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BIRD SCHMIDT |
Birdwatching in Flin Flon Creighton and BeyondHomeThis page will be revamped in 2005, so keep checking back! I apologize for the lack of 2004 entries up until now. Please check Saskbirds in the meantime. Again, this page is under construction, or I should say reconstruction. The addition of an Archives page will hopefully add to the efficiency of this page. Let me know what you think. Early Birds!Check back in the spring for 2003's early birds! |
Birding Trip ReportsNovember 15-16, 2002Highway 165, the grid connecting 106, the Hanson Lake Road, to 2, the highway into La Ronge, SaskatchewanWe went to La Ronge yesterday. Returned today. It was our first trip down 165, the grid that connects 106 (the Hanson Lake Road) to 2 (the highway into La Ronge), but we'll definitely be heading back down that road during breeding season - I expect it will be warbler rich and the road has lots of long straight stretches that will make it safe enough to pull over. Highlight today was very close views of a Barred Owl about 200 metres south of Yaholnitski Creek, hunting the ditch from a birch perch at 10:15 am. We couldn't believe what we were seeing! I still have the image of those eyes of coal in my head! The owl was not worried about us at all - it was very concerned with what it was hunting. It flew down to the ditch once but came up empty-handed. It also flew off briefly when a logging truck passed by, but quickly returned to the roadside after being harassed by a troop of BC Chickadees. Harvey finished off a roll of of film on it and took another complete roll and then left it to its business. For a sample of Harvey's photos of this owl click here. Also along 165: Three-toed Woodpecker - Nov 15, one near Wuchewun River; Black-backed Woodpecker - Nov 16, one near Wuchewun River; Northern Shrike - Nov 16, one near Wuchewun River; Northern Goshawk - Nov 16, one near Yaholnitski Creek; Ruffed Grouse - one on Nov 15 on side of the road, dead one on road in same area Nov 16; Pine Grosbeak - 12; Common Redpolls - hundreds upon hundreds along the way - incredible in itself! Along 106: Northern Hawk Owl - Nov 15, near 165 junction; Pileated Woodpecker - Nov 16 near Sturgeon Weir River July 4, 2002The 30 km grid from Denare Beach to Sturgeon-Weir, SaskatchewanThis year there's a major spruce budworm outbreak along this stretch, and there's no shortage of warblers: Tennessee Warbler (numerous), Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler (numerous), Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler (numerous), Bay-breasted Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler (numerous), American Redstart, Ovenbird (numerous), Mourning Warbler, Common Yellowthroat. The highlight for me was the three Winter Wrens singing at various points along the road (I have a weakeness for their song). Also many Red-eyed Vireo (Philadelphia and Warbling also heard). Other birds seen along this road today include Ring-billed Gull, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfisher, Swainsons Thrush, Hermit Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Ruby-crowned Kinglet (only one), Golden-crowned Kinglet, Alder Flycatcher (only one), Tree Swallow, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser, Merlin, Northern Flicker, Black-capped Chickadee, Boreal Chickadee, Common Raven, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Evening Grosbeak. The birding was pretty good considering the weather. It was cool, overcast, and drizzling at times. The wind really picked up as the morning wore on. June 27, 2002Breeding Bird Survey - Grass River Route, ManitobaOn June 27 we conducted a Breeding Bird Survey of the Grass River route for the second time. We had to get up before 3 am to make the trip to the starting point at Iskwasum Park in northwest Manitoba, south of Snow Lake. (Last year we got up at 3 am, but we barely got there in time). The day was calm, but visibility was markedly reduced due to forest fire smoke. Notable birds: New birds seen and/or heard on the route this year: American Kestrel, Merlin, Pileated Woodpecker, Connecticut Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Winter Wren and Yellow Rail. Note: This may be due to the fact that this year the survey was conducted much later due to adverse weather conditions, i.e. the winter's unwillingness to leave. The Yellow Rail was a highlight--its pebble click call was clear and unexpected even though the habitat at that stop was perfectly appropriate. Also, we heard a number of Winter Wrens in dense old growth along the route, their song ever so heart-lifting. As well, we saw several flocks of White-winged Crossbills -- many more than last year. The numbers of Ovenbirds calling was noticably less. Birds seen and heard on the Grass River route: Common Loon, Canada Goose, Common Merganser, Red-necked Grebe, Mallard, American Kestrel, Merlin, Sandhill Crane, Killdeer, Marbled Godwit, Common Snipe, Herring Gull, Bonaparte's Gull, Yellow Rail, Hairy Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Yellow-shafted Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Pheobe, Blue-headed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Gray Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Boreal Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Tennessee Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Cape May Warbler, Myrtle Warbler, Black and White Warbler, Blackpoll Warbler, Ovenbird, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Slate-colored Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, White-winged Crossbill, Winter Wren, Marsh Wren, Double-crested Cormorant, American White Pelican. Archives for 2001, 2000Contact us if you have any trip reports you would like to share. Last updated September 21, 2004 © 2004 Brenda Schmidt. All rights reserved. |