PAST MONTHS

July 1998
June 1998
May 1998
April 1998
March 1998
February 1998
January 1998
December 1997
November 1997

August 1998 Sightings in the Windsor Area

Sunday, August 30: 525 Common Nighthawks were seen this evening in LaSalle, mostly along Front Road and over Fighting Island (Paul Pratt).

Shorebirds at Carp Crossing, Holiday Beach today included: Killdeer 19, Black-bellied Plover 1, Semi-palmated Plover 9, Common Snipe 2, Lesser Yellowlegs 5, Short-billed Dowitcher 6, Semi-palmated Sandpiper 28, Least Sandpiper 5, and Pectoral Sandpiper 2.

Thursday, August 27: Randy Horvath found a Hooded Warbler yesterday at Little River and Fred Urie reports that the Snowy Egret continues at Holiday Beach. Over 50 Common Nighthawks were flying over Matchette Road near MicMac Park yesterday evening.

Wednesday, August 26: Bob Hall-Brooks reported 25 Common Nighthawks flying over south Windsor yesterday evening. Nighthawks are normally nocturnal but migrant birds are most often seen in the late afternoon and evening hours in late August.

Monday, August 24: The Ojibway outing on Saturday recorded 13 species of shorebirds at the Blenheim lagoons including Baird's Sandpiper and White-rumped Sandpiper. Horned Grebe, Northern Shoveler, Ruddy Duck and Hooded Merganser were found among the large number of ducks at the lagoons.

On Sunday the immature Snowy Egret at Holiday Beach was joined by a Hudsonian Godwit. Lower water levels have exposed a large mud flat at "Carp Crossing". Fred Urie found good numbers of warblers here on Saturday. The most common species was Tennessee Warbler (130).

On Saturday, Randy Horvath reported Yellow-throated Vireo (1), Olive-sided Flycatcher (3), and Blue-winged Warbler (1) from the east side of Windsor at Little River.

Thursday, August 20: The Snowy Egret continues to be seen at "Carp Crossing" in Holiday Beach Conservation Area. Twelve species of warblers were seen today at Ojibway.

The fall events calendar for the ECFNC is now available.

Monday, August 17: Warblers are beginning to appear in good numbers. Over 20 species have been sighted in the county recently. More common species include Yellow, American Redstart, Black-and-White, Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warbler. August is a good time to search for early season migrants such as Yellow, Blue-winged, Prairie and Pine Warblers.

A Snowy Egret was found at Holiday Beach C.A. on August 10 (Dan Lebedyk) and still present August 15 (Fred Urie).

Wednesday, August 12: This evening will provide the best opportunity to observe the Perseid meteor shower. Until the moon rises, about three hours after sunset, the skies will provide a dark background suitable for viewing even faint meteors. Although meteors can flash through any part of the sky they will appear to originate from the constellation Perseus located in the northeast sky.

Friday, August 07: Fall migration is beginning to build. Swallows are beginning to concentrate along the Lake Erie shoreline and Common Nighthawks are becoming more noticable in Windsor. The first Sharp-shinned Hawks appeared at Black Oak Heritage Park (July 24, Josie Hazen), Windsor (August 1, Allen Chartier) and Holiday Beach (August 4, Fred Urie). At least one Prothonotary Warbler remains at Holiday Beach (August 4, Fred Urie).

Tuesday, August 04: More wildflowers are coming into bloom on the prairie. The deep magenta blooms of Ironweed Vernonia missurica dominate in the prairie sites. Virginia Mountain Mint Pycnanthemum virginianum, Gray-headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata, Flowering Spurge Euphorbia collorata, Early Goldenrod Solidago juncea, Tall Coreopsis Coreopsis tripteris and Dense Blazing Star Liatris spicata are conspicuous along trails through the nature reserve. Bright scarlet Cardinal Flowers Lobelia carinalis can be found along wooded trails in Ojibway Park.

Over the weekend Little Yellow and Common Buckeye butterflies were reported but Monarch numbers remain low (only one or two per day). Giant Swallowtail Butterflies are now common, having started their second brood on July 24.