Upper Canada Migratory Bird Sanctuary
We have a very respectable average of 14 participants for our first two field trips of the fall season. 28 participants last week and one this week. I should resurrect my dissertation from several years ago on the benefits of being the leader and sole participant on a bird outing.
In all seriousness when one combines the distance to this particular destination with an extremely 'iffy" weather forecast it was not surprising that no participants made the trek to the far side of Cornwall. In fact the weather was probably worse than predicted. The raincoat was on and off more times than a Kardashian sisters' wedding ring.
Cloudy, intermittent showers (at times heavy), breezy and humid conditions were the order of the day. Temperatures peaked at about 23C. But since I was the designated idiot for the week, and I was already there, I decided to take a tour. For those familiar with the area I walked the bicycle trail running east from the UCMBS parking lot as far as Farran Park Campground, a one way distance of about three kilometers. I also walked the Maple Trail in the sanctuary itself. Unfortunately a combination of age/neglect and some very industrious beavers has caused the closure of several of the better trails in the sanctuary. A group called the "Friends of the Sanctuary" is trying to raise funds to restore some badly decaying boardwalks that are not usable.
In all seriousness when one combines the distance to this particular destination with an extremely 'iffy" weather forecast it was not surprising that no participants made the trek to the far side of Cornwall. In fact the weather was probably worse than predicted. The raincoat was on and off more times than a Kardashian sisters' wedding ring.
Cloudy, intermittent showers (at times heavy), breezy and humid conditions were the order of the day. Temperatures peaked at about 23C. But since I was the designated idiot for the week, and I was already there, I decided to take a tour. For those familiar with the area I walked the bicycle trail running east from the UCMBS parking lot as far as Farran Park Campground, a one way distance of about three kilometers. I also walked the Maple Trail in the sanctuary itself. Unfortunately a combination of age/neglect and some very industrious beavers has caused the closure of several of the better trails in the sanctuary. A group called the "Friends of the Sanctuary" is trying to raise funds to restore some badly decaying boardwalks that are not usable.
Highlights of the day included a large group of 600+ Red-winged Blackbirds at very close range in the cattails that kept rising up and settling in beautiful waves of sight and sound for several minutes. They seemed in no rush to leave their roost to go pillage the local corn fields. Two Bald Eagles were seen along the Long Sault Parkway to the east of the sanctuary. They are quite regular there now. One was chasing an Osprey. An immature Cooper's Hawk was being harassed by a group of crows when all it seemed to want to do was sit and dry out its wing and tail feathers. Pockets of passerines were few in number.
Four white-tailed deer, one snowshoe (varying) hare and a fair size garter snake were the non-avian highlights.
Here is my full list of 50 species which includes a few birds seen while driving the Long Sault Parkway. Most of the large groups of ducks were on the St Lawrence River near Farran park.
Here is my full list of 50 species which includes a few birds seen while driving the Long Sault Parkway. Most of the large groups of ducks were on the St Lawrence River near Farran park.
Thanks to all who came out in spirit,- Wayne
Canada Goose - 100, Wood Duck - 4, Gadwall - 4, American Wigeon - 4, American Black Duck - 2, Mallard - 80, Blue-winged Teal - 40, Green-winged Teal - 70, Wild Turkey - 7, Double-crested Cormorant - 20, Great Blue Heron - 6, Great Egret - 10, Osprey - 3, Bald Eagle - 2, Cooper's hawk - 1, Red-shouldered Hawk - 1, Killdeer - 2, Greater Yellowlegs - 14, Ring-billed Gull - 30, Herring Gull - 1, Great Black-backed Gull - 2, Caspian Tern - 2, Belted Kingfisher - 2, Downy Woodpecker - 3, Hairy Woodpecker - 1, Northern Flicker - 6, Eastern Wood-pewee - 3 ( 1seen, two heard), Eastern Phoebe - 1, Red-eyed Vireo - 4, Blue Jay - 15, American Crow - 35, Black-capped Chickadee - 20, Red-breasted Nuthatch - 3, White-breasted - 6, Brown Creeper - 2 (1 seen, one heard), American Robin - 8, Gray Catbird - 5, Cedar Waxwing 6, Yellow Warbler - 2, Magnolia Warbler - 3, Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1, Black-throated Green Warbler - 4, Common Yellowthroat - 5, Wilson's Warbler - 2, Song Sparrow - 8, Swamp Sparrow - 3, Red-winged Blackbird - 600+, Common Grackle - 15, Baltimore Oriole - 1 (heard), American Goldfinch - 6
Bernache du Canada - 100, Canard branchu - 4, Canard chipeau - 4, Canard d'Amérique - 4, Canard noir - 2, Canard colvert - 80, Sarcelle à ailes bleues - 40, Sarcelle d'hiver - 70, Dindon sauvage - 7, Cormoran à aigrettes - 20, Grand héron - 6, Grande Aigrette - 10, Balbuzard pêcheur- 3, Pygargue à tête blanche - 2, épervier de Cooper - 1, Buse à épaulettes - 1, Pluvier kildir - 2, Grand Chevalier - 14, Goéland à bec cerclé - 30, Goéland argenté - 1, Goéland marin - 2, Sterne caspienne - 2, Martin-pêcheur - 2, Pic mineur - 3, Pic chevelu - 1, Pic flamboyant - 6, Piou de l'Est - 3 (1 vu, deux entendu), Moucherelle phébi- 1, Viréo aux yeux rouges - 4, Geai bleu - 15, Corneille d'Amérique - 35, Mésange à tête noire - 20, Sittelle à poitrine rousse - 3, Sittelle à poitrine blanche - 6, Grimpereau brun - 2 (1 vu, on entendait), Merle d'Amérique - 8, Moqueur chat - 5, Jaseur d'Amérique -6, Paruline jaune - 2, Paruline à tête cendrée- 3, Paruline à croupion jaune - 1, Paruline à gorge noire - 4, Paruline masquée - 5, Paruline à calotte noire - 2, Bruant chanteur - 8, Bruant des marais - 3, Carouge à épaulettes - plus de 600, Quiscale bronzé - 15, Oriole de Baltimore - 1 (entendu), Chardonneret jaune - 6
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