This is Jean Iron's first report for the period 30 July to 6 August 2016 from Longridge Point (Lat 51.798681 N, Lon 80.691619 W) on the southwest coast of James Bay in Ontario. Longridge is about 910 km (565 mi) north of Toronto. It is one of four shorebird camps this summer. See locations on map in link #1 below. Surveys are under the direction of Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service with partners the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bird Studies Canada, Trent University, Nature Canada and Moose Cree First Nation. Shorebird population declines and the need to protect crucial intertidal habitats are driving research. 

LONGRIDGE CREW: The seven crew members are Allie Anderson (Crew leader, Trent University, Peterborough ON), Barbara Charlton (ON), Dan Froehlich (Washington State), Kathryn Hoo (ON), Jean Iron (ON), Amie MacDonald (ON) and Felicia Sanders (South Carolina). 

SHOREBIRD OBSERVATIONS: 22 species to date. Total shorebirds 15,617 on Aug 6. Maximum counts and dates for each species at Longridge listed below. Counts are done from 2.5 hours before high tide to 2.5 hours after when shorebirds are more concentrated. Turnover from adults to juveniles is occurring rapidly for many (not all) species. 

Black-bellied Plover: 61 adults on Aug 6. 

American Golden-Plover: 1 first summer/second winter on Aug 6. 

Semipalmated Plover: 682 on July 31. 164 mostly adults on Aug 4. Many newly arrived juveniles on Aug 6. 

Killdeer: 10 on Aug 4.

Spotted Sandpiper: 7 on Aug 3. 

Solitary Sandpiper: 1 adult on Aug 3. 1 juvenile on Aug 6. 

Greater Yellowlegs: 664 on Aug 6, 60% juveniles. 

Lesser Yellowlegs: 776 on Aug 6, mostly juveniles. 

Whimbrel: 41 on Aug 3. First juvenile on July 31. 95 mostly juveniles on Aug 6. 

Marbled Godwit: 5 juveniles on Aug 4. An isolated population breeds on southern James Bay. This population migrates southwest to the Gulf of California, not to the Atlantic Coast as once believed. 

Hudsonian Godwit: 368 molting and fattening adults on July 31. 241 including first 2 juveniles on Aug 6. Many thousands are gathering farther north along James Bay. Most will fly non-stop to South America. 

Ruddy Turnstone: 400 adults on Aug 1. 

RED KNOT: Endangered rufa subspecies. 6000 adults seen on Aug 2 at Little Piskwamish Point South (fide Christian Friis). Smaller numbers at Longridge with 520 molting adults on Aug 4. Flags read from United States and Argentina. James Bay knots concentrate at a few favored stopover locations. They fatten and undergo variable amounts of body molt before most make the long non-stop flight to South America. This spring (2016) nano-tagged knotsfrom Delaware Bay were detected in James Bay for a day or two going north.

Nanotags give information on timing of migration, migration routes, how long staying at staging areas, breeding and wintering areas. 

Sanderling: 5 molting adults on Aug 1. 

Dunlin: Subspecies hudsonia. 10 molting adults on Aug 3. Dunlins are feeding on amphipod shrimp. 

Baird's Sandpiper: 1 adult on 31 July. 

Least Sandpiper: 741 mostly juveniles on Aug 6. Most adults have departed from the north. 

PEEPS: 10,000 mostly Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers on Aug 2 at Little Piskwamish Point South (fide Christian Friis). 

White-rumped Sandpiper: 3400 molting adults on Aug 6. Juveniles normally don't arrive until September. James Bay is the most important fall staging area for this sandpiper in North America. 1 adult banded on Aug 6 was very fat (fat score of 7) and was well molted into winter plumage. After fattening most adults overfly southern Canada and the United States going directly to South America.  

Pectoral Sandpiper: 147 adults and 1 juvenile (first) on Aug 2. 

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 800 on Aug 4 including 50 juveniles. First juvenile on 31 July. 1070 on Aug 6 including many more newly arrived juveniles.James Bay and the Bay of Fundy are the two most important stopover sites for southbound Semipalmated Sandpipers in North America. 

Wilson's Snipe: 6 on Aug 6, 1 still winnowing on Aug 3. 

Red-necked Phalarope: 1 juvenile July 31. 

SHOREBIRD FOODS: Shorebirds on James Bays feed on the abundant larvae of the bivalve Macoma balthica (clam), and in southern James Bay, the gastropod Hydrobia minuta (snail), as well as a variety of crustaceans (shrimps/crabs and relatives), worms and dipteran (fly) larvae (Ontario Shorebird Conservation Plan 2003). James Bay shorebirds are apparently not eating biofilm or "slime mud" as in some other areas (fide Allie Anderson). Biofilm is a thin layer of nutritious slime on mudflats.

UPCOMING AERIAL SURVEY: Legendary shorebird experts Guy Morrison and Ken Ross will be doing an aerial survey on August 9  going from Hannah Bay near the Quebec border to the mouth of the Ekwan River opposite Akimiski Island. They are focusing on Red Knots but will be counting all shorebirds. A nanotag detector will be attached to bottom of helicopter. Survey funded by Ontario's Species at Risk Research Fund.

PRAIRIE FALCON: An adult Prairie Falcon (found by Dan Froehlich) was seen 26 July 2016 at Longridge. Presumably this same Prairie Falcon was seen Aug 2 at Little Piskwamish Point South. The Prairie Falcon (photos taken) was seen again yesterday (Aug 6) at Longridge Point. This 2016 individual is the second record for James Bay. The first Prairie Falcon (a juvenile) for James Bay was found 2 August 2013 at Little Piskwamish Point, but not afterwards. It was accepted by the OBRC.

SOME OTHER BIRDS: Yellow Rails often heard ticking, high count of 8 on Aug 1. 1 Sora on July 31. American Black Duck, 16 on Aug 3. Black Scoter, 1000 mostly molting males on July 31. Common Goldeneye, 120 on Aug 3.

Osprey, 1 on Aug 2. Bald Eagle, 3 on Aug 4. Northern Goshawk, juvenile on Aug 4. Northern Harrier, 1 seen daily. Merlin on Aug 3/4.

Great Black-backed Gull, 2 first summer birds on Aug 3. Bonaparte's Gull 128 on July 31, 2 juveniles on Aug 2. Franklin's Gull on Jul 28, 29, 31 and Aug 2 and 6. Arctic Tern, 4 on Aug 3. Common Tern, 22 on Aug 3.

Alder Flycatcher, 8 on Aug 4. Gray Jay (4) and Boreal Chickadee (2) regular at camp. Rusty Blackbird, 11 on July 31.

Clay-colored Sparrow, 2 on Aug 1. Savannah Sparrow, 67 on Aug 4. Nelson's Sparrow (subspecies alter), 13 on Aug 1. Le Conte's Sparrow, 5 on July 30. Both Nelson's and Le Conte's heard and seen regularly. Lincoln's Sparrow, 6 on Aug 4. White-winged Crossbills, 141 on Aug 2 with some flocks seen flying in off James Bay. Common Redpoll, 6 on Jul 30. Pine Siskins also sighted.

MAMMALS: Beluga (White Whale) 1 dead on beach found July 17. Bald Eagles feeding on it. A Polar Bear was seen July 18, but not since. They are rare south of Akimiski Island where the world's most southerly population spends the summer. A Black Bear seen regularly. Gray Wolf, 2 seen. Family of Striped Skunks around camp. No voles and mice recorded (fide Dan Froehlich).

REPTILES: Eastern Gartersnake on Aug 2. 

BUTTERFLIES: Milbert's Tortoiseshell found by Barb Charlton.

1. Map showing locations of survey camps http://jeaniron.ca/2016/JB16/map2016.htm

2. Population Estimates of North American Shorebirds 2012 http://bit.ly/1zPebsP 

3. Guide to Southbound Shorebirds http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.southboundshorebirds

WESTERN HEMISPHERE SHOREBIRD RESERVE: The vast pristine intertidal mudflats and prairie-like coastal marshes of James Bay comprise one of the most important shorebird areas in the world. The hope is that James Bay or portions thereof will be designated a "Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve of Hemispheric Importance". James Bay greatly exceeds the minimum criteria for this designation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Survey camps are rented from the Moose Cree First Nation.The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (OMNRF) provides accommodations in the staff house while crews are in Moosonee. These surveys would not be possible without the many hours of dedicated volunteer effort. Jean thanks an anonymous donor for financial assistance. 

Jean messages me by DeLorme inReach two-way satellite communicator with GPS]and sometimes by satellite phone from out on the tidal flats. She's living her dream with the shorebirds. Second report in 6-7 days.

 Ron Pittaway (for Jean), Toronto, Ontario

Report # 2 on 15 August 2016

"The James Bay Coast is one of the seven ecological wonders of the world. It is a migration highway for shorebirds." Guy Morrison, Senior Shorebird Research Scientist, Canadian Wildlife Service. 

This is Jean Iron's second report for the period 7 - 13 August 2016 from Longridge Point (Lat 51.798681N, Lon 80.691619W) on the southwest coast of James Bay in Ontario. Longridge is about 910 km (565 mi) north of Toronto. It is one of four shorebird camps this summer. See locations on map in link #1 below. Surveys are under the direction of Christian Friis of the Canadian Wildlife Service with partners the Royal Ontario Museum, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Bird Studies Canada, Trent University, Nature Canada and Moose Cree First Nation. Shorebird population declines and the need to protect crucial intertidal habitats are driving research. 

LONGRIDGE CREW: The seven crew members are Allie Anderson (Crew leader, Trent University, Peterborough ON), Barbara Charlton (ON), Dan Froehlich (Washington State), Kathryn Hoo (ON), Jean Iron (ON), Amie MacDonald (ON) and Felicia Sanders (South Carolina). 

SHOREBIRD OBSERVATIONS: 24 species. Reports are from Longridge unless otherwise stated. High counts and dates for each species listed below. Large increases in juveniles of many species. Adults of many species have departed James Bay. 

Black-bellied Plover: 28 adults on Aug 10. Juveniles begin arriving in early September. 

American Golden-Plover: 4 adults on Aug 10. Juveniles begin arriving in early September. 

Semipalmated Plover: 368 on Aug 7, many juveniles by 12th. 

Killdeer: 10 on Aug 12. 

Spotted Sandpiper: 7 on Aug 9, all juveniles now. 

Greater Yellowlegs: 171 on Aug 8, 50% juveniles. Many adults still on 12th. Adults often undergo wing molt on James Bay. 

Lesser Yellowlegs: 279 on Aug 10, all juveniles. 

Whimbrel: 25 on Aug 9, all juveniles. 

Marbled Godwit: 5 on Aug 8, all juveniles. 

Hudsonian Godwit: 336 molting and fattening adults on Aug 12. Juvenile numbers increasing. Adults will depart James Bay from now to early September. Juveniles depart in September and October. 

Ruddy Turnstone: 577 adults on Aug 8. First juvenile on 10th. 

RED KNOT: The latest population estimate for the rufa subspecies is around 42,000 (Mark Peck, Royal Ontario Museum). There were 883 molting adults on Aug 7. First juvenile on 8th. A Red Knot with an orange flag TY banded in Argentina in March 2006 was re-sighted by Kathryn Hoo on 27 July 2016 at Longridge. In 2010 TY stayed for 18 days at Longridge. 

RED KNOT AERIAL SURVEY: Guy Morrison and Ken Ross conducted a 4-day helicopter survey (August 9-12) of the Ontario coast of James Bay from the Quebec border to the Ekwan River and the coastline of Akimiski Island, Nunavut. The total estimate of Red Knots was 10,500 mostly adults. This represents 25% of the rufa population. Areas of concentration included south of Little Piskwamish and in a bay several bays north of Longridge Point. The helicopter was carrying a nano-tag receiver that detected a lot of signals. We’ll have to wait for information to be downloaded to know the species of shorebirds. 

CURLEW SANDPIPER: One molting adult on Aug 11 at Little Piskwamish South. Found by Ross Wood. 

Sanderling: 38 molting and faded adults on Aug 11. Juveniles normally arrive mid-August into September. 

Dunlin: 55 molting adults on Aug 9. 

Least Sandpiper: 101 on Aug 7, almost all juveniles. 

PEEPS: 10,017 on Aug 7 and 4525 on 11th, mostly Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers.

White-rumped Sandpiper: 2794 on Aug 9, all molting adults. Most juveniles begin arriving in September. 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper: 2 adults on Aug 8 (photos). 

Pectoral Sandpiper: 156 almost all adults on Aug 7. Most juveniles arrive after mid-Aug. 

Semipalmated Sandpiper: 2614 on Aug 7. Large overnight turnover on Aug 6 and 7 from adults to juveniles. 

Short-billed Dowitcher: 5 juveniles on Aug 7. Adults have departed the breeding grounds. 

Wilson's Snipe: 8 on Aug 9. 

Wilson's Phalarope: 1 juvenile on Aug 9. A small disjunct population breeds in the prairie-like coastal marshes. 

Red-necked Phalarope: 3 juveniles on Aug 9. 

PRAIRIE FALCON UPDATE: The Prairie Falcon previously reported as an adult is a juvenile. Jerry Liguori, a leading authority on North American raptors, examined a photo. Jerry stated that it is a “juvenile only a few months old”. The Prairie Falcon was seen again on August 6 at Longridge and presumably the same individual was at Little Piskwamish South on August 10 and 11. If accepted by the OBRC, this will be the second record for the Ontario section of James Bay. Ken Abraham (pers. comm.) commented that "We have a sight record of a Prairie Falcon on Akimiski Island in 1998 by Jeff Gleason, who is very familiar with the species as he grew up in the US Great Plains. Because there were no photos, we have not "pushed" the record, but given the recent sightings it is probably good. I have a paragraph from Jeff somewhere in my files." Note that Akimiski Island is part of Nunavut, not Ontario.

SOME OTHER BIRDS: Snow Goose: 38 mostly blue morph birds on Aug 11. American Black Duck, 16 on Aug 3. White-winged Scoter: 2 on Aug 7 and 1 on 11th. Black Scoter, 885 mostly molting males on Aug 11.

American Bittern: 1 on 8 and 10 Aug. American White Pelican: 20 on Aug 8. YELLOW RAIL: 5 on Aug 11, still ticking loudly all night on 12th. Sora: 5 on Aug 7.

Bonaparte's Gull: 2049 on Aug 10, low number of juveniles. Little Gull: 2 adults and 1 juvenile on Aug 7 at Little Piskwamish and 1 adult at Little Piskwamish South on Aug 10. Franklin's Gull last seen on Aug 7.

Black-billed Cuckoo: carrying food on Aug 12 at Little Piskwamish. Olive-sided Flycatcher: 2 on Aug 12. Gray Jay: 2 adults and 1 juvenile regular at camp. Common Raven: 31 on Aug 8. Boreal Chickadee: 3 on Aug 10. Swainson's Thrush: 1 juvenile on 11, 12 and 13. American Pipit: 1 on Aug 10. Bohemian Waxwing: 1

5 on Aug 9 at Little Piskwamish. Rusty Blackbird: 30 on Aug 9. Clay-colored Sparrow: 4 on Aug 7 were last sightings. Savannah Sparrow, 67 on Aug 4. Nelson's Sparrow (subspecies alter): 8 on Aug 10, still singing on 13th but much less song. Le Conte's Sparrow: 6 on Aug 10 still singing. Fox Sparrow: 2 on Aug 7. HARRIS'S SPARROW: 1 on Aug 10 found by Barb Charlton. Red Crossbill: 1 on Aug 11 at Little Piskwamish, 1 on Aug 13 at Little Piskwamish South. White-winged Crossbill: 30 on Aug 9. 

MAMMALS: Gray Wolf: 2 on Aug 10 (video). Black Bear: 4 on Aug 12  including a female with 2 cubs. American Pine Marten: 1 on Aug 9. Beluga (White Whale): 5 on Aug 7 at Little Piskwamish South. Striped Skunk: almost daily around camp. POLAR BEAR: Guy Morrison and Ken Ross on aerial survey saw over 20 Polar Bears on north coast of Akimiski Island in Nunavut. All bears looked to be in good condition and several females had 2 cubs. No Polar Bears sighted on the Ontario Coast south of Akimiski Island. 

BUTTERFLIES: Mustard White, Bronze Copper, Northern Crescent, Northern Spring Azure, Red Admiral, White Admiral, Common Ringlet and Mourning Cloak. List compiled by Barb Charlton.

1. Map showing locations of survey camps: http://jeaniron.ca/2016/JB16/map2016.htm 

2. Population Estimates of North American Shorebirds 2012: http://bit.ly/1zPebsP 

3. Guide to Southbound Shorebirds: http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.southboundshorebirds

WESTERN HEMISPHERE SHOREBIRD RESERVE: The vast pristine intertidal mudflats and prairie-like coastal marshes of James Bay comprise one of the most important shorebird areas in the world. The hope is that James Bay or portions thereof will be designated a "Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve of Hemispheric Importance". James Bay greatly exceeds the minimum criteria for this designation.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: Survey camps are rented from the Moose Cree First Nation. Crews stay at Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) staff house while in Moosonee. MNRF helicopter transported crews in and out of camps on August 13. Surveys would not be possible without the many hours of dedicated volunteer effort. We thank to Jerry Liguori for aging the Prairie Falcon. Jean thanks an anonymous donor for financial assistance.

Jean returns home today. She will file a summary report #3 with a link to photos on her website in a few days. 

Ron Pittaway, Toronto, Ontario

Report # 3 on 18 August 2016

Please see link for 7 pages of photos and videos.

http://jeaniron.ca/2016/JB16/p1.htm

Best wishes, Jean Iron and Ron Pittaway