Copied below are the summer reports (2018-2019) I wrote for North American Birds (NAB). The ABA could never get their act together with regards to NAB, so I decided to post them here. It is quite discouraging after doing all this compiling and never see it in print!
2018:
After a rather wet and cool
spring, it was more seasonal in early June.
By late June, there was little rain throughout the province and the
first half of July was very dry and warm.
Fire bans were put in place in the north during July. By late July, some relief came with more
regular rainfall.
Bird sightings were general in
nature, and fewer exceptional rarities were reported compared to the year
previous.
Notable rarities included Black-bellied
Whistling-Duck, Western Grebe, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (2), White-faced
Ibis, Black-headed Gull, Cassin’s Kingbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (2), Bell’s
Vireo, Painted Bunting, Ontario’s sixth Virginia’s Warbler and a Black-headed
Grosbeak.
Ontario is divided into three
review zones: South, Central and Lowlands.
Place names in italics refer to counties, districts, or
regional municipalities.
WATERFOWL THROUGH SHOREBIRDS
A Black-bellied Whistling-Duck was a one-day surprise at Guelph, Wellington 14 Jun (Genevieve C. E.
White). A tardy northbound Brant was notable at Port Hope, Northumberland 15 Jun (T. Buchanan). Trumpeter Swans have been more
regular in the south in recent years. Two were at Essex, Essex 9 Jun (Donny Moore). From the previous period, the pair continued
at Hillman Marsh C.A., Essex (m.ob.).
They were observed regularly, but no evidence of breeding was obtained. Rare for
the South during summer was the King Eider at Toronto, Toronto 28 Jul (Ella Fu, Allison Zhang). A Harlequin Duck at
Toronto 2 Jun was a late spring migrant (Owen Strickland). An Eared Grebe was
notable at Ottawa’s Britannia Pier, Ottawa
1 Jun (Nick Van Multzalm, m.ob.). A Western Grebe was very late at Victoria
Point, Simcoe 13 Jun (Lawrence
Grossman). One was at Tillsonburg, Oxford
2 Jun (Faye Wirth et al.), and in the Central region one was at Rainy River, Rainy River 30 Jun (Michael S. Dawber et
al.). Another was observed at Toronto 8 Jul (Lloyd Paul, Elizabeth Freeman).
White-winged Doves are also increasing to the same degree. The annual Rondeau P.P. resident was finally
joined by a female 13 Jul (Melvin VanKoughnett, m.ob.). The pair was observed
copulating at one point and the male would disappear for long periods of
time. No nest was ever found, dashing
hopes of a first successful breeding record for Ontario. The last observation of the pair was 31 Aug. Another
was at Ottawa, Ottawa 26 May–1 Jun (Charles
M. Francis, m.ob.). One was frequenting a feeder setup at Selim, Thunder Bay 29 May–5 Jun (Joe Kutcher,
Catherine Smith, m.ob.). Yet another White-winged Dove was at Clute, Cochrane 28 Jul (Tricia Bird). A
Black-billed Cuckoo was notable for the Lowlands review zone at Longridge
Point, Cochrane 14 Jul–11 Aug (R.
Douglas McRae, Ross W. Wood). A Virginia Rail at Atikoken, Rainy River 9 Jun was rare for the Central review zone (David H.
Elder). Piping Plovers continue to be regular and successful breeders on the
lower Great Lakes. Successful nesting occurred once again at Sauble Beach, Bruce and Wasaga Beach, Simcoe. For the first time in 84 years,
a pair successfully nested at Toronto producing three fledglings (m.ob.). The
collective total was eight nests and 16 fledglings. Other single sightings
included one at Port Franks, Lambton 6
Jun (Dustin Veenhoff, Donald Webb), while a f. was at Presqu’ile P.P., Northumberland 8-12 Jul (RDM m.ob.). Two
Whimbrel were late spring migrants at Wheatley Harbour, Chatham-Kent 2 Jun (Jeremy L. Hatt). A Hudsonian Godwit lingered at
Presqu’ile P.P. 7-16 Jul (Michael Barker, m.ob.). Red Knot sightings are increasingly
few and far between in the south. The first was at Port Dalhousie, Niagara 1-5 Jun (Jean Hampson, Bob
Highcock, m.ob.). Others included one at Hamilton’s Tollgate Ponds 4 Jun
(Cheryl E. Edgecombe), Toronto 14 Jun (m.ob.), Ottawa’s Shirley’s Bay 22 Jul
(m.ob.) and four at Toronto 27 Jul (m.ob.). A f. Ruff was observed at Whitby, Durham 7 Jun (Charmaine M. Anderson, Michael
Ferguson, m.ob.). Another was close by at Port Perry, Durham 9-10 Jun (A. Geoff Carpentier). Another f. was at Northbluff
Point 2 July (fide Gray Carlin). An early southbound Sanderling was at Wheatley
Harbour 22 Jul (BAM). Locally record early for fall was a Least Sandpiper at
Blenheim S.T.P., Chatham-Kent 19-24
Jun (James T. Burk, m.ob.). The 110 Least Sandpipers at Townsend S.T.P., Haldimand 12 Jul was an excellent count
(Nathan Hood).
JAEGERS THROUGH PELICANS
An ad. Long-tailed Jaeger put
on quite a show at Hamilton’s Van Wagners Beach 31 Jul–9 Aug (Gerri Shemilt,
m.ob.). A Sabine’s Gull at Ottawa’s Britannia Point 4 Jun constituted the first
area summer record (John P. Ruddy, m.ob.). An ad. non-breeding Black-headed Gull [01 PHOTO] briefly rested
on Point Pelee’s Tip 17 Jun (BAM). Laughing Gulls included one at Port Hope 1
Jun (David J. Milsom), one at Wellington, Prince
Edward 18 Jun (Sheila Ascroft), and one at Sarnia, Lambton 21 Jul (Deryl D. Nethercott). A Franklin’s Gull was
observed at Port Dover, Haldimand 5
Jun (Garth V. Riley). Another Franklin’s Gull was a one day wonder at La Salle,
Essex 24 Jun (Kory J. Renaud). Rare
for summer was the first cycle Iceland Gull at Wheatley Harbour 22 Jul (BAM),
followed by a Glaucous Gull there 26-30 Jul (Michael J. Austin, m.ob.). An
Arctic Tern was an attraction at Bronte Harbour, Halton 3-7 Jun (Dominik Halas, m.ob.). American White Pelicans
continue to be regular in the lower Great Lakes. One frequented the Hamilton
area 7-8 Jun (Barry S. Cherriere, m.ob.).
Others included the individual at Kettle Point, Lambton 8 Jun (Alfred H. Rider), 4 at St. Clair N.W.A., Chatham-Kent 12 Jun (Patrick Schiller), 6
at Amherstburg, Essex 12 June (Donny
Moore), 5 at Point Pelee N.P. 16-17 Jun (Mark Nenadov, m.ob.) followed by 7
there 28 Jun (Todd Hagedorn, m.ob.). Finally,
2 were at Cranberry Marsh, Durham 7-8 Jul
(Wayne Renaud, m.ob.) and 2 at Toronto 8 Jul (Amanda C. Guercio).
HERONS THROUGH SWALLOWS
A Snowy Egret was at
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara 17 Jun
(Dave Van Dalaar, m.ob.). Perhaps the
same bird was at Fort Erie, Niagara 1-27
Jul (m.ob.). The only other report was the individual at Hamilton’s Coote’s
Paradise 1 Jul (David Moffat, m.ob.). The long staying Cattle Egret at
Brighton, Northumberland was last
seen 13 July (RDM, m.ob.). Another was
at Welcome, Northumberland 22 May–6
Jun (Ross Lamb, m.ob.). A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at South Baymouth, Manitoulin 27 Jul (Dominik Halas) was
new for the district. A long-staying
individual was at Hamilton 27 Jul–12 Aug (Barry S. Cherriere,
m.ob.). The only White-faced Ibis recorded was at Rowan Mills, Norfolk 1 Jun (Peter Carson, Mary E.
Gartshore, Adam Timpf, m.ob.). Notable Black Vultures included one at
Burlington, Halton 21 Jun (Tom Grant,
Kenneth Newcombe), one at Hamilton’s Bayfront Park 28 Jun (William Olenek), and
one at Devil’s Punch Bowl C.A., Hamillton
6 Jul (James Lees). Numerous Snowy Owls stayed the summer in several
counties and districts. A Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher was noted at Terrace Bay, Thunder
Bay 27 Jun (Kenneth G. D. Burrell, Michael V. A. Burrell, Nathan G. Miller). Not far away was another at Rossport, Thunder Bay 16-19 Jul (H. Gord Smith,
Joan Smith). A Western Kingbird, fairly regular for the district, appeared at
Harris Hill, Rainy River 8 Jun
(Anthony Kaduck). A Cassin’s Kingbird was
briefly observed at Renwick, Chatham-Kent
2 Jun (Kenneth G. D. Burrell, Brandon R. Holden). A photo of the flyby was
sent out for various opinions and the consensus was Cassin’s. A singing Bell’s
Vireo was exceptional for Kenora, Kenora 11
Jun (Christopher J. S. Martin). Fish Crows are now quite regular around Lake
Ontario, but one at Port Rowan, Norfolk 20
Jul was away from that range (Stuart A. Mackenzie, Steven Price, Ron Ridout).
The estimated 15000 Purple Martins recorded at Point Pelee N.P. 31 Jul was an
exceptional count (Paul D. Pratt).
WARBLERS THROUGH BLACKBIRDS
The Tennessee Warbler at
Stoney Creek, Hamilton 12 Jun was a
late spring migrant (Leonard P. Manning). A Virginia’s Warbler banded at Long Point Tip 1 Jun was the first Norfolk record (Kyle Cameron, Emily Emptage, et al.). The
Bay-breasted Warbler at Hamilton 11 Jun was a late spring migrant (Keith
Dieroff). A mated pair of Eastern Towhees was noted at Toronto Islands, Toronto 9 Jun (fide Alfred L. Adamo); evidence of a rare breeding record for the
area. A Black-headed Grosbeak was a
one day wonder at a feeder near Ailsa Craig, Middlesex 19 Jun (Edward Preszcator, Judy Preszcator). A f. Painted Bunting was a surprise at
Erieau, Chatham-Kent 2 Jun (Eva
Visscher). There was a moderate invasion
of Dickcissels into the province this season, mainly in the extreme
southwest. Perhaps they are now becoming
more regular each year. Essex locations
numbered five with at least 9 individuals.
In Chatham-Kent at least six
locations recorded 31 individuals. Lambton saw four locations with at least
7 birds. Others away from the extreme SW included one at Guelph, Wellington 15 Jun (Fred Urie), one at Thorold,
Niagara 17 Jun+ (Ryan Griffiths,
m.ob.) and one at Caledonia, Haldimand 29
Jun (Teresa Piraino). Yellow-headed Blackbirds once again nested in the
traditional area of eastern Lake St. Clair in Chatham-Kent (m.ob.). Two males were notable at the south end of
Walpole Island, Lambton 18 Jul (Scott
Connop, Darrell Parsons, Matt C. Parsons).
Contributors (subregional editors in boldface): Alfred
L. Adamo, Margaret J. C. Bain, Christopher
T. Bell, R. Bruce Brydon, Kyle Cameron, David H. Elder, Roxane Filion, Roger
Frost, Marcie L. Jacklin, William G. Lamond, Blake A. Mann, Martha L. Miller,
Brian D. Ratcliff, Mark D. Read, Peter A. Read, Ron Ridout, Maureen A. Riggs,
Garth V. Riley, Ronald G. Tozer, Gregory Zbitnew.
 |
| Black-headed Gull at Point Pelee |
The period was rather uneventful with very few highlights. After a very wet spring, excessive rain continued into the summer period creating record high water levels. Flooding and the breaching of dikes occurred in many areas. As a result, some new wetlands were created! Water birds in those areas did well. Temperatures were close to average, but a few hot days in July made things uncomfortable for birding.
Notable rarities included
numerous Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, Rufous Hummingbird, Snowy Egret,
Mississippi Kite, Ferruginous Hawk, Lewis’s Woodpecker, multiple Western
Kingbirds and Henslow’s Sparrow.
WATERFOWL THROUGH HUMMINGBIRDS
Two Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were briefly seen at Sykeston, Lambton 13 Jun (Robin Cunningham, m.ob.);
a first county record. This was a start of an influx that was already noted in
the NE United States. Seven more attracted throngs of birders at Wheatley
Harbour, Essex 18-21 Jun (Tim Dawson,
m.ob.). This was a first record for the county. The ducks were also seen in
nearby Chatham-Kent as this location
is right on the county line. Four more were at Cedar Beach, Essex 24 Jun (John James). Yet another
was found near Hillman Marsh, Essex 19
Jul (Dean J. Ware, m.ob.). This bird alternated between here and Leamington, Essex well into September! One more was
reported at Long Point, Norfolk 27
Jul (Cathy Bailey). A Greater White-fronted Goose was an odd summer record at
Sault Ste. Marie, Algoma 26 Jul (Violet
Aubertin, m.ob.). This long-staying goose continued well into September. Notable for the south, a Trumpeter Swan was at
Kettle Point, Lambton throughout the
period (m.ob.). Another seemed out of
place at Ridgetown S.T.P., Chatham-Kent 4
Jul (Joshua Pickering). A m. Eurasian Wigeon was at Moonbeam S.T.P., Cochrane 13-16 Jun (Roxane D. Filion,
André Filion, m.ob.). Eurasian Collared-Doves have increased to the point where
documentation is no longer required by the O.B.R.C. A long-staying individual
was near Kingsville, Essex through
the entire period (Jeremy L. Hatt, m.ob.). Another was seen sporadically at
Point Pelee, Essex through June and
was last noted 1 Jul (Michael J. Austin, m.ob.). A pair nested at Hamilton, Hamilton during the period (fide Cheryl E. Edgecombe). One at
Amulree, Perth 14-31 Jul and
beyond was a first for the county (Jonathon Wilhelm, m.ob.). White-winged
Doves have also reached the point of not requiring documentation for the
O.B.R.C. The continuing Rondeau P.P. male was present throughout the period
(m.ob.). An individual was a one-day event at Long Point Tip, Norfolk 8 Jun (Anton Liebermann, m.ob.).
Others included one at Centralia, Huron 14
Jun (Lorna Jorna), one at Achray campground Algonquin P.P., Nipissing 30 Jun–4 Jul (Nicholas
Wasilik, m.ob.), one at Batchawana Bay P.P., Algoma 19 Jul (H. Thomas Bartlett et al.), and one at Rossport, Thunder Bay 25 Jul (Gord Smith, Joan
Smith). The Algonquin bird was a first for the park. The Chuck-will’s-widow
near Milford, Prince Edward was first
noted about 7 Jun (m.ob.). The species is almost absent from the province, but
this particular bird has returned annually since 2014! A Rufous Hummingbird
visited a feeder at Kaministiqua, Thunder
Bay 29 Jul (Jeff N. Robinson). A Yellow Rail in the Richmond Fen, Ottawa 1-8 Jun was the first for the
area in many years (m.ob.).
 |
| Black-bellied Whistling Ducks |
SHOREBIRDS THROUGH GULLS
American Avocets tallied were
the one at Port Dalhousie, Niagara 29
Jul (Phil Downy, m.ob.) and one at Forest S.T.P., Lambton 30 Jul (Michael P. J. Bouman, m.ob.). Piping Plovers are
still doing well and nested at several sites on the lower Great Lakes again
this year. An early southbound migrant was at Grand Bend, Lambton 14 Jul (Deryl D. Nethercott). A Marbled Godwit at Ottawa
6-8 Jun was a notable late spring migrant (m.ob.) while an early southbound
bird was at Pinery P.P., Lambton 10
Jul (Joshua R. Bouman). Late northbound
Red Knots included the 7 at Erieau, Chatham-Kent
2 Jun (KJB, m.ob.), 8 at Rondeau P.P. 3 Jun (JTB, SRC) and 2 at Ottawa’s Moodie Drive Ponds, Ottawa 4 Jun (John King). A Dunlin at Point Pelee N.P. 22 Jun was a
late spring migrant (BAM). An apparent Dunlin X White-rumped Sandpiper was at
Toronto (Noam Markus, m.ob.). The Least Sandpiper at Rondeau P.P. 7 Jun was
considered a very late spring migrant (SRC). Two southbound Short-billed
Dowitchers were locally early at Wallaceburg, Chatham-Kent 5 Jul (BAM). The appearance of two Willets at
Mitchell’s Bay, Chatham-Kent 27 Jun was
a curious sighting (Tyler L. Hoar). A Red-necked Phalarope at Brighton
Constructed Wetland, Northumberland 21
Jun was odd for the date (Rick Beaudon). The first cycle Laughing Gull from the
previous period was found dead at Erieau 1 Jun (KJB). A Laughing Gull was at
Long Point Tip 27 May–4 Jun (Aidan Place, m.ob.). A first cycle Franklin’s Gull
was notable for the date at Erieau 2 Jun (JTB, m.ob.) and likely the same
individual was seen again nearby 10-21 Jun (m.ob.). Another was seen briefly at
Point Pelee’s Tip 16 Jun (JTB). The only other for the province was at Ottawa
17-21 Jun (Jamie Spence, m.ob.).
PELICANS THROUGH FLYCATCHERS
Selected American White
Pelican sightings included the 6 at Mitchell’s Bay 14 Jun (Richard Johnston)
and the 2 at Sarnia, Lambton 16-17
Jun (Chris Sesterak, m.ob.). The Sarnia
birds were noted farther up the lake at Kettle Point, and curiously two showed
up at Tiny Marsh, Simcoe 19-20 Jun
(m.ob.).
After those disappeared, the two were again seen at Sarnia 22 Jun
(m.ob.)! Eighteen were notable at St. Joseph’s Island, Algoma 17 Jun (Beth Kwon). A single was at London, Middlesex 21-22 Jul (m.ob.). Possibly the same bird was southbound at
Tilbury S.T.P., Essex 22 Jul (P.
Allen Woodliffe). A Snowy Egret was at Presqu’ile P.P., Northumberland 4-17 Jun (Doug Guay, m.ob.) while one was in the far
south at Essex, Essex 4-6 Jun (Mark
Nenadov, m.ob.). Another was a surprise at Wallaceburg 13-16 Jul (BAM, m.ob.).
A Cattle Egret was at near Brighton, Northumberland
5-6 Jun (Fred M. Helleiner, m.ob.). The Cattle Egret from the previous
period continued at Kingston, Frontenac through
12 Jun (m.ob.). Another was a one-day wonder at Elford, Essex 18 Jun (Kory J. Renaud, m.ob.). One was following a farmer
working his field near Brigden, Lambton 24
Jun (fide Roberta Buchanan). Farther north a Cattle Egret was at
Armow, Bruce 21 Jul (Liz Addison,
Dustin Young, m.ob.). A Glossy Ibis was on Amherst Island, Frontenac 2 Jun (Steve Coates, m.ob.). A Mississippi Kite was well
described near Echo Bay, Algoma 28
Jul (Donald Hall). Pending acceptance from the O.B.R.C., a Ferruginous Hawk was noted at Moosonee, Cochrane 17 Jul (Robert Curry, George Bryant). Always rare for
Ontario, a Lewis’s Woodpecker at
Buffalo-Ankerite, Timmins, Cochrane 4
Jun (Rose M. Thiel). A Western Kingbird was at Toronto, Toronto 3 Jun (Robert Spaul). Another was at Miller Lake, Bruce 24 Jun (Zane Shantz, m.ob.), while
one was a bit farther south at Spry, Bruce
14 Jul (Matt C. Parsons). It is remotely possible the same bird was involved!
A Western X Eastern Kingbird was photographed at London 9 Jul (Don Webb).
FINCHES THROUGH BLACKBIRDS AND ALLIES
The development of a heavy
cone crop attracted large numbers of crossbills through the Canadian Shield. Starting
in late June, both White-winged and Red Crossbills were noticed in numbers in
Algonquin Park (fide Ronald G.
Tozer). A Tennessee Warbler at Point Pelee was a locally record early fall
migrant by two days 22 Jun (BAM), while on the same day a Blackpoll Warbler was
locally record late at Presqu’ile P.P. (William Gilmour). The only Lark Sparrow
detected during the period was at Neebing, Thunder
Bay 19 Jun (Lindy T. Wagenaar). Henslow’s Sparrows are rarely reported in
the province anymore, but one at Walsingham, Norfolk exhibited signs of nesting (fide Stuart A. Mackenzie). A Summer Tanager was at Rossport 1-2 Jun
(m.ob.) while one was at Dunlop Corners, Huron
5-6 Jun (Dana Latour, Tony Latour). Northern Cardinals continue to spread to
the north and one at Cochrane, Cochrane 20
Jul was no exception (George Bryant, Robert Curry, William G. Lamond).
Dickcissels were few and far between this year.
Some attempted nesting at the traditional locations in the south such as
Wheatley and Blenheim, both in Chatham-Kent,
and at Sarnia (m.ob.). A Yellow-breasted
Chat was way out of range near Cochrane 5 Jun (Bruno Drolet). Rare for the
district, an Eastern Meadowlark was at Atikoken, Rainy River 5 Jun (Alfred L. Adamo, Heather Bagg). A Western
Meadowlark was at Buckhorn, Peterborough 3
Jul (Christopher Ellingwood).
Cited observers and contributors:
Alfred L. Adamo, R. Bruce Brydon,
Keith J. Burk, James T. Burk, Stephen R. Charbonneau, Roxane Filion, Stuart A. Mackenzie, Blake A. Mann,
Brian D. Ratcliff, Maureen A. Riggs,
Ronald G. Tozer, Gregory Zbitnew.
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