| THUNDER BAY | Recent Birding Reports |
Brian Moore saw an adult Lesser Black-backed Gull at Mission Island today, May 5. It was out on a sandbar with Herring and Ring-billed Gulls. A scope would be necessary to get a good look at it even if you walk out onto the mudflats. This is a first Thunder Bay District record. Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada ngescott@shaw.ca (807) 345-7122
Today there was a major influx of migrants into southern Ontario, but they haven't reached here yet. New species are trickling in every day however, with two notable sightings: a male American Redstart at Nicol Island, Rossport April 26 (Dave Speer). The only other warbler that has been seen has been Yellow-rumped, and not many of them either. A GREAT EGRET was at the Manitouwadge golf course April 27 (fide Marlene Turner), the same location that had one in May 1986. other arrivals: April 18: Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Stanley (Susan Robinson) April 24: Greater Yellowlegs, Snow Goose, Hurkett (Al Harris) Vesper Sparrow, Minnitaki (Carolle Eady) April 25: Hermit Thrush, Mission Island (SR) Horned Lark, Mission Island (George Williams) April 26: Broad-winged Hawk, Mt. McKay (AH); Vermilion Bay (CE) Redhead, Chippewa (Brian Ratcliff, GW) Red-necked Grebes, Temple Bay, Eagle Lake (Robin Dawes) Common Snipe, Caldwell Lake, L. Superior (Sue Bryan) April 28: Cooper's Hawk, Mapleward Road (Allan Gilbert) April 29: Turkey Vulture, Pic River (Rodney Fuentes) Gadwall, Chipewa (GW) Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122 ngescott@shaw.ca
Hello there, Just wanted to share some recent sightings. I took a walk along the creek flowing behind Jenner Court apartments (just off Beverly and Balmoral) on Saturday, April 26 and compiled a nice little early spring bird list. Here are some the more interesting ones. White-throated Sparrow (just one) Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird (several) Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Song Sparrow (several) Dark-eyed Junco American Goldfinch (several) Looking forward to seeing more diversity in this little pocket over the spring and summer. Regards, Arlette Malcolm arlette.malcolm@mnr.gov.on.ca
April 11 Rusty blackbird, Starnes Lake Hwy 527 (Barry Atkinson) April 16 Blue-winged Teal, Chippewa (George Williams) April 19 Wood Duck, Minnitaki (Carolle Eady) April 21 N.Shoveler and Cowbird, Mission Island (GW) E. Phoebe and Belted Kingfisher, Pukaskwa Park (Keith Wade) April 22 Barn Swallow and Tree Swallow, Minnitaki (CE) April 23,24,25 large flocks of Canada Geese heading north (Ross Chessell, NE, GW) April 23 Tundra Swan (4), Northern Wood Preservers (GW) Yellow-rumped Warbler and Red-necked Grebe, Thunder Cape (John Woodcock) April 24 White-throated sparrow, Memory Road (Sharon Illingworth) Butterflies - several people have noted numbers of Compton'sTortoiseshells up Hwy 527 (the Armstrong Highway). A couple of Milbert's Tortoiseshells have also been seen. No Ruby-crowned Kinglets yet??
Ken Heald reported what he thought was a WHOOPING CRANE, a large white bird with black wing tips, in a roadside pond down Jarvis Bay Road, while running his dogs on his ATV yesterday. He flushed it and saw long trailing legs. Geoff Gooding went looking for it today, without success. A first year male Indigo Bunting has been at an Orient Bay feeder since April 1 (Bill Winterburn). It is too early for a migrant, maybe it wintered in the area, we have a previous record of one overwintering at Birch Beach in 1986-7. A Meadowlark was at Ignace April 19 (Roberta and Primo Stefenato). Young Ravens have hatched already in Carolle Eady's barn at Minnitaki. Ted Armstrong had White-winged Crossbills right in town on Rosewood Cres April 21, they are probably nesting in the large cone-laden white spruce trees in the neighbourhood. New spring migrants have been few in the last few days: April 13 Golden-crowned Kinglet, Minnitaki (CE) April 14 American White Pelican, Neebing Marsh April 15 Belted Kingfisher, Hwy 589 @ Lempiala's (Aarre Ertolahti) April 19 Blue-winged Teal, Neebing Marsh (David Welbourne) Winter Wren, several singing near Red Rock (NE,DW,Kimberly McNaughton, Ray Tyhuis) Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122
In the last few days birds have finally started arriving in numbers in NW Ontario. April 10 Sharp-shinned Hawk, Lakehead University (Jonathan Gorniak) April 12 Short-eared Owl, Mission Island (George Williams) April 13 Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail; Mission Island (GW) Great Blue Heron, Minnitaki (Carolle Eady) Ring-necked Duck, Kam River at Harstone (Sue Bryan) April 14 Song Sparrow, Whitefish Lake (John Woodcock) Am. Wigeon, Savannah Sparrow, Chippewa (GW, Al Baxter) Wood Duck, Lesser Scaup, Mission Island (GW) Sandhill Crane (3) Ignace (Gail Molloy) Cormorant (8) Kam River near James St (Brian Ratcliff) Northern Flicker, Fort William (Janet Clark) Eastern Phoebe, Alice Ave (Nick Escott) April 15 Fox Sparrow, Alice Ave (NE) Snow Goose, Mission Island (GW) Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122
It looks like I didn't miss much while I was away (in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico). No new arrivals since April 1??? Here are a few more from the end of March: March 23 Merlin, Walsh & Neebing St, Thunder Bay (Ted Armstrong) March 25 Merlin, Terrace Bay (Duncan McKay) Merlin, Schreiber (Bill Climie) March 26 Rough-legged Hawk, Minnitaki (Carolle Eady) American Tree Sparrows (2), Mission Island (Jody Allair) Red-winged Blackbirds, Chippewa (Janet Clark) Common Grackle, Fort William (Ted Armstrong) March 27 American Woodcock, Mapleward Rd near 4th Concession (David Welbourne) April 1 Turkey Vulture, Highway 61 S. of Sand Hill Road (Brian Ratcliff) A male ring-necked Pheasant has been seen on Lakeshore Drive by Spruce River Road since late March (John Antoniak, Harley Martin). It is probably an escapee from captivity. Peregrine Falcon pairs are back on several of their traditional nest cliffs in the Thunder Bay area (BR,Al Harris) Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122 ngescott@shaw.ca
March 19
Mourning Dove, James St Thunder Bay (Barry Atkinson)
March 23
Mourning Dove (2), Mapleward Road, Thunder Bay (Allan Gilbert)
March 24
American Robin, O'Connor Twp (Mike Zettek)
Fire Hill siding east of Nipigon (Dave Speer)
American Tree Sparrow, Silver Islet (Bill Climie)
March 25
American Robin, Rossport (DS)
American Kestrel, Murillo (MZ)
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Silver Islet (BC)
Dark-eyed Junco, Alice Ave Thunder Bay (Nick Escott)
March 26
Dark-eyed Junco, Memory Road (Sharon Illingworth)
another overwinterer:
at least 2 White-throated Sparrows wintered on Rita Street Thunder Bay (John
Boulter)
Thanks to everyone for sending their first sightings. I'll be watching
Brown Pelicans and Blue-crowned Motmots the next few days, back on April 7.
Nick Escott
650 Alice Avenue, RR #14
Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada
(807) 345-7122
Here is a summary of recent sightings reported to me: Overwinterers There may be two Hermit thrushes in Marathon, one is seen daily at two different feeders several blocks apart (Keith Wade). The male N. Cardinal in Marathon has been singing, suggesting that they may be preparing to nest there. The adult Gyrfalcon is still in Thunder Bay as of March 23, along the waterfront (Brian Moore,Nick Escott). Spring migrants March 14: Bald Eagles fist appeared back at a nest site on Como Lake near Atikokan (Rob van Wyck) March 16: Further supporting the huge influx of Crows on March 16, they were seen at Memory Road, near the US border (Sharon Illingworth) and Lappe (Aarre Ertolahti) for the first time that day. March 18: the local Merlin was back at Vickers Park (Janet Clark). March 21: 1 Killdeer at Minnitaki (Carolle Eady) March 22: The first Ring-billed Gulls were at Thunder Bay's Marina Park (Brian Moore) March 23: 2 N. Harriers in Slate river and a Peregrine Falcon on the waterfront (BM,NE). March 24: 2 Robins at Memory Road (SI), and 2 Grackles in Thunder Bay (Al Harris). A hooded Merganser in the Kam River (NE) Northern Shrikes and Snow Buntings are showing up in various places and calling/singing. Owls More N. Saw-whet Owls have been heard calling, from Kamview ski area, Sturgeon Bay (Jean Pendziwol), Everard Road near Red Rock (David Welbourne,NE), Bamooose Lake near Marathon (Pat Chadwick), and O'Connor Twp (Ross Chessell, Mike Zettek). They seem to be very common this spring. Great horned Owls have been heard at Kamview (JP) and O'Connor Twp (MZ), and Barred Owls at Sturgeon Bay road (BM,NE) and Pike Lake Road north of Thunder Bay (DW, Monique Davies). A pair of Great Gray Owls was seen on the Sturgeon Bay road (JP) and one was at Nolalu March 23 (Al Harris). All 3 northern owls (Great Gray, Boreal, Hawk Owl) remain very scarce this year, and no Snowy Owls have been reported. Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122
Brian Ratcliff saw a flock of about 75 Black Scoters at Thunder Cape on Sunday March16. They were diving in a lead of open water that had just opened up the day before. Also there were about 50 Common Mergansers and a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers. More Saw-whet Owls have been heard tooting: 3 near Schreiber March 15 (Dave Welbourne) and one in O'Connor Twp (Ross Chessell). An Eastern Towhee has been at Bruce Caldwell's feeder just north of Fort Frances for 2 wks (John vanden Broeck) Starlings are on the move - in O'Connor Twp (RC) and Minnitaki (Carolle Eady). Carolle also reports an "explosion" of Magpies there, and her first Crows were March 16. Bald Eagles at Thunder Cape, Rainy Lake, and Minnitaki on the weekend were probably spring migrants. Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122
the first signs of migration:
March 2: a Red-breasted Merganser and 80 common goldeneyes at the Lake Helen
outflow, Nipigon (Brian Moore)
March 15: a Snow Bunting at Squiers Lake and an American Crow at Shabaqua
(Al Harris); Am .Crows at O'Connor Twp (Ross Chessell)
Herring Gulls on downtown Thunder Bay rooftops (NGE)
March 16: Crows at Lappe (Aarre Ertolahti) and Hwy 11/17 east as far as
Dorion (NGE)
Owls calling:
Northern Saw -whet Owl (1) Silver Islet Feb 17 - 25 (Bill Climie)
(1) Bamoose Lake near Marathon March 1 (Pat
Chadwick)
(4) Dog River Rd March 14 (NGE)
Great Horned Owl (pr) Minnitaki early March (Carolle Eady)
Boreal Owl (1) Dog River Road March 14 (NGE)
birds overwintering:
Northern Cardinal: pairs still being reported from Marathon (Monique
Berube), and Hinton Ave Thunder Bay (fide Brian Ratcliff)
Hermit Thrush still at Marathon (MB)
Song Sparrow at Silver Islet (Teddy Duke, BC)
Common Grackles at Silver Islet (BC) and Nipigon (Paul Foulds)
A Hoary Redpoll was at a Minnitaki feeder mid-February (CE)
Bohemian Waxwings are building in numbers, large flocks reported from
Marathon, Nipigon and Thunder Bay
Nick Escott
650 Alice Avenue, RR #14
Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada
(807) 345-7122
Several birds of more southern affinity have been surviving here despite the colder than normal temperatures: Terrace Bay had 2 Gray Catbirds at a feeder on Elizabeth Street, one staying until mid-December and the other still present through mid-January, but apparently not seen since (fide Duncan Mackay). Marathon's Hermit thrush was still present as of Feb 10 (Keith Wade) and the EASTERN TOWHEE is stil healthy at George Walker's feeder in Stanley. The pair of Cardinals is still being seen on Blanchard Street in Thunder Bay, and another was reported further down McVicar Creek near River Street (fide Brian Ratcliff). The only Robin reported recently is one wintering in Terrace Bay (Duncan Mackay). Single Common Grackles have been seen in the County Fair area of Thunder Bay (Barry Atkinson) and Camp Bay, Silver Islet (Brian Moore) Finch update American Goldfinches are still common around Thunder Bay, also at Silver Islet (Bill Climie) and Rossport (Dave Speer). Purple Finches, normally absent in the winter, are common not only around Thunder Bay, but well to the north in the bush, at least 120 km up Hwy 527. Pine Grosbeaks and Common redpolls are common north of Thunder Bay, but few have come south to the city this winter. No Hoaries have been seen. White-winged Crossbills are fairly common throughout the area and singing males indicate that they are breeding here this year. Pine Siskins are uncommon but a few are present at city feeders, and well out in the bush up Hwy 527. Evening Grosbeaks remain scarce, at a few feeders. A mixed flock of Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings invaded Thunder Bay's Marina park about Feb 13 (Bert Harding). An immature Gyfalcon was seen in Thunder Bay Feb 15 (Brian Moore). This would be the second bird here this winter, the other is an adult. A flock of 200 Snow Buntings in Slate River Valley have been the only ones reported this winter so far (Geoff and Sheila Gooding). Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada (807) 345-7122
Two Wilson's Snipe are surviving the winter in Marathon, in a gully on the mill property with an open meandering stream running through it (Bill Climie). They were found on the Christmas Bird Count in mid-December, and are still there. We have never known this species to overwinter this far north. Bohemian Waxwing numbers are building in the Thunder Bay area. Large flocks have been seen on Hwy 527 (640+,NE, David Welbourne), Valhalla Inn (100+,Dave Elder, Jody Allair), Arthur Street (200+,JA), and Vickers Park (100+,Janet Clark, Geo Williams). Has anyone checked the mountain ash trees in the Thunder Bay Marina? A Snowy Owl was at the Terrace Bay mill 2 wks ago (fide Rob Stewart), and one was at the Marathon mill Dec 20 (fide BC). There are none in Thunder Bay this winter. White-winged Crossbills are fairly common in forested areas this winter, and singing males on territory are now being seen and heard. We don't often hear them singing. They are probably preparing to nest here this year, due to the good cone crop. This same cone crop is probably the reason Purple Finches are common here this winter, even out in the bush. The Mockingbird found on the Marathon CBC is still in town (Pat Chadwick). Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada ngescott@shaw.ca (807) 345-7122
A male Ring-necked Pheasant has been seen in a field near the ski hill on Loch Lomond Road in Thunder Bay. It is probably an escape from someone's aviary, but with the mild winters we have been having it is not inconceivable that they may be able to survive here in the wild. White-throated Sparrows are surviving the cold snap and are being seen at at least 3 feeders in Thunder Bay and a feeder in Marathon (Bill Climie). The Hermit Thrush is still present in Marathon (Keith Wade). More Winter waterfowl: Dan Bascello reports small flocks of Mallards and Black Ducks at the outflow from the the Thunder Bay hydro plant, also a pair of Canada Geese and up to 6 Com. Goldeneye. Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada ngescott@shaw.ca (807) 345-7122
Here are more waterfowl for January: - up to 18 Common Goldeneyes at the Finlayson Lake diversion north of Atikokan (Dave Elder) and Common Goldeneyes in the Kam River up the Silver Falls Rd in Kaministiquia (Brian Moore). Both these bodies of water stay open all winter. - several small groups of Long-tailed Duck in Peninsula Harbour, Marathon (Keith Wade) The male EASTERN TOWHEE is still present at Geo Walker's feeder in Stanley. A brown Sharp-shinned Hawk was seen in Thunder Bay's Vickers Park today, being harassed by crows (Janet Clark) Sharp-tailed Grouse have been seen in cutovers off Hwy 11 south of the Palisades (Rob Swainson) A flock of Ptarmigan has been reported from Armstrong, once at the airport and once on the highway (fide Geo Williams). Birders have been up on 2 occasions recently to look for them, without success. Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada ngescott@shaw.ca (807) 345-7122
The Eastern Towhee is still present at Geo Walker's yard on Barrie Drive in Stanley (Susan Robinson) Even though no White-throated Sparrows were tallied on the Thunder Bay Christmas Bird Count, several have been seen at city feeders since then, with 3 being seen at John Boulter's in Current River (482 Rita St) Jan 12 Lake Superior is still open along the north shore (at least it was on Sunday). there were 6 Bufflehead at Rossport Jan 11-12 (Dave Welbourne, Brian Moore, Nick Escott) and a Red-necked Grebe at Cavers Jan 12 (NE,BM), also many Common Goldeneye all along, and a pair of Common Mergansers in the Nipigon River. It is always a challenge to find any waterfowl in NW Ont in Jan and Feb. Has anyone else seen any? The Thunder Cape Bird Observatory need volunteers for the 2003 season. No banding experience required. The spring season is May 1 - June 10 and the fall Aug 1 - Oct 30. If you might be able to help, for even a couple of days, please let me know. Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada ngescott@shaw.ca (807) 345-7122
A Great Gray Owl has been seen for the last 3 days on Hwy 627 (the road to Heron Bay) (Keith Wade). There have been almost no sightings of this species this winter. A Barred Owl was seen on Sturgeon Bay Road (Jean Pendziwol) the same day as the Great Gray reported earlier. A surprising recent report is of a flock of Mourning Doves, at least 5 and maybe up to 14 in the Northwood area of Thunder Bay, which have been present all winter, and, in lower numbers, for the past 3 or 4 years! Some good birds from Dec are still being seen: - a Hermit Thrush in Marathon (KW) picking up bits of suet below a woodpecker feeder - a pair of Northern Cardinals along McVicar Creek behind Blanchard Street, Port Arthur (Brian J. Moore), and a male Cardinal at MacKenzie (Jody Allair) - a first winter Great Black-backed Gull at the John St dump (NGE) - the adult gray Gyrfalcon in Thunder Bay, usually along the waterfront - two Red-tailed Hawks together at Richardson's Elevator, Thunder Bay (Monique Davies; Susan Robinson) Fourteen House Finches were counted in Fort William near Vickers Park, our highest count ever (BJM) Nick Escott 650 Alice Avenue, RR #14 Thunder Bay Ontario P7B 5E5 Canada ngescott@shaw.ca (807) 345-7122
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