Season Summaries 2018

The James Bay shorebird project crew has been in the field since 13 July when we opened three remote camps, Longridge Point, Little Piskwamish Point, and Northbluff Point. Crews communicate via inReach SE units (two-way messaging devices) or satellite phone.

In addition to the shorebird and related habitat and resource work, we have collaborated with biologists across North America, lead by a team from Alaska, to understand Lesser Yellowlegs ecology. Understanding the causes for declines in Lesser Yellowlegs is challenging because nothing is known about their over-wintering locations, important stopover sites, and whether birds are genetically distinct among breeding populations. Furthermore, there are no published survival rates for Lesser Yellowlegs, making it difficult to conduct an informed population viability analysis. In this study, we will contribute to addressing each of these knowledge gaps using a combination of tracking devices, genetic analysis, and mark-recapture survival estimation. This is the first study to document genetic variation in Lesser Yellowlegs, and the first to document the migration of this species using GPS tracking devices. This research will help us understand whether unregulated hunting on the wintering grounds is indeed a threat to birds, and will help conservation efforts. This study is a collaborative effort with strong support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Geological Survey, The University of Alaska Anchorage, the Smithsonian Institute, the Atlantic Shorebird Working Group, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Trent University, and The University of Alberta.

Our banding crew has been in operation at Longridge Point since 13 July. We plan to affix Lotek pin-point tags to Lesser Yellowlegs, as part of the project described above. In addition, banding and flagging of shorebirds will continue throughout the season in our on-going effort to understand movement patterns of shorebirds staging in James Bay.

Longridge Point

Doug McRae is leading Longridge in 2018. Doug is a steadfast participant on the project. He has significant contributions to wildlife studies on the James Bay coast from his time with the Moosonee office of the Ministry of Natural Resources, now the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Among his contributions is work that culminated in the publication Wilson, N.C. and D. McRae. 1993. Seasonal and geographic distribution of birds for selected sites in Ontario’s Hudson Bay Lowland. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 145pp. The following reports are from Doug.

13-30 July

Shorebirds (high count, date)

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 41, 30 July.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER 2, 30 July. 1 banded on 29 July.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 52, 28 July.

KILLDEER 13, 21, Adult with 2 small chicks on 30 July.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER 2, 25 July. First juvenile on 25 July.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER 9, 14 July.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS 133, 30 July. First juvenile on 30 July.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS 338, 17 July. First juvenile on 23 July.

WHIMBREL 166, 16 July.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT 242, 29 July.

RUDDY TURNSTONE 421, 30 July.

RED KNOT 1536, 30 July.

SANDERLING 381, 28 July.

DUNLIN 16, 22 July.

LEAST SANDPIPER 58, 21 July. First juvenile on 20 July.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 645, 28 July.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER 326, 17 July.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 2,776, 29 July. First juvenile on 29 July.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 2, 29 July. 1 on 21, 27, & 28 July – all adults, only sightings for the period.

WILSON’S SNIPE 8, 17 July. Nest with 4 eggs on 15 July.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE 1 adult female, 23 & 29 July the only sightings for the period.

Other bird observations

RING-NECKED DUCK 1, 14 July. 1 male on the Bay on 14 July.

GADWALL 8, 16 July.

REDHEAD 4, 25 July. 1 on 17 & 30 July. 4 on 25 July.

HOODED MERGANSER 4, 21 July. 1 on 18 July. 4 on 21 July.

BLACK SCOTER 1262, 28 July.

PEREGRINE FALCON 1 adult 15 & 19 July; one sub-adult on 23 & 26 July.

SNOWY OWL 1, 19 & 23 July, likely same individual.

small owl species (Boreal/saw-whet) 1 at dawn, 21 July.

BONAPARTE’S GULL 920, 28 July. 98% adult.

LITTLE GULL 2 adults on 28 July only sighting.

NORTHERN SHRIKE 1, 14 July. 1 immature at camp 14, 20, 21, 28 & 30 July.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO 1, 14 July. At camp seen and singing 14-26 July.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING 4, 14 July.

CHIPPING SPARROW 1 singing male at camp 14-21 July.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW One pair on ridge - fledged young on 22 July.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH 27, 28 July - big uptick from other days.

COMMON GRACKLE, 1, 19 July only sighting for the period.

31 July - 12 august

Shorebirds (high count, date)

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – 154 on 11 August.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER – 7 on 10 August. One banded on 29 July, observed in the area until 10 August.

KILLDEER – 16 on 12 August. First juveniles on 12 August. Two grown chicks observed on 4 August.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – 173 on 3 August. First juvenile on 3 August.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS – 91 on 4 August.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 212 on 3 August.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER – 3 on six dates between 3 & 12 August.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER – 5 on 6 & 12 August.

WHIMBREL – 18 on 2 August.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT – 636 on 12 August. First juvenile on 9 August.

MARBLED GODWIT – 3 on 1 August; 1 on 2 August; 4 on 3 August; 5 on 9 August.

RUDDY TURNSTONE – 956 on 12 August.

RED KNOT – 411 on 2 August. First juvenile on 11 August.

SANDERLING – 340 on 12 August.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 3,338 on 3 August.

LEAST SANDPIPER – 86 on 6 August.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – 4,608 on 12 August.

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER – 1 adult on 6 August.

DUNLIN – 35 on 11 August.

STILT SANDPIPER – 2 adult on 6 August.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 303 on 3 August. First juvenile on 10 August.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER – 1 adult on 2 August.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER – 1 adult on 3 & 4 August. First juvenile on 6 August. 1 juvenile on 7, 9, & 10 August. 2 juveniles on 11 August.

WILSON’S SNIPE – 35 on 11 August. First juvenile on 10 August.

WILSON’S PHALAROPE – 6 juveniles on 7 August. First juvenile on 7 August.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE – 1 adult on 3 August.

Other bird observations

GADWALL – 1 on 11 August.

BLUE-WINGED TEAL – 11 on 10 August, including 1 female with 8 young in the pond near camp.

NORTHERN SHOVELER – 1 female with 6 young in the pond near camp on 7 August.

WHITE-WINGED SCOTER – 13 on 6 August. This species is very scarce this year.

BLACK SCOTER – 945 on 7 August.

HOODED MERGANSER – 1 on 1 August. 3 on 5 August.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT – 31 on 7 August.

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN – 5 on 12 August. The first sighting since late July.

GREAT BLUE HERON – 2 on 11 August.

BALD EAGLE – 3 on 10 August.

ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK – 1 light morph on 11 August.

YELLOW RAIL – 4 on 4 August. 1 banded on 4 August. Calling begins to reduce as of 10 August.

LITTLE GULL – 3 on 4 August. 1 on 7, 9, 10, & 11 August consisting of 2 different adults, 2 second-year and 1 juvenile. 4 on 12 August, consisting of 1 adult, 1 second-year, and 2 juveniles.

RING-BILLED GULL – first juvenile on 10 August.

HERRING GULL – first juvenile on 10 August.

BLACK TERN – 1 immature on 12 August.

COMMON TERN – 64 ON 9 August.

ARCTIC TERN – 2 adult, 1 juvenile on 3 August. 1 adult on 12 August.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO – 1 on 11 August. The first sighting since late July.

GREAT-HORNED OWL – 1 on 2 August.

COMMON NIGHTHAWK – 1 on 9 August.

PEREGRINE FALCON – 1 sub-adult on 1 August. Between 3 & 12 August, 1 adult and 1 sub-adult seen regularly.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER – 1 on 4, 8 & 9 August.

NORTHERN SHRIKE – 1 on 3 August.

BANK SWALLOW – 4 on 6 & 8 August.

RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH – 19 on 7 August. A brief movement was noted over several days around this date.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING – 2 on 3 August. 1 on 10 August.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER – 2 on 1 August.

CHIPPING SPARROW – 1 adult on 1 to 3 August.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW – 5 on 8 August.

FOX SPARROW – 1 adult on 4 & 9 August.

DARK-EYED JUNCO – 1 on 8 & 11 August.

RUSTY BLACKBIRD – 1 on 3 & 10 August.

PURPLE FINCH – 1 on 4 &5 August.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL – 6 on 4 August. Observations on 3-5, 7, & 9 August.

COMMON REDPOLL – 1 on 2, 3, 8, & 10 August.

PINE SISKIN – 36 on 4 August. Observations on 2-6, 8, & 10 August.

Mammals

BELUGA – 2 adult and 1 juvenile on 3 August. 1 on 4 & 9 August. 7 on 12 August.

13 to 27 august

Shorebirds

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – 193 on 23 August.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER – 4 on 14 A August. The banded individual was seen up to 14 August. First juvenile on 24 August.

SEMIPLAMATED PLOVER – 167 on 18 August.

KILLDEER – 17 on 17 August.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER – all sightings for the period: 2 on 18 August. 1 on 23 & 24 August.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER – all sightings for the period: 1 on 13, 14, 18, 19, & 21 August.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS – 103 on 20 August.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS – 124 on 20 August.

WHIMBREL – 59 on 13 August. First juvenile on 18 August.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT – 251 on 24 August.

MARBLED GODWIT – all sightings for the period: 5 on 16 August, 2 on 18 August, 8 on 19 August, and 1 on 23 August.

RUDDY TURNSTONE – 248 on 17 August.

RED KNOT – 1,013 on 24 August.

STILT SANDPIPER – 1 juvenile on 26 August.

SANDERLING – 131 on 23 August. First juvenile on 17 August.

DUNLIN – 87 on 18 August. First juvenile on 21 August.

LEAST SANDPIPER – 151 on 18 August.

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER – all sightings for the period: 1 juvenile on 14 August. 5 on 16 August. 2 on 17 August. 2 adult & 2 juvenile on 19 August. 6 on 20 August. 4 on 22 & 23 August. 3 on 25 August. 8 juveniles on 26 August.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – 8,654 on 23 August.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER – 1 adult on 14 & 16 August. First juvenile on 26 August.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 24 on 19 August.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 2,953 on 23 August.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER – all sightings for the period: 1 juvenile on 16 August. 1 on 19 & 20 August. 2 juvenile on 24 August. 1 on 26 August.

WILSON’S SNIPE – 40 on 13 August.

WILSON’S PHALAROPE – 2 on 16 August. 3 on 19 August. 1 on 21 August.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE – 1 on 18 August. 3 on 19 August. 1 on 21 August. 4 on 23 August. 7 on 24 August. 1 on 25 August.

Other notable bird observations

SNOW GOOSE – 27 on 20 August.

REDHEAD – 1 on 20 August.

LONG-TAILED DUCK – 1 on 19 August.

SURF SCOTER – 11 on 18 August.

BLACK SCOTER – 1,650 on 19 August.

HORNED GREBE – 2 on 25 August.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT – 28 on 26 August.

AMERICAN BITTERN – 6 on 25 August.

GREAT BLUE HERON – 10 on 19 August.

NORTHERN HARRIER – 13 on 22 August.

BALD EAGLE – 3 on 18 August.

SANDHILL CRANE – 2 growing young continue to 22 August.

PARASITIC JAEGER – 1 adult light morph & 1 sub-adult dark morph on 23 August. 1 adult light morph on 24 August. 4 dark morph / immature on 25 August. 2 adult light morph & 1 juvenile on 26 August.

SABINE’S GULL – 1 juvenile on 25 August. 1 adult wing found on 21 August.

LITTLE GULL – 1 second-year on 18 August. 1 adult on 20 August. 1 second-year & 1 adult on 22 August. 1 second-year and 1 juvenile on 25 August. 2 adult & 2 juvenile on 26 August.

CASPIAN TERN – 18 on 26 August.

BLACK TERN – 1 juvenile on 25 August.

COMMON TERN – 70 on 25 August.

COMMON NIGHTHAWK – 2 on 15 August.

MERLIN – 4 on 18, 19, & 23 August.

PEREGRINE FALCON – 1-2 most days, no juveniles yet.

OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER – 1 on 15 August. 1 on 19 August.

TREE SWALLOW – 3 on 16 August. 1 on 19 August.

BARN SWALLOW – 2 on 19 August.

CLIFF SWALLOW – 1 on 19 August.

HERMIT THRUSH – 1 juvenile on 15 August.

BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER – 1 on 16 August.

CLAY-COLORED SPARROW – 1 on 15 August. 4 on 16 August. 1 on 21 August.

FOX SPARROW – 1 hatch-year on 18 August.

28 August to 10 September

Shorebirds

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 430 on 28 Aug

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - 20 on 7 Sep

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 111 on 2 Sep

KILLDEER - 8 on 29 Aug

SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 3 on 27 Aug

GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 130 on 1 Sep

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 77 on 8 Sep

WHIMBREL - 2 on 29 Aug

HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 305 on 28 Aug

MARBLED GODWIT - 1 on 6 Sep

RUDDY TURNSTONE - 131 on 29 Aug

RED KNOT - 85 on 7 Sep

STILT SANDPIPER - 4 on 5 Sep

SANDERLING - 163 on 7 Sep

DUNLIN - 195 on 6 Sep

LEAST SANDPIPER - 121 on 7 Sep

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 3523 on 2 Sep, 1st juvenile 5 Sep

BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER - 2 on 30 Aug, 6 Sep

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 113 on 9 Sep

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 779 on 2 Sep

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - 1 on 2 Sep

WILSON’S SNIPE - 13 on 4 Sep

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 2 on 7 Sep

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER - 7 on 29 Aug

Other notable bird observations

BRANT - first observed 2 Sep

PARASITIC JAEGER - 1 on 31 Aug, 1 Sep

GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH - 1 on 4 Sep

Mammals

Beluga, Wolf, Black bear

Little Piskwamish Point

The camp is led by Amie MacDonald, a MSc. candidate in her final year of field work at Trent University under the direction of Dr. Erica Nol (Trent U) and Dr. Paul Smith (Environment and Climate Change Canada). Amie has been a key member of our crew for many years and we are very pleased with preliminary results from the 2017 season and analyses over the winter. Amie’s project proposes to estimate the annual survival of Red Knots using James Bay, and explore the links between survival and environmental conditions throughout their range. She will also use spring and fall data from more southerly staging sites to determine when in the annual cycle mortality occurs. Understanding the importance of James Bay as a stopover site, particularly for endangered rufa Red Knots on their southward migration, is crucial to developing effective conservation strategies. The following reports are from Amie (max count, date).

13-30 July

Shorebirds (high count, date)

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 16, 27 July.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 116, 29 July, one flag resight (originally banded in Churchill, MB).

KILLDEER 6, 14 July.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1, 18 and 30 July (at least one a local juvenile).

SOLITARY SANDPIPER 12, 14 July.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS 188, 28 July.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS 249, 15 July. First juvenile, 24 July. Barely any juveniles from then to the 30th.

WHIMBREL 29, 20 July.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT 399, 28 July.

MARBLED GODWIT 11, 28 July.

RUDDY TURNSTONE 17, 24 & 27 July.

RED KNOT 2,981, 28 July. 280 resights (this includes resights of same flag on multiple days- not number of unique flags). Flags from US, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Canada resighted.

SANDERLING 212, 27 July. One flag resight.

DUNLIN 511, 30 July.

LEAST SANDPIPER 25, 27 July.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 4,836, 30 July.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER 202, 17 July.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 14,867, 28 July, first juvenile, 24 July. One flag resight.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 7, 17 July. 1 juvenile, 29 July.

WILSON’S PHALAROPE 1 juvenile, 30 July.

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER 1, 25 & 26 July.

Other notable observations

5 belugas, wolf hunting Canada Geese, black bears, 2 BLACK GUILLEMOT, 1 BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO.

31 July - 12 August

Shorebirds (high count, date)

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER 28 on 12 August.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER 1 on 8 & 9 August.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER 112 on 2 August.

KILLDEER 1 on various days

SPOTTED SANDPIPER 1 on 9 August.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER 2 on 8 August.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS 128 on 2 August.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS 48 on 2 August.

WHIMBREL 5 on 6 August.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT 390 on 10 August.

MARBLED GODWIT 8 on 11 August.

RUDDY TURNSTONE 15 on 2 August.

RED KNOT 3,593 on 10 August. 527 REKN resights during this period, including birds originally banded in the USA, Chile, Argentina, and Canada. Of special note is the resighting of an orange flagged Red Knot, B53. This bird was banded in November 2001 as an immature male in Rio Grande, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina by Patricia Gonzalez’s team! This bird is 18 years old and has flown over 500,000 km — a distance equal to the moon and part way back!

STILT SANDPIPER 1 on 10 August.

DUNLIN 864 on 12 August.

LEAST SANDPIPER 24 on 11 August.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER 9,608 on 6 August.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER 183 on 6 August.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER 8,672 on 6 August.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER 1 on 11 & 12 August.

WILSON’S SNIPE 5 on 3, 4, 10 August.

WILSON’S PHALAROPE 2 on 6, 12 August.

Mammals

Wolf sightings throughout the period.  A cow and calf moose.

13 to 27 August

Shorebirds

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER – 67 on 21 August.

AMERICAN-GOLDEN PLOVER – 5 on 18 August.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER – 284 and first juvenile on 15 August.

KILLDEER – 1 on various days throughout the period.

SOSANDPIPER 1 on various days throughout the period

GREATER YELLOWLEGS – 286 on 21 August.

LESSER YELLOW LEGS – 121 on 14 August.

WHIMBREL – 12 on 21 August.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT – 574 on 24 August. First juvenile on 17 August.

MARBLED GODWIT – 12 on 19 August.

RUDDY TURNSTONE – 43 on 25 August. First juvenile on 22 August.

RED KNOT – 3,226 on 20 August. First juvenile 14 August. During the period, there were 663 resights of birds from USA, Canada, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Juvenile proportions were less than 5% early in the period, building to more than 50% by the end of the period. The average proportion of juveniles for the period was 33%.

SANDERLING – 297 on 25 August. First juvenile 19 August.

DUNLIN – 1,550 on 24 August.

LEAST SANDPIPER – 211 on 16 August.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER – 40,787 on 20 August, building from 37,464 on 23 August & 30,711 on 24 August.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER – 2 juvenile on 25 August.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER – 99 on 14 August.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER – 3,817 on 14 August.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER – 11 on 26 August.

WILSON’S SNIPE – 14 on 17 August.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE – 4 on 23 August.

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER – 3 on 25 August.

Other notable bird observations

PARASITIC JAEGER – on 24 & 25 August.

BLACK GUILLEMOT – on 14 & 21 August.

Mammals

Otter, black bear

28 August to 10 September

Shorebirds

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 94 on 28 Aug, 1st juvenile 3 Sep

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - 119 on 7 Sep

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 224 on 29 Aug

KILLDEER - 5 on 30 Aug, 3 Sep, 4 Sep

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1 on 31 Aug, 4 Sep

SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 1 on 27 Aug, 1 Sep

GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 268 on 4 Sep

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 111 on 30 Aug

WHIMBREL - 3 on 30 Aug, 31 Aug, 3 Sep

HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 1324 on 28 Aug

MARBLED GODWIT - 4 on 31 Aug

RUDDY TURNSTONE - 103 on 7 Sep

RED KNOT - 1689 on 28 Aug (1% adult for this session)

STILT SANDPIPER - 1 on 30 Aug, 1, 2, and 3 Sep

SANDERLING - 218 on 30 Aug

DUNLIN - 5107 on 7 Sep, 1st juvenile 3 Sep

LEAST SANDPIPER - 205 on 4 Sep

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 31008 on 2 Sep (going down to <1000 in the last few days of the session), 1st juvenile 7 Sep

BUFF BREASTED SANDPIPER - 15 on 4 Sep (all juveniles)

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 214 on 7 Sep

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 2437 on 29 Aug

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - 9 on 28 Aug, 30 Aug

WILSON’S SNIPE - 12 on 6 Sep

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 7 on 3 Sep

BAIRD’S SANDPIPER - 8 on 30 Aug, 4 Sep

Other notable bird observations

NORTHER PARULA - 1 on 27 Aug

BLACK GUILLEMOT - 1 on 29 Aug, 3 Sep, 8 Sep

PARASITIC JAEGER - 1 on 31 Aug, 3 Sep

PINE GROSBEAK - 1 on 31 Aug, 1 Sep

GREY CATBIRD - 1 on 3 Sep

BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD - 1 juvenile on 4 Sep

BRANT - first observed 4 Sep

ROSS’ GOOSE - 1 on 8 Sep

Mammals

Beluga, Black bear, Mink

Butterflies

White Admiral, Hoary Comma, Cabbage White, Monarch, Mourning Cloak, Common Braided Skipper

Northbluff Point

Gray Carlin leads this camp. Gray joined us as a volunteer in 2017 originally for two weeks and decided to stay for the rest! We are happy that Gray has returned in a lead role with us for the 2018 season. The summary from 13-30 July is from Tyler Hoar, who joins us for his inaugural stint in 2018. The other reports are from Gray.

13-30 July

Shorebirds (high count, date)

Black-bellied Plover 40, 30 July

Lesser Yellowlegs 503, 19 July.

Hudsonian Godwit 643, 30 July.

Marbled Godwit 24, 29 July; first 3 juveniles, 30 July. Confirmed breeding (T. Hoar).

Red Knot 423, 29 July.

RUFF 1 female (Reeve), 22 July

Sanderling 156, 23 July.

White-rumped Sandpiper 1,428, 30 July.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper 10, 30 July.

Semipalmated Sandpiper 10,009, 26 July.

Wilson's Phalarope 1 adult 29 July, 1 juvenile 28 July.

Red-necked Phalarope 5, 14 July.

Other bird observations (high count, date)

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN 16, 25 July.

YELLOW RAIL and SORA heard most days. Took little effort to find one when someone tried.

LITTLE GULL 2 adults, 20 July.

BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO 1, 14 July.

SNOWY OWL 1, 14 July.

SHORT-EARED OWL 1, 14 July.

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER 1 behind camp 18 July.

NELSON’S SPARROW 21, 14 July.

WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL and PINE SISKIN numbers are low

2 single sightings of 1 COMMON REDPOLL (possibly the same individual).

Mammals

river otter 3, timber wolf 3, black bear 1 cross red fox 1 beluga 8

31 July - 12 August

During this period, 97 species of bird were detected in the camp census area. This includes 22 species of shorebird. 

Shorebirds (high count, date)

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 60, August 10.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 72, August 12.

KILLDEER - Single juvenile bird on August 10 and 12.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 2 juvenile, August 4.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER - Single bird on August 3.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 205, August 9.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 194, August 4.

WHIMBREL - 12, August 2.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 710, August 11.

MARBLED GODWIT - 14 - confirmed 2 pairs of local breeders with 3 young each, August 8.

RUDDY TURNSTONE - 90, August 7.

RED KNOT - 437, August 1.

STILT SANDPIPER - 1 juvenile, August 7.

SANDERLING - 102, August 3.

DUNLIN - 144, August 4.

LEAST SANDPIPER - 70, August 11.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 4,395, August 7.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 56, August 10.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 4,856, August 1.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - 3 birds (fly-by’s) on August 1 and 11.

WILSON'S SNIPE - regularly seeing between 7 and 9 birds on multiple dates, August 8. Three birds still attempting to nest as of August 4.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE - 4 juveniles, August 11.

Other bird observations

AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN - single bird on August 2 and August 9.

LITTLE GULL - 2 birds- 1 adult, 1 juvenile, August 12.

ARCTIC TERN - two adult birds seen on August 12.

NORTHERN GOSHAWK- single bird seen on August 8.

COMMON REDPOLL - 1, August 4.

Mammals

Wolf, Red Squirrel, River Otter, Jumping Mouse, Vole sp.

Odonates

zig zag darner, subarctic darner, meadowhawk sp, bluet sp.

Butterflies

white admiral, Atlantis fritillary, clouded sulphur, mourning cloak.

Amphibians

American toad, wood frog, boreal chorus frog.

13 to 27 August

During the period, 111 species of bird were detected in the camps census area. This includes 25 species of shorebird. Below, species is followed by the high count and date.

Shorebirds

BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 103, August 24 -still nearly all molting adults with two juveniles.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - 5, August 26- two juvenile and 3 adults.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 88, August 14- first juveniles showing up.

KILLDEER - Single birds on August 21.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1 juvenile. August 16.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 221, August 21.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 73, August 16.

WHIMBREL - 25, August 24.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 819, August 14.

MARBLED GODWIT - 12, August 21- all juveniles.

RUDDY TURNSTONE - 68, August 14.

RED KNOT - 1000, August 22 - large flock with approximately 100 juveniles.

STILT SANDPIPER - 5 juveniles, August 18.

SANDERLING - 100, August 14- first juveniles appearing.

DUNLIN - 387, August 24.

LEAST SANDPIPER - 182, August 15.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 5653, August 16.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - 3 juveniles, August 24.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER - single adult on August 16.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 75, August 27.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 2124, August 20.

SHORT-billed DOWITCHER - 6, August 18.

WILSON'S SNIPE - 5, August 15.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE - 1 on August 14 and 2 on August16- all juveniles.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 1 or 2 birds seen on multiple dates.

Other notable bird observations

Along with the shorebirds, waterfowl numbers are slowly starting to build up as they move south as well.

SNOW GOOSE - first flock of 23 seen on August 18, high count of 130 on the 22nd.

CANADA GOOSE - 341, August 19.

NORTHERN PINTAIL - 263, August 25.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 139, August 20.

Raptors showed their first real signs of movement on the 18th.

NORTHERN HARRIER - 13, August 22.

BROAD-WINGED HAWK - 1 juvenile, August 18.

RED-TAILED HAWK - 1, August 18.

SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, 1- August 15 and August 27. 

LITTLE GULL - 1, August 25-26.

CASPIAN TERN - 3, August 25.

ARCTIC TERN - one or two on several dates. 

BOREAL OWL- one calling in camp August 27.

Finch numbers are particularly low with one flock of 32 PINE SISKIN, on August 21. 

Mammals 

Red squirrel, striped skunk, river otter, beluga.

Lepidopterans

white admiral, Atlantis fritillary, clouded sulphur, mourning cloak, cabbage white, mustard yellow, white-lined sphinx moth

Amphibians 

American toad, wood frog, boreal chorus frog, spring peeper

28 August to 10 September

During the period , 115 species of bird were detected in the camps census area. This includes 25 species of shorebird. Below, species is followed by the high count and date.

Shorebirds
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER - 170, September 2.

AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER - 87, September 7.

SEMIPALMATED PLOVER - 86, September 7. (nearly all hatch-year birds now).

KILLDEER - Single bird on August 28.

SPOTTED SANDPIPER - 1 juvenile on August 29 and Sept 7.

SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 2 juveniles on August 3.

GREATER YELLOWLEGS - 375, September 6.

LESSER YELLOWLEGS - 18, September 2.

WHIMBREL - 5, August 28.

HUDSONIAN GODWIT - 370, September 3.

MARBLED GODWIT - 5, September 6.

RUDDY TURNSTONE - 99, September 2.

RED KNOT - 702, September 1. Mostly juveniles - 148 birds in this flock were adults.

SANDERLING - 114, September 8. Mostly juveniles.

DUNLIN - 3277, September 9.

LEAST SANDPIPER - 256, September 7.

WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER - 2958, August 29.

BAIRD'S SANDPIPER - Flocks of 2-5 seen regularly. High count of 20 (including 1 flock of 14 juveniles) observed on September 7.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER - 2 juveniles, September 10.

PECTORAL SANDPIPER - 113, August 29.

SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER - 1719, August 30.

SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER - 14 juveniles, September 2.

WILSON'S SNIPE - 1 or 2 seen on multiple dates.

WILSON'S PHALAROPE - 1, September 7.

RED-NECKED PHALAROPE - 2, Sept 8.

Along with the shorebirds, waterfowl numbers are starting to build up as they move south as well.

SNOW GOOSE - 398, September 7.

CANADA GOOSE - 940, September 8.

BRANT - 1, August 31 and September 1.

NORTHERN PINTAIL - 1094, September 8.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL - 220, September 2.

Other notable bird observations

CASPIAN TERN - 1 or 2 on multiple dates.

BOREAL OWL - 1, August 28.

COMMON NIGHTHAWK - 1 or 2 on multiple dates.

PARASITIC JAEGER - 1 -3 birds seen regularly since the beginning of September.

COMMON REDPOLL - 3, September 4. Small flocks of all the finches showing up regularly.

BELTED KINGFISHER - 1 bird visiting camp on multiple dates.

BOREAL CHICKADEE - 1 flock of 29 birds observed in camp on September 9.

BOHEMIAN WAXWING - 1 bird in camp on multiple dates.

Mammals

Fresh black bear tracks, fresh wolf tracks (almost daily), snowshoe hare, perimysis mouse, jumping mouse, red squirrel, striped skunk, cross fox and kit

Butterflies

white admiral, Atlantis fritillary, clouded sulphur, mourning cloak.

Amphibians

American toad, wood frog, boreal chorus frog, spring peeper