November 3, 2021
Birding Report by Jane Burgess
Sandhill Cranes
The
target bird for this outing was Sandhill Cranes. Bill had all the
information on sightings and the day before 500 were seen. We turned
toward Forester's Falls just before Cobden and then started our grid
searching. Very methodically, up and down roads. We finally saw two,
but we kept on searching. Must have been searching an hour and half.
Ann pointed to a spot where she had seen them previously, so I
suggested let's go there. No, said Bill, keep doing the grid. We
turned onto Hawthorne Road. Well he was sooooo right. The first field
had maybe 50, then the next field had easily 500 and so it went on. I
estimate we saw over 1000+. I must say Bill was one happy camper and
Ann, Barbara and I were pretty happy as well. We took lots of
photographs and just listening to them was such a treat (another video
is included so you will hear and see just a portion of our
entertainment). It was difficult to leave them, but this was a day to
see birds, not just Sandhill Cranes.
Sandhill Cane video links
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eeIeP_xgSbJREbTSTIJyFU2062gfdZ2q/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g3NgU2wrWpOlpuhyeOUTkNQ70ZjuQxDw/view?usp=sharing
Raptors
On
the way up to meet Ann, Barbara said I think I saw an owl. Should I
back up??? An owl, guess so... Now I don't normally back up on a
highway, but there was a bicycle lane as well as a very wide shoulder. I
slowly backed up and stopped whenever there was traffic. Sadly the
owl turned out to be a Red-tailed Hawk, the first of 4 or 5 we saw
during the day. We had two at the dump and one on a utility wire. When
we turned onto the road to Foresters Falls a Merlin quickly flew by and
then did a u-turn and flew back over the car. No time for photographs,
over and done in less than a minute. On Ross' Road we had a dark morph
Rough-legged Hawk, again Bill wanted to see a Roughie and it appears
whatever Bill wants he got on this outing. When we were leaving
Pembroke and turning onto Highway 41, Ann who was driving said what was
that bird? We turned around and a Kestrel was perched and of course
flew a bit further (they like to play that game) and then eventually
flew well away from us. Oh I forgot to mention, while we were driving
into Pembroke we saw a very unique lawn ornament - why anyone would have
this as a lawn ornament is way beyond my imagination -- check out
Barbara's photos.
Dump
We went to two dumps and really added nothing to the list, lots of Ring-billed Gulls, Crows and Ravens and the two Red-tail Hawks. We were hoping for Bald Eagles, sadly none today.
Pembroke Marina & Algonquin College
Oh
we were so hopeful we would see 'good' birds at the Pembroke Marina.
At the College, Bill wanted the Dickcissel, we played it and 3 birds
flew in -- American Goldfinch but no Dickcissel. We also saw a Hairy
Woodpecker. We went over to the marina to check out the gulls, and we
were at the parking lot when a huge number of gulls flew away, then
turned around and came back to the island. On the island we had
Ring-billed, Herring and 4 Bonaparte's Gulls. Bill saw a Common
Merganser fly out from where the boats would have been docked.
Snake River Line
There
is an area on Snake River Line that the farmer seems to be pumping
water. At first glance there appeared to be absolutely no birds. We
checked out the area with our binoculars and a shorebird was seen --
Yellowlegs? Out comes the scope, oh its a Solitary Sandpiper after all
its all alone. Bill, come check this out. Oh he says Plover --
Black-bellied Plover. Then he says no White-rumped Sandpiper. We could
not make up our minds. I keep on looking, the bird I think got tired
of us not knowing what its name was, wings fluttering up in the air to
tell us it is a Black-bellied Plover. Great shorebird. We all get back
in the vehicle and slowly move away, when Bill spots a small bird.
Out we get, up goes the scope. Bill says American Pipits. The scope
was not necessary, the birds were relatively close to the road. Maybe a
small flock of about 5 or 6. We are happy with this find.
Cobden Boat Launch
Driving
into the boat launch area, someone suggested checking the area to the
right of the buildings. Good idea, we saw about 5 Common Loons, 2 or 3
Double-crested Cormorants, 4 or 6 Hooded Mergansers, Mallards and just
as we were ready to leave we spotted 10 White-winged Scoters Now that
is a bird I love love love to see and they were not as far out as when I
saw them in southern Ontario. We went to the boat launch and saw a
couple more Common Loons and at least a 100+ Common Mergansers far away
on the other shore. Very close on the dock, sat three juvenile Great
Black-backed Gulls.
Last Stop
Ann dropped
Bill, Barbara and me off at my car that was parked at the Walmart
store. We moved all our stuff to my car, said our goodbyes and off we
went. Just one more stop -- Antrim Truck Stop for goodies. Delicious
scones, Barbara bought the 4 that were left, but she very kindly gave me
one for my husband -- Blackberry that he enjoyed for his dessert. He
sends his thanks.
Species Noted
- European Starling
- American Crow
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Ring-billed Gull
- Merlin
- Rock Pigeon
- Black-capped Chickadee
- Hooded Merganser
- Blue Jay
- Sandhill Crane
- Canada Geese
- Common Raven
- American Goldfinch
- Hairy Woodpecker
- Herring Gull
- Bonaparte's Gull
- Common Merganser
- American Kestrel
- Rough-legged Hawk
- Dark-eyed Junco
- Green-winged Teal
- Black-bellied Plover
- American Pipit
- Common Loon
- Double-crested Cormorant
- White-winged Scoter
- Great Black-back Gull
- House Sparrow
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