The 25th annual Mindemoya Christmas Bird Count was held on December 19, 1998. 14 birders in 8 parties, for 67 party-hours, and 36 feeder watchers took part. The Count is run by the Manitoulin Nature Club and compiled by Chris Bell.

A Flicker was a new species for the count.

Other uncommon species were Blue-winged Teal, Harriers, a Snipe, a Robin and Rusty Blackbirds. Long-tailed Ducks, Buffleheads and Hooded Mergansers were in good numbers. No Waxwings were seen.

5026 * birds of 58 different species were counted. The species total equals the record from 1994.

• 2 Common Loon
• 52 Red-necked Grebe
• 1 Great Blue Heron
• 43 Black Duck
• 47 * Mallard
• 6 * Blue-winged Teal
• 77 * Long-tailed Duck
• 40 * Bufflehead
• 368 Common Goldeneye
• 42 * Hooded Merganser
• 1440 * Common Merganser
• 3 Red-breasted Merganser
• 18 * Bald Eagle
• 6 * Northern Harrier
• 2 Northern Goshawk
• 1 Red-tailed Hawk
• 34 * Rough-legged Hawk
• 1 American Kestrel
• 3 Ruffed Grouse
• 6 Sharp-tailed Grouse
• 1 Common Snipe
• 197 Ring-billed Gull
• 376 Herring Gull
• 1 Great Black-backed Gull
• 69 Rock Dove
• 133 * Mourning Dove
• 1 Belted Kingfisher
• 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
• 36 * Downy Woodpecker
• 32 Hairy Woodpecker
• 1 * Northern Flicker
• 2 Pileated Woodpecker
• 8 Northern Shrike
• 2 Gray Jay
• 132 Blue Jay
• 118 American Crow
• 275 * Common Raven
• 304 Black-capped Chickadee
• 29 * Red-breasted Nuthatch
• 50 White-breasted Nuthatch
• 5 Golden-crowned Kinglet
• 1 American Robin
• 276 European Starling
• 13 Tree Sparrow
• 13 Dark-eyed Junco
• 98 Snow Bunting
• 30 Northern Cardinal
• 3 Red-winged Blackbird
• 1 Rusty Blackbird
• 10 Common Grackle
• 2 Brown-headed Cowbird
• 25 Purple Finch
• 7 House Finch
• 60 Common Redpolls
• 10 Pine Siskins
• 355 American Goldfinch
• 73 Evening Grosbeak
• 84 House Sparrow

* Record high numbers for the Mindemoya Count

The participants were Heather Baines, Chris & Joan Bell, Chris, Jason & Greg Blomme, Rodney Campbell, Floyd Cosby, Dan Crawford, Devan Labelle, Don Komarachka, John & Nicole Smith, Marty Sutinen, Steve Thorpe & Charlie Whitelaw. Feeder phoners were Maddie Becks, Loraine Bryant, Ursula Berse and Betty Gould. Jean Williamson, with other Nature Club Members, organised the potluck supper

Happy New Year

A last trip of the year to the District of Manitoulin gave me White-winged Crossbills - species # 223 for the year and the 1998 Championship. This is four short of my 1997 total and well short of the all-time best of 238 by Doreen Bailey in 1996.

There were no Red Crossbills to be found. In Killarney the feeders were well stocked and several Tree Sparrows, a Grackle, a Rust and a Redwing were found. The only finches were Goldfinches but Purple Finches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Golden-crowned Kinglet and many Black-capped Chickadees were seen on stops along the highway.

The results of a new Christmas Bird Count in Killarney Provincial Park is unknown to me but perhaps one of the participants will send it in. The status of Killarney within the Manitoulin district is unsure and several reports have the townsite and park leaving on Jan 1 99. I will try and get a final ruling on this matter soon. If Killarney leaves, Manitoulin will be the poorer.

Mild weather and the lack of snow into mid-December provided conditions for delayed departures. Charlie Whitelaw found a Coot and two Wood Ducks on Bass Lake on December 18. An American Wigeon stayed in Gore Bay until the 13th as did two Green-winged Teals there until the 18th. The sewage lagoons were free of ice, and occupied by ducks until the 17th. A Snowy Owl, only the second this season, was seen near Ice Lake by Vic Badenhurst on the 19th and a Red-tailed Hawk was seen on the 18th. None of the above made it onto the Mindemoya or Gore Bay Christmas Bird Count. More about the counts later, but I can say the weather was seasonal .

On Manitoulin Island the Bald Eagles are begining to gather for the Christmas Bird Counts on December 19 and 20. Nine were seen on Sunday December 6. Four of these were adults and five were in immature plumage. Of the nine, seven were together in a group.

As of December 7th, there is still no snow or ice on the Island and the temperature reached +14 degrees on Sunday with no overnight frosts. The Canvasback and two Green-winged Teal are still in Gore Bay, in which however the water level is still dropping from week to week. Who took the plug out of Lake Huron?. Common Merganser numbers are begining to build up towards the thousands predicted for the 19th-20th. Grackles were found in Providence Bay and a Rusty Blackbird north of Ice Lake. There seem to be more Shrikes and Snow Buntings around, and still two Kestrels. Golden-crowned Kinglets were again heard along the trail to Providence Point Lighthouse.

There is still no snow or ice, and only three weeks to the Christmas Bird Counts. It was not a very exciting weekend, but there are still several birds around that should be gone by now. On Saturday these included a Great Blue Heron at Providence Bay, a Shoveler at the Manitowaning Lagoons and two Grackles in South Baymouth. On Sunday several species of ducks were found in Gore Bay. The drake Canvasback was still there from the previous Sunday. Others included Wigeon, Green-winged Teal and a Ring-necked Duck. The Coot could not be found. Still at the Gore Bay Lagoons, and ready to move on to Gore Bay itself were three Shovelers and another Ring-necked Duck. There are still plenty of Horned and Red-necked Grebes around.

A Killdeer in Billings Township was exceptionally late.

Talking to Manitoulin Nature Club members on Friday evening, I had no reports of northern owls. We usually have a few sightings in November.

An adult Golden Eagle flying low over my vehicle on the North Sideroad, Barrie Island was the highlight of the day. The second half of November is the best time to find this uncommon bird and I had been looking on the East Bluff on Saturday without finding one there. A second new 1998 species for me was a solitary Canvasback at the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoon. I disturbed the duck which flew towards Gore Bay. This brings my total to 221 for 1998. Other birds of interest included Green-winged Teal at the Barrie Island Causeway, Coot on Bass Lake and in Gore Bay, a White-winged Scoter and Long-tailed Ducks at Providence Bay, two Kestrels in the Mindemoya Christmas Count Circle, and an adult Bonaparte's Gull at West Bay.

The finch population is now increasing with small flocks of Goldfinches, Purple Finches and Evening Grosbeaks. It was strange to watch a mixed flock of Bohemian Waxwings and Evening Grosbeaks feeding together on the ground in front of my vehicle at Sheguiandah.

The minimal snow cover from Friday/ Saturday has all melted and the weather has turned mild again, melting any ice on the puddles.

Two Killdeers in a field near Gore Bay were the first seen for some weeks and are unusually late.

Waterfowl numbers are still high with increases to 795 Red-necked Grebes, 416 Buffleheads, and 765 Common Goldeneye. The 227 Lesser Scaups are past the peak number and Common Mergansers have not yet started to move. Scoters are less predictable, but the flock of 300 Surf Scoters off Providence Point Light can be contributed to good viewing conditions with Lake Huron calm on Sunday. An American Kestrel was late departing. A flock of 80 American Goldfinches was an indicator that this species will again winter in numbers as it has in all but one recent years. I saw no other finches on the weekend.

Highlights on Saturday were a total of 53 Horned Grebes and 405 Red-necked Grebes at several locations. A White-winged Scoter was in the West Bay sewage Lagoon both Saturday and Sunday. A pair of Bald Eagles were busy rebuilding a nest damaged in the recent storm. A few Lesser Yellowlegs, Black-bellied Plovers and a Pectoral Sandpiper, were still around. Snow Buntings are still moving through in large numbers and the first Bohemian Waxwings of the season were seen at West Bay. Sunday was the first of November and a White-crowned Sparrow, a Pipit and Horned Larks were all good records for the winter months. A tight flock of 140 Long-tailed Ducks, ( the name change requested by the Manitoulin Nature Club ), were exciting to watch in West Bay and the two Black Scoters in the North Channel at Little Current were only the second sighting of 1998.

The weekend was wet and windy but nothing unusual was reported. Common Loons and Red-necked Grebes were seen in small flocks and a Horned Grebe was seen in Providence Bay. A flock of 9 White-winged Scoters was seen flying south from Manitowaning Bay towards South Bay . A few Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks and Merlins were seen. I counted nine Northern Harriers on Sunday - quite a high number. Pectoral Sandpipers were the only shorebirds- two at South Baymouth Sewage Lagoon and 14 at Gore Bay Sewage Lagoon. The water level in the eastern cell at Gore Bay was down a foot - giving an narrow beach for shorebirds. There were reports of Red-headed Woodpeckers and one or two Northern Shrikes. I did not see a warbler but both Kinglet species were seen on the Providence Bay lighthouse trail.

The Sandhill Cranes were concentrated in Carnarvon Township but were on the move and no accurate counts were obtained. A total in the order of 450 was estimated but the actual total may be double that. No other species of cranes were seen by the Friends of Misery Bay crane watching group.

Hello all,

Well after visiting Gord Gallant's web page for Manitoulin Island, I decided to go up and see the Sandhill Cranes for myself. On my drive up I went right through the muskokas which were full of maples with leaves in full flaming red colours. Not much bird life to see as I drove through, just Turkey Vultures, Crows, Ravens, Chickadees and 1 Pileated Woodpecker. Around Sudbury the golden hues of birch and aspen had all but replaced the red foliage. The drive from Espanola down to Manitoulin Island was spectacular. With the blues from the North Channel of Lake Huron in front of me, red and yellows of the fall foliage and the white and light pink of the Killarney mountains/hills all around. The first bird I observed in Manitoulin was an Adult bald eagle flying over Little Current.

About 45 mins later on the southwest side of Lake Mindemoya, I found the first flocks of Sandhill Cranes. The birds were found both days in between Mindemoya Lake, Providence Bay and about 3 miles west of Spring Bay. On Saturday I found 454 Birds mostly beside the southwest side of Lake Mindemoya. On Sunday in one field I counted 493 cranes which boosted my Sunday count to 769 cranes.

Sunday on the way back down I stopped at Grundy Lake P.P. to stretch my legs. There I found in a mixed flock of Chickadees/Nuthatches/Kinglets, one immature Black-throated Green Warbler.

Species observed on the trip

• Common Loon ( 40 Gore Bay, 62 Lake Wolsey, 29 Bayfield Sound )
• Red-necked Grebe ( 2 Lake Mindemoya, 27 Gore Bay, 12 Lake Wolsey )
• Horned Grebe ( 1 Lake Mindemoya )
• Double-crested Cormorants ( 2 Bayfield Sound )
• Canada Goose ( 1 Providence Bay, 16 Sandfield )
• Mallard
• Common Goldeneye ( 10 Lake Mindemoya, 18 Gore Bay )
• Common Merganser
• Turkey Vulture
• Bald Eagle ( Little Current )
• Northern Harrier
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Merlin ( 3 birds, including a very dark bird near the Gore Bay airport )
• American Kestrel
• Great Blue Heron
• Sandhill Crane ( 454 Saturday, 769 Sunday )
• Killdeer
• Herring Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Rock Dove
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker ( just north of Bala)
• Hairy Woodpecker
• Horned Larks ( in Pipit flocks)
• BlueJay
• Northern Raven
• American Crow ( Hundreds on Manitoulin )
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Red-breasted Nuthatch
• American Robin
• Hermit Thrush ( Providence Bay )
• Eastern Bluebird ( Gore Bay )
• Golden-crowned Kinglets
• American Pipits ( thousands in the fields of Manitoulin )
• European Starling
• Palm Warbler ( Lake Wolsey )
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Black-throated Green Warbler ( Grundy lake P.P.)
• House Sparrow
• Eastern Meadowlark
• Common Grackle
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Rusty Blackbird
• Brewers blackbird
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Pine Siskins
• American Goldfinch
• Pine Grosbeak ( 9 along Hwy 540 at Ice lake on Manitoulin )
• Song Sparrow
• Lapland Longspurs ( a few in the pipit flocks)
• House sparrow

52 species

Sandhill Crane numbers are building up, with a flock of 400 to 500 in Campbell Township in stubble fields in the vicinity of Perivale and Learmont Roads.The field trip to see and count the cranes, organised by the Friends of Misery Bay, is set for the morning of Sarurday, October 17 from Prescott's Restaurant in Providence Bay.

Mallards, Horned Larks and a few American Pipits and Lapland Longspurs were also to be found in the stubble fields. Red - necked Grebes, another Manitoulin fall speciality, are rafting in the North Channel and I had a count for the day on October 4th of 330 - mainly in Manitowaning Bay and Janet Head. White-crowned Sparrows and American Robins are now moving through. 17 Coots and four Redhead ducks were seen October 4 at the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons. Shorebird numbers are declining with just a few Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, with Pectoral Sandpipers at Mud Lake and two Sanderlings ao the beach at Providence Bay. I found my first Peregrine of the year near Providence Bay, also on the 4th.

Highlights in early September included a Harlequin Duck, at Smith's Bay in Gordon Township found by Doreen Bailey. The bird had apparently been there for some days but was gone by September 12. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo, perhaps the only one reported this year was seen by Doreen Bailey and Heather Baines in Burpee Township on Sept 13. Also on that day a Summer Tanager was found at the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons by Heather Baines. A Western Kingbird was at Smith's Bay Road in Gordon Township on September 11 and was seen by Chris Bell and Barney Weight. None of these birds was seen again. A Boreal Chickadee was seen September 12 by Chris Bell and Heather Baines at Mississagi Lighthouse.

White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows with some Juncos have been passing through since September 11. So have American Pipits, Horned Larks and Golden-plover. American Kestrels and Sharp-shinned Hawks were moving September 12 and 13. An early Tree Sparrow was seen September 19. Horned Grebe and Common Loon numbers have been building.

Hello Gord,

Another nice bird! Birding friend, Heather Baines was wrapping up her birding weekend as she and I sat at the table overlooking the back yard. I left to locate some of her things when she called, "A cuckoo's flown into the willow. I think this must be late for a cuckoo!" As I focused on the bird "Cool Heather" almost exclaimed, "Look at that lower mandible. Its yellow! Look at the eye-ring. It's white!" Then I joined the "ooh-ing and ah-ing with, "Right! Right! And there are the great cuckoo- patches under the tail! Then it was my turn to exclaim, " Why look at those rusty patches on its wings when it droops them down!" At that we looked at each other and breathed, "It's a yellow-billed cuckoo! It remained long enough to allow us to saturate on the fine points of this lifer for me!

That's good for us here on Manitoulin. The Sudbury Ornithological Society designate it as "U" (as of the end of 1997) in their Manitoulin Island Bird Checklist. That brought to a close a nice week for "U"s in Island birding: harlequin duck, canvasback, ruddy duck, yellow-billed cuckoo, western kingbird, boreal chickadee. I only saw the first four - the boreal chickadee, my "Chocolate Chickadee", still evades me through summer and into fall.

The week brought us "U" birders visiting the island as well: I was pleased to have a call from Peter Whalen who was weekending with his wife here. Peter, with his very popular column in the Globe and Mail is a celebrity to us - he brings us all together every week. We were sorry our paths didn't cross on the weekend but I hope he enjoyed good birding.

Also, I was surprised when visiting with some birders who dropped in at our door on the weekend when I learned that they had visited many of the same areas on Mexico's west coast we had, and had even hired the same guide to boat us through the mangrove swamps in San Blas. This seemed especially interesting as both of us were birding our way through Mexico on our own- discovering things as we went. After this visit with the Woodhouses I can hardly wait to get back to some of these same haunts.

"U" birding and birders continue to bless this island.

Hello Gord,
A Harlequin Duck female or (immature) was observed in great detail at Smith's Bay on western Mainitoulin - from 5:02 until dark tonight. the dark head had all three pair of difinitive white spots. It fed back and forth along the the rocky shores of the bay. It was very tame - children at play on the docks did not diturb it, our attempts to photograph it to as close as 10 yards didn't cause any reaction either. When it dove to feed the wings were raised enough to reveal a rusty brown back and uppersides - otherwise it was a dark seeming bird.

When I saw it through a screen door at first I thought it was female bufflehead, but on opening the door, I realized it was a harlequin duck so retreive my binoculars and telescope from the auto and called my good birding friend, Terry Land in Gore Bay. He came right out and confirmed the sighting. We were delighted at the find and the opportunity to observe a harlequin duck at such close quarters several times as it passed the cottage. Others at that locations were all introduced to the "good bird " .

Gore Bay Airport

The grass has been mown and the birds are arriving. Whimbrels have not been seen here before, but one was seen on the 23rd, three on the 24th and one on the 25th. The Buff-breasted Sandpipers have arrived with four on the 25th, four on the 29th and two on the 30th. Several birders got to see them and hopefully they will stay around for a couple of weeks, as they have the last few years. Also at the airport was a Pectoral on the 25th, four Baird's on the 30 th and 10 Golden Plover on the 29th. The Golden-Plover appeared to have gone on the 30 th but in past years some are to be found here for the first three weeks of September. Most of the sightings have been outside the fence and visitors can check out the bird sightings book inside the HQ building.

Mud Lake

Mud Lake is the wetland either side of Yonge St - three km due south of the crossroads in Mindemoya. After the dry summer, the water level is very low, exposing mud flats. Erwin Meissner checked out Mud Lake on August 23 and found nine species of shorebirds including a Stilt Sandpiper. On the 29th and 30 th the Stilt Sandpiper had gone but I found Killdeer, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs; Least, Baird's and Pectoral Sandpipers and a Dowitcher.

This is a good year for Baird's on Manitoulin with additional sightings at Carter Bay and Gore Bay Sewage Lagoon.

Sewage Lagoon Update

Little Current, Manitowaning, Lakeview and West Bay had no shorebirds and are in poor condition. South Baymouth and Gore Bay are both worth checking out. On Saturday August 29th at Gore Bay several birders watched a Peregrine Falcon for several minutes. Also seen were some shorebirds, a Coot and a Ruddy Duck.

Warblers

Northern warblers are starting to move. On Sunday I found a Wilson's and a group of Palm Warblers and Eastern Kingbirds are now in small flocks. At the end of August my 1998 Manitoulin District list is up to 214, one behind this time last year.

Birders are reminded of the Sudbury Ornithological Society field trip to Manitoulin on Sept 12 and 13. We are camping at Mississagi Lighthouse campground on the Friday and Saturday evenings and other birders are very welcome to join us. We are planning supper Saturday night in the Lighthouse Restaurant.

A trip to Killarney Sewage Lagoon on Sunday, August 23 produced 1 Killdeer, 10 Semi-palmated Plovers, 2 Lesser Yellowlegs, a Solitary Sandpiper, 2 Baird's Sandpipers, ( first for Manitoulin in 1998 and coinciding with peak numbers in Sudbury), a Semipalmated Sandpiper, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Whimbrel, ( flying low over the lagoon towards the Georgian Bay shoreline, - unusual in the fall ), and a Dowitcher. The lagoon is still almost empty but as they are now pumping to this cell, it will slowly fill but should be OK for a week or two yet.

There were few passerines of interest but the fish and chips on the dock were excellant.

Hi Gord,

Here we are back with a taste of island life for your readers:

The Manitoulin Island is becalmed under a long dry spell. Our sun-kissed island is now sun-baked by an ever-present sun above. The once cooling lakes below have become limpid reflectors of its heat. The island's lush green and growthy cover that exploded in spring is imploding to a crisp autumn brown far too early. Even the extra sprinkling of humid weather and misty nights allotted to islands has been wrung dry by the Summer of ‘98. Everyone and everything is affected by the drought. Creatures in search of coolness, moisture and food take up new patterns of behavior. Islanders themselves are not unaffected.

A family of crows raised nearby has moved onto the lawn under our harvest apple tree. They are joined daily by a crew of gulls and another of blue jays. All compete for the food on the tree. They chase, and fight, and cry about the tree and in the shade below while scrimmaging over pieces of apple. They seem so desperate for tastes of the pale juicy fruit, I hate to pick the apples and deprive them of this food.

The chokecherry tree on the edge of the lawn is burdened with its maroon fruit and alive with the brighter color and movement of small birds. I've placed an inverted garbage can lid on a hollow stump under the edge of the tree, added some sand and stones and a few perching sticks to the bottom, and hung a slow dripping hose over a branch of the tree above it. What a great attraction the fruit and water provide! My husband is asking for chokecherry syrup but I cannot pick this fruit either.

With each new dry day a snowshoe hare from the woods finds increasingly less on our lawns to make a meal. It merely "freezes" at our approach now where formerly it zig-zagged away to the cover of the woods where, to our secret delight, the sun shining through its upright ears often gave away its hiding spot. (Now however it has taken to tucking those ears back and creeping under the farm truck to rest in the shade there.) Recently one very early morning, to our surprise, the penetrating red eye of the rising sun revealed those ears on our high deck. We cannot imagine how, or at least why, such a leap was possible, but credit it all to el Nino.

Windows cranked open make ideal spaces for spiders to drape new hammocks daily. Deer don't always wait for evening or dawn to feed now. They surround my husband and graze around him as he works with machinery in the fields during the day (as many as 15 head at one time). Squirrels are thin. Chipmunks are absent.

Our own lives too are changed by the heat, and not for the worse really. All the windows in the house are left open day and night, allowing us to live a little more intimately with the outdoors. Daily now we hear the crickets tune their fiddles. We know when the wild geese ply over our house to and from the grain fields. We recognize their small-talk and the rhythmic slice of their wings . At night we watch fireflies twinkle over the meadows while stars sprinkle the dark meadows overhead. Sometimes a rising moon beyond the pines puts out these lanterns and makes moon shadows across our window screens. The warm scent of curing clover lays sweet on the heavy night air. Surely life behind closed doors was never as satisfying as this!

Before closing I do have one bird report: A La Contes sparrow was reported on Barrie Island last week along with two immatures. This is the second time we've had La Contes sparrows reported on that excellent island.

I visited Killarney on Saturday hoping for crossbills, but not finding any. Spruce trees are putting out a good cone crop but the pines are not. The west cell of the Killarney Sewage Lagoons was all but empty, with exposed damp mud and shallow pools. It looks perfect for shorebirds, but we are in a lull for shorebird migration right now. Two Lesser Yellowlegs and a Spotted Sandpiper were all that I found. If shorebird movement picks up in Sudbury, I will get aim to return next weekend to this remote mainland part of the Manitoulin District which is not very accessable to Island birders.

On July 29, I visited all the Manitoulin Island sewag e lagoons to check on suitability for migrant shorebirds. Little Current, West Bay, Lakeview and Manitowaning were poor - water levels too high. Gore Bay is not bad, also high levels but with areas of floting material capable of holding a shorebird. South Baymouth was good. This is now a year old, and has lots of nutriants and good shorelines free of vegetation. No shorebirds were seen at West Bay or Lakeview. At Manitowaning was one Lesser Yellowlegs; at Little Current a Lesser Yellowlegs and 6 Least Sandpipers; at Gore Bay 14 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Pectoral and 8 Least; and at South Baymouth 12 Least, 17 L. Yellowlegs, 3 Solitary, 3 Spotted Sandpipers and 2 Killdeers. A follow up visit to Gore Bay 0n the 31st had only Lesser Yellowlegs and Leasts. Trips to South Baymouth on August 1 and 3 found essentially the same mix of shorebirds, maybe even the same birds, as on July 29.

The 28th running of the Manitowaning Breeding Bird Survey took place on Sunday June 21, 1998. The observer was Chris Bell with an assistant for the first time since the late Ross Lowe retired in 1980. Floyd Cosby was on his first BBS and intends to return for more next year. 84 species were counted, the second best total. New species for this route were Sedge Wren and Le Conte's Sparrow bringing the total species list to 141. The Sparrow was on Hwy 6 north of Manitowaning and a Western Meadowlark was also on Hwy 6, just south of the Ten Mile Point Viewpoint. Other uncommon birds were Pied-billed Grebe with young on Bass Lake, a Common Goldeneye with young, a Hooded Merganser and several Blackburnian Warblers.

Also on Sunday, I found the Greater White-fronted Goose in Gore Bay, at the mouth of Bicknell's Creek. The Goose was first reported by Terry Land, and, if accepted by the Sudbury Ornithological Society Bird Records Committee will be the fifth Manitoulin record. The Goose was in adult, non-Greenland, plumage, had no leg bands, was not tame and was a strong flyer. It may still be there.

A Willow Flycatcher was heard singing at Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons. This is the first Willow I have heard for several years and I was able to compare the song to Alder Flycatchers at the same location. I found two Ruddy Turnstones at Dominion Point. These were the only new for 1998 shorebirds that I could find. Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons are still not too bad and the Little Current Lagoons have now been emptied. I hope some Manitoulin birders get to check these places out during the week. I went to Hog Lake, got the anticipated Olive-sided Flycatchers and settled down at the end of the road to watch for Least Bitterns, which are seen here some years but not today. Investigating harsh screams from water level in clumps of grass and reeds, I then heard a Yellow Rail calling in the correct manner for almost a minute in broard daylight. This is the fifth record of this exclusive species for Manitoulin. Hog Lake is only about three kilometres from the traditional Beaver Meadows site.

No rarities this spring, with the exception of a possible adult Ivory Gull seen briefly at Wolsey Lake by two observers at Wolsey Lake on May 16. A Western Kingbird seen at Hog Lake on May 21 by Chris Bell and later by Doreen Bailey was unusual. No southern birds too far north and no big falls of migrants were observed this spring. Also, to date there have been no uncommon shorebirds. On the 22nd and 23rd Dowitchers and Dunlin were moving and a group of 13 Whimbrels were seen on the morning of May 23 resting and feeding on a small point on the south coast reached from Mississagi Lighthouse. The Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons were briefly suitable for shorebirds, but the empty cell is now being refilled.

Hello to the Pauls,

Your glaucous gull is convincing. Incidentally, the rarity reported was an "ivory' not an Iceland gull and much rarer for us here on Manitoulin Island. Two years ago we had an immature ivory in much the same area - a very distinctive bird with its black face. and legs. We were able to observe it for some time at close range. It was accepted by our rareties committee. As it appeared on June 6, its timing was as unusual as this appearance - and near the same time of year.

Warblers continue to arrive and put up a great chorus. Other songsters are clay-colored sparrows buzzing for their mates. Peewees are wistfully seeking theirs. From tops of tall dead spruces olive-side "flys" are inquiring about their "three beers" while snacking on dragonflies. Bluebirds chortle throatily before grabbing a green worm and pounding it into mush on dead branches.

The Island is alive with more than the sound of music.

Rites of passage are being carried out on all sides. Once again they reassure us this world is turning as it should.

Savor it well everyone.

Attention Doreen Bailey: Thanks for your note about gerald & Shirley Paul's bird list for early May, 1998, on Manitoulin. We see Glaucous Gulls almost annually around Kingston but usually 1st or 2nd year winter adults. We scoped the one we identified as a breeding bird which was with Ring-billed and Herrings. Seemed much larger than a Ring-billed, lacked black wing-tips of Herring. At a distance, could not tell eye-color, but red spot on bill observed and pink legs. You've raised a legitimate doubt, but our recollected images do not permit us to shift from Glaucous to Iceland although the authority of the birders you cite appears unquestionable. Who knows? Maybe they saw a different bird. Next strange gull we see, we'll take more time with the bird's eye.

Greetings to Visitors Gerald and Shirley Paul of Kingston,

Yes, That's birding on Manitoulin! It is pleasing to hear from other birders who find this area a good place to visit. Your list is good. However you might like to rethink your glaucous gull that was "white as white". Two other top-notch birders (Ron Tasker and Charlie Whitelaw) both individually reported an adult ivory gull at Indian Point Causeway at Evansville on the long weekend. How well did you see you bird? Was it with others for sizing? Did you see the feet. How about the bill? This is an exciting possibility!!!

Also here at present is a Western Kingbird at Hog lake west of Silver Water.

Good Birding Everyone!

Birds Seen on Manitoulin Island, May 6, 1998 by Christopher Dixon of Tobacco Lake and Gerald & Shirley Paul of Kingston. We spent the day birding from Gore Bay to Meldrum Bay and identified about 70 species including the following:

Horned Grebe, Common Loon, Double-crested Cormorant, Canada Goose, Mallard, Pintail, Wood Duck, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Merganser, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Gadwall, Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Glaucous Gull, Caspian Tern, American Bittern, Great-blue Heron, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Common Snipe, Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Broad-winged Hawk, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, American Kestrel, Barred Owl, Horned Owl, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Common Flicker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Kingbird, Eastern Phoebe, Barn Swallow, Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Crow, Blue Jay, White-breasted Nuthatch, Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Cowbird, Common Grackle, Starling, Meadowlark, Purple finch, Chickadee, House Finch, Evening Grosbeak, White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, House Sparrow.

The first Cranes we spotted were on a sideroad close to Poplar, south of Gore Bay. Five of them strutted in a field and another flew overhead. Playing a round of golf at Manitoulin Island Country Club, we heard the characteristic gobble and saw two more cranes in the distance. The Glaucous Gull was seen in Campbell Bay near Evansville and was white as white can be. While listening in the dark to the frogs in a secluded bay of Tobacco Lake, we heard the distincive drawl of a Barred Owl. While canoing in the early morning, the Horned Owl hooted a "good-morning-to-you...hoo-hoo-hoo- hooo." Along the boardwalk in Gore Bay, we watched the Purple Martins arrive and after a 20-minute search to find the source of the pumping sound, we found the American Bittern which up to this time was more of a voice than a bird. As visitors to the Island and guests of Chris Dixon of Tobacco Lake, although we failed to find the Sharp- tailed Grouse on their stomping grounds, we heartily recommend Manitoulin as a pleasant and exciting place to bird.

Migrants were not abundant, even scarce at traditional hot spots such as South Baymouth, Mississagi Lighthouse and Wolsey Lake. A Ruddy Duck, drake, at Manitowaning Sewage Lagoon was uncommon. Duck and loon passage was minimal. Lagoons have still not been emptied for returning shorebirds and the Foxey field are rapidly drying up in the drought. Apart from the two species of Yellowlegs, Solitaries were seen in several spots and a Least Sandpiper at Little Current Sewage Lagoon. Common Terns were back at Little Current and Wolsey Lake. A very few Eastern Kingbirds were seen and one Least Flycatcher heard. One Catbird was found and a Mockingbird seen on Joyce Road South in Dawson Township. My warbler list is up to nine with Nashvilles, one Parula, one or two Yellows, several Black-throated Greens, some Waterthrushes and Black-and -whites. White-crowned Sparrows are here in some numbers and a few Bobolinks were seen.

My Sudbury-Manitoulin list is up to 151, but for Manitoulin I did not reach the planned 150 and am a little behind at 147 species. The target is 200 by monthend

. The new access road to Mississagi Lighthouse is progressing and should be opened for Friday May 15, season opening date for the campground. This last weekend we were still using the old road, which is now close to being swallowed up by the ever expanding quarry. The SOS field trip on the long weekend starts 8am Saturday at the ferry dock in South Baymouth and we will be camping Saturday and Sunday nights at Mississagi Lighthouse.

Cheers,

Hi Gord,

Across Manitoulin the hollow sound one hears these days is "knocking on wood".

As far as weather goes, a time warp holds sway over the North. August is "laughing across the sky" - and has been since early April. Oldsters wonder when and how we will we pay for this gift of summer weather?"

Crops are "in" early to capture any lingering moisture deep in the land. "Wet corners" that haven't known a plough in decades are now "worked up" and planted to grain and clover. Bottom fields where wild iris, and buttercups grew for decades have been made up into fluffy beds, all "quilted" aslant with rows of new shoots. Cedar fences that sagged across wetlands through too many wet springs now stand erect on dry land with their feet replanted firmly beneath them.

Everything waits for this hot spell to break. Even those farthest removed from the elements are beginning to look over their shoulders as if at the approach of something unseen. Is a windfall summer really too much of a good thing ?Are youngsters courting disaster as they don shorts and head for the beaches? Oh well, "knock on wood!"

Enough for this week's glimpse in on rural Manitoulin. Back to the birds:

A few migrants are making their solitary way north. A black-throated green or two announce their return, from conifers. This day, Mother's Day, brought our first hummingbird and yesterday saw a pair of tundra swans feeding at the foot of Misery Bay. Our resident merlin whinnies its shrill cry from the bluff above our home, and whip-poor-wills are back again starting their day at 4:00 A.M. After 45 years of hearing their wake up call at this address nothing sounds better than to hear them again each spring. Eastern kingbirds are about. Mockingbirds and vireos are reported.

On the calendar and in the bird world, it's barely spring. Otherwise it's summer across Manitoulin.

New species for 1998 for me were an Upland Sandpiper at Ten Mile Point and a Cliff Swallow at Dewar's spring on the Government Road. My revised total is now 129 species for 1998.

Other birds of interest were Horned Grebes in summer plumage, 5 off South Baymouth and six at Wolsey Lake. Also at Wolsey Lake a foolish pair of Ospreys were buildind a nest on the srossarms of a hydro pole on the shoulder of the highway. Until next weekend,

April 28:- Broad-winged Hawk
April 29:- White-winged Scoter, Caspian Tern, Purple Martin, Rough-winged Swallow, Brown Thrasher, Lincoln's Sparrow and Pine Siskin.
April 30:- Sharp-shinned Hawk, Lesser Yellowlegs, one Pine Warbler, one Palm Warbler and Vesper Sparrows. My 1997 total by the last of April was 123 species.

May 1:- Shoveler, Sora, six Brant Geese west over the North Channel at Little Current, and a Spotted Sandpiper. An abbreviated loon watch at Little Current from 6:30 to 8:30 am resulted in a count of 255 Common Loons flying west. Most were between 100 and 200 feet above the water or shore and all those seen within good range were in summer plumage and had their bills open! The lower than usual total could have been due to lack of wind. The rate of passage picked up after 8 am as the wind picked up.

The sewage lagoons have not been emptied yet and are not very good for shorebirds. The emptying dates should coincide with the shorebirds. As was the situation last year, Foxey is the hot shorebird site with Killdeers, Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs in place. Will we get godwits again?

To date, the only known rarity in 1998 is the Harris's Sparrow. If accepted by the Bird Record's Committee of the Sudbury Ornithological Society - it was videoed by Heather Baines - this will be the sixth record for the District of Manitoulin.

Good birding to all,

Dear Gord,

American goldfinches came in yesterday. Except for an odd individual these are the first real flocks since last summer. What a treat to see them already in their summer gold! Although we admit to feeling a certain sense of loss at having missed their progress through the patchy period from winter's tarnished gold to the polished sunshine baubles they become in summer.

Now that goldfinches are weaving their cheer over green lawns is spring here? Not really. In fact it seems strangely delayed - on more fronts than one. On the farm calving was delayed for several weeks (but not by this year's weather but by the severe winter one year ago.) Now over one hundred calves are arriving at our place in less than two weeks. What a splash of minty new babies teetering their way along behind their mothers down to the watering hole!

Surely this is a preview of things to come on the bird front: everything is about to arrive here in one colorful splash..............!

Until then we enjoy the things at hand. This morning a brush wolf, dark against the rising sun, hunted the frosty fields beside the springs. "Looking for mice," we thought as we watched it through binoculars. With a flip of its head it tossed its breakfast up into the air, expertly caught it, and swallowed it down in two bites. Then with ears and head up, it sized up his surroundings, and ambled off, nose down, looking for more. "Yes, mice!" we nodded as we too turned to our own preparations.

Now birders, if not birds, are calling, and I must follow.

What better place to wait for spring than on the Grand Manitoulin (as the old maps labeled our island.)

Greetings Gord,

Temperatures have soared into the teens on Manitoulin Island for several weeks now, but all this false spring could muster up on most days at most wetlands was a single spring peeper and the odd wood frog. What a disappointment for those of us who can't start spring without imbibing in a frog chorus or two. Otherwise its like breakfast without coffee

This evening, when the wind went down and the sunset colors came up, I thought of short-eared owls flying at twilight and set out for the Gordon prairies in search of their wistful good looks posed atop posts. There were none. I scanned the prairie for a glimpse of flying forms. There none of these either. The season was too early to pick up their plaintive nestling cries so when patience wore out I gave up on owls and moved on westward into the sunset glow.

I have faith in the Barrie Island Causeway and it once again it lived up to my expectations as a pleasurable place for a nature enthusiast to visit.

Last weekend it brought me the acquaintance of nature photographer, Ron Erwin of Seasons magazine fame and Barrie Island connections, out enjoying the frosty site in the pale morning sun; tonight it brought the first real strains of the spring chorus rising through the rosy evening. It was not a full chorus by any means but numerous voices were piping up and as the kit-kidicks of wood frogs kicked in and the long snores of a leopard frog sombulated, I started to get that spring feeling. The coffee was on the perk, so to speak! Parking on the generous shoulders of the causeway and with all windows rolled down, I settled back to savor my first real taste of spring.

The songs and sunset glow surrounded me - on the quiet bay and overhead, and even tinging the air between. Rosy water stretched away to the west where somewhere without a change it became a rosy sky. The only accent points were a few silhouetted boulders that spread out from the nearby shoreline. Among them moved the dark shapes of preening Canada geese settling in for the night. A great blue heron raised its wings and declared its identity among the many heron-shaped boulders. Accustomed to looking down on its neighbors daily, tonight it had the unusual experience of looking up at the lofty height of a sandhill crane that stepped sedately around it. The heron retreated. Some unseen creature keened on a distant point...... my cup was full.

Another beautiful Manitoulin evening, naturally speaking.

P.S. For those who came to the sharp-tailed grouse event on April 18th, and went home without the great gray owl they hoped to pick up on Barrie Island, they will be interested to learn that one of their number returned to Manitoulin Island on the following Tuesday and found the elusive owl at the head of Barrie Island.

New species for me last weekend were Harris's Sparrow, Sapsucker,Osprey,Greater Scaup,Red-shouldered Hawk,Greater Yellowlegs, Ruby-crowned Kinglet,Yellow-rumped Warbler, Savannah Sparrow,Blue-winged Teal, Coot,and Purple Finch for a total of 106.

The Harris's has been at the same feeder since March 31.The Greater Scaup are uncommon here but the five or six at the Indian Point Bridge at the Wolsey Lake outlet were easy to see with their green heads obvious in the bright sun. The Red-shoulder was sitting on its nest at a traditional site. An unusual sight was a group of 12 displaying Sharp-tailed Grice displaying at 7:30 pm beside Hwy 540 at the Billings 10th concession, last year's Western Meadowlark site. This evening display will reduce grousing from birders about 4:30 get up times!

Chatters

Wow. I finally got around to witnessing an active lek of Sharp-tailed Grouse. Amazing. i never realized how complex avian social structure can get. wow again. Viewing of the lek was from blind at the Gore Bay airport organized by the Friend of Misery Bay for the Ontario Field Ornithologists. The Friends of Misery Bay are very involved with the establishment and support of Misery Bay - a tract of land on the south shore of Manitoulin Island as a Provincial Nature Reserve. This is the second year that the Friends have held this event on the 3rd weekend in April. The event is intended to raise awareness of unique natural feature found on Manitoulin. It was low key but well organized. I think they raised 120 $Cdn.

I took Friday off to travel with 3 other birders up to Gore Bay on Manitoulin Island, Ontario (7 hours north of Toronto). A Great Egret flying across the highway just north of Toronto was note worthy and a good sign.

Our first bird for Manitoulin wasn't exactly on the island. A Raven was on a nest in the middle of the swing bridge to the island at Little Current. Getting a 90 degree change in vantage point every hour on the quarter.

It was windy on the island, a lot of the birdlife was taking cover but we did pick up a few of the more common landbirds on our drive from Little Current to Gore Bay. We dipped on Brewer's Blackbird (a Manitoulin specialty) but did cross paths with a flock of about 500 Rusty Blackbirds moving through a wooded swamp.

After checking into a motel in Gore Bay (possibly the only one open this time of year), and on a recommendation from Doreen Bailey (with Friends of Misery Bay) we decided to drive around Barrie Island. This is a major staging area for migrating Canada Geese with thousands in the fields. It's also a staging area for Sandhill Crane. Along with the North Channel towards Sault Ste. Marie, it is one of the few places where you can expect to see Sandhill Crane in Ontario. Over the two days we saw 25 individuals in small groups up to 5. Some of the sightings were excellent including one bird dancing in front of 2 other birds maybe 150 feet from the car. Despite strong winds mixed with sleet we enjoyed a variety of raptors. While on Barrie Island, we came across an adult Bald Eagle likely on territory. We did not see its nest but were told that a pair had nested successfully last year for the first time in forty years. 5 Rough-legged hawks (3 hover-hunting over a single field) seems a bit late to me. Then we only saw a single Red-tailed Hawk on the island so spring may not be that advanced. We did see many American Kestrals and Northern Harriers. While on Barrie Island we crossed paths with our target bird the Sharp-tailed Grouse. We were able to scope a number of individuals in trees near the end of the island. We inspected the meeting spot for the lek excursion and went to dinner in the only restaurant in Gore Bay. Good food especially the fresh Whitefish.

Next morning we meet up at a hanger in the Gore Bay Airport at 5:30 am.
Friends of Misery Bay had organized a potluck breakfast that all of the visiting birders appreciated. There were about 50 people in the hanger, maybe 30 visitors went out to the leks (2 or 3 I'm not sure). We were the third and last group to visit the airport lek. Despite anxiety that the lek would break up for the day, being last wasn't all bad. The day was clear and calm - the early morning wait could have been bone chilling. There were 40 Snow Bunting on the runway but no snow. When we arrived at the blind, the wind was starting to pick up but it wasn't cold (no frosty breath anyway). Within minutes (2) of settling into the blind we started to hear odd cooing sounds and soon saw birds moving into position. The dance consists of males facing off, leaning forward with tail feathers erect. The display includes pumping of a purple throat patch, showing the bright yellow eyebrows (comb?), spreading of wings, stamping of feet, loud vibrating of tail feathers and lots of cooing. There was no direct aggression and the display go on and on. I have no idea if there are winners or what would constitute a successful outcome. It is amazing to watch. Aside from hearing Ruffed Grouse, this was my first encounter with displaying grouse. I'm already starting to plot a foray south for some of the other Grouse characters out there.

After finishing up with the lek, Steve Hall from the Friends of Misery Hall took us out to a woodlot that has Red-shouldered Hawk and Barred Owl nesting. We saw the Hawk but not the Owl.

We finished up our Manitoulin trip with an unsuccessful wait a feeder for a Harris's Sparrow. All told trip list came in at 52 species.

I heartily encourage anyone reading to visit the nearest Grouse lek it's worth the effort.

I just got a phone call from grrrrr. we missed the Sparrow by eight minutes. Grrrrrr timed it. Birding does have its highs and lows.

Dear Gord,
Easter Weekend brought beautiful clear warm days and calm cold nights to Manitoulin Island ( and with it, according to the old folks, came the promise of 40 more days of much the same weather.)

With it too came a group from the Orillia Naturalists Club. At daybreak on Saturday they observed a circle of fascinated grouse hens gathered in ancient tradition on their lek to observe a crowd of males outdoing themselves in paroxysms of pure one-upmanship. Such busy, exuberance one seldom sees. Such joy in life, such joy in their maleness, such joy in their yellow eyebrows, in their purple cheeks, in their mantled wings, their quivering tails and pounding feet.

This busy imperative to reproduce was magnificently appealing. In its color and sound and motion, and yes in its frenzy we saw beauty.

This was not the only such imperative we were to see that day. Upon the sunny broken alvar rocks among the winter - flattened weeds and bare twigs of summer-fragrant sumach we observed the mating of garter snakes. There were three males, all slender as pencils, and one female as large as a large man's thumb.

First there were only two, a gray-green pair with the male showing bright yellow about the throat. In their writhing exuberance, these bright flashes twisted and turned around and through the coils of the female in their frenzy.

Then someone said, "There are "two" males!" And there were. Two small heads and two whip slim tails were now discernable among the coils of the Gorgan's knot.

" Here comes another!" someone called, and over the winter litter, hurried a third male to join the busy work at hand.

His approach seemed very atypical of snake locomotion. The ways of snakes as I know them are slow and winding and secretive. One seldom sees the whole of the creature as it moves through shadow and cover. Its coils show at different places along its path. There was none of that for this hurrying male. He arrowed in a straight line across the top of the litter in full view, hardly vibrating as he sped straight forward to join the conquest of the female.

At this point she tried to depart in some haste but changed her mind and allowed herself to be gathered back into that entwining embrace. No doubt this show was as magnificent as the earlier one. But the response for this writer was a much more reflective. For I thought of the Bible, and it seemed to me that an old picture of God holding an arrow-straight snake vibrating aloft as he expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden spoke volumes.

Later in the day we were to see the quieter aftermath of matings. A sleepy horned owl, consumed with her sitting, allowed her heavy eyelids to droop shut as she watched us over the edge of her nest. A barred owl and red-shoulderd hawk communicated to their mates on their nests in the hardwoods.

Now it is midnight, and out of the misty island darkness a tree frog and a white moth have come to my lighted window. They remind me it is time to leave off musing and prepare for more spring discoveries ahead.

Naturally speaking,

Another quiet weekend with few new species. New for myself were D-C Cormorant,Snipe,Great Horned Owl,Saw-whet Owl, Tree Swallows, Swamp Sparrow and House Finch for a total of 90.

The Rockville and Bidwell owl surveys with Floyd Cosby were much better than the the first surveys in March. Great Horned, Barred and Saw-whets were heard in the distance. Ruffed Grouse, Woodcocks, Common Snipe and frogs were calling well while all the snowmobiles have gone. The traffic was rather heavy being Easter, but the full moon helped.

The ice is coming off the lakes early this year and two Common Loons were seen- both in Lake Huron with Horned And Red-necked Grebes, Cormorants,etc. The Lesser Scaup numbers were up.

Dear Gord,
The wind has blown steadily and strongly from the N. E. for most of this week. As birders know that is bad news for birding. However, Manitoulin still offers interesting fare for the outdoor enthusiast:

Wet grain fields are filling with flocks of geese, all awaiting the west wind. From our windows we can see hundreds at feeding times. A brush wolf (coyote) has been watching them too. When he actually manages to creep close to them, an interesting explosion of geese and wolf occurs. Geese stream skyward into the wind. Wolf leaps skyward after its departing meal. Other "meals" are still flocked about on the ground so off it careens to create havoc in other directions. Soon the whole field is taking wing with much ado about one lone wolf departing on empty stomach. (Signs, such as feathers on the ground, suggest nighttime forays are more successful.)

Other wild goose explosions occur when herds of deer come streaming across the fields to reach the same choice patches of tender new grass the geese enjoy. With a tattoo of hooves they announce their approach but arrive before the geese have time to become airborne. The resulting swath of aborted lift - offs, and goose - panic marks the path of the unheeding deer. Shortly all are feeding together on this fine spread of spring greens.

Several reports of swans have been received but none in time for this writer to see them. No species was determined but since three were on the same site where three tundras spent several days last spring one likes to suppose they may have been the same species.

The Harris' sparrow and fox sparrow may still be seen at Judith Jones' at 970 Bidwell Rd. She has agreed to let her phone number be published here but requests you call her at 705- 859-2754 before 9:00 p.m. to learn if it is still about.

Now the great Manitoulin outdoor experience is calling me out, naturally speaking,

April 4 & 5
Northerly winds had slowed the rate of new arrivals, but nearly all the snow has gone, meaning the side roads were open.
Duncan Robbie of South Baymouth reported for April 4 :- 7 Cormorants, 10 Turkey Vultures, 2 Sandhill Cranes and 5 Golden-crowned Kinglets.
New species for me included Sandhill Crane, Woodcock, Horned Grebe, Turkey Vulture, Gadwall and Great Blue Heron.
I now am up to 83 species for the District of Manitoulin in 1998.
Looking forward to the Easter Weekend and some birding,

We had a rush of arrivals March25 to 29. New species for the year for me included American Robin,Ring-necked Duck, Red-tailed Hawk,Killdeer, Bluebird, Song Sparrow,Cowbird,Snow Goose, Pintail,Green-winged Teal,Redhead,Lesser Scaup, Harrier,Goldfinch,Flicker, Phoebe,Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Fox Sparrow and Rusty Blackbird.Duncan Robbie reported lots of arrivals at South Baymouth including 20 Eastern Meadowlarks on his lawn on the 26th.

Greetings Gord,

Often some good stuff touches down with the first wave of migrants. That's what happened this week and as a result we had the rare pleasure of watching a Harris' Sparrow at a feeder near Manitowaning. Seeing it is quite a treat for us here on Manitoulin Island, although we do have occasional sightings of this handsome bird.

This was our first opportunity to observe the species in transition from nonbreeding to breeding plumage. Most attractive difference was the fine white speckling on the head that would soon be solid black.

Its behavior was distinctive also. Each time it returned to the ground where the feed was spread, it seemed timid at first as it hopped about the edges of the flock of other feeding tree and song sparrows. Then it would raise the feathers on its head into an erect speckled crest and charge in to stand erect among the others. We watched it for some time and declared that it and the hospitality shown us by home owner, Judith Jones, were certainly worth the trip down the island.

Although savoring the appearance of new species is one of the pluses of migration, the real pleasure is in the return of the familiar birds. Bluebirds are never so blue, nor a blue heron lifting out of a wetland so wonderfully ungainly as at first sight in spring. The first faint tinkles of killdeers from across the wet fields are as stirring as the wilderness call of the loon. And for a deep primal response nothing compares to the return of the first sandhill cranes. Their ancient bugling voices as they first circle overhead on a prehistoric wing harkens back to something deeper than we remember. It is almost, but not quite, as stirring as the cry of the timber wolf wavering through the dark north woods.

Not all migration experiences make happy stories. Ken Noland from the fish tug, Dolly II, reports an interesting event that occurred out on Lake Huron recently.

They were fishing in 20 fathoms of water about three or four miles out of Manitoulin's South Baymouth when a tiny brown creeper came to their boat and entered it. It lit directly on the tug's hot water tank. Ken tells us the tiny bird was "all fluffed out" and so evidently cold and exhausted they "could touch it!" Many birders have seen birds in a similar state of exhaustion at Point Pelee.

The creeper clung to the warmth of the tank until it revived enough to forage for food. It began by creeping up and about the tank and then around the inside of the tug in search of something edible. It went on gleaning food from the deck where the men were cleaning fish and remained on board until the tug docked.

That the brown creeper found a haven is the happy part of the story. That many birds migrating across the Great Lakes do not survive is the sad side of the situation. Crossing the Great Lakes is certainly one of the dangers of migration. Not only do fog and storms take their toll over water, but gulls do as well. Ken describes how he's often seen migrants harried to death by gulls that harass "lots of them" down unto the water where they feed upon them.

Wishing all birders many happy outdoor spring days when the sun is not too bright, the wind is not too strong, and the trees are dripping - with birds.

Dear Gord,
It's started, Gord! The migrants are landing. The leading edge of the spring migration settled onto Manitoulin Island today. When I took a breakfast tray out to enjoy the warmth inside the windows of the big room this morning, I hadn't settled down when Les cautioned,

"Listen! Listen!"and then I heard them too - the honking of wild geese returning to our creek. The pair came in over the edge of the escarpment behind our residence, sighted theirresidence below, and descended with a unison of clarion fanfare.

Sliding open the glass doors I was in time to hear their gabbles as they applied themselves to the water. It wasn't long until they had settled down for a nap on the bare banks of the stream. But they "just couldn't get to sleep!" Black and white periscopes kept rising aloft from their otherwise quiet forms. One could almost hear their comments as they scanned around, "Yes, this is it. It really is it."

Once all was quiet on the waterfront we were able to hear other voices of spring.

Some other of today's sightings that were equally pleasing on our scale of what's good were :

song sparrows on bare patches of earth near rail fences, robins landing-on-the-run along country road edges, meadowlarks, all bringing their tails behind them, made forays onto weedy fields, and grackles under feeders held their heads aloft in fluid black elegance. On the lakes were ring-necked ducks, red-breasted mergansers, hooded mergansers, common mergansers. And gulls in their thousands.

Yesterday it was a snowy owl and horned larks: today it's all the above: "Yes, Gord, this is it! It really is!"

From Manitoulin Island, where the sounds of spring are again heard in the land,

March 22. Another storm midweek deposited more snow with drifting in the south. A Hawk Owl on March 22 was seen in a tree beside Townline Road, in Bidwell Township between Bass Lake and Green Bay Road. As far as I know this is the first sighting here for 1998. We found a Meadowlark in a barnyard at McDonald's farm on the north side of the Sand Road in Campbell Township. These two species brought my 1998 species list for Manitoulin to 55, ready for a big boost next weekend. I still have not seen a Robin. Bohemian Waxwings are still around- the best winter in several years- with 100 or so in Manitowaning. Peter Whalen mentions mountain ash berries being the preferred food. It has been a poor winter for mountain ash fruit but the Waxwings are doing well on apples.

We noticed three Sharp-tailed Grouse running on the bare shoulder of the road into Gore Bay Airport. We thought they had found a temporary replacement for their traditional dancing grounds which are still snowed in. At the end of February, when there was not much snow, Rodney Campbell observed another group beside the White's Point Road in Howland Township.

On Saturday March 7, I got a good look at the ducks in Lake Huron off South Baymouth and estimated the flock at 2000 Oldsquaws. There were another 300 off Providence Bay. New birds for 1998 on the 7th included a flock of 5 Canada Geese at Providence Bay, 18 Ring-billed Gulls at South Baymouth, a Snowy Owl in Campbell Township and a Belted Kingfisher on the Mindemoya River at the Lake Mindemoya Dam. On March 14 and 15 three small flocks of Horned Larks were spotted. A Bald Eagle was back at its nest site. On March15 th a flock of five female Red-breasted Mergansers had arrived at South Baymouth. Also seen, in Carnarvon Township, were two Lapland Longspurs in with Snow Buntings and Horned Larks. An owling survey that evening on the Bidwell Road produced a single Barred Owl. My 1998 list for Manitoulin now stands at 53 species.

The recent storms have resulted in a new thick blanket of snow over Manitoulin, sending the Gulls, Starlings and deer that were feeding in the nearly bare fields back to where they belong in the winter - out of sight. More snow is forecast for tonight.

All for now,

Dear Gord,

Ginny Rusk of Gordon's Lodge, Gore Bay, reported the first new robin of 1998 clucking on their lawn on Wednesday morning, March 4. We are happy to hear of returning robins, and returning birders at the lodge, Ginny and Bob Rusk. Ginny is recorded spotter of many significant bird reports given in John Nicholson's "Birds of Manitoulin".

Another birding pleasure we are enjoying just now is watching the regular visits of a mature bald eagles to the food cache set out in our yards.

The scene in black against a field of white (with flashes of right yellow for stark emphasis) hardly varies from day to day, a scene we never tire of watching:

We notice a large black bird among the regular dark ravens on the snow around the cache. Examination with binoculars reveals it to be an even larger bird than first evident as a gleaming white head and tail come into focus against a backdrop of white snow. The eagle haughtily stares down the ravens, who wheel away on quick wing. It approaches the food sideways with bouncing hops on its great yellow feet and legs. Then with a fierce yellow-eyed glare to left and right it settles to work within the cache and extracts its meal with almost gentle sideway pulls of its yellow bill. We lay the binoculars aside, very satisfied with the company we keep.

We congratulate Algoma East on their terrific new home page, created for sponsor, Limberlost Lodge by Gord. Add Terry Carr's interesting reports and it makes for a great site. The North is developing a birding identity on the internet - thanks to the dedication of Gord and others.

Before winter departs completely, here is a good suet feeder I've discovered this winter. A perch basket hanging in our garage didn't seem to go on perch fishing expeditions much in recent years so I simply hung it in a tree among other feeders. Now I simply open the bottom hatch and toss pieces of suet up inside so they fall back down on the lid as I close it. Nuthatches, chickadees, and woodpeckers, can walk and feed upside down all over the rough wire-web bottom of the basket. Jays and starlings cannot. Nor can they reach the food from the sides.

Come spring, I'll clean the basket thoroughly before fishing season arrives. There may be still hope of seeing it filled with a fresh catch of perch again some day before next winter.

Speaking of suet: Northern hunters, please remember the suet birds seem to like best is from venison or moose. Carefully remove your suet when dressing your winter's meat. Freeze it in zip-lock bags and keep in a deep freeze until needed. If not for your own feeder, then for a neighbour's.

And speaking of chickadees: I keep looking for a glimpse of a chocolate chickadee walking upside down under my perch basket. And, no, "Chocolate Chickadees" are not a new kind of Easter treat but the name given to the boreal chickadees at his feeders by brother Jack at Birch Lake in Massey. He tells me they particularly like the suet feeder. So now that a Boreal Chickadee has have been spotted at Manitoulin Island's Misery Bay not too far from my home and now that I have a safe suet feeder for them, I keep watch for a chocolate chickadee of my own.

Good spring sightings everyone,

Dear Gord,

Despite warm weather and thoughts of spring, slow February remains just that here on Manitoulin Island.

Every day that it remains above zero birders look out expecting to see robins on the greening lawns. Day after day as south-west breezes foster early dreams of spring arrivals, binoculars scan the opening water along the shores seeking glimpses of the bobbing black and white forms that speak of returning spring ducks. Mergansers, golden eye, buffleheads, scaup, ring-necked ducks all fit the category but only the same few overwintering goldeneye and common merganser bob out in the bays.

The ever nearby gulls are slightly on the increase after a few short weeks on standby just off shore at ice edge. That crumbling edge is now inside the bays and so are the gulls. They wheel and cry overhead. They return to the ice, orient into the wind, tuck their heads into their neck feathers and sleep on the surging crush. A few black-backs and dreams of an Iceland or glaucous sustain us into March.

This last Saturday Heather Baines, birding weekender, took rooms in Providence Bay to capture first light over the bay but found nothing new there in the morning. It took a hike into Misery Bay to even turn up a black-back - out off Lake Huron shore. She reports the trail to remain good for hiking, but she found no sight (or sound) of the boreal chickadee Chris Bell located there the previous weekend on our Vive le Canada ski event.

Reports of that Misery Bay event were that the soft snow was miserable (we tell it the way it is at Misery Bay), the new trail was new, the weather was gorgeous, the breakers at Lake Huron's edge were incredible....and the pot of hot coffee at trail's end was divine. Without more snow it's possible our new ski trail opened and closed on the same day.

This unusually warm winter pleases no one it seems. It destroys the dreams of the snow worshiper on one hand, and on the other, it makes false promises of spring to others.

Good outdoor enjoyment, everyone.
Naturally speaking,

A ski into Misery Bay on Sunday February 15 produced a small flock of Common Goldeneyes, some Herring Gulls and two Great Black-backed Gulls on the open water of Lake Huron. On the ski trail we stopped to check out a small group of Black-capped Chickadees and found a Red-breasted Nuthatch, a Golden-crowned Kinglet and a Boreal Chickadee. The Boreal is unusual on Manitoulin and none were reported in 1997.

Dear Gord,
A visit to the village of Killarney, in mainland Manitoulin, on Sunday February 8 by myself and John Lemon produced a male Red-winged Blackbird and a male Common Grackle. They were both found at a feeder on Commissoner Street. Other feeder birds in the village were Black-capped Chickadees, Pine Grosbeaks, Blue Jays and Common Redpolls. The dump had only Ravens. A hike to the lighthouse found us one Herring Gull sitting on the ice. Georgian Bay was frozen for some miles out from the lighthouse but a couple we met on the trail had just flown in to the nearby airport on a Sunday afternoon trip from Guelph and said that most of the Bay to Owen Sound was open. The Killarney Highway back towards the Sudbury District was quiet- just a few Ravens, Pine Grosbeaks and Redpolls with one Pileated Woodpecker

Until next time,

Dear Gord,
Ravens are no longer the solitary black rogues of yesterday. They are cosily traveling in pairs now, and although they may not be "twittering", they do "bark" spastically at each other like two black hands applauding the season from one bare tree stump. Often they take the stage themselves "dipping and diving" and even "loop-de-looing" through the pink skies of February, this Month of the Raven.

A pair of foxes are also cavorting together through our yards and fields these days. They sometimes come at dawn to feed where we've put out their kind of "winter vittles" to attract visits from our outdoor neighbors. Unlike the ravens that dip and dive overhead, these foxes lift off from earth: they loft and float and touch down for only brief light seconds. (What's lighter than a feather? - A fox's tail when it's afloat.) When courting, the elegant male "shows a leg" or two as he bows and scrapes to his lady, while the sly vixen responds with tiny nips and chasing teases.

On moonlight nights now, my husband and I watch the food cache with binoculars to see other visitors and we listen at open sliding doors for the primitive wavering courting cries of "our'" pair of foxes.

If there's a stirring in the blood of our wild creatures, surely there must too be a stirring in that sleeping winter giant beneath the snow. Good nature enjoyment everyone.

Naturally speaking,

Dear Chris

Here is my list of first sightings for 98.

January 1: red-necked grebe, canada goose, hooded merganser, red-breasted merganser, bald eagle, red-tailled hawk, rough-legged hawk, herring gull, rock dove, snowy owl, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, crow, raven, black capped chickadee, northern shrike, starling, snow bunting, cardinal, pine grosbeak, house sparrow.

January 3: common grackle

January 6: mallard, mourning dove, downy woodpecker

January 10: common goldeneye, bufflehead, common merganser, white breasted nuthatch, common redpoll

January 11: sharptailed grouse, hoary redpoll

January 14: bohemian waxwing

January 17: gray jay, junco

January 25: red breasted nuthatch, american kestrel

January 27: redbellied woodpecker

January 31: ruffed grouse

With better record keeping I would have 40 for January but I could not find my note for the evening grosbeak so it gets in for a sighting on February 3. Judy had them in our yard on the 6th.

For actual numbers the best day was probably the 17th with 60 plus bohemian waxwings and over 300 snow buntings. At least one adult bald eagle was seen at the beginning, middle and end of the month.

There are likely more highlights but I am on the hunt for the elusive great gray owl.

Hi David,

I have nothing to report on spruce grouse on Manitoulin Island, but I am happy to note that male ruffed grouse here are beginning courtship displays on the frozen snow of our lawn now. Like geisha girls they fan their tails and neck feathers, and teeter their way across the yard in tiny stuttering steps. How marvelously different they are!

Hopefully, it is a sign of spring. But back to the discussion of whether your bird might be or spruce or a sharp-tail grouse.

Your comment that the grouse you sighted was on the ground makes the problem of identification even more intriguing. That the bird was spotted on the roadway during traffic hours, makes it somewhat less probably a sharp-tail, in my opinion, despite the habitat. From my experience I believe the woodland species, the ruffed and spruce grouse, to be more prone to walking while the prairie species, the sharp- tail, is more flighty.

I haven't seen spruce grouse since a child but remember them as relatively tame and slow moving on the ground. When I asked more experienced birders here about the behaviour of the species, they say spruce grouse are less energetic than our familiar neighbours the ruffed grouse, and not as easily frightened. Apparently spruce grouse also make a habit of sitting quietly hunched up under a spruce or other coniferous tree, when not feeding. Both habits no doubt have helped contribute to their virtual absence from areas such as ours.

Being December, I suppose it was dusk at time of sighting? Having driven to work for 30 years through the airport prairies in Gordon, I found Sharp-tails more often along the roadsides at dawn and dusk - especially early mornings. Otherwise, when not flying they are more often seen perched up in tree branches. Would the weather help you further settle the question? After severe storms of several days, all birds behave differently I find, and I've seen sharp-tails run about on the snow at those times budding on juniper bushes (almost in a feeding frenzy) - but in which cases they are usually in coveys.

All in all there seems to be nothing definitive.

After considering everything, I wouldn't want to try to decide which one of the island's species of grouse you spotted. I would say this though, if I had seen a grouse with red markings on the head anywhere on Manitoulin Island, I would find it hard to believe I had seen anything but our rarely seen spruce grouse. But then......

I have heard of no recent reports of sightings, but I will certainly let you know if I hear anything more about spruce grouse in the area. I would like to see one here myself.

Good birding,

A visit to South Baymouth on February 1 found open water. There was no ice for 300 metres into South Bay from the Ferry Dock and 28 Bufflehead were counted in the calm water. This is a very high count for mid-winter. Lake Huron was very rough with a large swell and whitecaps from the South wind. There were at least 150 ducks out there including 6 Long-tailed Ducks. It was too rough to identify the majority but I will try again on a calmer day. Early last spring there was a build up of Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks and it was thought they were feeding on zebra mussels. Scoters are not known to winter off Manitoulin Island, so if any of these ducks do turn out to be Scoters, this will be news.

The Manitoulin Nature Club met on January 30 and several sightings were discussed. Mike Schut has a Brown Creeper at his feeder and also found a dead Saw-whet Owl in a trap; Grant Garrette had an American Robin; Jean Williamson heard a Great Horned Owl calling; Steve Hall knew of a Great Gray Owl on Barrie Island this last week; Steve Thorpe had seen the Snowy Owl on January 2 on Barrie Island - it was not seen again after the 3rd; Grant Garrette and Mary White reported N. Shrikes; Al Tribinevicius and Steve Hall both reported a Rough-legged Hawk; Al also still has his Cardinal; Mary White had five Ruffed Grouse and Betty Gould 25 Bohemian Waxwings in her yard in Mindemoya.

The Manitoulin Nature Club and the Sudbury Ornithological Society have just published a Bird Checklist for Manitoulin. This has all the species to the end of 1997 officially recorded for Manitoulin & Killarney in the new AOU sequence. The breeding status and uncommon or rare status is shown where known for each species. The checklists will be available, four for $2, later in the month.

Hi David

Your reply, makes your sighting even more intriquing. The question seems to have narrowed to down to whether this was a spruce grouse or a sharp-tailed grouse, in whose territory you spotted the bird, while leaving the red head markings aside. so let's consider other things.

That the bird was on the running across the roadway during traffic hours, in my opinion, makes it somewhat less probably a sharp-tail. Somehow I differentiate Sharp -tails from both ruffed and spruce grouse that are mor alike in behaviour and habitat. The woodland grouse seem more prone to walking while the prairie species, the sharp-tail grouse, more often fly.

Spruce grouse are relatively tame and slow moving on the ground. When I asked experienced birders here about the behaviour of the spruce grouse, they say spruce grouse are less energetic than ruffed grouse, and nowhere as easily frightened as sharp-tails. This I assume has surely contributed to their reduced numbers within settled areas such as ours. Apparently they also make a habit of sitting hunched up under a spruce or other coniferous tree.

What time of day was it spotted?. Having driven to work for 30 years through the airport prairies in Gordon, I found Sharp-tails more often fed on roadside shrubs during crepuscular feedings - especially early mornings. Otherwise they were more often seen up in the tree branches.

I'm more familiar with the behaviour of Sharp-tails around the Gore Bay - Western Manitoulin airport, and have had very little experience with the birds around the east end airport near 10 Mile Point, where your bird was seen. I imagine all practice a typical kind of behaviour.

I will certainly let you know if I hear anything more about spruce grouse in the area. I would like to see one here myself. Our ruffed grouse are beginning courtship displays on the frozen snow of our lawn now. Hopefully, it is a sign of spring.

Doreen, Thanks for responding so quickly. I'll start by answering your questions. As we approached in the car, the bird was about 2/3 across the road and just ran off as we passed, so we did not see it fly. The habitat in the area is mostly flat scrubland, almost like abandoned farm fields and the airport is nearby. Jean W described it as Sharp-tail habitat. The Gordon animal farm is about 30 kms away, and consists of mostly stuffed animals and I'm pretty sure it has no birds. To narrow the location down a bit, it was approximately 5kms south of 10 Mile Point (just north of the Airport).

If birders do comb the area, please let me know of the outcome.

Thanks,

Hi David,
I've never seen Spruce Grouse here but occasionally we hear of people who reported having seen them. At one time they were fairly dependably found in specific areas. A friend declares she saw them 3 times in the same area on the Island's west end last summer - heavy coniferous forest. Several winters ago several were said to have over wintered near Kagawong.

Your description is surely intriguing! Perhaps if you sent more info as to flight pattern, immediate habitat, etc.

What makes this a nice puzzle is the fact Sharp-tailed grouse are found at the airport there and they are prone to fly across the highway (whereas I'm not sure I'd say the same of ruffed grouse. They are more apt to walk maybe, or even strut. I don't doubt they would fly however, especially during "crazy flight" season, but I think Christmas time would be a little late for that. Sharp-tails have distinctive yellow mating eyebrows and purple booming sacs on heads, not red. Moreover I've never thought of their bellies as appearing particularly mottled during flight. They flap and scud past at such speed I find specific details hard to distinquish. They usually maintain a steady flight altitude of not mich higher than mid-tree height - sometimes even as low just above car height.

Is the Gordon Animal Farm near the site? Do they keep any exotic birds? If they do it would add another possibility to the puzzle. Speaking of the Gordon Animal Farm brings to mind another mottled-body-red-combed bird. I seem to remember Mr. Gordon as having had a mounted ptarmigan among his display - as having come from this island. Would ptarmigan be changing to winter plummage around Christmas, and hence mottled, I wonder. I'm afraid I'd find that possibility very hard to imagine - it seems so very far - fetched, but so did some of the accepted sightings we have had here. Of course birding is the stuff of dreams. Your report is very interesting.

What I can tell you is that there will be many birders combing that area, because each would be very pleased to add a spruce grouse to his list.

Do you visit the Manitoulin internet site on "Ontario Birding". We Island birders try to keep up a steady chatter there, and it might prove to be something of a guide whenever you come to the island.

On December 24, my wife Dianne and I were heading south on Hwy 6 to Manitowaning to visit her parents (Hugh and Marilyn Moggy) for Christmas. Just north of the airport, we saw a grouse crossing the highway. In the quick view I had, the distinguishing features included a belly that was mottled dark and light, and a distinctive red mark over the eye. On inspection of Peterson's, National Geographic, and other sources, I narrowed it down to Spruce Grouse. I haven't seen this bird before, but I have seen Ruffed Grouse. I have been birding for about 7 years. I spoke to Jean Williamson who was doubtful about the I.D., and suggested that it was probably a Sharp-tailed Grouse (due to frequency of occurrence and habitat). According to "Birds of Manitoulin-a seasonal occurrence" though, Spruce Grouse is an uncommon resident. My question is; have any of you seen Spruce Grouse on Manitoulin? I'd appreciate any feedback, theories etc. My main concern is the red marking over the eye which was the most memorable feature. I look forward to your replies.

Ps I got your e-mail addresses from a letter announcing the date of the next meeting of the Manitoulin Nature Club

Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Dear Gord,

Someone wondered what we do here on this northern island all winter. Here's what some of us are doing these days.

Manitoulin's top birder for 1998, Terry Land, treated 32 area residents to a talk about the birds of Manitoulin in Gore Bay last week. While he was talking about attracting birds, I was more interested in the birders he attracted. Now I'm anxiously waiting to hear what birds are attracted to these 32 new birding spots around the area. (Incidentally this "top birder is closely followed by second place, Chris Bell of Sudbury.

Terry is the object of some hopes I have for a wonderful spring birding adventure I've planned. It involves his newly planned flying club. I've already spoken to him about flying me out to the Duck Islands next spring - to meet the waves of arriving migrants there (where they come to "first land" after their Lake Huron crossing). Great Duck is a large, uninhabited island that never fails to offer magnificent birding for a few days, spring and fall. On our last boat trip we had a piping plover on the beach there. There was a topnotch crew of birders on board that day and everyone considered himself lucky to be able to enjoy this now all-too-rare sighting. Flying across to the Ducks sounds so much easier than boating over (which takes up to three quarters hour from Manitoulin. If the weather's bad we can always wait for those waves of migrants to arrive on our own shores ("next land"), but it seems so much nicer to go out to meet them.

After trying out the new Nordic ski trail at Carter's Bay, Heather Baines dropped in and we had tea and taped views of Canada's one-and-only Anthus Hummingbird. Magnificent photography! Magnificent bird!.....Heather! your work makes us envious. Then she was off and away to check out progress on our ski trail, before driving back to her home on the mainland. In among all this she checked out this winter's daytime owl population on Barrie Island - and declared it to be "zero". This does not bode well for our January 31st Owl Prowl Event. We'll prowl anyway. The event starts at 1:00 PM from my home at 205 Bell Rd. Evansville. Everyone welcome. No charge.

By now you are wondering who the "we" of these happenings are. We are a small group of birding friends (mostly Islanders) who together form the "Friends of Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve Park" (FOMB). Misery Bay is one of the two Reserves in this township that we operate. The other is the adjacent Mac's Bay Conservation Reserve. We bird for fun and volunteer our spare time in meeting our mandate - to protect while promoting the wonderful species of plants and animals and land forms within the reserves. The Owl Prowl is our January Event. We'll keep everyone posted on the results, even if they too are "zero".

Better still, join us if you can. Or perhaps join our annual "Vive le Canada" cross country ski event in the reserve. It is held on February 15th, Canada's Flag Day (hence it was renamed last year on Canada's very first flag day.) Bring a flag if you can and be ready to ski for your country . Then again perhaps you'd prefer to fly in for our Dancing in the Dawn Sharp- tailed Grouse Event at the Gore Bay-Manitoulin Airport in mid April. Be ready for a 5:00 a.m. breakfast and a cold early morning hike before dawn. Then settle back in comfort and enjoy one of Nature's ancient ballets in a primitive hut made of covcered woven willows.

You've met some of the group's players, but what does this writer do?. As Chair of FOMB I'm busy. Mostly, I coordinate it seems.

FOMB's motto is, "Misery Loves Company" and we try to live up to it by offering a wide variety of things for nature enthusiasts to do here on Manitoulin Island, whatever the season!

Naturally speaking.....

There were several changes from our previous visit two weeks before. The North Channel between Manitoulin Island and the mainland has now frozen over, meaning an end to waterfowl sightings at West Bay & Gore Bay. However, small flocks of wintering Long-tailed Ducks and Common Goldeneye were seen at Providence Bay on the Lake Huron shoreline.

Instead of bare ground, there is now a foot of snow cover.

We saw Bohemian Waxwings in higher numbers than previously :- Little Current 50, Kagawong 12, Gore Bay 167, Barrie Island Causeway 23, Mindemoya 20 and Sucker Creek 10 for a total of 282. There are probably many more in other parts of the island.

No owls were seen, and few have been reported. 8 Rough-legged Hawks and 4 Northern Shrikes were seen.

Common Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks are still around.

A small flock of 7 Sharp-tailed Grouse were seen on Barrie Island. I have now seen 32 species for Manitoulin this year, and Terry Land is up to 35.

Good Birding,

Hi Gord,
As shown with the present weather conditions, even clouds that bring us ice storms have a silver lining!

Searching for food under a glassy coating of sheer ice has brought some species of birds out, where everyone, birder and non-birder alike, can see them..and marvel!

Sharp-tailed grouse appear to be one such species. A number of island residents have noted that they are seeing flocks of these plump chickens-like birds out in unusual numbers "budding" on the tips of highest branches recently. Some claim to have never seen them before and tell of having gone to considerable trouble to identify them. Most describe the birds as being "really big birds" and moving or roosting high in bare deciduous trees. (Has our recent small allotment of solar energy melted away the ice from the fine tips of branches there?)

This morning early, as I made my way east across Gordon Township, I came over a deciduous ridge into the sunrise and discovered for myself whereof all the excitement. There against a winter pink sky the dark silhouttes of some 35 to 40 plump sharp-tailed grouse were strung away to the south across the skyline, some so high they seemed to float above the branches and between the trees. Nature's own suncatchers glorified the quiet morning, as a multitude of icy prisms refracted brief snatches of sunlight across the Gordon prairie landscape.

A Manitoulin hold-your-breath moment that was all too soon gone!

Hi Gord,
I've been looking through a number of your webb sites to see if they contained any mention of the effect of eastern Ontario's severe ice conditions upon the birds. I saw nothing and perhaps its heartless in the face of so much human hardship to concern oneself with these wild creatures, but I do wonder how our feathered friends are uncovering their food. When we are finding it difficult, even with axe and chainsaw, to open bales of hay to feed our livestock, how are our feathered friends prying open their outdoor storehouses? What resources have they? Feeders may be their lifeline to survival. I trust everyone who can is keeping these seed and suet feeders filled and the feeding ports free of ice.

Heather Baines, a friend from Sudbury has been birding up the island from east to west today and the report she turns in suggests that one can find birds at feeders, at landfill sites, and on the open water of bays that are reopening in the mild weather.

In the name of 1997 birding highlights I mention here how fortunate Heather has been in her recent birding. On New Year's Eve she saw and videotaped an Xantus Hummingbird, Canada's reputed "rarest" bird, near Whistler B.C. She had heard, on the radio (while taking part in Manitoulin's Christmas Bird Count) a mention of this bird from southern Baja being spotted at a home in B.C. Since Heather was travelling there for the holidays she phoned the hot-line when she arrived there. Sure enough it was still there, and sure enough she got busy and being dependable Heather, rang out the old year with a good look at the bird. then to make us easterners suffer she rang in the new year with a call back east to share the happy news.

Good work, Heather! We are all waiting to see those tapes. Here's her Manitoulin list for today:

Ravens and Crows plentiful at landfill sites, esp Providence Bay
23 Herring Gulls at Prov. and 10 off Indian Point Bridge at West Bay
C. Redpolls are widespread at feeders
Mixed flock of c.45 evening and pine grosbeaks at a Kagawong feeder/
A few chickadees at feeders
1 only - Blue Jays
10 c. goldeneye at Prov.
1 hooded merganser (f) there
6 comm mergansers (f) West Bay
1 red bellied woodpecker at feeder at Stanly Park
6 sharp-tailed grouse at Evansville
30m snow buntings
1 downy and 1 hairy woodpeckers - at feeders
1 white breasted nuthatch - at feeders
2 only E Starlings,

For improved weather conditions for man and beast alike, this is Doreen Bailey from Manitoulin Island,

Mindemoya	   		Gore Bay

December 20	   		December 21



1	Common Loon

	Canada Goose			1

6	Red-necked Grebe		39

1	Great Blue Heron	

36	Black Duck			25

14	Mallard	35

2	Long-tailed Duck	

451	Common Goldeneye		38

10	Bufflehead			4

	Ring-necked Duck		1

	Hooded Merganser		17

215	Common Merganser		27

3	Red-breasted Merganser		2

400	duck sp	

6	Bald Eagle			23

2	Northern Goshawk	

1	Red-tailed Hawk			2

7	Rough-legged Hawk		7

1	Merlin	

9	Ruffed Grouse			9

	Sharp-tailed Grouse		16

	American Coot			1

29	Ring-billed Gull		7

153	Herring Gull			291

	Great Black-backed Gull		1

149	Rock Dove			111

119	Mourning Dove			83

1	Saw-whet Owl	

	Barred Owl			1

2	Red-bellied Woodpecker		4

29	Downy Woodpecker		23

32	Hairy Woodpecker		35

2	Pileated Woodpecker		4

7	Gray Jay			4

224	Blue Jay			256

261	American Crow			119

147	Common Raven			186

481	Black-capped Chickadee		394

14	Red-breasted Nuthatch		8

50	White- breasted Nuthatch	32

4	Golden-crowned Kinglet	

10	Bohemian Waxwing		154

1	Northern Shrike			4

658	Starling			694

17	Northern Cardinal		17

2	Tree Sparrow			2

5	Dark-eyed Junco			2

3	Snow Bunting			42

1	Common Grackle			11

1	Red-winged Blackbird		1

	Brewer’s Blackbird		1

	Brown-headed Cowbird		4

95	Pine Grosbeak			171

484	Common Redpoll			890

5	Hoary Redpoll			4

28	Pine Siskin			6

12	American Goldfinch		98

214	Evening Grosbeak		47

48	House Sparrow			337

49	Total Species			51

Dear Gord,
There! when I sent in our first report to your new "Manitoulin Island" site, I muffed it!

I reported a days total of 23 bald eagles on Manitoulin Is. And I reported a high single-sighting of eagles at the Indian Point Causeway, but I failed to report WHAT the highest single-sighting number was.

There were 19 bald eagles there at one time that day, Gord. Isn't that incredible!!!!

Sorry to have shorted the bald eagles, but.....birding is exciting business, and excitement doesn't easily convert into full record writing. So I can only hope we will all have many such opportunities to send in incomplete birding reports in 1998.

Thanks again for this site, and a wonderful start to the year!!

Dear Gord,

What a thrill! - to open the Ontario Birding list of sites and find Manitoulin Island there!!!!!

How wonderful. Now we can tell the whole birding world about our island and its great sighting possibilities. Many friends of Manitoulin will be happy to hear about this new listing.

Our most recent thrill of consequence happened during the Manitoulin Island CBC when Manitoulin's largest single recorded collection of bald eagles gathered at Indian Point Bridge Causeway (at the Narrows, near Evansville). Spotting teams were incredible to find so many gathered together in one spot at one time. The total eagles tally for the day was 23, I think. Then to enrich the overall experience, I'd had a golden eagle there the previous day. Indian Point Causeway seemed like eagle heaven just about then!!! - or was it simply birders' heaven!

Seriously, it appears the Lake Huron habitat is becoming more hospitable to eagles every year - and others inhabitants too of course.

Thank you so much Gord, we so appreciate your consideration.

Doreen Bailey, - for all us Manitoulin Island Birders, whether here in person or spirt only!

All the best for 1998 - I thought that I would start if off right by adding a website for your great birding location, when I finally found some time.

Sincerely,
Gord Gallant
gallantg@interlog.com

Hi Gord, For Algoma East.

Had a surprizing bird here on Manitoulin Island today - a yellow-rumped warbler. I was called in to see the bird as home owners were not sure what it was. It was feeding under the mixed feed, feeder. Later it came to pick on the deck below sliding doors, looking for flies etc. but to no avail as temp.is: -11 C. today. 2 bald eagles went over as I watched, Evening grosbeaks, com. and hoary redpolls were numerous. Nice kick off for the New Year here - a first week warbler.

Happy birding,

Hi Gord,
While all the other birders in our world were off counting in the Mindemoya Circle today, I drove through the Manitoulin Island Count Circle at Gore Bay, and was fortunate enough to spot a golden eagle, off Indian Point Causeway. It was sitting on Skinny Island in sufficient good light to show up the golden head and nape beautifully. I've never seen one so close before. I also can include this as a count-period bird if it isn't spotted tomorrow at the CBC here.