Dear Ontbirds, Just a brief note on the Big Sit today, 11 October, from the Hawk Tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area in Amherstburg (Essex Co.). A preliminary tally of 82 species included a late juvenile LEAST BITTERN (digiscoped, but distant and mostly concealed) in the dead cattails along the "Point" (directly north of the Trout Pond) and 2 basic adult AMERICAN AVOCETS spotted by Tom Hince during his brief, but very helpful appearance. The avocets were loafing with Ring-billed Gulls on a small mud flat (the only mud flat) out in the marsh to the WNW of the Tower. Both avocets were still there at 6:40 PM. I will likely provide more details on the Big Sit and its better species in the Hawkcount report for today. As a teaser, I am happy to relay that a new single-day record of Turkey Vultures was set for Holiday Beach; an astonishing 5,667 vultures!
Good birding, Justin Colchester, Ontario -- Justin Bosler Official counter Holiday Beach Migration Observatory _______________________________________________ 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/
