While shorebirding today at Wildwood Lake, Ross Snider and myself were fortunate to find a juvenile Ruff, feeding with Pectoral Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs. The bird was first seen at the 31st Line bridge crossing and was re-found at the 29th Line bridge crossing, after being flushed by a Merlin. The bird is in fresh looking juvenile plumage, with rich buff on the face and breast and broad, pale scalloping on the mantle. The unique white ''horseshoe'', on the uppertail coverts, was well seen when the bird made short flights. This is Oxford County's third ever record and our 1st in Fall. Directions- Take CR 6, north from the 401, through Embro, to CR 28. Go west through Harrington, turn north on the 31st line and continue north to the bridge. The bird could be anywhere between the two bridges, although the east end has most of the mudflats. As an aside, there have been small numbers of Baird's and Stilt Sandpiper's present for the past few weeks, along with decent numbers of the usual suspects. Shorebird numbers are much improved lately [as the lake continues to be drawn down] and additional unusual species should be looked for, as Wildwood Lake has, historically, produced numerous regionally rare species. James Holdsworth.
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