Super Fantastic Condo Lakewatch! - 1 November 2014

I watched steady for the first 4+ hours of daylight, then pretty steady after that! No mega's, but it was pretty awesome otherwise. Ebird - show me some totals!

---

Snow Goose 6
Brant 81
Canada Goose 75
American Wigeon 3
American Black Duck 46
Mallard 241
Northern Pintail 14
Redhead 15
Greater Scaup 400
Lesser Scaup 18
Surf Scoter 2000
White-winged Scoter 2000
Black Scoter 150
Long-tailed Duck 10000
Bufflehead 20
Common Goldeneye 200
Hooded Merganser 3
Common Merganser 2
Red-breasted Merganser 300
Red-throated Loon 79
Common Loon 161
Horned Grebe 3
Red-necked Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 22
Northern Harrier 3
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Rough-legged Hawk 2
Black-bellied Plover 1
Sanderling 6
shorebird sp. 3
Parasitic Jaeger 1
Black-legged Kittiwake 1 adult type
Bonaparte's Gull 5
Thayer's Gull 1  juv
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 2nd ba
Great Black-backed Gull 40
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 2 albino
Peregrine Falcon 2 one age unknown, one juvenile male

3 new species for my condo list (Brant, Snow Goose, Sanderling) and lots of goodies. 

Check out my actual ebird checklist for more notes/details:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S20404563

-----

I haven't been posting many photos of late (on here), but decided to keep the camera at the ready today - just in case a mega did pass. Instead, I have a few photos I can share:

Brant!

Omega Brant Flock!

Peregrine!

Red-throated Loon!

Five Red-throated Loons! The loon flight (especially the Commons) was intense! 

Another highlight today - a Leucistic female Greater Scaup! First spotted her in flight, then she landed and was in view for a few hours this afternoon. 

---

Finally, the juvenile Thayer's Gull from today: 

Wish I had photos of the Kittiwake too, but I don't!

-----

Hamilton fall bird count is tomorrow! Sun and north winds should be superb for migration. Can't wait to see what gets found! 

Condo Birding Update

Oct 26th -

2 Tundra Swans
1 Common Goldeneye

(both my FoF)



Oct 27th - some duck guesses on calmer water


Greater Scaup 200
Surf Scoter 1000
White-winged Scoter 7500
Black Scoter 60
Long-tailed Duck 5000
Bufflehead 2 - FoF
Common Goldeneye 4
Red-breasted Merganser 150



Oct 28th - no Cave Swallows on SW winds....

Canada Goose 25
Bufflehead 15
Red-breasted Merganser 300
Common Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant 40
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Bonaparte's Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 5
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) X - first albino bird in a while
Mourning Dove X
Peregrine Falcon 1 - adult male
falcon sp. 1
Blue Jay 5
American Crow 1
Horned Lark 2
American Robin 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 40
Pine Warbler 1    -   flyby at height - photo'd
Northern Cardinal 2
Red-winged Blackbird 1
House Finch 12
Pine Siskin 30
American Goldfinch 50
House Sparrow X

--- Many of these things were moving along the lake on SW winds. Couldn't turn up any real rarities though!

Oct 31st - home late from work (after 5pm) - but still goodies out there to be seen!

American Black Duck 3
Mallard 2
Green-winged Teal 20
Greater Scaup 400
Surf Scoter 1200
White-winged Scoter 2500
Black Scoter 150
Long-tailed Duck 2500
Common Goldeneye 50
Red-breasted Merganser 20
Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 - juvie type garb



--------

It's neat watching the duck numbers go up... Thought i'd post this lot and get it out of the way, before we get a serious blast of NE winds tomorrow morning (which will hopefully be worthy of its own post!)

Should we be preparing for an INVASION!?

Is this it? Is this the year? I feel like "northern" birds have been mounting various incursions southwards over the past several years... A few Boreal Chickadees, record-setting flights of Great Gray/Snowy Owls, White-winged Crossbills... Bohemian Waxwings are becoming an annual thing... And we're on the path again this year...


Black-backed Woodpeckers in Ottawa
Boreal Chickadees on the move early (per ontbirds)
Gray Jay in London (per ebird)
Evening Grosbeaks are rolling
Pine Siskins are invading
Purple Finches are leaving
White-winged Crossbills and Common Redpolls are making eradic movements southwards
Pine Grosbeak recently (WPBO)
Snowy Owls (may?) be moving early
Reports of Great Gray (Sudbury) and Northern Hawk Owls (WPBO) on the move south already...

Are there any northern goodies that AREN'T showing some potential for a southwards movement this year?

I'm not really expecting anything "record setting" at this point. Heck, it's merely a guess... I just have that gut feeling that things may be prepping for something exciting... My hope is that some of the true boreal goodies will move far enough south to match some historical accounts of many years ago...

Woodland Cemetery in Hamilton may be a great place to keep tabs on something like this (for me at least) - as it would be phenomenal to see a small group of Boreal Chickadees, or a Black-backed Woodpecker - go flying overhead some point this November.

Do you have a favourite spot for watching diurnal passerine migration? I know the spots in Hamilton, but am not really that familiar elsewhere. The Hamilton Fall Bird Count is this Sunday - so that could give a good idea of what is around.

(unlikely this weekend, to say the least)

Not only are the birds moving, but we have some serious cold weather on the way as well! Check out these temp forecast maps:

That's COLD! 

Longer range models keep hinting at this type of setup returning in the next 7-12 days... Another model run (which is just a guess, but these are how weather forecasters try and predict what may happen in the longer run) - 

I know that our northern birds are more than willing to stay north and stick out the cold, but IF they actually are getting ready to do a bit of a movement, weather like this will enable them to make longer flights (into southern Canada or NE USA) where birders will be more than happy to welcome them...

Only time will tell! In the shorter term, strong NE winds in the forecast for Saturday morning as this blast arrives. It is a similar to a previous setup several days ago, where I was hoping for Kittiwakes and Gannets - and saw NOTHING..

But hey - I'll still be looking. It only takes one bird!

That partial solar eclipse

From a few days ago... Had to be one of the clearest days of the year, so it was tough to photograph...

Black spots near the middle are the monstrosity known as AR 2192... Fairly happy with the result! Although it is still a constant struggle to re-size large files on my new laptop...

Death at Van Wagner's Beach - 25 Oct

Did a long romantic walk with my ladyfriend along Van Wagner's Beach - looking for dead things...

The haul:

3 Long-tailed Duck
3 White-winged Scoter
4 Double-crested Cormorants
3 Ring-billed Gulls
1 American Woodcock
1 Brown Creeper
1 Sparrow Sp. (tail only)

Some feathers included a Dark-eyed Junco and a juvenile PEREGRINE FALCON (primary)...

We also checked the Burdock along the trail and pulled out 2 Golden-crowned Kinglets and 1 small bird sp (mainly a skeleton, but still stuck). Sad to see them go this way...

Birds weren't the only thing dying. 1 Raccoon (beach) and 1 Red Bat (Burdock) also joined the fun. Was pretty surprised with the bat.

....

Living bird highlights were a Greater Yellowlegs and 2 adult Peregrine Falcons (near Gray's Rd).


________________________



Low to Moderate Cave Swallow watch in effect for Tuesday morning in Hamilton -

I think CASW need multiple weather systems over multiple weeks to bring them to our area... The weather for Tuesday is a "classic" day to see them in Hamilton (early morning, south shore of Lake Ontario) - but there is a BIG question mark - are there any close enough to take advantage of the weather??? 

- After multiple years of watching, I've also learned that these things seem to fly sighting inland. Two years ago at Fifty Pt. C.A. - we had larger numbers inland, where we had a great vantage point looking east. I'll probably be looking from my place, trying to see if I can get one for my condo list!

________________________



Can you believe there was an Arcitc Loon was in Ohio a few days ago? -


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10205143942861616&set=p.10205143942861616&type=1&theater


________________________

Goliath sunspot 2192 is slowly leaving us. It has spit out FIVE X-class solar flares during this rotation, but no CME's! Still really cool though

Well that was a dud

Condo birding - watching that big low spin off the east coast... Terrible!

I watched for 3-ish hours on Wednesday before I was too bored to continue:

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 22, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
20 species

Canada Goose 50
Wood Duck 2
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 20
Northern Pintail 5
Greater Scaup X
Surf Scoter X
White-winged Scoter X
Black Scoter X
Common Goldeneye 1
Common Merganser 1
Red-throated Loon 8
Common Loon 35
Horned Grebe 5
Red-necked Grebe 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 3
Bonaparte's Gull 5
Great Black-backed Gull X
Pine Siskin 25

I decided to give it another go on Thursday, but only managed an hour before boredom struck again and I gave up:

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 23, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
8 species

Gadwall 1
Mallard 5
Common Loon 8
Red-necked Grebe 1
Northern Flicker 2
Merlin 1
Peregrine Falcon 1
Pine Siskin 9

The main highlight came with the falcons - through my binoculars I could see a Herring Gull and another bird swooping down towards the water, as if attacking something. I looked in my scope, and saw the Peregrine going full bore after the Merlin - looking like it had every intention of trying to catch it and eat it... The chase broke off when the Merlin was able to get some height on the Peregrine, and looked to be running for its life back to shore...

Not really sure what exactly unfolded there (was it the Peregrine and the HERG attacking the Merlin on the water? Or was the Merlin trying to catch something on the water, and the Peregrine then went for the Merlin???) but it was pretty cool to see. Just wish I saw it all!

=============

Too bad the weather was pretty darn dull here in the HSA - but there is always the sun to be excited about. There has been an exceptionally large sunspot in view the past several days.... Hasn't really done anything all that crazy, but it looks cool!

Thanks, Solarham!

Afternoon of condo birding - lookahead

Spent the afternoon on my balcony, after an early morning of work...


American Wigeon 5
American Black Duck 2
Mallard 22
Northern Pintail 2
Greater Scaup 50
Lesser Scaup 4
Surf Scoter 500
White-winged Scoter 500
Black Scoter 65
Long-tailed Duck 1500
Red-breasted Merganser 75
Common Loon 4
Double-crested Cormorant 75
Parasitic Jaeger 1 two widely spaced sightings of light ad. PAJA
Bonaparte's Gull 17
Ring-billed Gull X
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 20 

Just some highlights of course!

==============




Looking ahead, I'm still interested to see just how many Kittiwakes (or a Gannet?) can find their way into Lake Ontario over the next few days. Will it be 0? 20?  - time (and observers) will tell...

Various weather maps, issued at various time, for various times and dates - over the past two days. Long story short, there is a big low off the NE USA (or S of NS) and I'm hoping it helps direct some birds into Lake Ontario. This is no Hurricane Sandy, but it doesn't mean we can't learn from it!

Tomorrow and Thursday mornings could be fun! (or cold) - or both!

=========

Finally, there is a HUGE sunspot right now, spitting out flares every few hours. Several M class, one X class, and no CME's. 

Want to know more? Do what I do, and keep your eyes on this crazy website! - http://solarham.net/

The mightiest blog post EVER

I have a few things I've wanted to get out recently, and given that the blog has been a bit slower than normal, I thought i'd just pile all of this into one monster post!


---------------------

PeregrinePrints highly irregular quiz answers! - I am really behind on getting these out. Only 1 month later!

Here's the quiz I'm talking about: http://www.blog.peregrineprints.com/2014/09/peregrineprints-highly-irregular-quiz.html

And congrats to Bruce MacT for being the first to get them all right (and on his first shot):

Little Gull
Common Redpoll
Common Murre
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-legged Kittiwake
King Eider
Chestnut-collared Longspur

Thanks to those who played along, both via comments and via email

---------------------


Hurricane Gonzolo - just as it was tickling Newfoundland early this morning:

Was anyone at Cape Race (or St. Shotts?) to look for the magic? 

---------------------

Pelee!

I thought the weather last week looked pretty darn cool, so I went SW and enjoyed the masses of birds!

Raw radar

850mb winds for the above map

I birded Port Burwell to Wheatley Harbour on Tuesday, and the National Park on Wednesday (PPNP). Thursday was a healthy dose of PPNP again, but an additional check of Hillman Marsh and Wheatley Harbour as well.

Some highlights:

Tues - 

Burwell - 8 Black-bellied and 1 Golden Plover

Port Stanley Lagoons - 2 Pec's and - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20235921

Rondeau Joe's lookout (on the bay) - 2 Forster's Terns, 1 Caspian Tern, 1 Tufted Titmouse

Wheatley Harb - 3 Lesser Black-backs. Missed a Little Gull and Kittiwake seen by Ross Wood just earlier....

Weds - 

5 Parasitic Jaegers, 1 Pomarine Jaeger, 3 Jaeger Sp's, oodles of Common Loons, Little Gull, 250+ Common Terns, Peregrine's catching Jays/Starlings, Barn Swallow, 10 Warbler species, - epic!

Thurs - 

Lots of birds on the go, including great looks at a Golden Eagle, Red-shoulders and a few late Broad-winged Hawks. Peregrines still around and chasing things. Common Buckeyes were all over, and 2 new warbler species from yesterday. 

Wheatley Harbour late - FRANKLIN'S GULL! Woot. 

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20252506

It was a great little trip, even if I couldn't nail down something MEGA. ;) ... Great company in the park as well. 

---------------------

CONDO BIRDING!!! - Great cool NW Winds to get the birds jiggy! 

October 18th:

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 18, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
21 species

Canada Goose 1
American Wigeon 20
Mallard 25
Northern Pintail 4
Redhead 4
Greater Scaup 20
Surf Scoter 500
White-winged Scoter 1500
Black Scoter 3
Long-tailed Duck 700
Red-breasted Merganser 34
Red-throated Loon 7
Common Loon 45
Horned Grebe 5
Red-necked Grebe 1
Double-crested Cormorant 445
Northern Harrier 5
Great Black-backed Gull 4
Horned Lark 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Northern Cardinal 2

---

October 19th  - even better!!!

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 19, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
27 species

Canada Goose 45
American Black Duck 18
Mallard 26
Northern Pintail 8
Green-winged Teal 4
Redhead 1
Greater Scaup 100
Lesser Scaup 2
Surf Scoter 500
White-winged Scoter 500
Black Scoter 5
Long-tailed Duck 3000
Common Merganser 4
Red-breasted Merganser 80
Red-throated Loon 7
Common Loon 38
Double-crested Cormorant 250

Parasitic Jaeger 1 - adult, or sub adult

Bonaparte's Gull 35

Little Gull 1 - 2nd basic with flock of BOGU - gray upperwing with no primary markings other than white trailing edge and limited black flecking in outer primaries. Black underwing not nearly as full as an adult bird.

Common Tern 2 - 1st winters inside a flock of BOGU moving west along the shore. Small and sleek compared to the BOGU - lacking face patch of FOTE and too strong for ARTE.

American Crow 1 odd bird, flying west, over the water a bit (100-200m?)
Golden-crowned Kinglet X
American Robin 1
Palm Warbler 1 ...
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
Dark-eyed Junco X

---------------------

Weather Network Photos! - I find more rarities on the weather network..........


Swainson's Hawk in Port Elgin -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/help-to-identify/20529902

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/help-to-identify/20531910



Where's Chip? -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/fall-birds/20527778


Dickcissel in NL -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/unusual-breed-anyone-know-what-type-/20617226


Long staying Hudwit -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/hudsonian-godwit/20602234


Partial Albino -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/unidentified-bird/20508488


Partial Pigmented at all -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/white-blue-jay/20566816


Hybreed goo -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/rosss-goose-hangs-with-big-boys/20587160

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/theres-a-new-bird-in-town/20454508


Awesomeness -

 http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/bird-heron-09-28-27033/20438052


I'm guessing this wasn't taken in Ontario? -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/blue-eyes-/20406618


Is this a Rufous type? Or am I wrong? -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/hummingbird/20406118


Ha! -

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/photos/view/birds/beautiful-wildlife/20361602



---------------------

RARITY ALERT - cool weather this week!!!!

Not really sure what to say at this point, other than I like this weather setup! 

For 3+ days this low pressure thing is forecast to sit off the NE USA coast, slowly moving into Nova Scotia. Our marine forecast calls for N or NE winds for 3+ days while this happens. Can't make any guarantee's, but I would like to think that this is the type of setup that brings birds like Kittiwakes and the occasional Gannet into Lake Ontario. Maybe we can get something a little nuttier?!

Maybe someday I'll get back to posting photos of birds taken in the field/recently...

------------

weatha- 18 Oct 2014

James Bay - southern half: Forecast

GALE WARNING IN EFFECT


Winds

Issued 05:00 PM CDT 16 October 2014


Tonight and FridayGale warning in effect.Wind light increasing to northeast 20 knots after midnight and to north 35 late Friday morning. Wind increasing to north 45 Friday evening.


Waves

Issued 05:00 PM CDT 16 October 2014


Tonight and FridaySeas less than 1 metre building to 1 late this evening and to 2 early Friday morning. Seas building to 3 early Friday afternoon and to 4 late Friday afternoon and to 5 Friday evening.


Extended Forecast

Extended Forecast Issued 05:00 PM CDT 16 October 2014


SaturdayWind north 45 knots diminishing to north 30 in the afternoon.


SundayWind north 25 knots diminishing to north 15 late in the day.


MondayWind north 15 knots diminishing to light.



Past 24 hour conditions in Moosonee (inland from coast): 

18 October 2014

11:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 66 -2 NNW 28 gust 54 101.2 16
10:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 67 -2 NNW 21 gust 48 101.2 16
9:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 69 -2 NNW 28 gust 43 101.1 16
8:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 70 -1 NNW 30 gust 48 101.0 16
7:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 71 -1 NNW 28 gust 46 100.9 16
6:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 75 0 NNW 28 gust 52 100.8 16
5:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 77 0 NNW 26 gust 45 100.7 16
4:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 81 1 NNW 30 gust 50 100.6 16
3:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 85 2 NNW 30 gust 52 100.5 16
2:00 Cloudy 4 ↓ 88 2 NNW 37 gust 61 100.4 11
1:00 Light Rain 4 ↓ 91 3 NNW 35 gust 52 100.3 5
00:00 Cloudy 5 91 3 NNW 30 gust 50 100.2 11

17 October 2014

23:00 Light Rain 5 92 4 N 28 gust 54 100.1 10
22:00 Light Rain 5 92 4 N 30 gust 55 100.1 11
21:00 Light Rain 6 93 5 N 30 gust 50 99.9 13
20:00 Light Rain 6 93 5 N 30 gust 50 99.9 13
19:00 Light Rain 6 93 5 NNW 28 gust 54 99.7 10
18:00 Light Rain 7 92 6 N 34 gust 59 99.7 16
17:00 Light Rain 7 92 6 N 30 gust 48 99.6 16
16:00 Cloudy 7 93 6 N 32 gust 48 99.6 16
15:00 Light Rain 8 ↑ 93 7 N 28 gust 50 99.5 16
14:00 Light Rain 8 ↑ 94 7 NNE 28 gust 43 99.5 11
13:00 Light Rain 8 ↑ 94 7 NNE 26 gust 52 99.5 16
12:00 Light Rain 8 ↑ 94 7 NNE 30 gust 52 99.6 5
11:00 Light Rain 8 ↑ 94 7 NNE 28 gust 46 99.6 5

==================

Hurricane Gonzalo crushed Bermuda yesterday - and on its way to Newfoundland, then Great Britian - in a real hurry. Will be fun to see what birds are found because of it. 

Epic Hawkwatching - Wheatley - October 10th

Wheatley, ON - Hawkwatching - all day - on October 10th


Turkey Vulture 4703
Osprey 3
Northern Harrier 18
Sharp-shinned Hawk 403
Cooper's Hawk 13
Bald Eagle 41 all going SW
Red-shouldered Hawk 6
Broad-winged Hawk 45
Red-tailed Hawk 189
American Kestrel 69
Merlin 5
Peregrine Falcon 6

Total - 5501 !!!

There were some other highlights - check out the ebird checklist 

- http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/email?subID=S20197956

We beat some of the big dogs - Detroit River had more birds, but really only more vultures:

http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=786617&MLID=ON&MLNM=Ontario

Holiday Beach - again, slightly less vultures, but more of everything else - 

http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=786779&MLID=ON&MLNM=Ontario

Hawk Cliff - closer on the "good stuff" - but actually less vultures. 

http://birding.aba.org/message.php?mesid=786851&MLID=ON&MLNM=Ontario

===========

So many vultures!

Fort Erie to Niagara - October 8th

I'm a little late, but the birding was sa-weeet!

Mather's Park - met Mr. Len Manning for a decent stretch. We walked a bit south along the shoreline (from the parking area) to get a better look at the lake. Some highlights here were:

1 Pomarine Jaeger
2 Parasitic Jaegers
3 Little Gulls
1 Red-necked Grebe
8 Peregrine Falcons
800+ Common Terns !!!
The white-ish Cormorant as well...

The number of terns around was insane! Full ebird - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180467



Peace Bridge to Railroad Bridge - checked a few vantage points. Birds were zooming everywhere, so I lumped the area. Highlights:

1 Sabine's Gull
1 Parasitic Jaeger
1 Red-necked Phalarope
1 Little Gull
100+ Common Terns
The white-ish Cormorant - again!


Full ebird for more! - http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180505

Bowen Rd Lookout (Elegant Tern lookout) -

1 Little Gull

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180517


Control Gates (Niagara) -

3 Little Gulls
1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180524


Dufferin Islands - I parked near the duck-feed spot. Didn't expect to see a Redhead there (was wary)

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180535


Above the Falls -

400+ Northern Rough-winged Swallows!
3 Lesser Black-backed Gulls

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180551


Below the Falls - once again, it was just PACKED with birds. I worked it, and was not really rewarded.

1 Lesser Black-backed Gull

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20180558

---

Great day to be out - with lots of people seeing cool things from different times/places around the river.

Probable/Presumed Neotropic Cormorant - Fort Erie - 7 Oct 2014

After posting about my 6th Cattle Egret find in the past 5 years, I give you my 4th NECO in the past 4 years... Pretty much the same situation as this bird , but I didn't have camera handy and ready. 

====================

Subject: Probable/Presumed Neotropic Cormorant - Fort Erie - 7 Oct 2014
Date: Tue Oct 7 2014 18:08 pm
From: holden.ontbirds AT gmail.com Birders,

Just after noon today at Mather's Park in Fort Erie - 2 Cormorants flying
very close to shore (50ft) with one being notably smaller than the other. A
quick look in the scope showed a bird with a dark bill and dull throat, but
no obvious white feathers (that I could see, with precious little time). As
they flew away, the smaller individual showed a considerably lighter body
(looking 50% thinner) as I watched them leave. Not the best look, but for
all intents and purposes it was a Neotropic Cormorant. At the very least,
this is a heads up that it is "out there". Both birds were flying very
slowly along the shoreline, but I could not relocate them.


Other birds at the river mouth included 1 Pomarine Jaeger, 1 Phalarope Sp.
2 Sabine's Gulls, 5 Little Gulls and 2 Peregrine Falcons.

Other sites:

Catherine St. Parking Area - 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Little Gull, 1 Leucistic DC
Cormorant

Control Gates - 4 Little Gulls

Below the falls - thousands of gulls, nothing of note



The marine forecast for tomorrow calls for strong westerly winds, which may
help provide a repeat performance for some of these species. A scope is
valuable. I also hear that Len Manning may be present, so bring something
to get an autograph - just in case!

Brandon Holden

====================

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20062198

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20062236

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20062282

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20062299

====================

Tonight and WednesdayStrong wind warning in effect.Wind variable 15 knots becoming southwest 15 this evening then increasing to west 25 late overnight. Wind increasing to west 30 near noon Wednesday.

One can dream 

Monster Low!!!

Current winds - as of Monday at 5-ish pm

This mega low has stalled in NW Ontario, and it has been pumping SW winds into southern Ontario for days... I scored an exciting bird (CAEG) yesterday at Tilbury thanks to it. I'm also losing my marbles as I have an itch to do some serious birding - but haven't really put in the time.

Hopefully I'll get out a bit this week!

The son of monster low? - 984mb over quebec. Forecast map for Thursday.

I get the impression that weather forecasters have no idea what to really put on paper. Every source I look at is different (marine, EC, weather network, model runs) - and every one changes every 12-ish hours. The only constant is awesomess - strong winds in S to NW direction - for the rest of the week

I'm not sure when "rarity birding" will be at its best. Maybe today? Maybe tomorrow? I would expect a heavy dose of good bird observations to roll in on nice weather this weekend as well. 

---

The boys up on James Bay have been getting STEADY south winds for DAYS - can't wait to see what they're getting up there... Should be a great "case study" for the vagrancy potential of Netitishi - for songbirds! Will they get flooded with Field Sparrows? Or will they land something truly mega?

---

I'm torn between my desire for a rare passerine, and just some enjoyable birding... I may settle somewhere inbetween on gulls. Hopefully I'll find the perfect mix of work, birding, enjoyment and family/home time!

One can dream 

Subject: Cattle Egret at Tilbury SL - Oct 6th

(With this bird, I now have at least one "self found" Cattle Egret in Ontario - each year - for the past five years!)

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Subject: Cattle Egret at Tilbury SL
Date: Mon Oct 6 2014 14:02 pm
From: holden.ontbirds AT

Andrea Orr, Natalie Leava and I just watched a Cattle Egret at the Tilbury
Sewage Lagoons. After making several prolonged circles around the lagoons.
Not sure if it landed out of sight, or kept going. Could be a sign of
things to come, as Ontario has been under the influence of strong SW winds
for the past several days after a powerful extratropical cyclone stalled in
NW Ontario.

Good Birding!

Brandon Holden



Directions: take Hwy 401 west, exiting at #56, head west and turn right on
Elginfield sideroad. At the end of the road, turn right on Baseline Road.
The lagoons are on your right about 1km down the road.
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=====================

Tilbury--Sewage Lagoons, Essex, CA-ON
Oct 6, 2014 2:40 PM - 3:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.0 kilometer(s)
12 species

Canada Goose 1
Blue-winged Teal 5
Northern Shoveler 1
Ruddy Duck 15
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Great Blue Heron 3

Cattle Egret 1 - sitting on shore of the main lagoon. flushed without warning (or by us). Flew several large circles, including some close passes (50ft). We were busy, so couldn't wait and watch where it went. Small (mallard sized) all-white egret. Orange/peach/pinkish bill, dark grayish legs.

Turkey Vulture 100
Mourning Dove 5
Peregrine Falcon 1
Tree Swallow 50
Red-winged Blackbird 10

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20049644

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

(not the bird) 

Condo birding update: 30 Sep - 2 Oct (ebird!)

September 30 - too calm!

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Sep 30, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
10 species

Wood Duck 9
Surf Scoter 1 not rare
White-winged Scoter 10
Great Blue Heron 1
Osprey 1
Parasitic Jaeger 1 light adult chasing the roosting RBGU's at dusk
American Kestrel 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
American Pipit 1
White-throated Sparrow 3

October 1 - storm! But work gets in the way... Argh!

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 1, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
21 species

Canada Goose 5
Mallard 1
Greater Scaup 4
Surf Scoter 6 not rare
White-winged Scoter 10
Common Loon 1
Horned Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 100
Osprey 1

Pomarine Jaeger 1 dark juvenile, crusing along all beast-like... Massive belly - and double flash (actually) visible. Laid a beat down on a RBGU

Lesser Black-backed Gull 1 - 3rd winter
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 1
Peregrine Falcon -1
Golden-crowned Kinglet 8
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 15
Dark-eyed Junco 3
House Finch X
American Goldfinch X


October 2 - in the fog, at dusk, in the parking lot - migrants!

aaa_Condo, Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 2, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
5 species

Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler 1
White-throated Sparrow 5
White-crowned Sparrow 10

Monster Low - now!

Friday/Saturday night - 981mb low! A monster!

I'm sitting this one out, but it'll be a great "case study" to see if a storm like this will shower Ontario with rare birds - or not!

If I were rarity hunting, I'd either go to Point Pelee, or FORT ERIE (for lakewatches) both Saturday and Sunday... Could be great! 

Time will tell. 

Van Wiggles Beach - October 2nd

Hamilton--Van Wagner's Beach (Lakeland Centre), Hamilton, CA-ON
Oct 2, 2014
Protocol: Incidental
12 species (+1 other taxa)

Green-winged Teal 10
Greater Scaup 1
Surf Scoter 7
White-winged Scoter 15
Black Scoter 1
Red-breasted Merganser 25
Red-throated Loon 1
Double-crested Cormorant X
Sanderling 11

Pomarine/Parasitic Jaeger 2 looked big - but very far

Long-tailed Jaeger 1 int/dark juvenile. Greatly reduced white flash on primares with a notch around P8/9. 2 White primary shafts, bill more than 1/2 black and pretty thick. Dull lemon hindcollar on back of neck. Chasing gulls more frequently than the majority of LTJA I see. Great looks for over 60+ mins?

Bonaparte's Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 2

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S20011917

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Condo Birding Update - 17-28 Sep 2014 (LT and Para Jaegers)

17 Sept

A dawn drive out (to work) revealed a large white bird in a sizeable flock of Canada Geese - roosting at the far west end of my patch (in confederation park) - A Great Egret!

(see what I did there?)


27 Sept

ebird - take'r away!


Gadwall 2
American Black Duck 1
Mallard 5
Greater Scaup 225
Surf Scoter 8
White-winged Scoter 40
Long-tailed Duck 10
merganser sp. 5
Horned Grebe 9
Great Blue Heron 1

Long-tailed Jaeger 1 int juvenile early in the am - fluttering around, not bothering to chase any of the 1000+ RBGU around

Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 10
Horned Lark 3
Brown Creeper 1
Blackpoll Warbler 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler 3
warbler sp. 4
Song Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 4

28 Sept

Ebird again! - 

Canada Goose 50
Mallard 5
Northern Shoveler 18
Green-winged Teal 4
Greater Scaup 100
Surf Scoter 1
White-winged Scoter 25
Red-breasted Merganser 16

Parasitic Jaeger 1 int juvenile - chasing the s#!t out of some RBGU - full on crazy bat style. Slimmer than the RBGU, as long if not longer? ... Big flashes, streaky - all PAJA like.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Blue Jay 10
Horned Lark 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Pipit 1
Blackpoll Warbler 1
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Palm Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 2
warbler sp. 2

I just donated $30.00 to wikipedia

I'm also sorta out of blog material right now. I enjoy keeping the posts regular, for those who are stuck in an office (or stuck anywhere) and are looking for something to pass 2 minutes of time in hopes of reaching the weekend. I like to think I can keep the excitement of birding alive and well, perhaps even spreading information that should bear little to no consequence on your general birding activities (storm moving through this Friday! Go birding and find rarities!)

My sob story - I'm busy, stressed and frustrated. I'm also happier than I've ever been in my entire life. Pretty tough place eh? First world problems.

So what am I writing about? Well I just donated $30.00 to wikipedia. I've spent 3 years now working on improving the OBRC for the birding community, and there may well be MORE angry people than ever before. Then the little message popped up on wikipedia (as I searched - Nunavut Bird Checklist).

"we are a litlte group of people - blah blah blah - if everyone reading this donated $3.00, our fund-raising would be over in an hour"

I look at wikipedia 5 days a week. They are essentially providing a service that is trying to fit the needs/hopes/wants/desires of the civilized world. I'm sitting on my balcony, drinking beer and watching Lake Ontario... First world life!

So I donated $30.00 to wikipedia. Hardly anything compared to the number of times I've looked at it. Maybe I can do a little good by posting this on the blog as well. Give it a whirl! Have you ever donated to wikipedia? Will you now? Leave a message if you decide to do so. Anything above $3.00 will help. Leave a comment if you decide to do so!

This is the email I received after sending - mabe you'll get the same? -

---------



Dear Brandon,

Thank you for your invaluable gift of bringing knowledge to every human around the world.

My name is Lila Tretikov, and I’m the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation. Over the past year, gifts like yours powered our efforts to expand the encyclopedia in 287 languages and to make it more accessible all over the world. We strive most to impact those who would not have access to education otherwise. We bring knowledge to people like Akshaya Iyengar from Solapur, India. Growing up in this small textile manufacturing town, she used Wikipedia as her primary learning source. For students in these areas, where books are scarce but mobile Internet access exists, Wikipedia is instrumental. Akshaya went on to graduate from college in India and now works as a software engineer in the United States. She credits Wikipedia with powering half of her knowledge.

This story is not unique. Our mission is lofty and presents great challenges. Most people who use Wikipedia are surprised to hear it is run by a non-profit organization and funded by your donations. Each year, just enough people donate to keep the sum of all human knowledge available for everyone. Thank you for making this mission possible.

On behalf of half a billion people who read Wikipedia, thousands of volunteer editors, and staff at the Foundation, I thank you for keeping Wikipedia online and ad-free this year.

Thank you,
Lila

Lila Tretikov
Executive Director,
Wikimedia Foundation
donate.wikimedia.org

For your records: Your donation, number CXXXXXX9, on 2014-09-27 was $ 30.00.

This letter may serve as a record of your donation. No goods or services were provided, in whole or in part, for this contribution. The Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit charitable corporation with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status in the United States. Our address is 149 New Montgomery, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94105. U.S. tax-exempt number: 20-0049703

http://peregrineprints.com/zz_RBGU.htm

Learning! Can you age the RBGU photos in this post? Plumage? 

More fighting!

More warbler fights from my balcony - this time, it' two Bay-breasted Warblers!

==================

I don't think I've posted this on the blog yet, but Ohio has been hosting a WHITE MORPH freakin REDDISH EGRET for quite a while now... It's a real stunner - 

http://jimmccormac.blogspot.ca/2014/09/reddish-egret-in-ohio.html

http://www.holmesbargainhunter.com/article/20140908/COLUMN/709089987/-1/hbh

https://www.flickr.com/photos/victor_fazio-iii/15133377255/in/photolist-p4hvPv-p6Et5c-oPrbpP-pcJRfa-dkAh3E-p48TW4-oLTVs6-oMsSG2-p2mhNL-oLU31B-oLU2KB-oLTwsm-oLTk2z-p4VHhU-p4GsnD-atx8Rq-7RxV4m-trzud-az48bk-5iepAh-p6Uibh-p6UeGy-p4TMwy-p6EV8K-p6Etcr-p55BDV-iBapnU-iB9U3u-iB9TDo-cdDnuE-bh6SwB-oLTdqZ-p47MmP-8VKtqY-p4med3-p2mhK9-oLU35p-oLTdC2-p2VLad-bh6SHa-oLz5y2-p436ob-oLzJpw-p26PFY

https://www.flickr.com/photos/92648471@N07/15229047481/in/photolist-pcJRfa-dkAh3E-p48TW4-oLTVs6-oMsSG2-p2mhNL-oLU31B-oLU2KB-oLTwsm-oLTk2z-p4VHhU-p4GsnD-atx8Rq-7RxV4m-trzud-az48bk-5iepAh-p6Uibh-p6UeGy-p4TMwy-p6EV8K-p6Etcr-p55BDV-iBapnU-iB9U3u-iB9TDo-cdDnuE-bh6SwB-oLTdqZ-p47MmP-8VKtqY-p4med3-p2mhK9-oLU35p-oLTdC2-p2VLad-bh6SHa-oLz5y2-p436ob-oLzJpw-p26PFY

https://www.flickr.com/photos/r_k52/14947767889/in/photolist-oLTdC2-p2VLad-bh6SHa-oLz5y2-p436ob-oLzJpw-p26PFY

================

They've also had a long-staying Northern Wheatear... 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/29655079@N02/15190310282/in/photolist-p9jj2q-p9rQon-6YXYpQ-oSe6xu-p9Fv29-oVptfF-6Y8n5y-6Y7Nzm-6Y7PeA-6Y7Qjj-6Y3MNF-6Y7PNL-6Y7NXq-6Y3Pc6-6Y3Nnn-6Y7QzL-p7jdNA-oSd9W7-p7ERNY-p7G4tE-p9J6qP-pdUhyd-oShPDs-pbUhRJ-oWrrmm-p7Jo4S-oWrmNn-oWskye-oWrmRi-oWsnLb-pcvMhs-pcvjEj-p9GUgr-p9GK48-oSd6Bv-e4rDni-p9rQMP-7K91vo

https://www.flickr.com/photos/81806926@N03/15190190001

Why are you fighting?

Birds! I tell ya!

Why are they fighting? What do they have to fight about? - Photo'd from my balcony a few days ago... 

(Chestnut-sided Warblers)

Point Pelee: 20-22 September 2014 !!!

Three casual days of looking for birds/bugs at Point Pelee, from Saturday to Monday. Generally didn't leave the tip area of Pelee! The weather (hot/cold/storm/wind) was superb, giving us a taste of everything. The real highlight was the overall trip, but for the sake of a blog post - here are some highlights over the 3 days:

BIRDS -

30-40 Peregrine Falcons
14 American Golden Plover's
5 Sanderling
1 Parasitic Jaeger
1 Sabine's Gull
1 Pine Siskin

Lots of birds in general - including some great hawk flights. Many birds were low and charismatic.

BUTTERFLIES -

Silver-spotted Skipper - 1
Fiery Skipper - 1
Spicebush Swallowtail - sev
Little Yellow - 1
Gray Hairstreak - 1
American Snout - 1 (very fresh)
Eastern Comma - sev
Painted Lady - sev
Hackberry Emperor - sev
Monarch - 500-800ish on Monday

I also thought it was noteworthy that we missed Question Mark, Mourning Cloak, American Lady and (perhaps) Common Buckeye - although some of the latter were reported at more northerly locations.

DRAGONFLIES - 

Only one real highlight - saddlebags! On Sunday, we completed the slam:

Black Saddlebags (common)

Carolina Saddlebags ~10-12

Red Saddlebags ~3

STRIPED SADDLEBAGS - 1 (female)

Decent numbers of C Green Darners, Wandering Gliders and Spot-winged Gliders (rarer) were around. Not much else to hoot about. 

Striped Saddlebags was new for Canada (I think?) in 2010 when Bob Curry found one at the tip of Pelee on 29 September 2010. Bill Lammond found one a few weeks ago at Pelee, and a few more are around - making this the second "arrival" of the species ever for Canada (2010 individuals, and now). 

Very cool stuff! - a photo of the Striped:

There was another major highlight, but I'll detail that at some point in the future!