Spring 2003 Sightings Archive
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31 May - 6 June
Cool temperatures continued through the end of May and into the first week of June leading to one of the quietest migrations in many years. While many tardy early May migrants led to speculation that a big push by the end of May might be expected, it never materialized here at Long Point. The highlight of the period was two Arctic Terns discovered on the beach at Long Point P.P. 31 May. The birds lingered on the beach for several hours during heavy rains before flying east once the rains ended. Five observers are busy writing rarity reports for what could become the first accepted report of the species for Long Point. Good numbers of shorebirds were recorded all week on the beaches near the Breakwater field station. Among the Whimbrel, Black-bellied and Semipalmated plovers, White-rumped, Semipalmated, and Least sandpipers, Sanderling, and Dunlin were five Red Knots including one colour-banded bird banded in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina in December 2000.
24 - 30 May
The month that began with a
fizzle is ending the same way; a lacklustre migration to be sure. Cool
temperatures and rain continued to dominate the weather patterns. Whimbrel
made their annual passage through the area with many flocks seen around
the shores of Long Point Bay as well as at the Tip. The season's
third Chuck-will's-widow was recorded at the
Tip on May 26th. The most direct effect of the month's below average
temperatures has been the number of lingering early migrants still found
in the area. Regular sightings this past week included Ruby-crowned
Kinglets, Yellow-rumped and Palm warblers, and White-throated and
White-crowned sparrows. One Connecticut Warbler was heard singing early on
the 28th at Old Cut.
Locally breeding species have arrived without notice. Hooded
Warblers are now abundant in the St. Williams Forest and Acadian
Flycatchers can be heard in Backus Woods. Unfortunately, this month's six
inches or more of rain have done little to alleviate the dry conditions in
Backus Woods and for the second straight year, there appear to be no
resident Prothonotary Warblers.
17 - 23 May
It's hard to imagine that April
weather could linger so far into May but that is certainly the case. While
certainly fewer in number, it is still possible to find Yellow-rumped
Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and White-throated Sparrows all of which
should be long gone by now.
The bird of the week was a second-year male Painted
Bunting banded at one of the remote stations on Long Point 18 May.
When released the bird flew off to the west and has not be seen
since. This represents the third record for the Long Point area.
While migration was less than stellar during the period, the
stations reported a few unusual species. Reports from the Tip included an
Iceland Gull on the 18th along with the Summer Tanager that was originally
banded on the 15th.
Species of note at Old Cut included a female Kentucky Warbler first
seen 16 May and subsequently banded there on the 17th. Three different
Hooded Warblers were seen there 16 May and a White-eyed Vireo was present
on the 19th. A Brewster's Warbler was seen in Long Pt. P.P. on the 18th.
10 - 16 May
The bird of the week and quite
possibly the season was a male Kirtland's Warbler
seen earlier this week at a remote location on Long Point. This represents
only the 2nd record for Long Point. Strong southwest winds on the 11th
likely pushed the bird east of its normal migration route here to Long
Point. For the 2nd Spring in a row, a Long-billed
Dowitcher was observed at BSC's HQ shorebird pond. The bird was
present 12-13 May.
Cool and wet conditions continued to plague this year's migrants.
The fact that many White-throated Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers and
Ruby-crowned Kinglets are still present in mid-May is a clear indicator
that migration is still well behind schedule. For the first year in many,
Birdathoners did not report any unusual species on the Long Point Weekend
though tallies of 120 to 130 species were reached by several observers in
less than 12 hours.
Sightings of interest at the Tip included a Summer
Tanager banded there on the 8th. The bird lingered until the
11th when it flew across Lake Erie to Selkirk P.P. and was recaptured at
Haldimand Bird Observatory on 12 May. Interestingly, this bird was
replaced by another at the Tip on 12 May. Late lingering migrants at
the Tip included a Rough-legged Hawk on 11 May, a Lesser Black-backed Gull
on the 12th and an Iceland Gull on 15 May.
Old Cut was moderately busy at times during the week though
noteworthy sightings were slim. Several Hooded Warblers, a
Yellow-breasted Chat and a Kentucky Warbler 16 May were the most significant observations.
3 - 9 May
Cool temperatures and a general
lack of warm fronts from the south produced a rather lacklustre migration
(with a few exceptions) throughout the past week. White-throated
Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers can still be
found in good numbers; a telling sign of just how late this spring's
migration has been to date.
Species of note on 3 May included a Clay-colored Sparrow and
Red-throated Loon at the Tip and Northern Parula and Worm-eating Warbler
at Breakwater the same day. A brilliant male Cerulean Warbler at
Breakwater the day before made for a special opening of that station for
the season. A Wild Turkey at the Tip during the week was most unusual so
far from the mainland populations.
Other species of note during the week at the Tip included a Lesser
Black-backed Gull on 4 May, 5 Rough-legged Hawks on 5 May (an
unusually high number for the date), and a Sedge Wren and a 2nd-year Summer
Tanager on 7 May. The tanager was banded on the 8th. On any
given day, Glaucous, Iceland and Little gulls can be found loafing at the
Tip.
Species of interest away from the stations included 17 Willets at
Turkey Pt., and Franklin's and Lesser
Black-backed gulls at BSC headquarters 6 May, a Glaucous Gull and
an early Whimbrel along the causeway 7 May, and a White-eyed Vireo and Lark
Sparrow in Long Pt. P.P. 8 May.
26 April - 2 May
Slightly below
average temperatures and winds out of the north kept migration to a
minimum for most of the week. Warmer temperatures on 28 April
resulted in a good day but the tap tightened again on the 29th. All
of this changed when heavy thunderstorms and a warm front from the
southwest pushed over the region on the evening of 29 April/1 May. The
fallout on the morning of the first was thrilling.
New arrivals and sightings of note at the Tip during the week
included 96 Horned Grebes and 2 Lesser Black-backed Gulls on the 25th, two
very early Whimbrels on the 27th along with a Red-throated Loon, an
Iceland Gull and 2 Grasshopper Sparrows on the 28th, and a Glaucous Gull
on the 29th. The fallout on 1 May included, among the hundreds of
White-throated Sparrows, 2 Blue-winged Warblers, a female Chuck-will's-widow,
a Summer Tanager and a Dickcissel.
Sightings at Old Cut during the week included a Northern
Mockingbird on 26 April. A big day on the 28th involved many new arrivals
including Least Flycatcher, Magnolia Warbler and Wood Thrush. A partially
albino White-throated Sparrow banded on the 29th was noteworthy. The
big push on 1 May was comprised of thousands of White-throated Sparrows
with Ruby-crowned Kinglets and White-crowned Sparrows to a lesser degree.
It was also a big day for Blue-headed Vireos with close to 100 individuals
estimated. New arrivals included Philadelphia and Warbling vireos,
Yellow and Magnolia warblers, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and
Baltimore and Orchard orioles. A second Chuck-will's
-widow discovered in Long Pt. P.P. was a big surprise.
19 - 25 April
Cool temperatures throughout the week were responsible for a general lack of new arrivals. New sightings at the Old Cut Field Station this week included a Brown Thrasher on the 17th and Common Yellowthroat, House Wren and Palm Warbler on the 18th, along with a late Rough-legged Hawk. A Ring-necked Pheasant at Old Cut on the 19th was quite unusual on Long Point. Arriving Purple Martins and Forster's Terns 19 April were over a week later than average. Other first sightings included Black-throated Green Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo on the 20th, a Black-and-white Warbler on the 21st and an Upland Sandpiper on the 23rd. The Eurasian Wigeon continues to spend time at the Lee Brown Waterfowl Management Area. Other unusual sightings this week included a Yellow/Red-shafted Flicker intergrade at Old Cut on the 24th and a Glaucous Gull at the Tip the same day.
17 April
Temperatures in the high teens and low twenties early this week brought a number of new migrants through Old Cut with close to 200 birds (mainly kinglets, Brown Creepers and White-throated Sparrows) banded on the 14th and 15th. Notable sightings at Old Cut included a Hairy Woodpecker (unusual on Long Point), and a Vesper Sparrow on 11 April. Four different Pine Warblers were recorded there 16 April. The season's first Louisiana Waterthrush was seen in Long Point P.P. 15 April. A Least Sandpiper was seen with Pectorals at Big Creek and the 1st Concession 15 April. The Eurasian Wigeon has been seen as recently as this morning (17 April) at Lee Brown's WMA, west of Port Royal. An immature Iceland Gull was seen along Hastings Drive this morning and Little Gulls are still regular at several spots around the Inner Bay with five, along with 5 Dunlin, at Turkey Point on the 13th.
11 April
The late season ice (4 April) and snow (7 April) storms that hit southern Ontario brought any sign of spring and its early migrants to an abrupt halt. Concerns about vulnerable species such as American Woodcocks were confirmed when 11 were seen together in one small swampy opening amidst the Old Cut dogwoods on 8 April. Without a quick thaw, numbers dwindled steadily in the following days. The fate of the missing birds is unknown. Migrants noted during Monday's blizzard included 4 Hermit Thrushes plus a lone Yellow-rumped Warbler in the Old Cut woods, and a Great Egret flying over heading for the sunny south. The season's first Black-crowned Night-heron was seen along the causeway on 8 April. A Short-eared Owl was seen there on 5 April. Up to 20 Sandhill Cranes can be seen and heard regularly in the marshes surrounding Old Cut. The Big Creek NWA Bald Eagle pair appear to be incubating eggs and one of the pair can be seen driving off interloping young eagles from time to time. The Eurasian Wigeon continues to be seen irregularly at Lee Brown's waterfowl viewing area. It was seen as recently as the 10th and was joined that evening by a hybrid Eurasian x American wigeon. Aside from Lee Brown's, the north pond at BSC's headquarters has become a popular hangout for several hundred migrating waterfowl. Gadwall seem particularly attracted with close to 150 counted some mornings.
2 April
At least 24 Little Gulls were counted off the St. Williams dock on 2 April. A male Peregrine was observed there at the same time. The season's first Great Egret was noted over Big Creek the same day.
March
The male Pine Warbler that over-wintered on Long Point was singing at Old Cut Woods on 12 March. This is the 2nd time this bird has survived the rigors of winter in our area. The season's first Killdeers were heard the same day while Tree Swallows appeared 23 March at Turkey Point. A male Eurasian Wigeon at Lee Brown's Waterfowl Management Area, first discovered 26 March has been seen irregularly through at least 31 March. Flocks of Tundra Swans began arriving in the area the week of 10 March and built to a peak of over 10,000 birds on 21 March. The bulk of these moved out on 22 & 23 March and numbers dwindled to just a few dozen by month's end. Up to 12 Little Gulls were counted off the St. Williams dock on 27 March. Sightings on 29 March included 4 Pectoral Sandpipers and 1 Greater Yellowlegs at Big Creek and the 1st Concession, and the area's 2nd earliest-ever Cliff Swallow along the Causeway.
