Ontario Nature Conference - Chaffey's Locks Ontario

June 8-10, 2012

We got a few common birds on the way down and some more on the grounds of the Opinicon Hotel.
We went for an early morning bird walk at 6 am with Kevin Shackleton, Iain Wilkes and Mark Cranford.  There was a steady drizzle and precious few birds, save for a Scarlet Tanager that was really close but remained hidden.

After breakfast, Barbara took a workshop on "The Wonderful World of Weeds" with Richard Aaron, but she managed to see some Barn Swallows bathing at a puddle.  Meanwhile, Bill took a workshop on "Reptiles and Amphibians of the Frontenac Arch" with James Paterson and Laura Robson, where he watched James being bitten by a Northern Water Snake multiple times.

After lunch, Bill took a workshop on "Introduction to Bird Song" with Josh van Wieren of St. Lawrence Islands NP.  They spotted some birds including a Red-Shouldered Hawk.  Meanwhile, Barbara took a workshop from Fred Schueler on macro-invertebrates.  But her highlight was watching James jump into the murky waters at the edge of Lake Opinicon and come up with a Stink Pot Turtle.

The following day, we got up before 6 and headed down to Skycroft. It was foggy, so the Cerulean Warblers, which were in the treetops, were barely visible. We did see a Cuckoo and a Scarlet Tanager fly across the road. Later we participated in an all-day workshop on Cerulean Warblers with Mark Conboy of QUBS. We heard many in the forest but had great looks back at the road. We also saw a pair of Barrred Owls which respoded to his imitation. We had lunch at QUBS then looked at a Gray Rats Snake and some turtles that were in tanks awaiting release.

Bird List

1. Eastern Kingbird
2. American Crow
3. Red-tailed Hawk
4. Mourning Dove
5. American Robin
6. Red-winged Blackbird
7. Wood Duck
8. Northern Flicker
9. Tree Swallow
10. Ovenbird (H)
11. Common Yellowthroat
12. Cedar Waxwing
13. Scarlet Tanager
14. Black and White Warbler (H)
15. Eastern Phoebe
16. Common Loon
17. Blue Jay
18. Black-capped Chickadee
19. Red-eyed Vireo
20. Wood Thrush (H)
21. Veery (H)
22. Indigo Bunting
23. Osprey
24. White-breasted Nuthatch
25. Barn Swallow
26. Red-shouldered Hawk
27. Chipping Sparrow
28. Pine Warbler
29. Great Blue Heron
30. American Goldfinch
31. Cerulean Warbler
32. Yellow-billed Cuckoo
33. American Redstart
34. Eastern Wood Pewee
35. Black-billed Cuckoo
36. Barred Owl
37. Yellow-throated Vireo
38. Ruffed Grouse
39. Great-crested Flycatcher
40. Pileated Woodpecker
41. Turkey Vulture
42. European Starling
43. Common Grackle
44. Yellow Warbler
45. American Kestrel
46. Eastern Meadowlark