Migration Report for November 1 to 15

By Kathy Parker

 

After a balmy September and October, fall weather set in on Hallowe’en and we were not able to open the nets at the banding station since October 30th.  Due to high winds, the public owling night was postponed from November 2^nd to the 3^rd.  Eight people enjoyed mulled wine, apple cider, cake, cookies and other treats, but no owls were trapped.

The 90- minute census was conducted for the first 10 days of November.

Fox Pond has been a busy place with dabbling ducks – Mallards, Gadwall, and Green-winged Teal, as well as Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, Ring-necked Ducks, and Wood Ducks on the pond. A large flock of up to 68 Canada Geese and a pair of American Coots were also there.

An enormous mixed flock of more than 1000 blackbirds was often seen in the trees around Fox Pond.  This flock includes European Starlings, Common Grackles, Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Rusty Blackbirds.

Scattered on Lake Erie, Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Red-necked Grebes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, and White-winged Scoters were observed.

A very late flock of up to 54 Tree Swallows was seen by many observers.  These swallows have been recorded to the 7^th on the November census.

A Golden Eagle – the first of the season, was seen on November 3^rd.

A cold north wind on November 9^th formed beautiful ice sculptures on the vegetation that the waves washed over on the west shore.  In the sunlight, the leaves shone silver. For the first time during the fall census, not one gull was seen.  On the 8^th only 1 Herring Gull was identified.

The last census took place on November 10^th.  Looking back on my field notes, I saw that the first bird I recorded on the August 16^th census was a Common Grackle.  It seems fitting that as I left the beach on the final census, a large flock of blackbirds flew over and the trailing 3 birds were Common Grackles.

No butterflies or dragonflies were observed in November.

The Bullfrogs that were so common in Fox Pond a few days ago have disappeared.

Leaves on the trees that were green last week have turned yellow and fallen.

The banding nets have been taken down for the season in preparation for a predicted snowfall in the near future.

We hope to see you in the spring.  Don’t forget to watch us on Still Standing in Season 6 on CBC.  The date is yet to be announced.