Since the ice on Porcupine Lake completely melted yesterday evening (May 13, 2018), I thought it would be a great time for an update with some highlights from the first half of May.
PAINTED BUNTING
Let's start with a very unique and surprising rare visitor: a male Painted Bunting. It was found by Andrew Warren (who also happened to host an overwintering Easter Towhee from December 2017 to March 2018). Andrew found the Painted Bunting on May 9th, 2018 at his feeder in Porcupine (10 km East of Timmins). The bird could not have chosen a better yard with a more cooperative homeowner! Andrew quickly spread the word and gave us permission to go observe the bird. After 2 failed attempts that same evening, I finally saw it on the morning of May 10th.
Here is my very blurry photo taken in the rain. It was a cold morning: 4°C (-1°C with the wind chill) and after standing still for almost an hour, the bird showed up briefly at the feeder and I had time to observe it and take a few quick photos.
My first Painted Bunting...in the rain Porcupine (10 May 2018) |
If you look online at the usual range map of the Painted Bunting, you will understand how rare it was to see it in Northern Ontario's Cochrane District.
Although I am proud of my blurry photo, it doesn't do the bird justice. Andrew got some stunning photos and gave me permission to post them here. In Andrew's photos, you can see the whole array of colours: blue, red, yellow, green and orange! I would like to thank Andrew for lending me these great photos and giving me the opportunity to observe this life bird.
Although I am proud of my blurry photo, it doesn't do the bird justice. Andrew got some stunning photos and gave me permission to post them here. In Andrew's photos, you can see the whole array of colours: blue, red, yellow, green and orange! I would like to thank Andrew for lending me these great photos and giving me the opportunity to observe this life bird.
Painted Bunting / Passerin nonpareil Porcupine, ON (10 May 2018) Photo: Andrew Warren |
Painted Bunting / Passerin nonpareil Porcupine, ON (10 May 2018) Photo: Andrew Warren |
From May 9 to 11, the unusually cold weather (in addition to below-zero nights) probably prompted the Painted Bunting to visit the feeder on and off. But starting on May 12, the temperatures rose over 15°C so the bird probably didn't need to supplement its diet with seeds and was unfortunately not seen again.
Other spring arrivals:
On May 5th Gary and I went out for most of the morning and afternoon for the Global Big Day. It was very early in May for Northern Ontario but we managed to see a few interesting species.
Peregrine Falcon / Faucon pèlerin Timmins (5 May 2018) |
Northern Shrike / Pie-grièche grise Connaught (5 May 2018) |
Rough-legged Hawk / Buse pattue Connaught (5 May 2018) |
Lapland Longspur / Plectrophane lapon Timmins (5 May 2018) |
Gary looking for Greater Yellowlegs Global Big Day 2018 - Timmins Area |
Northern Pintail / Canard pilet Porcupine Lake (13 May 2018) |
Gadwall / Canard chipeau Porcupine Lake (13 May 2018) |
Three Black Scoters were a surprise visit to Gillies Lake (which is a very small lake in the city of Timmins) They were found by a local birder and we were able to relocate them. They were only there for 1 day.
Black Scoters / Macreuse à bec jaune Gillies Lake - Timmins (9 May 2018) |
Lesser Black-backed Gull / Goéland brun Porcupine Lake (8 May 2018) |
Ring-billed Gull watching the Common Merganser Porcupine Lake (7 May 2018) |
Wilson's Phalarope / Phalarope de Wilson Porcupine (12 May 2018) |
Black-and-white Warbler / Paruline noir et blanc Gillies Lake (11 May 2018) |
Yellow-rumped Warbler / Paruline à croupion jaune Porcupine Lake (13 May 2018) |
Merlin feasting on a White-crowned Sparrow South Porcupine (11 May 2018) |
I can't wait to see what the second part of May will bring.