Hello birders. Pat Hogge and I were birding in the Kettle Point area on Sunday, Jul. 26 mid-afternoon when we came across five Great Egrets flapping about. They were spread out in the grassy lakeshore area from the point about 1 km south of the gazebo to the southernmost boat dock. They are huge birds, elegant fliers and their long bright white necks and heads are easily spotted in the green reeds. They are shy and will fly away if they know they are being watched. Pat looked carefully at her photos afterwards -- no banding. Directions: Lakeshore drive just north of Indian Line. Kettle Point is adjacent to Ipperwash (formerly a provincial park, now Indian land). If you travel to the water's edge at the point where Highway 7 from Sarnia becomes Highway 21, you'll get there. Here's a link to Google maps:http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=kettle+point+ontario&sll=43.237565,-81.83414&sspn=0.006394,0.011845&ie=UTF8&ll=43.194539,-81.999378&spn=0.051185,0.094757&z=13&iwloc=A
Also, the Sandhill Cranes were still in the same general area off Outer Drive in Port Franks at the base of Edward. They are little tricksters and like to hide and reappear just like that from the reeds. We saw them at the northernmost edge of the "lake" (not the river that flows right beside it) just when a blinding lightning storm had ebbed at 7 p.m. and we were about to give up. They seem to be there mornings and at night, not during the day. Port Franks is south of Grand Bend off Highway 21. Here's the link:http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=port+franks+ontario&sll=43.17614,-81.987534&sspn=0.204801,0.379028&ie=UTF8&ll=43.218062,-81.890888&spn=0.051165,0.094757&z=13&iwloc=A Just a note to butterfliers: after I was contacted by Don Davis, we made a point of watching for butterflies wherever we went. There were two Monarchs and some sort of Hairstreak at The Pinery Provincial Park (along with a lots of cute little Tufted Titmice), one Monarch at Kettle Point, a Monarch along Port Franks Road (Cty. Rd. 18) and a Sulphur and a Swallowtail in Port Franks. Few butterflies overall. Carol Parafenko Guelph _________________________________________________________________ Stay on top of things, check email from other accounts! http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9671355_______________________________________________ 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/
