Prompted into action by Carol McKnight's message that the American Avocet was still south of Guelph yesterday morning, I made the thunder run out there today and was rewarded with marvellous looks at the elegant visitor. As posted, take the Hwy. 6 NORTH exit from Hwy. 401, turn left at the first intersection (County Road 34), then follow it west to County Road 35 (second left). Follow this rather busy road south a short distance until you see the farm building with two blue silos on the east side of the road. The avocet is in the little pond at the front of the property, close to the roadside. There were four Lesser Yellowlegs attending its highness this afternoon at 2:00.
Back in York Region, where we do not always get to see a wide variety of waders, a Great Egret has been lingering in the southern section of the McKenzie Marsh in Aurora. Feeding behind it on the fringe of the bullrushes early this morning was a Sora rail. Also in attendance were numerous Great Blue Herons, two immature Black-crowned Night Herons, three Belted Kingfishers, a half-dozen DC Cormorants, and, before they dispersed noisily at 7:00 a.m., a mixed flock of at least 3,000 blackbirds (red-wings, grackles, starlings, and numerous Rusty Blackbirds). Ron Fleming, Newmarket "Ronald J. Fleming" <[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.
