Highlights: Snowy Owl

Overall activity has been slow, but some good northern birds were around yesterday and today. The 4th Snowy Owl of the season spent a few hours at the Point yesterday. Unlike the previous three, this Snowy was a very heavily marked bird. Other sightings included; Northern Shrike, Cedar and Bohemian Waxwings, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, and Common Redpoll.

Cedar Waxwings &

Bohemian Waxwing (left)

Pine Grosbeak

The waterbird shack &

snow on the Canadian hills

Highlights: Rough-legged Hawk

Common Redpolls came through in good numbers today, otherwise the flight was slow. Both Red and White-winged Crossbills came through in modest numbers. Other sightings included; Brown Creeper, Cedar Waxwing, Snow Bunting, and American Tree Sparrow.

Common Redpoll

I don't know if this guy was eating a carcass

or if he was injured.

November 9

Highlights: Snowy Owl

A Snowy Owl spent a little time out at the tip before heading out across the bay. There were lots of snow squalls and strong winds today. The weather made for a slow birding day, but there were some birds around. Sightings included; Bohemian and Cedar Waxwings, Snow Bunting, Common Redpoll, and White-winged Crossbill.

Bohemian Waxwing

Highlights: Bohemian Waxwing

The warm weather continued and the flight remained relatively slow. The only real change from the last few days was the appearance of the first Bohemian Waxwings of the season. Other sightings included; Northern Goshawk, Northern Shrike, Golden-crowned Kinglet, White-winged Crossbill, and Common Yellowthroat. There was also a Black-backed Woodpecker just west of Wildcat Beach State Park this afternoon.

Highlights: Red Crossbill

As anyone in the region knows, we have been experience very warm weather for November and lots of south winds. While the flight has slowed a bit which each passing day, we continue to have a finch flight. Today there was a flock of about 30 Red Crossbills, and we continue to have daily sightings of Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, White-winged Crossbill, Common Redpoll and American Goldfinch. Other sightings over the last few days have included; Bald Eagle, Rough-legged and Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Goshawk, Cedar Waxwing, and American Tree Sparrow.

Northern Shrike
White-winged Crossbill

Highlights: Snowy Owl

A Snowy Owl spent the day out at the tip, spending most of its time sleeping. It became active at dusk and was working its way down the bayshore. The Lark Sparrow found yesterday was still present at the feeders. Overall migration was relatively slow today. However, there was a decent Common Redpoll movement. Other sightings included; Cedar Waxwing, Pine & Evening Grosbeaks, and White-winged Crossbill.

Highlights: Lark Sparrow (above)

A Lark Sparrow was at the feeders this morning, and was still present as of this afternoon. A Northern Shrike was making regular raids on the feeders throughout the late morning and afternoon. The finch flight slowed a bit compared to yesterday, but Common Redpoll numbers picked up a bit. Other sightings today included; Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Goshawk, Cedar Waxwing, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks.

Northern Shrike

Highlights: Northern Cardinals

&

Short-eared Owl

It was an absolutely beautiful, crisp November day. Tim had a Short-eared Owl come in off the lake first thing this morning. A male and a female Northern Cardinal found their way to the feeders in the late morning. As people familiar with the flight at the Point know, some days the birds mill around to the extent that it becomes very difficult to put a number on the birds. Today was one of those days, but there was surely well over 1,000 Pine Siskin, over 300 American Goldfinch, and around 125 White-winged Crossbill. Common Redpoll numbers increased a bit, and there were again Pine and Evening Grosbeaks present. Two Northern Shrikes headed out over the lake in the afternoon. Other sightings included; Bald Eagle, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, Great Black-backed Gull, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Snow Bunting, American Tree Sparrow, and Lapland Longspur.

Common Redpoll

Pine Siskin

Red-breasted Merganser