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

The Pickering CBC was held on Saturday, Dec 26.A total of 71 species of birds were found.

highlites:

• Canvasback- 1
• Harlequin- 1
• Bald Eagle- 1
• American Robins- 515
• Chipping Sparrow- 2

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

Wed, Dec 23

The Harris Sparrow at Edge Pegg's feeder was last seen on Sunday afternoon. Last week it would visit the feeder hourly.

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

The Oshawa CBC was held on Sunday Dec 20.There were 80 species of birds. (3rd highest count)

highlites:

• Turkey Vulture- 2 (new for the count)
• Turkey- 4 (new for the count)
• Common Raven- 1 (new for the count)
• Robins- 1279 (record count # )

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

The immature Harris' sparrow was still visiting the feeders at the home of Edge and Betty Pegg in the morning of Saturday, December 19.

From Highway 401 in Ajax take Westney Road north to Concession 7 (this is the first road north of Highway 7) and turn left. The Pegg's live in the first house on the south side and are birder friendly.

DURHAM REGION
CRANBERRY MARSH & HALLS ROAD
DEC. 12 / 1998

• 1 Northern Shrike (adult, Halls Rd. North on fencepost)
• 250+ Northern Shoveler
• 15+ Redheads
• 40+ Common Mergansers
• 2 Hooded Mergansers
• 1 Bald Eagle
• 40+ American Tree Sparrows
• 20 House Sparrows
• 4 Downy Woodpeckers
• 1 Great Blue Heron

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

A Harris Sparrow was found today at the feeder of Edge Pegg by Jim Fairchild. Edge Pegg lives at the southwest corner of Westney Rd. and 7th conc, across from the entrance to Clairmont Conservation Area.

Directions: Exit 401 at Westney Rd. in Ajax. Go north on Westney past Hwy 7 to the 7 conc.

Hawkwatching

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch completed the three month fall hawk migration monitoring on November 30th, 1998, at High Park, Cranberry Marsh, and a new site named Iroquois. In General, total numbers were well above both 1997 totals and the four-year average for 1994-1997. As expected, the mix of the fifteen species Totals varied between the three sites. The increased totals were partially due to extended monitoring hours and an autumn, which gave an unusually large number of beautiful days with the required northwest winds, and rising barometric readings. The species totals are listed below by site. A more detailed comparison showing birds per hour and weather conditions will be published in the Greater Toronto Raptor Watch report.

Station: High Park

Species			1998 Total	1997 Total	1994-1997 

                                                        four year average

Turkey Vulture		1693		1803		1458

Osprey			76		67		53

Bald Eagle		42		20		19

Northern Harrier	359		173		141

Sharp-shinned Hawk	4749		4415		2899

Coopers' Hawk		114		131		105

Northern Goshawk	12		18		17

Red-shouldered Hawk	368		84		212

Broad-winged Hawk	11361		5051		5916

Red-tailed Hawk		2861		1550		2317

Rough-legged Hawk	16		21		19

Golden Eagle		19		12		16

American Kestrel	1287		627		426

Merlin			24		26		27

Peregrine Falcon	19		15		7

Unidentified Raptor	232		229		199

Total			23232		14242		13836

Observer Hours		519		479		321

Station: Cranberry Marsh

Species			1998 Total	1997 Total	1994-1997 

                                                        four year average

Turkey Vulture		1368		1434		1400

Osprey			121		140		84

Bald Eagle		29		30		22

Northern Harrier	330		230		197

Sharp-shinned Hawk	3419		3905		1969

Coopers' Hawk		93		99		58

Northern Goshawk	14		13		21

Red-shouldered Hawk	120		61		29

Broad-winged Hawk	7821		3004		4552

Red-tailed Hawk		1949		1221		834

Rough-legged Hawk	58		60		55

Golden Eagle		11		9		11

American Kestrel	2007		1050		647

Merlin			49		47		37

Peregrine Falcon	23		24		18

Unidentified Raptor	130		192		162

Total			17542		11519		10086

Observer Hours		411		415		337

Station: Iroquois

Species			1998 Total	



Turkey Vulture		1175

Osprey			8

Bald Eagle		9

Northern Harrier	82

Sharp-shinned Hawk	774

Cooper's Hawk		65

Northern Goshawk	2

Red-shouldered Hawk	191

Broad-winged Hawk	448

Red-tailed Hawk		407

Rough-legged Hawk	6

Golden Eagle		17

American Kestrel	45

Merlin			10

Peregrine Falcon	1

Unidentified Raptor	106



Total			3346

Observer Hours		123.5

Contributors

High Park: Don Barnett
Cranberry Marsh: Doug Lockrey
Iroquois: Martin Bence

Mailing Address:
4101 Westminster Place, Unit 55,
Mississauga, ON, Canada, L4W 4X4

Email: jbarker@Interlog.com

5th December 1998 We had a pileated woodpecker in our catalpa tree today, pecking great big holes. That's the first time this winter. We usually see them through the winter months. We live a few kilometers away from the Greenwood Conservation Area.

                           

B. Henshaw and Jay Vandergaast highlights along waterfront: 



Dunlin 1                Oshawa Second Marsh

Harlequin 1f            Petticoat Creek CA, Pickering

Bald Eagle 1j           Cranbery Marsh

N. Shoveler 245         Cranberry Marsh

Hooded Merg 15          Cranberry Marsh

DC Cormorant 1          Frenchman's Bay, Pickering

N. Mockingbird          Frenchman's Bay, Pickering

L. B-b. Gull 1 3rd win. Rouge River Mouth

Am. Coot 5              Pumphouse Marsh, Oshawa

Pied-billed Grebe imm   Whitby Harbour

Pintail 15              Oshawa Second Marsh

What is your Durham winter list record?
I Guess you heard about the Nashville in Durham?

Re

Hello,
Just found your website. Even though this sighting is from October 1998, I wanted to share it with others. It was an exciting sighting for me - I could not believe my eyes...

Location: Lynde Shores Conservation Area (Western Shore of Marsh)
Bird: Virginia Rail

I was scanning the shoreline from a viewing deck and spotted this secretive bird coming out of the underbrush and followed it for a few minutes along the shoreline. There was no mistaking the identity.

Sad to think that with all the housing contruction abuting the marsh, this type of bird will be extremely vulnerable to predation from domestic pets such as cats.

Sincerely,
Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

• Immature Lesser Black-backed Gull -1 On west end of barrier beach with 21 Great Black-backed Gulls
• 2 snow Buntings in same area as gulls
• 1 Adult male Cooper's hawk In Robinson Creek Ravine.
• 1 dark phase Rough-legged Hawk on east side of campground

Bird seen in the park within the last week, but not on monday.
2 Purple Sandpipers on sunday 29 in early morning on western end of beach. 1 Greater Yellowlegs has been seen along the north side of the barrier beach. However yesterday after an extensive search, I did not locate it. Last seen Nov 25.

Greater Toronto Raptor Watch, Nov.23 to Nov 30, 1998

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Nov 23 to Nov 30
Station Coordinator Doug Lockrey
Counters: Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Mike Boudreau,
Bob Ross and Dave Shirley

Totals for the past week;

TV 0, OS 0, BE 0, NH 6, SS 4, CH 0, NG 0, RS 1, BW 0, RT 30,
RL 1, GE 0, AK 0, ML 0, PG 1, UR 0, UA 0, UB 0, UF 0,
TOTAL 43, HRS 24

An immature (1st year) Bald Eagle loitering around Cranberry Marsh all week.

Final 1998 Season Total:

TV 1368,OS 121,BE 29, NH 330, SS 3419, CH 93, NG 14, RS 120, BW 7821,
RT 1949, RL 58, GE 11, AK 2007, ML 49, PG 23, UR 130
TOTAL 17,542, HRS 430.75, Days 95

Cranberry Marsh is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario, east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area. The conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

Some Durham December 1 Highlights:

Horned Grebe - 1        Whitby Harbour                  Mike Williamson

Great Blue Heron - 7    Corner Marsh                    Margaret Bain

Snow Goose - 2          Cranberry                       m.obs.

Green-winged Teal - 18  Corbett Creek                   m.obs.

Northern Pintail - 2    Cranberry                       MB

Northern Shoveler - 90+!Cranberry                       m.obs.

Redhead - 600           off Cranberry                   m.obs.

Hooded Merganser - 10   Cranberry                       MB

Ruddy Duck - 4          Whitby Harbour north end        m.obs.

Turkey Vulture - 1      Port Perry                      Dan Stone

Bald Eagle - 1imm.      Cranberry - all day             m.obs.

Red-shouldered Hawk - 1imm Lynde Shores woodlot         MB

Am. Coot - 3            Whitby Harbour                  m.obs.

Greater Yellowlegs - 1  Frenchman's Bay                 MB

Common Snipe - 1        Corbett Creek                   Harry Kerr

               2        Whitby Harbour                  MB

                        (w.of Brock St.bridge at dusk-not seen earlier)

Winter Wren - 2+        Thickson's Woods                MB

Northern Mockingbird - 1Shoal Point Road                m.obs.

Northern Shrike - 1imm. Cranberry                       MB

White-crowned Sparrow - 2 feeders at Cranberry          m.obs.

Red-winged Blackbird - 10 foot of Lakeridge Road        MB

Brown-headed Cowbird - 30 foot of Lakeridge Road        MB

I see that Brian Henshaw has put some Durham sightings on Ontbirds too.

Regards, Margaret.

Pickering

At the intersection of valley farm rd. and greenmount st. which is just south of the brock landfill site, I had a palm warbler. I watched it for approximately five minutes at about 11am today.

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Nov 16 to Nov 22
Station Coordinator Doug Lockrey
Counters: Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Mike Williamson, and King Baker

Totals for the past week;

TV 0, OS 0, BE 0, NH 7, SS 8, CH 1, NG 0, RS 2, BW 0, RT 83,
RL 9, GE 1, AK 0, ML 0, PG 0, UR 0, UA 0, UB 0, UF 0,
TOTAL 111, HRS 19.5

An immature (1st year) Bald Eagle loitering around Cranberry Marsh all week.

Season to date:
TV 1368,OS 121,BE 29, NH 322, SS 2934, CH 93, NG 14, RS 113, BW 7821,
RT 1894, RL 50, GE 11, AK 2007, ML 49, PG 15, UB 26, UR 53
TOTAL 17,326 HRS 389.5

Cranberry Marsh is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

Station: Iroquois Lookout
Period: Sept 11 to Nov 18
Station Coordinator: Doug Lockrey
Primary Counters: Martin Bense, Mike Williamson, and Graham Nord
Special thanks go out to all others that participated

Totals for the period;

TV 1175, OS 8, BE 9, NH 82, SS 772, CH 65, NG 2, RS 191, BW 448, RT 397,
RL 6, GE 17, AK 45, ML 10, PG 1, UR 106
TOTAL 3334, HRS 122

Directions to the Lookout

Take 401 east to Hwy 12 , Whitby go North past Taunton Rd. ( Durham rd. 4) to Spensers Road on the left, go West to Ashburn and park on Ashburn near the gate along the side of the road on the "T" intersection. Walk west about 300 meters along the trail (5 min.'s) to the lookout tower (under hydro corridor).

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Nov 9 to Nov 15
Station Coordinator Doug Lockrey
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Mike
Williamson, and Tyler Hoar

Totals for the past week;

TV 0, OS 0, BE 2, NH 2, SS 4, CH 1, NG 1, RS 0, BW 0, RT 26,
RL 3, GE 1, AK 0, ML 0, PG 0, UR 0, UA 0, UB 1, UF 0,
TOTAL 41, HRS 17.5

An immature (1st year) Bald Eagle loitering around Cranberry Marsh Nov 14-15

Season to date:
TV 1368,OS 121,BE 29, NH 315, SS 2926, CH 92, NG 14, RS 111, BW 7821,
RT 1811, RL 41, GE 10, AK 2007, ML 49, PG 15, UB 26, UR 53
TOTAL 17,215 HRS 370

Cranberry Marsh is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Nov 2 to Nov 8
Station Coordinator Doug Lockrey
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Mike
Williamson, and Tyler Hoar

Totals for the past week;

TV 4, OS 0, BE 1, NH 9, SS 11, CH 3, NG 1, RS 4, BW 0, RT 266,
RL 8, GE 0, AK 2, ML 0, PG 0, UR 7, UA 0, UB 0, UF 0,
TOTAL 316, HRS 30

Season to date:
TV 1368,OS 121,BE 27, NH 313, SS 2922, CH 91, NG 13, RS 111, BW 7821,
RT 1785, RL 38, GE 9, AK 2007, ML 49, PG 15, UB 25, UR 53
TOTAL 17,174 HRS 352.5

Had a large flock of american goldfinches feeding in several silver birch trees near solina road in courtice. At least 150+ birds. Also a few snow buntings flew over and one turkey vulture.

Hi Gord,

I checked out several Durham spots this morning, with the best being Corner Marsh and Cranberry Marsh.

At Corner Marsh, I had four species of shorebirds - 14 Dunlin, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Killdeer, and 1 Black-bellied Plover. Lining the north shore of the marsh were 22 Great Blue Herons. Also there were a handful of Green-winged Teal and Gadwall, as well as 2 female Hooded Mergansers. 4 Snow Buntings flew overhead as I watched the other birds. Further south, at the mouth of Duffin's Creek, there were 56 Common Goldeneyes and 8 Red-breasted Mergansers out in the lake.

Cranberry Marsh was covered with Canada Geese - there must have been at least 1000 in total. Interspersed with them were ~120 Scaup, ~80 Redhead, 14 Common Mergansers, 9 Shovelers, 13 Green-winged Teal, 4 Hooded Mergansers (incl. 1 male), and good numbers of Mallard, Black Duck, and Gadwall. In the area around the northwest lookout, I had White-throated, Song, and Tree Sparrows. There was also a Fox Sparrow at Lynde Shores, just past the first feeder along the trail.

Other birds of note today included: 1 Brown Creeper (Lynde Shores feeder trail), 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (foot of Liverpool Road), 2 Trumpeter Swans (Liverpool Road), 73 Robins (flying west over Lynde Shores), and 2 Kestrels (along Bayly, east of Lynde Shores).

Good birding,

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Oct 26 to Nov 1
Station Co-ordiator Doug Lockrey
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense,
Gord Gallant, and Tyler Hoar

Totals for the past week;

TV 56, OS 0, BE 1, NH 40, SS 41, CH 4, NG 0, RS 79, BW 0,
RT 1123, RL 15, GE 6, AK 2, ML 1, PG 0, UR 34, UA 0, UB 0, UF 0,
TOTAL 1402, HRS 35.5

Season to date:

TV 1364,OS 121,BE 26, NH 304, SS 2911, CH 88, NG 12, RS 107, BW 7821,
RT 1519, RL 30, GE 9, AK 2005, ML 49, PG 15, UB 25, UR 46
TOTAL 16,858 HRS 322.5

Hey Gord,

I checked through you Durham sightings and couldn't believe that nobody seems to mention the 2 TV's that regularly hang around the Clearnet Building at Liverpool Rd. and 401. Are there really THAT many road kills on the highway ramp? They've been there for about 2 months now.

• 1 Snow Goose
• 1 Northern Harrier (immature)
• 3 Fox Sparrows
• 7 White-throated Sparrows (white, tan morph)
• 4 Downy Woodpeckers (male, female)
• 2 White-breasted Nuthatches (male, female)
• 7 Dark-eyed Juncos
• 40 Redheads
• 30 Green-winged Teal

See you,

• 1 Rusty Blackbird (winter male)
• 15 American Tree Sparrows
• 10 Cedar Waxwings (adult and juv.)
• 1 White-breasted Nuthatch
• 3 Blue Jays

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Oct 19 to Oct 25
Station Co-ordiator Doug Lockrey
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Gord Gallant, and Tyler Hoar

Totals for the past week;

TV 360, OS 1, BE 1, NH 19, SS 114, CH 21, NG 8, RS 25, BW 1, RT 183, RL 11, GE 1, AK 5, ML 6, PG 2, UR 1, UA 0, UB 25, UF 0,
TOTAL 784, HRS 23.5

Season to date:
TV 1308, 121,BE 25, NH 264, SS 2870, CH 84, NG 12, RS 28, BW 7821, RT 396, RL 15, GE 3, AK 2003, ML 48, PG 15, UB 25, UR 46
TOTAL 15,456 HRS 287

---

Station: High Park
Period: Oct.19 to Oct.25
Station Co-ordiator: Don Barnett
Counters: Don Barnett, Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Hugh Currie, Marcel
Gabhauer,& John Barker

Totals for the past week:

TV 340, OS 0, BE 2, NH 30, SS 510, CH 13, NG 5, RS 230, BW 0, RT 549,
RL 6, GE 6, AK 9, ML 0, PG 2, UR 9, UA 4, UB 28, UF 0,
TOTAL 1,743, HRS. 43

Season to date:

TV 1630, OS 76, BE 42, NH 339, SS 4704, CH 88, NG 5, RS 245, BW 11360,
RT 841, RL 8, GE 8, AK 1284, ML 20, PG 17, UR 86, UA 17, UB 58, UF 5,
Total 20,833, HRS. 385.5

Prepared by: Don Barnett

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to Record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park, just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah. The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

4101 Westminster Place #55,
Mississauga, ON
CANADA
L4W 4X4
(416) 808 7950 (B)
(905) 281 3073 (H)
jbarker@mail.interlog.com

We had a late start at Cranberry due to the rain. At just before noon, the weather started to clear, and at 12:05 I was rewarded with a Turkey Vulture as the first migratory raptor of the day. There wasn't much activity that hour till just before the end of the hour when I spotted a small kettle of Turkey Vultures in the North East, slowly fighting the stiff northwest wind.

Most birders might have decided to call it a day with only 6 migrants during the noon til 1:00pm time period. I had a huntch that things would improve, and decided to stick it out - and I'm glad I did!

The time period of 1:00 to 2:00 wasn't much better, but there were a few Red-tailed Hawks migrating through near the end of the hour, in addition to several RT's and NH's that appeared to be local birds.

Patience paid off !!!! A few other regular birds/counters showed up at 2:00 to help with the count. It was a good thing because the clouds had been blown away and the big blue sky presented a challenge in spotting birds in the sky. The Red-tailed hawks were starting to fly with more frequency and made thing a little interesting - but after counting a couple these RT's at the top of the hour, at 2:02 we were rewarded with a GOLDEN EAGLE flying in from the lake to the right of us. We all watched it with great delight as it slowly migrated west along the lakeshore.

We settled down for a few minutes, and we scanned the bare blue skies again, and at 2:08pm we spotted another GOLDEN EAGLE, definitely a different one! This one had white patches in its wings. We watched this one fly towards us and northwest into the marsh. You could feel the tension of the waterfowl in the marsh as this majestic raptor approached their previously peaceful retreat. As it entered the marsh area, it tucked it wings and dove towards the spit, where there was a dense grouping of geese and ducks. Panic was in the air - the waterfowl scattered - but dared not to fly to high, in fear that they be snatched up by this awesome predator. The eagle stretched out its talons in a lacklust attempt to snatch some lunch - it appeared that this (possibly three year old) Golden Eagle was just playing with the waterfowl, giving us a fantastic show! It rose from the marsh and continued on its way and headed west - possibly towards the High Park Raptor Watch.

We settled down again - expecting that that would be the end of our excitement. We discovered that this Golden Eagle was a lifer for Anthony Dale, one of the observers on the platform. Great way to get a lifer - congratulations Anthony!!

Not to be outdone, yet another GOLDEN EAGLE showed up at 2:10pm. Again we were certain that this was another new bird because it also had different plumage. This third bird appeared to be a 4 or 5 year bird with only a hint of white in the wings. This GE also came in from the lake and eventually migrated west overhead at a higher altitude - but still within easy viewing distance.

Here is a list (unofficial) of what we saw from noon till 4:00pm:

• TV - 7
• RT - 49
• SS - 1
• GE - 3
• ML - 1
• AK - 2
• RL - 2

Most of the raptors were sighted between 2:00 and 3:00

Good birding!

• 1 Snow goose
• 2 Fox Sparrows
• 3 American Tree Sparrows
• 15 Green-winged Teal (male and female)
• 60 Lesser Scaup (male and female)
• 30 Redheads
• 10 White-crowned Sparrows (adult and juv.)
• 15 White-throated Sparrows (white and tan morph)
• 12 Dark-eyed juncos

See you,

I have had an orange crowned warbler in the yard for the past two days. It seems to be hanging around with some chickadees and dark eyed juncos. This is in the courtice area

On Saturday (24 October) about 3:15 pm, Ron Pittaway and I saw four very small Canada Geese near the Nuclear Plant in Pickering (Durham Region) east of Toronto. They were about 75 metres away on the mud on the west side of the bridge where Sandy Bay Road crosses the creek leading to Hydro Marsh. They were with a flock of large Canadas, being about the size of Brant with stubby bills. They flew off with some large Canadas, probably to feed in nearby fields.

We believe that they were Richardson's Canada Geese (Branta canadensis hutchinsii). This subspecies is a common migrant in James Bay, but like Lesser Snow Geese most Richardson's fly southwest from James Bay over northwestern Ontario.

Yesterday (Wednesday, October 21st, 1998), I and several of the regular raptor counters endured a relatively cold day, and were rewarded with a great day of raptor watching!

The cold early morning hours had few Sharp-shinned Hawks, and an American Kestrals, but after mid morning things really started to pick up! The wind was moderate from the North West and the Barometer was rising. The wind chill factor was about 0 degrees C., and the sun came out only periodically (enough to create a few thermals).

Here is the list of what we counted :

• TV - 19
• OS - 1
• BE - 1 *
• GE - 1 **
• NH - 2
• RL - 3
• NG - 4 ***
• RT - 66
• ML - 3
• AK - 2
• CH - 6
• UB - 9
• UR - 1

Total - 118

* 4-5 year old bird - Jim Fairchild and I observed it after everyone else left
** We all watched it approach(11:45 hawk time) for quite some time, then it returned from behind us to give us an even better look - We could see the gold head shimmering in the sunlight (which we did get occasionally), the white at the base of the tail was very evident, and some white in the wings
*** One of these Northern Gosnhawks gave us all one of the best looks anyone could ask for. We studied it at length as it flew overhead at a reasonably low level - an awesome sight!

Other than the huge flights of Broad-wings, this is one of the days we all hope for! Well worth enduring the cold and wind. I was responsible for the count this day, and it went from 9:30am (8:30am hawk time) to mid afternoon. Offical times and count will be available on next week's offical Greater Toronto Raptor Watch report from Tyler Hoar.

Station: CMRW
Period: Oct 12 to Oct 18
Station Co-ordiator :Doug Lockrey
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Gord Gallant, and Tyler Hoar

Totals for the past week;

TV 34, NH 5,CH 6, SS 25, RT 14, AK 1, PG 3, UB 1, HRS 25,
TOTAL 89

Seasons Totals

TV 948, OS 120, BE 24, NH 245, SS 2756, CH 63, NG 4, RS 7, BW 7820,
RT 213, RL 4, GE 2, AK 1998, ML 42, PG 13, UR 45,
HRS 263.5
TOTAL 14,672

---

Station: HPRW
Period: Oct.12 to Oct.18
Station Co-ordinator: Don Barnett
Counters: Don Barnett, Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Hugh Currie, Marcel Gabhauer

Totals for the past week;

TV 158, NH 14, SS 39, CH 4, RS 5, RT 20, RL 1, UB 1, HRS 34.5,
TOTAL 242

Season Totals

TV 1290, OS 76, BE 40, NH 309, SS 4194, CH 75, NG 0, RS 15, BW 11360,
RT 292, RL 2, GE 2, AK 1275, ML 20, PG 15, UA 13, UB 30, UE 0, UF 5, UR 77,

HRS 342.5,

TOTAL 19,090

Correction
Period: Sept 28 to Oct 4
Change UE 1 to GE 1

Prepared by: Don Barnett

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to Record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park (HPRW), just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah. The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

4101 Westminster Place #55,
Mississauga, ON
CANADA
L4W 4X4
(416) 808 7950 (B)
(905) 281 3073 (H)
jbarker@mail.interlog.com

I spent 3 hours today at NonQuon lagoons. Did not find Sabine's Gull.

Greater Toronto Raptor Watch October 5 to 11 1998

Station: CMRW
Period: Oct 5 to Oct 11
Station Co-ordinator: Doug Lockrey
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Martin Bense, Gord Gallant, and Tyler Hoar

Totals for the watch period

TV 609,OS 5, BE 3, NH 17, SS 146, CH 9, NG 2, RS 1, RT 85,
RL 3, GE 2, AK 19, ML 2, PG 5, UB 1
TOTAL 909

Season Total: 14,583

---

Station: HPRW
Period: Oct.5 to Oct.11
Station Co-ordinator: Don Barnett
Period Counters: Don Barnett, Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Hugh Currie,
Marcel Gabhauer, and Alfred Adamo

Totals for the watch period

TV 823, BE 8, NH 13, SS 270, CH 34, RS 4, BW 1, RT 101,
RL 1, GE 1, AK 11, ML 4, PG 7, UA 3, UB 6, UR 4
TOTAL 1,291

Season Total: 18,445

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to Record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park, just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah. The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

4101 Westminster Place #55,
Mississauga, ON
CANADA
L4W 4X4
(416) 808 7950 (B)
(905) 281 3073 (H)

jbarker@mail.interlog.com

• 1 Eastern Towhee (male)
• 1 Blue-headed Vireo
• 80 Lesser Scaup (male and female)
• 30 Redheads
• 20 Green-winged Teal (male and female)
• 8 Northern Pintail (male and female)
• 450+ Mallards
• 15 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
• 20 Golden-crowned Kinglets (male and female)
• 50 White-throated Sparrows (white and tan morph)
• 25 White-crowned Sparrows (adult and juvenile)

See you,

OCT. 12/ 1998

• 40 Dark-eyed Juncos
• 2 White-breasted Nuthatches (male and female)
• 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches (male and female)
• 8 Mourning Doves
• 8 Blue Jays
• 10 House Finches
• 8 American Goldfinches
• 2 Chipping Sparrows
• 1 White-throated Sparrow
• 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglets
• 1 Golden-crowned Kinglet

See you,

On Sunday 12 October 1998, Ron Pittaway and I were out to see the Western Sandpiper at Frenchman's Bay in Pickering (Durham Region) on Lake Ontario just east of Toronto. It's in juvenal/first basic plumage. It has a very long drooped bill and contrasting rusty inner scapulars. We even saw the webs at the base of the toes! Ron said that he expected it to be more advanced in its molt to first basic plumage compared to other Westerns he'd seen at this date. Perhaps it is a late hatched bird or is it within the normal variation of the species?

To reach Frenchman's Bay from Toronto, take Whites Road exit south off the 401, turn left at Bayly (first light) and go east about 1.5 km to a community centre/daycare on the south (right) side at the northwest end of Frenchman's Bay. Walk east about 75 metres from the parking lot on a trail through the trees. You'll need rubber boots to go out on the mudflats. There are also Black-bellied Plover, Dunlin, White-rumped and Pectoral Sandpipers and one Least Sandpiper there.

Good luck, Jean

Hi Gord, the Northern Pintails are still at the hydro marsh and in good numbers.

• 40+ Northern Pintails
• 10 Green-winged Teals
• 3 American Pipits
• 1 Merlin (female)
• 1 Swainson's Thrush

See You,

the sabines gull was still at Ninquion sewage lagoon as of 11:00 am sat oct 10.

NONQUON LAGOONS PORT PERRY UPDATE
OCT.10 / 1998.

Hi Gord, on the way to Nonquon, Eric and I spotted 15 Turkey Vultures on Regional Rd. 57 and Conc. Rd. 9.

Nonquon:

• 15 Blue-winged Teal
• 8 Green-winged Teal
• 25 Bufflehead (female only)
• 15 Lesser Scaup (male and female)
• 10 American Pipits
• 70 Bonaparte's Gulls
• 8 Northern Shovelers (female)
• 1 American Widgeon (female)

See You,

Yesterday (Thurs. Oct. 8), I went to Nonquon Sewage Lagoons near Port Perry to check for the Sabine's Gull. It was still there when I left at 4:00pm. It is a juvenile and stands out very well with its brown back (when swimming) or strong wing pattern (in flight). It was in a flock of about 150 Boneparte's Gulls.

This morning, (Fri. Oct. 9), I saw three white phase Snow Geese flying south with a flock of 20 or so Canada Geese. I was about 12 km north of Port Hope and I would expect that the birds might stop on Lake Ontario somewhere between Port Hope and Cobourg.

Good birding.

DURHAM REGION
CRANBERRY MARSH AND LYNDE SHORES WOODLOT UPDATE
OCT. 8/ 1998

Hi Gord, I was at Cranberry Marsh today (North platform) I must have just missed meeting up with you and Jim Fairchild. My focus was Lynde Shores woodlot.

Lynde Shores woodlot:

• 3 Black-throated Blue Warblers (2 males, 1 female)
• 1 Blue-headed (Solitary) Vireo
• 2 Brown Creepers
• 3 Palm Warblers
• 8 Yellow-rumped Warblers
• 2 White-breasted Nuthatches
• 15+ White-crowned Sparrows (adult and juvenile)
• 2 Downy woodpeckers (male and female)
• 25+ White-throated sparrows (tan morph only)
• 15+ Ruby-crowned Kinglets
• 6 Golden-crowned Kinglets
• 40+ Black-capped Chickadees
• 8 Blue Jays
• 20+ Dark-eyed Juncos
• 1 Rock Dove
• 30+ Red-winged Blackbirds

Cranberry Marsh:

• 40+ Blue-winged Teal
• 1 Pied-billed Grebe
• 10+ Redheads
• 4 Great-blue Herons

See You,

Hope this helps - visitors always welcome!

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Today at the Cranberry Marsh Raptor Watch we counted two Northern Goshawks, a Merlin, a Red-shouldered Hawk, and a Golden Eagle, in addition to good number of TV, RT, SS. It was a good day, with a nice variety and some less common birds. I also spotted an American Bittern in flight and landing in "The Cattails". Jim Fairchild spotted a Red-headed Woodpecker flying over, which we all got to see. Be sure to check the official report next week.

8:15 am to 9:30 am

Highlights
41 Common Loons, 1 Red-necked Grebe, 3 Horned Grebes, 86 White-winged Scoters, 2 Black Scoters, 8 Surf Scoters, 1 Scoter sp., 54 Oldsquaw, 75 Greater Scaup, 6 Northern Pintail, 11 American Widgeon, 51 Red-breasted Mergansers, 3 Common Mergansers, and 1 Spotted Sandpiper

The flight was primarily in a east/south east direction a total of 375 birds consisting of 18 species of waterfowl, loons, grebes, cormorants, gulls and shorebirds

Good morning Gord,
At 8:42 this morning a flock of 27 Hudsonian Godwits flew west over Bonniebrae pt in Oshawa. These birds were approximately 200 ft up and were following the shoreline west. They may stop in marshes to the west of Oshawa. Last year during the Bonniebrae fall lake watch, I observed two flocks of Godwits ( 2 and 3 birds) which were also heading westward in the morning ( Migration route?).

Other species of note seen at Bonniebrae Point today are 1 Thayers Gull flew east, 1 parasitic jaeger imm. flew east, 2 Red-necked Grebes flew east, 131 White-winged Scoters all flew east, and 43 Oldsquaw flew east. The flight of most species was to the east.
The scoters have been flying eastward daily in small numbers.

Station:  Cranberry Marsh

Period:   Sept. 28 - Oct 4, 1998

Station Co-ordinator Doug Lockrey

Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, 

Martin Bense, Gord Gallant,& Tyler Hoar



TV 212, OS 7, BE 2, NH 47, SS 564, CH 17, RS 2, 

BW 7, RT 11, AK 374, ML 4, PG 4, UB 1, UF 2, UR 3



Period Total: 1258

Year To Date: 13,674





Station: High Park

Period:   Sept. 28 - Oct. 4, 1998

Station Co-ordinator: Don Barnett

Period Counters: Don Barnett, Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, 

Hugh Currie, & John Barker



TV 276, OS 6, BE 2, NH 41, SS 741, CH 17, RS 6, BW 23, 

RT 48, AK 99, ML 2, PG 3, UB 6, UE 1, UR 5



Period Total : 1,276

Year To Date: 17,557

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to Record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park, just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah. The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

4101 Westminster Place #55,
Mississauga, ON
CANADA
L4W 4X4
(416) 808 7950 (B)
(905) 281 3073 (H)

jbarker@mail.interlog.com

Good morning, At 8:42 this morning a flock of 27 Hudsonian Godwits flew west over Bonniebrae pt in Oshawa. These birds were approximately 200 ft up and were following the shoreline west. They may stop in marshes to the west of Oshawa. Last year during the Bonniebrae fall lake watch, I observed two flocks of Godwits ( 2 and 3 birds) which were also heading westward in the morning
( Migration route?).

Other species of note seen at Bonniebrae Point today are 1 Thayers Gull flew east, 1 parasitic jaeger imm. flew east, 2 Red-necked Grebes flew east, 131 White-winged Scoters all flew east, and 43 Oldsquaw flew east. The flight of most species was to the east.

The scoters have been flying eastward daily in small numbers.

DARLINGTON WATERFRONT TRAIL, COURTICE,
ONTARIO HYDRO MARSH UPDATE

Hi Gord, It was an awesome sight, 40+ Northern Pintails flew over Dad and I. We had a good look at their flight patterns. When they landed, we managed to film them on the water. QUESTION ?? Why did the male Pintails seem to have no Pintails ?????? Do they only have Pintails during the breeding season???? This may sound strange but I could not see any tails on them.

Here is the list for today:

• 40+ Northern Pintails (male and female)
• 10 Green-winged Teals
• 12 Red-winged Blackbirds
• 2 Eastern Phoebes
• 1 Northern Harrier

See you,

Hi Gord, we have had only 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (slate-coloured) and they have been here since Oct. 2. Last year at this time It was really cold and we had a flock of 60+ It is amazing how the warmer weather this year has held the larger flocks back until a later date.

Here is the list for today:

• 2 Dark-eyed Juncos (slate-coloured)
• 1 White-breasted Nuthatch
• 1 Downy Woodpecker
• 15 Mourning Doves
• 8 Blue Jays
• 10 House Finches
• 6 American Goldfinches
• 2 Northern (yellow-shafted) Flickers
• 3 American Robins

See you,

OCT. 4/ 1998.

Hi Gord, My Dad and I ran into Jim Fairchild today. Jim directed us to pond 3 and we managed to see a SABINE'S GULL. The Sabine's Gull was mixed in with a flock of 60 Bonaparte's Gulls.

Here is the list for today:

• 1 Sabine's Gull (juvenile)
• 30 American Pipits
• 12 Pectoral Sandpipers
• 100 Bonaparte's Gulls
• 1 Northern Shoveler (female)
• 10 Yellow-rumped Warblers
• 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk
• 1 Pied-billed Grebe
• 8 Lesser Yellowlegs
• 4 Greater Yellowlegs
• 1 Northern Harrier

See You,

Gord

A Sabine's Gull- juvinal was found at Ninquion Sewage lagoon on Saturday Oct 3 at 5 pm. It was still present at dusk.

Station: High Park
Period: Sept. 21 - 27, 1998
Counters: Don Barnett (Station Coordinator), Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Marcel Gabhauer, Hugh Currie, John Barker

TV 19, OS 5, BE 6, NH 26, SS 297, CH 2, BW 33, RT 38,
AK 70, ML 2, PG 4, UA 1, UB 3, UF 0, UR 9

Period Total = 515;

Count Hours = 38

HIGHLIGHTS:

On Sept. 23, 4 BE and 4 PG were recorded.

----------------------

Year-to-date Totals:

TV 33, OS 70, BE 30, NH 241, SS 3171, CH 20, BW 11,336, RT 120,
AK 1165, ML 14, PG 4, UA 10, UB 17, UF 5, UR 68

TOTAL: 16,305

Count Hours = 214

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Sept. 21 - 27, 1998
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey (Station Coordinator), Gord Gallant, John Barker

TV 69, OS 8, BE 0, NH 10, SS 89, CH 1, BW 4, RT 11,
RS 1, AK 58, ML 5, PG 3, UB 1

Period Total = 260

HIGHLIGHTS:

The first Red Shoulder of the season was recorded on Sept. 23.

-------------------------

Year-to-date Totals:

TV 91, OS 104, BE 19, NH 171, SS 2396, CH 31, NG 1, BW 7,812,
RT 116, RL 1, RS 1, AK 1603, ML 36, PG 7, UR 27

TOTAL: 12,416

SYNOPSIS:

A vigorous cold front on Sept. 23 brought less raptors than expected; however with the early and heavy movement of raptors seen earlier in the month, it was not a complete surprise.

Peregrine Falcons are beginning to move in numbers and should peak over the next two weeks, as should Turkey Vultures.

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to Record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA).
The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park, just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department.
This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah.
The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

4101 Westminster Place #55,
Mississauga, ON
CANADA
L4W 4X4
(416) 808 7950 (B)
(905) 281 3073 (H)

jbarker@mail.interlog.com

Alfred Adamo
Chair, TOC Records Committee
aadamo@purolator.com

Station: High Park
Period: Sept. 15 - 20, 1998
Counters: Don Barnett (Station Coordinator), Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Marcel Gabhauer, John Barker

TV 3, OS 7, BE 2, NH 35, SS 154, CH 6, BW 0
RT 2, AK 17, ML 1, PG 0, UA 1, UB 2, UF 5, UR 7

Period Total = 242;
Count Hours = 34

----------------------

Year-to-date Totals:

TV 14, OS 65, BE 24, NH 215, SS 2874, CH 18, BW 11,303,
RT 82, AK 1095, ML 12, PG 1, UA 9, UB 14, UF 5, UR 59

TOTAL: 15,790

---

Station: Cranberry Marsh
Period: Sept. 15 - 20, 1998
Counters: Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye, Doug Lockrey, Gord Gallant, John Barker

TV 1, OS 11, BE 0, NH 10, SS 38, CH 0, BW 1, RT 2,
RL 1, AK 13, ML 3, PG 0, UB 1, UF 1, UR 1

Period Total = 83

-------------------------

Year-to-date Totals:

TV 22, OS 96, BE 19, NH 161, SS 2307, CH 30, NG 1,
BW 7,808, RT 105, RL 1, AK 1545, ML 31, PG 4, UR 26

TOTAL: 12,156

HIGHLIGHTS:

The Rough-leg on Sept. 18 was very early.

SYNOPSIS:

Unfortunately, this week was the foil of last week's fireworks. We were expecting a good flight on Sept. 16 with NE winds forecast; however, they were too light and had switched to SE by noon to cause any significant wind drift. Possibly, BW were moving in good numbers along the Oak Ridges Moraine to our north. The week was characterized by light southerly winds, haze, fog and warm temperatures. With the pending arrival of a strong cold front late on Sept. 21, we have to wait and see what this brings us.

In regards to the fate of "our" BW between Sept. 8 - 10, I am postulating that Holiday Beach "got", late on Sept. 9, the BW we recorded on Sept. 8. The large BW flight that they had received on Sept. 17 may have been partly composed of the BW we recorded on Sept. 9-10, or they may have been the birds we had missed on Sept. 16. If the latter is the more likely scenario, what flight path did the BW we recorded on Sept. 9 - 10 follow?

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park, just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah. The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1 mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: Toronto Ornithological Club, City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

4101 Westminster Place #55,
Mississauga, ON
CANADA
L4W 4X4
(416) 808 7950 (B)
(905) 281 3073 (H)

jbarker@mail.interlog.com

Alfred Adamo
Chair, TOC Records Committee
aadamo@purolator.com

Tue, Sept 15

1 hr

D Lockrey

 

no migrants

 

Wed, Sept 16

6 hrs

D Lockrey

 

TV- 1

OS- 2

NH- 1

SS- 1

BW- 1

RT- 2

AK- 4

ML- 1

UB- 1 

Total- 17

 

Thur, Sept 17

5 hrs

D Lockrey

 

OS- 4

NH- 1

SS- 10

AK- 5

ML- 1

U- 1

Total- 22

 

Friday, Sept 18

5 hrs

D Lockrey

 

OS- 1

NH- 7

SS- 22

AK- 3

RL- 1

UF- 1

Total- 35

 

Heber Downs

Thur, Sept 17

2 hrs

M Bense

BW- 86

Total- 118

On behalf of the Greater Toronto Raptor Watch, I am apologizing for the lateness in posting these results. I aim to post, at least every Monday/Tuesday, our weekly and year-to-date results.

Station: High Park
Period: Sept. 8 - 14, 1998
Counters: Don Barnett (Station Coordinator), Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Hugh Currie, Marcel Gabhauer, John Barker

TOTALS:

TV 3, OS 22, BE 18, NH 150, SS 1773, CH 8, BW 11,106
RT 44, AK 254, ML 4, UA 3, UB 9, UR 24.

Period Total = 13,418; YTD Total = 15,548

HIGHLIGHTS:

Sept. 8 - 4477 BW (new one day station record)
- 9 BE (new one day station record)
- 744 SS (new one day station record)
Sept. 9 - 3524 BW

Sept. 10 - 3008 BW

Sept 8 - 10: 13009 total raptors

SYNOPSIS:

During the period of Sept. 8 - 10, never had some many raptors come through in such numbers over such a restricted period since the fulltime watch was started at High Park in 1994.

A very strong cold front arrived late on Sept. 7 and strong to moderate north to northwest winds followed over the next three days. BW started to arrive in large numbers the morning of the 8th and continued until the watch shut down at 2 p.m. due to showers. This movement was despite the very blustery and turbulent atmospheric conditions, which spawned hailstorms and waterspouts (over Lake Ontario). Atmospheric conditions had stabilized by the afternoon of the 9th, but the sky was still dotted with cumulus clouds, providing an easy backdrop to pick out the streams and kettles of BW. BW movement was generally over and south of our watchsite over those three days, with many BW blown out over Lake Ontario. Near midday on the 8th and 9th, kettles as large as 700-800 BW were recorded.

I am unclear on the flight path after the BW left the Hamilton area (at the western end of L. Ontario) as Holiday Beach appeared to miss our BW. I am speculating that the bulk of these BW entered the US by crossing the Niagara R., rather than following the north shore of L. Erie westwards past Holiday Beach and crossing into Michigan via the Detroit R. The echoes from the Doppler radar in Buffalo seems to suggest this route, at leats on Sept. 10. If anyone has had significant BW sightings between Sept. 8 - 14 west of Hamilton and east of Holiday Beach, I would like to know.

Station: Cranberry Marsh

Last week's totals were not available for posting; we will resume posting Cranberry Marsh results next week.

THE GTRW

The Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW) is operated as a committee within the structure of the Toronto Ornithological Club. Its mandate is to record, analyze and distribute information regarding the fall migration of raptors through the Greater Toronto Region. Education, publicity, research and conservation are secondary objectives. There are two stations under its direction.

The first station is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5 km. (3 miles) southwest of Whitby, Ontario; east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area; the conservation area is under the management of the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). The count is conducted from the southwest platform, overlooking a lakeshore marsh, which is located only about a hundred metres (yards) north of Lake Ontario.

The second station, is located in High Park, just west of Downtown Toronto. The park is operated by the City of Toronto Parks Department. This is a large wooded park, dominated by a Black Oak savannah. The count site (Hawk Hill) is located on a small hill at the north end of the Grenadier Restaurant parking lot. It is located about 1.5 km. (1 mile) north of Lake Ontario, at a elevation of 110 metres (yards) above Lake Ontario. This station is at the highest point and near the centre of the park; a steep slope that descends to a large pond is immediately west of the station. Full-time counts have been recorded here since 1994.

Raptor Counts are conducted at both stations between Sept. 1 and Nov. 30, from 9:00 to 17:00 Standard Time. The best raptor movements occur on days with northerly winds, usually following passage of a cold front. Other bird species, Monarch Butterflies, Dragonflies, etc. are also recorded at both sites. The Lake Ontario shoreline is an important migratory corridor for all these southbound species; movement is from east to west.

The following are partners in our Raptor migration monitoring in the Greater Toronto Region: Toronto Ornithological Club, City of Toronto Parks and Culture Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalists' Clubs.

Directions to our stations are accessible from the HMANA website at

http://www.hmana.org

Click on Watchsites, then on Ontario to find our stations.

John Barker, the Chairman of the GTRW, can be reached at:

jbarker@mail.interlog.com

Alfred Adamo
Chair, TOC Records Committee
aadamo@purolator.com

This is 8th year for the Cranberry Marsh Hawk watch. It is Located between Whitby and Ajax Ontario, and is apporximately 1/2hr east of Toronto. Today We had a big day.

What a great morning of Hawk watching. The birds were flying in large volumes from sun up till 1pm when then rain set in. A total of 3275 birds recorded at the Cranberry Hawk watch between 9 am and 1 pm. Raptors consisted of 1 Turkey Vulture, 5 Ospreys, 4 Bald Eagles ( 2 1st year, 1 2nd yr. and 1 adult), 18 Northern Harriers, 617 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 15 Cooper's Hawks, 3 unidentified Buteos, 2336 Broad-winged hawks, 25 red-tailed hawks, 207 American Kestrels, 2 Merlins, and 1 immature Peregrine Falcon. Other species seen there today include 7 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, 1 Eastern Kingbird, 2 Common Nighthawks, 3 Common Loons, Black-bellied Plover, Lesser Yellowlegs, Northern Shovelers, and Northern Pintails. Also hundreds of Monarchs were being blown south by the strong winds.

Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW), has two stations under its direction.

Station # 1 is High Park (HPRW), located just west of downtown Toronto along the north shore of Lake Ontario in the Eastern Great Lakes region. Hawk hill is located just north of the parking lot at the Grenadier Restaurant.This park is run by the City of Toronto Parks department. The site is 110 metres above Lake Ontario.We began counting here in 1994

Station #2 is Cranberry Marsh (CMRW), which is 4.5km southwest of Whitby, Durham R.M., east of Toronto. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area and is owned by the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA). South-west platform is were we watch from. Our counts started in 1990. This site is 75 metres above the north shore of Lake Ontario.

The following are partners in our efforts in Hawk Migration monitoring around the Greater Toronto Area.

Toronto Ornithological Club, City of Toronto Parks Department, Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority, and Local Naturalist's clubs.

Directions to both our stations are accessible from the HMANA website;
http://www.hmana.org
Click on Watchsites, then Ontario to find our stations

Station: High Park
Period: Sept. 1-7,1998
Counters: Don Barnett, John Barker, Bob Yukich, Naish McHugh, Hugh Currie, and Marcel Gabhauer
Highlights: Sept.4 a new day, and station record for A.Kestrel - just below 400 exact number to be posted later.

TV 6, OS 25, BE 2, NH 28, SS 847, CH 3, BW 191, RT 23,
AK 746, ML 5, PG 1, UA 4, UB 3, UR 24,

Period Total = 1,908, YTD total = 2,130,
Period Hours = 46, YTD Hours =92

---

Station: Cranberry Marsh Period: Aug.31 to Sept.7
Counters: Doug Lockrey, Mike Boudreau, Rayfield Pye
Highlights: Sept 4th a new GTA, station day record for A.Kestrel 540

TV 3, OS 32, BE 1, NH 13, SS 644, CH 3, RS 1, BW 3, RT 27,
AK 1,012, ML 16, PG 2, UR 10

Period Total = 1,757, YTD Total = 1,757,
Period Hours = 36.5, YTD Hours = 36.5

Station: High Park, Hawkhill, Toronto, Ontario

Viewing Period: August 19 to 31, 1998

Greater Toronto Raptor Watch (GTRW), has two stations under its direction. Station # 1 is High Park located just west of downtown Toronto along the northshore of Lake Ontario in the Eastern Great Lakes region. Hawkhill is located beside the large parking lot were the Grenadier Restaurant. The site is 110 metres above Lake Ontario.

Station # 2 is Cranberry Marsh which is 4.5km southwest of Whitby,Durham R.M. This station is within the Lynde Shores Conservation Area controlled by Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority.

The following are partners in our efforts in Hawk Migration monitoring around the Greater Toronto Area.

Toronto Ornithological Club, City of Toronto Parks Department, Local Naturalist's clubs, and Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority.
Direction to both stations are accessible from the HMANA website;
http://www.hmana.org
Click on Ontario under Hawkwatches

High Park

Date: Aug.19-31,1998

YTD
HRS 46
TV 2, OS 11, BE 2, NH 2, SS 100, CH 1, BW 6,
RT 13, AK 78, ML 2, UA 1, UB 2, UR 4
Total 222

Counter(s) for the period: Don Barnett, and John Barker

After 15 years of birding, I finally saw my first Buff-breasted Sandpiper! At Second Marsh in Oshawa on the mudflats, I found two juvenile birds. I first noticed them in flight from the west side of the marsh. Their white underwings with black wrist patch gave them away. After some spectacular aerobatics, they landed on a dry mudflat not too far from Jim Fairchild and myself. We fixed our scopes on them and had a great view, until they dissapeared behind a crest on the mudflat. After some patience, they eventually ended up in front of us with the sun to our backs - giving us an awesome view. They performed their usual feeding habits (always on the move and darting about for food). They also posed as the upland sandpiper do - erect and head extended upwards. According to what I have read and heard from other birders, they are not as buffy colored in the fall as they are in the spring - but they were still very colourful. I was very pleased to have had such great views - especially on my first sighting. Sightings like this is what birding is all about - being able to identify a new species, and getting excellent looks.

The only other shorebird I need to see is the American Avocet. It is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

Good birding!

Well after having a quiet morning at Bonniebrae point, with just Greater Black-backed gulls migrating west I decided to check out the second marsh. Just off the mouth of the Marsh there was the local Red-throated Loon that has been inhabiting the Bonniebrae pt to Darlington Provincial park area for the last while. As I was counting shorebirds, they exploded up from the mudflats. My eyes looked up to see an immature Tundrius peregrine Falcon diving down on a flock of shorebirds. I watched this bird chase flocks around the marsh then over to Darlington and back at least three times. During a period of peregrine absence I found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on a mudflat in the north central part of the marsh. It and all shorebirds in the marsh where still moving around and very nervous with the Peregrine around. Other shorebirds seen were: Killdeer 1, Semi-palmated Plover 6, Spotted sandpiper 2, Pectorals 19, Least 16, Solitary 1, Semipalmated sandpipers 32, Lesser Yellowlegs 9, Greater Yellowlegs 1. I was also amazed at the 2000+ ducks on the marsh. They consisted of 700+ mallards, 500+ Blue-winged Teal, 86 Green-winged teal, 33 northern Shovelers, 7 Wood Ducks, 65 Black Ducks, 15 American Widgeon, 87 Gadwalls, and 3 Ring-necked Ducks. I also noticed small numbers of Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Sharp-shinned hawks, and American kestrels.

I showed up at Cranberry Marsh at 11:30 and joined the hawk watchers. In the two hours I was there, we saw 8 Northern Harriers, 75 kestrels, 47 Sharp-shinned, 1 Coopers, 2 Osprey, 2 Red-tailed hawks and 2 Common Nighthawks. Also at Cranberry where American widgeon 3, Ruddy Duck 1, Northern Shoveler 39 among the common waterfowl.

Hi Gord,

Thanks for the directions to Thickson Wood, I had a look around on Saturday ( Aug 22 ), but not too much around, so I went on to Darlington PP, highlights (for me anyway, most of these birds are new to me) American Redstarts ( including 1 male ), 1 Chestnut-sided, 1 Canada, 3 Black & White, 2 Yellow-Rumped and 1 Black- throated Blue Warbler. 1 Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Solitary Sandpiper and Lesser Yellowlegs feeding together giving good ID comparison.

Peter Maksymiw
peter_maksymiw@yahoo.com

Hello Gord, Our birding group saw a male osprey in the new subdivision east of the marsh,we went south on the new road into the subdivision and saw the osprey on one of the new light stands.We all have our concerns about this area and the impact it will have on the marsh,but the laugh is we saw this bird for the first time this year in the damn subdivision,now this is a joke if I ever saw one.

Before the rain this morning on the beach at Darlington Provincial park there were Sandpipers: 43 least, 5 semipalmated, 2 bairds, 14 spotted, 6 semipalmated plovers, 7 sanderlings. Raptors: 1 osprey (female), 1 northern harrier ( immature), 1 cooper's hawk 9 immature). Also 1 red-breasted merganser, 1 green heron. Last night again the ever reliable merlin was sitting on the office antenna at 7:30pm. This bird has been seen for the last two weeks on the antenna in the evening after 7 pm.

Between rains I went to the Second marsh. Shorebirds: 14 short-billed dowitchers, 2 greater yellowlegs, 19 lesser yellowlegs, 9 solitary, 29 least, 17 semipalmated sandpipers, and 1 semipalmated plover.Waterfowl 9 mute swans,25 canada geese, 250+ mallards, 57 blue-winged teal, 8 green-winged teal, 11 blacks, 1 american widgeon, 7 gadwall and 2 northern shovelers Other species seen were 1 merlin, 5 moorhens, 1 green heron 1 bonapartes gull and approximately 500 cormorants.

did some birding at my property on solina rd. near courtice. Had a good number of warblers today including 1 parula, 2 wilsons and many magnolias, nashvilles, and ovenbirds. Also a couple of nighthawks flying around at 9:30 am.

Hi Gord,

Shorebird numbers were still good at Nonquon this afternoon, but I was not able to find any rarities today. There were at least 50 each of Killdeer and Lesser Yellowlegs. Least Sandpiper (20) and Spotted Sandpiper (14) were also common, and there were also a few Greater Yellowlegs (4), Semipalmated Plovers (5), Solitary Sandpipers (2), and Semipalmated Sandpipers (6). Most of the shorebirds were in the westernmost pond, but there were also a few in the easternmost.

From the south end of the westernmost pond, I observed two sandpipers face off against each other, bobbing their heads a lot. One eventually mounted the other's back briefly, then they went separate ways. These sandpipers were roughly Killdeer-sized, and fairly heavily streaked on the upper part of the breast. I would have called them Pectoral Sandpipers, but the streaking did not end abruptly as it usually does on them, and also went lower on the breast. I waited for quite a while, but only caught a quick glimpse of one in flight - the tail pattern appeared to be dark in the middle and white or light gray on the sides, but with this pattern extending further up the back than on peeps, for example. I've considered Stilt and Upland Sandpiper as well as Pectoral, but nothing seems to match perfectly - can anyone offer any suggestions?

As for other birds, there were 5 Ruddy Ducks, 6 Moorhens, and 2 Coots in the second pond from the east. 4 of the Ruddy Ducks were males in breeding plumage. 6 Black Terns were also still around, and there was a mixed flock of well over 60 swallows over the easternmost pond; Bank Swallow seemed to be the most common, with some Barn and Tree mixed in.

Good birding,

Hi Gord,

This morning I visited the new Darlington Waterfront Trail wetland (not an official name I think) as well as Darlington Provincial Park and Second Marsh. In total I saw over 70 species, including a dozen warbler species.

I was pleasantly surprised by my first visit to the Waterfront Trail wetland (which incidentally I never knew existed until Eric's posting about the Virginia Rails last week - thanks for the information). I did see one adult Virginia Rail fairly well, and was able to watch a large family of Moorhens (2 adults, 5 young) wander around the mudflats. Other birds here included 1 Pied-billed Grebe, 1 Coot, 12 Blue-winged Teal, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, and a few Least Sandpipers. There was also a Kestrel perched on the Osprey platform on the north side - good to know at least something makes use of these structures.

In Darlington Provincial Park, a good pod of activity was near the west end of the park, where I had Northern Waterthrush, Mourning Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Redstart, Chestnut-sided and Canada Warbler. Around the lookout on top of the hill, there were more Nashville and Magnolia Warblers, as well as a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Here I also saw the local Merlin flying west parallel to the park road.

The Robinson Creek valley was the best place for warblers today. Redstarts were the most common, followed by Wilson's and Canada. There was also another Mourning Warbler here. The hummingbirds are also really on the move now - along this short trail I saw 7 of them, several of which were chattering as they moved around.

Along the beach on the south side of McLaughlin Bay the highlight was a Baird's Sandpiper west of the boat rental. Further west there were 3 Semipalmated and 4 Least Sandpipers, and a Sanderling. In the gull roosting area there were 8 Greater Black-backed Gulls, 10 Caspian Terns, and 1 female Red-breasted Merganser. I should mention too that just as I approached the lake, I saw three flocks of 50 to 150 birds each fly west over the lake, far out. All I could make out was that they were definitely ducks of some kind.

Second Marsh was not terribly productive today. The most interesting finds were 5 Short-billed Dowitchers on the mudflats on the east side, and 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers in a single tree ~100 metres south of the east lookout.

At the large pond south of the GM parking lot there was a female Hooded Merganser mixed in with both species of teal and many Mallards. At the smaller pond to the northeast (the new "Dogwood Trail") I saw an adult and an immature Green-backed Heron at close range.

Good birding,

Hello Gord, I managed to film a Virginia rail - ( they seem really elusive ) at the Darlington waterfront trail - the marsh/pond area just west of the Darlington Nuclear power station - south off the service road. Travelling east on the 401, take the Courtice road south and then east on the south service road. I managed to see three Virginia rails.

Hi Gord,

Last night at Nonquon Sewage lagoons a nonbreeding plumage Ruff was located in the west lagoon. This afternoon the bird was still present among the 250-300 shorebirds. Other shorebirds seen including Wilson's Phalarope, Short-billed Dowitcher, Sandpipers: Baird's, Stilt, Least, Semipalmated, Spotted, Solitary, Pectoral, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Common Snipe, Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover.

other species of interest:

Black Tern              5               Bonaparte's gulls       400+

Pied-billed grebes      2               Ring-necked Duck        1

Common Moorhen  	7               Ruddy Duck              3

American Coot           2               American Black Duck     2

Darlington Provincial Park

2 Red-throated Loons ( in breeding plumage) foraging together in lake

Ontario within 100 ft of shore at 1pm.

18 Least Sandpiper

1 Semi-palmated Sandpiper

1 Solitary Sandpiper

23 Spotted Sandpiper

1 Green Heron

4 Great Blue Heron

56 Common Terns

32 Caspian Terns

465 Double-crested Cormorants

2 Great Black-backed Gulls

1 immature Cooper's Hawk foraging near Log Cabin. The breeding pair of Cooper's Hawks in the park fledged 3 young this year.

While shorebird viewing has been poor at Presqu'ile, the Toronto Rare Bird Hotline reported tonight that an adult long-billed dowitcher was spotted on Sunday. I have no further details at this time.

Nonquon Sewage Lagoons near Port Perry has been very good with many migrants, including their first Baird's sandpiper today and two stilt sandpipers yesterday. Also many other migrants.

Hi Gord,

At Cranberry Marsh early this morning there were most of the usual birds. I was happy to find a Green Heron near the northwest end of the marsh, a Black-and-white Warbler along the path to the northwest lookout, and a Common Loon out on the lake, but otherwise there were no surprises.

The Nonquon lagoons were much more productive. In just over an hour, I found 45 species. The nine shorebirds present were (approximate number indicated) Killdeer (6), Lesser (35) & Greater Yellowlegs (15), Solitary Sandpiper (15), Spotted Sandpiper (7), Semipalmated (4) and Least Sandpipers (5), Short-billed Dowitcher (1), Common Snipe (4).

Other interesting birds here included Black Tern (1), Caspian Tern (21), Bonaparte's Gull (4), Common Moorhen (5), Am. Coot (2), Pied-billed Grebe (1), and Blue-winged (10) and Green-winged (20) Teal. The water levels in the various ponds are currently highly varied, offering birds a choice between deep water, shallow water, or extensive exposed flats. Assuming things stay as they are, the lagoons should remain very productive throughout the southward migration of the shorebirds.

Good birding,

Red Knot 1 in about 75% breeding plummage

Black-bellied Plover in Basic/winter plummage

6 Semipalmated Sandpipers

2 Semipalmated Plovers

3 wood ducks



in Lake Ontario off Halls Rd.



Common Loon 1

Red-breasted Merganser 3

Little gull 2

Bonapartes gull 14



Whitby Harbour

Caspian Tern 3

Common Tern 7

Great black-backed Gulls 8

Bonapartes gulls 154

Herring gulls 17

Ring-billed gulls 200+

Darlington Provincial park waterbird survey Friday June 12

		              		Mute swan 22

Cormorants 69				( including 1 family with 2 cygnets)

Canada geese 202                        mallard 88

American widgeon 3                      Gadwall 22

Blue-winged teal 3                      Wood Duck 4

Bufflehead 1 male                       Common Loon 1

Ring-billed Gull 150+                   Herring gull 3

Great black-backed gulls 5              Common terns 8

Caspian terns 2                         black terns 23

Spotted Sandpipers 11

The bay this year did not open up to lake Ontario this spring. this stopped carp from entering the bay to spawn and destroy almost all aquatic vegetation. So this summer the vegetation is thicker then I have witnessed in 25 years. Also on June 7 there were 143 Semipalmated sandpipers, 3 Sanderlings and 5 Ruddy Turnstones on the beach. In the marsh there was an immature male Common Goldeneye.

Hi Gord.....
I've only been birding for about a year but....for what it's worth I thought I would pass on our experience today at Cranberry Marsh and Pumphouse Marsh out Whitby way.

Several Great Blue Heron
4 Black Crowned Night Herons
1 Trumpeter Swan (with a yellow tag #320)
Several Mute Swan
2 Snow Geese
1 Green Winged Teal
2 Gadwall
1 Common Moorhen
Many Black Terns
Many Mourning Doves
1 Belted Kingfisher
1 Northern Flicker
1 Eastern Phoebe
Many Tree and Barn Swallows
2 Blue Jays
Many American Crow
Many American Robin
2 Cedar Waxwings
Many Yellow Warbler
Several Cardinal
Maybe a Scarlet Tanager...but if so, it wasn't a good view
Countless Redwinged Blackbirds
Countless Common Grackles

Are you interested in these kinds of reports?

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Beaverton Lagoons- Dunlin,Semi-Palmated Sandpiper,White Rumped Sandpiper,Semi-Palmated Plover, 30 Gadwall, Lesser Scaup, Caspian Terns.

Nonquon Lagoons- All above species,plus 6 Rudddy Ducks,Wilson's Phalarope (f), Dowitcher.

Cranberry Marsh- 3 Whimbrel

Hi Gord,

My husband, Dan, was birding at Cranberry Marsh this morning. He was at the south lookout off Halls Rd and when he left, he accidentally left his bag on the bumper of his pickup truck. When he discovered it was missing, he went back to look for it, but couldn't find it. There were other birders in the area, so someone may have found it. If you hear of anyone finding it, please call us at (905) 428-7300 or by e-mail.

Thanks a lot

Hi All,

I did my annual Baillie Birdathon in Durham Region on Saturday May 23/98 with the help of two friends, Craig McLauchlan and Norm Murr, we tallied a total of 140 species seen/heard for the day (I personally missed Chimney Swift which each of Craig & Norm saw, so they had 141 spp).

We began our day very early, around 2am, for owls and other night birds with a little success, but missed on things like Screech Owl and Whip-poor-will (I think because of the wind and coolness of the night - it was about 6C at around 3am). We did get Woodcock 'peenting' near Nonquon S.L. and on our way up to Nonquon Marsh (just north of the lagoons up Old Simcoe Road), we stopped the car to listen for Veery and got a Connecticut Warbler singing, at 4:30am!! We stopped again at around 6:00am at the same spot and the warbler sang again, it's funny that when we stopped the car the bird sang, but didn't sing again until I restarted the car, it seemed to sing when disturbed, this occurred 4 times. We heard both common rails calling, as well as the 'thunder pumping' of an American Bittern at the marsh, and that weird call of a Pied-billed Grebe, and Common Snipe 'winnowing' overhead. Also in the general area of the marsh we heard a Pileated Woodpecker drumming and saw 2 male Wood Ducks.

We picked up Osprey, Ruffed Grouse, Canada Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Winter Wren, Alder Flycatcher, Mourning Warbler, Clay-colored, Grasshopper & Field Sparrow, all in the Scugog area.

We then headed for Thickson's Woods to pick up many more warblers as well as Scarlet Tanager and thrushes, but the woods were quieter than I expected, no Carolina Wren singing, but we did hear one of the Great Horned Owls call mid-morning because it was being harassed by Crows, we ended up the day with 21 species of warbler (could've been a little better).

Second Marsh then produced two Virginia Rails (already heard earlier) which called then popped up from the reeds and flew about 10 metres, good close view, as well as distant views (in the middle of the marsh) of 2 Whimbrel and 7 Red Knots but missed on Little Gull, we also got Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in the woods at 2nd marsh.

Nonquon S.L.'s produced 13 species of shorebird including 2 Wilson's Phalaropes (neither was very brightly coloured, I think they may have both been males), a few Short-billed Dowitchers of the griseus race, 2 Solitary Sandpipers, 4 Ruddy Turnstones, a few White-rumped Sandpipers and we were able to pick out 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper amongst the many Leasts. As far as ducks were concerned we saw 4 Redhead (2 male, 2 female), American Wigeon, 3 Ruddy Ducks & both Green and Blue-winged Teal. Also up there were 5 of the six common swallows, we picked up Cliff later near the lakeshore, as well as Black and Caspian Terns.

Cranberry Marsh produced a Black-bellied Plover and 45 more Red Knots, many in beautiful breeding plumage plus our only American Coot of the day (whew!).

We ended the day by dropping in at Bonnie Brae point for the fly-past which wasn't all that productive in diversity of species but we did pick up ~500 White-winged Scoters, and two BIG surprises, first an absolutely gorgeous adult male King Eider flying over with Scoters as well as 3 Canvasbacks in a flock following. Many thanks to Tyler Hoar for helping us as we did not know the time for the flight, but he arrived as we were about to leave and said that it should just be starting. We tried one last time up near Durham Regional Forest for Whip-poor-will around 10pm but again no luck there, then home to a deep, deep sleep!

Many, many easy/big misses like House Wren, Broad-winged Hawk, Marsh Wren, Horned Lark, Green Heron and on and on... but that's what these 'big days' are all about, to get better in the following year. Goes to show you how well Margaret Bain et al know Durham, I think her 24 hour record is in the 185-190 spp range!! WOW!!

Next weekend, I'm off to Ottawa to enter the "Taverner's Cup" competition on Saturday May 30 for another day of fun, this time with my brother, look for that report sometime next week, last year we tallied 101 species, without knowing the area all that well, should be better this year, fingers crossed!

Regards & Good birding,

Hi Gord...while working in the backyard this past Saturday, I was surprised to see 5 Sandhill Cranes fly overhead mid-afternoon and land in the cornfield next door. We ran over to the field with binoculars and camera but didn't need the binoculars -these birds were very comfortable in our presence. We noted that they were tagged with a transmitter and learned that these are 5 of the 7 cranes that Mr. Leishman had led south in his aircraft hoping that they would begin to migrate on their own-we were told all this by a neighbour who at the same time was providing them with water to drink. A couple of hours later as we were having our dinner, another neighbour came to our door to ask about the strange birds on his front lawn. We went to investigate, and sure enough, it was the cranes again. Apparently, he was in the process of watering his flower beds when the birds actually approached him for a drink! Again, we stood a few feet from them and watched them for a while while relating to him what we had learned earlier. By the way, we live in Orono on Ochonski Road.

Today in the yard, a small group of warblers passed through...a male Bay-breasted, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia and a female Black-throated Green. A Yellow is nesting in the marshy area nearby and our usual Red-eyed and Warbling Vireos are here.

Best wishes Gord...

King Eider ( Full breeding Plumage adult male) flew directly over the point in a flock of 78 white-winged scoters. Observed by myself and three other observers.

Totals for May 23
6 pm to 8:40 pm
King Eider 1
White-winged Scoter 503
Oldsquaw 106
Red-breasted Merganser 67
Double-crested Cormorant 307
Black-crowned Night Heron 13
Canvasback 3

Hi Gord,

This morning I went out to several Durham birding hotspots. Bird activity was much better than it has been the past couple of days, and I found a total of over 80 species, including 14 warblers. Here are the highlights, broken down by location:

Thickson's Woods: The warblers here were Yellow, Redstart, Yellowthroat, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Bay-breasted, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, Black-and-white, Magnolia, and Tennessee. Other birds included Gnatcatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, Rufous-sided Towhee, and Cedar Waxwing. All of these were present in small numbers (1 to 4).

Lynde Shores: Many of the same warblers were present. Additional species included Brown Thrasher, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Least Flycatcher (one of each). There were 7 Bobolinks along the road down to the east side of Cranberry Marsh, and most of them were very vocal.

Nonquon Lagoons: The highlights here were a Wilson's Phalarope in the west-most pond, and a Long-billed Dowitcher in the third pond from the west. Dunlin and Greater Yellowlegs were the most common shorebirds (25 to 35 of each), while Killdeer, Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs, and Spotted Sandpiper were present in smaller numbers. There were 18 Caspian Terns loafing on the shore of the fourth pond, and 6 Black Terns flew back and forth over the area. Among the waterfowl, there were 4 Green-winged Teal, 3 Blue-winged Teal, 3 Ruddy Ducks, and a male Shoveler.

Glen Major Conservation Area: The best birds here were a Grasshopper Sparrow and a Golden-winged Warbler, both of which I saw singing just northwest of the park entrance. 2 Brown Thrashers and 4 Rufous-sided Towhees were just to the south of the entrance; males of both species were singing. Flying overhead were 2 Harriers, 1 Broad-winged Hawk, and 1 Turkey Vulture.

Good birding,

Dear Gord,

thanks a lot for your excellent tips. On Sunday I went to Leslie Spit. The weather was bad, no warbler but I could find with the help of local birdwatcher a marsh wren, which was new to me.

On Monday morning despite the terrbile weather I went to the Spit again and succeeded in flushing a Woodcock.

On Tuesday afternoon I went to to Toronto Island, and there were already quite a few warblers and other interesting birds.

Wednesday would have a good day for birding, but did not have any time.

On Thursday I went to Thickson Woods and met there a local birdwatcher, Denis Barry, who guided me around the woods (Great Horned Owl, several warblers, thrushes etc.) and accompinied me to Second Marshs (Warbling Vireo, Virginia Rail, Northern Waterthrush etc.).

All in all I was extremely happy with the birding. Despite the partly unfavourable weather and limited time I could refresh my limited experience of American birds (around 100 species - practically no waders) and tick 15(!) new species for my list. I found the local birders very helpful!

Thank you once more!

Best regards,

Hi Gord:

We located a Cooper's hawk nest at Darlington Provincial Park at the end of March. It is located on the north side of the main road past the park gate and just before where the road enters the valley. When we observed the bird it was bringing nesting material to the nest. We are from Trenton and don't go to Darlington very often and thought this information may be of use to someone. Perhaps someone should fill out a nest record card.

Hi Gord! have been lurking on your sightings board for about a week now and I'm curious. I work for Bill Lishman, and have just purchased a home on hwy#12 about 200 yards north of where the Nonquon crosses the highway. I've read the post with regards to the Port Perry sewage lagoons and am wondering where they might be? I've seen the odd great blue heron fly over my home and have had Blue Jays, orioles, red winged black birds, sparrows, chickadees and cardinals at my feeders. If anyone ever spots our 6 sandhill cranes please be sure to let us know?

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

29 common loons
5 common terns
1 3rd yr bald eagle flew east at approx 8:05am
1 adult red-headed woodpecker flew in of lake and landed within 30 ft of myself
2 palm warbler also flew in of lake

Hello Gord, well the passerines seem to be on schedule. It will be harder to see them this year with the trees being 2-3 weeks ahead of schedule.

Darlington Provincial park

3 yellow-rumped warblers
2 black and white warblers
2 northern waterthrushes
2 black-throated blue warblers
1 least flycatcher
1 great crested flycatcher
1 rose-breasted grosbeak
2 field sparrows
300+ white throated sparrows
1 ruby-throated hummingbird
1 wood thrush
2 hermit thrushes
3 coopers hawks ( 2 adults 1 immature)
1 3rd year bald eagle ( the bird observed this morning at Bonniebrae pt.)
2 spotted sandpipers
1 marsh wren

Fox St Oshawa

1 white-crowned sparrow
50+ white-throated sparrows
1 rusty blackbird

Many of the regular birding crowd showed up at Thickson's Woods this morning, and so did some of the regular species as follows: Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Solitary Vireo(Blue-headed Vireo), Verry, Swainson's and Hermit Thrushes, Brown Thrasher, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Carolina Wren, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Palm Warbler, Pine Warbler, and a singing Prairie Warbler in beautiful plumage. The Prairie Warbler was a lifer for many. I had seen one before - but never this good and never heard it sing before.

If you show up at Thickson's Woods, don't forget to visit 'The Tent'. They are selling coffee, tea, donuts, muffins, checklists, and sweatshirts. I have a sweatshirt myself - they are quite nice! Proceeds go to supporting the Thickson's Woods Heritage Foundation - a non-profit charitable corporation established to purchase Thickson's Woods and to manage it in such a way as to preserve and encourage the plant and animal life of the area. Help preserve our natural heritage. For further information phone: (416)725-2116.

This is one of my favorite birding spots, that is why I chose to include the information above. It is truely an awesome birding hotspot - not too far from Toronto - at the foot of Thickson's Road in Whitby. There is usually birders around - many of which are seasoned birders, which are always willing to help fellow birders. I hope to see you there. E-mail me if you need directions.