Birds at Port Lambton - May 9, 2002

Hi birders,
There were lots of birds around today, so I checked out my old favourite
place, Brander Park.  Some warblers included, Black-throated Green (4),
Nashville (6), Yellow-rumped (5), Palm (2, 1 "Yellow" race), Parula (1),
Magnolia (2), Blackburnian (1), Ovenbird (1), Common Yellowthroat (1),
Yellow (4).  There was also Scarlet Tanager and Wood Thrush.
Brander Park is at the south edge of Port Lambton, along the St. Clair
Parkway.
________________________________
Blake  A.  Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net

Blue Jays - May 7, 2002

On May 5th and 6th we saw over approx. 1000 Blue Jays north of Sarnia,
between Brights Grove and Camlachie along the shore of Lake Huron. West
of County Road 7.

We also saw lots of Yellow Rumped and Palm Warblers, along with some
Yellow, Common Yellow Throat and  Blackburnian Warblers, Northern
Orioles, Ovenbirds, White Crowned Sparrow, Hermit Thrush and Cedar
Waxwings.

Andrew Kellman and Kelly Bowen
a.kellman-k.bowen@sympatico.ca

Sora Rail at Sarnia - May 1, 2002

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

Wednesday, May 1
Hi Birders, 

Today at the Wawanosh Wetlands , Hank Nienhuis and I saw a Sora Rail .
We were at the new lookout at the far end of the wetlands.
We also saw Palm ,Yellow Rumps and a male yellow Warbler.

At Canatara Park we saw a Blue Headed Vireo.

Wawanosh Wetlands is off Blackwell Sideroad
Canatara Park is in Sarnia off Christina Street

Carol Churchman
carolannch@hotmail.com

Babies in Park - April 29, 2002

Monday April 29th,
Hi Birders,
It's been pretty quiet in the Canatara Park the past week. Today there was 
five surprises. One of the many pairs of nesting  Canada geese had her 
babies. Very cute balls of yellow feathers.
Also some very colorful yellow Rumped Warblers( the yellow on this bunch 
seems more pernounced then the last bunch that came through.)A few Black and 
White Warblers and some Palm warblers.Flying over Lake Chipican were lots of 
Tree, Barn and Rough- Winged Swallows. On Lake Chipican are Shovelers, 
Gadwalls, Bufflehead and Redheads. We saw White Throated Sparrows and a 
Brown Thrasher, Hermit Thrush and several Red-Bellied Woodpeckers.
Canatara Park is in Sarnia.It's located off Christina Street.

Good Birding Everyone,

Carol Churchman
carolannch@hotmail.com

P.S. Someone told me they had Ruby-Throated Hummers at their feeder two 
weeks ago. Has anyone else seen any? Please reply privately. This seems very 
early.

SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER on Kettle Point - April 28, 2002

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

Sunday.28th.

On K.Pt. today are 2 pairs of GLAUCOUS GULLS. A very interesting seeming hybrid Glauc/Herring that has been around for a while. Also my first SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER for the year on the Point reef.

An ad. Herring Gull challenged a bigger Glaucous this morning. After a tussle the Glauc. grabbed the other birds bill and held it firmly for a few seconds completely overpowering it. The herring gull once released, went back at fighting only to be subdued again. This time on release it gave the gull submissive signal and moved away to open its wings and called. The Glauc. just went on eating.

Many YELLOW-RUMPS down on the wet grass looking for food.

Good Birding. Alf.
rider@xcelco.on.ca

GLAUCOUS GULLS - April 21, 2002

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

On Kettle Point today the number of Glaucous Gulls has risen 
to 28.  There are a couple of THAYERS GULLS too.
        A stream of Common Loons crossed over into Lake Huron at Ipperwash, 
3km. up the lake from Kettle Point.at 8am. The width of the stream was less 
than a kilometer. None were seen to the south of the Point this 
morning.  In my garden were a pair of PURPLE FINCHES and a male TOWHEE.
      ( It has been pointed out to me that we did not know about Fred 
Urie's earlier sighting of the PRAIRIE WARBLER at NE. Hillman when we 
located it. )
   Kettle Point is to the North of Forest off Highway 21.
                             Good Birding, Alf.
        Alf Rider, Forest.      rider@xcelco.on.ca

3 Vesper and 3 Savannah Sparrows - Port Franks - April 8, 2002

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

Hi all!
    Weekended at the in-laws in Ailsa Craig, so did my usual Sunday morning 
bird run and had some nice sightings. FOY - Vesper and Savannah Sparrows, 
along with some Song and Am.Tree, were at the edges of the field to the NW 
of Hwy.#21 and Outer Drive, south of Port Franks.

  Further south at Jericho and Hwy.#21 were 5 E.Bluebirds. Driving on to 
Kettle Point I saw about 20 C.Redpoll. At Pat's Point and on the beach, at 
least 7 or 8 Glaucous(1 pure creamy/white-the rest adults), 1 
Thayer's?(light yellow iris), 3 Bonaparte's, 30+ Great black-backed, along 
with Herring and a few Ring-billed Gulls.

  At Ipperwash beach got my first Gr. Yellowlegs - Pinery PP was being 
picketed by OPSEU, so I did not visit. Hope it's over soon with OFO 
Algonquin trip April 20 and major spring birding looming large.

   Grand Bend S.L. on Mollard Line, west of Hwy.#81 and south of GB held 
most of the usual waterfowl and a B.Kingfisher. Behind Parkhill CA on 
McGuffin Hills Rd. at the bridge in the hollow, I saw 6 more E. Bluebirds.

  Strathroy S.L.(sorry I cannot remember directions, other than south-west 
of town)produced Blue-winged Teal and a Common Loon as well as the more 
expected waterfowl and just north, towards Cuddy's I had 2 more E.Bluebirds.

  A pretty nice morning of "Winter and Spring" birds - along the way I saw a 
light Rough-legged and a Cooper's Hawk along with the usual Kestrels, 
Redtails,TV's and Horned Larks everywhere.

  BTW on my way to A.C. on Saturday, I scoped Wildwood CA and saw 1 Blue 
morph Snow Goose from the #31 Sideroad bridge. Easier to find from County Rd 
#119(old Hwy.#19)-east of Uniondale and north to water.
                        Cheers!      Maris Apse OFO SALES
                                     511 Chamberlain Lane
                                     Oakville ON L6J 6A2

Golden-crowned Kinglets in Sarnia - Mon, 01 Apr 2002

   
Monday April 1st,

Hi Fellow Birders,
I only saw one new species in the park this morning.The Golden-Crowned Kinglets are back. 
Very friendly.,one almost landed on my shoulder! Saw a few Eastern Phoebes again this 
morning,and Tree Swallows flying over Lake Chipican. And Gerry Clement tells me he saw a 
pair of Bluebirds on the Howard Watson Trail ,past Modeland but before Brights Grove.

Canatara Park is in Sarnia off Christina Street

carol churchman
carolannch@hotmail.com

Northern Goshawk in Sarnia - Tue, 19 Mar 2002

Tuesday March 19th,
Hi Fellow Birders,

I had a great day in the Park today and I'd just like to say Yeah!After
hearing about a Goshawk for a month now, he was one of my first birds of 
the day.He was in some woods over by the old railway line. The part they've 
just put asphalt on. He was sitting low in a tree with his back to me. Then I
think I gasped,I was so surprised to finally see him as he's been so 
elusive to many of us. He turned his head ,looked me in the eye and stayed where he
was while I snapped off two photos.I was cutting through the woods at the
time and I walked right by the tree he was in. I don't know how he didn't
hear me coming,I was that close to him.I can only guess he was watching 
some prey at the time!That was the closest I've ever been to a hawk!
The right hand side of Tarzenland was full of birds. Both Nuthatches,
Brown Creepers, lots of Robins,lots of Goldfinches,Titmice and
Chickadees,all in one area by the marshy part.

Four hours later on the way home I went by the area I saw the Goshawk, he
wasn't there but two adult Coopers were sitting in the same tree close
together.That was my last picture on my film.

Happy Birding Everyone!

Canatara Park is in Sarnia,off Christina Street

Carol Churchman
carolannch@hotmail.com

Lambton County, Sun., Jan. 13 - Sun, 13 Jan 2002

Approximately 10 red-tailed hawks were seen along the 402 between Wyoming and the Sarnia Airport. The area around the airport was quiet. A group of about 20 American tree sparrows were seen aroung Wawanosh C.A.. The lake north of Canatara Park in Sarnia was empty. The best concentration of waterfowl was found in Sarnia harbour with bufflehead, redhead, canvasback, black, mallard, coot, and hooded mergansers. Canada geese and ring-billed gulls were numerous with a few herring gulls. Not being a gull person I wouldn't like to swear there was nothing else of interest on that front.No significant groups of ducks were seen anywhere between Sarnia and Sombra. Inland, all was pretty quiet. The sight of the day was a group of 8 harriers hunting just after 4:30pm at the intersection of Murphy and Sexton Rds. as we were heading back to London.

Cathy McCrae
cmcc@sympatico.ca

Pinery Birds May 27 - Sun, 27 May 2001

Hi all,
This morning I went bird watching in the rain (what's new?).  At Pinery I
noted the following birds.  On Riverside Trail were Cerulean Warbler,
Redstarts, Mourning Warbler, Canada Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, and a pair of
Yellow-throated Vireos.  On Wilderness Trail were Pine Warbler, Ovenbird,
Blackburnian Warbler, and Tufted Titmouse, and a Common Loon out on the
lake.  On Cedar Trail were Redstarts, and Pine Warblers, and another
Titmouse.  All of these are possible resident birds, with maybe the
exception of Canada Warbler.
Pinery Provincial Park is on hwy 21 south of Grand Bend.
________________________________
Blake   Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net

Birds in South Lambton Co. - Thu, 3 May 2001

Hi Gord,
Just to update everyone with the birds appearing in south Lambton Co. this
week (April 30).  At the McKeough Dam C. A. on May 3 there was a Bluewinged
Warbler, Magnolia and Nashville Warblers.  As well, many Yellow Warblers
which nest there in big numbers.  Earlier in the week I had Black &White,
Palm and Yellow-rumped Warblers.  I also heard an early Black-billed Cuckoo.
Down the road in pasture areas, there are Upland Sandpipers along Holt and
Tulloch Lines.  Bluebirds are nesting in the boxes also.  Bobwhite are now
being heard on or around Walpole Island.  There should be lots to report
next week!
________________________________
Blake   Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net

Mourning Dove nesting in S. Lambton Co. - Sat, 10 Mar 2001

Hi all,
Although not too surprising, I discovered a Mourning Dove sitting on a nest
(no eggs yet) at the McKeough Dam C. A., Holt Line, this morning (Sat.).
That will be the first tick on the list for the Breeding Bird atlas.  Also
had 5 Wild Turkeys at the Dam, the first ones I've seen on that property.
Lots of Red-tailed hawks are paired up in this part of the county, getting
ready for nesting.  Tundra Swans are showing up by the hundreds now, many
resting in the fields around Wallaceburg.

Blake  Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net
Visit the Boat Doctor at:
www.kent.net/boatdr

Snowy Owl in SW Lambton Co. - Mon, 26 Feb 2001

Hi all,

On the evening of Mon. Feb. 26 I observed a Snowy Owl sitting on the top of a tall tree along the Kimball Rd., just south of Lambton Line (RD. 1). Its the first one I've seen since before Christmas, even though I've done much searching.

Red-winged Blackbirds are showing up in numbers now. This is to be expected, but I had a small flock two weeks ago just northwest of Wallaceburg which was a bit early.

On the St. Clair River, most of the ducks have dispersed, but a few representatives of each species remain here and there. The Gadwall are still off ICI north of Sombra. Two Tundra Swans were at Fawn Island on Sunday near Sombra. These could have been winter hold-overs though. I expect many thing to show up by later this week.

Blake A.  Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net
Visit the Boat Doctor at:
www.kent.net/boatdr

LAMBTON (ALMOST) GOLDEN EAGLES. - Wed, 21 Feb 2001

Hi, Gord.

Last Saturday, two of us took a ride down to the South edge of Lambton County and just over into Kent Co. Two Kilometers north of Cairo on Highway 79 we had a sub. adult GOLDEN EAGLE circle low over our heads a couple of times before drifting East.

The next day two adult Golden Eagles were located in the usual late Winter territory in Middlesex county, just across the river from Lambton.

They were seen again later in the same place - off the Sylvan Rd. near Brodick Rd.

In the same area are 300 Snow Buntings and several LAPLAND LONGSPURS that have just moved in.

Good Birding

Alf.
rider@xcelco.on.ca

Lambton District, Sunday, February 11 - Mon, 12 Feb 2001

The McIlwraith Field Naturalists from London held a birding excursion to Sarnia and the St. Clair River. During the trip, over 40 species were identified including northern pintail, gadwall, hooded merganser, red-breasted merganser, and American coot in the waterfowl department. A very large raft of ducks was seen north of Canatara park. Compared to last week, it seems that things are heading in that direction, out on to the lake. Red-tailed hawks were numerous. Several large groups of horned larks were seen on Mosside Road. Wild turkeys were also spotted closer to Strathroy on Inadale Road east of McArthur.

Cathy McCrae
cathy.mccrae@odyssey.on.ca

Red-shouldered Hawks in south Lambton Co. - Sun, 4 Feb 2001

Hi birders,

This morning, Sun., I checked Indian Creek Rd. in Lambton Co. and actually found two Red-shouldered Hawks. We thought there was only one and we had it on the CBC, but today one was near the corner of Stanley Line and Indian Creek Rd, while the other was further south at the Wilkesport Line. They are both beautiful adults. Nice to see them since they are uncommon in this area.

Also came across two Titmice at the corner of Tulloch Line and Duthill Rd. They do breed in this area, so I'll have to find them on my breeding bird atlas route which includes this area. Not much else inland.

On the St. Clair River, all of the gulls have left, and in fact I only saw about 6 Herring today. Ducks have thinned out also, but there are still lots of Scaup in the vicinity of Sombra, and the Gadwall are still off ICI. Lots of Mute Swans are still around.

Stanley Line crosses HWY 40 3 conc. north of Bentpath Line (RD. 2) and Indian Creek Rd is the first sideroad east of 40. Tulloch Line is 3 conc. south of Kimball Rd. (#31) and Duthill Rd. is west of Kimball.

Blake A. Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net
Visit the Boat Doctor at:
www.kent.net/boatdr

Coot/Pintails/Gadwalls, St. Clair River - Sat, 27 Jan 2001

Hello Ontbirders,

This morning (Sat.) I made my usual run of the lower St. Clair River. Most of the winter gulls have left the area, but many ducks remain. At the Sombra dock, there is a good variety (large no. of Mallards). One COOT, one AM. WIGEON (male), HOODED MERG., COMMON MERG., ~30 RING-NECKED, BUFFLEHEAD, GOLDENEYE, both SCAUP, REDHEAD and CANVASBACK. To top it off there were 20 MUTE SWANS (an unusually large no. for this spot). Further up the river off Terra Ind. (ICI) (end of Bickford Line), there were 2 male PINTAIL which I had not seen before. At the very end of Bickford Line there is a creek outlet where certain species hang out. The four male GADWALL were still there, as well as a GREAT BLUE HERON and a BELTED KINGFISHER. Another Mute Swan was in the area as well.

Directions to Sombra and St. Clair River: Find Hwy 40 which runs N/S between Sarnia and Wallaceburg. Turn west on Lambton Rd. 2 (Bentpath Line) and take to Sombra on the river. Sombra Bay is right in front of you. Fawn Island is just to the south of the village. The St. Clair Parkway (Rd. 33) follows the river along its length. Terra Ind. is a few km north.

 Blake A. Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net

Coot and Gadwall, St. Clair R. - Sun, 21 Jan 2001

Gord,

There are still lots of ducks on the St. Clair R. (Lambton Co.), but many of the gulls have moved on. Today (Sun.) I noted a single Coot off Terra Ind. north of Sombra. Also nearby at the end of Bickford Line (drainage ditch) were 5 Gadwall (1 female). Gadwall are quite uncommon during the winter here. At the same spot was a Great Blue Heron also. That's it for this week.

Blake  Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email:  boatmann@kent.net
Visit the Boat Doctor at:
www.kent.net/boatdr

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