The adult female Dark-eyed Junco that showed up in our yard on August 31
along with an unprecedented 8 species of warblers was the earliest ever
record for Elgin County. The previous record for Elgin County over the
last 125 years or so was September 15 and the previous early record for our
yard from 14 years of records was September 19. Arrival and departure
dates for this yard and feeder bird are well known and are very consistent
over the years, at least at our place. In 10 of the 14 years juncos showed
up between September 29 and October 3. If it weren't for various other
reports of early juncos to Ontbirds the junco's early arrival at our place
would have seemed an anomaly, a one-off. Obviously, though, there was an
unprecedented early and widespread flight of juncos.
While looking for an early fall migration date for Middlesex County I came
across a statement in Saunders and Dale's History and List of Birds of
Middlesex County, Ontario (1993) that will be of interest to readers from
southwestern Ontario. The Dark-eyed Junco nested in Middlesex County up
until about 1894!
Our feeders are in north central Elgin County about 20 km southeast of London.
Dave Martin and Linda Wladarski
Harrrietsville, ON
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
