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

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL ONTARIO BIRDERS AND OTHERS WHO READ THIS!

There has been a major change in the weather since last week. The ponds, and much of the river seemed to ice up overnight, sending the ducks into the remaining open areas. Some people were able to get out birding over the Christmas weekend, and reported the following;

FANSHAWE a group of Tundra swans and a flock of Goldeneyes on the lake, a Northern Shrike near the rowing club, Robins, and two Harriers in the same general area.

LAKE WHITTAKER also had Robins (10).

THAMES RIVER by Victoria hospital , (a warm area), a single Goldeneye and a Kingfisher in Springbank Park, east of the pumphouse, an immature Thayer's gull, with 2 Greater Blacks and a large number of Black ducks. A Thayer's was reported on our C.B.C. in this area, so likely this is the same one. It was (re)found by Andrew Ross, (age 14), on his return from Xmas in Texas. (Although the weather was good there at first, he said it got cold and miserable the last 3 days!)

FEEDERS A Redbellied at one on Hamilton Rd. and no sighting of the Oregon junco this week,

OUTING New Years Day in Springbank Park, meet at 10a.m. in the Wonderland parking area, and start your 1999 list. Perhaps you'll get the Thayer's and the 2 Eagles that have been seen around that area.

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

The 18th Ingersoll CBC took place on Mon Dec 28, a glorious day to be in the field with no wind and temperatures just above freezing.

The final species total was 62 (average 58). The # individuals was 30,097, the 2nd highest ever.

Two new species were added to the count: Lesser Black-backed Gull and American Pipit. Glaucous Gull and Fox Sparrow were seen for the 2nd time only.

There were record high counts for 12 species including, of course, Canada Goose (4156) and American Robin (103). Other species with record high numbers were Red-headed (3), Red-bellied (8) and Pileated (3) Woodpeckers, Sharp-shinned (11) and Red-tailed (115) Hawks, Northern Goshawk (3), and Northern Harrier (22). Both Rock (1244) and Mourning (2039) Doves established high counts. Mourning Doves were everywhere according to most parties. The new high is almost double the previous high.

Sixteen species were above average in numbers, 7 species average, and 12 species below average.

Species missing in action were White-crowned and Field Sparrows and Wood Duck. In fact, other than Tree Sparrows and juncos, most sparrow species were missing or well below 18 year averages.

PS
Last year Ingersoll had the highest count in NORTH AMERICA for Snow Bunting (1946)!!. We are anxiously waiting to see if this year's count of 3100 will keep us in that exalted postion.

FYI: Other Ontario counts with North American highs in 1997 were Woodhouse with 50,000 Greater Scaup; Hamilton with 10,456 Common Goldeneye; Point Pelee with 4,006 Red-breasted Merganser; Algonquin Park with 58 Ruffed Grouse and 4 Black-backed Woodpecker; Vermilion Bay with 93 Gray Jays; Thunder Bay with 1,331 Ravens; and North Bay with 1,026 Pine Grosbeaks.

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

Highlights of the London count yesterday, 19th Dec.

• 1 Sandhill Crane
• 1 Lesser Blackbacked Gull

KOMOKA PONDS
136 coots, 43 ruddy ducks, 3 gadwall,2 greenwinged teal, 14 ringnecked ducks.

• 154 Robins
• Common Yellowthroat, male
• 5 Carolina wrens, (1 observer), +2 more
• 6 Redbreasted Nuthatches, (1 observer) +more
• Flock of snowbuntings

All results not in at this time, approx. 60 species in total.

Also 1 mink and 1 salamander

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

There were two NORTHERN SHRIKES at the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons, in Middlesex County this morning.

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

I was at Pelee yesterday 2-5.30 but saw NO CAVE SWALLOW. I mention that as no reports on yet and some people may be wondering. It was seen last at 11.00a.m.

Middlesex

Last weekend Gavin Platt found a late C. Yellowthroat near his house. John Mc Keenan had a Rusty at Strathroy S.L.

Sunday, 13 Komoka Ponds

• Lots of coots, ruddy ducks, some redheads,1 horned grebe
• Jack Mayos had chipping sparrow, flicker and sharpshin hawk in his yard.

Monday ,14 Strathroy S.L.

• 3 buffleheads, 3 g.w. teal, 3 shovellers
• 1 redbellied in Gibbons Park
• 2 hooded mergs. on river by Vct. hospital

There seemed to be an influx of shrike -

• 1) Sun. Thames valley off Glenora
• 2) Mon. Old Victoria Rd. at Scotland Drive in s.w. London
• 3)Mon. Avon Rd. (just in county) east of Belmont, near village sign, north side.

Just before the weather turned colder, we had 2 reports of hearings of spring peepers, and a leopard frog seen by Dave Martin, and I counted 9 sp. flowers in yard.

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

London Area Nov.19-26

The most exciting bird in the area this week has been the Ross's goose. First seen Saturday evening at West Lorne S.L., it flew, but was refound there Sunday morning. It again flew while some people were enroute to see it, (some at least saw bluebirds there), and it was searched for but not found. The next day, Monday, it was once again found, at the (West Lorne exit ) Service station on the 401 which has a pond beside it. This time it was with a white-phase snow goose, with which it could be compared , and was a good educational experience. Alas, it took off again, before more people went to see it Tuesday.

Friday, Nov.20

Calvert Rd. near Sexton, (W. of Strathroy, Close to MSX. Co. line) 3 shorteared owls
Fanshawe (golf course) 1 redthroated loon, (Mac McAlpine)

Sunday, Nov.22

Aylmer W.M.A. 2 white-fronted geese , joined by a snow goose on Tuesday, 24th

Monday. Nov.23

Fanshawe (above dam) 1rednecked grebe, (Jack and Betty Essey)

Wed. Nov.24

Komoka gravel pits ring-neck, canvasback, ruddy, black and redhead ducks, 1 mute swan, lots of coots
Arkona Pond 1 white-fronted, (Greenland) goose, 1 hutchinsii Canada
Strathroy area Napier Rd. 1 Coopers, sitting on barn roof 1st farm south of Winter Rd, 1 short-eared owl
Calvert-McDougall- Sexton triangle 3 redtails, 2 harriers, another Cooper's, and 1 more or same owl
Aylmer W.M.A. 1 white-fronted & 1 snow goose; blacks and mallards
Noone has reported Franklins at Fanshawe this week. Dave Martin however, reports them from Elgin today, Wed. in ringbill flocks on the fields. He saw 8 flocks and counted 18 Franklin's among them.

On Saturday evening a white goose, believed to be Ross's was seen at West Lorne S.L. but it flew before positive i.d. was established. It was seen again there Sunday, and George Preiksaitis spread the word, but, unfortunately it again flew before several people arrived to see it. It had been out in the field in front of the lagoons. Thinking it might have gone back overnight I went out this A.M. early- 8o'clock, but no luck. After checking Rodney and the area around I started to return to London, on the 401. As is my habit, I stopped at the Service centre just east of West Lorne exit, to check the pond there for ducks. Instead of ducks there was a flock of Canadas, and 2 white geese. One was a Snow, and the other was the elusive Ross's. It was good to see both together. The smaller size, the little squashed beak with no black lips or grinning patch, and its short neck and round head could all be compared with the snow. And at least 1 of those who missed it on Sunday saw it today.

Pittock Reservoir/Lake, Woodstock, November 18

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

I am passing on a report from James Holdsworth who observed 19 FRANKLIN'S GULLS arrive to roost at Pittock Reservoir today between 3:00 p.m. and dusk. Of these 13 were adults, 3 were 2nd winter, and 3 were first winter.

Franklin's Gulls (four adults) were first seen at Pittock on Nov. 12, the same day that reports were arriving from many other southern Ontario locations.

A similar increase in numbers at Fanshawe Reservoir in London has been documented. One on Nov 12, two on Nov 13 and 6 on Nov 16. The Franklin's Gulls have NOT left the province by any means.

Until James called today, the only inland reports of Franklin's that I recall were at Fanshawe Lake in London. It is interesting to note that most reports of Franklin's along Lakes Erie and Ontario are of small numbers. Only Alf Rider's report of 29 on Nov 12 at Kettle Point on Lake Huron matches the Pittock/Woodstock or Fanshawe/London numbers.

James reported that the Franklin's were coming in to roost in flocks of Ring-billed Gulls, another "inland" gull. In my opinion birders should look at inland sites for Franklin's during the day in fields with Ring-billed Gulls or at roosts at inland reservoirs (Guelph, Conestoga, Bellwood, etc) an hour or so before dark.

James also reported one adult winter California Gull.

Pittock Reservoir forms the northern border of Woodstock . There are various lookouts along the road (name?) bordering the SOUTH side of the lake, especially at Roth Park at the WESTERN end of the lake. Most of the gulls roost on the lake near the dam.

Today at 3:00 PM at Fanshawe Lake in London, I was able to find 2 FRANKLIN'S GULLS. At first, I thought I wouldn't see them but they were swimming by themselves about 100 feet off shore. Besides the gulls, there were COMMON GOLDENEYE, COMMON MERGANSER and 4 TUNDRA SWANS.

On the afternoon of Monday 16th November there were 6 Franklin's Gulls on Lake Fanshawe, London, Ontario. It is over 20 years since the last Franklin's gull was seen in Middlesex county.

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

Friday, Nov.13

A Franklin's Gull was seen at 1.40 this afternoon at Fanshawe Golf course, by Bill Lindley, on the parking lot near the lake.

The 2 White-fronted geese seen yesterday by Dave Martin, at Aylmer W.M.A. were not there this afternoon.

At Eagle, by the water-pumping station, George Preiksaitis saw 2 red-necked grebes, and said there was a lot of other stuff there to check out, more time needed.

Monday Nov. 9

A blue-headed vireo and a flock of wild turkeys were seen on the Comfort's farm near the airport. The vireo was eating berries, and the turkeys have been seen several times recently, but unpredictably. Glencoe sewage lagoons had approx. 300 Bonaparte's spread over both ponds, and lots of green-winged teal. Also an immature roughlegged sitting in a tree .

Strathroy sewage lagons had ruddy, coots, 1 canvasback,scaup, Bonaparte's and Cuddy's Pond had black, and buffle. The oldsquaw seen Sunday had gone. Fanshawe had a large flock of common mergs

The McIlwraith Banquet is next Sat. Nov.21 with Terry Crabbe from The Pinery as the speaker. Tickets from Barb, 434-2085

We have had a major change in the weather since last week.

Nov.4 Aylmer W.M.A. (police college),
2 golden plover, 1 pectoral, 1 snipe

Nov.3 Hawk Cliff
9 golden eagles +2 bald passed by between 10a.m. and 1p.m. (none were reported that day or the next from Holiday Beach - where did they go?) A pheasant is reported to have taken up residence on the Whiteoaks C.T.C. parking lot. It has been there 3 days, and is being fed by employees! Nov.2 Southdale Rd. west of Hyde Park Rd.

3 sandhill cranes were seen near dusk browsing in a harvested soybean field.

If you are surfing the internet, and look at the A.B.A. web page, you will see 17 year-old Gavin Platt's name there for winning third prize in the 17-19 yrs.old class for "Young Birder of the Year"; a great achievement we Londoners feel.

Ann White

• Sat. Oct. 31 4 Butterfly species seen today by Gavin Platt! (2 Sulphurs, Cabbage and Mourning Cloak- our latest dates in Msx.)
• Fri. Oct.30 hermit thrush- Meadowlily, also orange sulphur, (A.W.), clouded sulphur, (S.Pusey).
• Wed. Oct.28 1 cormorant still at Fanshawe 2 phoebes and 1 yellowrump in one tree on Kilally Rd. insect- catching in the sun. 2 redwings at a feeder
• Tues Oct. 27 1 snow goose at Richmond and Ilderton Rd. carolina wren singing near my yard
• Mon. Oct.26 1 snow goose in Gibbons Park, (white phase) Reports thro' week of fox, whitethroat, whitecrowned, tree and junco sparrows, incl. pink-sided and Oregon; also rusty blackbirds in Harrietsville area.

Had some interesting sightings; and both where firsts for me. First was a Red-bellied Woodpecker near the coves area by the orchard. Couldn't figure out what he was at first, but he was certainly noisy. Though once he came within 10 ft, saw his zebra striped back and almost all red head and pinned him. At the same time saw a brown creeper. As well view some Cedar Waxwings up on the ridge by the Manor Park area of the Coves, about 6 maybe 7 ft. away. Have also had 2 White throated Sparrows in our yard for the last week ( we live a block from the coves).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Paula Bannerman - pbannerman@odyssey.on.ca                

http://www.odyssey.on.ca/~pbannerman

     "We Attract who we are"

         Robertson Davies

Today at the Komoka Gravel Pits, ducks were very numerous. One flock feeding together contained REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED, both SCAUP, MALLARD, RUDDY DUCK, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER and BUFFLEHEAD. CANADA GEESE and AMERICAN COOTS were also very common.

For the last week at my London home, I have had a PINK-SIDED JUNCO at one of my feeders. This is the first of this colour phase I have ever seen.

Also, on the 25 of October, I had a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH visiting my yard.

At the monthly McIwraith Field Naturalist meeting last night 5 members reported that Fox Sparrows had showed up at feeders on either Oct 21 or Oct 22.

Aylmer W.M.A.(police college) 19th Oct. (D.Martin)

• 24 golden plover
• 15 b.b. plover
• 3 dunlin
• 1gter. yellowlegs
• 500 tundra swans
• 30+ greenwinged teal

Belmont S.L.

• 2 ruddy +mallards only

backyard 19th Oct. (A.Ross)

• 1phoebe

Hawkcliff 19th Oct. (A.White)

• 10,000 starlings harassing imm. redtail so closely it could not move its wings at one point
• 2 Coopers
• 3 sharpshin
• 2redtails
• 20 T.V.
• 1 adult bald eagle (12.05)
• 3 monarchs

Port Stanley S.L
.

• greenwinged teal
• ruddy ducks, lots
• mallards, "

Gibbons Park, London, (s. of new bridge) Oct.18, also 17 (3 observers)

• 1 peregrine falcon probably one of our local breeders, at least 1 has been seen in downtown area in Oct.
• Also cabbage white, both sulphurs Oct 19

Bird Meeting 7o'clock Friday, Oct 23, at Civic Garden Centre, Springbank Drive; "Endangered Birds: then and now" by Jon McCracken. All welcome.

Yesterday I checked around our local large bodies of water in Msx. county.
Not much to report, but it may save others bothering to go !

Fanshawe ,north end: 10 cormorants, gt. blue heron, T.V., Canadas and mallards
Lucan S.L.: horned larks, coot, both yellowlegs, heaps of stuff that flew off, very skittish birds, included mallards and Canadas of course.
Parkhill S.L.: Song and savannah sparrows, meadow lark, tree swallows, T.V.
Cuddy's pond, Strathroy : cowbirds, tree swallows, 2 coots, killdeer
Strathroy S.L. ; ruddy ducks, mallards, hundreds of tree swallows.
Glencoe S.L. ;Harrier, wood duck, ruddy and mallard, savannah sparrows, and of course Canadas
(Note - Aylmer Police college is still worth a visit, but that is in Elgin.)

Today I was on a walk at Greenway Pollution Plant in London, Ont. I walked quite a ways down the path and stopped at one tree. The tree was loaded with birds. Several caught my eye at first. The best bird was a CONNECTICUT WARBLER. It was only about 5 feet away and stayed for about 5 minutes. This was a lifer for me. Along with it was a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER, several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, WINTER WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and DARK-EYED JUNCO. Ducks of interest were on AMERICAN WIDGEON with the numerous MALLARDS and 11 WOOD DUCKS on a log out in the water.

In the last week, at my london home, I have had some very interesting birds in my backyard. The most recent birds were 3 AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS at my one feeder. Earlier in the week, I had DARK-EYED JUNCO, BROWN THRASHER, BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO, FIELD SPARROW, NORTHERN FLICKER and a BONAPARTE'S GULL flying over. Some of these birds were new for my yard, so that puts my backyard list to 90 species.

HI. GORD
This evening there were an EARED GREBE and SORA RAIL in the 2nd lagoon and a RED- NECKED PHALAROPE in the 3rd. lagoon at PORT STANLEY. I hope this is of interest to local birders.

Hi Gord :
The numbers at hawk cliff today Sept23 were not that fantastic , but the highlite was a red- shouldered hawk the first so far for us .the hawk numbers are as follows.

N H .   47.

S S.    89.

C H .    2.

AmK.    36.

B W.    81.

R T.    9.

R S*    1.

B E.    6.

T V.    2.

O S.    2

The spotters today were Su Ross Keith Seeley Diane Haselmayer from Sarnia Eleanor Wellman from Muskoka.

Apart from the small numbers of hawks there were large numbers of warblers in the hedges and trees, some of the species seen were ,Nashville,palm, yellow-rumped,magnolia,black-throated blue,black poll,red-eyed vireo, and the list goes on.Most of these warblers were spotted by a trio from Buffalo NY, Molly & john Barton & Alec Human, they know their warblers by sight & sound .

HI.GORD. Tuesday was another exellent day at HAWK CLIFF near PORT STANLEY. ONT .

Again the high quality of the HAWK WATCHERS present was amply demonstrated to the visiting birders as they pointed out the mostly high flying hawks, many were up at around 500ft. but the majority of BALD EAGLES were up over 1000ft. OSPREYS and MARSH HAWKS passed in good numbers. KESTRELS and SHARPSHINS put in a good show whilst distant looks at a PEREGRINE and a MERLIN were a bit disappointing.

Warblers put in quite a show in the hedges as they were actively migrating through all day along with RUBY CROWNED KINGLETS and WAXWINGS. Up the road we had a flock of BLUEBIRDS mixed in with ROBINS feeding in some Dogwood.

GOOD BIRDING.

Hi Gord , Shay Redmond here with a report from hawk cliff .
Sept 22-98 time, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm
It was a good day at Hawk Cliff with a North wind and cool temperatures.
Su Ross , Alf Rider, Keith Seeley, Mac McAlpine were counting hawks today.

Here are the numbers.

CH.  2

SS.  117

BW.  365

RT.  2

BE.  14 [2 adults +12 juveniles ]

Am K.  104

Mer.  1

Pgfa.  1

NH.  27

OS.  4

T V.  1  

HI. GORD. Today, the 20th. of Sept.dawned clear on Lake Huron but at Hawk Cliff it began to rain briefly. The rain left but the clouds never really left, letting a lot of sun through . The Expert hawk watchers always amaze me with their ability to see the next raptor just before it has cleared the next countys boundary!!! They really are amazing spotters. Today PEREGRINS, MERLINS and OSPREYS put in a great show. The birds were flying in the up draft from the cliff, and BALD EAGLES were quite low too allowing great looks at them. A few MARSH HAWKS a couple of eary morning SHARP SHINS and some AM. KESTRELS later in the daymade the time pass quickly. The Banders brought out some raptors at 11am. and in the afternoon before releasing them. MERLINS were featured at both programs, with great looks at the banded birds before they were released. 2 SWIFTS and several HUMMINGBIRDS added to the lists . A GREAT DAY and THANKS to all the experts who with their great visual acuity and patience helped everyone see more hawks and explained some of the finer points of field identification I must close as it is thundering around here Good Birding.

Dear Gord,
My wife Gloria and I are very much amateur watchers with the traditional 4 feeders in our back yard. This spring we were visited by a ringed turtle dove and he has been returning 3-4 times a day since. He was at first quite awkward with the other birds but seems to be imitating them now. In checking the guides it seems he is not native to this area and is perhaps an escaped pet. We wonder whether we should leave things be or make plans to capture him before the winter hits. Any advice would be much appreciated.

Regards,

HI. GORD. The tide of migrating BAIRDS SANDPIPERS reached Grand Bend and Parkhill sewage lagoons this weekend. Lambton Wildlife Inc. had an outing looking for shorebirds on Sunday the 16th.Aug. They covered Thedford, Parkhilland Grand Bend lagoons .Scouting trips to other locations found little of general interest. We had 5 juv.BAIRDS SANDPIPERS at Parkhill lagoons (Which are now being filled--spoiling the habitat), and a single in the first lagoon at Grand Bend, again in the first lagoon,where a juv.male MARSH HAWK was movingSouth and soaring. Good Luck.

At the Parkhill Sewage Lagoons this morning, there was a huge amount of shorebirds. The species I was able to idenify were LEAST SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER, SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LESSER YELLOWLEGS, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER with 1 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, PECTORAL SANDPIPER, BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER and KILLDEER. Also there was one sandpiper I couldn't positivly identify but I think it could be a possible WESTERN SANDPIPER. If anyone else believes they have seen this bird, please let me know.

Gord,

The Ruff reported here Monday by Alf Rider was at the first lagoon in Parkhill this morning, Sunday Aug.2 It can be missed unless you look for the Orange legs! There are many shorebirds there as the lagoon is quite low.

HI. GORD. The RUFF may have left, but Parkhill lagoons are still the best around this part of the area. Today we have 2 new species . The first is a juv. WILSONS PHALAROPE, and the other is a WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Bothare in the first lagoon .

Regards ,

HI. GORD. Yesterday Dave Skinner found a moulting RUFF and a STILT SANDPIPER at PARKHILL LAGOONS . The lagoons are just out of town on the road to Northville . Just 2 lagoons the 1st. has the birds . Good Luck !!

The second male peregrine youngster in London took flight this morning, leaving only the female youngster on the nest ledge. The first male youngster who flew yesterday has done a fair amount of flying and is a much better flier than the youngsters we have watched previously. In particular much better than "Lucky" last year who was very aptly named. This morning the mother spent two hours on a ledge right outside the monitoring area in 1 London Place. The room has windows with a mirror finish on the outside and she seemed unaware of the people inches away inside the building. The closest I have ever been to an adult peregrine.

Gord,

Two of our Peregrine chicks were banded on Friday, June 19. The third walked too far away on the nesting ledge, so couldn't be caught. We had a Peregrine Open house the next day, and lots of people came to see them. The parents put on a great display, swooping around in front of our eyes and bringing food to the chicks!

By the way the new London hotline is 519-457-GLYD

HI,GORD. We were in London on Thursday and saw an Adult PEREGRINE flying around the nest site in downtown LONDON . A thrilling sighting!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Gord: Here is what I have seen lately in the London area and where. Both Westminster Ponds and Komoka Park have been very quiet for migrating songbirds, but I had several very nice views of Blackburnian and Black-throated Green Warblers at Westminster and at least 6 male Blue-winged Warblers in the hawthorns at Komoka. Actually I have seen more songbirds at a little woodlot on the Thames River adjacent to Cavendish Park (just near Forward and Riverside) -- Blackburnian, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Tennessee, Nashville, Bay-breasted, Black and White, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Swainson's Thrush, Indigo Bunting, for example. A friend who runs Focus-on-Nature Tours out of Mass. says there haven't been many warblers and other NTMs coming through there this year so far because of the very bad spring weather they have experienced all along the east coast. Has anyone found any "hotspots" here this spring?

Evening of Sunday, May 10: A few migrants were seen along the river below the dam: brown thrasher, yellow-rumped warbler, oriole, gray catbird, and black-and-white warbler. Purple martins have returned to Sunningdale Golf Course down the road, also.

Hello Gord

A couple of suburban London Ont. sightings on 17 April 1998. The second backyard thrush species of the year appeared and Swainson's took the honours. Robins, the first thrush species to arrive, are already on the nest.

Later that day a female White-throated Sparrow took refuge at the back edge of the patio. Unfortunately, it did not look in very good shape, hopefully just exhausted from the trip.

The previous day, the neighbourhood Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen carrying prey off to the local woodlot. On two other occasions when its hunt has been successful, the prey would be eaten at the site of the kill. This time, the logical inference is that the hawk is feeding young or a mate.

Some time on April 12th was spent watching another thrush species, Eastern Bluebirds, in the Port Stanley area. At least 4 different pairs were observed. They had also been seen the week before. Disappointingly, few other birds of note were seen on the outing.

Hi, Gord, I thought I might update your readers of the awesome Rufous-sided Towhee and Spotted Towhee that is still present in Harmony near Stratford. My husband and I had the privilege of meeting Magnus and Isobel and viewing the birds this Easter weekend. I urge anyone who wants to have a look at this pair of birds to visit this lovely elderly couple...they are most gracious and the visit made our trip even more memorable. The birds seemed most active before 10:30 am. We arrived at 7:30 am and were greeted with smiles and a cup of coffee as well as the Spotted Towhee! ttyl,

Hi Gord,

This is my first time sending in sightings because I just went on-line.

Waterfowl predominate today (Sunday, March 29). On Saunders Pond at Westminster Ponds there was a lone Horned Grebe in winter plumage found along with a few Pied-billed Grebes. There were also several Buffleheads, Common Mergansers, Lesser Scaup and a pair of American Wigeon.

Port Stanley sewage lagoon showed hundreds of Tundra Swans as well as large numbers of Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup and Ruddy Ducks. There were also approximately one dozen Canvasbacks.

Good Birding!

Gord Gallant
Scarborough(Toronto) , Ont
gallantg@interlog.com

Hi Gord & Fellow Birders,

I'm not sure if this belongs in the Waterloo or London Region report, but it is about 1/2 way between the two cities (near Stratford). I was looking through many of the "Recent Birding Reports" and didn't see any that mentioned the SPOTTED TOWHEE coming to a feeder in the hamlet of Harmony (just W of Tavistock & just S of Stratford). I drove out that way from Toronto last weekend, to a house at the junction of Perth Cty Rd ?23? & ?21?, anyways, it's the yellowish brick house on the NW corner of the main intersection in Harmony (small enough that it is not listed on the Ministry of Transportation Ontario Map). The bird is coming to a feeder at the S side of the house (along with a female Eastern Towhee) and has been there since January 19, 1998, the owners of the house are very obliging, and may invite you in if they see you watching the bird, they are the kindest hosts (Magnus & Isabel Huber) and really seem to enjoy all the new people in their lives. We got excellent views of the bird from approximately 3m away, the Huber's have had people filling in a guest book and have had over 200 visitors (and probably more who haven't signed their book). Also at their feeders were Dark-eyed Juncos, Common Grackles, Downy & Hairy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Mourning Dove, Black-capped Chickadee, American Tree Sparrow and a White-throated Sparrow.

Good Birding,

Hi, Gord,

You don't seem to have many posters from the London area. I would like to send you reports of what birds I am seeing. Are you looking for specific spots in London or just birds in my back yard? I live across the road from two ponds and I believe the small area is called Pond Mills Conversation Area. There isn't much activity outside of Canada geese, black ducks, chickadees, robins, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and one great blue heron (which was around till October, or was it November). And I saw one horned grebe in winter dress back in October. These were all around the pond area.

If you want anything lately, it would be from my back yard where I have a couple of feeders. I'm not sure if you are looking for all birds or what. Would be glad to keep you apprised of what birds are around my area here.

On second thought, I decided that I might as well contribute to your files what birds are flocking around our feeders. Every day we get a small flock of six house finches, five or six slate-colored juncos, two black-capped chickadees, six American tree sparrows, a lot of house sparrows, a few starlings, a bluejay, and a pair of cardinals. Two morning doves showed up a couple of days ago.

We had one male cardinal in January stay on the table under the feeder for two days straight. He acted like he wasn't well and by the third morning he had died.

Also in January, there was a sharp-shinned hawk (from what I could decipher from my bird id books) perching on the patio fence trying to get a glimpse of the mouse that is living on our porch and feasting on the seed that the birds are dropping.

Sincerely,
Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Hi, Gord! We just wanted to let the birders near London know that the herons have returned to their heronry on Hyde Park Road approx. 1 1/2 miles north of Fanshawe Road. There were 5 there today checking out territory. There are about 55 - 60 nests in total.

We also want you to know we really enjoy the Ontario Birding site and Chat Line. Before we go out on a jaunt, we usually check to see what is happening in our area. Thanks for all your hard work.

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