Hello everyone: This report comes on behalf of Keith Lee (Tiny). Exciting times at Brighton Constructed Wetland. Shorebirds continue to be in the Wetland in rather large numbers - Dunlin, Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs, Short billed Dowitcher, Semi-Palmated Plovers, Least , Spotted, White-rumped and Solitary Sandpipers and Killdeer, The Great White Egret flew over. Water flowl include - Canada Geese, Mallard, a pair of Scaup (a new addition), Blue-Wing Teal, Wood Duck, Northern Shoveller, a Northern Pintail, Trumpeter and Mute Swans. A female Wood Duck was observed with 12 ducklings, which seem to be triving in the Wetland. An American Bittern was observed by Tiny and Doug Mcrae. Rod and I observed the Black Crowned Night Heron and Merlin on Friday afternoon. The following songbirds continue in and around the Wetland - Red Wing Blackbird, Common Grackle, Marsh Wren, Tree Swallow, Barn Swallow, Rough Winged Swallow,Yellow Warbler, Common Yellow throated Warbler, Indigo Bunting (Doug Mcrae), Mourning Dove and Chipping and Song Sparrows. A Northern Harrier spooked the shorebirds with its flyby. Almost forgot all the Moorhen that could be seen as well as many more heard.
We think that the Osprey have a little one. Two of us were watching the nest and observed a "fluffy" white thing in front of the adult on the nest. Tiny was called over to take a look through the Swararski Spotting Scope. Tiny walked along the access road toward the Osprey pole. I watched through the scope. The adult started calling and within seconds the other Osprey appeared in the sky over the Wetland moving toward the nest. The nesting Osprey rose into the sky, that is when the fluffy white thing was more clearly spotted near the end of a White Birch stick on the nest. As the second Osprey approached the nest, the fluffy white thing dropped down out of sight. The next couple of weeks should tell for sure whether or not what we observed was Brighton Constructed Wetland's first Osprey off-spring. The Osprey nest can be clearly spotted from the large platform off County Road 64. Please do not enter the Wetland without permission from the Brighton Public Works Department through Tiny (Keith Lee).
Maureen Campeau Directions: The Constructed Wetland is located at the SE corner of Brighton. From Hwy 401, take the Brighton exit 509 (Hwy. 30) and follow it south into town. Go south through the two traffic lights, over the railway tracks and follow the main road, now called Prince Edward Street, south. About 1 km south of the tracks, the main road begins to swing to the left and becomes Cty. Rd. 64. As this long turn ends the Constructed Wetlands appear on the right side. _______________________________________________ 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
