Three Weeks of a Canadian Spring. Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Ontario

Leaving what already felt like a reasonable advanced spring in the UK, I'd flown across the Atlantic expecting similar weather and conditions (after all, Prince Edward Point is roughly on the same latitude as Paris) but boy was I wrong.

The Point Lighthouse, Prince Edward County

Arriving to torrential rain, which quickly turned to sleet and eventually snow was a bit different to the sunshine I'd left in the UK. Dave picked me from the airport and had already planned the first bird tick for me to see nearby. A second year male King Eider Somateria spectabilis which had wintered at Colonel Samuel Smith Park on the outskirts of the city (and also where I twitched a Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis in November last year when I was volunteering at the observatory in the fall). It was quickly spotted and seemed relatively at home with the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, Gadwall Anas strepera and Ruddy Ducks Oxyura jamaicensis it shared the marina with.

The old fence line, probably about 100 years old,
Prince Edward Point.

After staying at a friends for the night, the next morning we started to get the observatory up to running order. Whilst picking up groceries and driving through Milford we spotted a number of vultures circling, not unusual but Dave rapidly stopped and pointed out a bird which was flying in a different manner with its wings seemingly tucked in, a Black Vulture Coragyps atratus, an unusual record for the county but not all that surprising as they are slowly expanding their range north.

It took a couple of days to get the nets up (consisting of 8 standard net lanes and the 100mm swamp net) as we weren't in a hurry and the ground traps all set we were ready to start at 6.30am on the 10th April. Although still cold, the sun was out and it was warm enough for the first few Blanding's Turtles Emydoidea blandingii to emerge from hibernation and sun themselves in the swamp.  The first morning certainly wasn't a disappointing with 91 birds of 17 species banded. I'd previously caught many of the species in the fall although it took a short while to get used to Eastern American species again (and having to open rings!) I was soon back into the swing of it.

Blanding's Turtle, Emydoidea blandingii

Eastern Loggerhead Shrike, Lanius ludovicianus migrans

After a tip off about a large owl just east of Belleville, we quickly made the trip up to see it. On reaching the area Dave immediately suggested the area of habitat it would likely to be in, although even then it still took a couple of attempts to eventually see it. To pass the time waiting for dusk, one evening we took a quick trip to Napanee Limestone Plain an Important Bird Area (IBA), a large area of Alvar habitat protected specifically for the endangered Eastern Loggerhead Shrikes Lanius ludovicianus migrans. A species Dave had previously worked on which allowed me to see where the species could previously be found, where it once nested and understand what habitat it preferred. In total 3 individuals were seen including a bird singing close to the road. Whilst viewing the shrikes a group of Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca dropped into to a temporary pool in a stubble field on the other side of the road giving great views.

Great Grey Owl, Strix nebulosa

With the day fasting coming to a close and the sun dipping lower on the horizon, we made our way back to where the owl had been seen. Sure enough it was exactly where Dave had suggested it would be. Sitting on a fence post, 6 foot from the road sat the Phantom of the North, the Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa. It was surprisingly camouflaged for such a large bird. Although the species can be found across the whole of the northern hemisphere, it was first described in Canada in the late 18th century before also being discovered in Northern Europe.

It showed little fear of us, hunting whilst I was photographing it. The bird left with a size 8 band on, it turned out to be a second year bird (SY pattern shown in the secondaries and primary feathers, the beige look of the bird also suggested this) hopefully it'll provide us with an interesting recovery in the future.

The next morning with the nets set,a smart male After Second Year (ASY) Sharp-Shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus was the first bird caught, it gave me a run about but eventually got stuck in the pocket of one of the mist nets. Although we catch a large number of raptors in the fall, we only catch a small number in the spring.

The first warbler of the year was also caught, a male Pine Warbler Setophaga pinus, although plenty had been hanging around the observatory, it's still the only one we've managed to catch this spring. The first few weeks was characterised by good catches of  Ruby-Crowned Kinglets Regulus calendula, Brown-headed Cowbirds Molothrus ater, American Goldfinches Spinus tristis, Purple Finches Haemorhous purpureus and Slate-Coloured Juncos Junco hyemalis hyemalis, with the number caught much lower than when we first arrived. From around the 20th of April Myrtle Warblers Dendroica coronata coronata have been increasing in number and by the 27th. The trickle became a landslide with 8 species of warbler being seen around the observatory including early Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca and Blue-Winged Warblers Vermivora cyanoptera.

Blue-Winged Warbler, Vermivora cyanoptera

Numbers of hirundines increased daily with Cliff Swallows Petrochelidon pyrrhonota busily rebuilding their nest on the side of the building. Tree Swallows Tachycineta bicolor have been investigating the nest box traps daily although only 3 have been caught so far . 6 Purple Martins Progne subis have returned and are starting to using the boxes provided. Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica can often be seen down at the harbour and are rebuilding their nests in the abandoned sheds.

Eastern Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor

Notable birds caught over the month include two European (invasive) species rarely caught down at the observatory. A female House Sparrow Passer domesticus was banded on the 16th April and a European Starling Sturnus vulgaris was banded on the 23rd. Both species are rarely caught and are by no means annual at the observatory. Other notables included an Eastern Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor was banded on the 13th and was also present on the 14th . It was the first banded since 2009. A female Red-Bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus was caught on the 20th, a Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus on the 23rd, a notable early Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus on the 25th (2 days after it had first been seen and about a week earlier than the earliest record for the area), a Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia, a Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus, a Pine Siskin Spinus pinus and a stunning Blue Winged Warbler Vermivora cyanoptera on the 27th. Finally a Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea was trapped on the 29th (about six individuals have been calling in between several nets).

It hasn't just been birds which have been appearing for the spring. As the weathered warmed more and more species of reptile have emerged from their winter hibernacular. 5 species of snake have been seen including Eastern Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis, Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon sipedon, Smooth Green Snake Opheodrys vernalis, Northern Redbelly Snake Storeria occipitomaculata occipitomaculata and Northern Brown Snake Storeria dekayi dekayi. Two other species of turtle have also been seen. Two Snapping Turtles Chelydra serpentina can be seen in the swamp and a group of Midland Painted Turtles Chrysemys picta marginata can be found at the end of the harbour. Frogs are still remaining elusive with the majority calling far out in the swamps and can only be heard and not seen but a Grey Treefrog Hyla versicolor and a Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens was found in the net lanes on the 28th.

Grey Treefrog, Hyla versicolor

Red Admirals Vanessa atalanta are by far the commonest butterfly currently found around the point with many congregating with large numbers of diptera around the distinctive holes formed by sapsuckers. Mourning Cloaks Nymphalis antiopa, Grey Comma Polygonia progne and American Painted Lady Vanessa virginiensis have also been present in the area with many taking advantage of the abundance of spring flowers which have been profusely blooming for the last week or so. The bulk of the spring flowers are comprised of Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucullaria and Trout Lily Erythronium americanum which are currently carpeting the woodland floor, with small patches of Spring Beauties Claytonia virginica and Bloodroot Sanguinaria canadensis.

Mourning Cloak, Nymphalis antiopa

A small number of mammals have also been present around the site. American Red squirrels Tamiasciurus hudsonicus, Eastern Chipmunks Tamias striatus and Eastern Grey squirrels Sciurus carolinensis are often seen.  A Groundhog Marmota monax emerged from hibernation on a sunny day on the 13th. Three North American Beavers Castor canadensis were in the harbour on the 18th. A Long-Tailed Weasel Mustela frenata has been around the site for a couple of days. White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus are often seen on the road out of the observatory in the evenings and tracks can be seen on the trails after rain.

Groundhog, Marmota monax

The undoubted highlight so far is obviously the Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya which was spotted in the Observatory garden on the evening of the 23rd. Although a common western species, it is only the 4th record for southern Ontario in the last 10 years and the second record for the Observatory, with the first being recorded in the fall of 1990.  Although it seemed keen to be caught and was often perching on the mist net poles or even the net strings itself. It remained out of the net and was seen until dark but sadly departed overnight and hasn't been re-found.

Say's Pheobe, Sayornis saya. An undoubted highlight!

Hopefully the next month continues to be as good as it has been so far, now bring on more warblers!