Hello again Stan Bajurny and I drove down to the Long Point area today Sun. Jan. 18, 2004 after a successful Gray Partridge find. and the following are some of the high lights of that windy (but sunny) jaunt.
I first real stop was at the Lee Brown Conservation Area on Lakeshore Rd just west of Port Royal (just west of Port Rowan) to use the toilet. As Stan was walking to the facility and I was counting Rough-legged Hawks (4) and a Red-tailed Hawk I spotted a larger dark bird that turned out to be a soaring Turkey Vulture, a good bird at this time of year and away from the chicken farms further east near Hagersville. From here we went on up west Quarter Line Rd (about 500 yards west of Lee Brown) (where Stan spotted 20 Sandhill Cranes flying towards Big Creek Marsh) to A Concession Rd and right on here to the 3 bridges. At the bridges area we found a N. Goshawk sitting on a branch in the woods as well as 1 Swamp, 1 White-throated and 2 Song Sparrows. We also found 7 to 9 Pine Siskins here and some common birds. We then reversed coarse to drive back past Lee Brown and down to Long Point. At the intersection of West Quarter Line Rd and A Concession Rd we stopped to look at a feeder that contained about 40 Tree and House Sparrows, Juncos and 1 female Red-winged blackbird. As we stopped I saw what I thought was a House Sparrow out my window but quickly said no to me and identified it as a Lapland Longspur all by its self no more than 20 feet from us affording us good looks. We then happily headed for Old Cut Road at Long Point and as we passed through Port Royal we watched as a beautiful adult Bald Eagle flew low overhead. Along this stretch and other roads we observed 20+ Horned Larks and a single Snow Bunting. We arrived at and drove down Old Cut Rd and were pleasantly surprised to have a juvenile Cooper's Hawk pose for us not 15 feet from the van in an eye level bush. We watched this bird for awhile and headed back the way we came and at the corner of Old Cut Rd & Erie Blvd (road into Long Point Prov. Park) we found a lone Rusty Blackbird, another bird that gave us long close up looks. As we sat there looking at it an adult Cooper's Hawk flew across the road and landed on a feeder arm 10 feet form the Rusty (who became very vocal). After this show we headed off towards Simcoe and home. As we drove along front road through Normandale (between Turkey point Rd and Fishers Glen Rd) we spotted a flock of about 60 blackbirds flying towards us. The flock landed in some trees beside the road and we went through them checking for a Grackle but instead found an adult Male Brewer's Blackbird (what a disappointment, not). Beside the Brewer's the flock was about evenly split between Brown-headed Cowbirds and Red-winged Blackbirds. A great ending to a satisfying but tiring day. All together we had 7 raptor species and 4 Blackbird species. LEE BROWN WATERFOWL SANCTUARY To get to the sanctuary drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of town) turn left, south on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 7 1/2 km to Lakeshore Road (or Road 42) and turn right (west) off Hwy 59 onto this road. (This is the last road before the Long Point Causeway). (a gas station on your left and a driving range on your right). Drive over the bridge over Big Creek and watch on your left side (south) for the parking area with the viewing platform and a washroom and probably birders during migration. This is just a small pond and some cedars off the side of the road. TRIPLE BRIDGE AT PORT ROYAL / PORT ROWAN ON A CONCESSION To reach the triple bridge area you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right (west) in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive west to Simcoe and turn left (south) on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, turn left (south) on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 7 km to A Concession Road (just before the golf coarse on your right and just south of the OPP station also on your right. Turn right (west) here and follow the road to Big Creek. You will come to 3 bridges only a couple hundred yards apart. Or you can drive past A Concession Road to Lakeshore Rd at the putting coarse. Turn right (west) here and drive past Lee Brown Conservation Area to the next road which is West 1/4 Line EXT. Turn right (north here and drive about 2km to A Concession Road. Turn right (east) and drive about 1 km to the bridges. OLD CUT ROAD AT LONG POINT Old Cut Road at Long Point is southwest of Hamilton, directly south of Port Rowan. To reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of town) turn left, south on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 8 km and past the golf coarse and you will be on the causeway. Drive on across the bridge and continue past the marina on your left. The road comes to Lake Erie where it curves to the left through the cottage / retail business area. Continue driving until you come to Old Cut Road. NORMANDALE Normandale can be reached by driving south on Hwy 3 through Simcoe to Fishers Glen Road (about 10 km south of Simcoe). Turn right onto Fishers Glen Road and drive ahead to Front Road and turn right. Follow Front Road west and this will take you Fishers Glen Road and in fact it will take you all the way to Long Point but the road name changes to Lakeshore Road after you cross the Turkey Point Road (County Rd 10). Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net "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.
