Weekly Roundup November 2nd to November 8th 2020
The first week of November has been a good one, with several rarities showing up. As the days get colder, we’ll be seeing a larger movement of birds down south with most migrating birds leaving Muskoka.
Waterfowl have been continuing through this week, the warmer weather at the end of the week keeping them around. There’s been continuing LESSER SCAUP, NORTHERN SHOVELER, WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, and RUDDY DUCK, but there have been a couple unusual additions that have joined them. A few LONG-TAILED DUCKS joined them later in the week and have been seen at a couple different locations. Additionally, a HORNED GREBE was seen in Georgian Bay, migrating through a bit later than usual. Finally, a SNOW GOOSE was spotted by Barbara Taylor early in the week along Golden Beach Road. It was relocated the next day on Beaumont Farm Road and was hanging around with a group of CANADA GEESE.
Snow Goose, Bracebridge, Aaron Rusak
A few rarer gulls have cropped up in Muskoka this week as well. A pair of BONAPARTE’S GULLS were seen off the Georgian Bay coast and a GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL has been seen in the Bracebridge area. A couple late CAROLINA WRENS were also picked up, one continuing at Bowyer’s Beach and another at our bird feeders! A new yard bird for us, one that we’re hoping to try to keep until the Christmas Bird Count.
Carolina Wren, Bracebridge, Aaron Rusak
Finches everywhere! This week was a crazy week for finches, and it was possible to see all of our winter finches in just a couple days. PINE GROSBEAKS have migrated down in a big way, being seen across Muskoka. Trees with fruit are a good place to check for them and you might be able to grab some of the BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS that are being spotted as well. Other notables are COMMON REDPOLLS, EVENING GROSBEAKS, WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS, and RED CROSSBILLS. We’ve even had a couple HOARY REDPOLLS spotted at Bangor Lodge and the Sewage Lagoons. Take advantage of the last couple of warm days to pick up your finches if you haven’t already!
Pine Grosbeak, Bracebridge (2019), Aaron Rusak
What to Look for this Week
The first two days of warmer weather bring some interesting possibilities, as there’s a lot of potential for a variety of mega-rare species. There’s the chance for anything really, a BEAN GOOSE has even shown up in Ottawa! Lakes are a good place to be checking for rare birds, but I’d take advantage of the warmer weather to take a few hikes. Since anything could pop up, anywhere is a good place to look.
As the weather gets colder, we may see a few more boreal species moving south. BOREAL CHICKADEE, SPRUCE GROUSE, or BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKERS are all potential birds that might make the trip down, so if you’re looking for those, checking up at Limberlost or other more northern locations are good places to start.
Got a rare sighting of your own? Feel free to send it to aaron@shrikebirding.com and it may be used in our next weekly report. We’re hoping to add additional information in our future weekly reports, so unusual sightings within Muskoka are hugely appreciated.
Happy birding!