Timiskaming Birds Forum

Hi all!  I returned July 4th from my "Golf Niagara" trip (or "Egrets, I've had a few," from a birding standpoint).  No birdies, but a few birds.  Notable were the Great Egrets, Barnacle Goose (tame? escaped?), and a breeding pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers for my life-list.  But back to Temiskaming... I'm making most of my observations from the roughs of NLGC these days, but did manage a short visit to the marsh on July 7, and a longer one Saturday, July 10.  On the 7th I just walked to the berm to see the Black Terns, Mallards, and Blue-winged Teals, but on the way there and back, saw families of Ruffed Grouse,

and Flickers.

I also dozens of Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds, as well as White-throated Sparrows, Robins, a Cedar Waxwing, and this, which I've tentatively labelled a Least Flycatcher (correct me if I'm wrong!)

On Saturday, I spent about 3 and a half hours fighting with the hay growth on the berm, and in addition to the above, I also saw Tree and Barn Swallows, Killdeer, Yellow Warbler, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Kingbirds, Savannah Sparrows, Starlings, and these two that I need help with....the first I believe tobe a Solitary Sandpiper, and the second (the chocolate duck) I'm not sure... could it be a Redhead?

Congratulations Joe, on the LeConte's Sparrow, and keep up the great work!

On the last picture I would go with Ring-necked duck but not sure at all.  Chicks are pretty smalls for the time by the way.  It might be a second try.

I agree with your ID of Solitary Sandpiper on the shorebird. Can't say about the duck, but if a female, it does not look like a female Ring-Necked to me. It might be a male in the middle of a molt, but I don't know anything about how much the males help out with the offspring. The gestalt to me from the facial markings is Long-tailed Duck, but open to other opinions.

It's nice to get reports of your birding activities. I haven't been able to do much birding at all this year since the Baillie Birdathon, so am living vicariously through reports on timbirds. Keep your observations coming - it's fun to read about what others are seeing.

The duck picture.....is the bill a blue colour? Scaup?