Migration Watch at Port Burwell PP September 28, 2003
This morning, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. 44 visitors and campers joined us to watch the migration at Port Burwell. Visitors and campers included some from Ohio, Michigan and Toronto. The west winds did not produce a good hawk flight but the Blue Jay and American Goldfinch flight was impressive. The forecast waterspouts over Lake Erie did not materialize.
In the first hour over 4000 Blue Jays darkened the skies and the morning's total was 5,338. The American Goldfinch flight was one of the most impressive in several years with almost 1500. Other migrants included 49 Tree Swallows, 2 Rusty Blackbirds, several flocks of blackbirds [the first of the fall here], 2 Common Loons, several flocks of Canada Geese, 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers and 119 Monarchs. The Monarch flight was much subdued compared to the last couple of days when 1000s were along the lakeshore.
72 hawks of 7 species passed by including 2 Osprey, 1 Merlin, and 40 Sharp-shinned Hawks. On the beach, besides a few hundred gulls, were 1 Dunlin, 2 Sanderlings and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs.
The interpretive migration watch will be held for two more Sundays: October 5 and 12.
Port Burwell PP is on the Lake Erie shoreline west of Long Point and south of Tillsonburg at the east end of Elgin County. The migration watch is at parking lot # 5 in the day-use/beach portion of the park.
Cost: Park entry fee ($6.00) or use your Ontario Parks season's pass. Dave Martin, Ross Snider, Linda Wladarski, Terry Ricker Port Burwell, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dave Martin <[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.
