Wednesday, June 15, 2011

June 14-17, 2011 More birding Churchill, Manitoba

The birding continues to be interesting at Churchill despite the cool temperatures (low -2c/high 6c) and windy conditions over the past 4 days. The amount of ice on the bay and river changes everyday depending on wind direction. Recent highlights have been 1 male Magnolia Warbler along Twin Lakes Rd. on June 16th, 6 adult Little Gulls along Hydro Road just south of the Marina (June 14, 16), 1 Greater White-fronted Goose (June 14) along Goose Creek Road and 1 Ross's Goose ( June 15,16) at the Granary Ponds. Still good numbers of Lapland Longspur (250+) and a few Snow Bunting (8) at the Granary Ponds and the Old Churchill Dump. A visit to Twin Lakes on June 16th produced 3 Spruce Grouse (2 displaying along Cook St. ), a pair of Brown Creeper, nesting?, but no three-toed woodpeckers. A couple of Bohemian Waxwing flew over calling and 2 Smith's Longspur were heard singing along the open stretch of tundra enroute to the old burn site. Late migrant shorebirds included Black-bellied Plover (June 14), White-rumped and Baird's Sandpiper (June 16), Ruddy Turnstone (June 17) and Sanderling ( June 14), all on June 16 The Brown Thrasher was observed on June 17th, near the Cape Merry and 1 White-winged Crossbill was seen along Goose Creek Road. The variety of gulls along the Churchill River is still good with Glaucous, Iceland and Thayer's off the harbour or Cape Merry. Other species of note included 1 Red-tailed Hawk (June 17th), 2 Barn Swallow (June 13th) , and 1 male Harris's Sparrow along Landing Lake Rd. Always a highlight at Churchill were 20+ Belugas' close to shore along the Churchill River at Cape Merry yesterday, first sighting June 14th.

Good Birding, Bruce




Horned Lark


Orange-crowned Warbler


Short-billed Dowitcher


White-rumped Sandpiper


Willow Ptarmigan


Willow Ptarmigan


Yellow Warbler


Merlin


Mallard


Little Gull


Little Gull


Greater White-fronted Goose


Boreal Chickadee and Pine Grosbeak


Boreal Chickadee

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