Birdathon 2017
This has been a strange spring for emerging/migrating animals. The frogs started early. I heard the first one calling in March and American Toads were in full chorus the middle of April. Birds on the other hand are arriving late. For 10 days before my birdathon I scouted birds around Schomberg looking particularly for Warblers, and kept seeing the same three species (Black and White Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler). I thought that my birdathon day was going to be a bust but in the end I identified 61 species.
It started the same as usual … lying in bed at 4:45 am listening to the passionate American Robin singing away. Following a quick breakfast I went out to the yard with my coffee. All the usual suspects were hanging around including a White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal and Bluejay. Of note was a singing Northern Oriole and a Nashville Warbler.
I headed down to the Dufferin Marsh taking the trail along the north ridge. I had a great look at a Catbird and followed an elusive White-crowned Sparrow for a while. Overhead were 2 Trumpeter Swans, a Wood Duck and lots of Tree Swallows. At the marsh I was greeted by some old friends: Kingbird, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo and Belted Kingfisher. A Great Blue Heron flew over looking like some kind of prehistoric creature.
Now when you are doing a “big day”, the first 30 or so species of birds are easy to find. After that the work begins. I was still worried about Warblers but I went to my favourite spot on the south side of Roselena to see if any had come in overnight. It seemed very quiet at first and then I hit a hot spot. I identified Wilsons Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellow-throat and Redstart. That was very satisfying. At the end of Roselena a small flock of Barn Swallows were diving for insects in the little parkette, and a Pileated Woodpecker called from the forest. I walked along the north side trail and identified a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
My next stop was the pond over by the Trisan Centre. It was pretty quiet, but I saw the 2 Swans again. I visited the little storm pond to the south of the lookout and there a got a very close look at two Rough-winged Swallows who seemed oblivious to my presence. A Spotted Sandpiper called from the pond.
I got in the car and headed over to the Kettleby area. I always like to go there to catch some field birds. Sure enough I picked up Field Sparrow, Meadow Lark and Bobolink. Usually I can count on a Bluebird and a Savannah Sparrow in this location, but not this year. I did see a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a wild apple tree that was fully in bloom. It would have made a great picture.
Happy Valley forest was the next destination. I walked along the main trail and heard an Ovenbird and a Great Crested Flycatcher; but I also heard a Warbler high in the tree tops singing away. I wasn’t sure what it was but after some research my best guess was a Cerulean Warbler. These birds are rare but they do breed in Happy Valley. Unfortunately as I could not make a positive identification I could not include it on my list. Next year I will be prepared.
My final stop was Cold Creek Conservation Area. I was still looking for that Eastern Bluebird and I know they nest there. Sure enough after searching for about half an hour one pretty much landed at my feet. I sat down near the pond and watched a kettle of Red-tailed Hawks circling around and around.
I finished my day walking down Main Street Schomberg listening for Chimney Swifts and was not disappointed.
Every year I think of all the birds I could have identified if I had more time, had more energy, had more skill or went more places. The day following my birdathon 7 additional birds visited my back yard: Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Blackpoll Warbler and Hairy Woodpecker. Who could have known?
I have included a chronological list of the birds I identified:
This has been a strange spring for emerging/migrating animals. The frogs started early. I heard the first one calling in March and American Toads were in full chorus the middle of April. Birds on the other hand are arriving late. For 10 days before my birdathon I scouted birds around Schomberg looking particularly for Warblers, and kept seeing the same three species (Black and White Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler and Black-throated Green Warbler). I thought that my birdathon day was going to be a bust but in the end I identified 61 species.
It started the same as usual … lying in bed at 4:45 am listening to the passionate American Robin singing away. Following a quick breakfast I went out to the yard with my coffee. All the usual suspects were hanging around including a White-breasted Nuthatch, Black-capped Chickadees, American Goldfinch, Northern Cardinal and Bluejay. Of note was a singing Northern Oriole and a Nashville Warbler.
I headed down to the Dufferin Marsh taking the trail along the north ridge. I had a great look at a Catbird and followed an elusive White-crowned Sparrow for a while. Overhead were 2 Trumpeter Swans, a Wood Duck and lots of Tree Swallows. At the marsh I was greeted by some old friends: Kingbird, Yellow Warbler, Warbling Vireo and Belted Kingfisher. A Great Blue Heron flew over looking like some kind of prehistoric creature.
Now when you are doing a “big day”, the first 30 or so species of birds are easy to find. After that the work begins. I was still worried about Warblers but I went to my favourite spot on the south side of Roselena to see if any had come in overnight. It seemed very quiet at first and then I hit a hot spot. I identified Wilsons Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellow-throat and Redstart. That was very satisfying. At the end of Roselena a small flock of Barn Swallows were diving for insects in the little parkette, and a Pileated Woodpecker called from the forest. I walked along the north side trail and identified a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.
My next stop was the pond over by the Trisan Centre. It was pretty quiet, but I saw the 2 Swans again. I visited the little storm pond to the south of the lookout and there a got a very close look at two Rough-winged Swallows who seemed oblivious to my presence. A Spotted Sandpiper called from the pond.
I got in the car and headed over to the Kettleby area. I always like to go there to catch some field birds. Sure enough I picked up Field Sparrow, Meadow Lark and Bobolink. Usually I can count on a Bluebird and a Savannah Sparrow in this location, but not this year. I did see a Red-tailed Hawk perched in a wild apple tree that was fully in bloom. It would have made a great picture.
Happy Valley forest was the next destination. I walked along the main trail and heard an Ovenbird and a Great Crested Flycatcher; but I also heard a Warbler high in the tree tops singing away. I wasn’t sure what it was but after some research my best guess was a Cerulean Warbler. These birds are rare but they do breed in Happy Valley. Unfortunately as I could not make a positive identification I could not include it on my list. Next year I will be prepared.
My final stop was Cold Creek Conservation Area. I was still looking for that Eastern Bluebird and I know they nest there. Sure enough after searching for about half an hour one pretty much landed at my feet. I sat down near the pond and watched a kettle of Red-tailed Hawks circling around and around.
I finished my day walking down Main Street Schomberg listening for Chimney Swifts and was not disappointed.
Every year I think of all the birds I could have identified if I had more time, had more energy, had more skill or went more places. The day following my birdathon 7 additional birds visited my back yard: Red-eyed Vireo, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Blackpoll Warbler and Hairy Woodpecker. Who could have known?
I have included a chronological list of the birds I identified:
|
American Robin
Common Grackle Northern Oriole Mourning Dove White-breasted Nuthatch Northern Cardinal House Wren Black-capped Chickadee Canada Goose Nashville Warbler Red-winged Blackbird Blue Jay American Goldfinch Gray Catbird Brown-headed Cowbird Chipping Sparrow Song Sparrow Downy Woodpecker House Finch White-crowned Sparrow |
House Sparrow
Trumpeter Swan Mallard Rock Dove Wood Duck Tree Swallow Kingbird Yellow Warbler Warbling Vireo Belted Kingfisher European Starling Great Blue Heron Killdeer Ring-billed Gull Least Flycatcher Wilson’s Warbler Magnolia Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Chestnut-sided Warbler Turkey Vulture |
Common Flicker
Black-throated Green Warbler Common Crow Common Yellow-throat American Redstart Epidomax Flycatcher Barn Swallow Pileated Woodpecker Rose-breasted Grosbeak Red-bellied Woodpecker Rough-winged Swallow Spotted Sandpiper Field Sparrow Eastern Meadowlark Bobolink Red-tailed Hawk Ovenbird Great-crested Flycatcher Eastern Bluebird Chimney Swift. |
Dufferin Marsh Bird Walk
Here's what was spotted on our Annual Birdwalk which happened bright and early on May 28, 2017. They are listed in the order of observation.
Here's what was spotted on our Annual Birdwalk which happened bright and early on May 28, 2017. They are listed in the order of observation.
|
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird Warbling Vireo Black-capped Chickadee Common Crow Trumpeter Swan Ring-billed Gull Common Yellowthroat Grey Catbird American Robin Blue Jay Common Grackle Mourning Dove |
Great Blue Heron
House Wren Rose-breasted Grosbeak Yellow Warbler Song Sparrow Brown-headed Cowbird Killdeer Eastern Kingbird Tree Swallow Chipping Sparrow Belted Kingfisher Swamp Sparrow American Goldfinch |
Canada Goose
Barn Swallow Common Flicker Rock Dove Blackpoll Warbler White-breasted Nuthatch Northern Cardinal House Sparrow House Finch European Starling Chimney Swift Eastern Phoebe |
Dufferin Marsh Bird Walk
Here's what was spotted on our Annual Birdwalk which happened bright and early on May 29, 2016. They are listed in the order of observation. Those marked with an * denote the first time we have observed them at the marsh.
Here's what was spotted on our Annual Birdwalk which happened bright and early on May 29, 2016. They are listed in the order of observation. Those marked with an * denote the first time we have observed them at the marsh.
Great Canadian Birdathon 2016
Super Birder Mary Asselstine participated in this year's Great Canadian Birdathon organized by Bird Studies Canada. Here's her report:
On Monday May 16, early in the morning but later than I intended, I identified my first birdathon bird for 2016. Through my bedroom window I heard the dawn chorus of the American Robin. I do not understand these birds. There are the last to stop singing – sometimes as late as midnight – and the first to start - 4:30 am for example.
I would like to say I sprang into action, but I admit to making a cup of coffee and surveying the birds from my back deck before I really got going. There were all the usual suspects, including a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and an Oriole and I could hear some warblers beckoning me from the nearby wooded area.
Hopping the back fence, I was greeted by not one but three Chestnut-sided Warblers. I travelled along the trail on the top of the hill north of the Dufferin Marsh and identified some truly unexpected birds: White-crowned Sparrow, Palm Warbler and Sora. Tree Swallows, Kingbirds and Kingfisher were active in the Dufferin Marsh as well as the adorable little Yellow Warbler. I found a Spotted Sandpiper in the storm pond at the south end of the marsh.
From there I made my way over to the Roselena Trail. Every year I see and hear several Restarts on the south side of the trail loop and I was not disappointed. I am pretty sure they breed there. To my surprise I also saw a Pine Siskin in with a flock of American Gold Finches.
I checked out the viewing platform at the Trisan Centre hoping for some ducks or maybe a Caspian Tern. No luck – but I did see a Killdeer (actually a lot of Killdeer), Great Blue Heron, and Red-tailed Hawk.
I was sure to find Chimney Swifts on Main Street so I wandered down there but all was quiet. I got a little panicky when there were no Barn Swallows at the Rona so I check out the back and there they were.
I made a trip over to Kettleby as I needed a few field birds. I saw a Brown Thrasher, Bobolink, and Eastern Bluebirds. I stopped for a sandwich at the Italian Bakery – always a good reason to go to Kettleby.
It was getting late so I headed over to Cold Creek Conversation Area. I was hoping for some deep forest birds and was lucky to see a Cooper's Hawk. Besides that I identified a Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler and Rough-winged Swallow.
Then the rain came and I high-tailed it home. After dinner when the rain was just ending and the sun was starting to set I walked again down Main Street hoping for those elusive Chimney Swifts. There were no birds but I saw one of the most beautiful rainbows I have seen in years. That was a great way to end my birdathon for 2016.
In total I identified 57 species of birds. See below for the full list.
It is not too late to sponsor me and help support the Dufferin Marsh Nature Connection. Click here and type my name into the space provided.
Thanks again for your support.
Mary
Here's what Mary spotted in the order that they were observed.
Super Birder Mary Asselstine participated in this year's Great Canadian Birdathon organized by Bird Studies Canada. Here's her report:
On Monday May 16, early in the morning but later than I intended, I identified my first birdathon bird for 2016. Through my bedroom window I heard the dawn chorus of the American Robin. I do not understand these birds. There are the last to stop singing – sometimes as late as midnight – and the first to start - 4:30 am for example.
I would like to say I sprang into action, but I admit to making a cup of coffee and surveying the birds from my back deck before I really got going. There were all the usual suspects, including a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and an Oriole and I could hear some warblers beckoning me from the nearby wooded area.
Hopping the back fence, I was greeted by not one but three Chestnut-sided Warblers. I travelled along the trail on the top of the hill north of the Dufferin Marsh and identified some truly unexpected birds: White-crowned Sparrow, Palm Warbler and Sora. Tree Swallows, Kingbirds and Kingfisher were active in the Dufferin Marsh as well as the adorable little Yellow Warbler. I found a Spotted Sandpiper in the storm pond at the south end of the marsh.
From there I made my way over to the Roselena Trail. Every year I see and hear several Restarts on the south side of the trail loop and I was not disappointed. I am pretty sure they breed there. To my surprise I also saw a Pine Siskin in with a flock of American Gold Finches.
I checked out the viewing platform at the Trisan Centre hoping for some ducks or maybe a Caspian Tern. No luck – but I did see a Killdeer (actually a lot of Killdeer), Great Blue Heron, and Red-tailed Hawk.
I was sure to find Chimney Swifts on Main Street so I wandered down there but all was quiet. I got a little panicky when there were no Barn Swallows at the Rona so I check out the back and there they were.
I made a trip over to Kettleby as I needed a few field birds. I saw a Brown Thrasher, Bobolink, and Eastern Bluebirds. I stopped for a sandwich at the Italian Bakery – always a good reason to go to Kettleby.
It was getting late so I headed over to Cold Creek Conversation Area. I was hoping for some deep forest birds and was lucky to see a Cooper's Hawk. Besides that I identified a Black-throated Green Warbler, Nashville Warbler and Rough-winged Swallow.
Then the rain came and I high-tailed it home. After dinner when the rain was just ending and the sun was starting to set I walked again down Main Street hoping for those elusive Chimney Swifts. There were no birds but I saw one of the most beautiful rainbows I have seen in years. That was a great way to end my birdathon for 2016.
In total I identified 57 species of birds. See below for the full list.
It is not too late to sponsor me and help support the Dufferin Marsh Nature Connection. Click here and type my name into the space provided.
Thanks again for your support.
Mary
Here's what Mary spotted in the order that they were observed.
Here's what we spotted on our bird hike in support of the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 15, 2016.
16 American Gold Finch
2 House Finch
14 Black-capped Chickadee
12 Blue Jay
3 White-breasted Nuthatch
1 Red-tailed Hawk
1 Hairy Woodpecker
4 American Crow
3 Dark-eyed Junco
10 American Tree Sparrow
20 Cedar Waxwing
2 Northern Cardinal
