Ontario 2003

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF SPECIES SEEN
Annotated by Adrian Binns

Species of note in orange

BIRDS

Red-necked Grebe
1 on the Niagara River at Fort Erie
Great Blue Heron
1 on the Niagara River north of the Peace Bridge
Black Vulture
3 seen over the turnpike in Montgomery County PA on the return journey
Turkey Vulture
1 seen over the turnpike in Montgomery County PA on the return journey
Canada Goose
2 at Wye Marsh and good numbers along the Niagara Parkway
Tundra Swan
7 on the Niagara River North of Fort Erie
Trumpeter Swan
About 28 at Wye Marsh. Part of the re-introduction program
Gadwall
5 at the Control Gates and 1 at the Thermal Ponds in Kingston
American Black Duck
Small numbers
Mallard
Common
Canvasback
200+ at the Control Gates and smaller numbers along the Niagara River
Redhead
About a dozen at the Control Gates
Greater Scaup
1000's along the Niagara River
White-winged Scoter
6 on the Niagara River just North of Fort Erie
Long-tailed Duck
1male at Sir Adam Beck Overlook and 1 female on the Niagara River just North of Fort Erie
Bufflehead
Common on the Niagara River
Common Goldeneye
3 at the Amherst Ferry, a few on Lake Ontario and small numbers of the Niagara River
Hooded Merganser
About 10 along the Niagara River
Common Merganser
Good numbers along the Niagara River
Red-breasted Merganser
About 6 at the Amherst Ferry and on Lake Ontario and good numbers on the Niagara River
Bald Eagle
2 at the US/Canadian border, and 4 along the Niagara River
Northern Harrier
1 heading south towards Brantford
Cooper's Hawk
2 seen on the journey to Ontario along Rte 81 in New York
Red-shouldered Hawk
1 seen perched in a field while driving along the Niagara River north of Fort Erie
Red-tailed Hawk
Seen every day in small numbers, though the journey home through New York and PA produced about 70 birds
Rough-legged Hawk
2 dark morphs on Amherst Island and 1 dark morph over Rte 81 in southern New York on the return journey
American Kestrel
1 along Rte 403 just east of Brantford
Gray Partridge
4 at the entrance road leading to Brantford Airport
Ruffed Grouse
3 at Algonquin - visitors center, Mew Lake and along the road
Wild Turkey
6 along Rte 403 just west of Brantford and 1 on Rte 81 in New York
Ring-billed Gull
Several dozen along the Niagara River
Herring Gull
1 flying over Quinte and about a hundred along the Niagara River
Glaucous Gull
1 2nd winter at the Control Gates at Niagara Falls
Great Black-backed Gull
1 seen flying over Quinte and small numbers on the Niagara River
Rock Dove
Very Common, seen daily
Mourning Dove
Common, seen daily
Great Horned Owl
1 heard calling at Wye Marsh
Snowy Owl
5 on Amherst Island, all perch at the top of trees or poles. 4 immatures and 1 male
Long-eared Owl
1 in flight on Amherst Island
Short-eared Owl
About 6 at the eastern end of Amherst Island - all seen very well, hunting, perched, sitting and ripping a meadow vole apart! We could not have asked for better views.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
2 on Quinte and 1 at Wye Marsh
Downy Woodpecker
Individuals on Quinte, at Algonquin, Wye Marsh and along the Niagara River
Hairy Woodpecker
2 at Algonquin - 1 at the Visitors Center and 1 at the West Gate
Black-backed Woodpecker
1 male at its nest hole on the telegraph pole at 8Km in Algonquin
Pileated Woodpecker
A pair at the West Gate and 1 heard calling along the road in Algonquin
Northern Shrike
1 on the way to Algonquin; 1 east of Wye Marsh/Midland and 4 heading south to Brantford
Gray Jay
8 in Algonquin - 3 at Mew Lake, 2 at the Visitors Center and 3 on the Spruce Bog Trail
Blue Jay
Common, seen daily in small numbers
American Crow
Very Common, seen daily
Common Raven
Common in Algonquin and a few seen west of Algonquin along Rte 127 and Rte 60
Black-capped Chickadee
Seen daily though most common in Algonquin
Red-breasted Nuthatch
At least 4 in Algonquin
White-breasted Nuthatch
6 in all - 4 in Algonquin and 2 at Wye Marsh
Brown Creeper
1 at Algonquin at the Visitors Center and 1 along the Niagara Parkway
American Robin
Small numbers in Quinte, Amherst and along the Niagara Parkway
Varied Thrush
1male with a gammy left leg (though it may have just been the temperatures) at a feeder in Quinte
Northern Mockingbird
1 at the Adam Beck Overlook along the Niagara River
European Starling
Very Common, seen daily
Cedar Waxwing
A group of about 60+ on Quinte, and several heard at Fort Erie
American Tree Sparrow
The most common sparrow, generally seen at feeders
White-throated Sparrow
1 heard calling at Wye Marsh
White-crowned Sparrow
1 at Wye Marsh
Dark-eyed Junco
4 on Quinte at the Varied Thrush yard
Northern Cardinal
2 on Quinte
Purple Finch
5 at a feeder in Whitney; 40+ in Algonquin and about 20 at Wye Marsh
House Finch
2 on Amherst; 3 on Quinte and about 20 in a residential area along the Niagara Parkway
Red Crossbill
2 in Algonquin
White-winged Crossbill
Very Common in Algonquin, providing the soundtrack - 1 female seen collecting nesting material (Pine Needles)
American Goldfinch
Small numbers in Algonquin, usually associated with mixed flocks; 6 at Wye Marsh
Evening Grosbeak
About a dozen at the feeders at the Visitors Center at Algonquin
House Sparrow
Common in residential areas

MAMMALS

Coyote
1 on Amherst Island, between the fire hall and the church
White-tailed Deer
1 just west of Algonquin
Grey Squirrel inc. Black Squirrel
Small numbers, though mainly the black race seen
Red Squirrel
Small numbers heard and seen on Quinte and in Algonquin

RODENTS

Muskrat
1 crossing a snow covered field south of Wye March on Rte 93
Meadow Vole
1 on Amherst making its last crossing of the road before a Short eared Owl picked it off!