Outdoor Ontario
Discussion => General Discussions => Topic started by: angieinto on January 05, 2013, 06:34:59 AM
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Happy New Year fellow birders!
At the beginning of the year I always have a list of what birds I hope to see for the first time in the coming year.
Before the winter is out I hope to see a Pine Grosbeak, which I never have. During the Spring migration I am hoping to have a good look at a male Canada Warbler. I have seen a couple in the past, but not very well. And still, my number one birding wish for the last few years, to hear a Whip-poor-will. :D
Any birding wishes this year?
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This winter a Boreal Owl and Screech Owl.
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#1 on my list is Atlantic Puffin so I'll have to go "down East". :D
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My wish list has Boreal Chickadee, Boreal Owl, Evening Grosbeak, Kirtland's Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, and Elegant Trogon. I hope to find the last one on our trip to SE Arizona. Can't wait for that trip!
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Hi Angie
I would love to find a short-ear owl and Prothonary warbler......but I would settle for any of the more unusual sparrows..even though they seem simply, there are so many different ones but I seem be to only able to find the regular species.....? Happy 2013 hunting to everyone
Dave
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Hmmmmm, so many birds I have yet to see! I think this year I will hope for two seemingly easy birds - an Eastern Meadowlark and Eastern Bluebird. Somehow they have always eluded me! I'll take any tips for where/when/how to find them in the Toronto area. Here's to a great new year of birding and thanks to Angie for starting this interesting thread!
-kris
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Last spring I saw both species at Foster Woods near Kleinburg (on Islington just north och Major McKenzie). That's the closest to Toronto I have seen them.
Among the more likely wish birds for me are Evening Grosbeak, Great Horned Owl, Sora and Hooded Warbler.
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Hi Angie,
Compared to everybody else, my list is so modest! I hope the Coopers come back to raise another family in the back yard, & the chimney swifts return.
Apart from that, I hope I'll be around to see warblers in the backyard, & I'll be able to identify them (with active neighbours & a big Manitoba maple down, they don't come as close to the house as they used to). I've been naturalizing the back yard to attract birds, so I want to see if it works. But I saw 2 lifers this year completely unexpectedly (sandhill crane & barred owl--& the crane was right where everybody but me knew, & the barred owls have been invading), so who knows what the new year will bring.
Leslie Kinrys, I hope you have a good time in SE Arizona.
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Last weekend I was able to add 2 birds my life list. Was thrilled to have great sightings of Pine Grosbeaks and a male White-winged Crossbill! :D
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I hope to see more warbler varieties this year. But my top request would be for a male scarlet tanager up close.
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Update: Found a Boreal but no Screech Owl.
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WOOT!! Wish granted! I found my beautiful Blue Birds a few weeks ago and today I found my very first Eastern Meadowlarks! A big thank you to Amanda for directing me to the Downsview Airfield. I parked beside the field early this morning and simply began walking up and down the fence. After about 20 minutes I heard their mournful song. I was able to approach one reasonably close as it sat singing on the fence just for me. After awhile it changed to its buzzy call and was answered from across the field. Here's some blurry photo evidence:[attachment=0:eaaz4yqu]meadowlark.jpg[/attachment:eaaz4yqu]
And this shows you where I found it - right beside my car! - kris :D [attachment=1:eaaz4yqu]meadowlarkcar.jpg[/attachment:eaaz4yqu]
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That is cool Kris. What else did you see at Downsview? Or did you go there specifically for that?
As for me, of course at the beginning of the year when I first started birding, everything was new and my wish list was pretty much every bird in Ontario :lol:
At this point, I would love to see a Red-Necked Phalarope or an Avocet. Somehow the Purple Finch has eluded me and I'd love to see one. Ditto for the Pine Grosbeak ..maybe I'll see before the end of the year.
But at the very top of the list right now must be the Northern Goshawk. It has special meaning to me for various reasons.
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After 8 additions so far this year I have now seen 291 species of bird in Ontario. As this is so close to the milestone of 300, I put together a list of 20 birds likely to fill out the next 9 that I could still see this year:
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Black-headed Gull
Brewer's Blackbird
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Cave Swallow
Dickcissel
Eared Grebe
Great Gray Owl
Hudsonian Godwit
Kirtland's Warbler
Le Conte's Sparrow
Marbled Godwit
Mew Gull
Nelson's Sparrow
Northern Hawk Owl
Piping Plover
Red Knot
Red Phalarope
Ross's Goose
Western Sandpiper
I'd ideally love to see 9 of these this year, but at least 3 or 4 of them would be awesome!
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I have got four lifers (Townsend's Solitaire, Great Horned Owl, Northern Saw-whet Owl and Clay-colored Sparrow) and another two new for Ontario birds (Bohemian Waxwing and Fish Crow) so far this year putting my total for Ontario at 266.
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Elias - Go to the Rosetta Raptor Watch this fall for the Northern Goshawk! I think they are usually seen end of October/early November. You might be able to see greater numbers at the High Park Watch but you'll get closer views at Rosetta. The Purple Finches seemed to pass through so fast this year; I only saw them once back in April. I usually see quite a few at the cottage though. If you have a chance to head North this summer be sure to check the local feeders! (Note: my cottage is on French River which is almost to Sudbury - I'm not sure if Muskoka or the Kawartha's are far enough north.)
Reuven & Thouc - Wow those are fantastic Ontario Lists! My Life list doesn't even come close to either! Reuven, best of luck with the 9 and please let us know when you hit 300, or post about it on that terrific blog of yours.
-kris
p.s. In answer to an above question, Downsview Park was full of babies! Goslings, Ducklings, tiny Killdeer, Robin fledglings and Bunnies! Otherwise pretty quiet, just Spotties, Orioles, Warbling Vireos and Goldfinch. My highlight was a Willow Flycatcher pair at a nest.
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Prairie Warbler remains my nemesis bird. Despite having them singing on territory a few years ago, I've never actually seen one. I don't think my summer plans will be taking me to good breeding territory, so I've probably missed this one for another year.
My short-term wish list includes Common Nighthawk. I still haven't seen or heard one this year. There are usually one or two residents in my neighbourhood, but not yet. I'm getting concerned they won't show at all this year.
BB
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I had great looks at a prairie warbler in Carden on Sunday June 8th. That was Ontario bird #282 for me. I put more effort into my ABA-area list than to any specific state or province, so I have some crazy holes in my Ontario list (e.g. whimbrel) that I have seen repeatedly elsewhere. I'd say my most-wanted Ontario bird is gyrfalcon.
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Reuven, best of luck with the 9 and please let us know when you hit 300, or post about it on that terrific blog of yours.
Thanks!