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Great Grey Owl - one of the highlights of Manitoba 2019! (all photos by kind permission of tour participant Alec Gillespie)

MANITOBA

28 May – 5/9 June 2019

LEADER: CAL CUTHBERT

This, the 10th Birdquest tour to Manitoba, proved to be an exciting one. While the cool, somewhat delayed spring presented challenges for fnding some it also offered opportunities to see an assortment of mi- grants. Besides the total of 234 of birds recorded, an impressive variety of mammals were also seen. Combined with the diverse scenery it all made for some interesting birding as we made our way from the prai- ries, through the boreal to the of Churchill on the shores of Hudson Bay. Our highlights included Trumpeter and Tundra swans, Hooded Merganser, a quartet of grouse - Ruffed, Spruce, Sharp-tailed Grouse plus Ptarmigan, Pacifc Loon, Ferruginous Hawk Upland Sandpiper, Hudsonian Godwit, Baird’s Sand- piper, Short-billed Dowitcher, American Woodcock, nine gulls including Sabine’s, Little, Franklin’s, , Glaucous and Iceland, Black-billed , Great Grey and Northern Saw-whet Owls, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Grey Jay, Cedar Waxwing, Black-capped and Boreal Chickadees, Veery, Sprague’s Pipit, Pine Grosbeak, Arctic Redpoll, Two-barred Crossbill, Chestnut-collared Longspur, Harris’s Sparrow, Rusty Black- and 19 species of wood warbler including Cape May, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Blackpoll and Canada. We saw some pretty good mammals too including a total of 16 American Black Bears as well as American Marten and Moose.

After driving from Winnipeg and getting settled into our accommodations in Portage la Prairie we managed to get some evening birding in on scenic Island Park. Here, between the beautiful treed sections of the park and the surrounding open water of Crescent Lake, we got a good introduction of the birding to come. Some of the

1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Southern Manitoba birds (clockwise from top): Forster’s Tern, Indigo Bunting, Clay-coloured Sparrow and Mar- bled Godwit (Alec Gillespie)

2 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com A lovely male Chestnut-sided Warbler. Next page: Upland Sandpiper (Alec Gillespie) just over 40 species seen included Wood Ducks, Buffehead, Hooded Merganser, Common Loon, Red-necked and Western Grebes, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, American Goldfnches, Black-and-white Warbler, Cape May Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler.

Early the next morning we were on our way to St. Ambroise Provincial Park which is situated on the narrow treed beach between the south basin of Lake Manitoba and the extensive Delta Marsh. This park has been likened to Pelee National Park in Ontario as a spring migration hotspot. En route we stopped at a Sharp-tailed Grouse lek in a large pasture where we saw 16 of these impressive prairie grouse. Singing Western Meadow- larks and our frst Upland Sandpipers added to the prairie setting. Continuing on Wilson’s Snipes perched on roadside fence posts and a few more Upland Sandpipers along with our frst Red-tailed Hawk and , Sedge Wrens, Savannah Sparrows, Bobolinks and Brewer’s Blackbirds kept us in high birding mode. Our frst stop along the beach ridge at St. Ambroise Provincial Park was to scope out the large American White Pelican and Double-crested Colony located on a small rocky island offshore. As we viewed the hustle and bustle of the colony a number of other species caught our attention including Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Western Grebes, Northern Harriers, Bald Eagle, Franklin’s Gulls and Caspian, Common and Forster’s Terns. As we managed to pull ourselves away from this site and begin our walk west along the nar- row ridge we quickly realized that we were not alone. Millions of harmless but annoying (to some) recently hatched Fish Flies were fying about. We also quickly discovered that we were in the midst of an impressive spring shorebird migration taking place along the exposed shoreline of the lake. Up to 15 species of shore- birds were quickly tallied including Grey and Semipalmated Plovers, the endangered Red Knot, Stilt, Least, White-rumped and Semipalmated Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitcher, Spotted Sandpiper and Lesser Yellow- legs. While the variety was exciting enough the fact that many of them at times were only a few dozen meters away from us made for fantastic viewing. Of course there were also a number of and other birds competing for our attention. The beach ridge produced a number of our tour frsts including such species as Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Great Crested Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireos, Grey Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Clay-colored Sparrows, Baltimore Orioles, Orange-crowned Warbler, American Redstarts, Magnolia Warblers, Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Palm War- bler, Myrtle Warbler and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

3 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com 4 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Red-necked Phalarope above and Wilson’s Phalarope (Alec Gillespie)

5 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com A fabulous Hudsonian Godwit in full breeding (Alec Gillespie)

After a brief reprieve at a picnic table overlooking the expanses of Lake Manitoba we fnally pulled ourselves away from the park but not before frst checking out the marsh’s large cattail stands and seeing the noisy but often inconspicuous Marsh Wren. The Portage la Prairie Landfll Site to the south of St. Ambroise was next visited and here we got fve species of gulls including California and Iceland Gull. Our late feld lunch was at the rural residence of the tour leader along Portage Creek south of the Delta Marsh. There, after some on site birding, we heard a drumming but otherwise uncooperative Ruffed Grouse. A couple of very shy young Great Horned Owls were also partially seen as they inspected us from a nearby artifcial nest structure. Perhaps the most interesting event here was watching the banding of four young Northern Saw-whet Owls by two provincial owl experts. The group watched as the owlets were removed from a nest box, weighed and measured and then carefully put back into the box. Due to a high mouse population these birds were certainly in good shape! It was then off to Brandon where we settled into our accommodations.

Using Brandon as our base for the next few days early the next morning saw us up and travelling to the south- west corner of the province where prairie birding was the front and center goal. After arriving in the Lyleton Praire area which is situated within a few miles of the North Dakota and Saskatchewan borders with Manitoba we spent the rather breezy morning walking about the prairie. Some of the species seen here and in the area included Grey Partridge, Sharp-tailed Grouse (about 55 birds on two more leks), Northern Harriers, Common Nighthawk, Western Kingbird, Black-billed Magpies, Brown Thrasher, Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared Long- spurs, Savannah, Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrows and Western Meadowlarks. From here we traveled north towards the Poverty Plains, another extensive area of prairie, where we encountered Swainson’s Hawk, the regal Ferruginous Hawk, Marbled Godwits, Willets, Willow Flycatcher and Sprague’s Pipits. A variety of water- fowl and some additional shorebird species were seen on our way back to Brandon including some knockout Wilson’s Phalaropes, Red-necked Phalaropes and Horned Larks. The following morning we frst checked out the Brandon Hills located just south of the city of Brandon. Despite windy conditions this route produced a variety of species including Snow Goose, Turkey Vultures, Sandhill Cranes, Greater Yellowlegs, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Least Flycatchers, Eastern Kingbirds, Black-capped Chickadees, Purple Martins, Eastern Bluebird, Clay-colored Sparrows, Tennessee Warbler and American Yellow Warblers. It was then on to Whitewater Lake the days primary destination. Whitewater Lake, a large, shallow prairie basin sur- rounded by extensive but now nearly dry wetlands, is traditionally a superb birding area and this time was no exception. Time went quickly here as it was busy with birds. Some of the many species seen here included

6 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Cape May Warbler, above and below: Magnolia Warbler (Alec Gillespie)

7 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com More wood warblers! Nashville Warbler above and Orange-crowned Warbler below (Alec Gillespie)

8 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com ‘That’ Spruce Grouse at Riding Mountain NP (Alec Gillespie)

Snow Geese, Tundra Swan, a myriad of duck species including our frst Lesser Scaups and Ruddy Ducks, four species of grebes including our frst Black-necked Grebe, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great Egrets, Virginia Rail, Sora, American Coots, American Avocets, Hudsonian Godwits, a variety of shorebirds including Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings, Black Terns and Yellow-headed, Red-winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds.

The following morning was spent birding in the immediate Brandon area including the nearby Shilo Plains. Within Brandon we saw one of the summer resident Peregrine Falcons both in fight and perched, a very close up hen Hooded Merganser exiting a nest box and a stunning male Canada Warbler. Closer to the military base of Shilo we had our frst Ring-necked Ducks, Upland Sandpipers, a very cooperative Black-billed Cuckoo, Yel- low-bellied Sapsuckers, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, House Wren, White-breasted Nuthatches, Grey Catbirds, Eastern Bluebirds, cracking views of the incredibly beautiful Mountain Bluebird and Lark Sparrows. Late that morning while traveling to Riding Mountain National Park we stopped at the Douglas Marsh for Le Conte’s and Nelson’s Sparrows but due to the dry conditions it was not to be. As we took a short drive through the rolling Minnedosa Potholes Region that afternoon it became apparent just why the region is named after the potholes or small wetlands as they are better known. These wetlands were everywhere and even with the drier than normal spring most contained at least some water. Of the ducks encountered there the stately Canvasback and striking Buffehead topped the list. Other species included Red-necked Grebes, American White Pelicans, Red-tailed Hawks, Killdeers, American Kestrel, Tree Swallows (nearly always in the presence of roadside nest boxes), American Goldfnches and Yellow-headed and Red-winged Blackbirds. Just south of the park another large stick nest showed a pair of young Great Horned Owls.

Our time in beautiful Riding Mountain National Park was most enjoyable. This southern part of the boreal surrounded by a “sea” of is host to many species of breeding birds and there was always something to see. After arriving and getting settled into our accommodations our frst target species was that Phantom of the Forest, the Great Grey Owl. That evening a drive to a remote rural area just to the south of the park produced one of these incredible owls hunting from an old power pole. We watched as it would gaze intently towards the ground before dropping down to snag its prey. It was still active as we left due to the fading light. One morning we got onto a dazzling male Spruce Grouse on its territory within thick black spruce. Unlike many other grouse this species is not particularly afraid of people so it showed well. A walk along the always productive and scenic Boreal Island Trail produced such species as a most obliging Solitary Sandpiper, Belted

9 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com 10 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Veery. Previous page: a young Black Bear at Riding Mountain NP (Alec Gillespie)

11 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Red-eyed Vireo above and Tennessee Warbler below (Alec Gillespie)

12 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com A fne Harris’s Sparrow - not many birders see them looking like this! (Alec Gillespie)

Kingfsher, a very territorial American Three-toed Woodpecker, Blue-headed Vireos, , a pair of curi- ous Boreal Chickadees, Ruby-crowned Kinglets of which one was seen fashing its impressive faming red cap , White-throated Sparrows, Tennessee, Nashville, Mourning Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, American Redstarts, the dazzling Blackburnian Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warblers and our only Wilson’s Warbler of the tour. Without a doubt many of the North American wood warblers are truly spectacular in their breeding attire. For variety a few very localized American Woodcocks entertained us one evening at dusk as they performed their unique aerial displays. The scenic East Escarpment of the park produced such species as Sharp-tailed Grouse (unusual for here), Broad-winged Hawk, Mourning Doves, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a distant Pile- ated Woodpecker (heard only), Eastern Phoebe, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Alder Flycatcher, Least Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireos, the sleek and eloquent Cedar Waxwing, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbirds, Veery, American Goldfnches, Song Sparrow, Chipping and Clay-colored Sparrows, the handsome Eastern Towhee, Ovenbirds, Black-and-white, Tennessee, Orange-crowned and Mourning Warblers, Common Yellowthroats, American Redstarts, Myrtle Warblers and the beautiful Indigo Bunting. Unfortunately, due to the late spring Golden-winged Warblers were nowhere to be seen although a distant bird sang briefy once but was not locat- ed. During our stay commuting through the Park also produced a number of opportunities to see a variety of mammals some of which included Snowshoe Hares, American Beavers (a few one evening), American Black Bears (up to 15 one day!), American Marten, briefy seen Elk and a number or roadside White-tailed Deer. After rather reluctantly leaving Riding Mountain National Park it was back to Portage la Prairie where we overnight- ed but not before frst tracking down a somewhat elusive but very stunning Red-headed Woodpecker.

Early the next morning it was off to Winnipeg Airport where me met our three new members for the Churchill part of the tour and parted company with two of our southern Manitoba part only members. Then we were fnal- ly off to the northern latitudes of Churchill! A little less than two hours later as we approached Churchill in our plane we could see frsthand what a long winter it had been here. Many of the larger inland water basins were still mostly covered in ice with snow banks still present along their southern shorelines. More surprising was the fact that the mouth of the Churchill River at Cape Merry was still essentially ice bound out into Hudson Bay to a distance of more than a quarter mile. After quickly settling into our comfortable accommodations it was off to explore our new surroundings within and near the vicinity of the town site including the unfortunately ice bound Cape Merry. We quickly picked up species such as Snow Geese, a variety of the “southern prairie pothole “ waterfowl species (including a Canvasback), Greater Scaup, Common Eiders, Black Scoters, Long-tailed

13 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Pacifc Loon , above and below: Long-tailed Duck at Churchill (Alec Gillespie).

14 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Common Mergansers over the Hudson Bay pack ice at Churchill, above and below: Greater Scaup at Churchill (Alec Gillespie)

15 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Baird’s Sandpiper and ‘Hudsonian’ Whimbrel, both at Churchill (Alec Gillespie)

16 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com American Tree Sparrow, above and Swamp Sparrow. Subtle beauties! (Alec Gillespie)

17 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Little Gull at Churchill (Alec Gillespie)

Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Red-breasted Mergansers, Pacifc Loons, Common Loons, Sandhill Cranes, Semipalmated Plovers, Grey Plovers, Ruddy Turnstones, Baird’s Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, Red- necked Phalaropes, Spotted Sandpipers, Lesser Yellowlegs, Arctic Terns, Parasitic Jaegers, Buff-bellied Pip- its, Common Redpolls, Harris’s and White-crowned Sparrows, Rusty Blackbirds, Northern Waterthrush and Palm Warbler.

The next few days went by quickly as we checked out the better birding sites with their variety of habitats including The Flats, Audlik Marsh, the Goose Creek Road and adjacent trails, Hydro Road (CR 30), Launch Road, Landing Lake Road, Camp Nanuk, Halfway Point Road & area and Twin Lakes Road including The Fen. With only a very narrow channel of open water through the middle of the Churchill River at Cape Merry our birding there was unfortunately quite restricted. Nevertheless we were able to pick up several distant species of ducks, a distant Sabine’s Gull and a much closer Glaucous Gull there. The best sea duck viewing oppor- tunities proved to be CR 30 where Surf, White-winged and Black Scoters were staging along with such other water birds like Red-throated and Pacifc Loons. A fy by fock of Ross’s Geese low over the town site and a nesting pair of Tundra Swans within sight of the town, the frst in many decades, were exciting events. A pair of Little Gulls off of the Goose Creek Road was also a highlight. Away from the town site and east towards the Churchill Northern Studies Centre a variety of species were to be seen including American Black Ducks, handsome Willow Ptarmigans, close by the road Pacifc Loons, Western Osprey, Bald Eagles, Rough-legged Buzzard, American Golden Plover, Merlins, Semipalmated Plovers, Whimbrels, Lesser Yellowlegs, nesting Parasitic Jaegers, Long-tailed Jaeger, , Common and Arctic Redpolls, Lincoln’s Sparrow and Harris’s Sparrows. The extensive Fen, which is driven through on the way to Twin Lakes, along with Twin Lakes area itself are always must see sites producing displaying Hudsonian Godwits, Stilt Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers and Short-billed Dowitchers. Unfortunately, Smith’s Longspurs are no longer known to nest in this area. Pine Grosbeaks, Two-barred Crossbills, Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows and Blackpoll Warblers were no- table species at Twin Lakes.

Overall, the unseasonably late and cool spring experienced in Manitoba this year did not signifcantly impact the quality of our birding experience. The group defnitely had some exciting birding in diverse habitats and it is hoped that Manitoba will be remembered fondly.

18 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Sparrow, above and Tundra Swan (Alec Gillespie)

19 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com The understated Sprague’s Pipit is a tricky North American bird to catch up with (Alec Gillespie)

SYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRD SPECIES RECORDED DURING THE TOUR

The species names and used in the report mostly follows Gill, F & D Donsker (Eds). IOC World Bird Names. This list is updated several times annually and is available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org.

Species which were heard but not seen are indicated by the symbol (H). Species which were only recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (LO). Species which were not personally recorded by the leader are indicated by the symbol (NL). Species marked with the diamond symbol (◊) are either endemic to the country or local region or considered ‘special’ birds for some other reason (e.g. it is only seen on one or two Birdquest tours; it is diffcult to see across all or most of its range; the local form is endemic or restricted-range and may in future be treated as a full species).

Conservation threat categories and information are taken from Threatened Birds of the World, BirdLife International’s mag- nifcent book on the sad status of the rarest 10% of the world’s avifauna, and updates on the BirdLife website: http://www. birdlife.org/datazone/home E = Endangered, V = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened, DD = Data Defcient.

Birds (234 species) Canada Goose Branta canadensis Abundant. Nesting birds of the form interior commonly seen. Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii One with a fock of canada geese near Cape Merry at Churchill. Ross’s Goose Anser rossii A fock of 14 birds fying northeast over Churchill one morning. Snow Goose Anser caerulescens First seen at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and a few thereafter. Trumpeter Swan ◊ Cygnus buccinator One on the Churchill River at CR 30. Tundra Swan ◊ Cygnus columbianus The frst at Whitewater Lake followed by several at Churchill. Wood Duck ◊ Aix sponsa A few at Island Park, Portage la Prairie. Also seen at two other locations in the south. Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors This handsome duck was Louise’s favourite. Small numbers seen in the south. Northern Shoveler Spatula clypeata Widespread in the south. Maximum eight at Churchill. Gadwall Mareca strepera Daily maximum 10 in the south. Not seen at Churchill. American Wigeon Mareca americana A very few birds were seen in the south, more common at Churchill. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Without a doubt the most commonly seen duck on the trip. American Black Duck ◊ Anas rubripes Not seen in the south but seen at Churchill on three occasions.

20 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Willow Ptarmigan (Alec Gillespie)

Northern Pintail Anas acuta Only at Whitewater Lake in the south but commonly encountered at Churchill. Green-winged Teal Anas carolinensis A pair at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. More commonly seen at Churchill. Canvasback Aythya valisineria Very small numbers in the prairie pothole area of the south and one at Churchill. Redhead Aythya americana Seen throughout the prairie pothole region in the south, daily maximum 10. Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Noted near Brandon, Riding Mountain National Park and Churchill. Greater Scaup Aythya marila Only at Churchill, daily maximum 20. Lesser Scaup Aythya affnis A few were at Whitewater Lake, Minnedosa Pothole Region and Churchill. Common Eider Somateria mollissima Fairly common at Churchill and pairs on the larger bodies of water inland. NT Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Most frequently seen on the Churchill River at The Weir and CR 30. White-winged Scoter Melanitta deglandi Seen only at Churchill where a daily maximum of c.10. Black Scoter Melanitta americana One of the more common ducks at Churchill River. NT Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Another Churchill specialty and a favorite of Paul & Alec. VU Buffehead Bucephala albeola First seen at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. One was also seen at Churchill. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula The frst at Crescent Lake in Portage la Prairie. Common thereafter. Hooded Merganser ◊ Lophodytes cucullatus Four on the southern leg of the trip. Common Merganser Mergus merganser A few in the south but more frequently seen on the Churchill River. Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Daily max 15 of these “bad hair day” ducks at Churchill. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Only a very few in the south. One was at Whitewater Lake. Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo A pair briefy by some along the roadside of # 2 Highway in an area of sand hills. Ruffed Grouse ◊ Bonasa umbellus Heard at Portage Creek, Shilo Plains and Riding Mountain where one seen. Spruce Grouse ◊ Falcipennis canadensis A territorial male in Riding Mountain NP. One of the favorite trip birds. Sharp-tailed Grouse ◊ Tympanuchus phasianellus 16 at Delta Marsh and more grouse oon Lyleton Prairie. Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Seen at both Cape Merry and Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Grey Partridge Perdix perdix Singles in fight on three occasions and an obliging pair at Lyleton Prairie. Red-throated Loon (R-t Diver) Gavia stellata Best views of this loon were obtained on the Churchill River at CR 30. Pacifc Loon ◊ (P Diver) Gavia pacifca Pairs of these spectacular loons were seen at Churchill. Common Loon (Great Northern Diver) Gavia immer Noted at Portage, Riding Mountain NP and Churchill. Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Very few were seen in the prairie pothole region in the southwest. Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegina First seen at Portage, up to eight seen daily. Horned Grebe (Slavonian G) Podiceps auritus A pair in Riding Mountain NP. One at Churchill. VU

21 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Ferruginous Hawk at Poverty Plains (Alec Gillespie)

Eared Grebe (Black-necked G) Podiceps nigricollis Eight at Whitewater Lake was the only sighting. Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis First spotted on Crescent Lake in Portage la Prairie. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Surprisingly only one, an adult at Whitewater Lake. Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Three birds Brandon – Lyleton Prairie and a few were in Riding Mountain. Great Egret Ardea alba Up to 15 on their nests in dead trees on an island along the north side of Whitewater Lake. American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Maximum 500 St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Double-crested Cormorant Pharacrocorax auritus Noted St. Ambroise Provincial Park and a few elsewhere. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Mainly single birds were seen almost daily in the south including Riding Mountain. Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus Seen only at Churchill were one was fying over Goose Creek. Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus One at North Shore Drive in Riding Mountain National Park. Northern Harrier Circus hudsonius Three sightings were made in the south and up to fve at Churchill. Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Two St. Ambroise Provincial Park and Riding Mountain and one at Churchill. Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus Only seen in Riding Mountain NP and near the Agassiz Ski Road. Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni First seen while we were en route to the Lyleton Prairie and singles elsewhere. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Fairly common in the south and one at Churchill over the Goose Creek Road. Ferruginous Hawk ◊ Buteo regalis One at its nest in a cottonwood tree near the Poverty Plains. Rough-legged Buzzard (R-l Hawk) Buteo lagopus One near Churchill Northern Studies Centre on our last day there. Virginia Rail Rallus limicola One at Whitewater Lake provided everyone with great viewing opportunities. Sora Porzana carolina Heard at a few locations in the southwest including a quick glimpse at Whitewater Lake. American Coot Fulica americana Relatively few seen. Six were at Whitewater Lake and two at Minnedosa Potholes. Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis 15 Whitewater Lake, a ‘rusty” bird at Riding Mountain and common at Churchill. American Avocet Recurvirostra americana Two Lyleton Prairie and 20 Whitewater Lake. American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica One on a small wetland near Whitewater Lake and another at Churchill. Grey Plover (Black-bellied P) Pluvialis squatarola c.15 St. Ambroise, 8 Whitewater Lake & common at Churchill. Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Nine St. Ambroise, 3 Whitewater Lake & common at Churchill. Killdeer Charadrius vociferous Seen daily in the south in small numbers and a few at Churchill. Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Pairs near St. Ambroise Provincial Park, Lyleton Prairie and Shilo Plains. Whimbrel (Hudsonian W) Numenius phaeopus A Churchill specialty where three were seen. Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica A pair Whitewater Lake, up to c.10 Twin Lakes Fen & also Goose Creek Road. Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Noted at St. Ambroise Provincial Park, 11 Whitewater Lake and one Lyleton Prairie.

22 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Short-billed Dowitcher (Alec Gillespie)

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Up to 75 at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and maximum 24 at Churchill. Red Knot Calidris canutus Two were among the myriad of other shorebird species seen at St. Ambroise. NT Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Noted at St. Ambroise Provincial Park , Whitewater Lake and at Churchill. Sanderling Calidris alba c.100 St. Ambroise Provincial Park, a few at Whitewater Lake and three at Churchill. Dunlin Calidris alpina Up to 50 St. Ambroise Provincial Park and singles at Whitewater Lake and Churchill. Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Not seen in the south but three were spotted at Cape Merry at Churchill by Paul. Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Six St. Ambroise Provincial Park, eight Whitewater Lake and noted at Churchill. White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis Two St. Ambroise Provincial Park, 18 Whitewater Lake and two Churchill. Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Several hundred St. Ambroise Park, Whitewater Lake and Churchill. NT Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodramus griseus One at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and up to 15 daily at Churchill. American Woodcock Scolopax minor Four roding at Riding Mountain National Park. Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata Up to 12 St. Ambroise Provincial Park, Lyleton Prairie, Poverty Plains and Churchill. Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Up to fve Poverty Plains, 13 Whitewater Lake and two at Churchill. Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Max. 17 NE of Melita, 7 Whitewater Lake amd max. 6 daily at Churchill. Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius A few St. Ambroise Provincial Park to Lyleton. Maximum four at Churchill. Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria One seen well in Riding Mountain National Park and three at Churchill. Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa favipes A late migrant was at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and common at Churchill. Willet Tringa semipalmata A few in the south with four in one day at Whitewater Lake. ssp inornatus. Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca A late single bird was on a wetland in the Brandon Hills. Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini A distant bird was seen fying past the ice pack at Cape Merry by some. Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus philadelphia Eight near Riding Mountain National Park and up to c.20 at Churchill. Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus A trip highlight was two in the vicinity of the Tower/Marina near Churchill River. Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan This prairie speciality was seen daily in the south, although fewer than usual. Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis The most commonly encountered white headed gull in the south. California Gull Larus californicus A sub adult bird was briefy seen by some at the Portage la Prairie Landfll. Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus A very pale sub adult few over some of the group at Cape Merry at Churchill. Iceland Gull ◊ Larus thayeri An obliging frst summer bird was at the Portage la Prairie Landfll. American Herring Gull Larus smithsonius Up to 35 at Portage la Prairie Landfll in the south and common at Churchill. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Up to four St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Common Ten Sterna hirundo A fy by at St. Ambroise Provincial Park among the much more common Forster’s Terns.

23 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Red-headed Woodpecker (Alec Gillespie)

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea A Churchill specialty these terns were seen daily although in relatively low numbers. Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri The most commonly encountered tern in the south frst noted at Lake Manitoba. Black Tern Chlidonias niger Perhaps owing to the late spring these terns were seen in very low numbers. Parasitic Jaeger (Arctic Skua) Stercorarius parasiticus Up to 6 daily at Churchill including at least 2 pairs on territory. Long-tailed Jaeger (L-t Skua) Stercorarius longicaudus Two at Churchill one of which was seen very well. Rock Pigeon Columba livia Seen daily in the south in small numbers. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Fairly common throughout the south, often seen fushing from along roadsides. Black-billed Cuckoo ◊ Coccyzus erthropthalmus One at Shilo Plains that showed very well. Bubo virginianus Two occupied nests were seen with young owlets in both of them. Barred Owl Strix varia A distant bird was heard calling off Lake Audy Road in Riding Mountain National Park.(H) Great Grey Owl ◊ Strix nebulosi Prolonged views of one hunting at dusk south of Riding Mountain NP. Northern Saw-whet Owl ◊ Aegolius acadicus Four owlets watched being banded in Portage Creek was a highlight. Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor The forst at Island Park in Portage la Prairie were followed by several others. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica A small fock of four was briefy in Portage la Prairie. (LO) VU Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris Singles at several locations across the south. Belted Kingfsher Megaceryle alcyon Two in Riding Mountain National Park. Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus Some decent looks not far from Riding Mountain NP. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius Seen at several locations in the south. American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis A drumming male on the Boreal Island Trail at Riding Mountain. Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Single birds at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and three other sites. Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus A few of these rather large robust woodpeckers were seen in the south. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus One Lyleton Prairie was followed by another six including at Churchill. Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus Heard at Riding Mountain National Park but no sightings were made. (H) American Kestrel Falco sparverius Several sightings. Merlin Falco columbarius Only seen at Churchill along the Twin Lakes Road and two were seen Launch Road. Falco peregrinus One of the resident nesting pair fying and perched in Brandon. Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe A few seen at four locations in the south, nearly all at farm sites. Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Two at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and another at Brandon Hills. NT Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax faviventris Singles at Shilo Plains area and another at Riding Mountain NP. Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii One seen at close range along a small patch of trees on the Poverty Plains.

24 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Marsh Wren (Alec Gillespie)

Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum Two along Lake Audy Road and another heard along the Agassiz Ski Road. Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus Maximum six daily Seen and heard throughout the south. Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Amazingly, seen on only one occasion in the southwest corner. Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Seen daily throughout the south. Up to 15 in the Lyleton – Poverty Plains regions. Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus A fy by was at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo favifrons An uncooperative bird was heard only in a wooded area within Brandon. (H) Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius A pair plus one heard in Riding Mountain National Park. Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus One showed well along the wooded beach ridge at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus One was seen in a park at Pierson, the only one for the tour. Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus Several daily in the south including up to six in Riding Mountain National Park. Grey Jay ◊ Perisoreus canadensis A family group of four in Riding Mountain National Park plus three at Churchill. Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata A pair St. Ambroise and mostly singles elsewhere including including Riding Mountain NP. Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia Sparsely seen in the south and usually in the vicinity of farm sites. Corvus brachyrhynchos Commonly seen throughout the south with one seen at Churchill. Northern Raven Cornvus corax Almost daily in the south plus up to 10 daily at Churchill. Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Two small focks of nine and twelve were in Riding Mountain National Park. Black-capped Chickadee ◊ Parus atricapillus Seen in the south from St. Ambroise to Riding Mountain NP. Boreal Chickadee ◊ Parus hudsonicus A pair heard & seen briefy along the Boreal Island Trail in Riding Mountain NP. Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris Only three birds seen in the south while a pair showed well at Churchill. Ssp hoyti. Sand Martin (Bank Swallow) Riparia riparia Three near near Poverty Plains and three near Brandon Hills. Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor With the exception of Riding Mountain National Park very common in the south. Purple Martin Progne subis Maximum 30 nesting in a large martin “condo” erected for them in Boissevain. Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Commonly seen around abandoned yard site buildings and towns. American Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota In the south small colonies under road bridges over a waterways. Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula Two Boreal Island Trail in Riding Mountain NP. Also seen at Churchill. Sedge Wren Cistothorus stellaris Seen St. Ambroise Provincial Park in sedge. Two in Riding Mountain National Park. Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris Eight at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Also encountered at Whitewater Lake. House Wren Troglodytes aedon The loud bubbly song was heard at several sites in the south. A couple showed well. Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadesis One during a picnic at Riding Mountain National Park. White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Noted at Island Park in Portage la Prairie, Portage Creek and Shilo Plains.

25 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Cedar Waxwings at Riding Moun- tain NP and White-crowned Spar- row at Churchill (Alec Gillespie)

26 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Two-barred (or ‘White-winged’) Crossbill - a potential candidate for a split maybe? (Alec Gillespie)

Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Noted St. Ambroise Provincial Park where four showed well. Several elsewhere. Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum One briefy at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and two in fight Poverty Plains. Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris Seen in small numbers throughout the south. Up to four were at Churchill. Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialia A beautiful male Brandon Hills and up to fve Shilo Plains area. Mountain Bluebird ◊ Sialia currucoides Five Shilo Plains area. Veery ◊ Catharus fuscescens One of these often diffcult birds was seen nest building in Riding Mountain National Park. Grey-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus One was frst heard singing and then seen briefy along the Goose Creek Rd. Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus A late migrant Portage Creek, two in Pierson and heard Riding Mountain NP. American Robin Turdus migratorius Common to abundant in the south and daily at Churchill, even on open tundra. House Sparrow Passer domesticus A few daily in the south. Buff-bellied Pipit Anthus rubescens A few were seen at Churchill and particularly at Cape Merry. Sprague’s Pipit ◊ Anthus spragueii One briefy Lyleton Prairie plus two on the Poverty Plains. VU Pine Grosbeak ◊ Pinicola enucleator Two Twin Lakes Road and another Goose Creek Road at Churchill. Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus A female was seen in a park at Pierson. Common Redpoll Anthus fammea Very common at Churchill, especially along the Twin Lakes Road. Arctic Redpoll ◊ Anthus hormemanni Stunning looks Fox Drive north of the Churchill Northern Studies Centre. Two-barred Crossbill (White-winged C) Loxia leucoptera Up to nine were along the Twin Lakes Road at Churchill. American Goldfnch Spinus tristis Widespread throughout the south but seldom more than six seen a day. Pine Siskin Spinus pinus A single bird on Island Park in Portage la Prairie was the only one for the tour. Chestnut-collared Longspur ◊ Calcarius ornatus Up to eight Lyleton Prairie and four on part of the Poverty Plains. VU Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis One was spotted among the rocks on The Flats on our last day at Churchill. Red Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca One heard along the Goose Creek Road plus one seen Twin Lakes Road. Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia A few were seen daily in the south. Not a diffcult bird to see. Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Seemingly absent in the south, a pair were seen by some at Churchill. Swamp Sparrow Melospiza geogiana In the south a distant bird heard at Minnedosa. A couple seen at Churchill. Harris’s Sparrow ◊ Zonotrichia querula Two seen well at Churchill. NT White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Common at Churchill where many were of the race gambelii. White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis Some seen at Riding Mountain and another two at Churchill. Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Two Riding Mountain NP with others heard there. Also seen twice at Churchill. Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis The most common sparrow in the south. Small numbers at Churchill.

27 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com The declining Rusty Blackbird (Alec Gillespie)

Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum Six heard Lyleton Prairie where we got terrifc views of some. American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea Seen only at Churchill with two birds encountered. Chipping Sparrow Spizella Fairly common in the south with a maximum of 10 one day. Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida Nearly 30 were seen in the southwest. Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Seen at Lyleton Prairie, Poverty Plains and Shilo Plains area. Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus Three showed well on an acreage within Shilo Plains. Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythropthalmus A singing bird along the Agassiz Ski Road in Riding Mountain National Park. Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Noted St. Ambroise Provincial Park and Whitewater Lake. Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus Small numbers were scattered across open grassy areas in the south. Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Perhaps THE bird of the southwest grasslands, often seen on fence posts. Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula Up to 6 along the beach 6 at St. Ambroise 6 Park with smaller numbers elsewhere. Oriole Icteus spurius A distant bird was a heard only north of Brandon after searching in the southwest. (H) Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Abundant in the south, highest nos. at St. Ambroise and Whitewater Lake. Brown-headed Molothrus ater Up to 10 at St. Ambroise Provincial Park and a few elsewhere in the south. Rusty Blackbird ◊ Euphagus carolinus Up to four at Churchill, mainly along the Goose Creek Road. VU Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Small numbers in the south, especially in the Whitewater Lake area. Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula One of the most commonly seen birds on the south part of this tour. NT Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Fairly common within Riding Mountain National Park although elusive. Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis One of these sharp warblers was in at Churchill. Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera After much effort, one heard only at Riding Mountain. (H) NT Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia First seen at Portage la Prairie, then at three other sites. Tennessee Warbler Leiothlypis peregrina Up to 11 at St. Ambroise Provincial Park plus a few elsewhere. Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata The frst was at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Several elsewhere. Nashville Warbler Leiothlypis rufcapilla A few were heard in Riding Mountain National Park and a couple seen. Mourning Warbler Geothlypis philadelphia First seen in Portage la Prairie. Several elsewhere. Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Commonly throughout the south in wetland edge vegetation. ruticilla Several noted from St. Ambroise Provincial Park to Brandon Hills onwards. Cape May Warbler Setophaga tigrina Two at both Portage la Prairie and St. Ambroise Provincial Park the following day. Magnolia Warbler Setophaga magnolia Two showed well at St. Ambroise Provincial Park plus one Brandon Hills. Blackburnian Warbler Setophaga fusca One for some at St. Ambroise Provincial Park then more at Riding Mountain.

28 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Blackpoll Warbler, male (Alec Gillespie)

American Yellow Warbler Setophaga aestiva The most commonly seen warbler of the whole tour. Ssp parkesi. Chestnut-sided Warbler Setophaga pensylvanica c.20 were seen in the south, primarily Riding Mountain NP. Blackpoll Warbler Setophaga striata Great views both in the south and at Churchill. NT Palm Warbler Setophaga palmarum One St. Ambroise Provincial Park and another at Churchill. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronate Max. 6 daily Riding Mountain National Park plus also at Churchill. Canada Warbler Cardinella canadensis One at Brandon disappeared before the group could get onto it. (LO) Wilson’s Warbler Cardinella pusilla One showed well along the Boreal Island Trail in Riding Mountain National Park. Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus One at Island Park in Portage la Prairie was the frst. Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Incredible scope views along the Agassiz Ski Road in Riding Mountain National Park.

MAMMALS Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus Only in Riding Mountain NP where up to 14 seen along the roadside one morning. Arctic Hare Lepus arcticus Four of these huge hares in their transition to summer coats at Churchill. White-tailed Jackrabbit Lepus townsendii Two from St. Ambroise from Portage and another north of Brandon. American Beaver Castor canadensis A few in Riding Mountain National Park. Chihuahua Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus A large vole on the Lyleton Prairie was believed to be of this species. Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Three were seen south of Brandon in wetlands. Woodchuck Marmota monax One seen along the beach ridge at St. Ambroise Provincial Park. Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis Two were on Island Park in Portage la Prairie. Franklin’s Ground Squirrel Spermophilus franklinii A few on both the Lyleton Prairie and in Riding Mountain NP. Richardson’s Ground Squirrel Spermophilus richardsonii Noted Portage la Prairie and elsewhere in the south. Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel Spermophilus tridecemlineatus Several in the south. Least Chipmunk Tamias minimus One at the Lake Audy bison compound in Riding Mountain National Park. Eastern Chipmunk Tamias striatus One at Riding Mountain NP. Tamiascirurus hudsonicus Fairly common in the south and also seen at Churchill. Coyote Canis latrans One was at Lyleton Prairie while two were seen as we traveled to Riding Mountain National Park. Red Fox Vulpes vulpes One was in the vicinity of the Brandon Hills. American Black Bear Ursus americanus An amazing total of 16 were seen, all in Riding Mountain National Park seven American Marten Martes americana One south of Riding Mountain NP plus one by Clive in Wasagaming. Ringed Seal Pusa hispida From Cape Merry c.150 one morning as they lay scattered across the Hudson Bay ice pack.

29 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com Black Bear and cub, Riding Mountain NP (Alec Gillespie)

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Several seen in the south with no more than two on any one day. American Bison Bison bison Four bulls including two very large individuals at the Lake Audy bison compound. Little Brown Bat Myotis lucifugus One was spotted near our motel one evening in Riding Mountain National Park. Moose Alces alces Four were in the SW corner in farmland where surprisingly they are becoming increasingly common.

30 BirdQuest Tour Report: Manitoba 2019 www.birdquest-tours.com