This past weekend was the annual Ontario Field Ornithologists convention, held in Hamilton. These events seems to get more and more popular every year, as this year was another record-breaking crowd of about 275 registrants.
The weather was actually "too" nice as there was almost nothing to look at on the lake. A strong east wind would have made things interesting, as it did in October 1996 during an OFO convention. That year the winds were perfect bringing in lots of jaegers and kittiwakes along Van Wagners Beach.
As usual, there were a variety of field trips around the area and a nice array of birds were found. Large numbers were not around though. The Dundas Marsh trip turned up a few trusty Sharp-tailed Sparrows. There were not many shorebirds since water levels were quite high.
On Saturday, I opted to go with Bob Curry's trip to Fifty Point Conservation Area. We found just under ten species of warblers and other birds. The only thing worth looking at on the lake was a group of three White-winged Scoters!
We then went over to the old Grimsby Sewage Ponds and found a Sora and a Coot. A Greater Yellowlegs was heard nearby.
After lunch we went atop the escarpment and did an old fashioned crop tour. We came up with some meadowlarks, Mockingbirds and an Osprey among other things.
The evening dinner meeting was held at the Grand Olympia Convention Centre. It was a classy place complete with a doorman and fancy waiters for each table!
Harry Lumsden was honoured as Ornithologist of the Year for his amazing work over the last sixty years.
Sunday was dead calm and it seemed like there were not many birds around. I decided to leave early and stop at Rondeau on my way home.
The sparrows had finally come into Rondeau in big numbers, along with Yellow-rumped Warblers and kinglets.
Butterflies included lots of Eastern Commas, Mourning Cloak, Orange and Clouded Sulphurs and a crescent species, and Painted Lady.
Over at Blenheim Lagoons there was Buckeye, a very worn Eastern Tailed-Blue, Least Skipper, and some kind of small bright fritillary that is really bugging me! This butterfly got away from me and I never got a good look at it. It was probably something good, as it was not a Great Spangled at that location and this late date. Who knows?
I could not be bothered to bring my camera along this weekend, so no photos!
BTW, next year's convention is at Point Pelee again!!!
Hi Blake.
ReplyDeleteCool re: Harry Lumsden. I've been talking to him on the phone for years but have never met him in person. I report Trumpeter Swan sightings to him quite often! Always an interesting and informative conversation with him.
Jo :)
We had three Trumpeter Swans show up in Chatham last winter with wing tags. (Quite unusual). The numbers were reported to him and he knew right away the origin of those birds!
ReplyDeleteI love how he fills you in with the history of the bird - date of birth, parents, any cygnets, the swan's name in some cases (lol), where it has been sighted, etc.
ReplyDeleteSee a lot of Trumpeters here - some tagged, some untagged. How beautiful that you got to see 3! Did they stick around for awhile?