Timiskaming Birds Forum

A  Peregrine Falcon this evening on Promenade Road in Casey Twp.

Also, one Tundra Swan is still to be found from Development Road.  Many flocks of Greater Yellowlegs around, literally in the thousands.  Observed many groupings of 60 - 100 birds, and one flock that took flight numbered well over three hundred!

Here's a shot of the Peregrine.

 Nice going Mike. We went through there for a quick check for the swan. We didn't see it, but we turned on Maybrook Road after coming in from Casey Marsh. We were in a bit of a hurry, as we were coming back from North Bay.  We did see your vehicle as you were going East on the road north of Maybrook. Many, many ducks on Moose Creek, and once again, the snowy owl on Maybrook. I'll take more time tommorow.

Today at Hilliardton Marsh at the north end of Cell 3, a Red-breasted Merganser male.

At Judge, a Spotted Sandpiper on the shore of, and then out onto a floating log in, the Blanche River.

And introducing south Temiskaming's newest musical group - "The Drifters".  I don't know if they'll really catch on, though.  Not only do they know only one song, but that song uses only one note, and only one word as well! "Tew, tew, tew."

 Interesting shot Mike. A quick glance, my interest "spiked", thinking there were different species among them, until the black legs turned into empty spikes.

 Went for a walk in the park today. I saw the Brown Creeper. I also saw Yellowbellied Sapsuckers, Chickadees etc, and the following critter. Pardon the terrible photography. I left my tripod behind. (Mike, what is the make & model of your sturdy looking monopod?) I'm wondering if it could be another flycatcher, perhaps an olive sided? The face & head is so dark compared to the rest of the body...

I'm thinking you got another Phoebe.  The first shot shows the advantage of having a camera that features manual focus, as auto-focus will always pick up the branches in front.  Even "spot focus" autofocusing has a hard time in such a situation.  My monopod is a Cullmann, but there are many kinds out there, and all do essentially the same thing.  If your tripod has a quick release shoe on it, it is most convenient to get something that can use the same foot as your tripod so that you can leave the foot attached to the bottom of your camera and easily switch back and forth from tripod to monopod.

Looks like another Phoebe.  As Mike said, the branch looks so nice with the snow!

My monopod is a Manfrotto.  When my Manfrotto tripod will have the same head, I'll buy a plate to stay all the time on the camera to make easy switch.

 Thanks Mike & Jon. I went back into the park yesterday, and this time I dragged my tripod in with me, but, unfortunately, it was a bit late, and I didn't see anything that I could photograph. I did hear a bird that I would have loved to photograph. It had a long song. (I didn't record it). When I came home, I listened to bird songs from my Thayer's software. I didn't necessarily recognise the song per se, but the closest, because of its length, seemed to be that of the Ruby-crowned Kinglet.  Would they likely be back at this time? (I did see some very tiny birds fly by, but I don't know if they were the ones singing.)

This morning at Hilliardton Marsh, I observed the following species for the first time this year:

American Coot - 1 seen and several more heard
Bobolink -  1 seen and several more heard
Swamp Sparrow - three seen, and two more heard
Common Yellowthroat - several heard calling - my first warbler this year
Wood Duck - one male seen
Blue-winged Teal - about 10 pairs observed
Sora - about a dozen heard calling
Ruddy Duck - two seen in cell 4b
Pied-billed Grebe - many both seen and heard

Also, I observed about a dozen Pintail and many dozens of Bufflehead mixed in with the Scaup, Mallards, Common Goldeneyes and Ring-necked Ducks.  These are not new Timiskaming arrivals, but they are worth mentioning because they are not yet included on the Hilliardton Marsh Bird Checklist.  I will send photos by email to Bruce to validate their addition to the Hilliardton Marsh Bird Checklist.

May first I had many a Hermit trush, Yellow-rumped warblers and 2 Black and white warblers.  A couple of day before, I had a couple of Winter wren.

May 5th, I had many Least flycatchers at the marais Laperrière close to Ville-Marie.

I know those dates are not useful for your purpose of early arrival date, but it gives a hint on when the birds are hitting Timiskaming and what to look for.  Bye

 My son saw a hummingbird at the feeder I just put up today. Time, approx 20:10

Heard and then saw my first Nashville Warbler yesterday morning, and this morning it seems like they're virtually everywhere! When they decide its time to come back, they don't kid around! 

Also this morning - Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and Winter Wren.  I also bagged a good Phoebe shot.

Observed a Broad-winged Hawk yesterday (May 6) in Dymond Township.

 Mike, for the records, were all these birds seen in Henwood Twp? I see that the Phoebe was. Beautifull shot of the Phoebe. I also got several not bad shots of one or two at Kapkigiwan Park this morning , but yours is much better.

Thanks for your comments on the Phoebe, Serge. I think I found a nesting pair - there were two and they were behaving a bit territorial.

The other birds were all from Henwood Twp. also.

This morning - many Yellow-rumped Warblers in Henwood Twp.  From the numbers around, they must have been back for a few days already.  I think Murph and his students have been catching them at the marsh for a few days now. What else is going on at the marsh?

I quickly checked through this thread, and didn't see any mention of White-crowned Sparrows; forgive me if I've missed it.  This morning for the last couple of hours I've been watching several at my back feeder and along the edge of the hill in my yard.  I have also had a beautiful male Rose-breasted Grosbeak that the squirrel just (unsuccessfully) tried to chase off.  And the usual suspects, Evening Grosbeaks and their mini-me American Goldfinch, Pine Siskins, Purple Finches, Juncos, a Downy Woodpecker, Grackles, and Robins, all without getting off my chair in my living room except to refill my coffee.  I love this time of year!

Hi Mark. Quite a menagerie you've got in your yard. White-crowned Sparrow was not on this thread, but was in First Sightings forum. See the thread here: http://timbirds.info/communityserver/forums/t/315.aspx.  I think we're going to have to find a better way to track arriving migrants, as I'm having the same problems keeping track of what's been reported and what hasn't. Bruce told me about some Bluebirds he saw last Tuesday in Hilliard Twp., but didn't post because he was away for a week and assumed that they had been seen and reported already.  Still don't think they've been posted, so this is the first official notification to the forum community.  There's a bunch of species they've been catching at the marsh that I don't think have been posted yet either.  I'm trying to think of something that might work better, but haven't hit upon any ideas yet that don't require either a bunch of work from me or some specialized training for forum community members.

Several Blue-headed Vireos in Henwood this morning.

Hermit Thrush in Henwood Twp. this afternoon.

 Mike, I have been tracking these sightings on a spreadsheet faithfully, same format as last year, and updating close to daily. I can send the sheet every once in a while, where you can post it, or you can give me access to an online sheet that I could keep updated often for all to see, if it is easy enough to accomplish.

Today, a Palm Warbler at Hilliardton Marsh and a flock of Pipits in Casey Twp.  Also, found my first Ruby-crowned Kinglet this morning in Cane Twp, though I think they have been catching them at the marsh for about a week now. 

 Ovenbird - Henwood Twp.  Two heard singing and one seen.

Hi Mike,

   Just wondering if you received the photo of the cardinal I emailed on May 10?

Shirley

Yes, Thanks.  I tried to stop by this evening around 6:00, but I've forgotten which house is yours.  I'll try again tomorrow.

This evening at Hilliardton Marsh - one Eastern Kingbird flycatching along the south side of Cell 2, and 1 Barn Swallow mixed in with a flock of about 75 Tree Swallows.  Also at the main gate, the Bobolinks were putting on quite a show, and had real good looks at one each of Yellow and Nashville Warblers, as well as many Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Late this morning during a pause in the rain, an extremely hurried check in the Casey Marsh area in the SE corner of Casey Twp. yielded several each of Least Flycatcher and Chestnut-sided Warbler.  Yellow Warblers were also abundant, as were very vocal Bobolinks. All the Bobolinks observed were males.

This evening on the breakwall of the marina at the New Liskeard waterfront - four Brant were waiting for winds to die down.

This morning at my house in Henwood Twp., a beautiful male Black-throated Blue Warbler.

Yesterday afternoon (May 15) - 3 male and at least two female Redheads in Evanturel Twp., as well as 8 Bonapart's Gulls.  Only one of the Bonaparte's was in adult breeding plumage. The rest were still in adult non-breeding plumage.  Also, a close fly-by of the New Liskeard waterfront by a flock of about 80 Brant. If they landed, I could not find where.