Martin Mallet and I stopped by Cobourg Harbour Saturday afternoon (as of 30 minutes ago, yesterday - which I suppose means I'm now officially being self-aggrandizing and irrelevant by posting this?) in the hope of locating Purple Sandpipers in the SW corner of the harbour. Unfortunately the only Calidrids present were a pair of Dunlin, though at least unlike some birds last week they were un-oiled and foraging actively.
Despite the miss, there was consolation - a very tame and active juvenile Brant greeted us in the parking lot at the marina upon arrival and fed actively on the grass with Canada Geese and then began wandering about with some of the bevy of Mallards which seek handouts in the lot. Perhaps in a couple of days, this will be a very simple winter list Brant? There was a flock of 6 Cackling Geese in the harbour itself, though they departed around 3:30. A hybrid goose (barnyard special genetics mixed with CAGO?) keeping company with the Canadas in the SW corner of the harbour bore a superficial resemblance to a Greater White-front as well - beware if looking through murk or precipitation at long range if it remains! As a sidenote, we stopped by Rotary Park in Ajax at sunset, but it will probably surprise nobody that the American Avocet has not made a miraculous second re-appearance. Directions to Cobourg Harbour: Exit Hwy.401 at Division Street, Exit 474, and drive south to the harbour. Drive round the north edge of the harbour for free parking on the west side, and walk out on the west headland. Good birding, Chris Kimber Dept of Biology, Queen's U. Kingston, ON _______________________________________________ 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
