Gadwall, Pintail & others St. Clair River, Sombra - Sun, 14 Jan 2001

Hi everyone,

The significant winter concentration of waterbirds continues in the mid St. Clair River area. With the recent mild weather, the river is quite clear, waterfowl has spread out, and there are fewer gulls (They always seem to leave when it gets mild!). At least 15 species of ducks are present, as well as 5 species of gulls. At least 3 "good" winter ducks are in the area. This morning I noted 3 GADWALL--one at Sombra dock, and two just north of Terra Ind., Bickford Line. There was a female PINTAIL at Terra outfall, and as well a male WIGEON is wintering in the vicinity of the Sombra dock. The MALLARD x BLACK hybrids are still at the dock, being fed by a local resident. There are at least 3 ICELAND GULLS (always a good bird on the St. Clair)--2 adults and 1 first basic. The adult was at Sombra today, and yesterday the imm. was off Terra Ind. At least 12 Glaucous gulls are still in this area. There are BALD EAGLES hunting the river, one imm. was at Fawn Island this morning, along with a female HARRIER.

Directions to Sombra and St. Clair River: Find Hwy 40 which runs N/S between Sarnia and Wallaceburg. Turn west on Lambton Rd. 2 (Bentpath Line) and take to Sombra on the river. Sombra Bay is right in front of you. Fawn Island is just to the south of the village. The St. Clair Parkway (Rd. 33) follows the river along its length.

Blake A. Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email: boatmann@kent.net

Iceland Gull, R. C. Kinglet, P. B. Grebe, St. Clair River - Sat, 6 Jan 2001

Hello birders,

Along the St. Clair River, I noted that many gulls and ducks are still in the lower half of the river. A 2nd basic ICELAND GULL was near the Sombra Ferry Dock. Also at the dock beside the causeway was a PIED-BILLED GREBE which I had not seen previously. There are still over 20 GLAUCOUS GULLS of various ages north to the Lambton Generating Station. At ICI (Terra Industries) along the river I noted a single RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET along the river bank at an old apple tree (just a few hundred metres north of the last house). Two imm. BALD EAGLES were out and about (one at Fawn Island, one at Sombra Bay) and I observed one take a male Com. Goldeneye, and carelessly drop it on land. The duck tumbled about, then sat upright. There are a couple of nice MALLARD X BLACK hybrids also at the Sombra dock. There are at least a dozen species of ducks, mostly Canvasbacks throughout the river.

Directions to Sombra and St. Clair River: Find Hwy 40 which runs N/S between Sarnia and Wallaceburg. Turn west on Lambton Rd. 2 and take to Sombra on the river. Sombra Bay is right in front of you. Fawn Island is just to the south of the village. The St. Clair Parkway (Rd. 33) follows the river along its length.

Blake A. Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email: boatmann@kent.net

Wild Turkeys in south Lambton - Mon, 1 Jan 2001

Happy New Year all!

While doing the Wallaceburg CBC on Dec. 30 I was happy to come across 19 Wild Turkeys. This is the first time they appeared on our count. They were in the middle of a field just south of Lambton Rd. 1 and about 1 km east of the Brigden Rd. A grand total of 38 were seen for the count. As a side note, we had 31 Glaucous Gulls, 2 Iceland, 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull and over a thousand Herring Gulls on the St. Clair River.

Blake A. Mann,
Wallaceburg,
Chatham-Kent, Ont.
email: boatmann@kent.net
Visit the Boat Doctor at:
www.kent.net/boatdr