Folks,
I spent the day in the greater Long Point area, including the marshes of the wildlife area, the Old Cut Banding Station Woods, and the Big Creek Valley. I will outline some of the species found. The TUNDRA SWANS were very scarce. I could only find 2, both immature. Normally this time of year they are just arriving in large numbers, but this year they have moved on north. My records see numbers peaking at Long Point during the third week of March. TREE SWALLOWS were abundant. I found about a dozen. March 18 is the earliest date for Ontario that I have seen this species in the last 45 years, beating my previous record of March 24 in 1985. The duck populations were large, but odd in composition. The commonest waterfowl was AMERICAN COOT, with tens of thousands in the Inner Bay. The REDHEAD population was very large, but I could not find any CANVASBACK. I found quite a few GREEN-WINGED TEAL, plus all the other dabblers that one would expect. Both species of SCAUP were present, but in lower numbers than most years. I found PIED-BILLED GREBE, but no other grebe species. The SANDHILL CRANE population grows over year. I had one group of 25, plus another group of 9, as well as singles and pairs. The BALD EAGLE nest had 2 adults attending. WINTER WREN was found in several locales, including one singing. In the Oldcut Banding Station Woods I found 3 FOX SPARROWS and 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. There was a male NORTHERN HARRIER near Brown's Pond. In the Big Creek Valley I found a pair of RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. The normally very large Blackbird flocks were much reduced, presumably having flown on. BROWN CREEPER and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET were abundant. EASTERN PHOEBE was common, found in breeding habitat and in migration habitat. Many birds were singing. On the Lake Erie beach I found an EASTERN MEADOWLARK. The abnormally warm temperatures were disconcerting to this observer. Having a temperature of 13 to 16 out on the point and 26 inland during mid March is very odd. Is this the new norm? Paul F. J. Eagles, Branchton, Ontario _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
