December 18th, 2015

After reading Sean’s blog below, and the shot across the bow, it seemed I needed to defend my birding-self : ) Since we began this a few years ago it has been a lot of fun and we have both enjoyed comparing notes throughout year.

Sean’s sighting of a Northern Shike is significant to me, as it was the species that began my interest in bird-watching back in 1999. I have only had 2 at the Heidelberg OEEC since that time – none this year.

Although the Northern Shrike is not on my centre list this year, there are 115 species that are. This is only 2 off my centre-best and there is still time to match or exceed 117.

There were a few notable species this year: American Woodcock (second record ever), Tundra Swan (hit-and-miss), Merlin, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (first record ever), Philadelphia Vireo (first record ever), Common Raven (almost annual now), Bobolink (2nd or 3rd record), and Rusty Blackbird (2nd record ever). The Woodcock and Tundra Swans were heard as I was doing some night photography in the sugar bush on April 1st. I assume the American Woodcock can be heard each year, but typically I am not near their staging area to hear them.

It is always nice to have some pleasant surprise species on the list, but there are always species that are ‘usual suspects’ that for whatever reason, were missed. This year they are: Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, House Wren, Hermit Thrush, Cape May Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, and Eastern Screech Owl.

I looked at Sean’s list of species and unless I overlooked it, we are both missing Eastern Screech Owl. The Kitchener Christmas Bird Count is this Saturday, and we both take part in the same counting party. You can read more about the CBC in another of our blogs at https://outdooredguys.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/kitchener-christmas-bird-count/

We always begin our morning before sunrise, calling for owls at Laurel Creek Nature Centre, so Sean will most likely be able to add Eastern Screech Owl to his list that day! With the weather being so warm, there might even be a few ‘unusual suspects’ that are found… perhaps when we go to Heidelberg, we might find a Hermit Thrush…