Five birders joined me as we scoured the Durham waterfront today for lingering and migrating birds.
The highlight was an adult Pacific Loon almost in complete alternate (breeding) plumage. Some white is coming in on face and neck, but the rest of head is solid gray. It was with 175+ Common Loons (in virtually every plumage imaginable), 1500 RB Mergansers and several WW Scoters and cormorants. It was originally found by Dan Kaczynski on Wednesday and has been seen intermittently in the same place at least for part of each day since. Tyler Hoar saw the bird today as well. It is at the foot of Simcoe Street in Oshawa near the channel markers but moves east and west from this spot periodically. Other birds today included 51 Turkey Vultures, 6-8 Northern Harriers, 2 Sharp-shinned, 1 Cooper’s and 2 Red-tailed Hawks + 2 Kestrels and a Merlin. A single Greater Yellowlegs was the only shorebird. Passerines were scarce but 101 American Pipits and several Rusty Blackbirds helped out. For those of you going on the OFO outing tomorrow, I will of course be looking for the loon, so bring your scope if you have one. Geoff Carpentier AVOCET NATURE SERVICES Contact me at: 905-852-2011 or [email protected] Visit my website: www.avocetnatureservices.com Specializing in Environmental & Natural History Surveys and Expedition & Personalized Guiding Services _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
