Inspired by the Gannet sighting at Guelph Line I birded the shoreline Lake Ontario back from Guelph Line (where the found the Gannet around 12:15 pm) to Port Credit (ending at 4:45 pm). At Arkendo Park, Oakville had a Pacific Loon with 3 Common Loons swimming midway between the breakwater and the mouth of Joshua Creek and could be clearly seen with binoculars from the bench at the end of walk that runs south along the west side of the park along the banks of the Joshua Creek. At Lakeshore Park (opposite the leash-free area) only about a km. further east of Arkendo Park, I found a 3rd yr. Lesser Black-backed Gull on a sand spit just off the Petro-Canada Plant. Off Rattray Marsh at 2:15 p.m. two immature Northern Gannets were seen flying east about 100 meters off shore and about two minutes apart: one, in first year juvenile plumage, the other in second-yr. plumage (I assume one was likely the one from Guelph Line). There are still large numbers of Robins (100+) and smaller numbers Cedar Waxwings, White-throated Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncoes, Winter and Carolina Wrens in the woods along Sheridan Creek between the two lower bridges. Just sw of J.R. Saddington Park, Port Credit, a pair (ie. male and female) of Harlequin Ducks were diving in heavy waves crashing to the breakwater lookout off the waterfront trail just sw of the park.
Directions: Arkendo Park, located at the mouth of Joshua Creek, is just sw of the southern-most extension Winston Churchill which separates Mississauga and Oakville. Lakeshore Park 'Leash Free' area parking lot is located between Winston Churchill and Petro-Canada Refinery (park in the lot of Lakeshore; the lookout is less than 2-minutes from the parking area). Rattray Marsh can be accessed from various location from Meadowwood to Jack Darling Park or from the bottom of Bexhill. Saddington Park is located off the southern-most extension of Mississauga Road (the breaking water is a 60 second walk from the west parking lot). All these locations are fairly close together. Wayne Renaud _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
