Hello Ontbirders -
I would like to re-iterate what was reported by Len Jones on the vast
growing mud-flats at Big Creek (Essex County)
near Holiday Beach Migration Observatory. Local birders are encouraged to
scope-out this area with the current north winds bringing in south-bound
shorebirds. I pulled over near the Big Creek bridge yesterday while passing
by and was amazed at the numbers of aquatics and other birds feeding in
shallow ponds - a quick count tallied 152 Great Blue Heron, 57 Great Egret,
1 imm Bald Eagle, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, as well as dozens of
shorebirds including Len's Black-Bellied Plover. A scope is definitely
required, which I wasn't carrying at the time. Shorebird mud-flat habitat
is undoubtedly expanding as well near the Hawk Tower at HBMO, also part of
the Big Creek wetland basin. A big stink is developing in the municipality
of Amherstburg over the local hunt club's draining of the marsh to augment
waterfowl habitat/vegetation during the current drought.
Big Creek is located ~ 5 km east of the town of Amherstburg adjacent County
Rd 20, and ~ 1 km west of the village of Malden Centre.
Good birding -
Michael Malone
Pelee Wings Nature Store - Discount Binoculars & Scopes
636 Point Pelee Dr. Leamington Ontario Canada N8H 3V4
Website http://www.peleewings.ca (519) 326-5193
