Seabirds of the Mountain, Pico do Arieiro, Madeira

Madeira is the top of a massive shield volcano that rises 6km from the sea floor in the northern Atlantic Ocean forming an archipelago of four islands. It is roughly 520km away from north western coast of Africa. Madeira is well known for its unusual plants and endemic species although throughout its history it has been changed by man. Due to the climate the island was once covered by subtropical rainforest known as laurisilva (laural forest) which has existed for 1.8 million years. Sadly it is now only common in a few areas of the island but is home to few species of endemic birds and plenty of plants which will be detailed in another post.

Pico do Arieiro at sunset

I'd been lucky enough to be invited by Mark Cutts with the Royal Naval Birdwatching Society (RNBWS) for a week of birding (and botany for me),and with luck and the help of Frank Zino to hopefully see one of the island rarest inhabitants.

A sea of cloud below the peaks

Running through the spine of the island is an area of jagged peaks, one of these is particularly special due to an unusual breeding species. At 1,818 m (5,965 ft) Pico do Arieiro is Madeiras third highest peak, high above the clouds its the last place you'd expect to find one of the rarest bird species in Europe . Its also a treasure trove of endemic plant species which either cling to the rocky cliffs or survive on the narrow shallow ledges.

Pride of Madeira, Echium candicans

One strange thing about travelling up towards Pico do Arieiro is the layer of cloud which you have to travel through to get to the top, the mountain sitting within a sea of cloud making it seem you were at a much lower elevation. Although barren looking, any crevice or ledge was covered in plants. Of these by far the most spectacular in flower was the Pride of Madeira Echium candicans, a large sub-shrub member of the family Boraginaceae.

Everywhere I looked it seemed another stunning endemic plant which had managed to get a foothold in the crumbling rock making it seem like a botanist paradise, which of course it was. Many of the plants had adapted to the extremes of temperature which can occur daily at Pico do Arieiro. Succulents were common and well adapted with fleshy leaves, although not easy to identify. The Disk Houseleek Aeonium glandulosum was one such plant, endemic to the islands which make up the Madeira archipelago where it is limited to these high barren rock faces. Many species look similar to plant species found withing Europe and North Africa but have eventually evolved due to their thousands of years of isolation, one such species was Madeiran Thrift Armeria Maderensis which looks superficially similar to the species I regularly see on the sea cliffs of Mid-Wales.

Although I was distracted by all the flora, it was really the fauna I had come to see but for that we'd have to wait until it got dark. Whilst waiting we had plenty of time to watch the endemic Plain Swifts Apus unicolor screaming over the ridges and into the valleys below. A male Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata was announcing his territory from a dense bit of scrub, while his partner was busy collecting caterpillars to feed their brood in a low gorse bush. A few tattered Macaronesian Red Admiral Vanessa vulcania bathed on the eroded summit, gathering the last warmth from the sinking sun.

Spectacled Warbler Sylvia conspicillata

After setting the nets along a narrow ridge, all we had to do was wait. Just like clockwork, at 10.45 each evening we heard some strange sounds calling from the inky blackness. For many years the shepherds of Curral das Freiras mistakenly thought this to be the sounds of suffering souls of the shepherds or nuns who lost their lives in the mountains. The source of the noise probably never went silent but was forgotten about, believed extinct until in 1969 Alec Zino played a call of Fea's Peterel to a local Shepard who recognised the eerie walling and took them to the area now regarded as the breeding ledges. For us the journey was easy, well maintained paths allow us to view the area in relative safety, for Frank and his father back in 1969, a narrow shepherds track was all that separated them from a drop into the deep valleys on either side, a treacherous place for a nocturnal walk. I don't think i'll ever forget the first time I heard that strange wailing in the distant inky blackness or the occasional shadow pass over the starlit sky. To me the calls didn't sounds eerie, they sounded almost friendly. Frank noted the number of calls each 15 minutes, keeping count with a clicker. Although the calls were regular for a couple of days all I managed to see was a few glimpses of these mysterious birds.

Then at 11pm on our third night as I was walking to the far end of the net something hit the net in front of me, a pale bellied shape hanging in the gloom. A Freira Pterodroma madeira, more commonly known as Zino's Petrel, named after the family which have done so much for the identification and conservation of this species. Originally the birds found breeding within macaronesia were thought be part of the Soft-plumaged Petrel Pterodroma mollis complex but but mitochondrial DNA analysis and further differences in size, vocalisations, breeding behaviour have shown that the macronesian birds are not closely related to Pterdroma mollis. Sangster further recommended splitting between the macronesian birds, which was further supported by Nunn & Zino based on analysis of feather lice on birds from Madeira and Bugio Island which have been estimated to have split 850,000 years ago. More recent work has splitting the birds found on the Desertas islands from the birds found on Cape Verde Island creating the Desertas Petrel Pterodroma deserta and the Fea's Petrel Pterodroma feae although the identification of this complex of species is still confusing, especially in the field.

The Freira, Pterodroma madeira. Europes rarest seabird.

The Freira is the most endangered species of sea bird in Europe with an estimated population of 80 known pairs. Due to this it was a little surprising then that the bird we caught was a new un-ringed bird allowing Mark to ring it. The population is well monitored with majority of chicks ringed in the nest and many of the adult bird caught during the previous years, even more surprising was the second bird caught a couple of nights, during quite a blow, I watched nervously as it bounced out  of the net, only to go in again seconds later by which time I was already upon  it. Being a new bird gave me the opportunity to ring a bird, under the supervision of Frank. They really are a very pretty bird with an amazing wingspan, their webbed feet and sharp claws, their delicate soft plumage which gives the name to their relatives is evident in the hand.

Madeiran rings, you know its special if you find one of these

Freira's are one of two species to be ringed using Madeira rings (the other being the Deserta/feae Petrel complex). Although the moult sequence, and ageing birds is currently not feasible, if anyone would know it would be Frank who seemed to think both of these birds were likely to be third year birds checking out the breeding colony before breeding themselves. Blood samples and bio-metrics were taken for each of the birds before they were released back in the night, hopefully to be re-caught in a subsequent years. As each individual is an important breeding bird, which will help to increase this fragile population.

Although the birds breeding ledges are protected within the Parque Natural da Madeira national park and they have shown an increase in productivity over the last 20 years they are still at risk. The fact that only six ledges are used for burrowing and nesting means that degradation to the vegetation from grazing goats, wildfires and predators could still spell disaster for this species. A fire in August 2010 swept through the breeding site killing three adults and 25 of the 38 chicks. Vegetation around the nest sites were destroyed, leaving them open to predators and at risk of erosion. For an island which evolved without ground dwelling mammals, its no surprise that they can cause huge problems. Rats played a significant role in decimating the petrels numbers early on but active trapping has helped eliminate them as such a risk. Feral Cats are now the main cause for concern, previously these were trapped after 10 adults were killed by a single cat in 1990. The government of Portugal have since made trapping cats illegal leaving this delicate population once again at risk from these troublesome tabbies. While up at the breeding ledges we saw several cats but little can be done about it until permission from the government is granted, sadly it may be a long time coming.

This really was one of the most special experiences I've had and will always be one of my birding highlights and it was an honour to be allowed to ring one of these special birds. Frank Zino is tireless in his effort of furthering the protection of these and several other seabirds species in Macronesia, its not often you get to see a species named after the family of the person who shows you but now I needed to see a Pterdroma at sea.

Petroglyphs Provincial Park, Woodville, Ontario

With the migration season over it was time for a bit of rest and relaxation, I was lucky enough to be staying with Mike and Kathy in the County but they decided to take me out for the day to the wonderful Petroglyphs Provincial Park.

A beaver pond close to Minnow Lake

Wild Sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicauli

Petroglyphs Provincial Park  was designated a historical class provincial park in 1981 due to the large assemble of first nations petrogylphs present on the site. The rock carvings were rediscovered in 1954 by a prospector and contain about 1200 carvings, representing humans like figures, animals and a dominant figure whose head may represent the sun. The carvings were made using Gneiss hammers around 900 to 1100AD by either Algonkian or Iroquian speaking people. Today first nations people
call the petrogylphs, Kinomagewapkong which means "the rocks that teach" or "the Teaching Rocks".

The forest which surrounds the petrogylphs is rich in Red Pine Pinus resinosa and Wild Sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis. Creating a rich acidic soil, although plenty of other species could be found growing on the smooth granite rocks which surrounded Minnow Lake and form Islands between stands of pines.

The plants were similar to many of the species I'd come into contact with in Scandinavia allowing me identifying many of them relatively quickly although some species such as White Trillum Trillium grandiflorum are North American specialists.

White Triulliums, Trillium grandiflorum

One of the more attractive species to be found was the Winged Polygala or Gaywings Polygala paucifolia, which can be found over much of Eastern North America. With its delicate Winged purple flowers it was a lovely little plant to see spread across the forest floor.

Winged Polygala, Polygala paucifolia

Out on the more open areas where the granite broke through the substrata drifts of Pale Corydalis Capnoides sempervirens could be found. It is also known as the Rock Harlequin due to it habit of growing almost out of the smallest of cracks in the rock.

 

Pale Corydalis, Capnoides sempervirens

Canada May-Lily Maianthemum canadense

Three other species of plant were common on the edges of the gloomy moist pine forest, Starflower Lysimachia borealis named after its distinctive shaped flowers and Canadian Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis which was often found growing on old moss covered stumps and logs, later its edible red berries would later be an important food source for migrating birds. Canada May-Lily Maianthemum canadense is another sub-boreal specialist species and could be found growing in abundance.

Starflower, Lysimachia borealis

Canadian Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis

It wasn't just plants which could be found in the sunny glades, Dragonflies of all sizes were busy hunting the plentiful mosquitoes which provided a constant hum in the background. The first species I came across was the Twin-spotted Spiketail Cordulegaster maculata a large and impressive species which perched for a long while on a dead stick. A more plentiful species was the Common Baskettail Epitheca cynosura,which were busy catching small insects in almost every clearing we encountered. 

Twin-spotted Spiketail, Cordulegaster maculata

Common Baskettail, Epitheca cynosura

All in all it was a lovely wander through the sub-boreal forest and a chance for me to see some interesting flora and fauna.

Minnow Lake

Four More Weeks, Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, Ontario

With the weather continually warming but it still seeming to rain a lot (eventually with some consequences), it was soon starting to feel a bit more like the spring I knew.

Blood moon rising over Lake Ontario

With this mixture of weather came the midges Chironomidae spp., bad news for us, these huge swarms  covered everything, it's almost like driving through rain when trying to get to town but its good news for the birds, high in fat these tiny insects allow the birds to rapidly put on weight, becoming little butterballs allowing them to continue their northerly migration, many back to the boreal forest which covers vast swaves of the northern landscape.

Blackburnian Warbler, Setophaga fusca one of the stars of the show

Day by Day the numbers of sparrows were now getting less and less, many of these species with only the local breeders being heard and seen by the end of the month but replacing the sparrows were what I had really come to see, the New World Wood-Warblers Setophaga spp. in Spring.

This really is a spectacle worth the travel, many of the species I had seen last fall, they were ugly in comparison to what they now looked like. Prime examples of this were Blackpoll Setophaga striata, Chestnut-Sided Setophaga pensylvanica and Blackburnian warblers Setophaga fusca, all of which looked amazingly different to their drab autumnal selves. Some species change very little, Orange-Crown Vermivora celata, Chestnut-Sided Setophaga pensylvanica (my favourite fall warbler) and Black-Throated Blue Warblers Setophaga caerulescens don't feel the need to change and look much as they do all year round.

A jewel, an adult male orange morph Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea

The most noticeable difference to the fall is the noise, no simple confusing chips now, the birds had found their voices and were belting out a cacophony of song. Confusing songs and whole new learning curve and eventually I managed to learn the most obvious and distinctive.

The Lighthouse, now with additional water

By mid-May the woods were a riot of sound, colour and smells. Birds of all colours had moved up from the south, Scarlet Tanagers shared trees with Baltimore Orioles, looking like last years left over Christmas decorations. Dormant seeds had sprouted into ephemeral spring flowers and Bursting buds bathed the forest floor in soft spring light but still the water levels on the lake kept rising.

In the end the water levels were the highest recorded on Lake Ontario for a 100 years, causing flooding in many low lying areas, the net lanes often had water running through them and the swamp was filled to the brim. A westerly breeze caused huge problems, the fisherman lost their dock, the cottage opposite lost several foot of shoreline and eventually the lighthouse became stranded and surround by water.

The change in flora was also noticeable, the Dutchman's Breeches and trout Lillies gave way to Woodland Phlox Phlox divaricata, which enjoyed the wet weather and formed a mauve carpet all through the woods. Canadian Columbine Aquilegia canadensis grew along the paths. One of my favourite flowers and a key nectar species for hummingbirds in the spring, A truly lovely species to find.

Canadian Columbine, Aquilegia canadensis

Eastern American Toad, Anaxyrus americanus americanus

More fauna was also becoming more noticeable, especially snakes which could often be seen basking on in the shrubs and on the paths. Northern Water Snake Nerodia sipedon sipedon had taken to basking in the dogwoods above the flooded pools around the harbour area. A Raccoon Procyon lotor was found sleeping in one of the larger trees on the 4th of May. Eastern American Toads Anaxyrus americanus americanus started showing up early in May and could be found occasionally for the rest of the month.

Male Golden-Winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera

A number of notable species were caught, including many I wasn't really expecting to be extracting out the nets.

An Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus was caught on the 10th May, a male Golden-Winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera on the 11th and a female banded on the 23rd.

An Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus on the 15th, Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia on the 16th, Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus on the 20th after several days of two being present on the site.

Yellow-Breasted Chat, Icteria virens

A Yellow-Breasted Chat Icteria virens on the 21st, Hooded Warbler Setophaga citrina on the 22nd, Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius and finally an Olive-Sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi on the 26th. In the end a very busy month!

By far the most special was what most people would class a boring species, a corvid but not your ordinary crow. A week prior to being caught Dave had thought he had seen a Fish Crow Corvus ossifragus. Similar looking to the related American Crow, it has a distinct nasal call and is generally much less shy. He was right and a few days later it was confirmed. Now we had to catch it, eventually after a couple of days feeding on some stale crisps left by some children it was caught in a bow net. This is the first case of the species being banded in Canada and a species Dave had never banded, not a common occurrence in the slightest!

Fish Crow, Corvus ossifragus

A Day Out in the County, Sandbanks Provincial Park & Kaiser Crossroads, Prince Edward County, Ontario

With the afternoon off, Ketha had agreed to take me on the tour of the county and finally I could see Sandbanks, a well known Provincial Park on the north western end of the county and also visit a couple of the vineyards.

Sandbanks Provincial Park

False Solomon's Seal, Maianthemum stellata

With the temperatures soaring and the sky being largely cloudless we thought we couldn't have picked a better day. We weren't quite right as the the lake soon became shrouded in a thick fog. Sandbanks can be found on the edge of Lake Ontario, it became a park in the 70's  and contains world's largest freshwater sand bar and dune system. Historically the site was cleared for pasture in the mid-1850's with cattle predominately grazing the dune system, causing the dunes to become mobile and destabilised and burying everything in its path. efforts to stabilise them have been ongoing since 1911.

Another current problem was the lake...which was at its highest level in 100 years causing there to be no beach (although Ketha assured me there normally is). Off shore there were large flocks of Ring-Billed Gulls Larus delawarensis and a few Bonaparte's Gulls Chroicocephalus philadelphia but very little else. The dune system's flora consisted largely of American Beach Grass Ammophilla breviligulata which helps to stabilise the dune system, amongst the grass False Solomon's Seal Maianthemum stellata, an attractive plant with small star shaped flowers. Sand Cherry Prunus pumila was one of the few shrubs in flower and could be found along most of the shore. Close to the car park the invasive non-native Greater Celendine Chelidonium majus could be found.

Sand Cherry, Prunus pumila

After leaving Sandbanks and quickly visiting Black Prince and getting a bottle of Mary Jane's Magical Hemp Wine and visiting the cooper next door who had visited the observatory in the fall we made our way to Kaiser Crossroad, a well known local birding spot.

Although not much to look at, a series of maize fields with flooded depressions, its an amazing place for birds and seems to draw in large numbers of shorebirds, gulls and terns. A few days before the place was heaving with shorebirds but it was pretty quiet apart from large numbers of Ring-Billed Gulls and a few Caspian Terns Hydroprogne caspia but there was one wader present and it was a good one, a Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa, a good bird for the county and a lifer for me. It soon became very clear why there was very little about when a large female Peregrine came over doing a sorty, causing the godwit to lift giving me ever better views of all its distinguishing features.

Marbled Godwit, Limosa fedoa and two
Ring-Billed Gulls, Larus delawarensis

All in all not a bad afternoon away from the Obs!

Mountain View & Point Petre Woods, Prince Edward County, Ontario

With the afternoon off and rain threatening to disrupt banding the following day I took the opportunity to go and visit a couple a local botanical sites with sheila, one of the observatory volunteers.

Mountain View Woods, showing the stream running down from the escarpment.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum

The first port of call was a private property, located in the north of Prince Edward County in the small community of Mountain View. The habitat consisted of a deciduous woodland, consisting of a beech and maple canopy which have enabled rich soils edged on one side by an escarpment providing good drainage for the slopes. A small stream ran through the middle of the wood creating an area of damp ground which was suitable for Jack-in-the-Pulpit Arisaema triphyllum to grow. The rich soils found on the rest of the site provide the perfect habitat for a range of spring ephemeral species including a couple I had been looking forward to seeing since I arrived.







As well as plants the woods were also home to a few species of amphibians. I had hoped to find a salamander and spent a large amount of time flipping logs in the hope of finding one but it wasn't to be. I did manage to find a Northern Spring Peeper Psudacris crucifer crucifer a tiny species of frog which is more often heard than seen.

Northern Spring Peeper, Psudacris crucifer crucifer

Trillium spp. growing in the wood below a Beech tree

White Trillium, Trillium grandiflora

Trilliums Trillums spp. were by far the most flamboyant plant present. Trilliums are an interesting family of plants and seems to be one of the relatively few plant families to rely on ants to help disperse their seeds. Trillium grandiflora was the commonest species found throughout the wood and formed dense stands in some of the areas. It really is a grand flower, with its large distinctive 3 petal flowers its easy to understand why its the provincial emblem of Ontario and has been since 1936.

Red Trillium, Trillium erectum

Just as pretty were the Red Trillium Trillium erectum, although It wasn't as numerous it could still be found in good numbers. With it's deep red flowers it easy to see how it got it's folk name Woke-Robin due to its analogy with the European robin Erithacus rubecula. Although close to being over a few Sharp-lobed Hepatica Anemone acutiloba were still in flower along with swathes of Trout lilies, Erythronium americanum so named due to their distinctively patterned leaves.

Sharp-lobed Hepatica, Anemone acutiloba

The real reason for going to Mountain View was to see the Squirrel Corn Dicentra canadensis, a small unassuming Dicentra which looks superficially similar to Dutchman's Breeches Dicentra cucullaria, a very common woodland flower. With it's delicate white heart shaped flowers and fine foliage it really was a beauty!

Squirrel Corn, Dicentra canadensis

A few other species could also be seen in whilst wandering about including Blue Cohosh Caulophyllum giganteum, Small-flowered Crowfoot Ranunculus abortivus
Large-Flowered Bellwort Uvularia grandiflora , Early Meadow-Rue Thalictrum dioicum, Milterwort Mitella diphylla and Long-Spurred Violet Viola rostrata.

Blue Cohosh, Caulophyllum giganteum

With the weather getting wetter we had to cut short our trip but it allowed us to quickly visit Point Petre woods in the search for one last rarity, Twinleaf Jeffersonia diphylla which can only be found in southern Ontario. Sadly due to the rain the plants weren't out in full flower but at least I got to see them!

Twinleaf, Jeffersonia diphylla

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!