Still to come, guys.
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From: [log in to unmask]
To: SHOREBIRDS <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tue, Sep 10, 2013 12:09 pm
Subject: [SHOREBIRDS] James Bay shorebird report #5, 31 July - 12 August 2013
Hi All,
Posting on behalf of Mike Burrell:
This is the project's fifth report, for the period 31 July - 12 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), Mike Burrell (Bird
Studies Canada), Barb Charlton (volunteer) and Alvan Buckley (volunteer). Final
reports from Hannah Bay, Little Piskwamish Point and Longridge Point will be
shared as soon as possible.
The Hannah Bay camp is 68 km east of Moosonee, Cochrane District. High counts
during the period are given below.
Black-bellied Plover - 101 adults on August 10. No juveniles to date.
American Golden Plover - 2 adults on August 5 and 1 adult on August 8.
Semipalmated Plover - 46 on August 2; the first juveniles arrived on August 7
Killdeer - 11 on August 9
Spotted Sandpiper - 4 on July 31. Only juveniles observed during the period.
Solitary Sandpiper - singles on 5 days.
Greater Yellowlegs - 554 on July 31. Juveniles were uncommon at the start of the
period but had increased to about 30% by the end.
Lesser Yellowlegs - 395 on August 1. Juveniles represented about 25% of birds at
the start of the period but increased to well over half by the end.
Whimbrel - 6 on August 6. This species was mostly just observed flying over the
study area.
Hudsonian Godwit - 674 molting adults on August 11. East Point appears to be an
important stopover site for this species, as the 674 birds represents almost 1%
of the global population of this species. Flagged birds were seen on 9 occasions
and represented at least 3 individuals. Based on flag colour, one of these
flagged birds was banded in Canada and the other two were banded in Chile. On
August 10 as the tide came in Ross Wood and Mike Burrell watched a flock of 27
individuals circle overhead gaining altitude for close to 30 minutes before
eventually heading south, presumably leaving James Bay.
Marbled Godwit - 39 on August 3. Small numbers daily.
Ruddy Turnstone - 35 adults on August 2. The first juveniles arrived on August
6.
Red Knot - 42 birds in a flyover flock on August 9. This species was very
uncommon at East Point, with birds on the ground only on 3 days, including 2
juveniles on August 11.
Sanderling - 6 birds on August 4. Uncommon at East Point with low counts on 7
days only. No juveniles observed.
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 7311 on August 6. Juveniles represented a very small
portion of birds (virtually none) when we arrived but had increased to over 50%
by the end of the period. On August 10 as the tide came in Ross Wood and Mike
Burrell watched several flocks totalling over 500 birds flying southeast at high
altitude, presumably having fattened up enough to leave James Bay. On August 12
Ross Wood and Alvan Buckley found an adult Semipalmated Sandpiper with an
engraved flag - based on the colour of the flag this bird was originally banded
in Peru.
Least Sandpiper - 425 on July 31. Mostly juveniles at the beginning of the
period, by the end there were only a handful of adults left.
White-rumped Sandpiper - 2760 on August 6. No juveniles yet.
Pectoral Sandpiper - 259 on August 10. First juvenile on August 11. On August
10 as the tide came in Ross Wood and Mike Burrell watched a flock of 40
individuals circle overhead gaining altitude before heading south, presumably
leaving James Bay.
Dunlin - 6 adults on August 3. This species was very uncommon at East Point -
only adults were observed and only on 6 days.
Stilt Sandpiper - 6 adults on August 1 and 3 adults on August 3. Always observed
roosting at creek mouth at high tide with Short-billed Dowitchers and Hudsonian
Godwits.
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - 4 on August 2 and 1 on August 3.
Short-billed Dowitcher (hendersoni) - 6 adults on August 3. Low numbers of
adults on 7 days, always observed roosting at a creek mouth at high tide
with Hudsonian Godwits.
Wilson's Snipe - 14 on August 11.
Wilson's Phalarope - 2 juveniles on August 5. Singles seen on August 3 (adult),
7 (juvenile) and 9 (unknown).
Red-necked Phalarope - 5 juveniles on August 12. Also seen on August 1 (1
adult), 2 (1 adult, 2 juveniles), 3 (1 adult), 8 (1 adult), 10 (2 adults) and 11
(1 juvenile).
OTHER BIRDS: Blue-winged Teal - female with 9 young near camp; Black Scoter -
300 on August 7; American White Pelican - 3 birds on August 12; Yellow Rail -
single bird flushed on August 7; Sora - single bird heard calling on August 5;
Little Gull - 1 adult on August 2; Black Tern - 1 molting adult on August 3;
Arctic Tern - adults on 4 days; Bank Swallow - flock of 15 on August 7; Gray
Catbird - single around camp irregularly through period; LeConte's Sparrow - 1-3
still singing around camp; Nelson's Sparrow - up to 29 singing males; Common
Redpoll - flocks flying over daily
MAMMALS: Single Grey Wolf seen on August 4 and 6. Black Bears observed almost
daily. 1 Snowshoe Hare on July 31. Deer Mouse observed almost daily in one of
the cabins (I won't reveal whose, but you can guess!). Woodland Caribou tracks
on August 1. Moose tracks most days. Striped Skunk around camp on a few days;
possibly depredated on the night of August 9. Red Squirrel! around camp on
several days.
HERPTILES: Wood Frog, American Toad, Northern Leopard Frog, Spring Peeper,
Eastern Gartersnake.
Butterflies: Least Skipper, Common Branded Skipper, Roadside Skipper (record
late for Ontario), Bronze Copper, Bog Copper, Spring Azure, Atlantis Fritillary,
Silver-bordered Fritillary, Arctic Fritillary, Northern Crescent, White Admiral,
Viceroy, Common Ringlet
DONATES: Northern Spreadwing, Emerald Spreadwing, Marsh Bluet, Eastern Forktail,
Variable "Lineate" Darner, Lake Darner, Shadow Darner, Zigzag Darner,
Four-spotted Skimmer, Crimson-ringed Whiteface, 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 previous 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.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Mike Burrell
[log in to unmask]
http://mikeburrell.blogspot.com/
_______________________________________________
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]>
T?l?phone 416.739.4908
Cellulaire 647.882.6097
T?l?copieur 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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