On February 21, 2000 there were 150 Bohemian waxwings on Nottawasaga Conc. 10, just north of the Not. 26/27 S.R. They were seen at about 8:15 a.m by M & M Scholz

Max & Marion Scholz
mmscholz@sentex.net

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

Here's some more spring news

Two flocks of horned larks were observed on the 8th Line in Oro-Medonte Twp this morning (Feb 22). The first was a small grouop of six birds feedign along the roadside. A second, larger flock was seen flying overhead a few hundred metres north of the first.

Take the Horseshoe Valley Road east from the 400 to the 8th line. Turn north and travel 500 - 700 metres north to the crest of the first hill. Birds last seen north of the first farmhouse on the right.

Charlton Carscallen
joancharlton@sympatico.ca

Hi Gord,
We were skiing in Earl Rowe Park near Alliston last week and, from the dam, we spotted a great blue heron and a kingfisher. A couple of mink were fishing in and around the open water. As we skiied around the lake we came across a robin. Spring can't be far away.

Ron Yorke,
Alliston,
Feb. 17/2000

Hi, Friday I was treated to a visit, by a Sharp-shinned Hawk, to my backyard. He allowed me to photograph him and stayed around the yard for about 5 minutes, moving around from the fence to the trees.

Marilyn
mhubley@sympatico.ca

Hi Gord, I got a real treat yesterday. Was walking the dogs and a group of birds in an apple tree caught my attention with their song. The dogs went the other way so I didn't see them but when I got home I heard the same song and in a large tree beside my backyard there were about 50 Bohemian Waxwings. Gorgeous birds, a few dropped by this morning so I could confirm whether they were Bohemian or Cedars but from the markings and size these were definitely Bohemians.

Marilyn Hubley
mhubley@sympatico.ca

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

On Friday Nov 19, there were 31 Sandhill Cranes at the end of Strongville Rd. This road runs off of hwy 26, north of Edenvale in Simcoe County.

At Allenwood Beach on Georgian Bay there was an Iceland Gull and a Little Gull. A little farther north at Spratts Point, there was a Yellow- bellied Sapsucker and three White-winged Crossbills. A Red-bellied Woodpecker has been seen regularly near Powerline Rd in Wasga Beach.

Bye for now

Judy Randall ..... jrandall@sympatico.ca

Dear Gord

I live at Horseshoe Valley which is north from Barrie. Back of our place is the Copeland Forest, some 4,500 acres of mixed habitat. A pretty good place to go birding. At this time of the year we have our share of juncos, resident chickadees, nuthatches, hairy and downy woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers and the like. Actually we have a checklist of some 170 species that we've observed over the years here in the Valley. An unusual sighting turned up today, however, a male red-bellied woodpecker which is frequenting a neighbours feeder. I last observed one some 15 years ago one spring. Normally the red-bellied is observed more over towards Lake Huron. Anyway, a nice surprise.

Ernest Somers

P.S. Love your web site.

I've had a wonderful spring, summer and fall watching the many birds in the backyard. A month or so ago I watched as the White-crowned Sparrows and Dark-eyed Slate colored Junco's started to arrive from further up north.

Today I got the chance to view a Pileated Woodpecker in front of my house on a couple of Hydro Poles. It was magnificent as it perched on the side of the pole and cocked its head around from side to side.

Marilyn
I'm in Alliston, south of Barrie :) Thanks

Cookstown lagoons:
All cells full. Lots of waterfowl. Nothing spectacular.

Holland Landing Lagoons:
(All cells full. A few shorebirds clinging to the edges.)

• 1 Solitary Sp.
• 1 Short-billed Dowitcher
• 1 Red-necked Phalarope
• 5 Lesser Yellow-legs
• 3 Spotted Sp.
• Lots of waterfowl, both teal, wood duck, mallard, shoveller.

Schomberg Lagoons:
(Farthest cell low)

• 14 Lesser Yellow-legs
• 2 Pectoral
• 3 Semipalmated Sp.
• 5 Least Sp.
• 1 Stilt Sp.
• 3 Spotted Sp.
• 5 Killdeer
• Lots of waterfowl

Fields around the corner of 13th line and 20th Sideroad, New Tecumseth, South west of Cookstown

• 32 American Golden Plovers

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

There are several Sandhill Cranes in the fields around Coldwater with up to 17 observed in the evening along Road 17 near Loverings Line eating the fallen wheat after the field was harvested. Tufted Titmouse is a rare bird for Simcoe with one or two sightings in a good year. There was a nesting record during the Breeding Bird Atlas but this was never confirmed.

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

Earlier this afternoon at around 1:30 p.m., while sitting at my office desk in Wasaga Beach, I heard an unusual, distinctive bird song coming from my back yard. After a couple of seconds, I realized that it was a Tufted Titmouse.

I quickly hopped up to see it a one of my feeders. After a good look from about 20 feet away, both naked eye and through binoculars, it flew to the cedar hedge between my property and the large, wooded lot next door.

I went outside and was able to follow it for a couple of minutes before it disappeared in the thick understory. I kept looking for about 10 minutes, but to no avail. I returned inside and after about 20 minutes of rummaging, I found my cassette player and call tapes. I played its song and call many times, but it still did not return.

I know that this is a rare sighting, as it is quite north for this species, but there are a few records for it in this part of Simcoe County (although closer to Lake Simcoe) over the years. Also, I have seen the species several times in Rondeau and Pelee, and studied it very closely at a friend's feeders while on a visit to Virginia three years ago, so I have no doubt about the ID. I'll let everyone know if it returns. There is much natural, wooded land in this part of town, so I will check the neighbourhood too.

My name and address are included in the "signature" line, if anyone wants/needs to contact me.

Scott A. Martin
Interpretive-Ecologist / Owner
WILD Canada

#75 - 39th Street North
Wasaga Beach, ON   L0L 2P0
Phn: 705-429-4936
Fax: 705-429-1435

E-mail:  wildcanada@cois.on.ca

Gord,

I was at the Alliston sewage lagoons today and saw a single juvenile Wilson's Phalarope foraging in a small area of mud flats. The Phalarope was leaning forward with it's head low to the ground, the way Green Herons hunt. It would then jab its head forward to catch insects. Also there, were 3 Solitary Sandpipers, 7 Spotted, 4 Least and 5 Killdeer. On the sod farms Southeast of town I saw a total of 37 Upland Sandpipers, mostly in family groups and numerous Killdeer.

The Alliston Lagoons can be located by turning south off Victoria St. in Alliston onto Dufferin St. S. Continue past the next stop sign and turn left onto the next street (Parsons). Where this street dead end's the lagoons are on the left.

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

Stan Bajurny and I went up to Fesserton, Simcoe County this morning and by 7:15 am we had found 2 of the 4 White Pelicans first found by George Bryant. Most likely the other 2 were also there but probably hidden by the island that the other 2 were on. This island can be viewed from the marina just to the left (NE) off the end of Fesserton Sideroad, (see Bob Bowles posting for thursday past for directions).

The island(s) is to the northeast of the marina, i.e. - towards Wabaushene.

For those who are interested we also found a nesting pair of Yellow-throated Vireos in a large tree at the very entrance to the small marina. The male was very obliging with it's singing and both birds were easy to see. The tree is at the left side of the road just as you are about to pass the marina no trespassing sign (on the right hand tree) as you go in to ask permission to go in the marina to view the pelicans.

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

Today, while doing a Breeding Bird Survey route in northern Simcoe County, I was surprised to find a singing first spring male Orchard Oriole. The Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas does not show this species breeding much north of Toronto, although Birds of Ontario (Speirs, 1985) indicates that there are records for Tiny Township (1953) and near Waubaushene (1976).

The location was about 1.5 km north of the hamlet of Rugby on Oro-Medonte Concession 12. Rugby is at the intersection of Simcoe Country Regional Road 11 and Concession 12 about 5km west of Orillia.

Other notable birds on this BBS route (which mostly follows Concession 12 from near Coldwater down to near Lake Simcoe and then towards Barrie [Shanty Bay]) were Wild Turkey, Upland Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow.

Just found your Web site and would like to report that we had an Indigo Bunting on our feeder last night. We are located just south of Barrie. We just moved up here and are amazed at all the birds here. This is actually the first time we've seen such a beautiful bird at such close range. We also had a few Ruby throated hummingbirds in the last two weeks. Hopefully they will keep coming back. Thank you for the interesting site to visit and I'm sure we will check in again soon.

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

On Saturday April 24th, a Great Egret was spotted at Tiny Marsh at the viewers blind at the east side of the marsh.

Tiny Marsh is north of Elmvale which is north of Barrie. For specific directions, see Clive Goodwin's book, A Bird- Finding Guide to Ontario, Page 266.

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

On Saturday their were 7 Sandhill Cranes at Tiny Marsh. Also seen: Redheads, Pine Warbler, Yellow Rumped Warbler, Winter Wren, WT Sparrow(early). At Angus (McKinnon Rd) was an adult Bald Eagle and Rusty Blackbirds. The swans have left.

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

There were 2 Trumpeter and 6 Tundra Swans on McKinnon Rd of HWY90 near Angus Sunday. A bonus was a Golden Eagle which flew west, scaring up the numerous species of ducks present. The side road which heads west off McKinnon had 300 Rusty Blackbirds before the bridge.

Hi There

Spring is indeed here; Finally I've got a little flock of American Goldfinches paying regular visits to my yard. There's a beautiful pair of Cardinals that visit every day, along with Dark-Eyed Juncos, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Am.Tree Sparrows (~5 as compared to the large flocks in winter), a pair of House Finches, a pair of Downy Woodpeckers, and the adorable Chickadees. New to my yard are 5 Brown-Headed Cowbirds. Starlings are also around. Down at the lake at night, I often see a Great-Blue Heron along the shore. Approximately 7-10 days ago, from across the bay, came a great cacophony of bird sounds - perhaps ducks/geese establishing nesting sites? It took a few minutes for me to even recognize the noise as bird-voices - I've never heard such a clamor. Several nights in a row (~10:30pm), I heard this but it seems to have quieted.

Hi Gord,

Just thought I'd report my first sighting of American Woodcock this year, by a steam in a wooded area just south of Hockley. (This would be in the Barrie/South Simcoe area)

Good Birding,

Hi - I'm new to this and I'd like to say how much I enjoy this website!
I have several backyard feeders/visitors currently: Chickadees, a flock of ~20 American Tree Sparrows, a beautiful pair of Northern Cardinals ( who love the safflower seed I put out for them), an adorable pair of Downy Woodpeckers, several Dark-Eyed Juncos, and a pair of Blue Jays. Two weeks ago, I was pleasantly suprised to see a Northern Flicker stop by (3 days in a row).

I do have a question also. I see many references regarding Red-Breasted Nuthatches, but in the fall, a White-Breasted Nuthatch made frequent visits to my yard. Are White-Breasted Nuthatches not as common as the Red-Breasted?

Thanks Again,

Hi Michele, depending on where you are, and what time of year, either one can be more common than the other. But having said that, the White-breasted Nuthatch is more common, which is why you may hear about the Red-breasted Nuthatches more often.

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

We are now convinced that the very large raptors seen near Barrie on Jan 31 were in fact GOLDEN EAGLES.

Many thanks to the subscribers who sent us notes confirming that this was a reasonable sighting.

We drove down Essa concession line 10 again today, but didn't see them again. We did, however, see a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, which was much smaller than the eagles.

We also saw a NORTHERN SHRIKE and a flock of about 125 SNOW BUNTINGS. The SNOW BUNTINGS were about 5 km south of Simcoe Road 90, all perched in the same tree.

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

I saw a pair of Golden Eagles on December 31, 1998 just north of Kingston at, of all places, Eagle Lake (south end) which is near Parham. It is very possible that you saw Golden Eagles. What a thrill!

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

At about 1:45 PM today, my wife Doreen Ross and I were combining a Sunday drive with some casual winter birding.

We were driving north and south on the concession lines just west of Barrie.

On Essa Line 10, a short distance south of Simcoe Road 90, we saw two very large raptors that we think were immature Golden Eagles. They were perched on fairly small trees, one on each side of the road initially. We also observed them both in flight at close range and low altitude.

Is this reasonable ? Has anyone else seen them ?

We are not expert birders, but we both had a very good look.

I would be very surprised if they turn out to have been Rough-legged Hawks, but I have been wrong before.

Over the past week I have seen a Rusty Black bird and I believe a Northern Shrike, are these common to the Barrie area in Ontario. Also I have a large number of Robins that seem to be hanging around this winter between 60 and 100 they seem to be eating the berries on the Sumach trees. Is there something that I could be putting out for them to eat and/or does this just encourage them to stay even longer.

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

Sorry for this late e-mail, but this is the first day I have had computer access in 2 weeks. Muskoka CBC was Dec 20. 42 species were seen including Kingfisher, Wood Duck, Hooded Mergansers, Gray Jays, and CATTLE EGRET (count week). The Egret was seen falling over on Dec 19 and sent to a local rehab center where it has fully recovered. It will be released in the US.

The BARRIE CBC was held Dec 19. Highlights: Black Backed Woodpecker (previously reported), Virginia Rail (at Little Lake). A White winged Crossbill was seen the next day in the same area as the Woodpecker.

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