Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the OCTOBER 13, - 30 2003, period
COMMON LOONS and DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS can be seen foraging in Lake Ontario in small numbers. Small numbers of GREAT BLUE HERONS and immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS still are utilizing the 2nd Marsh. AMERICAN COOT numbers continue to increase with 42 present on the 28th. RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS have now increased greatly with several hundred birds seen daily feeding in the Lake. Winter waterfowl (LONG-TAILED DUCK, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, and BUFFLEHEAD) have returned to Lake Ontario in small but increasing numbers. On the strong northern winds on the 23rd several flocks of Canada Geese and 2 flocks of BRANT were seen heading south high over the marsh. 2 SNOW GEESE (1 white, 1 blue) have joined the ever increasing flock of CANADA GEESE roosting in the 2nd Marsh. The goose flocks forage in fields east of the marsh, and return in mid-late afternoon usually. Between 400 and 800 ducks are still in the Second Marsh daily. The primary species remain AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, MALLARD, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. Small numbers of LESSER SCAUP, BUFFLEHEAD, and HOODED MERGANSERS can be seen daily. Solitary GREATER SCAUP, WOOD DUCK, BLUE-WINGED TEAL, and RUDDY DUCK have also been seen during the period. A strong flight of raptors on the 22nd and 23rd were observed. The highlight was a dark phase GYRFALCON flying westward over Lake Ontario off the Second Marsh on the 23rd. 11 species of raptors seen over the two days including PEREGRINE FALCON, NORTHERN GOSHAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and ROUGH LEGGED HAWK (both light and dark morphs). Shorebirds are now down to usually less then a dozen birds. The most abundant being GREATER YELLOWLEGS and DUNLIN. Other species seen include LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPER and SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was reported from the 2nd Marsh area Oct 18. A EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH was observed in the SE corner of the Oshawa Water Treatment Plant adjacent to the Waterfront Trail, Oct 24. Also seen in that area was PINE SISKIN, and 8 species of sparrows including FOX SPARROWS. Large numbers of blackbirds are roosting each evening in the cattails on the eastern side of the Second Marsh. Among them are a few RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. On Oct 17, a solitary TREE SWALLOW was seen over the 2nd Marsh. A late WILSON'S WARBLER was seen on the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve Oct 30. EASTERN BLUEBIRD, a rare/uncommon visitor to the Second Marsh area showed up on the Reserve Oct 22 and there was one seen west of the 2nd Marsh, Oct 24. AMERICAN TREE SPARROWS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, PURPLE FINCHES and SNOW BUNTINGS are now being seen almost daily in the area. The NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD numbers in the area have risen to 6 birds (Oct 18th), and can be readily seen in the shrub gardens adjacent to the GM Headquarters parking lots Other species seen in the area include EASTERN MEADOWLARK, EASTERN PHOEBE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, WINTER WREN, MARSH WREN, VEERY and HERMIT THRUSH. Our thanks to contributors: Michael Biro, Brian Brasier, Durham Rare Bird Line, Tyler Hoar, Jim Richards, and Wioletta Walancik for their sightings reports. Please send sightings reports to the attention of Tyler Hoar, (e-mail) [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] no later than Thursday morning each week. For a trail map of Second Marsh visit www.secondmarsh.com (http://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.
