Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 – April 5 2014

There is a nice mix of birds around the forest city right now. Spring migration has been a bit slow with the weather holding it back, but new species continue to trickle in. The lower temperatures have the species that overwintered in our area sticking around, and there is also the wonderful population of resident species that call London home.

American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos are a couple of the winter species that are still present. Wintering waterfowl, including grebe species such as the Horned and Red-necked, were still seen on the Thames River this past week. Both are now starting to show their breeding plumage quite nicely. Buffleheads, Common Mergansers, as well as Greater and Lesser Scaup were also seen, but only a few remain. With upcoming high temperatures expected in the teens, this could be the last week we see these birds in our area.

IMG 0646 1 - Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 - April 5 2014 — Turkey Vultures are one of the larger birds that can now be seen soaring over the city.

As mentioned, spring migrants continue to move in with a few new species seen this week. Tree Swallows, Eastern Phoebe, and Osprey all returned to London earlier this week. Other species observed were Chipping Sparrows and Golden-crowned Kinglets. A pair of Double-crested Cormorants were also seen on the river.

A complete list of birds observed is as follows:

IMG 0653 1 2 - Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 - April 5 2014 — Song Sparrows are quite vocal this time of year. They are often heard long before they are seen.

American Black Duck
American Goldfinch
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
American Wigeon
Black-capped Chickadee
Blue Jay
Blue-winged Teal
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Cedar Waxwing
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Common Merganser
Dark-eyed Junco
Double-crested Cormorant
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
European Starling
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Greater Scaup
Hairy Woodpecker
Horned Grebe
House Finch
House Sparrow
Killdeer
Lesser Scaup
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal
Osprey
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Red-necked Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wood Duck

IMG 0744 1 - Good Birding Weekly Report: London, ON March 30 - April 5 2014 — This male Brown-headed Cowbird is a type of blackbird that can be found around the city.

It looks like we are finally going to see some consistent warm temperatures over the next week. Normally this would bring in new migrating species, but with isolated showers in the forecast, this may slow the process down. With each day that passes there is the possibility to see something new, which is what drives all birders. Remember to keep your feeders full as these birds will be looking to replenish energy. Hopefully you all will be able to find time this week to enjoy the weather and some of the wonderful birds we have here in London, Ontario

Good birding,
Paul

Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders

Located in the northeast corner of London, on the shores of Fanshawe Lake, lies one of the best places for bird watching in the city. Fanshawe Conservation Area’s mixed habitat make it the perfect place to find resident birds and migrating species alike.

A series of marked hiking trails ranging in length from 1.5 kilometers to the 20 km Fanshawe Lake Trail, which circles the entire reservoir, will take you through the various habitat ranging from: coniferous and deciduous forest, open meadows, and low lying wet areas. These mixed habitats are what attracts so many birds, making it such an incredible place for bird watching. Fanshawe Conservstion Area is listed on eBird as one of London’s hotspots for birding with 155 species being reported.

IMG 8927 1 - Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders — Ring-necked Ducks are one of the many species of migrating waterfowl that stop over on Fanshawe Lake to rest and feed.

Birding at Fanshawe Conservation Area is great year round, but with spring migration now underway I highly recommend a visit in the near future. As the lake becomes free of ice, many species of waterfowl will be found including both dabblers and divers. Canvasbacks. Ring-necked ducks, Wood Ducks, and American Coots are a few of the species I’ve observed on the lake in early spring. Tundra Swans are also known to stop over on the lake while migrating through Southwestern Ontario. Returning songbirds such as sparrows, blackbirds, and orioles can also be found. The open areas of the conservation area are a great place to find the Eastern Meadowlark, a species at risk in Ontario. As April passes and we move into May, look for many warblers to be flitting around the conservation area.

IMG 8992 1 - Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders — The Eastern Meadowlark, a species at risk in Ontario, can be found within the conservation area.

Fanshawe Conservation Area is home to some wonderful resident species too. Birds of prey can be found throughout the area, including several species of owl, as well as Bald Eagles that nest on the shores of the lake. Cardinals, nuthatches, and woodpeckers are all readily seen. Don’t forget to bring some seed with you as the Black-capped Chickadees on the various trails will land right in your hand to accept your offering. This is particularly exciting for children.

IMG 6374 1 - Fanshawe Conservation Area; A Paradise For Birders — Hand feeding Black-capped Chickadees is wonderful way to get others, especially children, interested in birds.

If you have never visited Fanshawe Conservation area before, you are missing out. For more information including directions, maps, and other activites, visit their website here. Whether you are looking for a wonderful place for birding or to spend quality time in the outdoors with your family, Fanshawe Conservation Area is the perfect place.

Good birding,
Paul

April Fools Day Brings New Species To London, Ontario; And That’s No Joke

Monday’s high temperature of sixteen degrees Celsius accompanied by south winds brought with it some new species of migrating birds. It may have been April Fools Day but the birds arriving in our area were no joke.

South winds help push birds along during spring migration. Any day that is significantly warmer in late March or early April, along with a south wind, is a great day to go birding. The weather we experienced on Monday fit this to a T. New arrivals to London included: Osprey, Tree swallows, and the Eastern Phoebe.

Several Osprey sightings were reported, with birds being seen in Springbank Park, Greenway Park, over the Coves, as well as a pair retuning to the nest at Labatt Park. The Osprey feeds almost exclusively on fish so with the Thames River being free of ice, food won’t be a problem. For more information on the Osprey see my previous blog post Spring Marks The Return Of Osprey To London, Ontario.

IMG 3501 1 - April Fools Day Brings New Species To London, Ontario; And That's No Joke — The Eastern Phoebe is a member of the flycatcher family and eats mostly insects.

Tree Swallow’s and Eastern Phoebe’s diet consist of insects, so with cooler temperatures in the forecast for the remainder of the week, these birds may have a bit tougher time than the Osprey. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds website indicates that the Eastern Phoebe will also eat small fruits and seeds when insects are scarce. It also states that the Tree Swallow will consume plant foods during these same conditions. Hopefully these species will find enough food to replace energy spent on their migration north. April 1st is not early by any means for these birds to return to our area, in fact they are right on time. According to local records, the average arrival date over the past 80 years for the Tree Swallow and Eastern Phoebe is March 28th and March 26th respectively.

IMG 1612 1 - April Fools Day Brings New Species To London, Ontario; And That's No Joke — Tree Swallows are also back in the city, and like the Eastern Phoebe are likely going to have to resort to alternate foods in order to survive.

Tundra Swans have been making their way across Southwestern Ontario, and along with them many dabbling ducks. American Wigeon, Wood Ducks, and Blue-winged Teal have all been seen on the Thames River. As more lakes, rivers, and ponds become clear of ice, waterfowl will become more abundant. Fanshawe Lake, Westminster Ponds, and Komoka Ponds are all great places to view migrating ducks once the ice is gone.

IMG 9921 1 - April Fools Day Brings New Species To London, Ontario; And That's No Joke — The Blue-winged Teal is one of the many dabbling ducks that is retuning to our area.

Looking ahead to the Environment Canada extended forecast I don’t see any days that appear to have a real spike in high temperatures or south winds. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get out birding; any day is a great day to bird, and there is always plenty to see around our great city.

Good birding,
Paul