Eastern Ontario Birding

Quite an amazing beginning to today’s tour at Burnt Lands Provincial Park. Before we could even greet one another…Ann Martin spotted an adult Fox trotting along after a successful hunt, with prey in its jaws. It continued along, eventually delivering the kill to a young fox! The youngin’ dashed from the bushes to retrieve its breakfast and then trotted back into cover. Love the intensity of the youngster’s eyes; it’s as if it’s realizing how heavy the food item is, at the exact moment that Mike took the pic 😂

Photo credit: Mike Traub.

The southern edge of the Frontenac Arch, in southeastern Ontario, is home to many unique species of both flora and fauna. By June, many different critters are scurrying about! Some are really small, and some are, well, small…TARANTULAS!

Meet the Woodland Giant Wolf Spider (Tigrosa aspersa). This is eastern Ontario’s largest wolf spider species — a formidable and stunning beast of forest and field. Females with youngsters are most readily seen in June; however, to cross paths with one…is a rare event, in my experience.

During today’s private tour, we were lucky to cross paths with this female with young during our hike at Murphys Point Provincial Park.

A special moment.

An hour later…we encountered a singing male Orchard Oriole in the park - to my knowledge, the first record for Murphys Point, and one of only a handful of records for Lanark County.

Moments such as these are why I never tire of the “tour circuit” in eastern Ontario; there’s always something to see, and there are always surprises along the way.

Good birding
Jon Ruddy

A male Ruddy Duck on a beautiful June morning in Prescott-Russell County.

Wow! 6000+ followers!?

Thanks very much, everyone 🙏🙏

Rare Bird Alert! 🚨 ‼️

An adult light morph Parasitic Jaeger in the Upper Canada Region of the St Lawrence River…

Yes, you read that right!

What a treat to observe this fantastic rarity on a rainy day along the St Lawrence River on June 7th. Hopes were high to intercept a High-Arctic migrant, such as Arctic Tern, late migrant shorebirds, or…in a dream scenario…a spring migrant jaeger!

Rain rain and more rain throughout the tour. “Something will be put down in this; there’s something out there…” (inner thoughts)…

I arrived at Guindon Park boat launch, west of Cornwall, and walked to the shoreline with my gear. I began to glass the outer waters and INTO my view flies an adult light morph jaeger. My eyes grew wide, my heart began to race, and I was soon breathing through my mouth. I use a STOP word to help with nerves once my brain gets sidewalled by the sudden sight of a very rare bird; “think.”

So, I thought. I watched, and I thought. And there was no question; it was a picture perfect light morph Parasitic…and it was dressed for the High Arctic Ball.

I really love the “clutch” moments. The tension is so high. All of your intellect and experience funnels to a fine point. A Big One is on the line. Your call to make, bucko. Are you going to make it?

It was the first Parasitic Jaeger in nearly 36 years in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry; the first ever spring record, as well.

All the blade sharpening of May; the high volume birding tours…moment after moment…the full crystalization of a wonderful spring tour season in this one bird as far as I’m concerned.

*chefs kiss*

Until the next one!

Good birding,
Jon Ruddy

A congregation of Canadian Tiger Swallowtails “mud-puddling” on a natural beach.

Common Merganser chicks along the shoreline of the Ottawa River. Talk about cute!

What a nice view of a Common Nighthawk during today’s tour at Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area! Found by local birder, Paul Jones. 76 species for the tour, including 15 species of warbler and 4 separate Yellow-bellied Flycatchers! Early June is still an active migration period for late season migrants — and is a well known time period for producing rarities and vagrants.

Amazing camouflage on rocky beaches — the Piping Plover! Durham County, Ontario. 31 May 2026.