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

 Good Morning

The Snowy Egret was present this morning at 8:05 am in the same location as
it has been all week on Horseshoe Bay. Also present were 2 semipalmated
Sandpiper.
At Mirimichi bay this morning were 2 Caspian Tern Sitting on a sand spit and
2 Common Tern Fishing for breakfast. As I was watching the Common tern dive
into the shallow water a flock of 17 Dunlin flew in and landed giving great
views.

Mirimichi Bay and Horseshoe Bay are north of Port Elgin along the shore of
Lake Huron. To get there take HWY #21 north and turn west on the 10th Conc.
Saugeen and head towards the lake, turn North along the shore road. The
first bay is Mirimichi Bay and the second is Horseshoe Bay.

Yours in Birding 
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving
and joining the list. As well as general information and content
guidelines.

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

Good Morning
 

The Snowy Egret is still to be found at Horseshoe Bay about half way between
Port Elgin and Southampton at 6:50 am this morning. It is in the same
location as previously reported, on the north side of the bay in front of
two cottages in the shallow waters. It is feeding on small fish and what
ever else it can find. The bird has not been seen by myself in the afternoon
and I do not know where it spends the night, maybe on Chantry Island with
the rest of the Egrets and Herons. Also seen on horseshoe bay were:
Great Blue Heron - 2
Great Egret - 1
Blue winged Teal - 2
Mallard - 2

On Mirimichi Bay which is the next bay over to the south closer to Port
Elgin were
Caspian Tern - 1
Dunlin - 3
Spotted Sandpiper - 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper - 2  

Directions to Horseshoe Bay. Take the 10th Conc. Saugeen west from HWY 21
between Port Elgin and Southampton towards the lake and turn north along the
Shore road. The first Bay you come too is Mirimichi Bay and the second is
Horseshoe Bay. 

Yours in birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving
and joining the list. As well as general information and content
guidelines.

---

The Snowy Egret found yesterday is still there today. I was there at 7:15am this morning. It is in the location as yesterday.

Directions are as reported in Fred's Email.
From HWY #21 take 10th Conc. Saugeen west towards lake and then north on Shore road. The first Bay is Mirimichi and the second is Horseshoe Bay.

Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving
and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.

This morning I received a call about a Snowy Egret on Horseshoe Bay between Port Elgin and Southampton. My birding friend Fred Jazvac had found this bird at about 9:15 am and I was there at about 10:50 am to see the bird. It was still there and in Beautiful white plumage, dark bill, yellow lores, black legs and yellow feet when it walked. It was seen again at about 11:45 by myself along the right side of the bay looking out towards Chantry Island.

Birds seen in MacGregor Park this morning around the Day use Picnic area included American Redstart, Black Throated Green Warbler, Mourning Dove, Scarlet Tanager, Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Yellow Rumped Warbler.

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup
mpikcup@log.on.ca

Hi Gord

Today I took a walk along the DU Pond and the Tower Trail to see what birds were around. A different habitat and different birds. Today was a good day for Thrushes among which were Wood, Swainson's, american Robin and Veery. Flycatchers were common as well, there were Least, Eastern Wood Pewee, Eastern Phoebe, Great Crested and Eastern Kingbird. Other birds of note were Baltimore Oriole, Rose Breasted Grosbeak,Northern Flicker, Swamp and Song Sparrow, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Golden Winged Warbler and Heard 4 Sora Rail (saw one).

Yours In birding
Mike Pickup

Hi Gord

I was in the Park again today and walked along the shore south from the Visitor Centre and found a total of fourteen warblers. Warblers seen were Yellow, Chestnut Sided, Magnolia, Black Throated Blue, many Yellow Rumped, Black Throated Green, Blackburnian, Palm, Blackpoll, Black and White, American Redstart, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush and Common Yellowthroat. Other birds seen were 6 Scarlet Tanager (4 male and 2 female), pair of Rose Breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, White Throated and White Crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, House Wren, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, Least Flycatcher, Great Crested Flycatcher and Yellow Bellied sapsucker. Quite a good variety as we get ready for the Huron Fringe Birding Festival. Come and join us for the Festival starting on 23rd May to 1st June. For more information call the Park at 519-389-6231 or visit the Friends of MacGregor Park website at http://www.friendsofmacgregor.org

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup

Hi Gord

I have been away for over a week and just got back and made trip into MacGregor Park today. I was quite surprised at all the warblers I found in short period of time on the road near the Visitor Centre. Warblers seen and/or heard were Black and White, Nashville, Yellow Rumped, Black Throated Blue, Common Yellowthroat, Ovenbird, Northern Waterthrush, Bay Breasted, Blackburnian, Palm and Chestnut Sided. Also seen were Great Crested Flycatcher, Downy Woodpecker and Eastern Kingbird.

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Hi Gord

I have been away for a few days and I decided it was time to head back to my favourite spot, MacGregor Park. I went down to the cottage area of the park and hiked a trail and the roads in the area. I walked out to Merganser Cove and back with not much luck at all, only saw a pair of Hooded Merganser at Merganser Cove, so aptly named, a Turkey Vulture and a Song Sparrow. Back to the cottage area and I was pleasantly surprised at the numbers of birds around. The highlights were many Yellow Rumped Warbler( around 20), Palm Warbler(4), Chipping Sparrow(4), pair of Northern Cardinal, pair of Song Sparrow, Ruby Crowned Kinglet(10-12) and lots of Brown Creeper(16).

Yours in birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Check out the Friends Website http://www.friendsofmacgregor.org or call the park at (519)-389-6231 or 6232 for information on the Huron Fringe Birding Festival. The Festival runs from the 23rd May to the 1st June 2003.

Hi Gord

Two new birds for the year. This afternoon my Grandson and I went for a short hike in MacGregor Park and were treated to good looks at an Eastern Towhee and Fox sparrow. The Fox Sparrow was seen along the shore north from the Visitor Centre. The Towhee was seen around Turtle Pond while my Grandson was feeding the Chickadees and two Red Breasted Nuthatches.

Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

This evening while having my supper I had an unusual assortment of birds at my feeders enjoying there supper as well. I had 4 different Sparrows, White Throated, White Crowned, Chipping, and Tree Sparrows, American Goldfinch, House Finch, Mourning Dove, Red Winged Blackdirds, Brown headed Cowbirds and Dark eyed Junco. Also present was a Black Squirrel and Two rabbits, which made for an entertaining 1/2 hour of bird watching.

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Hi Gord

The Spring Nature Series sponsored by the Friends of MacGregor has started for another year. The first event was a bird hike lead by myself and we hiked the Tower Trail from the parking lot in MacGregor to the viewing tower and back. It was a cool night and got colder after the sun went down, but there were a few birds still out. The highlight of the hike was the first warblers of the season. Two Yellow Rumped Warbler were seen near the viewing tower. Other birds seen were many American Robins, downy Woodpecker, Great Blue Heron, Many Canada Geese, pair of Wood Duck, pair of American Widgeon, six Ring Necked Duck, fourteen Bufflehead, six Blue Winged Teal and an Eastern Phoebe.

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Hi Gord

I made another trip to MacGregor Park this morning, 21st April 2003. I drove south of Port Elgin and down the 10th Conc. and then back north along the I/J road. I also spotted 4 Northern harrier (2 male and 2 female), a couple of American Kestrel. I stopped at the DU Pond and hiked the Tower Trail again to see if there was anything new. Today there were a couple of Black Crowned Night Heron (2 male amd 1 female), a Great Egret, Blue Winged Teal, Ringed Necked Duck, Wood Duck and Canada Geese. Along the trail I got to see 3 wonderful Pileated Woodpecker, still lots of Golden Crowned Kinglet and a few Ruby Crowned, lots of Brown Creepers in different spots and four or five Eastern Phoebe. On my way home to Southampton I stopped at the foot of Beach St. to look out on Chantry Island and saw lots of great blue Herons and Seven Great Egrets all on nests, along with the usual 100's of Gulls and Double Crested Cormorants.

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Gord,

If anyone is interested, I've spotted several Northern Harriers in Bruce County at the intersection of the 8th of Bruce and J1 sideroad, just south of Port Elgin. There were 4 or 5 out there, as well as many Red Tails, Turkey Vultures, and Kestrels. Thought I'd let you know.

Tim Lanthier
timlanthier@hotmail.com

Hi Gord

Here is another bird sighting report for Friday, 18th April 2003. I ventured out early this morning to hike the Tower Trail at th DU Pond of MacGregor Park. I was lucky enough to miss most of the heavy rains, but it was raining for part of my hike. There were lots of Golden Crowned Kinglets, Brown Creepers, a few Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Song Sparrow, White Crowned Sparrow and Chipping Sparrows along the road besides the pond. Many Canada Geese present along with Blue Winged Teal(4 pairs), Mallard, Wood Duck, Bufflehead, American Widgeon(pair), Northern Pintail(pair), Northern Flicker and a Belted Kingfisher. Next I drove into the Park and stopped at the parking lot for the tower Trail and walked the trail towards the Tower. Here were many Golden Crowned Kinglets, Brown Creeper, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy woodpecker, Yellow Bellied Sapsucker, Eastern Phoebe, Northern Pintail(at third pond in from parking lot) and an American Bittern(at same pond).

On my way home from the Park I stopped at the Harbour in Port Elgin where there was a Common Loon, Lesser Scaup, Double Crested Cormorant, bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, Common Merganser and Hooded Merganser.

Yours in birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca

Hi Gord

The Huron Fringe Birding Festival is fast approaching and I will be out checking the local birding sights daily now. Yesterday on a trip to the Kincardine Sewage Lagoons I spotted a Ruby Crowned Kinglet, and a flock of Brewer's Blackbirds as well as some Rusty Blackbirds along the edge of the Lagoons. The ducks are starting to show up now and the Lagoons produced Ring Necked, Mallard, Blue Winged Teal, large numbers of Greater and Lesser Scaup, Northern Shoveller and lots of Bufflehead.

Come and join us for the Festival at MacGregor Park from May 23rd to June 1st, 2003. For more information contact Norah Toth at the Park 519-389-6231 or check out the Friends of MacGregor website at http://www.friendsofmacgregor.org

Yours in Birding
Mike Pickup
mpickup@log.on.ca