Ontario Birders,
Cool temperatures and the north winds throughout most of last week kept migrants at bay, but a substantial wave of new migrants arrived following a substantial warm front on May 29. This pulse was comprised of numerous Empidonax flycatchers, around 20 species of warblers, some thrushes, and Philadelphia and Red-eyed vireos. Following this surge, migration quickly slowed back to a trickle of late warblers and Empidonax flycatchers. A number of highlights from the past week are summarized below. This will be the last update from the Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO) until migration monitoring resumes in mid-August. LPBO will wrap up its spring season on June 10 having banded over 15,000 birds of around 120 species with hundreds of thousands counted of around 300 species. For more information on the research, education, and training programs of LPBO visit us at www.birdscanada.org/lpbo and check out the 2012 LPBO Program Report <http://www.bsc-eoc.org/library/LPBOreport.pdf> . Updates of the birds in the area can be viewed through eBird on LPBO's main web-page www.birdscanada.org/lpbo . Help to contribute to sightings in the Long Point area by submitting your sightings to eBbird at www.ebird.ca or by sharing them with us at [email protected]. Your best source for information about the birds and birding sites around Long Point can be found in A Birding Guide to the Long Point Area by Ron Ridout available here <http://www.birdscanada.org/shopping/shop.jsp> . Highlights: Laughing Gull - A continuing definitive alternate bird was present at the Tip up until June 1 (LPBO). Whimbrel - A total of 285 birds were observed at the Tip, 125 at Pottohawk Point, and 50 on Bluff Bar on May 27 (APT). Another 60 were observed at the Tip on May 28 (LPBO). Red Knot - Two were observed on Bluff Bar on May 27 (APT). Common Nighthawk - Ten were observed flying over the Old Cut dyke on the evening on May 28 (JSB). Ash-throated Flycatcher - One was found along Lighthouse Crst., and in the Old Cut woodlot early morning on May 29 (SAM). The bird was observed by many observers on and off throughout the day, and was last observed late-morning May 30 (GEM). This is the Long Point areas second record for this species. The first was observed in the Long Point Provincial Park on May 19, 1996. Acadian Flycatcher - One was observed in the Old Cut woodlot on May 29, and the Tip banded a definitive alternate bird on the same day. Old Cut banded first alternate birds on May 29 and 30 (LPBO). Olive-sided Flycatcher - One was observed along Lighthouse Crst., and along the Old Cut channel in the Old Cut Woodlot from May 29 to 31(LPBO). Northern Parula - One male was heard singing in the Old Cut woodlot throughout May 26 (LPBO). Eastern Bluebird - Four adults have been observed frequently at the Tip. One adult male was banded on May 29(LPBO). Subsequently, 15 were observed on May 30th flying in from the lake and continuing west down the point. Mountain Bluebird - One female was observed on the opening fairway at the Turkey Point golf course on May 29 (AV). Pine Warbler - A singing male was in the Old Cut woodlot on May 27 (SAM). Connecticut Warbler - The first of the season's bird was an adult female was banded at the Tip on May 29 (LPBO). Another adult female was banded at the Tip on May 31 (LPBO). Prairie Warbler - One bird was heard singing into the Old Cut woodlot on May 26 (SAM). Ruffed Grouse - One bird was flushed from the Old Cut woodlot on May 28 (JCC, SDO). Clay-coloured Sparrow - One bird was observed at the junction of Highway 3 and Luscombe Drive on May 23 (MC). Observers : John Brett (JSB), Jannick Champage (JCC), Mike Cadman (MC), Simon Dostaler (SDO), Stu Mackenzie (SAM), Ted Maddeford (GEM), Adam Timpf (APT), Alan Vittery (AV). Directions to Long Point are available here - http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbovisit <http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbovisit&lang=EN> &lang=EN Good birding, Stu ____________________________________________________________________________ ___ Stuart A. Mackenzie LPBO Program Coordinator Long Point Bird Observatory - Bird Studies Canada/Etudes d'Oiseaux Canada PO Box 160, 115 Front Rd. Port Rowan, Ontario. N0E 1M0. (519)-586-3531 X 162(office), X 200 or X 201 (Old Cut Research Station), Fax:586-3532, Mobile:820-6040 <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] <http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint> www.birdscanada.org/lpbo <http://www.facebook.com/longpointbirdobservatory> www.facebook.com/lpbobs Support LPBO by sponsoring the Cygnus Crusaders in the Baillie Birdathon (click here <http://birdscanada.kintera.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=1048292 &lis=1&kntae1048292=4A58E57408AF4A669B09CEF1FB4ECB42&team=5403459> ). _______________________________________________ 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/
