Hi,
Once again this field trip proved very popular, with 48
participants at the start, and despite moments of fierce thunder and close
lightening strikes during the morning stretch, we still had 25 semi-wet
people for the latter part of the day.
We found 73 species, which was pretty good considering the warm
weather lately, and the fact that the only warblers we found were
Yellow-rumped.
The winds at Van Wagner's were not good for Jaeger watching, and
anything at a distance was lost in the haze, never the less we did get some
close looks at Common Loons flying overhead, and a flock of Bonaparte's
Gulls. We spent the first hour at Van Wagner's, and then we headed for the
adjacent wet land area across the road from Hutches restaurant. As we
entered this area, a young Peregrine Falcon was spotted on the hydro tower
and it flew by us several times.
As we approached the ponds we could see that a storm was coming in
fast, which was disappointing as we were starting to see some good birds,
including a Red-necked Phalarope, but those carrying telescopes were getting
worried at seeing all the lightening, so we made a hasty return to Hutches.
After an early lunch we then headed to the Windermere Basin. This newly
restored wildlife area will soon be open to the public, but they are
awaiting the results of soil testing before they make this decision. I was
lucky enough to be checking it out on Friday, and the workers were kind
enough to give me a key to open the gates so that we could drive into the
car park.
At the Windermere basin the Duck species and numbers were really
impressive, we also managed a few sparrow species here along with some
shorebirds in the creek near the bridge on Eastport Dr. The best surprise
however was to see the variety of shorebirds in the small pond near the
railroad track at Pier 25. Here we found a Long-billed Dowitcher, Wilson's
Snipe, Baird's Sandpiper, Semi-palmated Plover, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater
and Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral and Least Sandpipers.
The group then headed to LaSalle Park, where we added a few more
species to the list, and then headed out to Valley Inn for our final stop.We
had only just arrived at Valley Inn, when again the skies looked ominous,
and in a matter of minutes we went from looking at the beautiful white
reflected image of a Great Egret in the late afternoon sun, to looking at a
pair of Rusty Blackbirds foraging in the mud in a torrential rainstorm.
With all the interruptions from the frequent thunderstorms, I
think a good days birding was had by all, and several of our group managed a
couple of lifers, and that's what it's all about.
Cheers and good birding.................Tom.
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