Hi Ontbirders,
My usual birding partner and I drove to Cooper Marsh from Ottawa this morning via the Casselman Sewage Lagoons. At first it appeared that the Casselman lagoons were completely empty, but scanning the back cells through the scope produced one male Common Goldeneye, two Redhead ducks (a male and female), a pair of N. Shovelers, a couple of Green-winged Teals, a couple of Ring-necked Ducks, one female Ruddy Duck, two Wood Ducks, a couple of A. Wigeon (these were on the grass, not in the water), a pair of Lesser Scaup, a couple of Killdeers, and two or three brave Tree Swallows flying over the water. At Cooper Marsh, we found a few more Tree Swallows, at least one Phoebe, a couple of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, a pair of Shovelers, a pair of Pied-billed Grebes, and a fly-by of both a single Osprey and a single Northern Harrier. We were in one viewing blind watching the grebes when the Great Egret flew in and landed in the marsh close to the opposite blind. We immediately raced over and watched it catch a few tiny fish before it flew even closer to the blind! We had great views, and the egret was close enough to see that it had NO bands of any kinds on its legs. Photos will be posted in my blog sometime this weekend (see email signature for the link if you are interested). Directions: Casselman Sewage Lagoon: From Highway 417 take the Casselman exit (66) and go NNW toward the town of Casselman. Drive 1.1 km NNW into town on Rue Principale, crossing the railway tracks and the main cross-street (St. Isidore), to turn right or northeast just beyond onto Laurier. Follow Laurier northeast, then north, 1.8 km to Concession 5 Road (or Route 500). Turn right or northeast onto it and the road into the Casselman Sewage Lagoons is on your right almost immediately. (Note: Birders are generally tolerated here, but have been asked politely to leave on occasion. We did not see anyone else about the lagoon today). Cooper Marsh: Follow the 401 to Highway 34 (exit 814), just south of Lancaster. Turn right or south and go 1 km to South Lancaster and then turn right or southwest onto Highway 2. Follow Highway 2 for 3.0 km to the turnoff for Cooper Marsh Conservation Area visitor's centre on the left or east. Alternatively, follow Highway 2 northeast from Cornwall until you see the sign for the Conservation Area. (Courtesy of NeilyWorld http://ca.geocities.com/[email protected]/birdguide.htm). Gillian Mastromatteo Ottawa, ON http://gillianm.livejournal.com/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
