DUFFERIN MARSH NATURE CONNECTION
  • About Us
    • Membership
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Contact
    • Meeting Agendas and Minutes
    • Archived Events
  • Nature Notes
    • Cool Bird Stuff
    • Feeders & Food
    • Muskrats
    • Frog Monitoring >
      • Frog Species
    • Turtles
    • Chimney Swifts
    • Ticks
  • Events
  • Links
  • Activities
    • Newsletter

   

Data Collected

Dufferin Marsh Bird Walk 2018
It was a beautiful morning for birding (Sunday May 27) so a small group of us set off to discover what birds were hanging out at the Dufferin Marsh and at Hughie’s Cathedral.  Here is our list:
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Common Grackle
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow Warbler
Warbling Vireo
American Robin
Tree Swallow
Mourning Dove
Gray Catbird
American Goldfinch

Northern Cardinal
Belted Kingfisher
Red-winged Blackbird
Chimney Swift
Baltimore Oriole
Kingbird
Canada Goose
Swamp Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Song Sparrow

Red-eyed Vireo
White-breasted Nuthatch
Great-crested Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-pewee
House Wren
Eastern Phoebe
House Sparrow
European Starling
Northern Flicker
Chipping Sparrow
Great Backyard Bird Count
Here's what was spotted on our bird hike in support of the Great Backyard Bird Count on February 15, 2018:
Northern Cardinal    3
American Crow    10
Black-capped Chickadee    28
House Sparrow    3
American Goldfinch    74
European Starling    15
Dark-eyed Junco    2
American Tree Sparrow    3Canada Goose    2
White-breasted Nuthatch    5
Downy Woodpecker    4
Mourning Dove    19
House Finch    2
Hairy Woodpecker    2
Blue Jay    2
Gull (sp.)    1
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:
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.
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.
Killdeer
Baltimore Oriole
Red-wing Blackbird
Warbling Vireo
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Brown-headed Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow
Mourning Dove
Tree Swallow
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Canada Goose
Common Grackle
Black-capped Chickadee
Willow Flycatcher*
White-breasted Nuthatch
Great Blue Heron
House Sparrow
Hooded Merganser
House Wren
American Goldfinch
Hairy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
European Starling
Virginia Rail *
Barn Swallow
Mallard
Sora
Black-and-white Warbler
Red-eyed Vireo
Downy Woodpecker
Wood Thrush
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.
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Canada Goose
Common Grackle
Hairy Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch
Chipping Sparrow
Warbling Vireo
Ring-billed Gull
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern Cardinal
Chestnut-sided Warbler


Mallard
Gray Catbird
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow Warbler
Palm Warbler
House Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Rock Pigeon
Eastern Phoebe
House Wren
Belted King Fisher
Sora
Eastern Kingbird
Spotted Sandpiper
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
White-breasted Nuthatch
Red-breasted Nuthatch
American Redstart
Field Sparrow
Pine Siskin
American Crow
Common Yellowthroat
Killdeer
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
Barn Swallow
Turkey Vulture
Bobolink
Great-crested Flycatcher
Brown Thrasher
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Flicker
Cooper's Hawk
Black-throated Green Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Northern Rough-winged Swallow


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
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • About Us
    • Membership
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Contact
    • Meeting Agendas and Minutes
    • Archived Events
  • Nature Notes
    • Cool Bird Stuff
    • Feeders & Food
    • Muskrats
    • Frog Monitoring >
      • Frog Species
    • Turtles
    • Chimney Swifts
    • Ticks
  • Events
  • Links
  • Activities
    • Newsletter