another Snowy Owl was seen on the 8th, ½ mile north of M-28 on M-221. At Pheffers Rd and Bay Rd., a flock of 60 Evening Grosbeaks can be seen at the green house. Red Crossbills can be found in Raco and nearby at the first house on South Whiskey River Rd. one Barred Owl was seen.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 03 Feb 2001

The appearances of Boreal Owls have been the highlights for the Sault Ste. Marie area during the past week. On February 1st, one Boreal Owl visited a lucky birder’s backyard at 39 Pleasant Dr. It lingered long enough to be photographed. It returned to the same location the following day. Another Boreal Owl was reported today the 3rd, at the corner of Baseline and Airport Rd.

On January 28th, one Great Gray Owl made its second appearance on Maple Leaf Rd. Near there a White-breasted Nuthatch, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 4 Blue Jays, 2 Brown Creeper, and 12 American Goldfinch are regular visitors. Another Great Gray Owl was seen on the 28th on the 4th Line near Wishart Park. The gray phased Gyrfalcon was last reported on the 22nd, when it was observed amongst a flock of 100 Common Crows at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre on Queen St.

At Bass Lake west of Leeburn, a dead Northern Hawk Owl was found on the 1st. A Red-tailed Hawk was seen at the east side of Garden River First Nation on January 24th. That same day 1 American Tree Sparrow, 3 Dark-eyed Juncos and 12 American Goldfinch visited a feeder while 30 Bohemian Waxwings fed on berries nearby on Fairmount Dr. Another flock of 100 Bohemian Waxwings has been feeding on crabapples in the Queen St. and Amber St. area for the last week.

On February 1st, on Walls Rd. there were 5 Pine Siskins seen feeding with 24 American Goldfinch. A feeder at 432 Boundary Rd. has had 3 Northern Cardinals visiting for the last three weeks. Two more Northern Cardinals are still coming to a feeder on Parkdale Dr. but the White-throated Sparrow has not been seen since the 22nd. On the 26th an American Robin made an appearance nearby.

East of the Sault, in Blind River, the immature white-phased Gyrfalcon made several appearances on January 27th and 28th. Further east in Massey on the 24th, 2 large flocks of Evening Grosbeaks, 2 Common Grackles, 3 Purple Finches, American Goldfinches, Pine Siskin and Common Redpolls were reported. Along Hwy 553 north of Massey, Pine Grosbeaks were seen. North of Elliot Lake, 2 Red Crossbills, 1 Black-backed Wood pecker and 3 Gray Jays were seen on Panel Rd.

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

Bird sightings in Sault St. Marie - Thu, 25 Jan 2001

Hello,

This report covers birds that are all on the U.S. side of the St. Mary's River, so I don't know if they're of interest to you, but hey...

Over the weekend we found 2 Great Gray Owls on Sugar Island. The first was 1 mi. north of the intersection of the "ferry" road with the last road on the left (it heads north). The second owl was at the midpoint of Northside Road.

Two Hawk Owls were found near Sault St. Marie, the most dependable one at the intersection of 4 Mile Road and Ridge Road.

Didn't see the Gyrfalcon on the cupola of the power plant as in former years. A first-year Snowy was sitting there on Saturday night.

No reports at all of either redpoll in the area. We found sizeable flocks of Evening Grosbeaks at Hulbert Bog, about 30 mi. west of SSM, along with Boreal Chickadees and a two (only 2!) Red Crossbills. A pair of White-winged Crossbills was reported on the roadside near Paradise. No Pine Grosbeaks are being seen.

A most interesting bird was an adult Red-tailed Hawk of the type Sibley calls "Intermediate Western". Very beautiful and strange-looking, almost chocolate on the underparts, with a buffy throat and lower belly. The underside of the tail was a very light pink. The dorsal surface of the bird looked just like that of any other Red-tail. The bird was frequenting the Dafter landfill.

No gulls other than Herring were seen.

All the best,
William L. Murphy
www.inct.net/~billmurphy

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 27 Jan 2001

Owls are still the main focus of reports coming in this past week with the Northern Hawk Owl showing up on Chambers Ave., Wayne Court, Birchwood Ave. and Boundary Rd. from the 21st to the 23rd. When it visited 172 Boundary Rd. on the 23rd, it lingered for several minutes after successfully catching a starling. A Great Gray Owl was reported and photographed on January 25th, on McKnight’s Rd. east of the Sault. This bird has been reported frequenting between McKnight’s Rd. and MacLennan Side Rd. as far north as north of Government Rd.

On the weekend of the 21st, from the Michigan Upper Peninsula area a group of birders visiting from the Traverse City area tallied; 2 Bald Eagles, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 5 Rough-legged Hawks, 22 Sharp-tailed Grouse, 2 Snowy Owls, 2 Northern Hawk Owls, 3 Great Gray Owls, 4 Gray Jays, 3 Boreal Chickadees, 106 Bohemian Waxwings, 1 Cedar Waxwing, 2 Northern Shrikes, 50 Lapland Longspurs, 100’s of Snow Buntings, 1 Common Grackle, 2 Red Crossbills and 75 Evening Grosbeaks. Two of the Great Gray Owls were located on Sugar Island, with the other at Shunk rd. between 8 and 9 Mile Rds., while the Snowy Owls were seen south of Rudyard and on top of the Sault Edison Power Plant. One of the Northern Hawk Owls was observed at Ridge Rd. south of 4 Mile Rd. and the other was on 7 Mile Rd. and 7782 S. Shunk Rd. The boreal species like Gray Jays and Boreal Chickadees were seen at the Hurlbert Bog.

From another birder in the Upper Peninsula, Pine Grosbeaks have been seen through the week along Bay rd. between Simmons Rd. and Tilson Rd. Look for the immature Northern Goshawk in the same vicinity.

Back on the Canadian side, a Sharp-tailed Grouse was reported several times at 53 Boundary Rd. and at the East Treatment Sewage plant. An American Robin was reported feeding on berries for three days at 344 Walls Rd. On Parkside Dr. there are 3 Northern Cardinals and a White-throated Sparrow still visiting a feeder. As many as 5 Bald Eagles have been seen along the St. Mary’s River this past week with of them 3 adults and 2 immatures.

Ontario is gearing up for another five years of Breeding Bird Atlassing beginning this spring. Those interested in contributing can call the hotline and leave your name and phone number for further information.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca
Hotline #
[705] 256-2790

Border Birder Hotline Update - Sat, 20 Jan 2001

Owls and Gyrfalcons have hit the highlights for the past week in the border area. A Great Gray Owl was reported on the 13th at McKnight’s Rd. north of Government Rd and on the 18th at McLennan Rd. north of Government Rd. Another Great Gray was seen at Birch Point Rd. and Pinewood Dr. on the 13th but was not there the following day. The white phase Gyrfalcon reported on the 7th at Pumpkin Point Rd. and Lakeview Rd. was seen again on the 14th on the west side of Hwy 17 between Rydall Mill Rd. and Neebish Rd. It was perched on a hydro pole above a pigeon coup.

Another Great Gray Owl was reported on the 17th in the Sault College woodlot. The Northern Hawk Owl also made appearances at 87 Wayne Crt., 232 Chambers Ave and 192 Birchwood on the 17th and today Jan. 20th. On the 18th the gray phase Gryfalcon was seen twice, once at the south end of Dacey Rd. and two hours later at the East Sewage Treatment plant on Queen St. It is probable that this bird is hunting up and down the once again open St. Mary’s River.

On the Michigan side of the border area reports of 1 Snowy Owl at I-75 and Mile# 373 on the 16th and another has been seen for ten days now at Centerline Rd. east of Rudyard on the 14th. 1 Northern Hawk Owl was also seen on the 15th at 7 Mile Rd. about 1/4 mile east of M-129. 3 Great Grays were reported on Sugar Island and a Northern Hawk Owl was seen for 20 minutes at Shunk Rd. and 10 Mile Rd. on the 16th. A few Red Crossbills were seen on the Dick Rd. (about 2 miles south of M-28). The international Peregrine Falcon was missed on the Christmas Bird Count, but seen several times on the Algoma Steel plant and then on the south end of the international bridge.

On Jan. 14th, at 3723 “U” Line, St. Joseph’s Island, the Eastern Towhee and one Northern Cardinal were seen visiting a feeder. Bohemian Waxwings have gleaned most of the Sault’s mountain ash berry crop so they are dispersing into smaller flocks now and beginning to feed on the flowering crabapples. On Jan. 18th a mixed flock of 3 Red Crossbills and 7 White-winged Crossbills were found feeding on Red Pine at the corner of Fournier Ave. and Queen St. East. On the 12th, one first winter Iceland Gull was reported on the ice on the St. Mary’s River in front of the Riverview apartments. On the same day all 3 species of Merganser were seen in front of the Station Mall. The next day 1 female Wood Duck was taking handouts there.

North of the Sault, in the Goulais River area at 832 Pine Shores Rd., an American Robin is seen periodically feeding on berries along side of 7 Blue Jays, 40 American Goldfinch, 20 Evening Grosbeaks, Black-capped Chickadees, Red-breasted Nuthatch until a visit from a Northern Shrike.

Bob Knudsen
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
jknuds@soonet.ca
Hotline #
[705] 256-2790

ps. I have added some new folks to the mailing list, so if you do not wish to receive further updates please email me to that effect and I will remove from the list.

Border Birder Hotline Update - Fri, 12 Jan 2001

Owl reports are still coming into the hotline but on an irregular basis. The Northern Hawk Owl that was seen in the Birchwood Park area last weekend was seen again on Jan. 6th and again on the 8th. There are two bird feeders in the area that are attracting many starlings and black morph gray squirrels that are probably keeping this owl well fed.

A Barred Owl visited the trail ticket taker at the Hiawatha Red Pine trail on Jan. 5th and on Jan 6th a Northern Saw-whet Owl visited a house on Lakeshore Rd. and Calabogie Rd. Also on the 6th, an immature Northern Goshawk was reported meeting an untimely death in its attempt to hunt pheasants at a pheasant coop on the “A” Line and “D” Line on St. Joseph’s Island.

On Jan 6th, at 2732 “U” Line on St. Joseph’s Island one Eastern Towhee is visiting a feeder along side of 2 Northern Cardinals.

On the 7th, a lucky birder had an excellent look of an immature white phase Gyrfalcon at Lakeview Rd. and Pumpkin Point Rd. That same day 1 Barred Owl was seen At the end of Oakwood Dr. south of Pumpkin Point Rd.

A wave of American Robins arrived last week in the Sault Ste. Marie area with 1 reported on Pine Shores Dr. in the Goulais area and 1 at 20 Labelle Ave. on the 11th. Another Northern Cardinal showed up at a feeder on Boundary Rd.

It is possible that the two Great Gray owls reported from the Pumpkin Point Rd. and Lakeview Rd. area may still be lingering and hunting up and down the Lake George shoreline. On the 6th one Great Gray was reported on Watson’s Rd. west of Hwy 17 and on the 11th two great Gray Owls paid a brief visit in the backyard of a house on Maple Leaf Rd. west of Hwy 17.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update on the Update - Sat, 06 Jan 2001

Great Gray Owl sightings are once again the highlights for the past week. On January 3rd, on Lakeview Rd. between Calabogie Rd. and Pumpkin Point Rd. one lucky birder saw his first Great Gray Owl. A short drive around the corner on Pumpkin Point Rd. west of Lakeview produced a second. The following day the second Great Gray Owl was seen again on the Bell Canada cable in front of the yellow farm house on Pumpkin Point Rd. A search of the area during the afternoon could not locate the owl at that location. It had moved to a hydro pole beside the airstrip on Calabogie Rd. Nearby a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk could be seen.

On December 28th, the large flock of Bohemian Waxwings that were reported on the Christmas Bird Count, had moved over to the Indiana and Shannon area. Hundreds were seen feeding on mountain ash berries for three days until the berry supply was gone. Also 4 American Robins were seen competing for the berries during that time but have now moved.

On January 2nd, at the corner of Willow and Northern Ave. a Northern Goshawk flew on a northeasterly direction. This is probably the same one that has been seen in the area on two other occasions for the past month. Also on January 2nd, along Pine Shores Rd. in the Goulais area, the Varied Thrush returned for the first time since the end of November.

It is interesting to note that this year birds visiting feeders are not numerous until just before snowstorms, then they gather in large numbers. At a feeder on St. Joseph’s Island at Hilton Rd. and 10th Sideroad, on December 31st, there were 25 Snow Buntings, 10 Blue Jays, 40 Common Crows and 2 American Tree Sparrows. Along Echo River Rd. near Iron River Rd., that same day there were 40 Sharp-tailed Grouse tallied. At another feeder behind White Pines High School on the 4th, 1 American Robin ate raisons while two Gray Jays fed on bread for the first time since December 16th.

Today, January 6th, a Northern Hawk Owl was seen by several observers on Birch wood Cres. and Amber Rd. This is the second day it has been seen there. Ten minutes later, this observer saw a gray phase Gyrfalcon on the hydro pole at the west side of the east treatment plant on Queen St. This was the third falcon seen today in the Sault. This morning a Merlin was seen at Belleview Park and 1 Peregrine Falcon was seen perched on the blast furnace of the Algoma Steel Plant. Yesterday a Snowy Owl was observed picking up a mallard on the St. Mary’s River at Algoma Cabins.

A Barred Owl can also be seen in Hiawatha Park near the lodge. There is also an Eastern Towhee visiting a feeder on St Joseph's Island at 2732 "U" Line.

Along the St. Mary’s River at the foot of Church St. on the 4th, an adult Bald Eagle was seen patrolling the river. At the Algoma Cabins along Queen St. a lingering Gadwall was found amongst 100 Mallards. Still on the St. Mary’s River at Squirrel Island a lone female Hooded Merganser was seen diving for food in one of the small remaining patches of open water.

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

Border Birder Hotline Update - Fri, 05 Jan 2001

Great Gray Owl sightings are once again the highlights for the past week. On January 3rd, on Lakeview Rd. between Calabogie Rd. and Pumpkin Point Rd. one lucky birder saw his first Great Gray Owl. A short drive around the corner on Pumpkin Point Rd. west of Lakeview produced a second. The following day the second Great Gray Owl was seen again on the Bell Canada cable in front of the yellow farm house on Pumpkin Point Rd. A search of the area during the afternoon could not locate the owl at that location. It had moved to a hydro pole beside the airstrip on Calabogie Rd. Nearby a dark morph Rough-legged Hawk could be seen.

On December 28th, the large flock of Bohemian Waxwings that were reported on the Christmas Bird Count, had moved over to the Indiana and Shannon area. Hundreds were seen feeding on mountain ash berries for three days until the berry supply was gone. Also 4 American Robins were seen competing for the berries during that time but have now moved.

On January 2nd, at the corner of Willow and Northern Ave. a Northern Goshawk flew on a northeasterly direction. This is probably the same one that has been seen in the area on two other occasions for the past month. Also on January 2nd, along Pine Shores Rd. in the Goulais area, the Varied Thrush returned for the first time since the end of November.

It is interesting to note that this year birds visiting feeders are not numerous until just before snowstorms, then they gather in large numbers. At a feeder on St. Joseph’s Island at Hilton Rd. and 10th Sideroad, on December 31st, there were 25 Snow Buntings, 10 Blue Jays, 40 Common Crows and 2 American Tree Sparrows. Along Echo River Rd. near Iron River Rd., that same day there were 40 Sharp-tailed Grouse tallied. At another feeder behind White Pines High School on the 4th, 1 American Robin ate raisons while two Gray Jays fed on bread for the first time since December 16th.

Along the St. Mary’s River at the foot of Church St. on the 4th, an adult Bald Eagle was seen patrolling the river. At the Algoma Cabins along Queen St. a lingering Gadwall was found amongst 100 Mallards. Still on the St. Mary’s River at Squirrel Island a lone female Hooded Merganser was seen diving for food in one of the small remaining patches of open water.

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