The Rhythm of Seasonal Changes

Nature Notes for September 26, 2014           

The rhythm of the seasons continues with fall migration. Although the cool summer season probably delayed the nesting of some birds, they did nest. This may be delaying the southward passage of migrants as the young birds need time to mature before they leave the natal area.

As well, the weather has not been conducive to migration of small birds. Winds have been very strong and out of the south, west and east. There have been many cloudy and rainy nights, too. Most small birds migrate at night, so this hasn’t helped them. They have to wait for clear nights with light northerly winds.

Nevertheless, the birds are moving. The southern Ontario hawk watches are up and running. Finally, this week, they are reporting good numbers of birds. Until Monday, September 22, Hawk Cliff on the Lake Erie shore south of St. Thomas had reported 75,803 birds for the season, with 683 passing on the 22^nd.

The flight line for hawks leaving southern Ontario in the fall is south to the north shores of Lakes Ontario and Erie and then southwest, to cross the Detroit River in the Windsor/Detroit area. They then continue south through the Mississippi basin. Some travel as far south as South America.

This week, there has been a noticeable flight of Blue Jays. They follow the same flight line as the hawks, but generally stop for the winter somewhere in the continental U.S. Like the hawks, they move during the daylight hours, so readers who live near the Lake Ontario shore may have noticed this flight.

In my neighbourhood, another sign of fall is the flock of Turkey Vultures that have again taken up roosting atop the water tower on Dorset St.W. These birds time their arrival with the arrival of the spawning salmon in the Ganaraska River. After the fish spawn, some die, which provides an ample banquet for the vultures. Last year, there was a report of about 200 Turkey Vultures along the Ganaraska between downtown Port Hope and Corbett’s Dam.

There was one unusual avian visitor on Port Hope’s west beach which appeared on Sept. 13 and stayed for a few days.  A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was found feeding on the algae alongside the Sanderling. Buff-breasteds are usually found on drier parts of the beach or in fields with short vegetation, so this was an odd location to find one. They nest on the tundra and travel to wintering areas in South America. 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper at Port Hope west beach.

© Rob Lonsberry Photography

Last Saturday was Alderville Black Oak Savanna’s annual Prairie Day celebration. The high winds concentrated the landbirds in the shelter of the wooded valley on the property. In addition to a large number of Black-capped Chickadees, some of which may have been migrants, there were many other migrants in the woods: Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Redstart, Nashville Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Black-throatedGreen Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Northern Parula, Winter Wren, BrownCreeper, Philadelphia Vireo Red-eyed Vireo and Ovenbird.

In the past week, the first few White-throated Sparrows have turned up in my garden. They will soon be joined by Dark-eyed Juncos and perhaps the first few winter finches.

All these departures and arrivals reflect the change of the seasons.