Dear Ontbirders Today about 35 intrepid field naturalists braved the inclement weather to participate in the annual early spring OFO field trip to Long Point. Not one of whom can ever be called a "fair-weather" birder. Although the wind and rain made viewing a tad tough and kept the raptors grounded, we still managed, as a group, to view forty some-odd avian species.
Maybe more importantly, we did see the "big three" advertised species .. . those being Tundra Swans both on Long Point Bay, in flight and on surrounding corn fields, at least four Bald Eagles in the same locales, (both adults and younger individuals) and, luckily, a pair of Sandhill Cranes in a field along Front Road just west of Hwy 59. New for the year for many included, a sizable flock of A. Coots, a number of Killdeer, several Eastern Bluebirds and robins. The wily Wild Turkeys managed to elude us this year but some fortunate individuals saw some on their drive down. Thank yous go to George Pond and Bob Stamp for co-leading the outing, George again for arranging and Birds Studies Canada for allowing us to use their Old Cut Field Station as a lunch room, what a godsend. Also to Diane Salter for arranging access to the St. Williams Forestry Station powder rooms and especially for allowing us to visit her well-stocked feeders in Walsingham which never fail to "produce" a few species we miss elsewhere. Last, but not least, thank you to Wendy Hunter for making the trek down to make available to folks OFO merchandise such as checklists, hats and sweatshirts. If you don't know all that is available, check the OFO website. Any way, we look forward to doing it all again next March, in bright sunshine . . . Bob and George guaranty it. Good birding Jim Heslop Ancaster [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
