Spring bird sightings begin to accumulate
Winter continues to hang on, but there are definitely signs of spring migration during the past week.
The first Ring-billed Gulls were reported on March 9 at Deschênes Rapids and a few Redwinged Blackbirds and Common Grackles have been reported at feeders.
These individuals may represent wintering birds just south of our area. The true migrants are still making their way north to their summer breeding grounds. There was a Red-necked Grebe on March 5 at Bate Island along with the wintering pair of Barrow’s Goldeneye.
On March 1 a White-winged Scoter was photographed along the Mississippi River at Carleton Place. That individual is likely a wintering bird displaced by ice conditions on Lake Ontario. I have received a number of reports of Trumpeter Swans over the past week with birds being seen near Westport and Chaffeys Lock. This species has been on the increase in Eastern Ontario since the late 1990s and have been found breeding along the Jock River near Carleton Place over the past four years. Watch for them on the Big Rideau Lake, Chaffey’s Lock, along Highway 7 between Carleton Place and Kaladar and in the Kingston area. The influx of Northern Sawwhet Owls sightings continues with reports from Merrickville on March 7, one observed near Almonte on March 8 and another bird found near Burritts Rapids on March 9.
Late winter birding continue to be interesting at Algonquin Park. A recent observations included many of the specialties including Spruce Grouses, Boreal Chickadees and Black-backed Woodpeckers along the Spruce Bog Boardwalk. The Visitor Centre feeder was active with a small number of Common Redpolls while a couple of Gray Jays were located along Opeongo Lake Road. The first European Starling of the spring was observed on March 2 at the visitor feeder too.
Feeder watchers continue to report small numbers of Common Redpolls, American Goldfinches and a few Purple Finches. Overwintering Carolina Wrens appear to have survived the cold. With the first day of spring only a week away there will be lots of birds arriving soon from the south. Remember that American Robins winter in our area and the first ones reported are generally local birds.
With the first day of spring closing in quickly watch for more migrants including Eastern Bluebirds, Eastern Meadowlarks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Northern Harriers, Wilson’s Snipes, Ring-necked Ducks, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Northern Flickers. These are just a sampling of the species that will be arriving over the next few weeks….of course migration will be weather dependent. The milder the weather the more variety of species that will be reported from our area.
I’ve been fortunate to escape part of the cold weather this winter taking part as one of the judges for the second annual Birds in Flight Photography Contest in Cuba. This year more than 30 participants from South America, Russia, United States, Canada and Cuba took part. Over five days, photographers visited and took photographs at various sites-habitats in the Cienaga de Zapata area.
This region hosts the highest concentration of Cuban endemic species along with many wintering North American species. It was an exciting week of birding and photography. If you are interested in taking part I’ll keep you posted on 2016 Birds in Flight Workshop/Contest.