Hi All,
Posting on behalf of Ross Wood:
This is the project's sixth report, for the period 13 August - 27 August 2013 from East Point on Hannah Bay, Ontario, on the south coast of James Bay.
This camp is located in the heart of the East Point Important Bird Area (http://ibacanada.ca/site.jsp?siteID=ON147&lang=EN).
The Hannah Bay crew consists of Ross Wood (volunteer), Kevin Seymour (Royal Ontario Museum), Greg Stewart (volunteer), Shannon Page (MNR), Mark Isaac (volunteer, Moose Cree First Nations) and Thomas Cheena (volunteer, Moose Cree First Nations).
The Hannah Bay camp is 68 km east of Moosonee, Cochrane District. High counts during the period are given below.
Black-bellied Plover - 70 adults on August 18. All moulting adults.
American Golden Plover - 3 adults on August 18 and 20th.
Semipalmated Plover - 53 on August 22; nearly all juveniles by August 27.
Killdeer - 8 on August 18.
Spotted Sandpiper - 1 on August 16. Only one juvenile observed during the period.
Solitary Sandpiper - singles on 4 days.
Greater Yellowlegs - 257 on August 22. Juveniles represented about 50% of the birds by the end.
Lesser Yellowlegs - 435 on August 22. Juveniles represented about 80% of the birds by the end of the period.
Whimbrel - 4 on August 19.
Hudsonian Godwit - 2383 molting and migrating adults on August 22. East Point appears to be an important stopover site for this species, as the 2383 birds represents about 3.5% of the global population of this species. Flagged birds were seen on 12 occasions and represented at least 6 individuals. Based on flag colour, one of these flagged birds was banded in Canada and the other two were banded in Chile. On August 22 as the tide came in Ross Wood and Kevin Seymour watched several flocks totalling roughly 800 individuals gaining altitude and heading south. First Juvenile observed on August 23.
Marbled Godwit - 17 on August 18. Small numbers daily.
Ruddy Turnstone - 23 adults on August 19. By the end of the period on juveniles were being seen.
Red Knot - 27 on August 22. This species was very uncommon at East Point, but in the last week or so we started to see very small numbers of
juveniles more regularly.
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 853 on August 22. Juveniles represented nearly 100% of the birds by the end of the period.
Least Sandpiper - 58 on August 18. 100% juveniles by the end of the period.
White-rumped Sandpiper - 2027 on August 22. One juvenile on the August 22.
Pectoral Sandpiper - 196 on August 23. Approximately 50% juveniles by the end of the period.
Dunlin - 3 adults on several dates. This species was very uncommon at East Point - only adults were observed and only on 15 days in the entire 6 week period.
Stilt Sandpiper - 2 August 17. Always observed roosting at creek mouth at high tide with Short-billed Dowitchers and Hudsonian Godwits.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 1 on August 18.
Short-billed Dowitcher (hendersoni) - 9 adults on August 22. First juveniles seen August 17.
Wilson's Snipe - 10 on August 16 and 21.
Wilson's Phalarope - 1 juvenile on August 16.
Red-necked Phalarope - 5 juveniles on August 16.
OTHER BIRDS: Snow Goose - first arrivals on August 17, high count of 104 August 22; Canada Goose 2912 on August 23; Horned Grebe; American White Pelican - 10 birds on August 22; Black Tern at least 2 juveniles August 18; Arctic Tern - adult on August 20; Tree, Bank and Cliff Swallows; Winter Wren; Pine Warbler - male feeding on mud flats; Le Conte's Sparrow; Nelson's Sparrow - birds had stopped singing by this period, but fledged young and adults were seen most days; Purple Finch; White-winged Crossbill; Common Redpoll - seen daily in small flocks moving south; Pine Siskin
MAMMALS: Gray Wolf (tracks), Woodchuck, Deer Mouse, Meadow Vole, Short-tailed Shrew (dead specimen collected) and Red Squirrel.
HERPTILES: Wood Frog, American Toad, Northern Leopard Frog, Spring Peeper, Eastern Gartersnake(common around camp).
Butterflies: Cabbage White, Mustard White, Bronze Copper, Silvery Blue, Spring Azure, Atlantis Fritillary, Northern Crescent, Green Comma, White Admiral, Viceroy.
ODONATES: Northern Spreadwing, Emerald Spreadwing, Marsh Bluet, Variable "Lineate" Darner, Variable "Interrupted" Darner, Lake Darner, Zigzag Darner, Black Meadowhawk, Cherry-faced Meadowhawk.
Check out Alvan's blog (http://alvanbuckley.blogspot.ca <http://alvanbuckley.blogspot.ca/> ) for photos and a map of the Hannah Bay camp location. Mike Burrell also has some photos on his blog (http://mikeburrell.blogspot.ca <http://mikeburrell.blogspot.ca/> ) and Jean Iron has photos from the first crew at this location (http://www.jeaniron.ca/2013/JamesBay/p1.htm).
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The Western James Bay Shorebird Survey is a cooperative effort spearheaded by the Canadian Wildlife Service, Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Bird Studies Canada and Moose Cree First Nation. Additional support for the 2013 expedition was provided by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. The OMNR also provides helicopter transport to and from field camps and accommodations in the staff house while crews are in Moosonee. Thanks to Ken Abraham, Rod Brook, Sarah Hagey and Kim Bennett of OMNR for logistical support. Lastly, without the many hours of dedicated volunteer support, this project would not be possible.
Ross Wood
Burlington, ON
_______________________________________________
Regards,
Christian
Christian A. Friis
Canadian Wildlife Service
Environment Canada
4905 Dufferin St.
Toronto ON M3H 5T4
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Telephone 416.739.4908
Mobile 647.882.6097
Facsimile 416.739.5845
Government of Canada
Website www.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com <http://www.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com/>
Christian A. Friis
Service canadien de la faune
Environnement Canada
4905, rue Dufferin
Toronto ON M3H 5T4
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Téléphone 416.739.4908
Cellulaire 647.882.6097
Télécopieur 416.739.5845
Gouvernement du Canada
Site Web www.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com <http://www.ec.gc.ca/mbc-com/>
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