Hi All,
Yesterday, Tuesday, January 6, Tony Bigg, Geoff Carpentier and myself did a
tour through Embro, London, Long Point, Fisherville and Hamilton.
Near Embro, the DICKCISSEL was seen at 9:00 am. It was sitting low on the
shrubs behind the feeder. It was with the House Sparrows and a
White-throated Sparrow. (directions below)
In London, the BAND-TAILED PIGEON did a fly-by at 10:05 am just after the
Cooper's Hawk left. Unfortunately, I think the hawk had just gone a few
houses south so when the pigeon spotted the Cooper's, it took off without
landing. The pigeon was flying well, but was definitely missing tail
feathers. (directions below)
At Long Point, there were 46 SANHILL CRANES visible in a field off on the
north side of Lakeshore Rd just west of West Quarter Line Rd.(west of Hwy
59,opposite the west end of Lee Brown Wildlife Area.) There were
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS at a feeder at the corner of West Quarter Line Road
and Concession A. (Seen from the line road.) There was a GREAT BLUE HERON
flying low along the creek behind the Old Cut Banding Station. (in the Map
Art book it is marked Long Point Bird Observatory with a red circle) Missed
the SCREECH OWL on Concession A at the bridge over Big Creek (guess it
wasn't sunny enough) but did find SWAMP SPARROW, PURPLE FINCH and
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS.
At Fisherville, there was a SHORT-EARED OWL sitting in a tree in the yard of
the first house on the north side of the 6th Concession east of the Raptor
Preserve. (From Fisherville, go north on Fisherville Rd and turn left on
the 6th.)
By the time, we got to Hamilton it was dusk but we did manage to find the
PIED-BILLED GREBE at LaSalle Marina, but NO Wood Duck. (directions below.)
DIRECTIONS:
DICKCISSEL directions from Don Campbell:
From the east, from the 401, take the Embro, Oxford county road 6
exit immediately west of the service centre north , proceed north
through Embro and 1.5 Kms north of town turn west onto County Road 16
(also known as road 84) Go to third intersection, the lowest elevation
in the road, 31st line, turn north and the house is first on east side
with a fire number of 315944.
From the west, Take # 2 highway (Dundas Street in London) to
Thamesford and turn north at the traffic light onto #19. Go north about
10 kms to Kintore and Turn east at flashing light, onto Oxford 16 (also
known as Road 84) just north of school. Proceed east to 5th
intersection, the lowest elevation in the road, which is line 31, turn
north and house is first on east side of road, fire number 315944.
Fire number code is 31, - thirty first line, 5, - north of highway
2, 944, - 9440 m from # 2 highway, so it is possible to come up the
31st line from highway #2. Signage on #2 is for 31st Line and County
Road 7 to Ingersoll ( Thames Street in Ingersoll)
Once at house, there is some available parking toward the implement
shed, go around the house on the west side and look back to the north
to the feeders and honeysuckle. Phoebe has a playschool on Tues -
Friday, so traffic is on the lane at 9:15, 11:45, 12:45 and 15:15.
Please don't block that flow. Parking on the road is always suspect with
snow removal so it may be better to park off the road in the lane.
BAND-TAILED PIGEON: (From Pete Read)
Directions to access the area...
If from Toronto...come west on 401, and take the 402 towards Sarnia, exiting
very soon at the Wonderland exit (100) to London, and head north. About
3-4km north on Wonderland is the Westmount Mall, a large sprawling mall on
the west side of the road. Keep going north just past the mall to a
streetlight indicating Village Green Avenue (one light before Commissioners
Road). Turn left, to the west and proceed for about 5 streets, some from
left, some from right, till you get to Lynngate PLACE (Pl). There is also a
Lynngate Ct but don't go up there. Do not park on this quiet street. Park on
the north(right) side of Village Green. Walk up Lynngate Place to number
120. Go to the RIGHT side of the house, and walk up the driveway of the
nextdoor neighbour's house, #116, along the stone path to the large patio,
at the back of that house. Try to shield yourself behind the tarp "blind"
and the bird will be less skittish. PLEASE STAY OUT OF YARDS.
Coming from west, come east on 401 to Highway 4, and head north to the 402,
then east to Wonderland exit (100), turning north . About 3-4km north on
Wonderland is the Westmount Mall, a large sprawling mall. Keep going north
just past the mall to a streetlight indicating Village Green Avenue(one
light before Commissioners road). Turn left, to the west and proceed for
about 5 streets, some from left, some from right, till you get to Lynngate
PLACE (Pl). There is also a Lynngate Ct but don't go up there. Do not park
on this quiet street. Park on the north(right) side of Village Green. Walk
up Lynngate Place to number 120. Go to the RIGHT side of the house, and walk
up the driveway of the nextdoor neighbour's house, #116, along the stone
path to the large patio, at the back of that house. Try to shield yourself
behind the tarp "blind" and the bird will be less skittish. PLEASE STAY OUT
OF YARDS.
>From London, Village Green is one light south of intersection of
Commissioners and Wonderland. Turn left, to the west and proceed for about 5
streets, some from left, some from right, till you get to Lynngate PLACE
(Pl). There is also a Lynngate Ct but don't go up there. Do not park on this
quiet street. Park on the north(right) side of Village Green. Walk up
Lynngate Place to number 120. Go to the RIGHT side of the house, and walk up
the driveway of the nextdoor neighbour's house, along the stone path to the
large patio, at the back of that house. Try to shield yourself behind the
tarp "blind" and the bird will be less skittish. PLEASE STAY OUT OF YARDS
LASALLE MARINA, Aldershot (Burlington)
Travelling east on Hwy 403 from Hamilton take the Waterdown Rd exit south
and continue straight to the Marina (Waterdown Rd. becomes LaSalle Park Rd.
at Plains Rd.) If travelling westbound there is NO exit at Waterdown. I
have yet to find the easiest way but exit the QEW at Plains Rd go west to
LaSalle Park Rd. and go left (south) to the waterfront will get you there.
Anne Anthony
Peterborough
"Anne Anthony" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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