Tag: Nature

Spring Migration; What We Can Expect And When

IMG 7725 1 - Spring Migration; What We Can Expect And When
The Killdeer is the first of the Shorebirds to arrive to our area with sightings usually occurring by mid March.

With winter winding down many birders, myself included, are anxiously awaiting the arrival of some spring migrants to the area. Spring is a wonderful time to get out and enjoy birding. With so many species returning to the area and the many flowers and trees starting to bloom it is a favourite season of many. So what birds can we expect as the weather begins to warm?

Species that arrive earliest in the spring or even a little before, are the ones that have the shortest distance to migrate north. Many of the blackbird species are first to arrive such as Red-winged and Common Grackles. The Killdeer is the first of the shorebirds to arrive and can usually be seen be seen by mid March. As temperatures rise higher and we get into late April and early May we can expect to be seeing Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Swallows and the beautiful Indigo Bunting.

IMG 2528 1 - Spring Migration; What We Can Expect And When
Rose-breasted Grosbeaks arrive a bit later, most years by late April. They are easily attracted to backyard feeders by offering safflower seed.

The spring Warbler migration is what birders look forward to the most and best numbers are recorded in early May. The Point Pelee Festival of Birds is a destination of many birders, due to the incredible number of migrating birds that stop there after crossing Lake Erie. This year the festival runs May 1st-19th. More information on the festival can be found here. The Yellow-rumped Warbler is most often the first of the Warblers observed with April being the month when good numbers start to appear followed next by Yellow Warblers.

8742001481 331c258327 c1 11 - Spring Migration; What We Can Expect And When
The Yellow-rumped Warbler is the first of the Warblers to show up in Spring.
Although Southwestern Ontario falls within the northern most part of many of these species winter range, these birds typically migrate in the fall to the northern United States and further south, especially during harsher winters like the one we have just experienced. Some sightings, including Killdeer have already been reported in our area.

Keeping your feeders full will help attract migrating birds looking to replenish their energy as they journey north. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Red-winged Blackbirds are particularly fond of safflower seed so make sure you are offering it. Other foods to attract spring migrants are nyjer and thistle seed. Not only will your resident Goldfinches love it, it is also a great food for attracting the Indigo Bunting. Slices of fresh orange placed around your yard are great for bringing in Baltimore Orioles.

Several days in a row of warmer temperatures and increased daylight hours help trigger migration. The addition of a south wind helps push these birds north. Migration varies from year to year depending on conditions. Some years the earliest of migrants start showing up by the end of March, while other years it may not be until April. The long range forecast for our area predicts daily high temperatures to be below freezing for most of the next 14 days, so it looks like we will have to be patient yet. Birding this time of year is especially exciting because it is only a matter of time before a species not seen for several months reappears.

Good birding,
Paul

 

Attract More Birds To Your Yard By Planting Native Plants

10912006904 7ff3864de0 o1 - Attract More Birds To Your Yard By Planting Native Plants
The Red Osier Dogwood is my top pick for native plants to add to your yard. It’s berries are consumes by over 100 species of bird in Ontario and the bright red branches provide beautiful colour year round.

After this long and rather harsh winter, many are itching to get back out into their gardens. Gardening is a relaxing hobby and gardens are a big attractant of birds to a yard. Native plants are the best attractors of birds because they provide natural food, shelter, and a nest site. Doing a little pre-spring planning as to what plants to add to your garden is the best way to figure out what your garden is missing to attract more birds.

Food is a key element of attracting more birds to your yard. Sure bird feeders are great, but birds will almost always take natural foods first and there are of course birds that don’t consume seed. Trees and shrubs that produce fruit or berries are a great place to start. Their spring blossoms add beautiful colour to any yard and robins, waxwings and thrushes will quickly arrive once theses blossoms turn into fruit. Fruit bearing trees also attract insects which will bring in warblers and flycatchers, something your favourite seed won’t do. My personal recommendation for a native fruit shrub is the Red Osier Dogwood. Not only are the berries consumed by over 100 species of birds in Ontario, it’s bright red branches will add an element of colour to your garden year round.

Plants that provide shelter come in all shapes and sizes. My favourite are evergreens because they can be used 12 months of the year by birds to keep hidden from cats, raptors or other predators. Their thick foliage is also a great wind break and an escape from winter squalls. Again they add colour year round which appeals to many gardeners. Deciduous trees and shrubs are great cover too because their dense branches provide a thicket which attracts several bird species. Tall grasses and ground covers are essential because they provide shelter for birds like mourning doves and fledgling birds that spend a lot of time on the ground.

Native wildflowers are a great addition to any garden. The flowers will attract several species of insect looking to feed on their nectar, resulting in several bird species that feed on insects. Jewel weed is a great wildflower if you are looking to attract hummingbirds to your yard. Many wildflowers turn to seed after blooming which is a popular food of finches and other songbirds.

The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority provides a great list of recommended native species that can be found here. Do a little research and planning as to what your garden is missing and what plants will do best in your conditions. Many of these recommended plants are readily available at local garden centers and can be purchased rather inexpensively. Not only will you have a beautiful garden that’s the envy of all your neighbours; you’ll be creating a natural habitat for birds, insects and other wildlife.

Good birding,
Paul

 

 

Take Advantage Of The Remaining Days Of Winter

IMG 7451 1 - Take Advantage Of The Remaining Days Of Winter
Redhead male and female

With the official arrival of spring less than three weeks away, many will remember this winter for different reasons. Some will think back to the record breaking low temperatures, the bitter wind chills and non existent January thaw. Maybe it will be the highway closures, indoor recesses, or dead car batteries. Sure all of these things stand out, but for me it will be the amazing birds that we experienced in our area.

It all began back in December when the Snowy Owl irruption started. Several of these birds were spotted just outside the city with some even within city limits. Many of these birds have been seen time and time again in the same locations throughout the winter months. If you haven’t had the opportunity to see one of these beautiful birds there is still time. Reports of them continue to come in, but once it begins to warm they will quickly be gone. Don’t wait, an irruption like this is not common. This link shows a map of all the Snowy Owls reported to ebird in our area. Latest reports suggest the area of Westminster Drive and Old Victoria Road just south of London may be your best bet to locate a Snowy. Please keep in mind to be respectful of the owls and others enjoying their beauty as mentioned in Be Respectful When Enjoying Nature.

Another highlight and real bonus of the cold temperatures this winter is the abundance of waterfowl that has moved inland to the Thames River. Adding four new species to my life list, including the first winter sighting of Red-throated Loons in our county in 116 years is something I will always remember. Although the numbers and varieties peaked a few weeks ago, there are still some great opportunities to view some beautiful species that would otherwise winter on the Great Lakes. The section of river from Springbank Park to Greenway Park provides the best views and varieties.

Don’t let this winter slip by without taking advantage of the wonderful birding opportunities it has presented us with. I myself was never a fan of winter until I learned to embrace the beauty of nature that only graces us during winter months. Years down the road when everyone is reminiscing about their winter weather miseries of 2013/14, I will fondly remember Snowy Owls and waterfowl.

Good birding,
Paul

Thames River Providing Excellent Views For Duck Lovers

IMG 5992 1 - Thames River Providing Excellent Views For Duck Lovers
White-winged Scoter

This winter’s cold weather has lots of people wishing for spring to arrive. For many it feels like winter is lasting forever, but for me this winter has been perfect. This year 86% of the Great Lakes are now covered in ice, compared to 35% on average years. Many species of waterfowl that typically winter on these lakes are showing up inland in their quest for open water as open water is scarce this year. Even the St. Clair river, another popular location for wintering ducks, has more ice coverage. The recent closure of the Lambton Generating Station has resulted in less warm water being discharged into the river and thus more ice formation. Many of these ducks are now forced to migrate to the Atlantic coast as these lakes and rivers freeze. The Thames River is located right in their flyway and is an excellent place to stop over to feed and rest or set up shop for the rest of the winter.

IMG 5299 1 - Thames River Providing Excellent Views For Duck Lovers
Red-necked Grebe

The number of species on the Thames River has increased almost daily and is a great place to get excellent views of waterfowl that would otherwise appear as tiny specks out on the big lakes and rivers. In London, on the stretch of river between Springbank and Greenway Parks there is plenty of open water and waterfowl. This past week alone I have added four new species to my life list and had some incredible close-up views of many others. A complete list of waterfowl I’ve seen in this area are:

American Black Duck
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Canvasback
Common Merganser
Common Goldeneye
Greater Scaup
Hooded Merganser
Horned Grebe
Mallard
Muscovy
Red-breasted Merganser
Redhead
Red-necked Grebe
Red-throated Loon
Long-tailed Duck
White-winged Scoter

IMG 6692 1 - Thames River Providing Excellent Views For Duck Lovers
Horned Grebe

Several access points for this stretch of river are available. There are multiple parking lots in Greenway Park by turning on Greenside Avenue off of Springbank Drive. Other access points are from the parking areas in Springbank Park off either Springbank Drive or off Commissioners Road West at Springbank Gate.

Once the warm weather arrives and the melt begins, several of these waterfowl species will be gone. If you are wanting some great views of these waterfowl species now is the time. Don’t leave it too long as this has truly been an amazing year on the Thames. There is no telling how long it will be when we see ice levels like these on the Great Lakes again and have such an abundance of waterfowl species move inland.

Good birding,
Paul

Red-throated Loons; A Highlight For London, Ontario

IMG 5504 1 - Red-throated Loons; A Highlight For London, Ontario
The sighting of two Red-throated Loons on the Thames River in London, Ontario was the first recorded winter sighting in Middlesex County since 1898.
Red throated Loon - Red-throated Loons; A Highlight For London, Ontario
Having submitted the first recorded Red-throated Loon sighting in the county
in 116 years is something I am quite proud of.

The numbers of waterfowl continue to grow on the Thames River as a direct result of the increased ice coverage on the Great Lakes. Reports from this past week indicate the Great Lakes are 80% ice covered, with Lake Ontario being the only one with any significant open water. Many species of diving ducks that typically winter on either Lake Superior or Lake Huron are unable to feed in these locations due to the ice. As a result, they are migrating further south and showing up on the Thames River. Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup, Canvasback, Redhead, and three types of Merganser have all been recorded. Recently larger numbers of Long-tailed Ducks have shown up too.

This past week while out walking through Springbank Park I was enjoying all of these wonderful species and added three new species to my life list: Red-necked Grebe, White-winged Scoter and Red-throated Loon. Three new species in just a couple of days is quite exciting. I regularly submit my observations to ebird as well as The Middlsex/Elgin/Oxford Natural History Observations group, and decided on these days my sightings of these species, especially the loons were worth submitting. I first submitted to ebird where they deemed all three species to be rare and required more information to confirm. I photographed all three species during my outing and was able to submit these photographs to confirm my sightings.

After submitting my observations to the Middlesex/Elgin/Oxford Natural History Observation group I received an email from the group’s record keeper to confirm that I did in fact see two Red-throated Loons, as they are virtually unheard of in our area. I also submitted my photographs to this group to confirm the loon sightings. I was quite thrilled to learn that these were the first Red-throated Loons recorded in winter in Middlesex County since 1898. These birds breed in the arctic and winter on both coasts of North America, as well as the Great Lakes, with inland sightings extremely rare. Knowing how special this sighting is makes it by far my best to date.

The number of birders increased over the course of the week along this stretch of river after reporting the sighting, with many hoping to see this pair of loons. Another report came in from later the same day as my initial sighting that one of the birds was seen in the same location. This was the last report of the birds in the area.

My guess is that these two Red-throated Loons were migrating through to the Eastern Seaboard and used the Thames River as a quick stop over to rest and feed before carrying on their journey. As is the case a lot of times in birding, I was in the right place at the right time and am truly grateful. Who knows, it may just be another 116 years before another one is seen in this county.

Good birding,
Paul

Waterfowl

Male Redhead duck in a pond against a stick covered bank.

London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th – February 1st 2014

IMG 4210 1 - London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th - February 1st 2014
Red-breasted Merganser male surfacing with a crayfish.
canvasback - London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th - February 1st 2014
Male Canvasback
IMG 4330 1 - London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th - February 1st 2014
The most unique observation of the week was this leucistic Black-capped Chickadee.

This past week turned out to be a rather productive one for observing birds along the Thames River, especially waterfowl. In the stretch of river between Greenway and Springbank Parks I recorded twelve species of waterfowl, with a couple of highlights being a Canvasback and Long-tailed Duck. Temperatures were in the negative teens with wind chills ranging from -20C to – 30C most days so dressing for the weather was a must, but well worth getting out for any birder.

The city of London does an excellent job plowing and salting throughout these two parks so walking isn’t an issue, in fact the paths here are better maintained than most neighbourhood sidewalks. Other notable species from the week were a Northern Shrike, regular appearances by the resident bald eagles with both adult and juvenile birds observed, and a leucistic Black-capped Chickadee. Identifying such a unique bird was quite tricky, as at first I believed it to be a Boreal Chickadee. Luckily I managed a few photos, and with the help of two London bird experts deemed it to be a leucistic Black-capped.

One of the most interesting views of the week was watching a male Red-breasted Merganser feed while looking down from a bridge above. The water in this particular section of river is quite shallow and clear so the bird was easily seen swimming underwater each time it dove in search of food. I managed several photos of the bird underwater, as it surfaced, and a couple of times with a crayfish in it’s grasp.

A large flock of Robins was seen feeding on Buckthorn berries on the river bank.

A complete list of birds observed is as follows:

gspost - London, Ontario Birding Report January 26th - February 1st 2014
Greater Scaup male and female.

American Black Duck
American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Canvasback
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Dark-eyed Junco
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Great Blue Heron
Greater Scaup
Hooded Merganser
House Sparrow
Long-tailed Duck
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Muscovy Duck
Northern Cardinal
Northern Shrike
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-tailed Hawk
White-breasted Nuthatch

Birding during cold winter months can be the only time of year to see some of these species. Invest in some good quality warm clothes and enjoy the outdoors twelve months a year. The physical and emotional benefits of birding are unbelievable and I encourage all to get out whenever you can.

Good birding,
Paul