Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the week ending May 29 2003
Oshawa Second Marsh: On Sunday evening (May 25) an ARCTIC TERN was seen by 4 observers. It was sitting on a log in the west side of the marsh directly across from the east viewing platform.It left the marsh towards the southwest at 7:26pm. COMMON and CASPIAN TERNS numbers are building in the marsh. Both species have been observed over the last week performing courtship flights. BLACK TERNS (1-2) have become infrequent visitors to the marsh this week. On May 25 there were 4 LITTLE GULLS (1 adult and 3 immature) and a dozen immature BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Both species also now making sporadic appearances at the marsh. A lone immature LITTLE GULL was observed on May 29. With all the rain this past week most visible mud flats from last weekend have been covered with a few inches of water. Shorebird numbers are changing daily. Thursday evening (29th) there were 94 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 113 DUNLIN, 33 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS. Over the past weekend 'till May 25 (evening) there were small flocks of WHIMBREL(13-36 birds) resting in the marsh. Saturday evening (24th) 155 WHIMBREL were observed resting in the marsh. Other species of shorebirds observed this week include SANDERLING, SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, STILT SANDPIPER, SOLITARY SANDPIPER, and WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER. Swan numbers still remain high with 78 MUTE SWANS, 1 TUNDRA SWAN and 3 TRUMPETER SWANS ( R39 and two unbanded birds) in the marsh on May 29th. GREATER and LESSER SCAUP continue to loiter either in the southern part of the marsh or just south in Lake Ontario. REDHEAD, RUDDY DUCK and GREEN-WINGED TEAL have been seen in small numbers this past week. McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve: The Cool Hollow area continues to attract warblers including ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S, BAY-BREASTED, TENNESSEE, BLACKPOLLS and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLERS. 2 CLAY-COLOURED SPARROWS were singing early in the week. The flowering shrubs along the south side of the GM office parking lots are still attracting numerous RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS. Several ORCHARD ORIOLES, WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and GRAY CATBIRDS have now set up territories throughout the reserve. Darlington Provincial Park: A lone BRANT was seen off the beach on May 23. Please send sighting reports to the attention of Tyler Hoar, (e-mail) [EMAIL PROTECTED] no later than Thursday morning each week. For a trail map of Second Marsh visit www.secondmarsh.com There is a link on that site that will take you to a trail map for McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. Directions Exit from the 401 at the Harmony Rd. Exit (419) in Oshawa. Go south on Farewell St. to Colonel Sam Drive. Go east on Colonel Sam Drive to the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. The east platform is located here. To see the Lake Ontario waterbirds proceed along the path from the parking lot south to the lakeshore. "Tyler Hoar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
