2021 Part 1: January Through March

As is tradition, here are a few nature highlights of 2021 in chronological order. Despite COVID-19 trying its best to derail all of our plans, there were many things to be thankful for.

January

Laura and I began the year in Nova Scotia completing our 14-day quarantine, a stipulation for entering the province at that time. It can be difficult to find birds in Nova Scotia away from the ocean during the winter but we went birding every day on the property and found some interesting species like Northern Goshawk, Ruffed Grouse, Evening Grosbeak and Sharp-shinned Hawk. Upon our release from quarantine we visited some other places. A twitch of a Taimyr Gull in New Glasgow was unsuccessful, though I caught up with the long-staying Common Gull. Laura, her mom Margaret, and I enjoyed a Short-eared Owl show one afternoon in Grand Pré. Finally, I spent a day birding along the coast, finding numerous Dovekies, Black-legged Kittiwakes and other ocean species. 

Upon my return to Ontario, I stayed fairly local but managed to get out birding regularly. I found a Red-headed Woodpecker in Fenwick and twitched a few birds, like a Townsend's Solitaire in Pelham and King Eider in Jordan. Laura and I finished the month with a very successful day of birding near Wainfleet Bog, finding species like White-winged Crossbill and Northern Shrike. 

Sharp-shinned Hawk - Mount Uniacke, Hants, Nova Scotia

Common Gull - New Glasgow, Pictou, Nova Scotia

Lesser Black-backed Gull - New Glasgow, Pictou, Nova Scotia

Short-eared Owl - Grand Pré, Kings, Nova Scotia

Dovekie - Peggy's Cove, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Barrow's Goldeneye - Bedford, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Red-headed Woodpecker - Pelham, Niagara, Ontario

Townsend's Solitaire - Pelham, Niagara, Ontario

Northern Pintail - Burlington, Halton, Ontario

King Eider - Jordan harbour, Niagara, Ontario

White-winged Crossbill - Wainfleet, Niagara, Ontario

February

It had been a few years since I had spent a whole winter in Ontario. Fortunately, being based in the Banana Belt (Niagara Region) made it a little easier! February is probably the slowest month in Ontario from a birding perspective, but there are always a few things of interest. I tried to bird every day, usually by walking along the Port Weller pier or searching for gulls and waterfowl along the Niagara River. I found my first Hoary Redpoll for Niagara by the NOTL airport, and I twitched a few birds, including a Harris's Sparrow in Port Stanley, and a Harlequin Duck and Spotted Towhee in London. By far, the most memorable bird of the month was a Rock Wren that attempted to overwinter in eastern Ontario and which I had an opportunity to observe. Rock Wren had only been observed six times previously in Ontario, and I was in Borneo during the most recent Rock Wren occurrence, so this was a nice chance at redemption!

Harris's Sparrow - Port Stanley, Elgin, Ontario

Harlequin Duck - London, Middlesex, Ontario

Rock Wren - Glen Robinson, Stormont Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario

Hermit Thrush - Wainfleet, Niagara, Ontario

Rough-legged Hawk - Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara, Ontario

Cackling Geese (and Canada Goose) - Selkirk, Haldimand, Ontario

March

Winter slowly transitioned to early spring and I ventured outside more and more frequently, taking advantage of the longer days. A successful tour to Long Point on March 10 coincided with a blast of warm south winds and produced over 60 species including Red Crossbills and early spring migrants, along with a Northern Saw-whet Owl that some chickadees found for us. These warm spells of March also enabled the first successful mothing outings of the year. 

In mid-March I drove north to Cochrane with David Szmyr and Todd Hagedorn, returning to a winter wonderland in search of Willow Ptarmigans. While we dipped on the snow chickens, we enjoyed many other northern species (including a Canada Lynx!) while surrounded by the stark beauty of the boreal forest in winter. 

In late March, Laura and I led a highly successful tour on Amherst Island in search of owls, hawks and other raptors. We even picked up a few new Ontario birds for Laura in eastern Ontario (she is becoming quite the birder these days!). Another bout of warm weather near the end of March prompted a push of migrating birds. I embarked on several successful hawk-watches, including one session at Beamer CA that produced a Black Vulture and Golden Eagle. Of course, a few nights of mothing at Short Hills Provincial Park were in order as well! March also enabled Laura and I to search for a rare and beautiful turtle species at an undisclosed location. These were Laura's first ever Spotted Turtles, a moment she will not forget, I am sure. As the month came to a close, Laura and I birded with my dad for a day, the highlight undoubtedly being two active Great Horned Owl nests.

Greater Scaup - Port Maitland, Haldimand, Ontario

Golden-crowned Kinglet - Wainfleet Bog, Niagara, Ontario

Northern Saw-whet Owl - Long Point Provincial Park, Norfolk, Ontario

Half-wing Moth (Phigalia titea) - Short Hills Provincial Park, Niagara, Ontario

Bohemian Waxwings - Huntsville, Muskoka, Ontario

Townsend's Solitaire - Huntsville, Muskoka, Ontario

Snowshoe Hare - Detour Mine road, Cochrane, Ontario

Sharp-tailed Grouse - Detour Mine road, Cochrane, Ontario

Canada Jay - Detour Mine road, Cochrane, Ontario

Northern Hawk Owl - Detour Mine road, Cochrane, Ontario 

Black Spruce bog - Detour Mine road, Cochrane, Ontario

Barred Owl - Amherst Island, Lennox and Addington, Ontario

Evening Grosbeak - Dewberry Trail, Ottawa, Ontario

Common Redpoll (rostrata subspecies) - Shirley's Bay, Ottawa, Ontario

Black and Turkey Vultures - Beamer CA, Niagara, Ontario

Acleris robinsoniana - Short Hills Provincial Park, Niagara, Ontario

Pseudexentera mali - Short Hills Provincial Park, Niagara, Ontario

Lost Sallow (Eupsilia devia) - Short Hills Provincial Park, Niagara, Ontario

Spotted Turtle - Undisclosed location, Ontario

Redhead x Ring-necked Duck (front left), Eurasian Wigeon (middle) - Port Rowan, Norfolk, Ontairo

Eastern Gartersnake - Niagara Falls, Niagara, Ontario

Great Horned Owl - Niagara Falls, Niagara, Ontario