Resources for birding by ear

This is from Miami Florida in March 2010. There has been a recent influx of Cattle Egret in Ontario (late Oct 2010). I was tempted to go see some in Chatham, but I figured since I've seen them before, I would spare the environmental costs of driving two hours to see them. It would be a new addition to say... my Canada life list.

I've come across a pretty cool resource for those birders who are trying to learn various bird calls. This site is really good. If you click the "Guest Link" for Canada... You have 400 birds to chose from. Pretty cool!

http://www.natureinstruct.org/dendroica/ (Right click, Open in new Tab)

I also came across another interesting site/ page by David Sibley discussing "The two faces of the Downy Woodpecker" interesting article for such a common bird. I've never noticed this phenomenon.



http://www.sibleyguides.com/2010/02/the-two-faces-of-downy-woodpecker/ (Right click, Open in new Tab)

Of course, any birders in Essex County who are wondering "whats in season this month?" and "Where am I most likely to see a particular bird" can use this link to ebird.ca's bar graphs.  The link I provide is to Essex County, but if you are interested in another county, just go to Ebird.ca and start from the beginning.


http://ebird.org/ebird/canada/GuideMe?step=saveChoices&getLocations=counties&parentState=CA-ON&bMonth=01&bYear=1900&eMonth=12&eYear=2010&reportType=location&counties=CA-ON-ES&continue.x=62&continue.y=14&continue=Continue   (Right click, Open in new Tab)

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This week at Point Pelee, while birding near Delaurier Trail, I was asked by PPNP staff and a Photographer about getting photographed for some of their promotional materials. Who would have thought that I would be a model? Ha!!!

Saturday was not overly exciting. I stopped at the Day's Inn Hotel and looked at the mudflats in Sturgeon Creek. There were Hundreds of Geese, Gulls and Shorebirds. At Point Pelee, I parked at the West Beach Parking lot and walked Tilden's Trail & later Anders' footpath near Delaurier.

 I saw this Carolina Wren while driving just north or Delaurier Homestead.  Tildens Trail was quiet with the exception of one small pocket of BC Chickadees, Yellow Rumped Warblers, Ruby Crowned Kinglets and yet another box-shaped Winter Wren. One interesting observation from this last weekend of birding was how often I heard Carolina Wrens. Have not really seen/heard them since April this year when I photographed one for the first time. That was one of my favorite lifers!

Ojibway Prairie in late October. The days are getting shorter. I took this photo at 6:30 tonight!

Good Birding!
Dwayne

Short trip to Point Pelee

Saturday morning, I took a quick trip to Point Pelee. I am presently in the market for a Kayak, so I had been planning to pick one up at Pelee Wings and possibly go out into the Marsh with it. But, I just did not have enough time to do all these things, so I differed the purchase of my Kayak for a later time.

Interestingly, as I drove over Sturgeon Creek on the bridge, in the corner of my eye I noticed the tell-tale white-navy-blue flash pattern of a Belted Kingfisher in flight, so I put on my hazard lights and pulled over on the bridge. It was really 'birdy' there!

Sturgeon Creek Bridge birds:
Purple Martin (lifer)
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Double Crested Cormorant
Belted Kingfisher
Great Egret (flying in the distance)

Upon arrival at Point Pelee, I quickly noticed a single pair of ducks in Sanctuary Pond (only one pair?) They were wood ducks.

Several west side beach areas were pretty quiet. I would have liked to have seen a Mourning Cloak butterfly, but none were to be found.

I walked Delaurier Trail and Tildens Trail. Both were pretty quiet. Sturgeon creek was almost a little more interesting. I also walked about 50 meters up the board-walk (or 'bored'-walk) and noticed a single American Coot in the Marsh. That would have been a lifer had I not gone to Florida in March.

On Tilden's trail, its funny,,, I did not really see too many birds (RWB's not included) but I noticed it was nicely flooded on each side of the trail. I also heard on occasion very unique bird songs that I was unable to identify. Looking out from the East beach, I noticed many windmills lining the horizon! I can't believe they put Windmills on a major north american migration route! I guess time will tell how this will effect birds in migration. Will the wind turbine owners disclose any statistics on their effect on birds?

Point Pelee Birds:

Cardinal
Eastern Phoebe
Great Blue Heron (flying overhead)
Northern Flicker
Downy Woodpecker
American Coot (in the Marsh)
Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher? (Just a faint glimpse @ Tildens Trail)
Red Tailed Hawk
Various Gulls and Scaup in the distance
Huge numbers of Red Winged Blackbirds, Grackles and Robins

Overall a quiet day at Point Pelee. I was really only there for about 2 hours, almost not worth the drive out from Windsor. But... this is what birders do. If nothing else, its good exercise and practice for my photography skills.

Happy Birding!

(Click image to see larger view)