| LONG POINT AREA | Archived Birding Reports - 2002 |
Prairie Warbler at Long Point - May 19, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Hi Everyone, There is a male Prairie Warbler singing on East 1/4 Townline which intersects Highway 24. Just north of the intersection of East 1/4 Townline and 6th Concession, there is a sandy trail to the east and the bird was singing about 50 meters in. Ontbirders may recall that a male Prairie has been on this territory in past years. Regards, Harold Stiver Paris, Canada hstiver@rogers.com
Harris's Sparrow - Long Point, May 14 - May 14, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Hi everyone, An adult Harris's Sparrow was found yesterday along Hastings Drive at the base of Long Point. The bird was seen again today at 11am (by Denis Lepage) and at 1:30pm by myself. I do not know who the original finders of the bird were. Both times today the bird was seen at cottage # 213, which is about 1.5 kilometres from the start of Hastings Drive. The bird is feeding with White-crowned Sparrows and is best seen by waiting a distance from the cottage yard and driveway. I waited and scanned the area for 10 minutes with no luck, then the bird suddenly appeared on the driveway with the White-crowned Sparrows, so patience is required (this bird is in amazing breeding plumage, so the wait is worth it). Hastings Drive is located at the south end of the Big Creek marsh Causeway (Highway 59). It starts (heading west along the lakeshore) where Highway 59 curves sharply to the left (east) at the lake. Thanks, Ian Richards Port Rowan, ON email: irichards@bsc-eoc.org
Mountain Bluebird Female Long Point PP - May 12, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
This was a difficult ID but I had a female Bluebird yesterday 8 am. at the main open campground at Long Point PP that to me strongly suggests Mountain Bluebird. This pale bird had a darker grey head, washed out rufous only on the throat and only seen in full light. The flanks were greyish. There were some 400 Baillie birdathoner heading in the general direction but I haven't heard any other reports of this. I told one of the birdathoners that I had seen a strange bluebird. There was some comment about a 10 foot pole. The gate at The Long Point Provincial Park is currently closed, you will have to walk in about 1 km to the campground. Parking at the gate or at Old Cut banding station. The park is at the south terminus of Haldimand 59 on Lake Erie. -- Mark Cranford cranford@attcanada.ca Mississauga, Ontario
Long Point - May 05 2002 -
Hi all, Well the first really big wave of birds was seen through the Long Point area today Obviously the result of favourable south winds overnight and during most of the day. The banding station was kept busy with so many birds that eventually they had to close up some of the nets. There were birds everywhere, especially the White-Throat and White-Crowned Sparrows (literally hundreds) and lots of warblers. Our total for the day was 72 species even with virtually no water fowl, shorebirds or raptors.. Here's the highlights (mostly from the Old Cut Banding Station, some from Backus Woods): Northern Parula 1 Red-Eyed Vireo 1 (Heard Only) Black-Throated Green Warbler 5 Warbling Vireo 2 Black-and-White Warbler 30+ White-Eyed Vireo 1 Black-Throated Blue Warbler 5 Blue-Headed Vireo 10+ Magnolia Warbler 6 Eastern Bluebird 1 Yellow-Rumped Warbler 3 Gray-Cheeked Thrush 1 Chestnut-Sided Warbler 2 Veery 3 Blackburnian Warbler 3 Hermit Thrush 5 American Redstart 1 Wood Thrush 2 Pine Warbler 4 Ruby-Crowned Kinglet many many many Yellow Warbler 10+ Gold-Crowned Kinglet 3 Blue-Winged Warbler 1 (Banded) Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher 1 Wilson's Warbler 1 Carolina Wren 1 Hooded Warbler 1 (Banded) House Wren 2 Nashville Warbler 3 Great-Crested Flycatcher 2 Common Yellowthroat 3 Northern Oriole 6 Ovenbird 1 Rose-Breasted Grosbeak 5 Rufous-Sided Towhee 1 Eastern Phoebe 2 Eastern Pewee 1 Empidonax Flycatchers 3 (hard to distinguish) Good Birding!!! Dave Brown Mitchell ON thebrowns@ezlink.on.ca
L. Waterthrush, Tufted Titmouse, White-eyed Vireo, etc. - Long Point - Sun May 5 - May 6, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Hi All, David Shilman & I headed down to the Long Point area today for a half day of birding, we started at the Backus Woods area where we had a singing TUFTED TITMOUSE as well as a few common warbler species (including Northern Waterthrush) and Great Crested Flycatchers calling on territory, drumming Ruffed Grouse, male Baltimore Oriole and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Next at Wilson Tract we heard and glimpsed a singing male LOUISIANA WATERTHRUSH, heard Eastern Towhee, Field & Vesper Sparrow and saw a very light coloured immature Red-tailed Hawk as well as a male Eastern Bluebird. At Old Cut the woods were alive and we had the bulk of our warblers here, including a male Cape May, many Black-and-White, Black-throated Blue, Black-throated Green, 3 Blackburnian a male American Redstart and lots of singing House Wrens. Also quite conspicuous was the apparently territorial (not singing yet) WHITE-EYED VIREO, which we had great looks at as it fed on the ground (and it wasn't in it's normal spot at the parking lot, it was at the other side of the woods where the fence runs along the south side). We also had Warbling & Blue-headed Vireo here. Many Gray Catbirds were in the woods and most interesting was a WHIP-POOR-WILL sitting on a branch (and moving a little). Also, heard-only was a Carolina Wren. At Big Creek we heard a Sora right by the start of the trail and saw 2 Sandhill Cranes, a Chimney Swift and a flock of 9 Northern Pintail with 1 Northern Shoveler accompanying them. As we left we had a nice adult Bald Eagle circling above Hwy 59 about 2km north of the causeway at Long Point. Ended our day with 16 warbler species. Unfortunately, we ran out of time to go check Lee Brown's so can't give a status update on the Eurasian Wigeon. Good birding, Frank Pinilla Richmond Hill, ON DIRECTIONS: Backus Woods - we were on 4th concession (which is at the south end of the woods), which runs parallel to Hwy 24 south of that highway. The Titmouse was just west of a small bridge over a stream (about 2km east of Hwy 59). Wilson Tract - continuing along Hwy 24 to Hwy 59, 24 turns into H-N Rd 60 on the west side of 59, follow H-N Rd 60 west for about 3.5km to West 1/4 line of Cartright and turn left/south, behind the white house here is the E. Bluebird and we had a Vesper Sparrow singing here. Continue down this road to the T-intersection, turning right along the sand road there are trails to the south & north which is all part of the Wilson Tract (excellent area for breeding birds but bring the bug spray if you plan a trip later in May or into June). Old Cut - take Hwy 59 south to Long Point and just before the Provincial Park is Old Cut Blvd, on the left, where there is a banding station (they banded a Hooded Warbler today), excellent woodlot for migrants. Big Creek - along the causeway on Hwy 59 as you arrive at Long Point there is a parking lot with a walking trail along a dike on the west side, a good spot to see & hear Sandhill Cranes. Frank Pinilla fpinilla@sympatico.ca
130+ species at Long Point on 5/5/2002 - May 6, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
A friend and I spent the day birding Long Point and the surrounding area. We had a great day with just over 130 species. Highlights were Forester's Terns (5), Sandhill Cranes dancing at Big Chute Marsh, Bald Eagle sitting on its nest at Big Chute. Wilson's Tract and Baucus Woods yielded very few species. The majority of our birds came from Old Cut and Big Chute Marsh. Thanks Jacques Giraud jacques@giraud.com
Long Point and vicinity - May 6, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Surprisingly, until recently, there have been relatively few birding reports for the Long Point area. Here are my birding highlights for the period May 1-5: Bald Eagle (May 1)- sitting on nest; location details withheld due to sensitivity issues Bonaparte's Bull Little Gull - Pt. Rowan Sewage Lagoon Ruddy Duck - pair; Pt. Rowan Sewage Lagoon Pied-billed Grebe - Marina Shores channel Least Flycatcher - throughout cottage community Baltimore Oriole Ruby-crowned Kinglet White-breasted Nuthatch Red-breasted Nuthatch House Wren Blue-winged Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnion Warbler Black and White Warbler American Redstart Common Yellowthroat Ovenbird Rose-breasted Grosbeak White-throated Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Field Sparrow Lee Brown's Conservation Area (Regional Rd. 42, west of Hwy 59), May 2: Wood Duck - 5 males Green-winged Teal - 5 males Mallard Eurasian Widgeon American Widgeon Canvasback Redhead Ring-necked Duck Hooded Merganser - female Spotted Sandpiper Tony Zammit, London a_zammit@yahoo.com
Long Point Birds - April 25, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Dear Fellow Birders Today at Old Cut was a Baltimore Oriole that was seen briefly and heard, also present were two Black-and-White Warblers, and at least 4 Pine Siskins that have been seen for several days. Also of note are Sandhill Cranes that have been seen daily, 3 Bald Eagles and the pair on their nest at the end of Hastings Drive, Forster's Terns, Black-throated Green Warlber, White-eyed Vireo were seen yesterday as well as a Guinea Fowl was seen the other day near Old Cut by Ted Barney. Directions: Exit the 401 at Hwy 59 and follow that south and it leads directly to Long Point. Mike Boyd Oakville, Ontario boydm@uoguelph.ca
Long Point - Sunday & Monday - April 22, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Dear Fellow Birders Yesterday in the cold weather at Long Point there were a few good birds seen. At Lee Browns there was the Eurasian Wigeon amongst lots of A. Wigeon, and at Big Creek a Green Heron was seen. At Old Cut there was a female R-t Hummingbird and a White-eyed Vireo that had been seen for a few days was being banded. Today at Old Cut today there were a few good birds among the snowflakes, the best being a House Wren heard singing, as well as a Carolina Wren, a flyover Sandhill Crane, 2 Rufous-sided Towhees, Hermit Thrushes (including some singing), and Blue-winged Teal. To reach Long Point exit the 401 at Hwy 59 and follow this all the way to Long Point. Mike Boyd boydm@uoguelph.ca
Eared Grebe, Eurasina Wigeon, White-eyed Vireo, etc.
(Several Locations) - April 20, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Today Terrie Smith and I had one of those neat birding days when everything goes right ... it started at Ashbridge's Bay at the crack of 7:30 where we got the Eared Grebe at close range, along with out first of many Yellow-rumped Warblers. We travelled to Caledonia where we found 5 Greater Yellowlegs in a roadside pond. The next stop was the Townsend sewage lagoons, where we added a great many birds, including about a dozen species of ducks, Purple Martins, Lesser Yellowlegs, [+ several Greaters] Pectoral Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper and Eastern Kingbird. We also saw the "white" goose that has gained some notoriety ... it flew in with several Canadas, but landed too far away for us to be much help in deciding if it was a Ross' or a hybrid ... we await other opinions. From Townsend we went to Wilson Tract [southwest of the junction of Hwy 24 and 59] where we found Louisiana Waterthrush, Pine Warbler and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. On to Lee Brown's we easily found the Eurasian Wigeon. From here it was Long Point and Old Cut, where a White-eyed Vireo, Sora, Forster's Tern, House Wren and Rough-winged Swallows delighted us. Overhead, a spectacular east to west migration of Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures and 3 Bald Eagles just inland of the causeway was most intriguing. Turkey Point yielded 2 adult Little Gulls and Bank Swallows at Port Ryerse. Finally to see if we could break a hundred species for the day, we went to Beamer and found 6 Broad-winged Hawks [#98], Cooper's Hawk [99], Chimney Swift [100], and Hairy Woodpecker [101]. All in all a great day to say the least. Directions [copied from other's emails] Beamer: QEW to exit 71/72 (Christie St), follow Christie St. toward the escarpment or into the town until it becomes Mountain Rd. Continue up Mountain Rd. to the top of the hill, turn right onto Ridge Rd. W., go west 1.6km (1mi) to Quarry Rd., turn right 100m to Beamer CA entrance. Old Cut can be reached by taking hwy. 59 south and over Big Creek Marsh and turning left onto Old Cut Blvd. the field station is a short distance on the right. Bird Studies Canada Headquarters, Port Rowan overlook and Turkey Point are all along Lakeshore Rd. which can be accessed at the flashing light on Hwy 59 just before crossing the marsh. Directions to Ashbridge's Bay Park: From the Lakeshore Blvd. East, turn south on Coxwell Avenue and drive right into the park. Park in the southernmost lot. Check the small bay off the boating ramps for waterfowl. Then take the walkway south-southwest into the park all the way to the outer wall on the lake side. Check all along this wall all the way to the prominent southwest point for the grebes. You will most likely need a scope to see the Eared Grebe. The city charges for parking on the weekends. Townsend lagoons: On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass through Hagersville and drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the town you will see a sign indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek Parkway #69. Turn right here and drive to the intersection with the stop signs, turn left on Keith Richardson Parkway and drive past some park ponds on your right. Drive ahead until you see a small children's shelter with an air conditioner on it's side (really). Turn right here on Conc. 14 TWP. This is just before you reach the abandoned railway line (tracks removed) and it is on your right. Turn right here and drive a few hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating that this is a waste treatment area.. Park well to the side of the road or across the road and do not block the gate. Geoff Carpentier Ajax, Ontario geoffcarpentier@rogers.com
Whip-poor will, Long Point Area - April 19, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
A whip-poor-will was heard calling west of the town of Walsingham at 8:40 PM from a woodlot north of where the west 1/4 line road meets RR#60. The West 1/4 Line road is the gravel road that leads to the Wilson Tract. Also seen today on the west 1/4 line road was an adult bald eagle harassing an immature golden eagle as they soared over. Directions: From the intersection of highway #24 and #59 head west for 4 km, the west 1/4 line road is on the south side of the road. Adam and Doug Timpf Walsingham, Ont timpf@nornet.on.ca
Common Moorhen Long Point April 14 - April 18, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
This is somewhat tardy on my part,but is nevertheless an interesting and a rather oddball sighting.Rob Waldhuber and I were birding Long Point and vicinity this past Sunday April 14 and made our way out to the end of Hastings Drive,hopefully for a crack at the drake E. Wigeon,which had been coming and going between that end of Big Creek Marsh and Brown's pond.I quickly scanned through a line of resting Bonaparte's Gulls which were 200 to 300 metres or so offshore on Lake Erie.In front of these birds,and looking like a bizarre red-billed shearwater as it swam was a Common Moorhen.I do not recall ever having seen this species swimming on one of the Great Lakes and would be curious about anyone having had a similar experience. Hastings Drive can be reached by taking Hwy 59 south to where it meets the lake and turning right. Kevin. Kevin McLaughlin Operations Services, Union Gas Limited, Hamilton District 360 Strathearne Ave. N. Hamilton,ON L8N3A5 905-548-3472 kmclaughlin@uniongas.com
Long Point Area- April 17 - April 17, 2002 8:26 PM
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
We birded around Long Point today and had a great day. We started at Old Cut where most notably was a very early (record for Long Point) Red-eyed Vireo at the corner of Old Cut Blvd. and Hwy. 59. We also had Yellow-rumped (6), Pine, Palm (2), Black-and-white (2), and Black-throated Green Warblers. Also Blue-headed Vireo, Purple Finch, Evening Grosbeak, lots of White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Hermit Thrushes and 15 Common Loons flying over as some of the highlights. In the provincial park were several Rusty Blackbirds singing. Along Hastings Drive we had the male Eurasian Wigeon at the west end harassing American Wigeons and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher along the road. Along the causeway was a Great Egret. At the Port Rowan overlook was another Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. At Bird Studies Canada Headquarters we had Northern Rough-winged Swallow. At Turkey Point we had 3 Little Gulls and a Northern Mockingbird. Also, Louisiana Waterthrushes were seen and heard in a traditional area for this species. We stopped at Townsend Sewage Lagoons on our way home and had lots of ducks, a Spotted Sandpiper, and a strange Gull, possibly an albino Herring, but we couldn't be sure. We also couldn't help but notice the 2 Sandhill Cranes and hundreds of Canada Geese flying around and looking like they were landing north of the lagoons. We decided to try and find the flock and so went one concession north to the house with number 1610. Behind (south of) the house were 1-2000 Canada Geese, a blue-phase Snow Goose and a white-phase Ross'. In response to Lou Marsh's comments about the geese these are certainly different birds than he saw as we had good looks at both of these geese and they were obviously a Snow and a Ross' as they gave us great (almost side-by-side) comparisons on the ground and in flight. All together it was a great day with over 110 species! Directions: Old Cut can be reached by taking hwy. 59 south and over Big Creek Marsh and turning left onto Old Cut Blvd. the field station is a short distance on the right. Bird Studies Canada Headquarters, Port Rowan overlook and Turkey Point are all along Lakeshore Rd. which can be accessed at the flashing light on Hwy 59 just before crossing the marsh. Good Birding, Mike and Kenny Burrell, Heidelberg, Ont. burrellsc@golden.net
Great Egret, American Bittern, others - April 14, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Howdy Birders! 13 April: Turkey Point Provincial Park: -A GREAT EGRET was seen foraging at the western end of Turkey Point beach near the Marina. 14 April Long Point: -Four OLDSQUAW were seen flying from the Inner Bay out into the lake -AMERICAN BITTERN - seen -SAVANNAH SPARROW - seen -COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - heard Turkey Point and Long Point are in Norfolk County. Turkey Pt. can be reached by taking highway 24 to Rt. 10 south. Long pt can be reached by taking highway 24 to 59 south. be well...dream ducks-- --mike-- ===== Dept. of Zoology................Long Point Waterfowl and Biology and Geology Bldg........Wetlands Research Fund University of Western Ontario...PO Box 160 London, Ontario.................Port Rowan, Ontario Canada N6A 5B7..................Canada NOE 1MO Phone (519) 661-3155............Phone (519) 586-3531 Fax (519) 661-2014.............. MICHAEL SCHUMMER anatid@yahoo.com
Eurasian Wigeon ... Hastings Dr., Long Point - April 11, 2002
Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Hi all, There is a male EURASION WIGEON at the pond area at the end of Hastings Dr. Go to the turn area at the end and go up the sand dune at the end, and look at the pond on the marsh side. Keep a low profile so as not to flush the ducks there. Ontbirders may recall that this is the same spot where a male Eurasian Wigeon showed up in 2000. I saw about 20 species of waterfowl at Long Point today, including about 100 lingering TUNDRA SWAN, GADWALL, GREEN and BLUE WINGED TEAL, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, LESSER SCAUP, and RUDDY DUCK. There was a flock of WILD TURKEY including a displaying male, on East Quarter Town Line, just a few fields south of Highway 24. That is a good spot to look for this species, as I have seen it there on a half dozen occasions. There was also a MERLIN a little farther south on this road. A good number of migrants were seen at the Banding station on Old Cut Blvd, including COMMON SNIPE, BELTED KINGFISHER, EASTERN PHOEBE, HERMIT THRUSH, EASTERN TOWHEE, CHIPPING SPARROW, and many GOLDEN CROWNED KINGLETS and BROWN CREEPERS. Both WINTER and CAROLINA WREN were in full song, with the later posing for a photo. Long Point is found at the south end of Highway 59. Hasting Dr. runs west of the southern terminus of Highway 59. Erie Beech rd runs east to Long Point Prov. Park, and Old Cut Blvd is a couple of streets before the Park. Regards, Harold Stiver Paris, Ontario hstiver@rogers.com
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This page was created: Thursday, October 09, 1997
Last Updated: March 20, 2003 4:03:51 PM