An Eared Grebe was seen on their backyard pond in Howland Township on August 7 by Grant and Edith Garrette. This record has been accepted by the Bird Records Committee of the Sudbury Ornithological Society as the second Manitoulin record for this species. Also accepted was a Mountain Bluebird on April 8 in Campbell Township from Marg. and Doug Hague. This was the first certain Mountain Bluebird for Manitoulin. Other slightly less rare birds were the Mute Swan in Gordon Township and Gore Bay from April 26 until mid-May and a Red-necked Phalarope at the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons on October 7.

Two possible female Blue Grosbeaks were reported at Big Lake in mid-November by Duane and Rosmarie Thomson. A description of the birds has been passed on to the Committee for their consideration. A late report came in Friday December 10 of a possible Wheatear in Campbell Township. No details yet, but John Smith and Steve Thorpe could not find the bird on Saturday - it appears to have gone.

As of Sunday afternoon there was still no snow on the ground, but Ice Lake was frozen.

Redpolls, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, Bohemian Waxwings and Northern Shrikes are present in good numbers. Don Komarechka had four White-winged Crossbills visit his feeder recently, and John & Mary White had a Black-backed Woodpecker. The Red-bellied Woodpecker is back in Mindemoya in time for the Count.

The Mindemoya Christmas Bird Count is on Saturday December 18 and the Gore Bay Count on Sunday 19th. For information phone me, the Compiler, at 368-3410. The other Manitoulin District Count is at Killarney Provincial Park on either the 18th or the 19th- sorry, I have no information.

Wishing everbody a Merry Christmas Bird Count,

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

On November 6, I noticed several flocks of Common Redpolls. Pine Grosbeaks were seen by John Smith at Maple Point and by Heather Baines near Mindemoya. John and Heather also reported Bohemian Waxwings. Heather had three Red Crossbills on Sunday. Evening Grosbeaks are showing up at feeders throughout the Island. I found a male Canvasback with Goldeneye at Goat Island on November 5. A Golden Eagle was seen well in flight and briefly when perched, at Britainville on November 6. This was my first for 1999 and possibly the first Manitoulin sighting this year. November seems the most likely month for finding Golden Eagles that are such uncommon visitors to Manitoulin. Last year my only sighting was November 22 on Barrie Island.

Doreen Bailey reported a pair of Swans with a not full grown young bird at Mac's Bay and, on November 7, we confirmed them as Tundra Swans. Our three may not compare with the 115 on the same day at Echo Bay in Algoma but we are further off the flyway. Also on the 7th, a flock of Long-tailed Ducks were busy flying back and forth in West Bay before flying north out of the bay instead of taking the overland shortcut south to Lake Huron via Lake Mindemoya and Providence Bay.

Doreen Bailey has reports of one or two Red-bellied Woodpeckers in Evansville and the Olackes have an immature Red-headed Woodpecker at their feeder at Stanley Park on Lake Mindemoya.

A Black-bellied Plover at Mac's Bay and a Common Snipe at Gore Bay on November 7th are good records for this late in the year. There are a few Northern Shrikes and Rough-legged Hawks around. With the temperature hitting +18 degrees on November 9th, the only remaining snow from the November 3 snowstorm was in small patches on north or east facing slopes.

Chris Bell
cbell@isys.ca

By the end of October small flocks of Common Redpolls were turning up on Manitoulin - reported by John Smith.

On October 31st John and I found several groups at Killarney. Other finches in the village were Pine Siskins, Goldfinches and Evening Grosbeaks.

Dear Gord,

What a good time for birders! Birds dropped in here by the treeful yesterday. It brought me one of the an enjoyable sighting in the form of a mature female black-backed woodpecker that spent the morning scaling a dead red pine in our yard. It was such a tame we shared the wonderful autumn day within feet of each other for considerable time. While it worked the tree over with its industriuos tap - tapping it offered multiple opportunities to snap pictures to add to my yard photo album.

With an outraged cry along came a hairy woodpecker , and it was flap and squack up and down the tree there for quite awhile. The racket created much interest among the creatures of the animal world - attracted perhaps by the sound of a new voice on the Narrows. The smallest visitor, a hummingbird, dropped onto a small twig in the midst of the fray. It surveyed the action from top to bottom, from left to right, from before and behind with a half-dozen sweeps of its bill - and was away. The largest visitors were our neighbour's pair of dogs. They ambled in, settled back on their haunches at the base of the tree and calmly followed the action see-sawing to within feet of their muzzles at times. Then with friendly sweeps of their tails they too moved on to see if there was anything new around the compost heap. When the hairy conceded defeat, and left with a few backward glances from various trees, I too left the busy visitor to finish his meal undisturbed.

It appears that hummingbirds have had a good breeding season. On a recent visit to the back fields we discovered hedgerows alive with hummers and monarch butterflies. Lots of action and color! Red ossier seemed to be the attraction. We were surprised to find it in full bloom at this late date. Does anyone know about this plant's blooming period?

With the arrival of autumn life seems to have returned to the Narrows, after the long lazy days of summer. Trust all make the most of every opportunity, naturally speaking - even if its just in your own back yard.

August 28 - South Baymouth Sewage Lagoons bounced back with a Bald Eagle, a Red-shouldered Hawk and two Northern Harriers overhead with the Turkey Vultures. Shorebirds included Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary and Least Sandpipers. On September 5, there was also a Short-billed Dowitcher. South Baymouth itself has been inundated with tourists and fisherman. Hopefully after Labour Day it will be quieter.

Mississagi Lighthouse on the 28th-29th was not too good for passerines. However a Cooper's Hawk flying in over the straits from Cockburn Island was my first for the year as were two Ruddy Turnstones sitting on the point at dawn.

There was a Coot at Gore Bay Sewage Lagoon on the 28th and another at Little Current Sewage Lagoon on Sept 3.

A trickle or warblers on September 4th and 5th included a single Cape May. Cape Mays were formally second only to Yellow-rumped in migration numbers but in the last two or three years their numbers have declined so much that they are rarely seen.

The Sudbury Ornithological Society has a camping weekend at Mississagi Lighthouse Campground Sept 10 and 11. Everone is welcome. The Manitoulin Nature Club will hold the first meeting of the season on September 24 - details to follow.

The Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy has had an offer to purchase accepted for 347 acres at the Cup & Saucer Trail. It is indeed good news that this well known landmark and hiking trail is to be protected. The Conservancy still needs help to raise $100,000 of the $200,000 purchase price.

The Sandhill Crane field trip will take place Saturday October 16 - leaving Prescott's Restaurant in Providence Bay at 9 am. Crane counting was complicated last year, but this year we intend to find that 1000 crane flock. Already, Don Prescott reports the Sandhills are begining to flock and reports seeing a group of nine. The day is sponsored by the Friends of Misery Bay and everyone is welcome.

John Lemon tells me that Peter Whelan has passed away. Peter used to phone occasionally to get Manitoulin birding news for his column in the Globe & Mail and made a trip here to Mississagi Lighthouse last year. I will miss his phone calls and his column in the Saturday paper.

I ran into Heather Baines and Doreen Bailey at Misery Bay on August 22 and together we sorted out the shorebirds. The 18 Sanderlings were the first reported this fall, and my first this year. The others counted were 12 Semi-palmated Plover, 5 Killdeer, 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 12 Semipalmated Sandpipers ,( also new for me this year ), 12 Least, and 5 Baird's Sandpipers.

I checked out the construction at Lakeview Sewage Lagoons and found conditions greatly improved. One of the older cells has just been drained into the two new cells, providing good habitat all round. I would now rate Lakeview above South Baymouth as best Manitoulin lagoon for August. Gore Bay, Little Current, West Bay, Manitowaning and Killarney are all too full. Mud Lake, however, is drying up from lack of rain, though it had been good as recently as August 19.

Lakeview Lagoons are easy to find, being very visible on the west side of the highway from West Bay to Mindemoya. Greater & Lesser Yellowlegs, Least, Solitary and a single Baird's Sandpiper were seen on August 22.

Planned birding events on Manitoulin this fall include a camping weekend on September 10-12 at Mississagi Lighthouse organised by the Sudbury Ornithological Society; and the Sandhill Crane Watch on Saturday October 16 organised by the Friends of Misery Bay and Prescott's Restaurant in Providence Bay.

One welcome result of the low water level in Lake Huron has been the large expanse of sand beach, sand bars and very shallow water in Misery Bay. A bare foot walk across the sands on August 4 turned up 6 Killdeer, 8 Lesser Yellowlegs and 10 Least Sandpipers. 40 Common Terns were resting on a sand bar.

On another visit on August 15, Joan and I found two Semi-palmated Plovers and the first Baird's Sandpiper of the year. Baird's are uncommon on Manitoulin.

To get to Misery Bay Sands, turn south off Hwy 540 in Robinson Township on Little Lake Huron Road. At the fork take Rocky Road, a rough and wet road, but with a good base. If in doubt take left forks. On entering Misery Bay Provincial Park drive to the sign-posted parking area and walk the "Landing Trail" to the beach.

Only Killdeer were seen at Gore Bay Airport, but other plovers should arrive before long.

Mud Lake, now mainly mudflats, on Yonge St south from Mindemoya also looks good for shorebirds. On August 15, we counted two Sandhill Cranes with a chick; 2 Killdeer, 1 Greater and 8 Lesser Yellowlegs and 3 Least Sandpipers.

The sewage lagoons are rather poor, with only South Baymouth showing promise.

I have heard of no further sightings of the South Baymouth Great Egret.

Steve Thorpe found a Great Egret at South Baymouth Sewage Lagoons on Thursday morning, August 5. Steve watched the egret as it perched in a tree beside the lagoons for 20 minutes or so. Other than the occasional Cattle Egret sighting, I believe that this is the first egret report on Manitoulin for three or four years.The sighting may tie in with the report of three Great Egrets at Echo Bay, Algoma on July 29. I looked without success for the egret on Saturday, August 7.

Don Ferguson reported two Wood Thrushes - hard to get nowadays - on the Mindemoya Breeding Bird Survey, June 22. One was on the west end of the east-west road north of Lake Mindemoya on the West Bay Indian Reserve. I think the road is "Spring Bay Road" . From the north end of Monument Road, instead of jogging north to Jerusulem Hill, turn east and stop and listen at the hydro substation.

Another brief visit on the weekend to Leeson's Marsh and two checks of the pond at South Baymouth failed to turn up Least Bittern or Night-Herons. I found no new species for 1999, with the excuse that I was out of District, to Tobermory and Flowerpot Island with the Manitoulin Nature Club, for most of Saturday.

After June 30, I will be away for three and a half weeks and will not check my e-mail until August 9.

Chris Bell, with the assistance of Floyd Cosby, ran the 1999 Breeding Bird Survey at Manitowaning ( Wikwemikong to Sheguiandah ) on Sunday June 20. This route was established in 1968 but Chris only took over in 1974. On Sunday, the morning was warm, sunny and there was little wind. Traffic was only bad after 9 am on Hwy 6 south of Sheguiandah.

89 species were counted, a new record. One new species, a Grasshopper Sparrow on the west side of Hwy 6, south of Ten Mile Point and 0.7 Km north of Bay Estates Road, was heard, to bring the total since 1968 to 142 species.

Second records were achieved for four species - Canada Goose, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Cardinal and Clay-colored Sparrow ( Cardwell Street, Manitowaning 0.2 km north of Arthur St ). A Mockingbird, ( Hwy 6 and Field's SideRoad ), was the third record. All time high counts were made of 13 species, with Mallard, Red-eyed Vireo and American Redstart significant. On the other hand, the 7 Barn Swallows, ( long term average 16) and 1 White-throated Sparrow, ( average 6 ), were in much lower numbers than average.

The most numerous species counted this year was, as usual, 127 Ring-billed Gulls, ( average 211); followed by 101 Starlings, ( average 85); and 69 Red-eyed Vireos, ( average 27).

Other News

A Mockingbird, reported by Heather Baines in Dawson Twp, on Joyce Road South and south of the farmyard, could not be re-found on Saturday. Chris & Joan found Common and Caspian Terns on Turtle Lake in Sheg. Township. On the south side of the lake they heard a Marsh Wren. On the east side trail at Misery Bay on Saturday, some of the Friends of Misery Bay found Blue-headed Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler and Pine Warbler.

Chris Bell has now reached 199 species for the year, a below target score. Doreen Bailey and Roy Campbell have also passed 175 species.

We spent the weekend in Killarney. Saw both caspian tern and common terns and of interest, my husband saw a black-crowned night-heron on George Island on Sunday afternoon. It landed in a white pine.

Papoose Island apparantly has a small colony of Black-crowned Night Herons.

It is unusual to see them this far up north.

There is a Coot at Little Current Sewage Lagoons. No Night - Herons were seen on a visit to South Baymouth. Duncan has not seen them since Thursday. A canoe trip into Leeson's Marsh did not result in the hoped for Least Bitterns and Marsh Wrens. Sedge Wrens and a flightless young Sandhill Crane were seen. No migrant shorebirds were found - the season must be over. On a trip for Cooper's Hawks into Windfall Lake hardwoods with Don Ferguson, we found active Goshawk and Red-shouldered Hawk nests but no Cooper's. A pair of terns on Turtle Lake may have been Forster's. They were perched for several minutes together in a dead tree many hundred metres from me - a canoe trip is required to sort out this mystery of several years.

Floyd Cosby had one Redhead duck on the Victoria day weekend at Little Current Sewage Lagoons and on May 28 there were four. The back cell there is empty and waiting for the peak shorebird movement expected this week. Shorebirds were very few and far between on the 29th but Ron Tasker did report Black-bellied Plover and Ruddy Turnstones on the south shore. There were Dunlin at the Gore Bay boardwalk. While in South Baymouth on another futile Black-crowned Night-Heron search - I arrived too late in the morning and missed it by an hour, should try before 7 am - a flock of 120 Whimbrel flew over the village heading north over land at 11:30 am. Duncan Robbie has up to two Night-Herons daily in the pond beside the South Baymouth Marina.

The Willow Flycatcher was back at the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons gate where I found one last year. Golden-winged Warblers are back at 441, Green Bay Road. Observers should listen for Blue-winged Warblers, which are spreading north and have been heard this year at North Bay and even Sudbury.

Black Terns were seen at only one spot - the shallow lake south of the highway a km east of the Long Bay Crossroads. I was scanning for Loggerhead Shrikes - not found - and saw the terns in the distance. I finished May with 194 species year to date for Manitoulin - below 196 in 1998 and 201 in 1997. Other birders reported similar statistics - with missed warblers and a poor shorebird passage being common complaints.

I have tried to tally a master list of birds seen on Manitoulin Island on the Victoria Day Weekend. Without news from the Campbell brothers or the Ron Tasker group, the total stands at a very respectable 161 species.

The Mute Swan at Gore Bay is the only rare bird reported so far. There were only six species found that are categorized as "uncommon" in the Manitoulin checklist :- Black-crowned Night-Heron, Red-shouldered Hawk, Wilson's Phalarope, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Western Kingbird and Eastern Towhee.

Shorebirds were scarce but picked up on May 24. 14 species were tallied for the weekend. 12 Whimbrels were flying along the south shore of Robinson Township ( Nancy Ironsides and Margo Holt ) on the evening of the 22nd. I found two next day SE of Mississagi Light. Other species of shorebirds included small numbers of Black-bellied and Semipalmated Plovers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary and Least Sandpipers, Dunlin, a Dowitcher and a Wilson's Phalarope. Locations included South Baymouth, Gore Bay and Little Current Sewage Lagoons; Gore Bay Airport; beaches at Misery Bay, Gore Bay boardwalk and West Bay; and the south shore.

As of May 24, the Mute Swan was still in Gore Bay. If not in the bay, yesterday she was in the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoon ( beside the curling club).

A Western Kingbird was seen for several hours on May 22 at # 3360, Government Road, Carnarvon Township by many observers. The bird was first seen by John & Nicole Smith. The Government Road is the most southerly road that runs west-east from Providence Bay beach towards Tehkumah. Look for a dip in the road with creek and culvert at Lyle Dewar's and the bird was foraging along fence rows north of the road and east of the orchard. Lyle may know the present whereabouts of the kingbird.

A visit to Killarney, delayed to mid-morning by highway problems, on May 20 provided no evidence of a recent arrival. At the Sewage Lagoon : a selection of ducks, 2 Killdeer, 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, 2 Solitary sandpipers and 6 Least Sandpipers. In the village : Baltimore Orioles, House Wrens In the forest : a good selection of warblers, none new, Red-eyed Vireos, Hermit and a Swainson's Thrush.

Duncan Robbie reports:

Chris: We were having supper and something flew out of the pond to up in one of my cedar trees in the the front yard. It was in full view preening its self, a beautiful bird. It was the first one we have ever seen. It was very exciting. Duncan

May 13 saw several American Redstarts and Hermit Thrushes singing in the evening at Mississagi Lighthouse. Friday morning there found no duck or shorebird movement. The predominent warblers were Nashville, Yellow-rumped, Black-throated Green and Black-and-White. Others of interest included Parula, Magnolia and Blackburnian. In the nearby hardwoods were many Least Flycatchers, a Great Crested Flycatcher and a Scarlet Tanager.

Also on May 14 I found a Wilson's Phalarope at Gore Bay Sewage Lagoon - the only shorebird of interest all weekend. There were no shorebirds at Misery Bay.

On the morning of May 15 together with Steve Thorpe and Don Ferguson, I was at South Baymouth. The morning was again good with ten warbler species and we added Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos, Wilson's, Black-throated Blue and Canada Warbler. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles were common. The warbler that Steve and I had a here a week ago we have now decided was a Prairie Warbler. A check of underwater shoreline rocks revealed several zebra mussels and the regular flock of Long-tailed Ducks was estimated at 250. There was nothing new at the South Baymouth, Manitowaning and Little Current Sewage Lagoons.

Next weekend the field trip starts 8 am at the South Baymouth ferry terminal and later moves on to Mississagi Lighthouse campground for Saturday and Sunday nights. All birders are welcome for the day or the weekend. The Little Current - Manitowaning corridor is not included so visitors shoul check out this area Friday evening or prior to 8am Saturday.

A late report arrived of a Harris's Sparrow seen by Richard Barbe at the Killarney Sewage Lagoon on May 1. An Orchard Oriole spent Sunday afternoon, May 9, in the yard of Terry Land in Gore Bay.

Erwin Meissner was on Manitoulin this past weekend and has the following highlights to pass on:

• Osprey nest...occupied...on the Silver Bay Road near Big Stream Cemetary
• Brown Thrasher
• Least Bittern on Lakeshore Rd. just N. of South Baymouth
• Catbird
• 32 Lesser and 4 Greater Yellowlegs
• Spotted Sandpiper and 8 Semi-palmated Sandpipers

Gore Bay

• 16 Semi-palmated Sandpipers
• 2 Least Sandpipers
• 6 Pectoral Sandpipers
• 14 Lesser and 4 Greater Yellowlegs
• Purple Martins
• Bobolinks

______________________________________

The sewage lagoons at Killarney. Terry Carr took the whole group of Northern FON reps and FON staff there on last Sunday, ( May 9 ), and we had very good results:

Gadwalls, Pintails, Lesser Scaup, Shoveler, Amer. Wigeon, Mallard, Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal
Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover,
Rufous-sided Towhee and Brown Thrasher. A great spot!

Steve Thorpe and I checked out the village Saturday morning and found many arrivals - Black-throated Green,Yellow, Nashville, Chestnut-sided, Palm,Yellow-rumped, Black-and White Warblers, Yellowthroat, Blue-headed Vireo, Clay-colored Sparrow, Least Flycatcher, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, White-crowned and Chipping Sparrows, House Wren, Catbird, Brown Thrasher and Scarlet Tanager. Elsewhere that day Bobolinks, Ovenbird, Parula, Waterthrush, E Kingbird, Solitary Sandpiper, Cliff Swallows, Hummingbird and Indigo Buntings. Saturday evening and Sunday morning at Mississagi Lighthouse were windy with few birds. Sunday I added Bay-breasted Warbler and Bank Swallows. The Mute Swan was still in Gore Bay on Sunday.

I arrived rather late at the Spider Bay Marina in Little Current for my annual early May Loon Count. There was no wind, but the Common Loons were flying east to west through the narrowest part of the North Channel, heading for the Soo and north of Superior. All but one were in full summer plumage, flying at 100 to 300 feet with mouths open, in a wide band from the McLean's Mountain escarpment south of Little Current to well out over La Cloche Island. Quoted times are EDST.

6:30 - 6:45am	115
6:45 - 7:00	94
7:00 - 7:15	138
7:15 - 7:30	50
7:30 - 7:45	44
7:45 - 8:00	21
8:00 - 8:15	10
8:15 - 8:30	1

Total 473 Common Loons flying east to west.

One flock of 18 Lesser Scaup was the only other sign of migration. Local Cormorants, Sandhill Cranes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Caspian and Common Terns, and Ravens were also seen. The major Loon movement was over by 7:20 am - somewhat earlier than usual. John Smith noted only small numbers of loons at Maple Point.

Later I found Yellow-rumped Warblers and Northern Waterthrushes at West Bay; Erwin Meissner reported 72 species on May 1 including Black-throated Green Warblers near Gore Bay and a Glaucous Gull and American Pipits at Providence Bay. May 2, John Smith reported an Eastern Kingbird behind the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons where Terry Land, John Smith and I watched the first Green Heron of the year flying in.

I arrived in South Baymouth, on the southeast shore of Manitoulin Island, after eight am and checked Lake Huron before searching for recent arrivals in the village. The lake was calm and I estimated the flock of Long-tailed Ducks at 620. I did not see any grebes or hoped for Scoters.

Barn & Tree Swallows were in the air. The ten or so kinglets today were Ruby-crowned not Golden-crowned. There were about ten Yellow-rumped Warblers and two Black-and-whites. There was a good selection of sparrows- 1 Chipping, 1 Field, 2 Vesper, 4 Savannah, 20 Song, 1 Swamp, 25 White-throated and five Juncos. I should also mention a House Sparrow, first for the year here. No White-crowned Sparrows were found all weekend.

Alerted to the presence of two sizes of Swans along the shore between Indian Point and the Barrie Island Causeway, Roy & Rodney Campbell and I drove in to the shore at the suggested spot and found two swans of two sizes in the distance. A long hike along the shore brought Rodney & I to the right spot, with the sun behind us and we photographed a fine Mute Swan. This is the fifth record for Manitoulin Island. The companion swan, looking very similar to one of the Barrie Island Swans that some thought were Trumpeters and some Tundras, was 10% smaller overall and thus a Tundra Swan. The next day the Mute Swan turned up alone in the Gore Bay harbour for all to admire.

Other new species for the year for me were American Bittern at Bass Lake, Purple Martins at Sheguiandah, Mindemoya and Gore Bay; a Rough-winged Swallow at High Falls, Spotted Sandpipers in South Bay, Upland Sandpipers at the Gore Bay Airport and Billings, a Pectoral Sandpiper on the shoreline near the Gore Bay Airport, a Golden-plover flying above the mudflats on the north shore of Wolsey Lake via 161 4th Line Gordon;a Least Sandpiper in the east cell of the Gore Bay Sewage Lagoons; and a small flock of Lapland Longspurs at No.161, 4th Line, Gordon.

A couple of hours on Manitoulin Island on the last day of April raised my 1999 list to 115 - somewhat below the previous two years for this date.

A Lesser Yellowlegs at Little Current Sewage Lagoon on Boozeneck Road South from Hwy 540 was new for me, but has been back a week or so. The same could be said for a White-throated Sparrow heard singing. A Bonaparte's Gull in breeding plumage sitting on the beach at Green Acres Park at Sheguiandah was more exciting. This species can be hard to find, spring or fall.

There was a Sora back at Bass Lake in the marsh beside Townline Road. Terry Land had 104 species by the end of April, and reported an adult Tundra Swan April 29.

The bad news is leaves, on the poplar and birch trees. The leaves are two weeks early for the second year in a row, and will mean tough warblering in May, reducing the potential for a good species total for the year. Now, in the good old days, we did not see leaves until the end of May,........

- Tue, 27 Apr 1999 South Baymouth is the place to be when the birds are arriving. Saturday had been quiet but Sunday was quite different.

Duncan Robbie reports:-

" My front yard was hopping with bird activity this morning , at least in turms of volume. About 12 or 15 White-throats, lots of Juncos, Tree sparrows, 4 or 5 Creepers ,15 to 20 American Goldfinches, some of them very yellow, 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches. There was a sparrow I could not identify and I got a good look at it. It looked something like a white throat .The stripes on its head were not as bright, it had no white on the throat or yellow above the beak,the legs were a bit orangy.

After seeing all the birds in the yard I took a short walk with the dogs:

-4 Yellow rumps, a lot of Grackles, 2 Flickers, Kinglets (goldens I think), Tree Sparrows, Song Sparrows, 1Hairy Woodpecker - Lots of movement!! Later we sat out in the yard to day. Nice and sunny. Saw LOTS of yellow rumps, some ruby crowns, 2 Sapsuckers, White-breasted nuthatch. Best day this spring for bird activity.

Duncan"

Floyd Cosby and Chris Bell completed the spring owl surveys on the Bidwell Road on April 23 and the Rockville Road on April 24. Six owls were counted on the Bidwell route - 1 Barred, 2 Saw-whets, 2 Great Horned and an unknown. On the Rockville route I am not quite certain of the totals but there were Saw-whets, a Long-eared, about 7 Great Horned, a mystery owl and an inquisitive Barred Owl on the last stop. A few Woodcocks and many Common Snipe were calling.

Saturday was quiet. Doreen Bailey reported eight more swans at Bayfield Sound. There was one larger swan with them. Otherwise the swans had gone.

I saw three Horned Grebes beside the highway bridge in Lake Wolsey. There was agroup of four Greater Yellowlegs beside the Twilight Isle causeway. The wintering Red-headed Woodpecker was still near Sheguiandah. Brown Creepers and Golden-crowned Kinglets were still passing. I found one Ruby-crowned Kinglet on the trail to Providence Point Lighthouse. Duncan Robbie and I managed a single Yellow-rumped Warbler at South Baymouth. A Savannah Sparrow was my only new sparrow for the year. The Loggerhead Shrike reported last weekend could not be found. On Sunday I added a Broad-winged Hawk at Birch Island.

Manitoulin is having a good month for Tundra Swans. One day prior to April 8 a commercial fisherman reported to Doreen Bailey a flock of 20 or so swans flying across Lake Huron towards the Manitoulin south shore. Three sub-adult swans at the Barrie Island Causeway on April 10 were first thought to be Trumpeters but after later seeing known Tundras, were deemed to be Tundra. On the same day, two other sub-adult Tundras were seen feeding in a grassy field off the Union Road.

On April16, three swans were seen in a field north of Providence Bay. On April 17, seven Tundras were feeding off the mouth of Roger's Creek in South Bay. Three of these were adults with yellow showing on the face. The other four were immature or sub-adults showing red blotches on the upper mandible and narrow pink lips.

On April 17, seven Tundra Swans were seen in the distance on the north shoreline of Lake Wolsey. With Lake Huron being so low, this area has two kilometres of wide muddy beach and should be good for shorebirds. I have not yet seen yellowlegs this year.

New species for me on the weekend included Snow Goose, which like the Tundra Swan has been reported several times this month, and Short-eared Owls. These two species can both be hard to find and are both required on the quest to beat the 238 species counted by Doreen Bailey in 1996. I now have all five summer owls but no winter owls- these will have to wait now until November-December.

Grackles, cowbirds, robins, and to a lesser extent redwings and Golden-crowned Kinglets are still passing through in numbers. On Friday I had Shoveler on the Little Current Sewage Lagoons. Arrivals on the 17th included Swamp Sparrow, Caspian Tern, Barn Swallows, Winter Wren, Sapsucker and Brewer's Blackbirds.

Tree Swallows are now more widespread and I found several Yellow- rumped ( Myrtle Warblers ) behind the gas station-store on my way out of South Baymouth on Saturday morning.

Terry Land reports visiting birders, ( another rare sighting ), found a Loggerhead Shrike on Friday and Saturday by Hwy 540 east of Ice Lake crossroads by the promotional upended row boat.

Dear Gord,

Yes this part of Manitoulin is still active in birding activities.

At our Friend's of Misery Bay event, Dancing in the Dawn, held at the Gore Bay airport and at the head of Barrie Island yesterday, we had an excellent turnout. The Ontario Fed. of Ornith. had a good contingency of c.19 birders here, and with others the airport building was bursting at the seams - while we all waited for the daylight and our turns to view the wonderful display of sharp-tailed grouse involved in their impressive courtship rituals. Congratulations to Reta and Steve Hall, and Roy Campbell who took over the complete organization of the event this year. They did a marvelous job. Perhaps it was because I was not responsible for any of the work this spring, but I seemed to enjoy it by far the best we ever held- even the pot luck breakfast seemd more special.

The event was over subscribed - by as early as Oct. 1998. Hence the new leaders decided to not advertize the activity.

One of the pluses of the event was the sighting of a loggerhead shrike by John Martin of Scarboro. After all the event activities were over, Terry Land, Joan Channon and I went out and confirmed the sighting. We all felt the identification was a good one. We were also able to show it to some of the grouse event participants as they passed on their way home to Niagara Falls.

The bird was located on Highway 540 in Ice Lake, just 4 hydro poles east of the red boat sign located along the straight section of highway there.

Much thanks to John Martin who not only reported it but returned to the site the following day where he waited until its return to the same spot afterwhich he phoned with the report. He then left the spot to avoid disturbing the bird further. Good spotting John - shrikes are easily misidentified at this time of year. And good birding ethics in leaving the bird undisturbed as soon as possible after the sighting. And good Birder ethics in communicating the sighting and location to others while they could also enjoy seeing it and for agreeing so readily to fill in a rare bird report form. We look forward to seeing John here again.

Duncan Robbie reports an earlier Tree Swallow - a single bird in South Baymouth on April 4th.

I added ten species to my 1999 Manitoulin list on the weekend of April 9 - 11 and am sitting at 98. Of interest were an Osprey over Hwy 6 at Birch Island on Friday and several Turkey Vultures that evening. My first Tree Swallows were seen with Roy Campbell on the Barrie Island Causeway on Saturday morning, followed by a few more later. I missed out on the Gore Bay Airport Short-eared Owls again. On April 10 and 11 a total of seven Common Loons at Janet Head, South Bay and Providence Bay. On Sunday there were five Red-necked Grebes on the south shore. There were increases in geese and ducks, and blackbirds but low numbers of the smaller passerines with no new species. The weekend was cool and windy with winds out of the north and east. The sewage lagoons were open for business and the ice was coming off the lakes.

Next Saturday is the Dancing at Dawn do at the Gore Bay Airport for Sharp-tailed Grouse. Details are not yet available from the Friends of Misery Bay, but in the past breakfast has been available at the Airport and guided trips provided to lek-side blinds there and at Barrie Island. Observing Sharp-tailed Grouse courtship on Manitoulin is a highlight of the birding year.

The Mountain Bluebird was not seen again after the first sighting Thursday evening. Mr. & Mrs Hague have been watching out for it; Doreen Bailey watched on Friday and I searched the area on Saturday morning. The bird was a male and the Hagues provided a convincing description of it. This is the first documented sighting of a Mountain Bluebird on Manitoulin. There is one other undocumented record of a bird that stayed some weeks in the mid-90s.

Marg and Doug Hague had a Mountain Bluebird at their house at 1368, Perivale Road West , phone 377-4903, Thurs evening April 8.They were 10 feet from it and are certain. I have no info on later sightings, if any

On April 3 Charlie Whitelaw found five or six swans in a wet spot at Foxey in Gordon Township. They were non-Mute but Charlie did not stop to specify them.

Terry Land found 2 Gr White-fronted Geese beside Hwy 540 in Gordon Township by Noble's Lumber. They were there all day on April 5 th and Doreen Bailey got to see them. This is the seventh record of this species on Manitoulin and the second in just over a week.

The owls were hooting and sawing last night! Floyd Cosby reports that he and Charlie Whitelaw found five Saw-whets and seven Barred Owls on the second run of the Killarney Road Owl Survey in the Manitoulin District.

The Chimney Swift seen by Terry Land at 5 pm on March 28 was several weeks early. In Birds of Manitoulin, a seasonal occurence, by Charlie Whitelaw, published in 1991 by the Manitoulin Nature Club there are no Swift sightings prior to May. Terry reports:-

" I saw it flying out of the wet, swampy area toward me as I drove so I stopped and got out of the car. It flew right over my head at about 30 feet. It was the unmistakable cigar with the pointy wings. It continued to fly past me into the wooded area on the side of the road opposite the wet land and did not come out while I was there. Total viewing time would not have been more than a minute but it was not brief for viewing purposes". The bird was not refound.

Steve Hall had a Bluebird on the 31st and many Kinglets, all Golden-crowned, on the 1st. On the weekend Doreen Bailey reported Coots at Wolsey Lake, a Merlin, a Long-eared Owl on Bell Road in Burpee Twp, and several Flickers. On the 2nd I found my first Cowbirds, Green and Blue-winged Teal and an early Yellow-rumped Warbler in Sheguaindah. On the 3rd I added Snipe, E.Meadowlarks, Brown Creepers, an adult Glaucous Gull at Twilight Isle, and Rusty Blackbirds. On the 4th I found four Pied-billed Grebes, my first Phoebes in South Baymouth where I also found a Fox Sparrow, a Cormorant and a Flicker. Most of the snow in the bush has gone and many, but not all, backroads are clear of snow and open. The ice on the lakes has become really rotten in the last week and the high winds on Sunday was tearing the ice off South Bay and Lake Mindemoya.

More Manitoulin sightings come from Terry Land:-

• March 20 Canada Goose at Misery Bay
• March 21 Northern Harrier (male) 5 more were spotted on the 23
• March 23 Red tailed hawk, Sandhill Cranes (5)
• March 27 Pied-billed grebe, Lesser Scaup, Pileated wp (2)
• March 28 Merlin (3) Killdeer and a very early Chimney Swift
• March 30 Song Sparrow and increasing numbers of Green- winged Teal

John & Nicole Smith report 6 Common Redpolls on the 18th and a Sharp-shinned Hawk on the 26th.

Grant & Edith Garrette report two Turkey Vultures feeding with a wolf on a deer carcass on March 24

Don Ferguson reports a Golden Eagle on March 27th at Hwy 68 and Cowan's Side Road

The weekend of the 27th and 28th was as very predicted very busy with arrivals of several species- but most in small numbers. Crows , Starlings and Herring & Ringbilled Gulls are now widespread and Canada Geese, Mallards, Goldeneyes , Ring-necked Ducks and Grackles numbers were increasing.

Dale Wood of 504, Townline, Sheguiandah reported a wintering Red-headed Woodpecker that has gradually changed from a brown head to a brilliant red head now. Floyd Cosby and I located it without difficulty on the weekend. I had one in the same place on July 6, 1997 and the bird now may have fledged there.

My Manitoulin 1999 list is 75 at the end of March- two fewer than 1998 and seven fewer than 1997.

First Dates ( March 1999):

• Pied-billed Grebe 18th Steve Hall
• Great Blue Heron 28th Chris Bell
• G White-fronted Goose 28th Chris Bell & Steve Thorpe
• Canada Goose 18th Delroy Prescott then increasing numbers
• Wood Duck 27th Chris Bell on Manitou River - only report to date
• American Wigeon 18th Chris Bell & Steve Thorpe at Hare's Creek - only report
• Ring-necked Duck 27th m.ob.
• Lesser Scaup 27th Chris Bell & Terry Land - only report
• Northern Harrier 16th Rodney Campbell, small numbers from 27th.
• Red-shouldered Hawk 28th Chris Bell at Birch Island
• American Kestrel 19th Chris Bell then small numbers
• Merlin ? ? Rodney Campbell
• Sandhill Crane 23rd Steve Hall , several 27th & 28th.
• Killdeer 27th Roy & Rodney Campbell - very few by 28th.
• Woodcock 21st John & Nicole Smith; another 27th.on Barrie Island
• Short-eared Owl 28th Steve & Rita Hall at Gore Bay Airport in early am
• Eastern Bluebird 28th Chris Bell near Gore Bay
• Tree Sparrow small arrivals March 27th & 28th
• Fox Sparrow 27th Roy Campbell at Barrie Island
• Song Sparrow 22nd Steve Hall
• Junco small arrivals March 27th & 28th
• Red-winged Blackbird small arrivals March 27th & 28th
• Grackle small arrivals March 27th & 28th

Chris Bell and Floyd Cosby ran the first legs of the Bidwell and Rockville nocturnal owl surveys on Friday and Saturday nights ( March 12 and 13 ). On the Bidwell survey no less than six Saw-whet Owls were heard - this may be an all time high count for these small owls on Manitoulin. They were heard at various stops along the Green Bay and Bidwell Roads. One spot where an owl was heard two nights in a row was at 441 Green Bay Road. On the following night a Long-eared Owl yelped twice then fell silent at 5425 Bidwell Road,( between the Limekiln and Rockville Road turnoffs. This is a difficult bird to find and I did not find the species in 1998 or 1997. Also heard were two Great Horned Owls - but no Saw-whets though conditions and habitat were very similar to the previous night. I tried once more for the previously reported Hawk Owl - again without success.

Two House Finches were found at feeders in Manitowaning - often a good place for finding this uncommon finch. Purple Finches, Goldfinches and Pine Siskins are still very plentiful at feeders. I found Siskins at South Baymouth, the C.Baker feeder near Mindemoya and at my own feeder.

While enjoying the spring skiing on the freshly groomed trails at Misery Bay Provincial Park, some previously reported Golden-crowned Kinglets were located.

The Sharp-tailed Grouse have started their courtship. 13 were seen at 9:30 am , ( later than usual in the morning ), beside White's Point Road in Howland Township. Drive south from Little Current and White's Point Road turns off to the left, halfway to Sheguiandah. Drive 200 metres along the road and park on the side of the road. Using the vehicle as a blind, look in the roadside pasture to the south to see the dancing grouse. The Friends of Misery Bay are again offering guided visits to two other leks later in the season, meeting very early in the morning on Saturday April 17 at Gore Bay Airport.

The Ring-billed Gulls have arrived - we saw three at the Wolsey Lake Causeway on March 14. On the same day the first Herring Gulls, which winter along the Lake Huron shoreline, arrived in Little Current.

My 1999 Manitoulin list was increased by 5 species to reach 56. Doreen Bailey was also out birding on the weekend and increased her list to 39 species.

There were no great changes on Manitoulin on the weekend of March 6 and 7. Compared with the previous weekend, it was colder with an extra couple of inches of snow on the ground. This improved the skiing, and we skied the loop at Misery Bay Provincial Park. All we found in the park was a Hairy Woodpecker, a Blue Jay and Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches.

The Rough-legged Hawks seemed to have spread out round the island and there were more Northern Shrikes. A Red-breasted Merganser at Providence Bay was my only new species for the year, bringing my total to 51 for the year.

The big flocks of Bohemian Waxwings in Little Current may have exhausted the food supply. Numbers were seen moving north on La Cloche Island, apparently feeding on ground juniper berries- the favourite food of the Sharp-tailed Grouse.

Terry Land found a Hawk Owl on February 27 and again on March 2. The Owl may be seen in Carnarvon Township from the Monument Road between Tracey Road and Learmont Road. Look in the area a few hundred metres south of Learmont Road, and north of Olackes' driveway, where Monument Road runs beside Lake Mindemoya. The bird was on the west side of the road, on top of a birch tree on Saturday and a poplar tree on Tuesday.

Five Gadwall were found in Hare's Creek, Mindemoya on Saturday. The three Pintails, first reported by Terry Land on Feb 23, were still in Dewar's Creek on the Government Road east of Providence Bay.This is believed to be the first February sighting of these two species. Blacks and Mallards were in the usual small wintering numbers so we can not be sure if these more unusual ducks are arrivals or secretive winterers. A ski trip with Steve Thorpe along the Manitou River produced no ducks at all.

I checked on the two Bald Eagle nests that are visable in the winter. One, unfortunately, was gone - blown down with its tree. The other looked in good repair, but there were no eagles yet in attendance. There are however Bald Eagles to be seen. One was on the ice on Providence Bay and three were at a dead cow in the field on the northeast corner of the Poplar Road and Portage Bay Road. This is 2 km south of the Poplar crossroads. This will be a spot worth checking in the next few weeks - the carcass is hardly touched and may perhaps attract a rare Golden Eagle in addition to the Bald Eagles and Ravens.

The Rough-legged Hawks are still around - mainly in Carnarvon and Campbell Townships. I counted 13 on Saturday, but the real total may approach 20.

The wintering Grackles in South Baymouth were recounted at 12 and the Redwings in Tehkumah at 7.

The Cardinal in Providence Bay was in full song on Sunday.

February sightings mentioned at the Manitoulin Nature Club meeting on Friday 26 included the Mindemoya Red-bellied Woodpecker which is not so regular at Steve Thorpe's or Betty Gould's feeders but was seen as recently as February 25.

A flock of 8 Sharp-tailed Grouse were seen at Dominion Bay by the Wiltons. The dancing season for all the Sharp-tails on Manitoulin will start in a few days. Jean Williamson has three Ruffed Grouse and there were 30 Evening Grosbeaks.

I put the telescope on several Raven nests on the weekend and on Sunday found one occupied by a Great Horned Owl. The nest is visible from the highway on the north-south stretch between Long Bay and Britainville. Start looking across the fields to the west about 1.3 km south of the Union ( formally Mills ) Road turnoff. To see the owl, you will need a telescope.

I added three species on the weekend to end the month as hoped at 50 for the year.

Terry Land, also with 50, shares the lead. With only one more total in, Erwin Meissner is so far in third place with 37 species.

There are two reports of Snowy Owls; one on Emery Road in Allan Township by Maurice Martin and one near the Lake Mindemoya Dam in Carnarvon Township. Neither could be re-found on the weekend. I saw a Goshawk on Feb 13 on the Burnt Island Road in Robinson Township and a Red-tailed Hawk Feb 14 on Hwy 540 east of the Bidwell Road turn.

Heather Baines had a Horned Lark Feb 13 feeding on an unnamed road in Burpee Township and Terry Land had three Pine Grosbeaks in the west end on the same day.

Misery Bay PP produced no interesting birds on Saturday. The count was 7 Goldeneyes, 1 Hairy Woodpecker and 7 Black-capped Chickadees. Steve Hall found 15 Golden-crowned Kinglets there two weeks earlier on January 30.

31 Buffleheads at South Baymouth on Feb 14 are a February first and may have been spring arrivals.

My total for Manitoulin in 1999 is now 47 species while Terry Land is at at least 42 species. The target is 50 by the end of February.

A visit to Killarney Provincial Park on Sunday February 7 showed up small numbers of Red and White-winged Crossbills. The latter brings my 1999 Manitoulin District list up to 44 species.

On the schedule for Saturday February 13 is a visit to the groomed ski trails of Misery Bay Provincial Park. This time last year we found a Boreal Chickadee there, so we will be on the look-out again for this uncommon visitor to the Lake Huron shoreline forests.

Two Red-bellied Woodpeckers are coming daily to feeders. One comes to Thorne Street in Mindemoya and the other to the top of the bluff on Indian Point Road in Burpee-Mills. Steve Thorpe reported an American Kestrel on January 25 near Mindemoya. Jean Williamson passed on to the Laurentian University collection a Golden-crowned Kinglet found dead in Carnarvon Township.

One interesting feature of the weekend was the return of the Rough-legged Hawks. Up to a week ago there were only one or two sightings and most observers agreed that they had gone south. This weekend I counted 14. Heavy rains a week ago followed by some snow fall has resulted in only 4" to 6" of snow cover in favoured Rough-leg habitat. Prior to the rain there would be about 14" of snow.

There were Long-tailed Ducks out from Providence Bay and Terry Land had seen them off South Baymouth a few days after I had seen them there. This would indicate a wintering population in Lake Huron off the south shore of Manitoulin.

There were no new birds on the weekend and no reports of winter owls in January.

I ended the month with 43 species for Manitoulin with Terry Land close behind with 41 species.

The good news is that the new Town of Killarney is in the Sudbury District for Municipal Purposes only, and Killarney remains in the Manitoulin District for all other purposes, including ornithological. In the monthly Sudbury-Manitoulin Bird Report, edited by John Lemon, sightings from the Killarney area of the Manitoulin District will continue to be noted as (K) for Killarney.

On January 24 I came across several Red Crossbills feeding on the highway. Some seemed to be in pairs. Pine Grosbeaks are slowly moving south and I found one small group in roadside trees - my first Manitoulin sighting this winter. At the village feeders, I found the three blackbirds that I had seen on December 27 - one Grackle, one Redwing and one Rusty Blackbird. Also at feeders I counted 2 Purple Finches, 72 Goldfinches, 90 Evening Grosbeaks and 6 Tree Sparrows. Georgian Bay was open but the only birds seen from the lighthouse were Herring Gulls.

Two weeks ago it was Robins in Little Current and Gore Bay. January 17th, there were four American Robins in Manitowaning. Other birds of interest included 200 or so Long-tailed Ducks just offshore at South Baymouth, 10 Grackles at South Baymouth, two Redwings in Tehkumah, and a Pine Siskin in Sheguiandah. I could not find any Rough-legged Hawks. Purple Finches are now outnumbering American Goldfinches. My list for 1999 reached 35 species, five short of the 40 target set by Terry Land.