John Miles Jarvis 1-510-587-5223
This morning on the Pt. Colborne CBC we had a Great Egret alone the ditch
beside the Wilson Rd. This road is the first through N/S road west of the
Wainfleet Swamp west of Port Colborne. The spot is perhaps 300 metres north
of No. 3. The site is a clear weedy opening of 5-10 acres. The ditches alone
the roads are all open so the bird could be anywhere. A Great Blue Heron is
also feeding alone this ditch.
The Fisherville CBC was held Saturday and not all reports are in. The
preliminary count is over 80 species with the highlight a Virginia Rail at
the head water marsh of Taquanyah. 7 immature Bald Eagles were east of the
Power Plant, an adult west of Cheapside and more along the Grand River.
Tuck in beside the Power Plant was a flock of 20 Great Blue Herons, 2
Double-creast Cormorants and 3 American Coots.
Due to the heavy snow and ice storm just before Christmas the raptors
departed in mass as per the hawk flight recorded on the West Elgin count.
Consequently with the heavy crust on the snow most of the Short-eared Owl
vacated the area before the count. Eastern Screech-owls seem to be in good
supply with 3 groups each getting over 20, the final total yet to be
determined.
Of special note one of the groups was approached by a local who reported
hitting a Barn Owl Friday morning on the way to work. Not knowing what to do
with the bird he apparently disposed of it in a Cayuga dumpster!!!!
