This page contains bird sightings reported in 2007 and 2008.

 

2008

 

There were 30 wild turkeys at the corner of Pumpkin Point Road and Lakeview, Laird Township,  Nov 17, 2008, (4:30 pm) eating grain in the field at that intersection.

Dave Euler

We had a fox sparrow at our feeder today, November 16.

Birch Point Road, Lake George

Dave Euler

Location name: Bar River Flats

Date & Effort Observation type:  Traveling Count

Observation date:  7/1/08   Distance covered:  1.5 kilometer(s)

Start time:  12:45 PM    Area covered:  N/A

Duration:  0 hour(s) 20 minute(s)   Elevation:  N/A

Number of people in party:  1

Species

13 Bobolink (8 male, 5 female)

Note – Bobolink populations in the Bar River area appear to be the highest in recent years.

Echo Bay - Pumpkin Point Area

Date & Effort Observation type:  Traveling Count

 

Observation date:  6/20/08   Distance covered:  4.0 kilometer(s)

Start time:  10:00 AM    Area covered:  N/A

Duration:  1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)   Elevation:  N/A

Number of people in party:  2

Species 15 Canada Goose

2 Gadwall

4 American Wigeon

12 Mallard

2 Blue-winged Teal

2 Redhead

4 Common Goldeneye

4 Red-breasted Merganser

2 Pied-billed Grebe

4 Double-crested Cormorant

2 Great Blue Heron

5 Turkey Vulture

1 Osprey

2 Bald Eagle

1 American Coot

2 Spotted Sandpiper

2 Wilson's Snipe

1 Franklin's Gull (in fields along Lakeview Road between Pumpkin Point Rd. and Calabogie  Rd.)

20 Ring-billed Gull

10 Common Tern

2 Tree Swallow

4 American Robin

3 Yellow Warbler

2 Common Yellowthroat

3 Swamp Sparrow

12 Red-winged Blackbird

1 Brown-headed Cowbird

Total species reported: 27

Don and Vivian Hall

Location name: Echo Bay Lake Street Viewing Platform

Date & Effort Observation type: Stationary Count

Observation date: 5/28/08   Distance covered: N/A

Start time: 6:15 AM    Area covered: N/A

Duration: 1 hour(s) 55 minute(s)   Elevation: N/A

Number of people in party: 1

20 Canada Goose

2 Gadwall

6 Mallard

9 Blue-winged Teal

1 Ring-necked Duck

4 Common Merganser

7 Pied-billed Grebe

4 Double-crested Cormorant

1 American Bittern

3 Great Blue Heron

3 Osprey

1 Bald Eagle

1 Virginia Rail

112 Sandhill Crane

2 Semipalmated Plover

2 Wilson's Snipe

2 Black Tern

1 Tree Swallow

1 Sedge Wren

6 Yellow Warbler

6 Common Yellowthroat

5 Swamp Sparrow

12 Red-winged Blackbird

4 Common Grackle

 

 Total species reported: 24

 Don Hall

 

Location name: Lake George near Maple Leaf Rd

Observation type: Traveling Count

Observation date: 5/24/08   Distance covered: 3.0 kilometer(s)

Start time:  6:30 AM

Duration: 2 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

Number of people in party: 1

5 Canada Goose 

7 Mallard 

7 Greater/Lesser Scaup 

2 Red-breasted Merganser 

1 Common Loon 

54 Double-crested Cormorant 

1 American Bittern 

2 Great Blue Heron 

4 Herring Gull 

15 Common Tern 

4 Mourning Dove 

1 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 

3 Northern Flicker 

1 Pileated Woodpecker 

2 American Crow 

12 Black-capped Chickadee 

1 Red-breasted Nuthatch 

1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 

12 American Robin 

4 European Starling 

5 Nashville Warbler 

5 Yellow Warbler 

3 Chestnut-sided Warbler 

3 Magnolia Warbler 

3 Black-throated Green Warbler 

2 Black-and-white Warbler 

5 Ovenbird 

5 Common Yellowthroat 

4 Swamp Sparrow 

12 Red-winged Blackbird 

2 Brown-headed Cowbird 

4 American Goldfinch

 

Total species reported: 32

Don Hall

 

 

Location name: Pumpkin Point

Date & Effort Observation type: Stationary Count

Observation date: 5/24/08

Start time: 8:45 AM

Duration: 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

Number of people in party: 2

55 Canada Goose

4 Gadwall

6 Mallard

2 Blue-winged Teal

3 Redhead

20 Greater/Lesser Scaup

1 Common Goldeneye

6 Red-breasted Merganser

2 Pied-billed Grebe

20 Double-crested Cormorant

2 American Bittern

2 Bald Eagle

1 Sora

2 Spotted Sandpiper

20 Common Tern

1 Northern Flicker

4 Black-capped Chickadee

6 American Robin

5 European Starling

5 Yellow Warbler

3 Chestnut-sided Warbler

5 Common Yellowthroat

4 Swamp Sparrow

12 Red-winged Blackbird

 

Total species reported: 24

Don and Vivian Hall

Location name: Pumpkin Point

Date & Effort Observation type: Stationary Count

Observation date: 5/23/08

Start time: 6:30 AM

Duration: 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)

Number of people in party: 2

12 Canada Goose

2 Gadwall

4 Blue-winged Teal

20 Greater/Lesser Scaup

1 Bufflehead

2 Pied-billed Grebe

12 Double-crested Cormorant

2 Great Blue Heron

1 Osprey

1 Bald Eagle

1 Peregrine Falcon

1 Sora

3 Northern Flicker

2 Tree Swallow

3 Yellow Warbler

2 Ovenbird

3 Common Yellowthroat

3 Swamp Sparrow

8 Red-winged Blackbird

 

Total species reported: 19

 

Don and Vivian Hall

 

May 18, 2008

Well we still have our Saw-Whet owl here in Elliot Lake.  Jim and Pat Johnston and myself, went to check on our little one with bated breath and we were not disappointed.  Even though we walked quietly to not disturb her, she stuck her tiny head out of the box and of course, we all were thrilled to see her.

We'll be going to check the box in another week or so to see if there are eggs or actual little ones.

I was so stunned to see her live and how tiny she is.  The picture really shows how small she is.

-Marretta (forwarded by Tony Walker)

May 12, 2008 – 4:00 pm

Following leads posted on ontbirds, and with the help of John Ralston…

Tufted Duck (initially reported by Bob Knudsen) – easily observed in the sailboat area north of Topsail Island, Belleview Park.

Marbled Godwit (initially reported by Ken McIlwrick) – not so easily found in grassy shoreline vegetation just east of Belleview Park, in the bay due south of the end of Lake Street.

Don Hall

 

Bird Checklist from Tony Walker's Vancouver Island Outing

Click on 2008AprVancouverIslandwithTonyandJackreport.pdf to download the full outing report, with photos.

Group Checklist – Vancouver Island – April 15-22

Red-throated Loon

Pacific Loon

Common Loon

Pied-billed Grebe

Horned Grebe

Red-necked Grebe

Western Grebe

DC Cormorant

Brandt’s Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Greater White-f Goose

Brant

Canada Goose

Cackling Goose

Wood Duck

Gr-winged Teal

Mallard

N Pintail

N Shoveler

Eurasian Wigeon

Am Wigeon

Ring-necked Duck

Greater Scaup

Lesser Scaup

Gadwall

Black Scoter

White-w Scoter

Surf Scoter

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead

Hooded Merganser

Common Merganser

Red-br Merganser

Harlequin Duck

Turkey Vulture

Bald Eagle

Golden Eagle

Am Kestrel

Merlin

California Quail

American Coot

Sandhill Crane

Surfbird

Black-bellied Plover

Killdeer

Greater Yellowlegs

Black Oystercatcher

Mew Gull

Gl-winged Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

Common Murre

Pigeon Guillemot

Rhinoceros Auklet

Rock Pigeon

Band-tailed Pigeon

Rufous Hummingbird

Anna’s Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

N Flicker

Hairy Woodpecker

Steller’s Jay

N western Crow

C Raven

Tree Swallow

Violet-gr Swallow

Nor R-wing Swallow

Chestnut-b Chickadee

Bushtit

Red-br Nuthatch

Brown Creeper

Bewick’s Wren

Winter Wren

Marsh Wren

Am Dipper

Golden-cr Kinglet

Ruby-cr Kinglet

Hermit Thrush

Am Robin

Varied Thrush

Eur Starling

Orange-cr Warbler

Yellow-r Warbler

Blk-thr Gray Warbler

Townsend’s Warbler

C Yellowthroat

Spotted Towhee

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Golden-cr Sparrow

White-cr Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Purple Finch

House Finch

Red Crossbill

Pine Siskin

House Sparrow

Trip total: 100

Mammal species

River Otter (N P Pk)

Sea Otter (off Ucluelet)

Harbour Seal “

Grey Whale “

California Sea Lion “

Steller’s Sea Lion “

Black Bear (Sproat Lk)

 

D. Wilshere, Apr 08

This field report is from Sam Rosa, and sightings in and around his house on Mark Street close to Bell Vue Park.

Tony Walker

Note - checked Airstrip on Calabogie Road (at 10:00 am April 20 and 7:40 am and 9:00 am April 21) for Sharp-tailed Grouse lek behaviour. No luck. Does anyone know what time is best? Don Hall

Location name: Calabogie - Pumpkin Point Area

Date & Effort Observation type: Traveling Count

Observation date: 4/20/08   Distance covered: 3.0 mile(s)

Start time: 7:40 AM   Duration: 2 hour(s) 20 minute(s) Number of people in party: 13

Species:

200 Canada Goose

2 Gadwall

2 American Wigeon

20 Mallard

2 Northern Pintail

200 Ring-necked Duck

10 Greater/Lesser Scaup

50 Bufflehead

4 Common Goldeneye

4 Common Merganser

8 Sharp-tailed Grouse

6 Wild Turkey

4 Pied-billed Grebe

6 Turkey Vulture

5 Osprey

4 Bald Eagle

3 Northern Harrier

2 Sharp-shinned Hawk

10 Sandhill Crane

2 Killdeer

2 Wilson's Snipe

2 Mourning Dove

4 Northern Flicker

1 Eastern Phoebe

1 Tree Swallow

50 European Starling

10 Song Sparrow

4 Swamp Sparrow

15 Dark-eyed Junco

8 Red-winged Blackbird

 

Don Hall

Location name: Echo Bay - Pumpkin Point Area (Club Outing)

Date & Effort Observation type:  Traveling Count

Observation date:  4/19/08 

Start time:  7:45 AM    Area covered:  N/A

Duration:  3 hour(s) 0 minute(s)   Elevation:  N/A

Number of people in party:  7

200 Canada Goose

7 Tundra Swan

2 Gadwall

2 American Wigeon

100 Mallard

4 Northern Pintail

15 Green-winged Teal

8 Redhead

300 Ring-necked Duck

4 Greater/Lesser Scaup

200 Bufflehead

10 Common Goldeneye

2 Hooded Merganser

4 Common Merganser

2 Ruffed Grouse

4 Pied-billed Grebe

1 Turkey Vulture

2 Osprey

1 Bald Eagle

2 Sharp-shinned Hawk

7 Sandhill Crane

12 Wilson's Snipe

1 Belted Kingfisher

3 Northern Flicker

2 Eastern Phoebe

2 Blue Jay

2 Tree Swallow

1 Hermit Thrush

4 American Tree Sparrow

10 Song Sparrow

2 Swamp Sparrow

20 Dark-eyed Junco

2 Red-winged Blackbird

1 Purple Finch

1 Common Redpoll

 

 Total species reported: 35

 

 Don Hall

 

Location name: Echo Bay - Pumpkin Point Area

Observation date:  4/13/08   1 Ross's Goose

800+ Canada Goose, 8 American Black Duck,70+ Mallard, 12 Greater/Lesser Scaup, 14 Bufflehead

16 Common Goldeneye, 3 Hooded Merganser, 5 Wild Turkey, 10 Turkey Vulture, 1 Osprey, 3 Red-tailed Hawk

6 Rough-legged Hawk, 3 American Kestrel, 1 Merlin, 40+ Sandhill Crane, 2 Rock Pigeon, 2 Black-capped Chickadee

1 White-breasted Nuthatch, 12 American Robin, 200+ European Starling,

The Ross’s Goose is now on Government Road (east side) about 500m south of the Bar River bridge.

Don Hall

 

Hi Guys, Jack and I decided on trip to St Joes to Sample the Gilbertsons Maple Syrup Samplers, and also do a spot of birding on route. The Sun was shining and the sky was clear as we passed down the New Highway, to St Joes several Ospreys were to be seen and between 5/6 nests are located on the electrical power lines and a few post types were to be seen. The fields were either flooded or iced over lots of Canada Geese, Sandhill Cranes and Mallards were seen in large numbers. We had decided on Pancakes first and then birding the temperature climbed it became very obvious as the day wore on that we were right in the middle of migration and the species list reflected that. The following day we were in the grip of a fullscale winter storm. But this day as we wended over St. Joes and the back roads the weather was balmyand gave us a feeling of inner peace, truly a great day for birding, Chips agreed and he and I walked for about a mile and met Jack who had driven round.

Tony Walker

 

Location name: Bar River Flats     

Observation date:         4/10/08                                

Number of people in party:       2

1          Ross's Goose

600      Canada Goose

17        Tundra Swan

4          American Black Duck

60        Mallard

2          Common Goldeneye

45        Hooded Merganser

2          Northern Harrier

2          American Kestrel

(The Ross’s Goose was near Bar River Road, 300m west of Government Road)

Don Hall

Date: April 8 2008

Location name: Bar River Flats + Pumpkin Point

(most birds are along Bar River Road, east of Government Road)

500 Canada Goose

123 Tundra Swan

1 American Wigeon

40 American Black Duck

150 Mallard

4 Northern Pintail

1 Bufflehead

2 Common Goldeneye

30 Hooded Merganser

3 Turkey Vulture

1 Bald Eagle

5 Rough-legged Hawk

3 American Kestrel

6 Sandhill Crane

20 American Crow

12 European Starling

1 Song Sparrow

 

Don Hall

April 7, 2008

Lake George is still largely frozen, so migrating waterfowl have moved inland…

Tundra Swans are back – total of approx 150 in Echo Bay (still 70% frozen) and flooded fields along Bar River Road East. 400+ Canada Geese, Hundreds of Mallards, dozens of American Black ducks and 3 Northern Pintail also in the flooded fields. Mixed flock of Dark-eyed Juncos and American Tree Sparrows at 195 Maple Leaf Road. Also in Echo Bay area – 3 Rough-legged hawks, 3 Northern Harriers, 1 Kestrel, 2 Wood Ducks, 17 Turkey Vultures

Also dozens of Common Goldeneye and Hooded Mergansers at Squirrel Island

It’s wonderful to see the birds returning!

 

Don Hall

 

2007

 

December 27, 2007 - Five mature bald eagles near the intersection of 3 Mile Road and Riverside Drive in Sault Ste. Marie, MI. Three were in a tree at the edge of the St. Mary's River and two others were just north of that. Leslie Askwith

November 18 - 10 Tundra Swans, 10 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Bufflehead, 1 Bald Eagle, 1 Northern Harrier. Lake George wetlands at Maple Leaf Road. Also, Ken McIlwrick tells me that the huge rafts of dark-coloured ducks out in the middle of Lake George are Lesser Scaup. Don Hall

November 17 - 178 swans (presumably Tundra Swans), 50+ Canada Goose, 20+ Bufflehead, 40+ Mallard, 10+ American Black Duck, 1 Bald Eagle, 100+ unidentified waterfowl. Echo Bay Lake Street viewing platform. Don Hall

November 15 - a darkish rough-legged hawk is a regular along old Hwy 17 between Watson and Bar River Roads. Also, there are still Tundra Swans at Echo Bay marsh. but I haven't had a chance to count them lately. Don Hall

November 11 - 10 Pine grosbeaks, 5 American Goldfinch, 5 Black-capped Chickadee, 2 Blue jay, 1 Common Redpoll. Feeder on Watson Road West. Don Hall

November 5 - unconfirmed reports of a Great Grey Owl in the Sault College Woodlot. Large owl observed last week, not seen since. Don Hall

November 4 - 10+ Pine Siskins and 1 Northern Shrike. Feeder on Watson Road West. Don Hall

November 2 - 253 Tundra Swans, 4 Mallards, 13 Bufflehead, 5 Common Goldeneye, 4 Hooded Merganser, 2 Canada Geese - Echo Bay Lake Street veiwing platform. Don Hall

November 1 - 257 swans. Echo Bay Lake Street veiwing platform. Don Hall

October 30 - 54 swans (presumably Tundra Swans), 5 Common Goldeneye, 3 Bufflehead, 1 Common Merganser. Lake George wetlands at Maple Leaf Road. Don Hall

October 23 - 41 Tundra Swans, 5 American Black Duck, 5 Bufflehead, 2 Great Blue Heron, 3 American Tree Sparrows. Lake George wetlands at Maple Leaf Road. Don Hall

October 23 - 25+ American Tree Sparrows and 3 Dark-eyed Juncos. Sault College J-wing South Parking Lot.

Don Hall

October 21 - 124 swans on Lake George, at the West end of Maple Leaf Road. All appeared to be Tundra Swans, but they were a long way off. Also - for the last week or so there have been large rafts (200+) of dark-coloured ducks in the middle of Lake George. Too far off to ID without a scope.

Don Hall

Birds seen. Double Crested Cormorant-2. Sandhill Crane-largest Groups 30+ also solitary and groups of 5 everywhere.

Tundra Swan- some on ice packed Lake George and 9 in a field near bar River. Mallard mostly in pairs several hundred

in field and on the water. Black Duck-100+. Blue Winged Teal- 1pr. Common Goldeneye-14. Bufflehead-10+. Common

Merganser-6pr. Hooded Merganser-12 in fields Echo Bay. Ring Bill and Herring Gull lots. Turkey Vultutr-2. Bald Eagle- 1 first year bird. Northern Harrier-2. Broadwing Hawk-6. Red Tail Hawk 1 imm. Rough Legged Hawk-12 + 1 Dark Morph.

Osprey 3. Kestrel-4. Ruffed Grouse-15. Wild Turkey one very large male doing his strut and 7 others?. Mourning Dove-14.

Northern Flicker-1. Lots of Ravens and Crows. Black Capped Chickadee-3. Red Breasted Nuthatch-1 American Robin large flocks 20 + at edge of fields. Northern Shrike-3 one singing this is only the second time I have heard this beautiful song.

Starling-+. Song Sparrow-8. Snow Bunting-2. Rusty Blackbird-1. Common Grackle-6. Red winged Blackbird-3.

There were lots of white tailed Deer mixed in with the Cranes. Sam Rosa told me he had in his garden Yellow Rumped Warbler and also Brown Creeper. So spring is bursting forth. Cheers,

Location name: Calabogie - Pumpkin Point Area

Date & Effort Observation type: Traveling Count

Observation date: 4/20/08   Distance covered: 3.0 mile(s)

Start time: 7:40 AM

Duration: 2 hour(s) 20 minute(s)

Number of people in party: 13

200 Canada Goose

2 Gadwall

2 American Wigeon

20 Mallard

2 Northern Pintail

200 Ring-necked Duck

10 Greater/Lesser Scaup

50 Bufflehead

4 Common Goldeneye

4 Common Merganser

8 Sharp-tailed Grouse

6 Wild Turkey

4 Pied-billed Grebe

6 Turkey Vulture

5 Osprey

4 Bald Eagle

3 Northern Harrier

2 Sharp-shinned Hawk

10 Sandhill Crane

2 Killdeer

2 Wilson's Snipe

2 Mourning Dove

4 Northern Flicker

1 Eastern Phoebe

1 Tree Swallow

50 European Starling

10 Song Sparrow

4 Swamp Sparrow

15 Dark-eyed Junco

8 Red-winged Blackbird

Evening, Bald Eagle 6,  Herring and Ring Billed Gulls,  Robin 20+,  Mourning Dove 4,  Rock Pigeon 12,  Black C Chickadees  10,  American Crow 100+,  Canada Goose 50+,  Song Sparrow 4 singing,  White Throated Sparrow 2Males singing, White Breasted Nuthatch 2m,  Rose Breasted Grosbeak 2m singing,  Common Grackle 200+,  House Wren 2singing,  Winter Wren 2,  Mallard 100+,  Great Blue Heron2, Sharp Shinned Hawk,  Pileated Woodpecker 1, Dark Eyed Junco 10,

Golden Crowned Kinglet 1m,  Northern Parula 2m singing,  Yellow Warbler 2m singing,  Chest-nut Sided Warbler 2m singing,  Yellow-rumped Warbler 6,  Blackburnian Warbler2m,  Bay-breasted 2m,  Blackpoll Warbler 10m, Magnolia Warbler 3m singing,  American Redstart 2m,  European Starlings 200+  Many thanks on behalf of Sam.