RUFFED GROUSE reports for Winter 2010 were made by Laurie St. Peter (2) and Bill Wilson (2). Recent Christmas Count records for this region suggest significant decline.

Mark Pomeroy observed a GREAT HORNED OWL flying over Blair Road near Cruickston Creek on the evening of March 16.

On March 19, during a “late winter” outing, Jason Bracey observed 23 species of birds including early spring migrants: BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, COMMON GRACKLE, EASTERN BLUEBIRD, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, SANDHILL CRANE, SONG SPARROW and TURKEY VULTURE.
 
On rare and nearby fields, SANDHILL CRANES, up to four, were reported in March, April and May by Jason Bracey (March 19), Vince Guiliani (April 11), Marco and Donna DeBruin (April 24), Larry Hubble (May 2), and Bill Wilson (May 10).

On April 1, Matt Lawson, Bill and Heather Wilson observed HARBINGER-OF-SPRING, a nationally rare plant, in bloom on the reserve.

The Grade 12 Environmental Science from Southwood Secondary School visited rare on April 1 with teacher Jason Bracey. The group documented an impressive array of natural history observations. Many were surprised to hear a “deafening” chorus of frogs – SPRING PEEPERS. The class returned on May 12 and 14 to undertake further nature study. Thanks for submitting your sightings, Sabres ?

Jerry Guenther and Bill Wilson observed six FOX SPARROWS along the Grand Trunk Trail through rare on 5 April.

Spring 2010 will be remembered in Waterloo Region for unseasonably warm temperatures in April. Some sightings on the Reserve reflected an early spring – Jerry Guenther and Bill Wilson spotted a BLACK SWALLOWTAIL on April 23, a species normally first reported in early May. Bird migration, on the other hand, appeared to remain on schedule with AMERICAN TREE SPARROW – a winter visitor – last reported on April 15 and AMERICAN WOODCOCK – a summer breeder – first reported March 18, well within the normal departure and arrival times respectively. While listening to woodcock that evening, Jerry Guenther and Bill Wilson watched 20+ TUNDRA SWANS wing their way across the waxing moon.

Eight GADWALL flew upstream above the Confluence on March 16.

A CAROLINA WREN sang behind Lamb’s Inn in the garden on March 16.

The rare Birdbanding Station opened for the 2010 spring season on 17 April. The first bird banded for the year was an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. A re-trapped YELLOW WARBLER – caught in the same net location at rare was a four-year-old male. Banding opportunities constantly amaze for this summer breeder has successfully returned to the same location on rare – likely for the third time – from at least as far south as Mexico, possibly northern South America. (See page six of this newsletter for more information)

Looking for birds on the expansive agricultural fields of southern Ontario during the non-growing season often results in few bird observations — some would say a futile endeavour. Nevertheless, the exercise can produce results. On April 12, Bill Wilson observed a small flock of 10+ HORNED LARKS. Feeding with the flock on the windswept upland fields south of Springbank Farm was a female LAPLAND LONGSPUR. This sighting is the first record of this “arctic” bunting at rare, one more reason to ‘scope the tilled agricultural fields during migration. Jerry Guenther and Bill Wilson encountered 12+ AMERICAN PIPITS on Blair Flats on May 17. Another reason ?

A pair of BROWN THRASHERS was observed in the hedgerow at the South Gate on May 10; Michelle and John Tomins reported a BROWN THRASHER on the River Trail during monitoring on April 18.

Conditions for birdbanding on weekends in late April and early May have been less than ideal – windy and cool. Flyovers at the Reserve on May 2, noted by banders, included four COMMON LOONS and nine DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS.

Charlotte Moore reports that between May 3rd and 18th over 50 RED ADMIRALS, one BLACK SWALLOWTAIL, PAINTED LADY, CABBAGE WHITE, CLOUDED SULPHUR, one MOURNING CLOAK, SPRING AZURE, EASTERN COMMA, QUESTION MARK, PEARL CRESCENT, and three WILD INDIGO DUSKYWINGS, the first time this butterfly has ever been reported on the property. This species was also observed independently by Jessica Grealey who informs rare that this species was formally quite rare in southern Ontario but has been reported as expanding its range rapidly, using CROWN VETCH as a host plant. Larry Lamb and others spotted an EASTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL on May 18. Butterfly diversity and individual numbers are triple what they were at this time last year on the property.

Julia Marko Dunn reports the following plants in bloom at rare on May 7: FRINGED POLYGALA, WILD GINGER, NAKED MITREWORT, BISHOP’S CAP, FOAMFLOWER. Brett Woodman reported SHOWY ORCHIS in bloom on May 16.

Coyote sightings were more frequently reported this winter with weekly sightings, usually of the same individuals (Marco and Donna DeBruin, Jerry Guenther and others). MNR biologist, Art Timmerman, cited recent coyote studies to inform rare that there are no known “coydogs” in Ontario according to DNA analysis. The coyote in Ontario is the EASTERN COYOTE (a.k.a. Brush Wolf) that is somewhat larger than its western counterpart (the one depicted in many films and cartoons).  Evidence in Ontario indicates, however, that some individuals are hybrid EASTERN COYOTE X GRAY WOLF. Numbers of Coyote observed together in winter are temporary family groups rather than packs, the social unit of both Gray and Timber Wolves.

WINTER WREN reports from Rob Unruh, Julia Marko Dunn and Bill Wilson indicate that this tiny resident with a “big” song occurs at three different locations on the Reserve.

Friends of rare took their annual hike along the River Trail in early May to observe the spring ephemerals, most notably the profusion of WHITE TRILLIUM.

In early May, Julia Marko Dunn spotted a pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS collecting lichen and building their nest. By May 7, when she revisited the nest site, the nest was complete and incubation underway – the first confirmed nesting of this species on rare. This southern bird, which is considered an uncommon breeder in Southern Ontario, moved into Ontario during the 20th Century. Jerry Knechtel, Kitchener-Waterloo Field Naturalists, found a nest in Galt as early as 27 June 1934 (see R. Curry 2006, Birds of Hamilton and Surrounding Areas); Berys Taylor reported a nesting pair in Galt during the Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas, 1981-1985 (Paul Eagles, pers. comm.).

OSPREY carrying goldfish? Several birders, most recently Christopher Giesler and Jason Bracey on May 7, have observed this activity. Friend of rare, Bernice Beal of Barries Lake south of the Reserve, told Bill Wilson that over the years the lake has been a repository for unwanted goldfish. The Osprey nesting on the rare raptor platform have been doing their part to rid the lake of this alien invader: 11 reports of goldfish being carried to the nest have been received (so far) since summer 2009.

Three Finnish birdwatchers visiting southern Ontario to observe the spring migration spotted a male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD at Blair Flats Slough, May 7 – the first sighting of this species at rare. After birding rare and North Dumfries with Jerry Guenther and Bill Wilson, Harry, Hendrik and Arne Lehto were heading for Rondeau and Point Pelee.

The first VIRGINIA RAIL to be reported at rare was heard in Blair Flats Slough by Larry Hubble and Bill Wilson on May 9.

During monitoring of Blair Flats Slough on May 9, Bill Wilson observed six species of shorebird including seven LEAST SANDPIPERS. To date, seven species of shorebird have stopped over during migration this spring including: GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, PECTORAL SANDPIPERS and SOLITARY SANDPIPERS. Jerry Guenther observed 19 LEAST SANDPIPERS on May 16 along the muddy edge of Blair Flats Slough.

On May 11, nine WOOD DUCKS, including three hens, were observed in the Silver Maple swamp off the Grand Allée (Bill Wilson). On May 19, the ratio was 8 males: 2 hens (Marco and Donna DeBruin).

Jerry Guenther reports seeing an adult BEAVER 1.3 km from the river and south of Blair Road. Given that distance, he wondered for a brief moment whether a Capybara had escaped from an Ontario zoo!

Five of the six species of vireo that breed in Ontario have been observed at rare this spring. Dates first observed are as follows: WARBLING VIREO (May 1, George Hentsch), RED-EYED VIREO (Jerry Guenther, May 14; Marco and Donna DeBruin, May 15), PHILADELPHIA VIREO (Andy Steinberg, May 15), YELLOW-THROATED VIREO (Julia Marko Dunn, May 17). 

Several visitors to rare and adjacent Linear Trail commented on the lack of goslings and ducklings as of May 14. That will change.

During monitoring of a rare trail on May 15, Ruth Kroft, Emily Damstra and Gerrie Grange were surprised to observe a CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW at close range. This sighting is the second report (first one in 2009) of this species on the Reserve.

Perhaps a sign that Phase 1 of the restoration of the Resource House/Stone Slit Barn is complete has been the nesting of EASTERN PHOEBE on site. The nest was located by rare’s bird bander, Kevin Grundy.

Andy Steinberg’s annual spring bird migration outing with Friends of rare on May 16 provided as many as 17 species of warbler. Participant Jenni Clayfield, added NORTHERN PARULA to her life list. During the morning outing, Andy listed 75 bird species, many of which were seen and/or heard by participants.

Jerry Guenther and Bill Wilson located a BLUE-WINGED WARBLER on May 17 on the alvar sector of the Reserve.

On May 18, Larry Lamb and others spotted BLACK and TIGER SWALLOWTAILS, QUESTION MARK and a DUSKYWING in the vicinity of Springback Farm and adjacent hedgerows on the Reserve.

Deb and Randy Fowler, rare trail monitors, had an interesting sighting as they finished up monitoring Linear Trail on Sunday, 22 May 2010. Deb reports that “we saw a deer chase a coyote across the river from the other side of the river [Blair Flats] to the [rare] island at the confluence.  It was just like an episode of "Untamed Kingdom"!  ... the deer kept the coyote on the shore until she had chased him to our side of the island [and] then the deer crossed back [to Blair Flats]!”
 
Please note that Bren Pearce, rare office manager, has set up a SIGHTINGS RECORD STATION inside the Lamb’s Inn to the left of the front entrance.  After your visit to rare, please drop in (Monday-Friday, 9 to 5) and record your sightings: birds, plants, mammals, herptiles, butterflies... As well, you can e-mail your reports to Bren and she will add them to the records. Of course, remember to check the Sightings Books to learn from the records what other visitors are reporting.