This is Jean Iron's third report by satellite phone on 1 August 2010 for the period 23 July to 1 August 2010 from Longridge Point on southern James Bay. Jean is a volunteer surveying Red Knots and other shorebirds under the direction of Mark Peck of the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.
On 31 July four more people arrived at camp and one there departed. Don Sutherland of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Mike McMurtry (OMNR), Doug McRae (ROM volunteer) and Ray Ford (writer) arrived and Christian Friis (Canadian Wildlife Service) left. Mark Peck, Lisa Pollock (Trent University/OMNR) and Jean Iron are staying until the survey ends about 15 August. Seven people are in camp. SHOREBIRD MIGRATION CHRONOLOGY: Most (not all) southbound shorebirds migrate in three waves: females first, males second, juveniles last. Females depart soon after the young hatch leaving the males to raise the young. The males depart about 2-3 weeks later when the juveniles have grown. Then juveniles migrate after the males. SHOREBIRD OBSERVATIONS About 7000 shorebirds are currently in the Longridge Point area. There are no Peregrine Falcons to disrupt their feeding. Best day for high counts was 29 July after a storm. For most species only the high count day is given below in checklist order. Black-bellied Plover: 21 molting adults on 29 July. American Golden-Plover: 2 adults on 25 July. Semipalmated Plover: 97 on 29 July. Killdeer: 26 on 29 July. Spotted Sandpiper: 9 on 31 July. Greater Yellowlegs: 209 (1/2 juveniles) on 29 July. Lesser Yellowlegs: 437 mostly juveniles on 28 July. Whimbrel: 51 on 23 July. Hudsonian Godwit: 392 molting adults on 29 July. Marbled Godwit: None. Ruddy Turnstone: 415 adults on 29 July. RED KNOT: The high count of 1143 molting adults was on 29 July. The extensive tidal flats of southern James Bay are an important stopover area for knots. 120 marked individuals have been observed with several birds seen over a period of 12-14 days indicating a long stay. Mark Peck and shorebird researcher Lisa Pollock are sampling the foods eaten by the knots. They noted that the knots are plump and in excellent condition. These knots will likely fly nonstop to South America. Migrating knots that fail to gain adequate weight suffer reduced survival. Sanderling: 20 molting adults on 25 July. Semipalmated Sandpiper: 4338 mostly adults on 31 July, first juveniles (a few) on 30th. WESTERN SANDPIPER: 2 on 29 July seen by Mark Peck. Least Sandpiper: 126 mainly juveniles on 31 July. White-rumped Sandpiper: 2450 molting adults on 31 July. A few are still in almost full but heavily worn alternate plumage. Pectoral Sandpiper: 520 adults (not molting) on 29 July. Dunlin: 34 adults still in full worn alternate plumage on 26 July. BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER: 1 on 25 July seen by Lisa Pollock. Short-billed Dowitcher: 2 juveniles on 24 July, 5 juveniles on 29th. Wilson's Snipe: 4 on 28 July. Wilson's Phalarope: 1 juvenile previously reported on 21 July, 1 adult (probable male with cinnamon on sides of neck) on 29th, 1 juvenile on 30th. A sparse population breeds at James Bay. Red-necked Phalarope: 1 molting adult on 29 July. SEA LEVEL RISE: Sea levels could rise one metre by 2100 and will continue rising. Ontario's low flat coastline of James Bay is extremely vulnerable. Rising sea levels will inundate or change vital shorebird habitats. OTHER SIGHTINGS Birds: Black Scoter, a few seen but not the big flocks of molting males seen last summer. Red-throated Loon. 92 American White Pelicans on 1 August. Yellow Rail, 6 ticking on 1 August. Osprey. Northern Harrier. Northern Goshawk on 1 August. Merlin. An adult Great Black-backed Gull is regular. Little Gull, 1 adult of 23 and 29 July was in wing molt. Bonaparte's Gull, 356 on 30 July with some adults in wing molt, first juveniles on 23 July. Bonaparte's and Little Gulls in wing molt suggest that some birds of these species undergo prebasic molt close to the breeding grounds. Arctic Terns seen daily including a pair feeding 3 young on 27 July. Common Tern, 2 on 31 July. Adult light morph Parasitic Jaeger on 29 July. Short-eared Owl observed doing a "food drop" to young in the grass. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on 1 August. Rusty Blackbird. Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos. Tennessee, Orange-crowned, Cape May, Bay-breasted, and Blackpoll Warblers. Le Conte's and Nelson's Sparrows still singing, Nelson's nest with 4 young. 1 Purple Finch. White-winged Crossbills daily. Common Redpolls regular. Mammals: Black Bears are seen daily including a female with two cubs and a female with one cub. No problem bears around camp. A dead young Beluga (White Whale) washed up on shore. It could be the calf of the adult that washed up earlier. Young Snowshoe Hare around camp. Short-tailed Weasel regular at camp. Striped Skunks 2. Butterflies: New since the last report are Atlantis Fritillary and American Lady. FOREST FIRES: There are currently very few forest fires burning in Ontario's boreal forest and Hudson Bay Lowlands. Most fires north of the commercial timber zone are allowed to burn unless they threaten lives/property and First Nation (Cree) communities. Southern James Bay map shows location of Longridge Point www.jeaniron.ca/2010/longridgemap.jpg Jean will call again in a week and I'll post another update. Ron Pittaway Minden, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
