Articles

Baillie Birdathon: Report #2

By Michael McMillan

Ricky Dunn, David Hussel, their son Jeremy and I
were at the Townsend sewage lagoons when
Jeremy located a Bobolink in a bush in a nearby
pasture. We had decided that we would begin our
Birdathon when we saw a good bird and this was it.
The time was 12.20 pm and we now had 24 hours to
identify as many bird species as possible.

As usual these sewage lagoons were productive for
ducks and wading birds. The duck species observed
were American Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, Mallard,
Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked Duck,
Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Pintail and Wood Duck.
The Waders seen were Greater and Lesser
Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, Dunlin and Wilson’s
Phalarope. In addition, a number of Cliff Swallows
feeding on insects were swooping back and forth
over the water.

A short drive took us to the sewage lagoons at
Jarvis. Perched on a fence were a Rough-winged
Swallow and a Tree Swallow.

Long-tailed Duck male, non-breeding (top) female (bottom)
In one lagoon was an American Coot and a Long-
tailed Duck. I had never seen a Long-tailed Duck
before. It was one of two life birds for me on this
Birdathon.

Our next stop, the Port Dover Marina, produced 3
species: a Barn Swallow, a Purple Martin and a
Kingfisher. On the breakwater in the Port Dover
Harbour were Caspian Terns, Common Terns, a
Bonaparte’s Gull, Ring-billed Gulls and a Herring
Gull. In a bush at Silver Lake we spotted an
Eastern Kingbird.

On our way to Port Ryerse we stopped to check out
a Bald Eagle nest in a distant tree on the edge of
the forest. The top of an Eagle was just visible in
the nest. On the other side of the road a Red-tailed
Hawk sat in a tree. At Port Ryerse I saw a Blue-
gray Gnatcatcher, a Baltimore Oriole and out on the
lake a Red-breasted Merganser.

On the beach near the marina at Turkey Point we
spotted three wading birds which appeared to be
Willets, right beside about half a dozen Caspian
Terns. A Willet is a large wader and, at rest, rather
non-descript. So, to confirm the identification we
walked toward the birds to make them fly. Once
they took off, we could see the striking black-and-
white wing pattern, which verified that they were
Willets. Willets are scarce migrants in our area,
therefore it was a special bird, although not a lifer
for me because I had seen one on a previous
Birdathon.

We continued to travel west. During a quick stop
overlooking the Turkey Point Marsh we observed a
Great Blue Heron flying overhead and four Sandhill
Cranes flying from the marsh across the road near
us. At the BSC property a Pied-billed Grebe was
swimming in the wetland.

By the time we arrived at Old Cut some rain was
falling. While the pizza Ricky had brought was
warming in the oven in the kitchen of the bird
banders’ quarters we took a quick walk around
checking for song birds. Despite the spitting rain we
saw both White-crowned and White-throated
Sparrows, a Black-throated Blue Warbler, a
Redstart, a Magnolia Warbler, a Black-and-White
Warbler, a Wood Thrush and a Swainson’s Thrush.
By now the rain was falling harder and we hustled
back inside to enjoy our supper and converse with
the bird banders.

Fortunately the heavy rain fell while we ate. When it
did let up we headed for the dyke on the causeway.
At this stop we saw Bank Swallows and heard an
American Bittern, a Least Bittern and a Marsh
Wren. Further along the causeway near some
boathouses a Phoebe was perched on a post.

Our next stop was at a grassy field near Mud
Creek. By now the sky was brightening and we
were able to locate an Eastern Meadow Lark sitting
on a post. As we were leaving three Green Herons
flew in the distance.

During a brief stop at the entrance to Backus
Woods off Hwy. 24 we heard an Ovenbird and a
Pine Warbler.

At the Timpf property, in the waning light, we
managed to see an Eastern Bluebird. Further along
the East Quarter Line Road we walked into a
grassy field to listen for an American Woodcock. In
the distance we could hear the repetitive call of a
Whip-poor-will. Then suddenly we heard the
Woodcock close by and, with darkness settling in,
we headed home.

The next morning, shortly after 4 am, Ricky, David
and Jeremy picked me up and we set off for Old
Cut. Once there, the first sound heard was the
repetitious song of a Carolina Wren. Initially the
overcast sky made the lighting poor which, in turn,
made identifying birds challenging. We did,
however, manage to identify a Rose-breasted
Grosbeak and a Chestnut-sided Warbler. On
Lighthouse Crescent we saw a Yellow-rumped
Warbler and a Cedar Waxwing. As we continued
walking to the new park three Double-crested
Cormorants and a Chimney Swift flew overhead.
On the way to Backus Woods a quick stop on the
causeway produced a Forster’s Tern flying over the
inner bay. In the woods we walked to the watery
spot that often has a Prothonotary Warbler. This
was our lucky day because we saw, at close range,
the Prothonotary and a Canada Warbler
simultaneously. Other birds seen here were a
Hooded Warbler, a Scarlet Tanager, a Downy
Woodpecker and a Red-eyed Vireo. Because many
birds were singing we also managed to hear a
White-breasted Nuthatch, a Northern Waterthrush,
a Red-bellied Woodpecker, a Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker and the drumming of a Pileated
Woodpecker.

The next morning, shortly after 4 am, Ricky, David
and Jeremy picked me up and we set off for Old
Cut. Once there, the first sound heard was the
repetitious song of a Carolina Wren. Initially the
overcast sky made the lighting poor which, in turn,
made identifying birds challenging. We did,
however, manage to identify a Rose-breasted
Grosbeak and a Chestnut-sided Warbler. On
Lighthouse Crescent we saw a Yellow-rumped
Warbler and a Cedar Waxwing. As we continued
walking to the new park three Double-crested
Cormorants and a Chimney Swift flew overhead.
On the way to Backus Woods a quick stop on the
causeway produced a Forster’s Tern flying over the
inner bay. In the woods we walked to the watery

We journeyed back to the grassy field where we
had heard the Woodcock the night before. Here we
were able to spot Grasshopper, Song and Field
Sparrows, an Indigo Bunting and a lovely Blue-
winged Warbler. In addition, at this spot, we heard
an Eastern Towhee and a Great-crested Flycatcher
calling.

Eventually we arrived back at Old Cut. This time we
were rewarded with a Least Flycatcher, a
Philadelphia Vireo, a Peewee, a Black-throated
Green Warbler and another Ovenbird. However,
the highlight here was a fleeting sighting of a
skulking Worm-eating Warbler. This bird is only
rarely seen north of the Great Lakes and was my
second life bird.

A walk into the new park produced an Orchard
Oriole, a Flicker, a Nashville Warbler, a Wilson’s
Warbler, a Warbling Vireo and a Blue-headed
Vireo. With only 20 minutes remaining we headed
to the old park where we added three more
species: a Brown Thrasher, a Ruby-crowned
Kinglet and a Hermit Thrush before our time ran
out.

When I added up my species I was pleased to have
a total of 128. Again, I am grateful to Ricky, David
and Jeremy for helping me reach this total. There is
still a bit of money coming in and I am hopeful the
final amount will be close to $5,000, similar to last
year. Much thanks goes to you, my sponsors, for
helping to raise this money for bird research and
bird conservation across the country.
Tax receipts will be issued by Bird Studies Canada
either by email or regular mail in the summer.

Thank you for sponsoring me,
Mike