After my posting re 300+ Sandhill Cranes, I received e-mails asking for
reports on what else I would see.
On September 23 a short walk in Sault Ste Marie by the St Mary's river
produced 26 species. Most plentiful and vocal were White-throated
Sparrows, and American Robins were very noisy at the start of the walk.
Other Sparrows were Song and a small flock of White-crowned. Other
birds included Common Yellowthroat (m & f), a probably Magnolia Warbler
(fleeting glance), Red-eyed Vireo, Cedar Waxwing, House Wren, Hooded and
Common Mergansers, and a Downy Woodpecker, which plucked off a white
berry and flew off with it.
Directions: from Queen St take Huron round to the old lock, cross the
lock and follow the trail to the river. I walked almost to the
International Bridge and back by a quiet tributary which beavers have
dammed.
Sandhill Cranes were again evident: 70 at Bar River Road & # 17 east of
the Sault, 14 east of Desbarats, and 6 (3 x 2) along Highway 6 on
Manitoulin.
Bald Eagles: 2 adults between Iron Bridge and Mississauga First Nation
(one low and close).
A variety of waterbirds - most variety was at Bruce Mines sewage
lagoons. (Take #638 north from town and turn onto Trunk Road after 1.2
km. The lagoons are on the right at 0.2 km.)
I drove Highway 6 on Manitoulin late afternoon of 23, and then drove
around near South Baymouth for just over an hour on 24. Raptors were
fewer than I expected, based on a visit two years ago in the fall: 5
American Kestrels, 2 N. Harrier (1m & 1f), Turkey Vultures (including
one group of 17). Grassland birds included Savannah Sparrows, 4 or 5
Vesper Sparrows together, Meadowlarks, and American Pipits, including
one flock of 40 plus others I could hear in the grass. Watching the
male Harrier did draw my attention to a Coyote making its way through
the long grass.
As expected, there was little bird-life to see from the ferry, except
for 2 Loons off Cove Island.
Sandy Darling
Flamborough
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