Weekly Roundup October 26th to November 1st 2020
This week didn’t see many rarities show up, but it did have a number of odd lingering birds. Of the several late species were recorded, most showed up at feeders.
Rare waterfowl have continued in several places this week, with the Bracebridge Sewage Lagoons being a very good place to be checking. Both BLACK and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS showed up on the larger lakes, but the rest of the rarities were seen at the lagoons. Another RUDDY DUCK appeared at the lagoons, joining the continuing GREATER SCAUP and NORTHERN SHOVELERS. A late AMERICAN BITTERN was also seen at the sewage lagoons, though will most likely move on now that some of the smaller ponds are icing over at night.
American Bittern, Beatrice Townline, Aaron Rusak
A couple raptors passed through Muskoka on there way south as well, a welcome change from a lack of them last week. A PEREGRINE FALCON was spotted at the sewage lagoons and a late BROAD-WINGED HAWK passed through Georgian Bay on its way south.
Feeders were full of a variety of birds this week, with many different species sticking around still. CAROLINA WREN, GRAY CATBIRD, BALTIMORE ORIOLE, and CHIPPING SPARROWS were all observed at various feeders across Muskoka. The continuing RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER is still coming to a peanut feeder in Georgian Bay and will most likely be continuing there for some time. Much of our other migrants have moved on, but feeders are still good to check even into December.
Baltimore Oriole, Point Pelee (2018), Aaron Rusak
Finches are showing well in several different locations across Muskoka. We even had a flock of around 60 EVENING GROSBEAKS stick around our feeders for a few days. Other notables are COMMON REDPOLLS, BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS, and WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS which are all migrating further south. There will be resident finches for much of the winter, so start stocking up on bird seed now. David and Regan Goodyear also found a HOARY REDPOLL, so hopefully those may show up at a couple feeders this winter as well.
Bohemian Waxwing, Gravenhurst 2019), Aaron Rusak
One final interesting record, though not a rarity was a leucistic DARK-EYED JUNCO that has been showing up at our feeders for the past week. An all white forehead and a lot of white in the tail makes for a very interesting looking bird!
Dark-eyed Junco, Bracebridge, Aaron Rusak
What to Look for this Week
It’s tough to give a bunch more advice that hasn’t been given, so check in with some of the past weeks for waterfowl and finch viewing advice. However, this next week is when some of the rarer gulls have been seen in the past, so checking farm fields for gull flocks is a great idea.
Additionally, feeders are going to be a very good place to check once the weather starts to stay cold. Black oil sunflower seeds and suet feeders will be welcome places for birds to feed once the snow flies. A nice variety of feeders will allow you to attract a large number of species, even in the winter.
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!