Hi everyone,
I had to go twice to Martintown (15 minutes from here) to see the Cattle
Egret found by Peggi Calder and reported here yesterday by Jacques
Bouvier. At 11:30 it wasn't to be seen but I had a nice chat with Betty,
on whose property the bird is to be found. She thinks the bird has been
around since October 17th when her daughter first saw it. She says it is
most regularly seen early and late in the day. So I went back at 3:45 and
the bird was standing by a pool (in which it was nicely reflected) with the
two horses in the pasture west of the house. It turns up when she puts the
horses in the pasture in the morning.
When I got home at 4:15 I was greeted by a great cacophony of Snow Geese in
the fields below my property. I walked down to the fence line and
estimated that there were 4,000 Snows and several hundred Canadas. They
made for a most beautiful sight in the sunset. The birds took off at
dark. This sighting was on Cedar Grove Road west of Schoolhouse
Road. Cedar Grove Road is accessible from Highway 34 5 kms north of
Lancaster. The Geese were visible in the distance from the road.
DIRECTIONS for the Cattle Egret:
From Highway 138 turn east on Cty Rd 18 and just before Martintown look
for house # 18360. The small pasture with the Cattle Egret is on the south
side of the road.
You can access HWY 138 by taking exit 51 from the 417 or by taking exit 789
from HWY 401.
From Montreal and points east take Highway 20 west to Ontario border and
the 401. Exit at Summerstown (#804). Go north on County Rd 27 to County
Rd 18. Turn left following signs for Martintown. In Martintown, cross
bridge and proceed west a km or so to #18360.
Caution: This is a very busy road, especially at rush hour as it is the
main road from Cornwall to many points north and east.
Martin Bowman
Williamstown, Glengarry County
