Around 40 OFO members and friends met at the Cayuga High School this morning for a tour of the back roads and byways of Haldimand County and a side trip into Norfolk. The roads were in good shape and the blue sky was peaking out as we left the school and headed towards the Fisherville area in a convoy of 20 vechiles. Except for a cold NW wind a pleasant day. Unfortunately nice days often make birding tough and birds were not plentiful today. Near the raptor preserve a Short-eared Owl was found and remained perched for all to see. Along the road were several Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks. We headed towards Hagersville finding more Red-tails and several Rough-legs. Alone the 10th concession 300 Rock Pigeons. Horned Larks and Snow Buntings were on a field with a fresh coating of manure. Unfortunately they were on the south side of the road with the sun light reflecting off the icey snow which impaired vision. At the edge of Hagersville a N. Mockingbird flew across the road and perched out in the open allowing every one excellent looks. After a pause at Tim Horton's the group headed west towards LaSalette. On the way several species were encountered including a Red-bellied Woodpecker but overall it was a quiet trip. The LaSalette Gray Partridge were lying low today and despite checking the usual spots they were not in evidence. Another pause was taken at the Tim Horton's in Delhi and then we headed south and east checking out another usual spot for Gray Partridge but again drew a blank. We headed down to near Turkey Pt. and then east checking several bird feeders. At the feeders we added several species to the day's list including Common Redpoll, Brown-headed Cowbird, both nuthatches and White-throated Sparrow. Off Pt. Ryserse were 9 Mute Swans, a female Hooded Merganser, 2 Black Ducks, a Common Goldeneye and several Canada Geese in a small patch of open water while several hundred metres off shore was a large section of open water where Greater Scaup and Common Mergansers were detected.. At the eagle tree near the Nanticoke hydro plant 8 Bald Eagles of various ages were perched in the tree.Across the road and over 3 fields out in the open 8 Wild Turkeys made excellent viewing through the scopes. We finished up on the Sandusk Rd. with a couple of hundred Snow Buntings skipping over a corn stubble field.
John Miles Jarvis, On [EMAIL PROTECTED] 1-519-587-5223 "John Miles" <[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.
