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

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

American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident?

Many people associate seeing a Robin in early March as the unofficial start of spring. Truth is that many Robins don’t migrate south at all. Check their year-round range in the map section of your favourite field guide and you will see that it extends into eastern Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes. So why do these birds seem to disappear come fall and into winter?

Watermark 1 - American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident? — **This leucistic American Robin feeds on the fruit of a Buckthorn tree.**

Robins feed on a variety of food: earthworms, insects, as well as fruits, and berries. In the spring rising temperatures and warm rains melt the snow, making flooded lawns and gardens the perfect place to spot Robins foraging on worms, grubs, and insects. This is when many see their first Robin of the year and proclaim spring to be here. During the fall and winter months, a Robin’s diet consists mostly of fruit and berries, so they are not likely to be seen hopping across a snow covered lawn in search of food. Look for them to be roosting in the canopies or thick underbrush of trees and shrubs that produce berries such as Buckthorns, Hawthorns, or Dogwoods. Two areas I have had luck finding Robins in winter are, along rivers where Buckthorn lined banks provide shelter from the wind and plenty of food, and low swampy areas adjacent to ponds with fruit-bearing trees around.

IMG 5305 1 - American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident? — **As the seasons change, so too does the Robin’s diet. During the winter months American Robin’s feed on fruit and berries.**

During spring and summer, Robins can be heard singing and calling before sunrise and after sunset. In winter Robins are less vocal, making their presence seldom known. The opposite behavior from spring to fall gives this bird the illusion of disappearing from an area, when in fact their numbers could still be quite high. On a recent walk along my local river, I caught an orange flash out of the corner of my eye. I glanced over and saw that a Robin had landed in a tree next to the path. I paused for some photos and could hear the fluttering of many wing beats. Glancing up into the trees I could see several Robins gorging themselves on berries. I lowered my lens, began to count, and quickly reached thirty birds. These Robins were a mere arm’s length from the path, and because of their stealthy behavior, almost went unnoticed by me. On this particular day, the wind chill was -22C, but the abundance of food had plenty of Robins still in the area.

IMG 3831 1 - American Robin: A Sign Of Spring, Or Elusive Winter Resident? — **Finding trees with remaining fruit is crucial in locating robins during winter.**

Next time you are out doing some winter birding pay special attention to the thick underbrush and canopies of fruit-producing trees and shrubs. There is a pretty good chance you will come across a Robin giving you false hope of spring.

Good birding,
Paul

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Add Beautiful Colour And Sound To Your Yard By Attracting The Northern Cardinal

Northern Cardinals are one of the most recognized birds throughout their range. Males with their bright red bodies and black masks can be identified by just about anyone. In the United States the Cardinal is the mascot of two professional sports teams, twelve colleges or universities and is the state bird in seven states so it is easily recognized by birders and non birders alike.

Attracting Cardinals to your yard is quite easy. They will accept almost any kind of seed, but their two favourites are black oil sunflower, and safflower. In my yard I have one feeder filled with black oil sunflower seeds and another with a mix of the two. These birds can be quite territorial especially during the breeding season so spacing feeders out around your yard will get you more of this species. Cardinals are great ground feeders so they will clean up any seed that finds it way underneath your feeder. Northern Cardinals are generally the first and last bird at your feeder during the day. Their silhouettes can be seen on your feeder at first and last light, but will provide colour and beautiful sound to your yard all day long.

When not eating at a feeder Cardinals consume berries and seeds and prefer the cover of dense shrubs and thickets. Nesting also takes place in these same areas so consider planting your garden accordingly. In recent years I have added red osier dogwoods to my yard. These are a native species that provide excellent cover from predators as well as nesting areas for many birds. I have read where as many as 102 species of birds consume their berries with Cardinals being one of them. As well as attracting birds these shrubs with their red branches provide beautiful colour to any garden and really stand out in winter against a snowy backdrop.

Cardinals will nest in a birdhouse but prefer an open platform or shelf style. These types of houses should be mounted in dense shrubs and many sites suggest 2-15 feet off the ground. I would personally recommend higher than two feet because that at least rules out any non climbing predators such as cats from accessing it. Areas higher up in a shrub will also provide denser cover. Cardinals will generally not use the same nest area twice so it is recommended that the platform is moved to a new location at the end of the year.

Good birding,
Paul

London, Ontario Birding Report November 10-17

This past week didn’t see me getting out much, but during my walks along the Thames River I encountered several species of birds. Nothing out of the ordinary but many nice views nonetheless. The two most abundant species were American Robins and Cedar Waxwings. Both could be seen in large flocks feeding on the berries of the various trees and shrubs that line the river banks. Small groups of Buffleheads and Common Mergansers were seen diving on the river in search of food. I found American Tree Sparrows in the many goldenrod fields adjacent to wooded areas along the pathways.

Birds of prey were spotted in small numbers but included Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks and an American Kestrel. I have an adult and immature Cooper’s Hawk that check out my feeders quite regularly and a Merlin briefly passed by overhead while I was filling them.

My backyard feeders have been very busy all week especially earlier when we had cooler temperatures and snow. Mourning Doves, Dark-eyed Juncos and Black-capped Chickadees appeared in the largest numbers. Blue Jays, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches and three species of Woodpecker were frequent visitors too.

Here’s hoping that the upcoming week will present some new species.

Good birding,
Paul

A Few Highlights From My Year So Far

When I think back to all the birds I’ve seen and photographed this year, a few stand out. With over a month left in this year there is still time to see a new species or two but some will be hard to top. To date I’ve seen and photographed over 150 species within the city of London. I am constantly amazed at the many different species that either live in or pass through our great city.

In January I found myself walking the banks the Thames River every chance I got searching for the many Bald Eagles that use the river as a food source throughout the winter. I had quite a bit of success and found the colder and more miserable the weather the better. Not ideal conditions for photography but I usually saw at least one eagle. Several species of waterfowl wintered on the river including Common Goldeneye and three types of Merganser.

Once spring approached the warbler migration was in full swing. I observed many species that were new to me with my favourite being the male Blackburnian Warbler. It’s black and white body with bright orange head and throat were a real treat to see. In April I managed a few shots of a leucistic American Robin as it searched for food in the grass at a local park. Leucism is a condition characterized by reduced pigmentation in animals. Another April highlight was watching a pair of Peregrine Falcons hunting Mourning doves off a line of hydro wires. You cannot appreciate the speed of this bird until you witness it in person.

Summer was a little slow for birding, but the resident Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Baltimore Orioles, and Indigo Buntings provided lots of colourful pictures. The highlight of summer was coming across a White-tailed Doe and her two fawns at one my favorite birding places. I still encounter this family and have watched the two fawns go from being smaller than my dog and covered in spots, to being not recognizable as fawns unless next to their mother.

As fall set in their were plenty more warbler opportunities, the return of many sparrows, and of course the fall raptor migration. Seeing a kettle of 30 Broad Winged Hawks over the Thames River a mere blocks from downtown was an impressive sight. The Rusty Blackbird was a new species for me that I was able to photograph at Westminster Ponds ESA.

Now that we are into late fall and winter nears, I am hoping to add more birds to my list. Owls are a species in particular that have eluded my lens in the past but I am optimistic that will soon change. Hopefully all of you have had great success birding this year and encountered a new species or two. The possibility of encountering something new is what drives us all.

Good birding,
Paul

Birding Is My Ultimate Simple, Inexpensive Hobby

When I think about the various hobbies I have or have had over the course of my life, birding has been by far the least expensive and required the least organization. No special equipment or planning is required, all I really need is my eyes and ears. I have observed many different species in my backyard, local parks and conservation areas. The need to travel great distances to see a variety of birds simply is not necessary.

If a change of scenery and some exercise is what I am looking for then I have several options close to home. My personal favourite places in the city to bird are the seven publicly owned ESA areas, Fanshawe Conservation Area and any of the city parks along the Thames River. These areas offer diverse habitat and therefore a good variety of bird species. I am not going to break the Ontario Big Year record of 344 species but I have observed over 150 species combined in these areas and the farthest one is only twenty minutes from my house.

Birding for me has been the perfect hobby. It is a great way to be active and I find it incredibly relaxing. By keeping it close to home there are no big costs involved and I can pick up and go at anytime. In my life I find myself playing chauffeur quite a bit and have learned to use that to my advantage. Once I know where I am going, I find somewhere to walk and bird in that area. Instead of just picking up and dropping off, I stay in the area and make the most of it. It is a great way to explore new places, find time for my hobby and squeeze some exercise into my day too. By keeping it simple there are no excuses for me not to get out. I find myself having more time to do something I love and have benefitted greatly from it both physically and mentally.

Good birding,
Paul

Improve Your Birding Success By Putting The Odds In Your Favour

Have you ever been out birding and asked yourself “where are all the birds?” I have. Sure some days are better than others for birding depending on the time of year or weather conditions, but some days you just have to put the odds in your favour. Birds are more active first thing in the morning and later in the afternoon so these are excellent times to head out. Naturally though not everyone can go out at these times, so you must make the most of your time when you can get out.

The first thing I do when birding is use the wind in my favour. Perching on a branch that is constantly swaying in the wind is difficult for birds and expends energy so concentrate your birding in protected areas. Look for an open field adjacent to and protected by a wooded area or in the wooded area itself. Finding a food source is another key to locating birds. Songbirds in the wild feed on insects, fruit and seeds. At this time of year you can find many species of bird feeding on the seeds of the goldenrod plant. Chickadees, Sparrows, Juncos, and Finches can all be found clinging to and feeding on this abundant wild plant. Dogwoods and Buckthorns produce fruit that are a favourite of many birds as well. Coniferous trees such as spruce, pine, and cedar not only provide food from their seeds but their branches are excellent cover from the weather and predators.

Birding near water is always a great idea. Check out your local lake, river, or pond for excellent birding opportunities. The water itself can not only be a great spot to find waterfowl, but eagles, herons and songbirds can always be found close to water. Following a river is by far my favourite place to go birding. Many native species of fruit bearing trees and shrubs grow along their banks so they are the perfect mix of food, water, and shelter. My days with the highest counts have always been along a river regardless of season or weather conditions.

Remember when birding to use your ears too. Listening for their various calls and songs is an excellent way to locate active birds. Once you have distinguished where the sounds are coming from you can move into a position for viewing and counting. Wear quiet clothing. Jackets and pants that make noise when the material rubs together is a great way to scare off birds. Always walk slowly and quietly to avoid alerting your presence. Watch where you are stepping. I learned early in my birding days that the sound of a snapping stick under my foot can really clear the area of wary birds. When trying to approach a bird do not walk directly to it. Take a zig zag course towards the bird and avoid looking directly at it . By keeping track of it out of the corner of your eye as you approach, you will be able to get much closer.

Keep these things in mind next time you head out and watch your days count totals increase.

Good birding,
Paul

Selecting a Quality Bird Seed

If you are like me, you enjoy feeding the birds and try to attract as many species as possible to your yard. Feeding our feathered friends can become quite expensive as you well know. Some weeks I think I spend more at the feed store than the grocery store. Quality bird seed will not only attract more birds but it will also save you money.

I like to buy seed that has high amounts of sunflower seeds and peanuts. I find these two ingredients attract the most birds. Many inexpensive bird seed mixes are made up mostly of fillers that birds do not like. Two of the most common fillers are milo and cracked corn. You may be thinking to yourself, “wait a minute, birds eat corn!” Yes they do but there is a difference between cracked and cut corn. Cut corn is exactly that, cut. Therefore you get several small pieces of corn that the birds, especially doves, love and is good in a seed mix. Cracked corn on the other hand results in mostly dust that is not edible.

Milo is the other big filler and not something birds prefer. They will eat it as a last resort but it should be avoided in seed mixes. Have you ever noticed that yellowy orange paste under your feeder after a rain or when the snow melts in the spring? That is all milo and dust from cracked corn that the birds have pushed off the feeder trying to get to “the good stuff”. All that waste adds weight that is factored into the price of your seed.

Take for instance a 10lb bag of bird seed. If 60% of it is fillers, you are only getting 4lbs of seed that the birds will actually eat. If you pay five or ten bucks more for a bag of seed that doesn’t contain these fillers, the birds will eat 100% of the seed. Think about it. Would you rather a $20 bag of seed that birds only eat 40% of or a $30 bag that they eat 100% of? By spending a little more initially on your seed purchase you will end up saving money in the long run. In addition to the money saved you won’t have to chisel that paste off your lawn every spring!

Local independent birding stores will have far better quality seed mixes than your favourite big box store. The best part is you won’t have to line up like cattle either!

Good Birding,
Paul

wren - Selecting a Quality Bird Seed — This Carolina Wren is feasting at my feeder on a mix containing black oil sunflower seeds and peanut halves.