The egret roost at Richmond Drive just west of Cornwall is on the rise. Two weeks ago we had 14-18 egrets on the roost. Last night Brian Morin and I counted 42 egrets. The first arrived at 7:25 PM and the last came in at 8:20 PM. The roost is in plain view and it is a pleasure to watch them flutter around before they perch. There are also other herons plus other birds on the marsh, green herons, black-crowned night herons, great blues, American bittern and sometimes a least bittern puts in an appearance. To get to Richmond Drive, take Power Dam Dr. exit off the 401 coming from the west and follow it to the stoplight on highway #2 ( Vincent Massey DR.). Turn right. There is no exit from the 401 on Power Dam Dr. from the east. You will have to exit at Brookdale, turn south, then turn right on Tollgate Rd. and turn right again on Highway#2 ( Vincent Massey Dr..) Richmond Dr. is just west of Cornwall on Highway #2. About 3km(roughly) west of Power Dam Dr. you will come to Richmond Dr. on the north and Floral Dr. on the south. Go up Richmond Dr. and follow the left turn in the road. Straight ahead is the entry to a large marsh on the left side of the road. If you cross the railway tracks you have gone too far. There is an abandoned spur line that runs through the south end of the marsh. The main railway runs through the north side of the marsh. Do not walk by the side of the main rail line; it is illegal to walk on or near an active rail line. Park on the side of the road. The path leads out to the abandoned line. Follow it for some interesting birding. On your way in, on the south side of the marsh in the low lying dead trees is the egret roost. You can view it from the path but the best view is from the abandoned rail line. Good birding, Bob Scranton _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
