Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the week ending June 5, 2003.
High nw winds on June 2nd grounded several hundred shorebirds and brought in a few interesting species. In the evening of the 2nd, an adult PARASITIC JAEGER flew in from Lake Ontario. It circled the marsh once then flew off to the sw along the Lakeshore. It possibly could of been attracted by the large numbers Ring-billed gulls roosting out of the wind in the marsh. The large shorebird grounding on June 2 consisted of 10 species including: RED KNOT (1), RUDDY TURNSTONE (15), SANDERLING (4), WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER (2), DUNLIN (92), SEMI-PALMATED (769), and LEAST SANDPIPER (36). By the evening of June 3, only 54 birds of 5 species were in the marsh. By June 5, the shorebird numbers have dwindled down to 10 birds including 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE. Also seen this week was a BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (30th). A GREAT EGRET was in the marsh on the evening of the 2nd. It was foraging around the gravel island in the sw corner of the marsh. A few reports of BRANT last weekend. A flock of 63 were observed on the afternoon of the 31st flying north over the marsh. The next day (June 1) another flock of 60 birds were observed. Swan numbers remain the same with 54-72 MUTE SWANS, 1-3 TRUMPETER SWANS and 1 TUNDRA SWAN seen daily. Small numbers of REDHEAD, LESSER SCAUP, WOOD DUCK and GREEN-WINGED TEAL observed this week. The RUDDY DUCKS range between 5 and 9 birds. An adult BUFFLEHEAD was seen on June 2nd. There is an increasing bachelor flock of MALLARDS. Within this flock, BLACK DUCKS have now returned to the marsh, 2 birds (5th). Both COOPER'S ( McBWR) and SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS( Second marsh) were observed on the 4th. Late passerine migrants seen this week included BLACKPOLL, WILSON'S AND MAGNOLIA WARBLERS. Our thanks for this week's contributors: Brian Brasier, Glenn Coady, Durham Rare Bird Line, Tyler Hoar, Rayfield Pye, Jim Richards, and Wioletta Walancik 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.
