Hello again Ontbirders Today (yesterday now) Sat., April 24, 2004 was one of those birding days. Stan Bajurny and I motored down to Long Point once again and glad we are that we did as we had originally planned on going to Algonquin.
The day started early with Great horned and E. Screech Owls and went upwards from there. At Big Creek Marsh (at the new near the parking lot platform) just before dawn we listened as 2 Sora, 2 Virginia Rails and Sandhill Cranes struggled to be heard above the loud chorus of Frogs, Red-winged Blackbirds, Pied-billed Grebes and Swamp Sparrows. Also seen and heard here were W. Snipe and then it was off to Old Cut Woods just after first light and a beautiful out of the water sunrise (seen from behind the woods). First birds were 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and as we walked into the woods (on the path) we accidentally flushed an A. Woodcock into the banders mist net. When we told the banders of this they were very excited (words like cool, super & wow were used) as this they said was the first Woodcock banded there. Next came a Louisiana Waterthrush, House and Winter Wrens and 2 A. Bitterns calling from the marsh behind the woods and even a Green Heron spotted by Stan as it perched in a tree and then flew towards the woods. Other regular birds seen here were Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Pine Siskin and sundry other birds with a fly over by a Merlin. Our next move was to go after a Cattle Egret just then being reported along Hwy 59 just south of Hwy 3 but even though we went right away we did not find the bird (it may still be in the area) so we returned to Long Point and entered the Long Point Provincial Park and just to the right of the gate between the gate and the maintenance area we found a nice but silent male White-eyed Vireo (my earliest ever by 5 days). We continued on into the park and before we left we found Palm, Black-throated Green and many Yellow-rumped Warblers along with another Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, 18 Chipping Sparrows, 9 Field Sparrows, many Turkey Vultures as well as Cooper's and Sharp-shinned Hawks and Purple Martins are now common in the park. All of the above was great but the biggest thrill of the day came as we headed back towards the park gate. Stan spotted some large birds coming in off the bay towards us and we put our binoculars on them and to our delight we found ourselves in a ring side seat as 5 Bald Eagles approached at no more than a few hundred feet overhead (3 Adults and 2 Juveniles). The adults put on a spectacular show for us as they locked talons and tumbled down from the sky for 50 or so feet each time they did this. These 5 birds came right at us and almost over our heads but the show wasn't over because as we looked on with disbelief (not really but it sounds dramatic) 3 more Juvenile Bald Eagles trailed the original 5. At one time I had 5 Eagles in my Binoculars. Quite a show. These were 8 of the 11 bald Eagles we saw in the Long Point Area. 1 adult on a nest, 1 adult near another nest and an other Juvenile bird. A great and satisfying day with 103 species seen. Another early bird seen today was an Eastern Pewee. PS We were informed by others that an Eurasian Wigeon was at Lee Brown Thursday and a Red-headed Woodpecker was along Hastings Drive today. At Lee Brown were 100+ A. Wigeon as well as an uncommon (for that spot) N. Mockingbird and a fly past by another Sandhill Crane. DIRECTIONS BIG CREEK MARSH Big Creek Marsh 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 along the road until you see a graveled parking lot on your right. Park here and go up onto the dyke and the marsh is right in front of you. OLD CUT WOODS AT LONG POINT Old Cut Woods 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. Turn left and drive a couple of hundred yards down this road (you will see the entrance to the banding area on your right) this is the entrance to Old Cut Woods. Drive another 100 feet or so and you will see a parking area on your left. Park here and walk across the road to the woods. NOTE: Be sure to lock your car and put your valuables out of sight). LONG POINT PROVINCIAL PARK (FEE IN SEASON) The Provincial Park 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 at HASTINGS DRIVE to the left through the cottage / retail business area. Continue driving along this road passing Old Cut Road and you will come to the park entrance.If the park is closed for the season then park here being sure not to block road and walk into the park.We find it just as easy to walk over from Old Cut Woods and start birding behind the Maintenance buildings through the pines on your right as you approach the gate. NOTE: Be sure to lock your car and put your valuables out of sight). 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. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] --------------------------------------------------------------------- "Eliminate annoying spam! My mailbox is protected by iHateSpam, the #1-rated spam buster." http://www.ihatespam.net
