Winter birding round-up

The passing of February marks the end of the winter birding period. A total of 53 species were observed in the Marathon area. This compares to 191 species recorded for the province over the same span of time.

A few rarities turned up. Two Townsend's Solitaires were tallied in December. An Eastern Towhee overwintered at a feeder in Heron Bay while a second was reported once from a feeder in Marathon in late February. Bird feeders in Marathon supported a Fox Sparrow, a White-throated Sparrow and several Northern Cardinals through the reporting period. Late dates were recorded for Ring-necked Duck (Dec 20), American Coot (Dec 15), Gray Catbird (Dec 6) and Chipping Sparrow (Dec 21). A Gray-crowned Rosy Finch was photographed as it consorted with three Snow Buntings at the Penn Lake Road landfill site on Feb 12. The bird couldn't be relocated over subsequent weeks.

Speaking of bird feeders, many people noted that overall activity was low. An abundant crop of Mountain Ash fruit, here and throughout the boreal forest, may account for the abundance of overwintering American Robins in the area and the infrequency of Pine Grosbeaks at feeders. Among the birds I observed foraging on Mountain Ash were Ruffed Grouse, European Starling, Bohemian Waxwing, Common Raven, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee and Pine Grosbeak.
Pine Grosbeak feeding on Mountain Ash, Feb 12.
We are among many who have not once refilled our niger seed feeders this winter. Only a few American Goldfinches were observed and Pine Siskins were absent. Several flocks of Common Redpolls were seen foraging on Tamarack and Alder seeds, far from feeders.

Many thanks to those people, listed below, who shared their observations. Any errors are mine.

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Bird Sightings, Dec 1, 2009 - Feb 28, 2010

• American Black Duck: 6, Steel R., Dec.2 (MB).

• Ring-necked Duck: 1 male, Marathon Harbour, Dec. 8, 10, 17 (MB), 20 (CBC).

• Common Goldeneye: up to 20 observed on more than 10 dates in Marathon Harbour, Dec 6 - Feb 27 (CBC, MB), pair at LaFarge cement plant Dec 20 (CBC) and Feb 27 (MB); single at Umbata Hydro GS, Jan 30 (MA, MB).

• Long-tailed Duck: 7 at Marathon Harbour Dec 20 (CBC); 21 at Marathon Harbour, Jan 21 (MB).
  

• Ruffed Grouse: up to 2 observed on more than 10 dates throughout the region, Dec 20 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Spruce Grouse: 1 at Neys P.P., Jan 22 (MA and MB); 1 at mouth of Pic R., Feb 21 (MB); 1 at Angler Cr., Feb 20 (NE, BM).

Spruce Grouse at mouth of Pic R., Feb 21 (MB)

• Bald Eagle: singles and Penn Rd landfill site Dec 1, 17, 20 (MB, BC, CBC); Heron Bay Landfill Dec 17 (MB, BC). None observed following the Dec 20 CBC.
  

• Northern Goshawk: 1 (ad.) on Dead Horse Creek Rd., Jan 8 (MB); 1 (imm.) at Pukaskwa N.P., Feb 28 (MA and MB).

• Sharp-shinned Hawk: 1 seen in Marathon, Jan 30 (JL).

Sharp-shinned Hawk in Marathon, Jan 30 - Photo by Jim Lowndes

• Red-tailed Hawk: 1 in Marathon Dec 20 (CBC).

• American Coot: 1 in Marathon Harbour Dec 5, 6, 8, 10, 15 (MA, MB, BC).
  

• Herring Gull: up to 300 individuals seen on more than 10 dates, most abundantly at the Penn Lake Rd. landfill site, Dec 1 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Glaucous Gull: 1 or 2 seen with Herring Gulls at Penn Lake Rd. landfill site or in Marathon Harbour on more than 10 dates, Dec 18 - Feb 27 (MB, CBC).

• Rock Pigeon: up to 6 seen at LaFarge docking facility, NW of the Pic R., Dec 17, Jan 13, Feb 21 (BC, MB).

• Mourning Dove: up to 25 seen near feeders on Steedham Dr. and Sund Cr. in Marathon on more than 10 dates, Dec 17 - Feb 25; 7 at feeder in Heron Bay on Dec 20 (CBC).
  

• Northern Hawk Owl: 1 seen on Bamoos Cr., Feb 7 (C&KD).

• Barred Owl: 1 at Marathon Cemetery, Dec 6 (WM); 1 at Angler Cr. Dec 20 (CBC).

• Downy Woodpecker: up to 23 observed on more than 10 dates throughout region, Dec 1- Feb 28 (MB, MA, BC, NP, CBC).

• Hairy Woodpecker: 1 observed at Pukaskwa N.P. Dec 18 (WM); 1 in Marathon Jan 4 (MB); 5 in Marthon, Dec 20 (CBC).

• American Three-toed Woodpecker: singles seen at Pukaskwa N.P. Dec 11 (MB), Dec 20 (CBC), Feb 15 (MB); 2 at Pukaskwa N.P. Feb 21; 1 seen in Marathon Dec 20 (CBC).

• Black-backed Woodpecker: 1 on Hawks Ridge Trail in Marathon Dec 20 (CBC); 1 at Heron Bay Feb 20 (MB, NE, BM).

• Pileated Woodpecker: 1 seen/heard in Marathon Dec 1 (MB), 20 (CBC), Feb 15, 16, 18 (MB); 1 at Heron Bay on Feb 20 (MB); 1 on Deadhorse Creek Rd. on Jan 6 (MB);2 on Deadhorse Creek Rd., Jan 8 (MB).

• Northern Shrike: 1 at Pukaskwa N.P. Dec 15, 18 (WM); 1 on Dead Horse Creek Rd., Jan 6 (MB).

• Gray Jay: up to 20 seen on more than 10 dates throughout region, Dec 2 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Blue Jay: up to 9 seen on more than 10 dates throughout region, Dec 10 - Feb 27 (MB, CBC, NE, BM).

• American Crow: up to 14 seen on more than 10 dates, primarily in Marathon and Heron Bay, Dec 1 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Common Raven: up to 245 observed on more than 10 dates throughout the region, most abundantly at Penn Lake Rd. and Heron Bay landfill sites, Dec 1- Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Black-capped Chickadee: up to 187 seen on more than 10 dates throughout region, Dec 1 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Boreal Chickadee: up to 6 observed on more than 10 dates throughout region, Dec 11 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, NP, CBC).

• Red-breasted Nuthatch: up to 29 observed on more than 10 dates throughout region, Dec 6 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• White-breasted Nuthatch: 1 at feeder on Sund Cr., Dec 17 (MB and BC), Dec 20 (CBC).

• Brown Creeper: 1 in Marathon, Dec 20 (CBC).

Townsend's Solitaire at Pic River, Dec 10 (MB).

• Townsend's Solitaire: 1 at Pic R., Dec 10 (MB); 1 at Angler Cr., Dec 20 (CBC).

• American Robin: up to 20 seen on more than 10 dates throughout the region, Dec 7 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, CBC).

• Gray Catbird: 1 at Feeder on Sund Cr., Marathon, Dec 6 (MB and BC).

Gray Catbird visiting feeder in Marathon, Dec 6 (MB)

• European Starling: up to 96 in Marathon and up to 4 in Heron Bay on more than 10 dates, Dec 1 - Feb 28 (MB, MA, BC, NP, CBC).

• Bohemian Waxwing: 5 at Pic R., Dec 16 (MB), 50 at Pic R. Dec 17 (MB, BC), 20 on Dead Horse Creek Rd., Jan 6 (MB); 50 near Marathon Airport, Feb 8 (MB).

• Eastern Towhee: 1 male at feeder in Heron Bay, Dec 11, 20, Feb 20 (NE, BM), 27 (MB); 1 male at feeder on Nicolet St., Feb 6 (MS).

This furtive Eastern Towhee, seen here on Feb 27, overwintered at a feeder in Heron Bay (MB)

• American Tree Sparrow: 1 at feeder on Manitoba St., Feb 24 (MB).

• Chipping Sparrow: 1 photographed and observed on more than 10 dates, daily at feeder on Manitoba St., Dec 2-21 (MA, MB).

• Fox Sparrow: 1 photographed and observed on more than 10 dates, daily at feeder on Manitoba St., Dec 2 - Feb 28 (MB, MA).

• White-throated Sparrow: 1 photographed and observed on more than 10 dates, daily at feeder on Manitoba St., Dec 2 - Feb 28 (MB, MA); 1 struck window at Pukaskwa N.P., Dec 8 (MA, WM) .

Northern Cardinal, Chipping, Fox and White-throated Sparrows, Dec 9 (MB)

• Dark-eyed Junco: up to 11 observed on more than 10 dates and feeders in Marathon and Heron Bay, Dec 1 - Feb 28 (MA, MB, CBC).

• Snow Bunting: 1 on Stevens Ave, Marathon, Dec 1 (MB); 5 in Marathon Dec 20 (CBC); 3 at Penn Rd. landfill site, Marathon, Feb 12 (MB), 1 near Jellicoe Cove Feb 20 (BM, NE).

• Northern Cardinal: up to 3 seen at feeders on Sund Cr. and Manitoba St., Marathon, on more than 10 dates, Dec 1 - Feb 28 (MA, MB, C&MB, CBC)

• Common Grackle: 1 on trail off Hemlo Dr., Marathon, Feb 14, 28 (NP).

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch at Marathon landfill site, Feb 12 (MB)

• Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch: 1 photographed at Penn Lake Rd. landfill site, Marathon on Feb 12 (MB).

• Pine Grosbeak: up to 40 seen throughout region on more than 10 dates, Dec 10 - Feb 27 (MA, MB, NP, CBC).

• Red Crossbill: 2 seen on along Angler Cr. Dec. 20 (CBC).

• White-winged Crossbill: 6 along Angler Cr. on Dec 20 (CBC); 30 at Prairie R. mouth Feb 5 (MB).

• Common Redpoll: 2 at Marathon Dec 20 (CBC); 20 at Heron Bay, Feb 6 (MB); 20 at Pukaskwa N.P. Feb 27 (MB).

Common Redpolls at Pukaskwa N.P., Feb 27 (MB)

• American Goldfinch: 1 at feeder on Sund Cr., Dec 17 (MB, BC) 2 at Marathon Dec 20 (CBC); 1 at feeder on Manitoba St., Marathon on Feb 9 (MB).

• Evening Grosbeak: up to 36 observed on more than 10 dates, mostly at feeders in Heron Bay and Marathon, Dec 7 - Feb 21 (MB, MA, WM, CBC).

Observers: Martha Allen (MA); Michael Butler (MB); Monique and Clarence Bérubé (M&CB); Bill Climie (BC); Christine and Kyle Drake (C&KD); Nick Escott (NE); Jim Lowndes (JL), Wayne Michano (WM); Brian Moore (BM); Nolan Pelland (NP); Mike Small (MS); Christmas Bird Count (CBC).