Glossy Ibis gone and I wonder why ? - May 5, 2002

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

Hello Ontbirders:
Su Ross and myself went to see if the Glossy Ibis were still at Mayfair Rd
near Melbourne, Saturday.
We spoke with the property owner who was erecting a gate on his property and
was ready to tell us to leave just as we approached him. As it turned out we
knew him  and he was willing to speak to us. He told us that he had to chase
off BIRDERS, who not only entered the property on foot but some had actually
driven to the back pond, right past a No Trespassing sign.
Through the actions of some this will effect those of us Birders who do
respect Landowners and the welfare of the birds. Due to these actions the
landowner told us he will discourage rare and unusual birds from dwelling on
his property.
Under normal circumstances the landowner is a very reasonable guy, thanks to
the trespassers future birding on this property is gone !
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BIRDERS CODE OF ETHICS ?

Shay Redmond
London Ont.
519-453-4288 ( Home )
519-871-8025 ( Mobile )
shayredmond@rogers.com

7 Glossy Ibis - April 29, 2002

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

Still present this morning, feeding in a patch of green grass away from the
ponds. Very quiet, just the Solitary and female Harrier. All the other
shorebirds are gone.
#2 highway west of London through Melbourne to Mayfair Rd.( church on
corner). @ miles south to Hindeman.  Look east in field from Hindeman to RR.
tracks.

Ann White
London Ontario Canada
dwhite@odyssey.on.ca

Snowy Egret near Melbourne in vicinity of Glossy Ibises - April 27, 2002

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

While we were enjoying observing the seven Glossy Ibises at the ponds near 
Melbourne, Dennis Duckworth identified a Snowy Egret flying overhead, at 
8:30 a.m. this morning.

It came from the west and landed at the edge of the pond where the Ibises 
had been minutes earlier.  We (myself, Dennis, Gerry Guenther, Mark Cranford 
and others) watched it for about five minutes.  The pond was the smaller of 
the two adjacent to the tracks.

The bird then took flight to the northeast, golden feet in stark contrast to 
the clear blue sky.

Twenty minutes later, we saw it fly back again, going southwest and it 
disappeared from view. The bird did not return again in the 45 minutes we 
remained in the area.

Directions: From London or the 402, go west on #2 through Melbourne, to 
Mayfair Road.  Go south on Mayfair (church on corner)Rd. about 2 km. Two 
ponds are on the left before the railroad tracks.


Anne Pinteric
Toronto ON
apinteric@hotmail.com

7 Glossy Ibis - West of London - April 27, 2002

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

We saw seven GLossy Ibis at 5:00pm today on Mayfair Road on East side, just 
north of railway tracks. Also seen at the location were 2 Upland sandpipers, 
pectoral sandpipers and both greater and lesser yellowlegs.

Take exit 157 North from the 401 (West of London) to Hyndman Drive and go 
East to Mayfair Road and turn left.  Continue on Mayfair road to the tracks 
and on the left side of the road there is two ponds and the birds were seen 
around them.


Carl Hamann/Dennis Lewington
Stoney Creek, Ontario

Carl Hamann
warbler8@hotmail.com

Melbourne Glossy Ibis - April 25, 2002

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

Hi Birders,  The Glossy Ibis were in the same location at dusk to-nite.  
Numerous shorebirds in area as well. Upland Sandpipers,Gr. Yellowlegs and 
Pectoral S.  In the pond on the left just as you turn onto Mayfair were 35 
Lesser Yellowlegs, 26 Gr. Yellowlegs, 20 Pectoral , and 1 early Short Billed 
Dowitcher.

Directions:From London or 402 go west on #2 through Melbourne to Mayfair 
Road.  Left on Mayfair till just before R.R. tracks.  Ibis in ponds on left.

ross snider
ross_snider@hotmail.com

7 Glossy Ibis, Melbourne pm update - April 24, 2002

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

Hi All!

Hopefully this is not overburdening the list but I
went out this afternoon to see the Ibis and they have
moved!

There are numerous ponds further east than the ones
you can see from the road and they are further back
and north of their initial location.  Before the RR
tracks is Hyndman Road, go east along this road and
look south into the ponds to see the Ibis.  They could
also be seen from walking along beside the RR tracks
to the east and looking north.  So if you don't see
them from Mayfair keep looking keep looking.  The
ponds have small berms around them making it a bit
tricky to sometimes see the Ibis.

Full directions below.

Good birding 

Ellen Smout
London, Ont
eas9999@yahoo.com

Directions:  Go west on Highway #2 from London past
Melbourne to Mayfair Road.  South on Mayfair about 2
km 2nd pond on the left were the Ibis.  If you cross
the railroad tracks you have gone too far.  

Melbourne 7 Glossy Ibis - April 24, 2002

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

The Glossy Ibis reported yesterday, found by  Reinhold Pokraka and his wife
while driving by , were still present this morning. The pond is very close
to the road, giving excellent views. It is about 40 years since this bird
was identified in Middlesex.
 Directions. From # 2 highway west of Melbourne go south on MAYFAIR, (church
on corner), drive a couple of miles until you see R.R. tracks, and then on
east side of road is large pond, just before the tracks. There are a couple
of smaller ponds near, and birds were flitting about between them, although
Ibises only went once that I know of. Yellowlegs and Pectoral present,
Upland were calling last night.

Ann  White
London Ontario Canada
dwhite@odyssey.on.ca

Glossy Ibis, Melbourne - April 23, 2002

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

Hi All!

Got a call on the London hotline about 7 Glossy Ibis
west of Melbourne.  As of 6:30 pm they were still
there.  Stunning, spectacular birds, two in full
breeding plumage, the other 5 just coming into full
breeding plumage.  I have seen Glossy Ibis before, but
never in breeding plumage.  If you have not seen them
before I would encourage you to go out and enjoy this
sight.  Iridescent is the word that I think best
describes them.

Directions:  Go west on Highway #2 from London past
Melbourne to Mayfair Road.  South on Mayfair about 2
km 2nd pond on the left were the Ibis.  If you cross
the railroad tracks you have gone too far.  

Also seen on Highway #2 due west of the London
population sign, 1 km west of Middlesex County Rd 46,
in the field north of the highway, was an Albinistic
Red Tail Hawk.  White with darkish streaks on the back
of the wings and a pale reddish wash on the tail. 
Seen with another Red Tail, possibly it's mate (?). 
Different bird than the one seen in Oxford County this
winter.

Good birding

Ellen Smout
London, Ontario
eas9999@yahoo.com

another good loon migration day - April 21, 2002

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

April 21, 2002
Another good loon migration over Elgin/Middlesex Counties

Today, 75 Common Loons flew over our loon watch in north-central Elgin
County between 7:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.  If not for the extraordinary 373
loons counted yesterday today's count would have beat our previous high of
60 loons in one morning. Andrew Ross counted 46 loons going over his place
in London between 7:30 and 8:30. [Our other two loon watchers thought it
was too cold for loons today and so didn't get out].

The loons going over our place are on a southeast to northwest heading from
Lake Erie to Lake Huron. A line on a map drawn from Long Point Bay on Lake
Erie to Kettle Point on Lake Huron passes almost directly over our loon
watch and over London.   Note that Alf Rider's earlier email to Ontbirds
points out that loons started arriving on Lake Huron this morning, in a
very narrow band north of Kettle Point but not south of the point, from
points inland at 8:00 a.m. - about 1/2 hour after passing over our
location. Given that the loons are flying at about 60 mph and it is 30
miles as a bird flies line from our place to Ipperwash it makes sense that
the birds we start seeing at 7:30 reach Alf Rider's vantage point at
Ipperwash about 30 minutes later.

Other Reports:
Ron Kingswood called from just west of Port Bruce on Lake Erie this morning
to say that he had witnessed a tremendous migration of loons all flying
west along the shoreline this morning from 6:30 a.m. onwards. He didn't see
any loons heading inland at his vantage point.  At 6:30 a.m. he estimated
that over 100 loons passed him in less than a minute. At 6:45 he did a
sweep of the lake and counted 108 loons in the air at once. At 7:45 he
counted a group of 35 passing west.

Follow up on yesterday's (Apr 20) huge migration.
John Miles emailed that he had "103 go over heading west and north west in a
10-15 minute span while doing the census around 8:30. The flight started
about 7
am and was still underway at 10 am."

Alf Rider reported that "Carole Buck reported 60 + at 7 a.m. around 
Camlachie" (which is near Lake Huron north of Sarnia). He didn't notice any
loon movement at Kettle Point.

Dave Martin & Linda Wladarsk 
Harrietsville, ON
dave.martin@odyssey.on.ca

Komoka Park - April 21, 2002

Hi Gord:  Yesterday (April 20) was a fine day at Komoka Park, London.  A 
kettle of at least 12 broad-winged hawks circled the Park for about 1/2 hr, 
and meadowlarks and field sparrows were singing in old fields.

CMP
Dr. Cheryl M. Pearce, Associate Professor
Department of Geography
The University of Western Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada  N6A 5C2
Telephone:  (519) 661-2111, Ext. 85008
E-mail:  cpearce@uwo.ca

London Area- April 8 - April 8, 2002

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

An intended Sewage Lagoon Survey today was cut short by heavy rain.
Highlights of what we did see may be of interest to local birders, though I
note Maris was at Strathroy the day previous.
Strathroy S.L.
Lots of ducks included B.W. Teal, Ringneck, Scaup, Ruddy, Shoveller,
American Wigeon, Bufflehead. Plus great looks at a Male Northern Harrier
Bridge nr. lagoons
Pair of Wood Duck
Cuddy's Pond
C. Merganser, Ruddy, Ringneck, Bufflehead, N. Pintail. Flicker
Victoria St. Wetlands
Bluewing Teal, Hooded Mergs, Great Blue Heron
Komoka pits
 C. Loon, D.C. Cormorants
then rain stopped birding

Ann White
London Ontario Canada
dwhite@odyssey.on.ca

Cuddy's pond is close to 402 and #83, take first turn right after leaving
402 heading to Strathroy.  After looking in pond ,take first left and
continue to the lagoons. Then stop by the bridge , quietly look over. Take
next left back toward Strathroy, until you see Victoria Street on left. Go a
wee way, to a parking lot with a tower. Don't go up, but walk around on the
boardwalks and paths. (Can be a good spot for rails). After that you can go
to Komoka by getting back on the 402 and getting off at the Komoka- Mt.
Bridges intersection. Turn left into the village and the pits are all around
you.

Strathroy Sewage Ponds - April 6, 2002

Hi Gord:  Quite a few ducks on the Strathroy Sewage Ponds today.  Even
through the snow flurries, I saw blue-winged teal, canvasback,
ring-necked, common goldeneye, bufflehead, hooded merganser, and others.
Also eastern bluebird along the road on way to ponds.  

CMP
cpearce@uwo.ca

London Area- Easter weekend - April 5, 2002

On Easter Sunday a male Eurasian Wigeon was found on Saunder's Pond, in the
E.S.A. area known as Westminster Ponds. Several people got to see it, before
it disappeared. The next day a breeding-plumaged Red-necked Grebe was there,
and again several people saw that bird.
A Snowy Owl was reported near the airport, Sunday evening, but was gone the
next morning.
Fanshawe Lake had a total of 6 Red-necked Grebes, and also the first two
cormorants this spring on Easter Monday.

Ann White
London Ontario Canada
dwhite@odyssey.on.ca

Snowy Owl - Thu, 03 Jan 2002

        
Tipped off by Pete Read, I went to Seed Road and Cuddy Road, west of
London, just north of Hwy 22 January 1 about 11 in the morning.  Saw a
snowy owl with lots of black on him being harassed by crows.  I got good
views for about 20 minutes as he flew up and down Cuddy, perching
variously in trees, and once on a fence post and once on the ground.
Also, near the intersection of Seed Road and Hwy 22 I saw a flocks of
horned larks and snow buntings.  Also a smaller flock (maybe 10 to 12
birds) of American tree sparrows (on Cuddy, in front of a house).

There was redtail perched in a tree just north of Cuddy Road and west of
Seed, and later, a roughleg on Seed near Hwy 22.

--
Frances Bauer
fbauer@uwo.ca

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