The Owen Sound Field Naturalists welcome you to submit observations on birds - local sightings, questions, comments and tips on bird identification.  If you wish to make some website comments, please contact  birding@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca.  OSFN’s area of interest extends from Collingwood, Bruce and Grey Counties and south to Grand Bend.

Sunday / Monday, April 21st and 22nd, 2013

These two sunny mornings produced hundreds of swallows along the East Shore Road, between Hobarts and Hibou. They were actively feeding on emerging insects in the warming sunshine. Five species observed were: Tree Swallow (1500+), Barn Swallow (200+), Rough-winged Swallow (20 - 30), Cliff Swallow (5), Purple Martin (1). There were also several Horned Grebe, Bufflehead, Goldeneye, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Redhead and all three mergansers on the water.

At Hibou, opposite the water pumping station, Common Snipe were in full territorial flight display. In the conifers along the shoreline, there were small flocks of Kinglet and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Peter Middleton.

Thursday, April 18th 2013,

The Owen Sound inner harbour had a group of waterbirds sheltering from the gale force winds.

One Red-throated Loon, two Pied-billed Grebe, one high plumage male Ruddy Duck and one Double crested Cormorant, provided nice close quarters viewing. It is always good to check the inner harbour for birds. The shelter often attracts birds that would normally be on the open bay.

Peter Middleton.

Sunday, March 9th, 2013

A Boreal Owl spent the afternoon in the grape arbor behind 480 4th Avenue West, Owen Sound. Several OSFN members had the opportunity to observe the bird. At about four-thirty in the afternoon, it caught a female House Finch, successfully picking it off the feeder. It then returned to the arbor where it proceeded to pluck and devour its meal. The bird remained till dark. There was no further sighting

Peter Middleton.

Thirteen members of OSFN were on a bird  hike today led by Alfred Raab.  Alfred led us in a morning hike that netted 73 species of birds.  Among the notable birds seen were Red-headed Woodpecker, Sandhill Crane, Bald Eagle, Black Tern, Green Heron, Marsh Wren and Rough Grouse.  We had three species of  vireos, 4 species of flycatchers and good assortment of warblers.  A good variety of birds and a great summer-like day to enjoy this nature experience..

Thank you Albert for your expertise and providing a fun filled morning for all of us.

If you wish to have a list of the birds seen on today’s hike, please send your request to  birding@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca. and a list of birds will be emailed to you.

The Bruce Birding Club travelled to the West Perth Wetlands in Mitchell .  The wetlands are know as an exceptional area for shorebirds.   | Read the full article ››

One of our website viewers reports that an albino Red-tailed Hawk was seem along Bruce Road 1, between County Road 20 and the 6th of Bruce on Sunday, March 27.  The hawk was all white.  The Bruce Birding Club reported a similar finding in October , 2010, near Clifford.  There is a good chance that this is the same bird.

Another report  on the same Sunday,  has an albino Red-tailed Hawk sighted near Scone in the company of another Red-tailed Hawk in normal colours.  It would appear that a territory has been established.

OSFN had a successful outing with 20 people participating in our Annual Around the Bay Hike.  We saw 39 species of birds.  A worthwhile diversion from our normal route took us to see the Cattle Egret, a rare species to our area, found at a local farm near Leith. Some surprises happened, like when the Black-bellied Plover landed on a shoal for a few minutes to rest, give us a look, and then take off again. We also saw briefly a probable Barn Swallow who forgot that is was November.  Then there was the disappointment of not seeing the 100’s of Sandhill Cranes near Shouldice that were there 2 days before.  We missed out on some waterfowl like Scoters, Horned Grebes and Red-throated Loons, but then again, knowing that they are there or coming soon keeps you coming back.

Thank you to all of the participants for making this a successful day.

For a list of birds seen please email birding@owensoundfieldnaturalists.ca and a list will be provided.

The Bruce Birding Club went to the Clifford Sewage Lagoons and the Saugeen Conservation area today.   Both places came with a surprise .  An all white complete with reddish eye albino Red-tailed Hawk drew much interest and excitement at the lagoons.   The other bird that was a lifer for some of our birders was a Cackling Goose found in the main pond of the Saugeen Conservation area.  In all a total of 40 birds were seen.   | Read the full article ››

The weather when we started out today was horrible, It was 13 degrees, winds were blowing 40 K gusting to 70 K and the rain was driven by wind.   | Read the full article ››