Hello Ontbirders Today Saturday, Nov.15, 2003 Stan Bajurny & I headed to the west end of Lake Ontario with a side trip to Niagara Falls for the California Gull.
We first stopped at Gray Rd then Sayer's Park and Green Rd. Close off shore At Sayer's Park Stan spotted the male Barrow's Goldeneye with about 200 Surf and White-winged Scoters as well as 25+ Black Scoters and several thousand other to be expected waterfowl. After a brief stop at Niagara and an even briefer conversation with Kayo Roy we headed for Port Weller.We made the long and tiring (for me) walk to the lighthouse on the east side of the Welland Canal only to be told (by a birder named Brian) that 2 Purple Sandpipers had just flown off just 19 minutes before we arrived. We hung around for 30 to 40 minutes and started back only to have Brian catch up with us (he was on a bike) and tell us that 15 minutes after we left a Parasitic Jaeger flew past close inshore chasing a Bonaparte's Gull. Brian also told us that 2 Purple Sandpipers were there yesterday (Fri.14th of Nov. 2003) as well as a male Harlequin Duck, these Kayo Roy also told us about, thus the reason for our walk out there. It wasn't a wasted walk out there as while there we saw 2 Red-throated Loons, 2 flocks totaling 41 snow Buntings and a close fly past at eye level of a flock of 46 Lapland Longspurs and a fly pass of approx. 2500 Red-breasted Mergansers. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] GRAY ROAD, LAWRENCE SAYER'S PARK & GREEN ROAD IN STONEY CREEK >From the Toronto direction exit the QEW highway at Centenial Parkway on the south end of the Burlington Skyway. Drive under the QEW and drive a short distance to the North Service Road, turn right and drive along the Service Road to Drake Drive (just past the Gray Road overpass). Turn left on Drake and drive the short distance to Frances Avenue and turn left, drive to Gray Road and turn right and drive to the lake. Alternately you can turn right at Frances Avenue and drive to Green Road, turn left at Green Road and drive to the lake. For Lawrence Sayer's Park you can turn right off Gray Road just before you get to the lake and drive to the park (obey the no parking signs here as others have received a ticket). Or you can drive straight down Drake to the park from the Service Road. PORT WELLER EAST SIDE Exit the QEW Highway at exit # 44 (Niagara Street) and drive north across the QEW and up Niagara St. to Lakeshore Road. Turn right (east) on Lakeshore and cross the Welland canal bridge and immediately after crossing the bridge turn left (north) on Broadway. Continue up Broadway until you bump in to the lake and you will see a small parkette on your left with a small parking lot. Park here (it is safer here than at the gate at the start of the trail) and walk to the gate at the entrance to the marina (it looks like a prison camp gate). At the gate follow the small trail along the fence to your left and in about 100 yards you will be at the gate at the start of the main trail (Seaway Haulage Road). From this gate you walk straight ahead for about 2 km to the lake and lighthouse checking the trees and bushes along the way. "Norm Murr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
