What Birds Can We Expect To See In June?

By and large, the spring warbler migration is all but over by the end of May. Despite how the month started out with near low temperatures at night, May was a good month – a few good days, a couple of spectacular fallouts, although there was a steady procession of warblers right through the month. A few of the late migrant species continue to appear into early June including, CANADA WARBLER (photo by Tina Sawicki of Belleville), WILSON’S WARBLERand MOURNING WARBLER.  A few species of shorebirds will continue migrating through the County including late migrating species such as SANDERLINGS that will also be observed still passing through in early June.

As we enter the month of June, we can safely assume that most resident species are already well into nesting. Some, like the EASTERN PHOEBE, AMERICAN ROBIN and SONG SPARROW that may have nested in April, will move into their second brood of the season. Meanwhile, the young of other early nesters such as the GREAT HORNED OWL may still be occupied with household chores in June.

Both May and June are busy months for birds, and for some species, activity is at its highest ebb as parents mark out their territory by song, defend their nests, and feed their young. The presence of predators or some other perceived danger will send most birds into a variety of defensive actions as they either defend their nest or attempt to lure intruders away. The confusing calls of young birds will fill the air in June as young AMERICAN ROBINS, COMMON GRACKLES and BALTIMORE ORIOLES, although out of the nest, continue to beg for food and train their voices.

AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, however, wait until the thistle down ripens before they give much serious thought to nesting worries. Until then, they continue to travel around in loose carefree flocks, bounding through the air like miniature roller coasters. Keep your Nyjer and sunflower seed feeders well stocked for they will visit them often during this time of the year.

Meanwhile the similar calls of the ALDER FLYCATCHER and WILLOW FLYCATCHER will continue to try the patience of new birders. Learn their songs, as that, and often their choice of habitat, are the only sure ways of separating them in the field. Some birds, although melting into the dense growth at this time of the year, are relatively easy to identify by song. The OVENBIRD’S “cher-tee, cher-tee, cher-TEE, CHER-TEE” (photo by Garry Kirsch of Marmora) with rising inflection will identify this species as we walk the woodland trails at this time of the year; similarly the rich flute-like notes followed by a little trill or slur at the end pinpoints the location of the WOOD THRUSH. When in the field, make attempts at putting words to their songs as a way to remember them when heard again. The “drink-your tea-a-a” of the EASTERN TOWHEE, the “whitchety, whitchety, whitchety” of the COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, or the “Maids, maids, put on your tea, kettle, kettle, kettle” of the SONG SPARROW. Warbling vireos become easy to learn if you think of their fast paced spiralling song as saying, “If I had it, I would squeeze it, if I squeezed it, it would SQUIRT!” Sometimes the songs may be rude, or make little sense, but it is one sure way of remembering them.

Some key areas to continue looking for birds in June are Prince Edward Point, Point Petre and Sandbanks Provincial Park. And while at Sandbanks, keep an eye on West Point, the tiny rocky peninsula that juts out into Lake Ontario from the base of the sand dunes, on Lakeshore Lodge Road. The popular LAKEVIEW TRAIL (photo by Terry Sprague) there that meanders through a deciduous woods and on out into some meadows is always a pleasure to experience. These little out of the way places can still offer surprises.

Above all, don’t put away your binoculars yet. There is still considerable bird activity to take in during the month of June.

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