Greetings folks:
A beautiful September day that reached 20*C in the sun was enjoyed by
approximately 20 birders on one of the most overall productive Presqu'ile
OFO outings in recent memory.
The day began at 8am in the lighthouse area where bird activity was
almost overwhelmingly steady. Many of each of RED-EYED VIREO, NORTHERN
PARULA and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER were seen well in addition to ones or twos
of BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER, BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER,
CANADA WARBLER NASHVILLE WARBLER, PALM WARBLER, MAGNOLIA WARBLER, AMERICAN
REDSTART, PHILADELPHIA VIREO, WARBLING VIREO, RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD and
a rare autumn sighting of a GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER- the latter thanks to
some particularly sharp young eyes. At least 3 MERLINS put on typically
impressive aerial displays above the songbird-filled trees and an OSPREY
was seen circling high overhead. A PILEATED WOODPECKER feeding at close
range on grapes was much-enjoyed.
A late-morning walk to Owen Point yielded a CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and
an adult male AMERICAN REDSTART in a small group of warblers. The point
itself was not as productive shorebird-wise as it has been lately due, most
likely, to the presence of a hunting MERLIN. That said, 2 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, several LEAST SANDPIPERS, 7 BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS, 1 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS and a single SANDERLING were well seen. The Owen Point Trail
also produced rare through-the-scope looks at a Common Buckeye- incredibly,
only our third best butterfly of the day. The title of "best butterfly of
the day" goes to the third park record (the other two were simultaneous
earlier this year) of Variegated Fritillary. A big shout-out goes to Jerry
Ball for locating this cooperative southern rarity.
Hoping in vain to catch lightning in a bottle, we visited the site of
the infamous Thick-billed Kingbird near Calf Pasture; alas, the only pale
yellow-breasted flycatchers in the trees frequented by the kingbird were
members of a local family group of EASTERN PHOEBES. 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES
and a single VEERY were the only notable migrants at Calf
Pasture.
The Gilmour family's ever-productive backyard was next on the
schedule: There, the day's best views of RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER were gotten
and at least 4 Fiery Skippers- another southern specialty and our second
best butterfly of the day- offered close-range looks. An ambush by the
resident SHARP-SHINNED HAWK signalled our exit from the garden o' plenty.
The outing ended with a visit to the marsh and tour around the Marsh
Boardwalk trail. 1 COMMON GALLINULE, 3 AMERICAN WIGEON and several WOOD
DUCKS were seen at the Camp Office lookout along with 3 species of
migratory dragonfly- Common Green Darner, Black Saddlebags and Wandering
Glider. COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, MARSH WREN and SWAMP SPARROW were all heard
along the boardwalk, several WOOD DUCKS were seen from the second viewing
tower and a SOLITARY SANDPPER at close range was taking advantage of the
exposed shoreline in this remakably dry year.
Most importantly, I would like to extend a big thanks to Doug McRae for
serving as the unofficial assistant guide, Maureen Riggs for her in-field
assistance and the Gilmour family for once again inviting the group to
their beautiful backyard.
As a final note, my efforts today are dedicated to the memory of my
late father Don Shanahan, with whom I began co-leading this outing in
1998.
Bird species: 84
Warblers: 14
Shorebirds: 9
Butterfly species: 14
Best wishes to all and see you next year!
Ian Shanahan
Algonquin Park/Brighton, Ontario
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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/
