Following the Oak Lake blitz was the Sunday Whitewater extravaganza. As expected for a fabulous birdwatching area such as Whitewater Lake, the overall bird list was long and included some real gems. In total 28 species of shorebird were recorded, an impressive total. 19 people came along for the day, an what a day it was as well! The lake water levels were very high but the birds still concentrate in huge numbers.
Wilson’s Phalarope were one of the more abundant shorebirds at Whitewater. Copyright Aaron Mooi
The western group, including Tim Poole, Patricia Rosa, Jen Wasko and the star of the team, 6 year old Anna Wasko, never managed to find the lake but did find an impressive 21 species of shorebird in the ephemeral wetlands and potholes. Included in this total was a single Whimbrel picked up in the scope at distance (‘I know my Curlews’ said he). Anna was the blackbird and shoveller counter (she seemed to have a special affinity for shovellers). In total there were 52 Shovellers, 287 Yellow-headed Blackbird and 900 Red-winged Blackbird in this area, so she obviously has very good arithmetic! Other highlights included a single Hudwit (Hudsonian Godwit for the non-Brits), great views of Red-necked Phalarope and a poser of an Upland Sandpiper.
Poser! Upland Sandpiper, copyright Tim Poole
Along the south of Whitewater Lake, Bonnie Chartier, Glennis Lewis and Liz Shewchuk managed to record 74 species including half a dozen Cattle Egret and 150 Western Grebe. On the raptor front, they also managed to get a late view of a Sharp-shinned Hawk.
The stunning Western Grebe at Whitewater. Photo copyright Aaron Mooi
Birding along the western edge, Pat and Dave Wally were joined by Lynnea Parker. This area covers not just the western shoreline, with some interesting roads, but also a large number of potholes and ephemeral wetlands. These areas can be incredibly rich for birds. Among the highlights were a Stilt Sandpiper among the 12 species of shorebird and very good numbers of both Western and Eared Grebe, plus smaller numbers of Horned and Red-necked Grebe.
The handsome Eared Grebe in its full glory. Photo copyright Aaron Mooi
The north of Whitewater was split between our caretakers Colin and Gillian. Colin was joined by Louanne Reid and lucked out with both Clark’s Grebe and Glossy Ibis, two rare species for Manitoba. Colin’s eBird notes say that:
‘On arrival at 6.15 a.m. and before the count began we heard or saw four Black-Crowned Night Herons, a Peregrine Falcon, White-faced Ibis, American Bittern and a Willet–a clue that today was going to be another good one at Whitewater. Other wildlife observed: deer, fox squirrel, mosquitoes, wood ticks and other insects.’
They managed to find 262 Western Grebe, another 6 Cattle Egret, 18 species of shorebird and a couple of Peregrine. Of the shorebirds, most impressive were the large concentrations of Black-belled Plover, 191 in total. They also noted 100 Dunlin, 85 Ruddy Turnstone and a single each of Red Knot and Sanderling.
Clark’s (left) and Western (right) Grebe’s. Close-up of Clark’s to follow…. Photo copyright Gillian Richards
Clark’s Grebe – notice the black cap does not extend below the eye. The back is also greyer than Western Grebe and the flanks paler. Photo copyright Christian Artuso
West of Colin and Louanne, Gillian was joined by the Barclay’s, Ken, Colleen and Dan, for the morning. As well as a stunning show from a Black-crowned Night Heron (see below), these guys really lucked out on the Black-bellied Plover, a total of 340 spread across several flocks. This species, a High Arctic breeder, is often synonymous with shorter grassland habitats during migration.
This Black-crowned Night Heron was really showing off! Photos copyright Gillian Richards
The eastern edge of the IBA was surveyed by Christian Artuso, Randy Mooi, Curator of Zoology at the Manitoba Museum, Aaron Mooi and Emily MacKintosh. Another Clark’s Grebe was detected at this end of the IBA. Franklin’s Gulls, over 4,500, were extremely numerous. A Prairie Falcon and a Snowy Egret also put in an appearance.
This Franklin’s Gull almost appears to be levitating! Photo copyright Aaron Mooi
This group also scored 377 Western Grebe, a not too shabby 122 White-faced Ibis, 5 Red Knot, 422 White-rumped Sandpiper and a California Gull bringing a total of 88 species.
The Snowy Egret fleeing the blitzers! Copyright Aaron Mooi
So to our final scores, we recorded a total of 136 species and 23,423 species. The most numerous species was the Franklin’s Gull with 5,561 individuals counted – probably an underestimate of the total. There were impressive numbers of Western Grebe, White-rumped Sandpiper and Black-bellied Sandpiper as well. Even the Snow Geese stayed for the fun! Mallard were unsurprisingly the most numerous duck, followed by Northern Pintail. White-faced Ibis also numbered at least 225, less than the August count but still very impressive. Here is the final list:
Snow Goose 324
It was a slightly surprising to turn around and see this lone Snow Goose sitting in an empty tilled field. Photo copyright Tim Poole
Ross’s Goose 1
Canada Goose 742
Wood Duck 1
Gadwall 380
American Wigeon 46
Mallard 849
Blue-winged Teal 363
Northern Shoveler 474
Northern Pintail 510
Green-winged Teal 59
Canvasback 98
Redhead 397
Redheads, copyright Aaron Mooi
Ring-necked Duck 1
Lesser Scaup 64
Bufflehead 11
Hooded Merganser 1
Ruddy Duck 373
Ruddy Duck pair. Copyright Aaron Mooi
Pied-billed Grebe 20
Horned Grebe 3
Red-necked Grebe 5
Eared Grebe 312
Western Grebe 1,004
Clark’s Grebe 2
Double-crested Cormorant 19
American White Pelican 100
American Bittern 22
Not sure if there’s a bird here or not? If it is a bird, then it must be an American Bittern. Copyright Aaron Mooi
Great Blue Heron 6
Great Egret 32
Snowy Egret 2
Cattle Egret 14
Black-crowned Night-Heron 77
Glossy Ibis 1
White-faced Ibis 225
Wow! Copyright Aaron Mooi
Turkey Vulture 2
Northern Harrier 11
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Swainson’s Hawk 11
Red-tailed Hawk 10
Virginia Rail 5
Sora 29
American Coot 1,547
American Avocet 169
Video taken by Tim Poole of an American Avocet at Whitewater
Black-bellied Plover 544
American Golden-Plover 4
Semipalmated Plover 26
Killdeer 144
Upland Sandpiper 10
Whimbrel 1
Hudsonian Godwit 1
Marbled Godwit 13
Ruddy Turnstone 89
Red Knot 6
Stilt Sandpiper 10
Sanderling 1
Dunlin 157
Baird’s Sandpiper 139
Least Sandpiper 233
White-rumped Sandpiper 543
Pectoral Sandpiper 57
Copyright Aaron Mooi
Semipalmated Sandpiper 91
peep sp. 1
Short-billed Dowitcher 5
Wilson’s Snipe 12
Wilson’s Phalarope 422
Red-necked Phalarope 11
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Solitary Sandpiper 1
Greater Yellowlegs 3
Willet 38
Copyright Aaron Mooi
Lesser Yellowlegs 7
shorebird sp. 100
Bonaparte’s Gull 10
Franklin’s Gull 5,561
Ring-billed Gull 24
California Gull 1
Herring Gull 1
Caspian Tern 8
Black Tern 102
Common Tern 20
Forster’s Tern 230
Rock Pigeon 35
Eurasian Collared-Dove 4
Mourning Dove 88
Great Horned Owl 2
Hairy Woodpecker 3
Northern Flicker 5
Merlin 2
Peregrine Falcon 2
Prairie Falcon 1
Least Flycatcher 10
Eastern Phoebe 1
Say’s Phoebe 2
Western Kingbird 16
Eastern Kingbird 20
Warbling Vireo 5
Blue Jay 2
Black-billed Magpie 3
American Crow 16
Common Raven 6
Horned Lark 24
Tree Swallow 159
Bank Swallow 47
Barn Swallow 182
Cliff Swallow 395
Black-capped Chickadee 1
House Wren 12
Sedge Wren 10
Marsh Wren 37
Swainson’s Thrush 3
American Robin 59
Gray Catbird 3
Brown Thrasher 2
European Starling 56
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 26
Yellow-rumped Warbler 8
Le Conte’s Sparrow 2
Nelson’s Sparrow 1
Chipping Sparrow 8
Clay-colored Sparrow 60
Harris’s Sparrow 1
Vesper Sparrow 25
Savannah Sparrow 89
Song Sparrow 88
Copyright Aaron Mooi
Lincoln’s Sparrow 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
Bobolink 21
Red-winged Blackbird 2,167
Western Meadowlark 83
Yellow-headed Blackbird 2,062
Copyright Aaron Mooi
Brewer’s Blackbird 80
Common Grackle 269
Brown-headed Cowbird 192
Orchard Oriole 2
Baltimore Oriole 6
American Goldfinch 43
House Sparrow 21
Moose 1
She’s hiding behind the goose! A moose in a field just outside Boissevain. Copyright Tim Poole
Highlights for Whitewater Lake IBA Blitz:
Manitoba Important Bird Areas Program 