Wilson's Phalarope

Hi Everyone, Harvey Patterson saw a Wilson's Phalarope at the lagoons at Port Stanley yesterday (May 21, 2007). It was in the third lagoon. He said be patient because it was under the bank at times.

I went down, and saw it fly into a spot but didn't see it after that; however, I did see four Dunlins in the second lagoon quite close to the viewing stands.

Diane.

Himalayan Spruce at Tyrconnell

Libby Fairweather, of Alberta Heritage Tree Foundation, stands in the Himalayan spruce tree in St. Peter's cemetery, Tyrconnell. The large horizontal branches are tear-drop shaped in cross section, rather than round, an amazing engineering feat of nature, to strengthen the branches to support the enormous bending stresses placed upon them!

The main trunk of this remarkable tree is just as straight as any spruce tree.


The multi trunk Himalayan spruce, on the left, is in a low spot at the bottom of a gentle slope and could easily go unnoticed compared to the regular shaped spruce, in the open, on the right.


Cones, buds and needles of the Himalayan Spruce.

Orchard Oriole

On Monday, May 7th I was startled to see an adult male Orchard Oriole at the oriole feeder. I have not seen it since. However I did manage one shot of it and it's certainly not the best pose but at least it's a record shot.

The remarkable fact of the sighting is that Orchard Orioles rarely are seen anywhere but very close to Lake Erie. I know Ron Kingswood always has half a dozen or so at his feeders but to see one within the city limits is very unusual.

The rarity of finding it so far from the lake is born out in the species account of page 219 of Birds of Elgin County. The last colour plate on page 92 shows the bird in a typical nesting situation, the nest being located in a fir tree on Ron's property.

Bill Rayner

Bird Sightings at Archie Coulters, Saturday, May 5, 2007

Sharon Harabuck reports sighting the following 13 species of birds at Archie Coulter Conservation Area on Saturday, May 5, 2007.

1. Bay-breasted Warbler
2. Black Throated Green Warbler
3. Black Throated Blue Warbler
4. Yellow Rumps (lots)
5. Nashville Warbler
6. Black and White Warbler
7. Yellow Warbler
8. Rose-Breasted Grosbeak
9. Veery
10. Female Baltimore Oriole
11. Rufous Sided Towhee
12. Flickers
13. Downey W.P.

And of course many of the more common birds. It was a wonderful day for sure.

We went back today (Sunday) and there were none! Amazing... but we did see two young racoons in a hole in a tree. They were watching us take pictures of the flowers, etc.. It was cute :-)

Great Horned Owl Chick - April 28, 2007

The pictured Great Owl chick fell from a nest in a 70 ft. Pine tree along Dalewood Trail. While the parents were still feeding the chick, on the ground, the hikers who found him feared for his safety from other animals. The chick was brought to St.Thomas to be cared for and on April 29 the chick was transported to the Candian Raptor Conservancy, to be properly cared for, near Simcoe. The chick is a ball of fluff about 8 or 9 inches in diameter.

Potluck Picnic - Friday, June 1

Potluck Picnic – Woodland Pavilion, Pinafore Park.  Supper at 6:30 p.m.  Come early to socialize and remember to bring your own cutlery, plates and your own beverage. Following supper there will be a walk in the woods.