Obligatory late October "nor'easters" and consistent rain, but that did not deter hardy Long Point birders who managed to scrounge up a number of interesting birds. A break in the weather on October 30 resulted in some fantastic visible migration and chance to observe some lingering migrants.
This time of year waterfowl numbers are nothing short of impressive with nearly 100,000 waterfowl scattered between Big Creek National Wildlife Area to the west and the Tip to the east. Winter finches continue to be the bread and butter species with American Goldfinch and Pine Siskin consistently pushing through the region. Purple Finch numbers declined substantially over the past week, but Evening Grosbeaks have been increasingly regular. The river of blackbirds is also in full-force, but most birds appear to be settling down in the Big Creek National Wildlife Area, and not traditional locations on Long Point proper. This may be due to the regional control of Phragmites which appears to be a preference for roosting blackbirds. More study is needed. Numbers will start to decline regionally from this point forward. Visitors are always welcome at Long Point Bird Observatory. Daily birding hikes depart the Old Cut Research Station one hour after sunrise, and banding demonstrations occur all morning until November 15. Owl banding takes place each night (weather permitting) and begins one hour after sunset. LPBO's Old Cut Research Station is located at 15 Old Cut Blvd, Long Point. Follow @LongPointBirdOb on Twitter, on Facebook at fb.com/LPBO, or Instagram @longpointbirds for daily updates on banding and birding at Long Point. Contact me off-list if you'd like to receive updates from the LPBO Bird Alert Group (requires a mobile phone and WhatsApp) which is the front-line for birds of interest in the Long Point area, but accessible birds of provincial significance will also be posted to Ontbirds. Highlights: Brant - Four were observed at Turkey Point October 26 (SAM). Trumpeter Swan - Six were observed over Old Cut November 1 (JBF, JBL). Scoters - Numerous Black Scoter and Surf Scoter were observed at the Tip over this time period. A high count of 48 Black Scoter, and 290 White-winged Scoter were observed on the Outer Bay October 30 (SAM). Long-tailed Duck - A high count of 1,200 were observed on the Outer Bay October 30 (SAM). Ruddy Duck - A high count of 4,000 were observed on the lake near Breakwater October 28 (KGC, MAB). Horned Grebe - A high count of 36 observed at the Tip October 30 (SAM). Red-necked Grebe - 2 were observed on the Outer Bay October 30 (SAM). Eastern Whip-poor-will - One observed at the Tip October 29 (PCD). Virginia Rail - One was observed at Big Creek National Wildlife Area October 26 (BN). Sora - One was observed at Big Creek National Wildlife Area October 27 (SAM). Dunlin - A high count of 109 were at Turkey Point October 26 (SAM). Hudsonian Godwit - Four were observed along Highway 59 October 30 (RS). Parasitic Jaeger - One was observed at Turkey Point October 26 (SAM). Little Gull - Numerous observations from the Inner and Outer Bays (LPBO). Lesser Black-backed Gull - One was observed at the Tip and the Outer Bay October 30 (PCD, SAM). Common Loon - A high count of 250 near the Tip on October 30 (LPBO). Red-throated Loon - Observed daily at the Tip and occasionally at other locations this past week. High count of 20 from the Tip October 30 (SDS). Pacific Loon - Two were observed off the Tip October 30 (SAM, SDS,). American Bittern - Late individual observed at the Tip October 30 (SDS). Cattle Egret - Our obligatory November Cattle Egret was discovered at Dedrick Creek on the 1st Concession November 1 (SW), and was present November 2. Osprey - A late individual was observed at Old Cut October 30 (KGC). Northern Goshawk - One observed at the Tip October 26 (PCD). Red-shouldered Hawk - One observed at the Tip October 29 (PCD). Rough-legged Hawk - One observed at Old Cut October 30 (MLC). Short-eared Owl - One observed at the Tip October 29 (SDS). Northern Saw-whet Owl - The night of October 31 was productive with 24 banded at Old Cut. The night of November 2 was the best night of the period with 49 banded at Old Cut and 10 at the Tip (LPBO). Northern Shrike - One was observed at Old Cut October 27 and again October 30 (AVP). Sedge Wren - One was observed in the Turtle Dunes Campground of the Long Point Provincial Park October 30 (AE). Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - One was observed at Old Cut October 28 (SAM, NB). Evening Grosbeak - Numerous sightings throughout the period with a high of 16 at Old Cut November 2 (LPBO). Common Redpoll - Numerous observed in the area over the last week with one individual banded at the Tip October 29 (LPBO). White-winged Crossbill - Two were observed at Old Cut October 28 (SAM), and 1 and 2 November (JBF, JBL). Grasshopper Sparrow - One observed at the Tip October 30 to Nov 1 (PCD), and another in the Long Point Provincial Park November 2 (SAM). Le Conte`s Sparrow - One observed at the Tip October 30 (SAM). Orange-crowned Warbler - One banded at the Tip October 29 (LPBO), and observed regularly throughout the period. Blackpoll Warbler - There were a number of lingering individuals in the area. One was observed at Bird Studies Canada Headquarters (SAM, NB, PC), and another at the Provincial Park October 28 (DY). Bay-breasted Warbler - One was observed at the Turtle Dunes October 30 (AE). Observers: Nick Bayly (NB), Megan Buers (MAB), Emma Buck (ERB), Pilar Caicedo (PC), Kyle Cameron (KGC), Peter Denyer (PCD), Anonymous eBirder (AE), Brett Fried (JBF), Jesse Lewis (JBL), Stu Mackenzie (SAM), Brandon Norman (BN), Alice Palmer (AVP), Richard Skevington (RS), Sachi Snively (SDS), Denise Yates (DY), Long Point Bird Observatory Staff and volunteers (LPBO), Explore the <http://www.birdscanada.org/longpoint/index.jsp?targetpg=lpbt&lang=EN> Long Point Birding Trail. You can help contribute to sightings in the Long Point area by submitting your sightings to <http://www.ebird.ca/> eBird or by sharing them with us at <mailto:l...@birdscanada.org> l...@birdscanada.org. For more information on the research, education, and training programs of LPBO <http://www.bsc-eoc.org/longpoint/index.jsp?lang=EN> select this link and check out the <http://www.bsc-eoc.org/library/LPBOreport.pdf> 2017 LPBO Program Report. 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 at the LPBO Shoppe and BSC headquarters. Good birding, Stu _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
