OFO Long Point and area field trip
It was a cool (1C) extremely overcast morning as I followed the eastern star (Sirius) towards Long Point in Port Rowan. I met up with a group of 17 Ontario Field Ornithologists and our fearless leader Liam Thorne (Emma was sick) to tour the Long Point and Port Rowan area.
We toured the Bird Studies Canada HQ, where Liam gave us detailed itinerary of what we would be doing that way. Long Point is an area of outstanding natural significance and the historic home of Bird Studies Canada, founded as Long Point Bird Observatory in 1960. Long Point's unique diversity of ecosystems including vast wetlands, productive sheltered waters, extensive forested areas, and the significant wildlife they harbour, has earned the region recognition as a United Nations World Biosphere Reserve and Globally Important Key Biodiversity Area, a Ramser wetland and International Monarch Butterfly Reserve .Bird studies Canada
We toured the grounds where, out to the lake (Erie) where we used our binoculars and scopes to spot many American Coot, Ruddy Duck, a Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Greater Scaup flying over, a flock of American Wigeon as well as Northern Pintail, Green Winged Teal, Redhead, Gadwall and a single Pied Billed Grebe, most of the usual weird duck species! We were treated to a Bald Eagle swooping down as well as some Rusty blackbirds in the tall trees. Liam was very knowledgeable as well as being very patient and aware of us less knowledgeable as the birds were very far out and were just silhouettes. He let me borrow the Bird Studies scope and I was able to practice on it and see many birds that I would have otherwise miss. We spotted a family group of muskrat snuggling together near the reeds, The conditions were not great for photography, extreme cloud cover, but we were good to just enjoy the experience and not worry about getting good shots.
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We made our way back to the HQ through the cemetery where we were treated to some more songbirds. We stopped for a washroom break and then made our way to the Old Cut Research Station on the Causeway. There were many many Sandhill Cranes on the marsh on either side of the causeway, but our convoy was too large to allow us to stop and take photos. We got to the banding station where we learned that Liam was a licensed bander! He is an important member of the Long Point team, he was also involved in the Long Point Celebrity Birdathon in 2022 when he was just 14! He now has his own touring company and has an awesome future ahead of him! Google him! You will be impressed!
We walked through the trail when we came upon another part of the team that had detected a Saw Whet Owl in the brush with his MOTUS scanner. They had banded 12 NSWO the day before and outfitted some with the MOTUS backpack. MOTUS It is prime migration time for the sweet little owls, so they were definitely in the brush. We were unable to spot the bird though, and we did not want to disturb the bird anymore, so we continued on. The team had netted and banded White Throated Sparrow, Golden Crowned kinglet, a lovely Carolina Wren as well as a not too happy White breasted nuthatch (we had just observed him feeding at the feeder!)
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We attended the station just as the gift shop was closing but I convinced the volunteer to consider reopen it as a bunch of bird hungry buyers (including me) wanted to buy bird stuff! I think it was worth it!
We went back out to HQ for lunch and we were treated to an impromptu hawk watch! Turkey vulture, Red tailed hawk, a Harrier from the North as well as a Merlin flew over. The temps were rising and the birds were taking advantage of the warm thermals. Some insects also enjoyed the warmth of the sun as we had yellowjackets, a ladybug as well as a Ruby Meadowhawk perch on our picnic table. It was nice to see some familiar faces as well as meet new people. Many people came down from Toronto for this event!
Liam led us next to the Port Rowan wetlands as well as the Lion's park where we got some good lucks at some waterfowl . A gorgeous Common Tern performed in front of us at the Lion's park harbour, as well as plenty of Bonaparte's gulls.
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The last stop was Turkey Point where we were hoping to see the Hudsonian Godwits with no luck. Liam pointed out that it is good that they are gone as winter is coming and they need to be in their winter digs. There were still some shorebirds with lots of Dunlin as well as Black Bellied Plover and the ever present Killdeer! We were all excited to see a flock of Snow Buntings fly in and forage not far from us on the beach!
All in all, a great day, with 63 species seen and heard, with more stops than I've ever had on this particular trip. I try to do these four fall trips with OFO, these places are not too far from me, with Port Rowan being the farthest with just under 2 hours away. This is it for me for a while. I love the OFO field trips, it gets me to places I normally wouldn't go by myself, but I really love my own little patch. I have signed up for the Niagara Falls one though, now that is definitely the farthest for me. See you then!
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