We birded locally a few times the first week hitting spots that we have had Redpolls at in previous years and finally on Friday we had 3 fly over the backyard calling with the chich-chich call. No pictures but we hope to still see this bird before the year end. Bird #428! On Saturday we headed to Dundas Conservation Area where we have had White-winged Crossbills in the past but while it was a beautiful hike we did not come up with anything new. We did see a large group of Cedar Waxwings that we carefully looked through in case a Bohemian was hidden amongst them. We estimated on our checklist that there were 30 in the group and when we got home Jerry checked the count against his photo and came up with a lot more. He dotted a few that were hard to tell if they were multiple birds so 62-66 was the final tally, double what our estimate was.
We had this beautiful Cooper’s Hawk visit our yard to check out the Dove/Junco Buffet! He sadly went home without anything.
On Sunday we had a free day and the weather co-operated so we decided to head to Pinery Provincial Park and Ipperwash Beach where there have been a number of reports of Bohemian Waxwings. We arrived around 10 and drove Army Camp Road a few times and checked out the beach parking areas along Ipperwash Beach but there were few birds at all. We headed to the Pinery only to find out it was closing early for the annual deer cull so we had some quick hikes in a few areas but came up empty. We had a group of Cedar Waxwings flyover and I refound them on a back trail. I got bins on some of them and could not see a Bohemian among them and the calls were all Cedar Waxwing. We headed back to Ipperwash and drove slowly the same roads listening and looking. Nothing. Finally we decided to head home and up ahead we saw a number of cars pulled over! We pulled in and got out hoping to hear Bohemians but they were looking at Pine Siskins. So disappointing LOL. We drove down a bit further and just when I was going to put my window up and increase speed I heard what I thought was the Bohemian Waxwing call. Jerry got out and then Merlin confirmed Bohemian. I got out and we started scanning all the trees. Now we had to find them. They are grey and blend in wonderfully with the tree bark unless they are prominently sitting out in branches. After a few minutes I saw movement and got Jerry on them to start getting pictures. Whew! Bird #429! The Pine Siskin birders joined us and we had a good laugh about how they stopped actually for a Raven, then found the Siskins, we stopped to check and then the timing was perfect for me to hear them as we drove past. I love all the things that have to happen to set us on the path to getting a bird. And I met another “Ellen” birder. The 2nd one this year.
On the way home I saw a Northern Shrike on the side of the road so we did a quick u-turn to grab some pics in the late eveing sun.
So with 5 weeks to go we have Purple Sandpiper, White-winged Crossbill as really good possibilities. Sabine’s Gull was seen along the Niagara River so there is some potential for that. Boreal Owl and Gyrfalcon would be tougher birds but not impossible. And of course there is always the chance for something super rare to still show up.
Oh! and a huge shout out to Jude Szabo this week for hitting 350 in Ontario!!!! 15 more birds than we had last year! He has been relentless with chasing everything that is out there. Ahhh, the energy of youth. Congratulations! and he still has 5 weeks to go too.
Week 46 and 47 2 species added 429 for E&J