Tomatoes in Light

 

This past weekend was the OFO Conference at Point Pelee... While I was not keen on the conference itself, and I'm sometimes dismayed at the decline of actual "field ornithology" within the org... I cannot deny that it facilitated an amazing birding experience. A chance to share greenhouse birding with some of Ontario's finest!

Long story short - in my recent night birding explorations, I've discovered some spots where the intense growing lights of local greenhouses shine up into the night sky. Check out this CBC news article for some context. It's pretty much a giant flashlight pointing up - and it's enough to very clearly see the birds flying overhead with your eyes / optics - at night. 

As always, I was a bit worried about crowds - or people who don't know how to park (and upsetting the locals) - trespassing - or appreciate potential disturbance to birds etc. etc.... but my concerns are always overridden with the chance to bird with (and "talk shop") with the newer generations of ON birders. It was really fun. 

(American Golden-Plover)

Thankfully it was a huge migration night, so there were birds to see. Birds were higher than some of my previous visits, so many warblers & sparrows went unidentified to species - but there were still some striking observations (Least Bitterns & Cuckoo's really stand out, for example). Ruddy Ducks were interesting too. Here's the tally (which isn't an exact tally - I didn't keep track & just guessed): 

Mallard  3
American Black Duck  1
Redhead  1
Ruddy Duck  5
duck sp.  30
Yellow-billed Cuckoo  3     
Virginia Rail  1
Sora  2
American Golden-Plover  1
American Woodcock  1
Wilson's Snipe  3
shorebird sp.  1
Bonaparte's Gull  3
Ring-billed Gull  1
Pied-billed Grebe  1
American Bittern  1
Least Bittern  2     
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker  1
Northern Flicker  2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  1
Gray-cheeked Thrush  3
Swainson's Thrush  1
Hermit Thrush  3
White-throated Sparrow  10
Savannah Sparrow  10
Song Sparrow  1
new world sparrow sp.  15
Bay-breasted/Blackpoll Warbler  10
Yellow-rumped Warbler  3
new world warbler sp.  25     
passerine sp.  30

Ruddies!

Probably pretty low estimates on the "species" - and I'm probably forgetting some birds... 

The next night was much slower for migration, and the lights actually turned off early - leaving us in the dark! But it was once again great to catch up (and meet) some more super-talented youth. So much to do and learn with this crazy hobby!

Yellow-billed Cuckoo - strictly with the light of the greenhouse (i.e., no supplemental light)