A little glimpse into our group's results from a recent bird count day for those of you interested. The Bain Count is named after Sir Francis Bain, an early Island Naturalist. If you are feeling curious about this fun, citizen science day my parents and uncle have taken part in for forty plus years, read/scan on. My 18yr old son Lucas, a natural birder, has taken part in counts for a half dozen plus years and I (a nature enthusiast, but less natural birder) have taken part in either the Christmas Counts or the Bain for five or so years but the birding lifestyle of my parents has been dear to my heart always.
These are some of the notes I sent to Dan McAskill, event organizer and data compiler.
2021 Bain Count Saturday, May 29th
We covered eastern end from Monticello to East Point and South Lake and Little Harbour and points in between such as Kelly Rd, Big Pond etc.
Participants:
Gerald MacDonald, Gene MacDonald, Jean Watts altogether in Gene's vehicle.
Paul and Arlene McGuigan in their vehicle.
Lucas and Jill MacCormack in our vehicle.
We had a later start due to extenuating circumstances----but happily the day was gorgeous and we were able to be together. As well, Gerald, Gene, Jean, Arlene and Paul enjoyed a welcome return of the post-count, lobster feast after not getting to do it last year due to COVID-19. Lucas and Jill could not take part due to another late day commitment.
Vehicle 1 drove 88 km. from 9:30-4:00 pm Vehicles 2&3 from 8:30-4:00 pm drove 164 Km. Temp. 11-12 degrees C, overcast Mammals:
2 fox kits in Monticello Mother and 4 fox kits in Little Harbour
1 cat 1 squirrel few black flies and mosquitoes
As for walking--there weren't any great distances walked but a lot of time spent outdoors and some walking at these locations combined to approx 1.5 or 2 kms:
Walked:
Hermitage Rd
Naufrage St Charles Rd
Big Pond
East Point
Red Point
Little Harbour
Species seen and/or heard:
1) Canada Goose
2) Wood Duck
3) American Wigeon
4) American Black Duck
5) Mallard
6) Blue-winged Teal
7)Green-winged Teal
8) Ring-necked Duck
9) Common Eider
10) Black Scoter
11) Long-tailed Duck
12) Hooded Merganser
13) Red-throated Loon
14) Northern Gannet
15) Double-crested Cormorant
16) Great Cormorant
17) Great Blue Heron
18) Osprey
19) Bald Eagle
20)Northern Harrier
21) Red-tailed Hawk
22)Wilson’s Phalarope
23)Ring-billed Gull
24)Great Black-backed Gull
25) Herring Gull
26) Rock Pigeon
27) Mourning Dove
28)Saw Whet Owl
29) Ruby-throated Hummingbird
30) Belted Kingfisher
31) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
32)Downy Woodpecker
33) Hairy Woodpecker
34) Northern Flicker
35) American Kestrel
36) Merlin
37) Alder Flycatcher
38)Least Flycatcher
39) Blue-headed Vireo
40) Red-eyed Vireo
41) Blue Jay
42) American Crow
43) Common Raven
44) Tree Swallow
45) Barn Swallow
46) Black-capped Chickadee
47)Red-breasted Nuthatch
48) Golden-crowned Kinglet
49) Ruby-crowned Kinglet
50)Swainson’s Thrush
51) American Robin
52) European Starling
53) Ovenbird
54) Black and White Warbler
55)Mourning Warbler
56) Common Yellowthroat
57)American Redstart
58) Northern Parula
59) Magnolia Warbler
60)Blackburnian Warbler
61) Yellow Warbler
62) Chestnut-sided Warbler
63) Yellow-rumped Warbler
64) Black-throated Green Warbler
65) Chipping Sparrow
66) Savannah Sparrow
67) Song Sparrow
68) Swamp Sparrow
69) White-throated Sparrow
70) Dark-eyed Junco
71) Rose-breasted Grosbeak
72) Red-winged Blackbird
73) Common Grackle
74)Brown-headed Cowbird
75)Purple Finch
76) American Goldfinch
Sunday on a quick outing around Earnscliff, and area Maria, Lucas and Jill we saw these additional species:
Willets
Common Tern
House Sparrows
Bobolinks (farmland species at risk)
And in answer to Dan's requests for highlights from some of us in our group:
Here are some of the highlights of the Bain Count acc'd to Lucas, myself and my parents, although it was just generally so beautiful and relaxing to be out!
We had a really nice, long sighting of and listen to a Rose-breasted Grosbeak while standing on the Hermitage Rd. Everyone got a good long look. Mom was very pleased with this as it had been some time since she saw one.
Also, on the Hermitage Rd we all had a lovely sighting of a beautiful American Redstart.
Dad was excited that he and mom had a Bald Eagle swoop down from a tall treetop on the St Charles Rd, moving low and slowly to a newly greening Juniper beside them. It seemed to be at the height of their windshield and they got to enjoy the awesome enormity of the bird.
Dad was happy to see the gorgeous colours of the Green-winged Teal.
And mom and dad both thought the sighting of the less common 2 juvenile Wilson's Phalarope was fantastic.
I, personally also enjoyed watching the Northern Gannet's dive bombing at East Point as well as having a lovely late May sighting of Rhodora, roadside on the 48 Rd.
endnote to reader:
For all your birding knowledge needs: Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Cheers,
Jill
Hozzászólások