March 22, 2004
Herons!
Great Blue Heron
Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a bird landing in the cattails. It was a split second before I realized I hadn't seen that particular sight since last fall - a gangly great blue heron disappearing into the marsh. Wanting to determine the general age of the bird, I approached on foot. I wasn't cautious enough, and the bird flushed, along with two other herons! The two individuals whose heads I saw well enough were adults.
March 20, 2004
Birds on the Move
Saturday was definitely chilly, with a strong southwest wind. Skies were heavily overcast during the morning, and began leaking a combination of snow and rain by the early afternoon.
A male downy was the lone taker at the suet feeders at the 8th Line and Highway 96. Plenty of male redwinged blackbirds added noise to the scene.
Horned Lark
I saw at least seven roughlegged hawks, ranging from dark phase through very light. Five of these birds were seen along the northern part of the 4th Line and were easily recognizable as individuals, seemingly grouped as two pairs and a dark singleton. Another dark-phase bird seemed a male, paired with a larger lighter bird, for whom it left prey on a fence post. He had been on the post, had flown to a nearby tree, was joined by the second bird, who then flew to the post and began tearing & chewing the prey.
I had noticed raptorial mating behaviour on Thursday (18 Mar.) as well, when a perched red-tailed hawk was mounted briefly by another immediately when the second flew to the roost tree. The two birds then sat on neighbouring branches and preened, particularly the female.
On Saturday, I saw a single red-tailed hawk near the radio towers on the 5th Line, and a brown harrier hunting further south along that line, near Reed's Bay Road.
Back on the northern part of the 4th Line, I watched an adult snowy owl, with fine flecking, land on a post not far from the Highway in the mid-afternoon. It remained there at least until dark. By about 4:30 pm, it had been joined by the pure white male who has frequented this area at the same time daily for about the past week. He flew off eastwards to a post by the radio towers, then to the golf course in between, then back to his radio-tower post. Further south along the 4th Line, another adult snowy owl with fine flecking flew in during mid-afternoon as well and perched nearly one field west of the road.
March 13, 2004
Raptor Migration
What a fantastic day for raptors! After amazingly springlike conditions throughout the week, the temperature dropped a bit to more seasonable levels on Friday. Below-freezing nighttime temperatures and slightly above-freezing daytime temperatures signal the running of the sap. Strong winds bring windchill back into our lives. Saturday was sunny, around the freezing point, with a strong northwest breeze.
Buteo hawks seemed everywhere, hunting in the mid afternoon (about 2:30-3:30 pm). Although our route was abbreviated, owing to other commitments, we still counted at least 18 roughlegged hawks and 7 redtailed hawks. Five brown harriers quartered over various fields.
Numerous horned larks were sighted, but no snow buntings. The caucophony of singing redwings was heard whenever suitable habitat was in the vicinity. Plenty of grackles, and some robins were also in evidence.
Later, during a magnificent and vivid sunset on the 4th Line near the Front Road, an alert snowy owl moved from 8th green of the golf course to a fence post, to the top of a tall tree, where it was dive-bombed in the fading light by a short-eared owl. The latter then circled the tree, calling.*
Jim Goodfellow reports that he & Connie have been seeing a great blue heron between Wolfe and Simcoe since about the first of the month. Who else has sighted this species?
*The following day (Sunday), both the snowy owl and I returned to this location in late afternoon. The owl's plumage was pure white, so it could very well be the same individual sited further south on the 5th Line and east toward Highway 95 during the past couple of weeks.
March 08, 2004
Any snow buntings left?
During some errands on the western part of the island (Highway 95 to 4th Line) late on Monday afternoon, I was fortunate enough to spot a number of birds. Despite the snowflakes that were beginning to fall, the day was quite mild, with no breeze.
Three each of red-tailed hawks and roughlegged hawks were sighted, as was a male kestrel. A couple of brown harriers were hunting together. A couple of snowy owls were perched atop trees about half a mile apart near the junction of the 5th Line and Base Line, the one on the latter was heavily flecked, the one on the former was absolutely pure white. During the preceding week, I'd had two reports of this adult male snowy in that area.
Along the roadside were plenty of horned larks, but no snow buntings. And redwings were singing and present everywhere!
March 07, 2004
Eagles on ice
Bald Eagle
On the island, at the 4th Line and the Front Road, a grackle and a redwing blackbird were having a singing contest. A pair of robins sat listening high atop another maple.
And a strange bird indeed was spotted on the verandah of the Wolfe Island branch of the public library just after dark - an Indian Fantail pigeon! This variety is one bred by pigeon fanciers, and is slightly larger than the ordinary rock dove (pigeon).
March 06, 2004
Redtails, redwings, & no snow!
A very grey day, with the temperature dropping throughout. The week had begun in winter, but ended very much in spring! The snow has all but disappeared and the lake ice has softened incredibly. I no longer feel it's safe to ski on.
Kate saw virtually no birds but redwings, now singing, in her running circuit of the Highway 95, Base Line, 5th Line, and Higway 96. So, we checked a broader circuit by car, and enountered not much more!
The number of red-tailed hawks was the greatest all winter, with four together in one location, two in another, and a couple of singletons. No roughlegs. One of the two Base-Line immature snowy owls was sheltering from the brisk wind amongst some well-aged stumps and limbs near the 4th Line and Base Line.
Numerous crows were apparent, and plenty of ring-billed gulls over the now snowless fields. A few horned larks were spotted. Redwings were noticeably present, still in sizeable flocks.
A male hairy woodpecker was visiting the feeder at the highway and 8th Line. Nearby, a grackle flew to join some redwings, but nearly immediately flew off to the trees across the road.
Owls & injuries
Today's excursion was in the late afternoon, when the temperature was still above the freezing point, and the sky clear and sunny, but breezy.
One of the immature snowy owls was spotted near where it was at the same time of day a week ago - about a field west of the 5th Line, north of the Base Line. Its body feathers around its right flank or wing appeared palely discoloured, it preened this wing several times, and the bird was alert. Unfortunately, distance precluded a clearer view. The second immature snowy was seen high atop a tree near the Base Line just west of the 3rd Line.
Further south along the 5th Line, nearly at Reed's Bay Road, a short-eared owl was hunting in the long afternoon sun, wheeling and flapping with its peculiar, syncopated wingbeats, and frightened up a flock of some three dozen snow buntings. Nearby, a flock of about a dozen horned larks was gleaning seeds from roadside grass, completely bare of snow. Numerous horned larks were sighted today, most in ones or twos.
A solitary red-tail, with an apparently injured, or a least tender, left talon, flew between perches on either side of the highway near Reed's Bay Road. A pair of red-tailed hawks was perched atop a tree west of the 4th Line between Reed's Bay Road and the Base Line. While observing these hawks, I twice heard a great horned owl, but could not spot it. Later, south of the Front Road between the 3rd and 4th Lines, I had a good few of another individual great horned owl perched on a deciduous tree. Perhaps it has a nest in the coniferous grove north of the road.
Yesterday, by the way, I witnessed part of a mini-drama at the suet station at the corner of the highway and the 8th Line. It was midday, and all was quite empty and still. I thought I glimpsed a grey squirrel on a sturdy branch, but put my binoculars to it, since it seemed large and not quite right. A Cooper's hawk! Now wonder the little birds were keeping low profiles! The hawk flew towards the house, right past the suet, and hid itself in the foundation cedars. A quick look back at the suet discovered a male downy absolutely flattened horizontally against the horizontal branch from which suet was hung. The little bird did not seem particularly interested in the suet! A few chickadees gave warning calls, and I'm reasonably sure a flicker called in the distance, but I could not spot it. I have since learned that a flicker was seen this week on Amherst Island.
Today, the little birds - downies, tree swallows, and house sparrows - were very active at the corner of the 8th Line and the highway. No sign of the hawk.
March 01, 2004
Redwings!
I was told that male redwings have been sighted on the island for about the past ten days. So, I made an extra effort and checked again around the marshy area at the northern end of the 8th Line, at the highway. At first, I could not hear or see any red-wings. So, I moved west to the former cheese factory.
There, numerous house finches were noisy in the general vicinity of a feeder. Again, I thought I heard a flicker, but couldn't see it. A kestrel swooped past to check me out. A male cardinal perched alertly on a tall spruce. Chickadee singing was heard. Starlings were gurgling & cackling away. Many, but not all, of these had yellow bills, as did some yesterday. And, finally, amidst some starlings, at least five male red-winged blackbirds were spotted. None were singing. Some were not far from the feeder, others were atop a tall deciduous tree at the end of the 8th Line (where they had not been moments before).
Keep alert for other spring birds - two bluebirds and a yellow-rumped warbler have already (last week) been sighted at Prince Edward Point. Great blue herons are sure to appear any day now.
February 28, 2004
Owls & injuries
Today's excursion was in the late afternoon, when the temperature was still above the freezing point, and the sky clear and sunny, but breezy.
One of the immature snowy owls was spotted near where it was at the same time of day a week ago - about a field west of the 5th Line, north of the Base Line. Its body feathers around its right flank or wing appeared palely discoloured, it preened this wing several times, and the bird was alert. Unfortunately, distance precluded a clearer view. The second immature snowy was seen high atop a tree near the Base Line just west of the 3rd Line.
Further south along the 5th Line, nearly at Reed's Bay Road, a short-eared owl was hunting in the long afternoon sun, wheeling and flapping with its peculiar, syncopated wingbeats, and frightened up a flock of some three dozen snow buntings. Nearby, a flock of about a dozen horned larks was gleaning seeds from roadside grass, completely bare of snow. Numerous horned larks were sighted today, most in ones or twos.
A solitary red-tail, with an apparently injured, or a least tender, left talon, flew between perches on either side of the highway near Reed's Bay Road. A pair of red-tailed hawks was perched atop a tree west of the 4th Line between Reed's Bay Road and the Base Line. While observing these hawks, I twice heard a great horned owl, but could not spot it. Later, south of the Front Road between the 3rd and 4th Lines, I had a good few of another individual great horned owl perched on a deciduous tree. Perhaps it has a nest in the coniferous grove north of the road.
Yesterday, by the way, I witnessed part of a mini-drama at the suet station at the corner of the highway and the 8th Line. It was midday, and all was quite empty and still. I thought I glimpsed a grey squirrel on a sturdy branch, but put my binoculars to it, since it seemed large and not quite right. A Cooper's hawk! Now wonder the little birds were keeping low profiles! The hawk flew towards the house, right past the suet, and hid itself in the foundation cedars. A quick look back at the suet discovered a male downy absolutely flattened horizontally against the horizontal branch from which suet was hung. The little bird did not seem particularly interested in the suet! A few chickadees gave warning calls, and I'm reasonably sure a flicker called in the distance, but I could not spot it. I have since learned that a flicker was seen this week on Amherst Island.
Today, the little birds - downies, tree swallows, and house sparrows - were very active at the corner of the 8th Line and the highway. No sign of the hawk.
February 22, 2004
Spring is in the air
During this week, something made me think spring was on its way. And today's balmy (around the freezing point) weather and swollen buds and coloured branches on trees confirmed it. Yet for such a gorgeous day, our sightings in the early afternoon were paltry.
The red-tailed hawks with territories in the vicinity of the TV tower and of the radio towers were spotted, though not at their usual posts on guy-lines. The view of the radio-tower bird was magnificent, as it floated on the updraft along the cliff edge north of the 5th Line. Along the 5th Line, a rough-legged hawk swooped low to check us out. Two other roughlegs, including a melanistic form, had been spotted earlier.
Numerous monospecific flocks of snow buntings and of horned larks flew up from the roadsides. Numerous crows were seen, mostly in chases. Crows had been conspicuous during the week, too.
In the late afternoon, I skied near the 4th Line from the Front Road south past the jog in the line to the west, in order to check out that area. Although David had seen a male harrier in this area, near the Front Road, earlier in the week, no raptors made their appearance during my ski. However, I did glimpse a snowy owl atop a tree in the distance, toward the 5th Line/Base Line intersection. No doubt it was one of the two immature owls regularly seen in that vicinity.
The lilting trill of Lapland longspur could be heard, though I didn't see the birds.
February 15, 2004
Crisp and clear
What a beautiful day, despite its cold! And all week the temperatures had been chilly. Sunny and windless conditions made for good viewing in the middle of the day, though heat shimmer near the car was very evident.
Our first stop was to check out the suet feeders at the Highway and the 8th Line. Although neither the blackbird nor the red-bellied woodpecker were visible, we had a lesson in Downy and Hairy woodpecker identification, as numerous individuals, male and female, of both species were not only present, but near each other. Chickadees and tree sparrows were flitting and hopping about.
During our check of more open areas, we had some very good views of a couple of red-tailed hawks, but not a single rough-legged hawk. The immature snowy owl atop a tree on the Base Line did not fail us. And the other immature was spotted around the corner on the 5th Line atop a telephone pole. Near the quarry, a short-eared owl displayed itself conveniently atop a small tree.
Small open-land birds were keeping a low profile today.
February 07, 2004
Owls plus
Today’s outing was later than usual - in the early to mid-afternoon. Although there were a few moments when the sun broke through the low cloud, most of the time the sky was bright but on the verge of snowing, with a northwesterly breeze.
The flocks of small birds were much less in evidence today, and the large birds were generally sitting. Nine buteos were sighted: seven rough-legged hawks and two red-tailed hawks. Individuals of three species of owls were the treat today: snowy, short-eared, and great horned.
I had good views of a northern shrike, and another individual that may have been a female Brewer’s blackbird. The latter was spotted at the junction of Highway 96 and the 8th Line, en route from the winter dock to the village. I hope to be able to verify identification during the coming week.
Next Saturday’s (14 Feb.) outing will be at the regular time - 10 a.m.
January 24, 2004
Young snowy owls
Another clear, sunny, crisp birdwatching day! A big difference between today & last week was the lack of any real warming as the day progressed. There was also a noticeable breeze from the north.
We covered much the same ground as last week, except the drifts of snow across the 4th Line made continuing past the first bend south of the Front Road impossible. At least for my little car!
Juvenile Snowy Owl – 24 Jan ‘04
photo: Dave Colburn
Two heavily flecked snowy owls along the 5th Line south of the Base Line provided the most excitement and good viewing. The group of three short-eared owls south of the Base Line, but along the 4th Line, was again sighted on the same hay bales as last Saturday. Five red-tailed hawks and eight rough-legged hawks (RLH) were perched on various trees and posts in this area of open fields. One of the rough-legs appeared to be the same very dark individual spotted two weeks ago. Only two RLH were hunting, and together, soaring high above the white and tawny fields.
We also encountered numerous flocks, mixed or individual, of snow buntings, Lapland longspurs, and horned larks.
I shan’t be available to birdwatch next Saturday (31 Jan.), and for the following week (7 Feb.), will need to switch the time to the afternoon, meeting the 12:30-boat from town, thence to the township hall for about 1pm. A return trip on the 2:30 boat would be possible, but why not stay and take in some of our annual Chili Fest that afternoon? Make sure to bring your ice skates!
January 17, 2004
Visitors from the tundra
This day began in semi-deep freeze (about -20oC), but was continually warming throughout the sunny, virtually windless morning. It was another great day for birding, following a week of extreme cold, and last Sunday’s snow squalls.
Rough Legged Hawk
My route was southward along Highway 95 to Reed’s Bay Road, westward to the 5th Line, northward to the Base Line, westward again to the 4th line, southward to Reed’s Bay Road and back, westward along the Base Line to the 3rd Line and back, and northward along the 4th Line to Highway 96. This area is made up of open fields, with the odd stand of deciduous trees. A number of farms and other dwellings are dotted along the route.
Around two clumps of buildings, a total of five short-eared owls were spotted. These individuals may be visitors from the tundra, though the species does nest on the island.
These birds are smaller than snowy owls, but also quite light, though with a faint yellowish cast in flight, and, like snowies, with a large wingspan. Sitting, their smaller size is evident, as may be their small ear-tufts. The round, rather than heart-shaped, facial disc will confirm they are not barn owls, and the yellow, rather than distinctive black, eyes that they are not barred owls. As with the other tundra owl, the snowy, the short-eared owl is active in daylight, since this is what it experiences nearly twenty-four hours a day during summer.
Three red-tailed hawks and five rough-legged hawks (no dark individuals) were also sighted; all were perched.
Besides these predatory birds, small flocks of much smaller birds were noted feeding on clumps of hay that had fallen along the roads. These birds included Lapland longspurs, snow buntings, and horned larks.
A baker’s dozen of wild turkeys was feeding in the westernmost area visited. Numerous sightings of this large species have been reported from various locations on the island this winter. The flocks are usually not far from sheltering woods.
A noisy male hairy woodpecker was investigating fence posts along the 4th Line near the former sewage lagoon.
All in all, it was a good outing, though the lack of harriers and reduced number of rough-legged hawks were very noticeable.
[The following day, I happened to spot a large Cooper’s hawk in the more woodsy area of the 3rd Line and Highway 96.]
The ferry now docks at Dawson Point, rather than in the village. If you are on foot, you will be met at the dock.
January 15, 2004
Second Queen's Birdwalk
Daniel from Queen’s Education’s OEE stream sent along this announcement:
Bird Watching on Wolfe Island
In Search of the Snowy Owl
Saturday, January 17
10:00am
for about two hourstake the Wolfe Island Ferry for free
departs from the Kingston Dock at Ontario and Barrack Street at 9:30dress warmly, and bring binoculars
(if you have them)meet Marjorie at the Wolfe Island Town Hall at 10am
further information at www.wolfeisland.catotally free educational activity!!
Brought to you by the good folks from OEE
January 10, 2004
Snowies, hawks & buntings
Marjorie, Kate (a neighbour and in OEE with Marjorie) and me headed out on a bright, cold day to inaugurate the first Birdwatching on Wolfe Island event for Queen’s Education students.
We set out with the aim of trying to spot hawks and snowy owls and as far as hawks go we weren’t disappointed:
- 4 red-tail hawks spotted along the 5th Line Rd.;
- 12 rough-legged hawks along Baseline Rd. and 4th and 3rd Line Rds.;
- 60+ snow buntings (a few pictured here).
Unfortunately, no snowy owls were spotted although Marjorie and I had observed one resting in a field along the 4th Line the week before.