Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

On Saturday December 19, while participating in the Barrie Christmas Bird Count, Russ Musgrove, Darren Mactavish and myself found a female Black-backed Woodpecker at the Midhurst tree nursery north of Barrie.

The bird is in an area of mature planted pines with lots of standing dead trees, and several trees showed evidence of its digging, so I feel that it may stay around for a while. Since the area is easily accessible and much closer to Toronto than Algonquin and other normal parts of this species' range, I feel she may be of interest to winter listers as well as people who have never seen one!

To get to the area, exit Highway 400 in Barrie at Highway 27 North (aka Bayfield Street - this street has three malls in a row, so traffic will likely be BAD until Christmas!). Proceed north out of Barrie, down a steep hill and through two sets of stoplights and turn left (west) onto Highway 26. From here drive a few km until you cross a railway track, and then take the first right onto Nursery Road (this is directly across the street from the entrance to Springwater Park). Proceed past the government buildings on your left until you see the second metal gate on the right. There is a newly fallen pine tree by the gate, and a fenced parking lot with some government vehicles across the street. Walk in from this gate; eventually you will pass an old cart with irrigation piping on it and soon see the end of the laneway, a fence and the railway tracks ahead of you. The bird was in the trees on the right (to the south), and easily observable from the laneway - just listen for its tapping on the trees. (We were able to relocate it after it flew by following these sounds).

For added northern flavour, there was also a Raven flying around and calling at the time!

Good luck and good birding!

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Hi, just a quick note to let you know that on Saturday December 12th. there were nine Sandhill Cranes along the 7th. conc. of Clearview just southeast of Edenvale, and there were 8 Little Gulls in with a large flock of Bonaparte's gulls at Allenwood Beach on Georgian Bay.

Bye for now.

Dear Mr. Gallant,

My name is Kara Kristjanson and I am an OAC student currently attending Banting Memorial High School in Alliston. After reading a number of reports from your Barrie Area page, I thought I should relay my own sighting. For the past three weeks I have had a flock of about 8 - 10 Myrtle Warblers in and around my yard. They first appeared on September 17 and have been here ever since. They are quite friendly and curious birds.

I am also interested in finding out more about local bird clubs, when they meet and how I can get involved. If you can give me any information on this subject it would be greatly appreciated. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

This is the update for this Simcoe County Bird Hotline brought to you by the Brereton Field Naturalist Club of Barrie.

For the Week of September 14 - September 21, 1998

During the early hours of Friday, September 18 Alex Mills heard hundreds of migrating Swainson's Thrush with 5 or 6 Grey Cheek Thrush mixed with them. Ian Cook had 3 Palm Warblers in his back yard in Midhurst on September 17 and on September 18 he heard a Whip-poor-will calling. Phyllis Trembley had a Black-throated green Warbler bathing in her pond near Little Lake. Vivian Bell reports 5 Wild Turkey in the town of Midhurst Saturday, September 19. Sunday, September 20 at Tiny Marsh there were 5 Orange Crowned Warblers, Palm, Yellow Rumped, Black throated Green and Wilson's Warblers. Also, in the area were many Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Nigel Shaw has been very busy banding fall migrants in Innisfil. Highlights include, a Lincoln's Sparrow, a Connecticut Warbler and a very late Yellow Warbler. Saturday, September 26 Alex Mills will be taking a group to look for Ferns in Simcoe County. Meet at Centennial Beach Parking lot at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome.

Happy Birding!!

Hi Thank-you for calling the Simcoe County Bird Hotline brought to you by the Brereton Field Naturalist Club of Barrie. This update is on September 17 at 9:00 a.m.

On Friday, September 11 Vivian Bell reports 2 Sandhill Crane on the 6th Cons. of Flos, west of hwy. 27

. Don Scanlon reports a large night migration after dark on the evening of September 15. Birds could be heard calling as they flew over Barrie until 5:30 a.m..

Wednesday, September 16 there were several Palm Warblers at the Beeton Sewage Lagoons.

The Buff Breasted Sandpipers have moved to a field on the corner of the 11th cons. and the 15th side rd.in New Tecumseth. There were 8 of them there on September 15. Also in the field was 41 Golden plovers,25 Black -bellied Plovers,1 pectoral sandpiper and 20 American Pipit. On this day there were 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglets at Spratts Point as well as 6 Black-bellied Plovers, Great Black-backed Gulls and Common Terns.Amd there were White -crowned Sparrows at Brentwood.

On Thursday, September 24 at 7:30 p.m. The Midland-Penetang Field Naturalist Club will host the area joint meeting at the Wye Marsh Wildlife Center. The program is called “Kill the Myth not the Wolf” - Jennifer Mead and Debbie Freeman will be speaking on Algonquin Park wolf ecology and conservation. They have been with the Algonquin Park Watch Program working on Wolf Conservation.

This Hotline will be updated on Monday, September 21, unless something rare comes into the area and then it will be updated immediately.

Thank-you for calling and Happy birding.

Gord:

There were pine warblers present yesterday (April 18) and today at the Beattie Pinery south of Alliston.

Hi Gord;

There were two SANDHILL CRANES circling above Tiny Marsh in Simcoe County on Saturday, April 18th.

Also, Great Egrets were visible on nests on the island off Collingwood Harbour.

Bye for now,

Hi Gord;
Another Brereton Field Nats Trip to the Brentwood area, near Angus (in Simcoe Co.) produced a 4-yr Bald Eagle and 8 Tundra Swans. Overall numbers of waterfowl were fairly low. The Eagle flushed hundreds of ducks. A flock of about 30 Pintail formed a tight group right behind the eagle and followed it closely as it wheeled higher and higher into the sky. This continued for several minutes. It was quite a sight.

Also in the area this weekend was a Lesser Black Backed Gull along with a Greater and a Glaucous and hundreds of Herrings (in a plowed field south of Brentwood), a large flock of Snow Buntings and at least one Lapland Longspur (near Tiny Marsh), a Red Crossbill and a Hoary Redpoll at my feeder in Midhurst (north of Barrie).

Woodcock, Snipe and Greater Yellowlegs are also back, as were Y-Rumped Warblers, at Tiny Marsh.

Bye for now,

HI Gord and all,

It has been fairly active around my little hundred acre reallm. I rarely go far afield to birdwatch anymore(time constraints) but I sure know the area around my housr near Thornton intimately. The habitats are many and varied from cultivated fields to abandonned fields; there are pine plantations and natural forests within a short walk of my house. A lot of cedar and balsam fir. Through all of this runs a narrow creek which ebbs and floes with the season. Recently it over flowed and wiped out my bridge. My routing also takes me along a dirt country road which is lined by ancient maples. A 2 acre manmade pond butts this road. Some recent sightings include Winter Wrens, Woodcocks, both Kinglets, Song and Savanah Sparrows, Vultures, Phoebes, Cowbirds, Killdeers and a possible yellow rumped warbler (the one that got away).

Bye for now.

Gord
On Sun. the Brereton Field Naturalist's Club had a very nice outing to the Brentwood flats ( an area 2 min. north of Angus On.). We saw 42 spieces, highlighted with 2 Tundra Swans. The Minesing swamp is also open and we saw 2 Sandhill Cranes there.

Happy birding

Dear Gord: You are not caught up yet!

Sunday, March 29:
Our pond thawed during Saturday's warm spell, and this morning a pair of Canada Geese, a pair of Mallards and a pair of Hooded Mergansers were dipping and diving for food. A beaver and a muskrat were also out foraging.

I heard an Eastern Phoebe calling for the first time this year, so at least one has returned to our place. Grackles, Cedar Waxwings, and Song Sparrows are also back, and one of the latter has claimed his usual territory in a clump of cedars by the pond. It's nice to go out on the back deck and hear all the birds singing.

Oh, I found the crow's nest. We can see it from our house. Ivan saw a pair of Black Ducks in a farm field a couple of miles east of Belhaven. We rarely see Black Ducks any more.

I also saw Killdeers and a Great Blue Heron flying over our place last week.

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Hi Gord:

Fran has seen occasional groups of Pine Grosbeaks, and common Redpolls on our property near Pefferlaw. Red winged Black Birds are back.

On Hwy 12, just south of Beaverton we saw a Rough-Legged Hawk, (light phase) Mar.7/98. Saw another hawk, possibly a Rough Legged, just south of Beaverton on Durham 23.

Saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks mating along Hwy 48 near Port Bolster, obviously spring is here, at least as far as they are concerned.

Numerous flocks of Starlings.

March 1, 1998. Hello from the wilds of central Essa Township in Simcoe County. Today I counted my personal earliest Red Winged Blackbird. He was calling away on the 10th Concession near Cty Rd 21. My previous early bird for this area was March 8.

I spent the winter tracking wild turkeys around my house here. Literally tracking. I found tracks galore. At times it looks like they held a major convention practically in my back yard. When I got there droppings were still melting into the snow. It is amazing how such a large creature can be so elusive. On Friday February the 27 the skunking ended. I found the flock in an abondonned red and white pine plantation 500 metre from my house. I was accompanied on this treck by my regular year round friends the chickadees and this winter they let several Golden Crowned Kinglets hang around all winter.

Russ Musgrove
From the wilds of Thornton.
rhkmusgr@bconnex.net

There is still no sign of the Great Grays or Long-Eared owls that frequented here last year. I don't think that it has been cold enough for them to come down to their winter ranges. However, Bohemian Waxwings were around about the beginning of this year. Has anyone else seen the Bohemian Waxwings? I have not seen a Cedar Waxwing this year. The Wild Turkey numbers seem to be growing in this area....

A Northern Hawk Owl along Triple Bay Road near Port McNicoll on Sunday, February 8, 1998. This bird was first discovered over two weeks ago by Bob and Judy Whittam and has stayed in the same area hunting in the field along Triple Bay Road.

Some birds in yards and at feeders in Simcoe County are:
Bohemian Waxwings, Cedar Waxwings, Northern Shrikes, Dark-eyed Juncos, Snow Buntings, Pine Grosbeaks, House Finches, Red Crossbills, White-winged Crossbills, Common Redpolls, Hoary Redpolls, and Evening Grosbeaks.

Hi Gord:

We have seen a couple of flocks of Snow Buntings in the Pefferlaw Area. Also, 4 wild turkeys.

I have also noticed a quite a few Starlings hanging around this year, must be the El Nino effect.

Interesting birds seen around Minesing west of Barrie on January 31, 1998:

1 Bald Eagle (immature)
9 Red-tailed Hawks
21 Rough-legged Hawks (7 dark-phased)
3 American Kestrels
3 Glaucous Gulls
1 Snowy Owl (immature)
4 HORNED LARKS
1 Common Raven
20 Snow Buntings
3 Red Crossbills (1 male + 2 females) at a feeder

I previously posted a message about seeing a flock of 17 wild turkeys. I was surprised to stop roadside again today in the same spot and observed them again eating the corn stalks. It is a first sighting in this area for me and I have been here for approximately 7 years.

However, I have not seen the Great Grey Owls that frequented here last winter.

A check of the open fields of Ramara township southeast of Orillia on January 25, 1998 revealed none of the Great Gray Owls or Northern Hawk Owls that were common in large numbers in this area last winter. However, the following birds were present:

21 Rough-legged Hawks (5 dark phased birds)
6 Red-tailed Hawks
3 Northern Shrikes
1 American Kestrel
and several large flocks of Snow Buntings

Hi Gord, We had a nice surprise last night, a Barred Owl. It sat in a tree 35 feet from our back door.I think it was successful during the night as there were bits of blood about in the am. It was magnificent and we were even able to turn our back light on and see it very clearly. This is a lifer for us thus obviously another splendid species for our yard list. We are in Pefferlaw in the swamp...perfect habitat!

Hello Gord:

I just observed a flock of 17 wild turkeys in the Big Bay Point area north of Alcona. First time I have seen them in this area. Also, if anyone has seen any Great Gray's in this area this winter, please let me know...

Thanx,

Hi Gord

Lake Simcoe completely froze on January 14 th.

There is Red Crossbills coming to a feeder just off hwy. 90 west of Barrie, and a White-winged Crossbill at a feeder in Oro.

There are lots of Pine Grosbeak and Evening Grosbeaks throughout the Barrie area. Large flocks of Common Redpolls have been reported with Hoary Redpolls among them.

The Snowy Owl can be seen in Springwater township along Strongville road, just off hwy 26. Also in that area there is a farm that seems to attract many gulls. On the weekend there was over 1500 Herring Gulls and large numbers of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls.

A Raven was also seen in that same region. At Brentwood there was a Great Blue Heron and five Rough-legged Hawks. The Collingwood Harbour is frozen except for a few open areas. Last week there was a flock of Bonaparts and Ringbilled Gulls. The open areas are supporting a Common Loon, Pintails, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Common Merganser.

Bye for now

Hi Gord:

Haven't seen too many reports of Snowbirds yet.

I saw a medium sized flock of Snowbirds (about 50-60)yesterday (Jan. 2, 1998) on Old Homestead Road, near Belhaven, Ont. (a few kms. east of Keswick, for those who don't know where Belhaven is).

Hi Gord;
A tour around Kempenfelt Bay in barrie today (Dec 28th) resulted in 15 species of waterfowl, including COMMON LOON, RED-NECKED GREBE, 20 COOTS, A REDHEAD, A GADWALL, A HARLEQUIN HEN, all 3 MERGANSERS, A PINTAIL, AND SEVERAL WIGEON.

Bye for now,

Hi Gord
Barrie had their Christmas bird count Sunday and it was quite successful. The number of species was 68, which broke the record for total bird species. Highlights include, the first winter male Common Eider, Harlequin Duck, Blue-winged Teal, Long- eared Owl, Rufous-sided Towhee, American Kestrel and a Hoary Redpoll.

The Common Eider is still in the Kempenfelt Park area. There is ice forming on the bay, and we hope the Eider will stay around for the 1st or 2nd of January. The Harlequin Duck has been seen around Minets Point Park.

Other birds worth mentioning are, over 1000 Common Goldeneye, Redhead Duck, Eastern Screech Owl, Barred Owl, Great Horned Owl, Common Raven, American Robin, Northern Shrike, Winter Wren, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow and large numbers of Common Redpoll.

Seasons Greetings

Mr. Gallant

8 Bohemians with 2 cedar waxwings in my yard N of Midhurst. I see that Ian Cook has listed a sighting recently as well.

Hi, Gord, Your sight justs gets better and better! We saw an awesome Rough-Legged hawk today southwest of Pefferlaw today at Egypt. It was very large and the black patches on the underwings was very prominent. Lots of Common Redpolls and Evening Grosbeaks with a few Tree Sparrows. All the rest of our birds are the usuals...all special in their own way!

Hi Gord

There have been some great sightings in Simcoe County over the last week. The first year male Common Eider is still in Kempenfelt Bay. It usually has been seen close to the shore anywhere from Centennial Beach to Kempenfelt Park. (North Shore) At Kempenfelt Park there is a female Harlequin Duck. At Centennial Beach there have been several reports of Lesser Black-backed Gulls. At Allenwood Beach, which is north of Wasaga Beach in Georgian Bay there was an adult Black legged Kittiwake and three Little Gulls, these were seen feeding with about 300 Bonaparte’s. The Snowy Owls are back at the Minnising flood plains. One was seen on the 13th cons. of Vespra, which is north of Barrie, off hwy. 26. At Minets Point Park there is Red Head Ducks, American Coots, Green-winged Teal, Pintail, Bufflehead, and Oldsquaw. There is lots of Common Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks in the area.

All the best this season

Hi Gord:

I saw 11 Tundra Swans today, Lake Simcoe, off the end of Church Street in Keswick.

Nothing else of any great significance.

On December 7, I was pleased to watch six Pine Grosbeaks singing prettily and feeding on ash and cedar tree seeds near our house. They were all grey with broad white wingbars, and rusty cinnamon-coloured caps and rumps, so they must be first-year males. I see this species only every few years here on our place near Pefferlaw.

I saw my first Winter Wren a few weeks ago in a brush pile out in the "Back Forty". And we usually meet a Ruffed Grouse or two in the bush. Otherwise, the main visitors are the usual Blue Jays, Chickadees, Dark-Eyed Juncos (which stayed all winter last year), Northern Cardinals, Tree Sparrows (fewer than usual so far), Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Crows.

I haven't done any birding lately, otherwise I'd probably have a longer list.

We saw the young male Common Eider on the north side of the bay today. He never came very close to shore. The female Harlequin Duck was close to shore along the rail trail.

There were a variety of other birds on the south side of the bay including Oldsquaw, Northern Pintail, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, lots of Common Mergansers, 1 Glaucous Gull, a few Bonnapartes Gulls and many Great Black Backed Gulls.

Hi Gord;
A flock of 15 to 20 BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were present in the dunes behind the beach at Sprat's Point, on Nottawasaga Bay here in Simcoe County. I've heard of a few other reports, so it might be a good winter for them

Bye for now,

Hi, Gord, We were visited this morning by our first Redpolls...quite a treat after no visitors last year...lots of Pine Siskins as well..ttys,

Hi Gord;
My backyard birdfeeder in Midhurst (just north of Barrie) has been unbelievably active in the past week.

Blue Jays, Dark-eyed Juncoes, Am Goldfinches and Cardinals are the regulars, but also present pretty regularly are Fox Sparrows, Tree Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows and Evening Grosbeaks.

A Snow Bunting visited one day, and an unconfirmed Brewer's Blackbird was around for two ( I saw it at close range in good light, but no one else has). White- and Red-breasted Nuthatches and Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers also present.

Last Saturday's field trip around Kempenfelt Bay produced all 3 species of Merganser, a female Pintail, Am Wigeon, 3 Redheads, Red-necked and Horned Grebes, Water Pipits and a Merlin.

Bye for now,

Hi, Gord, As usual we enjoy visiting your site and reading about various sightings. We had our first Fox Sparrows today feeding below our backyard feeder. The White throats and White Crown are less conspicuous these days. We stopped for a good look at a Ruffed Grouse yesterday outside Cannington. We are currently feeding a flock of about 30 Evening Grosbeaks and have a visit of up to 20 Pine Siskins. We seem to have an unusually bumper crop of bold Blue Jays eating everything in sight...hopefully they'll spread out when the colder weather strikes. W e have seen a Brown Creeper a number of times lately so he/she must have taken up residence closer to the house. There are also many juncos taking up residence for the winter..some are very dark and others are of the lighter brownish grey version. They are one of our favourites with their airodynamic maneuvres. Well got to go check out the back yard.

Gord:

I had a classic "Oregon" subspecies of the Dark-eyed Junco in my back yard today. The pinkish band along the flanks was quite distinctive and the back was chestnut brown. It was with a flock of other typical Slate-coloured Juncos. I live about 3 km. south of Alliston.

Hi Gord
The Black-headed Grosbeak only stayed in our area for three days. It was last seen on Sunday evening and has not been seen since.

Rob Copeland saw a Lapland Longspur at Woodland Beach, as well as flocks of Black Scoters and White-winged Scoters on Georgian Bay. He also saw 5 Orange-crowned Warblers at Tiny Marsh, and a Peregrine Falcon in Holland Landing. Bob Bowles has seen Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpipers, Pectoral Sandpipers, and a Long-billed Dowitcher on Monday at the Bracebridge sewage lagoons. The Long-billed Dowitcher was gone on Tuesday. Dave Walsh reports 5 Coots at the Government Dock in Barrie. There was a flock of wild Turkeys in Apto. Georgian Bay was a busy place today with lots of Red-breasted and Common Mergansers. There was also many flocks of Black, White-winged, and Surf Scoters.

At Wasaga Beach there was 2 Black-bellied Plovers and 65 Bonaparte’s Gulls.

Bye for now

Hi Gord

There has been a rare bird reported in Barrie on Friday and was confirmed on Sunday by Rob Copeland and identified as a Black Headed Grosbeak. This bird was feeding from a tray feeder in South Barrie. Nigel Shaw reports that the fall migration is still quit slow but still has banded 175 birds so far this fall in Innisfil Township. The birds have mostly been White-throated Sparrows and Cedar Waxwings. Other birds he has banded include: a Scarlet Tanager, Palm Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Meadowlarks, Rusty Blackbirds, and a Woodcock.

Rob Copeland saw 10 Greater Scaup, 3 Redhead ducks and a Black Scoter off of Woodland Beach in Georgian Bay on Thursday. He also saw a Mute Swan in the Collingwood Harbour and a Male Merlin in the Tiny Marsh area.

Sandra Northey has a Pine Siskin coming to her feeder in the Holland Landing area.

There have been reports of Common Redpolls in the Baxter area. Dave Walsh and Suzanne saw two Golden Eagles today at the 25th side rd. and Big Bay Point rd. in Innisfil township, just south of Barrie. Margo Holt saw lots of Rusty Black birds, Yellow-rumped Warblers, White-throated Sparrows, and a Coopers Hawk at Tiny Marsh Today. To get more information on these birds and more, call the Simcoe County Bird Hotline at (705) 739-8585.

Bye for now Judy

Hi Gord
Bob Bowles reported 3 Short-billed Dowitcher, a Stilt Sandpiper, 1 spotted Sandpiper and 6 Lesser Yellowlegs at the Bradford sewage lagoons on Monday Sept.1 st.

On Tuesday Sept. 2nd Alex Mills saw a Evening Grosbeak and 3 Common Night Hawks over the east end of Barrie.

There were 3 Great Horned Owls at Tiny Marsh, all seen between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m on Wednesday.

Thursday Sept 4th. there was a Olive-sided Fly Catcher at Holland Marsh. On Friday Sept. 5 th. There was 2 Raven’s at Tiny Marsh and 9 Sanderlings at woodland Beach. There was also reports that the Broad-winged Hawks are on the move with plenty reported in Simcoe County in the past week.

The Brereton Field Naturalist club had an outing to Matchedash Bay on Saturday, and were entertained by 4 Red-headed Woodpeckers,which one was an immature. A Black-billed Cuckoo made his presence known when a Broad-winged Hawk got a little to close. The group also enjoyed Ospreys, plenty of waterfowl, and lots of migrating Warblers.

Alex Mills saw 5 Lincoln’s Sparrows in Oro Township and 1 Sedge Wren near the pipeline on the 5th line of Oro.

Margo Holt Saw many species of migrating Warblers on Sunday Sept 7th. They include Black-throated Blue, Yellow-rump, Black and White,Chestnut sided and American Redstarts.

Nancy Ironside saw a Connecticut Warbler just outside Orillia on Sunday. Rob Copeland saw a single Sanderling at Minets Point Park in Barrie and also reports seeing 2 Pectoral Sandpipers at the Bradford sewage lagoons today.

Bye for now.

Hi Gord
On Wednesday at Tiny Marsh I saw a female Merlin, and just north of Tiny Marsh on county road 29, between 2nd and 3rd concession of Tiny, were 3 Sandhill Cranes. They were feeding in a harvested grain field. And less then a kilometre north there was a flock of 15 Turkey Vulture’s sitting in a field. Nigal Shaw saw a Brewster’s Warbler in Innisfil. Alex Mills reports, at the Beeton sewage lagoons there were 20 Lesser Yellowlegs, a Snipe, Solitary, Least, Spotted, and Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Hi Gord.

The birding in our area is still quite slow, but here is a few things that were reported in our area:

Rob Copeland saw 5 Purple Martins along the 10th. Line of Innisfil on Thursday, he also saw lots of Black-bellied Plover’s in the sod fields around the town of Beeton. Today he saw 12 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs and 2 Spotted Sandpipers at the Brentwood flats.

Don Scanlon reports seeing a Common Nighthawk in the Rama area.

The most exiting thing to happen this weekend was, a Hackberry Butterfly was found by Bob Bowles in the Minesing Swamp. This is the first report of this butterfly in Simcoe County.

Bye for now

The fall migration is underway in our area. On Wednesday Sandra Northey and myself saw a flock of Golden Plover’s and mingling with them were Semipalmated Plover’s and Black-bellied Plovers. These were seen in a sod field along the 9th line just west of the 15th side rd. In New Tecumseth near the town of Beeton.

On Saturday Brentwood was a happening place with a Peregrine Falcon in the area. Also there were Lesser Yellowlegs, Semipalmated Sandpiper’s, Least Sandpiper’s, and Spotted Sandpiper’s.

At the Holland Landing Sewage Lagoons there was a large flock of about 100 Bonaparte’s Gulls, Lesser Yellow Legs, and Blue wing Teal’s And today at Woodland Beach there were Black backed Gulls and common Terns. At Tiny Marsh there were a few Black terns with large flocks of Canada Geese and ducks flying into the area.

Rob Copeland spent the weekend near Orillia camping with his family and reports: At the narrows there were 35 Double-crested Cormorant, 200 Merganser, and a Common Loon. In a nearby area they counted 8 Osprey. Lesser Yellowlegs, a Least Sandpiper, and 10 Bonaparte’s Gulls. They also saw Black, Common and Caspian Terns. In Mara Provincial Park there was a Pileated Woodpecker, 2 Purple Martin’s a Pine Siskin and Purple Finches. The Highlight of their trip was being awaken at camp site number 68, early in the morning by a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Alex Mills reported the very first fall migrant, which is a Bonaparte’s Gull last Sunday seen flying over Kempenfelt Bay, and he also heard a Black- Crowned Night Heron calling along the Barrie water front.

N. Shaw reported That of the eight Kestrel boxes along the 20th. side rd. in Innisfil just south of Barrie, he was able to band 12 young. And the Osprey nest at the 20th. side rd .and the 4th. concession of Innsfil had on egg in it, which did not hatch. The Osprey’s were seen building another nest in the area.

And in the same area a pair of Back-billed Cuckoo’s are also nesting.

The Simcoe County Bird Hotline number has been changed to (705)739-8585.

Thank you

On Friday May 23rd. there were three Glossy Ibis at the Brentwood Flats, just outside Barrie. There was also a Marbled Godwit, a large flock of Dunlin, Short-Billed Dowitcher, Semi - palmated Plover, Solitary, Pectoral, Least, and Spotted Sandpipers . The Peregrine Falcon is still in the area.

Hi Gord;

As of noon on May 19th, the Peregrine Falcon, first seen on our Bird-a-thon on the 17th, was still present at the Brentwood Flats, near Angus in Simcoe County

. Bye for now,

Hi Gord
Sat May 17th was Baillie Birdathon day for our club in Barrie. Six teams of two to four divvied up Simcoe County to see what we could see. It was cold and wet in the morning; cold and windy in the afternoon. Birds were hard to come by and very quiet, but the tally from all the groups still managed to total 153; the team that went to Tiny marsh and tiny Township had the most at 108.

Highlights included PEREGRINE FALCON, BALD EAGLE, WILSON'S PHALAROPE, TUNDRA SWAN, LEAST, SEMIPAL. AND PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, AM. PIPIT all at Brentwood; GREAT EGRET, RED-NECKED GREBE at Collingwood; WESTERN MEADOWLARK, NORTHERN PARULA WARBLER, MARSH WREN at Tiny Marsh, to name a few.

In total, 16 species of wood warblers were seen.

No sign of the Marbled Godwit or Snowy Egret that have been seen in the area.

Bye for now,

Hi Gord;

On my way to Carden Alvar this morning to check for Loggerhead Shrikes (only one seen today) I found a good bird for Simcoe County. A MARBLED GODWIT in a flooded field along con. 10 of Mara about 2 km. north of Hwy 12. The bird flew up with about 20 Mallards but then landed in the field. Even with the bright bi-coloured bill and cinnamon wing linnings it took me some time to find it among the corn stubble in the flooded field. It was calling which helped locate it as well. Still very few warblers have reached Orillia todate.

Hi Gord
A couple of us went out birding on Friday May 9th, and had a very successful day. We had 87 species, some of our highlights were: A hybrid Meadowlark in Tiny township, and at Tiny Marsh we saw, Palm Warblers, a Northern Waterthrush, Wood Thrushes, Least Flycatchers, 4 Black Terns, and an American Coot.

At Minets Point Park we witnessed a Northern Oriole, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Bank Swallow, Cliff Swallow and a Nashville Warbler. Brentwood (south-East end of Minesing Swamp) still has a Bald Eagle, which has been there for three weeks now. Two Spotted Sandpipers were mingling with Ring-necks, Shovelers, Pin-tails, and 7 Tundra Swans. There was a flock of American Pipits and lots of Bobolinks in the area. 3 Field Sparrows also made their presence known.

Hi Gord!
The Brereton Field Naturalists had their outing on Sat. May 3 to Matchedash Bay.

In spite of the driving rain and strong winds we came up with 49 species.

Highlights include a Virginia Rail and a Common Moorhen at Machedash Bay, Upland Sandpiper on County Rd. 6 just north of Wyevale in a farmers field with Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, and two Merlins at Tiny marsh.

Other highlights of our area this weekend are 4 White Crowned Sparrows and a Brown Thrasher at the 4th line of Oro.

16 Northern Water Thrush in a Silver Maple bush in Mara Township. Blue-Gray Gnatcathcher, Winter Wrens, and a Solitary Vireo in the 20th cons. of Innisfil area.

Kempenfelt Bay produced Common Terns, Caspian Turns, and a very large flock of Bonapart’s Gulls

A Sandhill Cranes was seen flying over North Barrie and a Rufous-sided Towhee in the Minets Point area.

Judy Randall

Hi.
I was bummed out that a planned paddle down the Nottawasaga had to be called off Saturday due to the horrendous weather (a little wet snow in Barrie). Sunday was sheduled in as a must-do gardening day, so I wasn't expecting to see any birds. But surprise, surprise, as I was driving down Bayfield St. in Barrie, a main burger joint and car dealership strip which is normally best avoided at all costs, I heard an odd call and looked up to see a SANDHILL CRANE wheeling overhead, being harassed by a ring billed gull. He circled higher and higher until he was just a little dot in the sky, with a smaller dot still bugging him.

Bye for now,

A trip to Matchedash Bay today produced a rather early for this area BROWN THRASHER in full song.

Three RED-NECKED GREBES were out on the bay with a wide variety of diving ducks.

Two TRUMPETER SWANS were present as well, with wing tag numbers 311 and 322, from the Wye Marsh breeding program.

A fourth year BALD EAGLE was present this evening at the Brentwood flats along with 8 or 10 TUNDRA SWANS.

The ice is almost out of Lake Couchiching!! This event happen last year on April 28 and has occurred as early as March 28 in 1945 and as late as May 4 in 1904. I think the ice will go out tomorrow which would be the same time as last year.

GREAT GRAY OWL, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and AMERICAN TREE SPARROW that have been present in good numbers this spring have left the area. Fourteen SNOW GEESE and 2 SANDHILL CRANES were two of the 55 species seen today. Most species of ducks are still in the area but HOODED MERGANSERS are present in very low numbers. WE are now waiting for our first wave of warblers.

Gord, we live in Orillia Ontario Canada. We had a yellow headed black bird to our feeder. It was very welcome, but out of it's terriotory, can you explain, why, how,and what we should have done.

One more question. I have looked for a good bird book for our area. Can you sujest one for Simcoe County.

I also do fund raising for a couple of charity's in this region. They always want to sell cook books. I would love to offer a Birding Reconguzing (sp) book.

Cooking is great. But birds and animals are our future.

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Wendy Hutchings reports a PINE WARBLER at her Orillia feeder

Bob Alison reports a tagged TRUMPETER SWAN in Carthew Bay

The first UPLAND SANDPIPER for the year in our area in a field just west of Orillia by Bob Bowles

PINE WARBLER seen and GREAT BLUE HERONS at nests in Matchedash by Nancy Ironside.

Nancy also reports our first mushroom of the year The Scarlet Cup, Sarcoscypha coccinea

We know spring is finally here since Wood Frogs and Spring Peepers are calling from the ponds in full daylight. We have had Chorus Frogs calling for almost two weeks now.

14 SANDHILL CRANES standing and calling in a flooded field 14.5 km. west of Orillia (hwy. # 11) along Burnside Line (West St. Orillia). Other birds in the flooded field were CANADA GEESE, WOOD DUCKS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (21), MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and BLUE-WINGED TEAL.

TUNDRA SWANS (2) and SNOW GEESE (3) were seen late last week in this field but not today.

Hi Gord.
The Minesing flood plains north of Angus continue to be the best spot in the area for migrants.

This Saturday , April 19th, a Brereton Field Naturalists' Club outing saw 2 BALD EAGLES here.

SANDHILL CRANES were also in the same general area.

On Sunday, the Eagles were gone but there were literally thousands of ducks, mostly Pintails but one Tundra Swan remains, and 4 more were seen closer to Edenvale.

A late GLAUCOUS GULL

Hi Gord;
There was a lot of activity Apr 5th on the floodplains of the Nottawasaga between Angus and Edenvale in Simcoe County. All the better because I was leading a Brereton Field Naturalists outing, so lots of people got to see things. A WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was still present among a very large number of Canadas. Jim Forrest got some photos. 5 SNOW GEESE were also seen, also one TUNDRA SWAN (both rarities for our area). 5 SANDHILL CRANES were spotted in a farmer's field. Nearby was a late GLAUCOUS GULL, and a large, late flock of SNOW BUNTINGS with 5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS in full breeding plumage. A wild TURKEY was also present at Brentwood.

Other notables, for being rather early for our area, were COMMON SNIPE (winnowing), PIED-BILLED GREBE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, and SAVANNAH SPARROW.

Many novice birders had some really good looks at a wide variety of more common waterfowl as well.

Ian Cook

Bye for now,

Hi Gord;
Two White-fronted Geese were found by Alex Mills amongst a flock of 90 or so Canada Geese in a farm field flooded out by the Nottawasaga River just southwest of Edenvale.

Also present in various flooded regions of the Nottawasaga and Mad Rivers around the Minesing Swamp are Pintail, Am Widgeon, Green-winged Teal, Wood Duck, Mallards, Black Ducks,Gadwall, Ring-necked Ducks, a large number of Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye.

Turkey Vultures, E. Phoebes and Tree Swallows have also returned.

Barrie Ontario Canada

Great Grey Owls have been spotted in Innisfil Township (Barrie area). First spotted mid-February '97. Still here March 5/97. Male and female.

Hi Gord;
Simcoe Co seems to be hosting two VARIED THRUSHES this winter, one has ben a regular for over a month just NW of Barrie; a more recent report has one north of Orillia.

A Red Shouldered Hawk was seen in Innisfil last week.

Red-winged Blackbirds are being reported in the southern parts of the Co.

A robin was spotted near Shanty Bay.

Great greys and Snowy Owls are still in the county.

For more details, call the Hotline at (705) 431-8798.

Hi, Gord, On the way home from work tonight about 4:30. my children and I spied our first awesome great gray of the year. After they were so plentiful last year in our area, I thought we would not see any this year! It was a HUGE bird watching the traffic just north of where Woodbine Ave. bends toward Sutton! Welcome back to a most inspiring species!

Hi Gord

What a great weekend in Simcoe County for owls!

Numerous GREAT GREY OWLS and SNOWY OWLS throughout the country-side.
Several NORTHERN HAWK-OWLS as well.
One BOREAL OWL in Orillia.
And a report of SHORT-EARED OWLS near Bolton.

I had the good fortune of watching a huge Great Grey being harassed by a much smaller but very pesky Hawk-owl, from a distance of about 100 ft. Eventually the hawk-owl chased the great grey away, but continued to put on a great aerial display for me before finally sitting down.

Check out the SIMCOE COUNTY BIRD HOTLINE at (705) 431-8798 for locations. The best bet would be Mara Concession 7, just west of Hwy 12.

Ian

Hi, Gord, Just thought I would drop you a line as we have had a few interesting sightings today. We have all the usual winter birds at our feeders-red and white breasted nuthatches, Black-capped chickadees, House and Purple finches, Bluejays, Cardinals, American tree sparrow, Dark-eyed junco, Hairy and Downy woodpecker...but went for a short drive and saw a flock of 13-14 wild turkey crossing a field and a HUGE flock of Snow Bunting.We also sighted an American Robin in our trees this morning! It really makes you realize as a birder that you can never take any bird sighting for granted as we have had no Evening Grosbeak this year or Redpolls. We really miss seeing a Pine Siskin or a Pine Grosbeak once in a while ..I guess it is just "one of those years!"

Good birding!

So far in Parry Sound I have had reports of 20 Great Gray Owls and 3 Northern Hawk Owls. I am wondering if these owls are here as a result of looking for food or is this a result of increased population driving some individuals south.

I undertand that some of these birds died of starvation last year. We have had one die this year that the local vet. said was from starvation also. They are nice to see but at the same time it is sad if they are all starving, maybe they will move down to your area. I have also noticed that most of the other winter visitors are in small numbers or none at all ie. both types of Grosbeaks,usually we have hundreds of Evening Grosbeaks.

Today I am photographing a varied Thrush, a life bird for me and the first in this area that I am aware of.

Thanks

At least 4 Great Grey Owls and a Hawk Owl have been reported in the Orillia area in the past week.

There was also an unconfirmed report of a Varied Thrush at a feeder just outside Barrie.

Check out the Simcoe County Bird Hotline at (705) 431-8798 for details

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