The Taverner Cup

An annual "big day" birding competition in eastern Ontario and western Quebec

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Rare or Hard-To-Get Birds

The following is a summary of rare or hard-to-get birds recorded by the 14 teams that competed in the Taverner Cup competition on May 24th, 2003. A total 209 birds were recorded. This total is well below the average of 220 over the previous four years since our boundaries were changed to the present configuration.

Birding conditions ranged from average to poor with strong winds in the early morning preceding light to heavy rain throughout the day. As a consequence birds sang sporatically or not at all and many scouted and common birds were missed. A review of the team records indicates that species that proved particularly difficult to record in wet windy weather included: Pied-billed Grebe, Red-shouldered and Broad-winged Hawks, Black-billed Cuckoo, Horned and Barred Owls, and a host of passerines, particularly: Eastern Wood-Pewee, Willow Flycatcher, White-breasted Nuthatch, Swainson's Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Yellow-throated Vireo, Northern Parula, Scarlet Tanager and Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Efforts to locate birds often caused teams to fall behind their planned schedules resulting in either cursory visits to some sites or by-passing them altogether. The Eurasian Collared Dove at Marsville was the only rarity found.

This list has been compiled with the co-operation of our team captains. It includes locations, and where helpful or known, approximate times. We offer these records to all Taverner, would-be Taverner birders, and visitors to our area to assist with their bird-finding. Please note that while single recordings of a bird are noted wherever possible, all multiple recordings are not always listed.

Least Bittern

Very difficult to locate; recorded calling during the night in the Micksburg Swamp, near Eganville, and in a wetland north of Lindsay

Great Egret

A few at Presqu'ile; one seen flying over Bass Lake Road north of Bobcaygeon; numerous at the main colony on Drummond Island near Summerstown, just east of Cornwall; heard during the night on the Great Egret Trail, Dundee, in extreme SW Quebec

Green Heron

Single birds seen on a beaver dam near Kirkfield, Carden; Highway 62, south of Madoc; Snake River Marsh at Ross Road, near Cobden; Highway 401 at Exit 570; Cooper Marsh, near Lancaster

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Recorded at Two Rivers Trail, Algonquin; at Presqu'ile at the islands and in the marsh; at Collins Creek, west of Kingston; many recorded at night on the Great Egret Trail, Dundee

Northern Pintail

Recorded at Presqu'ile, and at the Embrun, St. Isadore, and Alfred Sewage Lagoons

Ring-necked Duck

Recorded at West Rose Lake, Mizzy Lake Trail, and at Wolf Howl Pond, Algonquin; at a pond beside Highway 127, near Bancroft; by only one team visiting the Alfred Sewage Lagoon; at Lac Bernard in Diable Sector of Mont Tremblant Park

Greater Scaup

Late migrant, only at the Lindsay Sewage Lagoon

Lesser Scaup

Only by one team at Presqu'ile

Long-tailed Duck

A few were seen by most teams who scanned Presqu'ile Bay and Lake Ontario from the Lighthouse at Presqu'ile

Bufflehead

Only seen very early in the morning by one team from the Lighthouse at Presqu'ile

Hooded Merganser

Seen by many teams in small numbers in diverse locations; West Rose Lake, Algonquin; Canoe Lake Road; near the Visitor Centre at Mont Tremblant

Red-breasted Merganser

Small numbers along Lake Ontario at Presqu'ile and at the Kingston Field-Naturalists' (KFN) property on Amherst Island near Kingston

Cooper's Hawk

Recorded near nest sites on Highway 14, near Springbrook Alvar, twice in Ottawa where there are numerous nests

Northern Goshawk

Near the Spruce Bog Trail at Algonquin and at its nest site during the day at Vars (near Embrun)

Red-shouldered Hawk

Only recorded by two teams; one known location was on the Canoe Lake Road

Merlin

Recorded three times in Algonquin near Mizzy Lake, along Highway 60, near the Visitor Centre, and near the East Gate; also a nest site near Lac Chat, Diable Sector, Mont Tremblant Park

Peregrine Falcon

Only recorded by one team on the northwest side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Kent St in downtown Ottawa

Gray Partridge

Incidental sighting on Rue des Pins in the hamlet of Fournier, SW of the Alfred Sewage Lagoon; Note: Gray Partridge have been recorded in this immediate area in other years

Spruce Grouse

Only by one team at unknown location in Algonquin Park

Wild Turkey

Near Preston Road, south of Madoc; on Highway 37, near Tweed; at Rose Lane, Canoe Lake Road, SW of Westport in the Rideau Lakes

Yellow Rail

At the bridge and the Sedge Wren Marsh, Carden; very early morning along the marsh boardwalk at Presqu'ile

Sandhill Crane

Only at Wylie Road North, Carden

Black-bellied Plover

Recorded by three teams on Beaches 2, 3 and 4 area, at Presqu'ile

Greater Yellowlegs

Only at the Alfred Sewage Lagoon

Lesser Yellowlegs

Recorded at Amherstview and Embrun Sewage Lagoons

Solitary Sandpiper

Late migrants recorded by two teams at wet spots in Algonquin and Mont Tremblant Parks

Whimbrel

At flock of 6 recorded by one team on Beach 3 at Presqu'ile

Ruddy Turnstone

On the beaches at Presqu'ile and at the KFN property on Amherst Island

Red Knot

Recorded by five teams on the beaches at Presqu'ile

Sanderling

On the beach at Presqu'ile and at the KFN property on Amherst Island

Pectoral Sandpiper

Recorded by two teams at the Alfred Sewage Lagoon

Short-billed Dowitcher

Recorded on the beach at Presqu'ile; at the KFN property on Amherst Island; at the St. Isadore and Alfred Sewage Lagoons

Wilson's Phalarope

Recorded at the Amherstview Sewage Lagoon, at the KFN property on Amherst Island; at the Embrun and Alfred Sewage Lagoons

Red-necked Phalarope

Recorded by three teams at the Alfred Sewage Lagoon

Eurasian Collared Dove

This stray was known to be at a feeder at Marysville, Ontario. It was observed by two teams.

Black-billed Cuckoo

Recorded on Wylie Road North, Carden; on Canoe Lake Road, and in Gatineau Park

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Recorded by one team at Miller Creek Conservation Area, near Bridgenorth, Rice Lake

Eastern Screech Owl

Heard at night in the vicinty of Hooton Road, near Peterborough, and in the evening in the Owl Woods, Amherst Island, near Kingston

Great Horned Owl

Heard at evening in the Owl Woods, Amherst Island, and in the early morning on the island at the base of the Dyke at Shirley's Bay, Ottawa

Barred Owl

Heard at night near Source Lake Road, Algonquin; in the Golden Lake area, near Pembroke; on Wilson Road, Canoe Lake Road, SW of Westport

Long-eared Owl

Heard calling at night near Renfrew

Short-eared Owl

Caught in car headlights at night near Dundee, in extreme SW Quebec

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Recorded singing in pre-dawn on Highway 60 near Algonquin; on the Arowhon Road, near the winter parking area, and at Wolf Howl Pond, in Algonquin; at night on Gower Road, near Huntington, SW of Montreal

Common Nighthawk

Recorded by two teams: in the Golden Lake area, near Pembroke; and on Highway 17 between Cumberland and Rockland, in eastern Ontario

Black-backed Woodpecker

Recorded at West Rose Lake, at nest by a beaver pond at Wolf Howl Pond, and near Opeongo Lake, all in Algonquin Park

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Recorded near Golden Lake, and near Lac Fortune in Gatineau Park, Quebec; the paucity of records indicates these were early arrivals on territory

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

Recorded only in Diable Sector, Mont Tremblant Park, Quebec, where it was widespread

Willow Flycatcher

Recorded by one team at Presqu'ile

Gray Jay

Recorded on the Arowhon Road, at West Rose Lake, at Wolf Howl Pond and twice on the Opeongo Road, all in Algonquin Park

Boreal Chickadee

Three times on the Mizzy Lake Trail to Wolf Howl Pond, also on the Two Rivers Trail, all in Algonquin Park

Carolina Wren

Recorded by one team on the cottage road at Presqu'ile

Sedge Wren

Recorded by two teams at the Sedge Wren Marsh, Carden; at Balsam Lake PP; in the Richmond Fen, SW of Ottawa

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Recorded by one team at Chaffeys Locks

American Pipit

Recorded by two teams at the St. Isadore Sewage Lagoon

Loggerhead Shrike

Recorded at Carden and Newburgh Alvars

Yellow-throated Vireo

Recorded only by three teams, two at Chaffey's Locks, and one on the Canoe Lake Road

Philadelphia Vireo

Recorded in the Tim Horton's Parking Lot in Bancroft, and at the Champlain Lookout in Gatineau Park, Quebec

Golden-winged Warbler

Recorded on Deloro Road, north of Madoc; in the Golden Lake area; on the Opinicon Road west of Chaffey's Locks; on the Canoe Lake Road; on the Gatineau Parkway, Gatineau Park, Quebec

Orange-crowned Warbler

A migrant recorded only at the Two Rivers Trail in Algonquin Park

Cerulean Warbler

Recorded on territory on the Opinicon Road, west of Chaffey's Locks, and on the Canoe Lake Road, SW of Westport

Louisiana Waterthrush

This Ontario-rare Carolinean species occasionally nests regularly at Canoe Lake; widely sought but recorded by only one team at Rose Lane, Canoe Lake Road

Mourning Warbler

Recorded only on territory in three locations in Algonquin including the trail to Wolf Howl Pond and at Two Rivers Trail; on the Canoe Lake Road; at Champlain Lookout, Gatineau Park

Canada Warbler

Recorded only on territory at the Oxtongue River Picnic Area, on the Arowhon Road, on the trail to Wolf Howl Pond and on the Opeongo Road in Algonquin Park; also at Lac Escalier in Mont Tremblant Park

Rufous-sided Towhee

Recorded at three locations at Carden; also in the early evening at the Owl Woods on Amherst Island, near Kingston

Clay-coloured Sparrow

Wylie Road North, Carden, and in the Riceville area, near Bourget, SE of Ottawa

Field Sparrow

Three locations at Carden; Deloro Road, north of Madoc; Opinicon Road, east of Chaffey's Locks; near Rifle Range Road, Shirley's Bay, west Ottawa

Vesper Sparrow

Three locations at Carden; Highway 62 near Madoc; McGaghran Road, near Shaw Woods; fields along roadside south of Camden East; south of Ottawa airport; near Riceville

Grasshopper Sparrow

Recorded at Wylie Road North and at Shrike Road, Carden; also Highway 62 south of Madoc

Lincoln's Sparrow

Recorded by all teams visiting Algonquin; many singing at dawn

White-crowned Sparrow

A late migrant recorded in the Chaffey's area by one team

Dark-eyed Junco

All recorded on territory at the West Gate parking lot, at 8 km marker on Highway 60, and on the Trail to the Wolf Howl Pond, in Algonquin Park; also in numerous locations in Diable Sector, Mont Tremblant Park

Rusty Blackbird

Recorded by one team on Highway 60 near the East Gate; at the Lac Tador parking lot in Diable Sector of Mont Tremblant; the Algonquin bird was probably a late migrant, Rusty Blackbirds are regular in Mont Tremblant Park in late May, and likely nest

Orchard Oriole

Recorded by one team at a feeder on the cottage road, Presqu'ile

White-winged Crossbill

Reported by two of six teams visiting Algonquin; small numbers in numerous locations in Diable Sector, Mont Tremblant Park

Pine Siskin

Recorded by one team at the Two Rivers Trail in Algonquin Park

Evening Grosbeak

Recorded in Algonquin Park and Diable Sector of Mont Tremblant Park