Avocet - Townsend Sewage Ponds - May 30, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

The Avocet was observed today around 1 p.m. at the Townsend Sewage Ponds
(along with Killdeer,  Spotted Sandpiper, and Northern Shovelers).  No sign
of any Phalaropes.

Directions to Townsend Sewage Ponds:  From Hagersville go south on Hwy 6;
just before Jarvis, turn right at Nanticoke Creek Parkway #69.  At the stop
in Townsend, turn left at Keith Richardson Pkwy.  Turn right at Conc. 14
Twp. Rd.; the lagoons are a few 100 m on the right.


Glenn Barrett ,  B.Sc.

Wildlife Toxicology Technician
Canadian Wildlife Service - Environment Canada
867 Lakeshore Rd.
Burlington, Ontario  L7R 4A6
905-336-4968       336-6434 (fax)
email:  Glenn.Barrett@ec.gc.ca

Canadian Wildlife Service-Ontario Region web site:
http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/wildlife/intro.html

Laughing Gull SW of Dunnville - May 19, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

At about 12:30 pm today (May 19) I had an adult Laughing Gull along the Lake
Erie shoreline SW of Dunnville.  It was behind #2860 Lakeshore Rd, which is
0.5 km west of Hald-Dunn Townline Rd.  I don't know if this is the same
individual seen yesterday closer to Selkirk, but this is about 20 km east of
there.  There were many shorebirds at numerous locations between Selkirk and
Port Maitland, including two Whimbrel east of Haldimand Reg. Rd. 50, and
numbers of Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher and a few
Sanderling and Ruddy Turnstones.

Rob Dobos
Waterdown, Ont.
rob.dobos@ec.gc.ca

Laughing Gull - Selkirk - Whimberel others - May 18, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

While freezing on our Baillie Birdathon for BSC and South Peel
Naturalists' Club, Sheldon McGregor, Donna Sheppard and myself found
an adult Laughing Gull 100 m east of Wheeler Rd on Lake Erie (just
east of Selkirk Provincial Park.

In additional to the birds mentioned in John Miles' post we also had
Red-necked Phalarope at the Townsend Sewage Lagoons (1st pond) and a
Wilson's Phalarope at Smithville Sewage Lagoons (1st pond).  

Directions: Hwy 20 through Smithville.  Right at Road 614.  Lagoon
access on left side by new houses.  

TOWNSEND SEWAGE LAGOONS (thanks to Norm Murr)
On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass through
Hagersville and drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the town
you will see a sign indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek Parkway
#69. Turn right here and drive to the intersection with the stop
signs, turn left on Keith Richardson Parkway and drive past some park
ponds on your right. Drive ahead until you see a small children's
shelter with an air conditioner on it's side (really). Turn right here
on Conc. 14 TWP. This is just before you reach the abandoned railway
line (tracks removed) and it is on your right. Turn right here and
drive a few hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating
that this is a waste treatment area.. Park well to the side of the
road or across the road and do not block the gate.

-- 
Mark Cranford
cranford@attcanada.ca
Mississauga,  Ontario

R.N. Phalarope - Townsend S. lagoon - May 18, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

During my Birdathon today there was a Red Necked Phalarope in the mudflats
in the first pond at Townsend sewage lagoons today at 4:00. I'm not sure how
long it's been there but I haven't seen any prior reports. Also present were
Dunlin, Least Sandpiper, 1 SB Dowitcher, Shovelers, Ring Necked Ducks, Am.
Wigeon, lots of Ruddy's, Lesser Scaup.

Directions to Townsend Sewage Lagoon: From Simcoe, take Hgy. 3 east toward
Jarvis, and turn north on the Townsend Road (Reg. Rd. 74), which is about 3
kms. before you reach Jarvis. Go north to first intersection, turn left, and
proceed a couple of hundred yards to sewage lagoons on north side of the
road.

Jack Alvo
alvo@sympatico.ca
Toronto

Haldimand sightings - May 18, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Late this afternoon Mark Cranford and party found an adult Laughing Gull
near the foot of the Wheeler Rd  (The road Selkirk Prov. Pk is on). The bird
was just east of the Wheeler Rd.  on the Lakeshore Rd. opposite 911 sign
no.45 on the shore with some Ring-billed Gulls. This is the same spot where
the Tufted Duck was several winters ago.
Between the Selkirk Rd. and the Fisherville Rd. on the Lakeshore Rd.
opposite the Salvation Army Camp were 2 Whimbrel.
Just west of the foot of the Kohler Rd at the first rocky point and before
you get to Hoover Pt. if going west the adult Franklin's Gull reported
Thursday was still there this evening along with 2 adult Little Gulls. There
was no sign of the Glaucous Gull  seen there Thursday.
Haldimand County is on the north shore of Lake Erie south of Hamilton.

John Miles
Jarvis, Ont.
1-519-587-5223
miles@kwic.com

Haldimand sightings - May 16, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

This afternoon just west of the foot of the Kohler Rd. on the first rocky
point was an adult Franklin's Gull. Also on the same rock point was an
immature Glaucous Gull. A female Cerulean Warbler was in Selkirk Provincial
Park low in the scrubery along the roadway into the maintanence shed. At the
Nanticoke Harbour just upstream from the lake was a Tundra Swan.
Haldimand County is south of Hamilton along the north shore of Lake Erie.
The Kohler Rd. is the 2nd road going south off No.3 west of Cayuga.

John Miles
Jarvis
Ont.
1-519-587-5223
miles@kwic.com

Eared Grebe, Eurasina Wigeon, White-eyed Vireo, etc.
(Several Locations) - April 20, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Today Terrie Smith and I had one of those neat birding days when everything
goes right ...

it started at Ashbridge's Bay at the crack of 7:30 where we got the Eared
Grebe at close range, along with out first of many Yellow-rumped Warblers.
We travelled to Caledonia where we found 5 Greater Yellowlegs in a roadside
pond.

The next stop was the Townsend sewage lagoons, where we added a great many
birds, including about  a dozen species of ducks, Purple Martins, Lesser
Yellowlegs, [+ several Greaters] Pectoral Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper,
Spotted Sandpiper and Eastern Kingbird. We also saw the "white" goose that
has gained some notoriety ... it flew in with several Canadas, but landed
too far away for us to be much help in deciding if it was a Ross' or a
hybrid ... we await other opinions.

From Townsend we went to Wilson Tract [southwest of the junction of Hwy 24
and 59] where we found Louisiana Waterthrush, Pine Warbler and Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher. On to Lee Brown's we easily found the Eurasian Wigeon.

From here it was Long Point and Old Cut, where a White-eyed Vireo, Sora,
Forster's Tern, House Wren and Rough-winged Swallows delighted us. Overhead,
a spectacular east to west migration of Red-tailed Hawks, Turkey Vultures
and 3 Bald Eagles just inland of the causeway was most intriguing.  Turkey
Point yielded 2 adult Little Gulls and Bank Swallows at Port Ryerse.

Finally to see if we could break a hundred species for the day, we went to
Beamer and found 6 Broad-winged Hawks [#98], Cooper's Hawk [99], Chimney
Swift [100], and Hairy Woodpecker [101].

All in all a great day to say the least.

Directions [copied from other's emails]

Beamer: QEW to exit 71/72 (Christie St), follow Christie St.
toward the escarpment or into the town until it becomes Mountain Rd.
Continue up Mountain Rd. to the top of the hill, turn right onto Ridge Rd.
W., go west 1.6km (1mi) to Quarry Rd., turn right 100m to Beamer CA
entrance.

Old Cut can be reached by taking hwy. 59 south and over Big Creek
Marsh and turning left onto Old Cut Blvd.  the field station is a short
distance on the right.  Bird Studies Canada Headquarters, Port Rowan
overlook and Turkey Point are all along Lakeshore Rd. which can be
accessed at the flashing light on Hwy 59 just before crossing the marsh.

Directions to Ashbridge's Bay Park:

From the Lakeshore Blvd. East, turn south on Coxwell Avenue and drive
right into the park.  Park in the southernmost lot.  Check the small bay
off the boating ramps for waterfowl.  Then take the walkway
south-southwest into the park all the way to the outer wall on the lake
side.  Check all along this wall all the way to the prominent southwest
point for the grebes.  You will most likely need a scope to see the
Eared Grebe.  The city charges for parking on the weekends.

Townsend lagoons: On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass
through Hagersville and drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the 
town you will see a sign indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek 
Parkway #69. Turn right here and drive to the intersection with the 
stop signs, turn left on Keith Richardson Parkway and drive past some 
park ponds on your right. Drive ahead until you see a small
children's shelter with an air conditioner on it's side (really). Turn right
here on Conc. 14 TWP. This is just before you reach the abandoned railway
line (tracks removed) and it is on your right. Turn right here and drive 
a few hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating that 
this is a waste treatment area.. Park well to the side of the road or 
across the road and do not block the gate.

Geoff Carpentier
Ajax, Ontario
geoffcarpentier@rogers.com

Great Egret, American Bittern, others - April 14, 2002

Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

Howdy Birders!

13 April:

Turkey Point Provincial Park:  
-A GREAT EGRET was seen foraging at the western end of
Turkey Point beach near the Marina.

14 April

Long Point:  
-Four OLDSQUAW were seen flying from the Inner Bay out
into the lake
-AMERICAN BITTERN - seen
-SAVANNAH SPARROW - seen
-COMMON YELLOWTHROAT - heard

Turkey Point and Long Point are in Norfolk County. 
Turkey Pt. can be reached by taking highway 24 to Rt.
10 south.  Long pt can be reached by taking highway 24
to 59 south.

be well...dream ducks--

--mike--
=====
Dept. of Zoology................Long Point Waterfowl and
Biology and Geology Bldg........Wetlands Research Fund
University of Western Ontario...PO Box 160              
London, Ontario.................Port Rowan, Ontario
Canada N6A 5B7..................Canada NOE 1MO
Phone (519) 661-3155............Phone (519) 586-3531
Fax (519) 661-2014..............
MICHAEL SCHUMMER anatid@yahoo.com

Smiths Longspur X 2 - Sat, 02 Feb 2002

Please Excuse my spelling ,I am Dyslexic
thank you for your understanding.


 To day after hearing about John Miles GREAT find !!! “You are the man”
John
“Birder Extraordinaire” ……

 I jump in my car and drove out to look for it .

when I got their all I found was long faces  the bird had not bin seen ,
ever one wrought down each others cell phone # and off we went looking
for the bird , it was suggested to me that some one should stay back
just in case others came or the bird came back !!! so I went back and
eat my lunch

Gerry Shemilt came back and we discuss our next move to find this bird ,
when I saw a flock of horned larks in the field in front of us , Gerry
got out her scoop and started looking through them then ask if I wood
like to look( ooo thank you )  the second bird I look at had a all Buffy
chest and a slight dark cap, their it was !!! the SMITH'S LONGSPUR
yaaaaaaaaaaaa hooooooooooooooooooo    it was so hard to believe I tried
to make it in to Any other bird !!

Jest then our cell phones started going off !!! Bill Lindley had found
another one over on the third line……
On my way home I drove up the Third line and ree found this one , out on
a Icy field just to the left of house # 469  this was at 3:00 pm .. way
cool 2 Smith’s Longspur in Ont. !!!!

And yet another reason not to live Ontario to bird!!!! They all come to
us.


2nd and 3nd concession rd are found north of Hagersville just east of
No. 6. hiway.

Craig.S.A.McLauchlan
Toronto/Ont/Canada/World.
csam@sympatico.ca

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