There has been an influx of Fox Sparrows on Manitoulin. The first was near South Baymouth on the 4th. In the snowstorm on the 5th Duncan Robbie had three at his feeder at South Baymouth and we had one at our feeder. On the 6th there was one in Providence Bay and on the 7th there were 5 in or near South Baymouth and ours.

Other migrants I have seen so far this month include two American Wigeon at Little Current on the 3rd, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 0n the 4th at South Baymouth, my first Turkey Vulture on the 6th at West Bay and a Glaucous Gull at South Baymouth on the 7th. Slim pickings!

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

Late March arrivals on Manitoulin were Snow Goose & Ring-necked Duck on the 28th, Wood Duck, Northern Flicker and House Finch on the 29th and Redhead & Lesser Scaup on the 31st

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

Spring arrived on the 15th and on the 16th the first few new birds arrived. Erwin Meissner found an Eastern Phoebe at South Baymouth and American Robins along the Government Road. Joan & I found a Merlin at Providence Bay, Ring-billed Gulls at Wolsey Lake, Herring Gulls in several spots, a White-throated Sparrow and an Eastern Meadowlark. There seem to be more Crows and Starlings about.

Wolsey Lake, under the highway bridge at Indian Point, was one of the few spots with open water. Here we found a Red-necked Grebe, 2 Black Ducks, 13 Mallard, 2 White-winged Scoter, 5 Bufflehead, 160 Common Goldeneye, 3 Common & 1 Red-breasted Merganser,a Bald Eagle and the gulls.

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

My first visit to Manitoulin saw me arriving on the afternoon of the 7th and departing on the morning of the 10th. I found 35 species in just over two full days. The North Channel was frozen east of West Bay, as was Lake Manitou. The last two remaining Red-necked Grebes were seen off Providence Point. I almost missed Long-tailed ducks there by not climbing sufficiently high up the lighhouse ladder. One rung further up and there was a flock of about 600 on the horizon. Other ducks at Providence Bay or South Baymouth included Buffleheads, all three Mergansers and two Lesser Scaup.

The Brown Thrasher at Duane & Rosemarie Thomson's is still there and we watched it on the 9th.

There are lots, well several flocks, of Goldfinches, Purple Finches & Tree Sparrows about. A check on Manitowaning produced, near the Municipal Building, no fewer than 15 Robins and 13 Cedar Waxwings. Another Robin was in Little Current. Duncan Robbie has a Grackle in S. Baymouth, and there may still be Juncos in Gore Bay.

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

Gore Bay, Manitoulin Island Christmas Count Results-year 2002.

3512 birds of 40 different species were found on the 35th annual Christmas Bird Count at Gore Bay on December 15th, 2002.

Birds were scarce this year and numbers of woodpeckers, nuthatches and cardinals were down. Goldfinches and purple finches were the only finches seen. This year there were no redpolls or grosbeaks.

16 birders in eight groups searched for birds while 40 feeder-watchers kept track of the birds coming to their feeders. Chuc & Ruby Willson are the 2002 Best Feeder Award winners. They reported 10 types of birds including a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

The count was sponsored by Armstrong & Land, Barristers and Solicitors, of Gore Bay

1 Common Loon 5 Red-necked Grebes 29 Black Duck 27 Mallard 2 Green-winged Teal 6 Bufflehead 99 Common Goldeneye 2 Red-breasted Merganser 1508 Common Merganser 24 Bald Eagle 5 Rough-legged Hawk 3 Ring-necked Pheasant 7 Ruffed Grouse 24 Sharp-tailed Grouse 9 Ring-billed Gull 177 Herring Gull 1 Great Black-backed Gull 143 Rock Dove 131 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker

13 Downy Woodpecker 16 Hairy Woodpecker 4 Pileated Woodpecker 5 Northern Shrike 1 Gray Jay 136 Blue Jay 44 American Crow 274 Common Raven 198 Black-capped Chickadee 7 Red-breasted Nuthatch 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 364 Starling 24 Tree Sparrow 12 Dark-eyed Junco 41 Snow Bunting 16 Northern Cardinal 6 Purple Finch 28 American Goldfinch 109 House Sparrow

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

Mindemoya Christmas Bird Count December 14, 2002

The Manitoulin Nature Club conducted the 29th annual Christmas Bird Count in Mindemoya and area on December 14th. 3026 birds of 56 species were counted. A single Snow Goose and Sharp-shinned Hawk were new for the count.A Pintail duck and a Brown Thrasher were also unusual. 21 birders and 35 bird feeder watchers took part this year. The award for the best feeder results goes to Elizabeth Debassige of M'Chigeeng. The general feeling was that few birds were coming to bird feeders this season. Goldfinches are being seen but other finches are not, and Cardinal numbers are down. Mourning Doves are however increasing.

Chris Bell, compiler

Mindemoya Christmas Bird Count December 14, 2002

2 Common Loon 1 Horned Grebe 23 Red-necked Grebe 3 Great Blue Heron 1 Snow Goose 34 Black Duck 68 Mallard 1 Pintail 373 Long-tailed Duck 22 Bufflehead 178 Common Goldeneye 2 Hooded Merganser 95 Common Merganser 2 Red-breasted Merganser 11 Bald Eagle 1 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 4 Rough-legged Hawk 12 Ruffed Grouse 1 Sharp-tailed Grouse 29 Ring-billed Gull 371 Herring Gull 1 Glaucous Gull 4 Great Black-backed Gull 81 Rock Dove 203 Mourning Dove 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker

22 Downy Woodpecker 42 Hairy Woodpecker 14 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Northern Shrike 1 Gray Jay 198 Blue Jay 55 American Crow 121 Common Raven 388 Black-capped Chickadee 19 Red-breasted Nuthatch 58 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Brown Creeper 16 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 American Robin 1 Brown Thrasher 234 Starling 30 Tree Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 31 Snow Bunting 9 Cardinal 3 Red-winged Blackbird 5 Common Grackle 6 Pine Grosbeak 36 Purple Finch 1 White-winged Crossbill 6 Common Redpoll 162 American Goldfinch 35 House Sparrow

Total 3026 birds of 56 species

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca