Hi All, Just got home from a wedding (been away for 4 days) and managed to sneak out to the wetlands here in Mitchell just before it got too dark..
Initially, I couldn't find the godwits but did see a couple of nice Baird's Sandpipers and a Red-necked Phalarope (different I think than the one from last week). These birds were in the cell right behind the parking area and garden and to the east a bit. As I was leaving, a number of shorebirds took to the air (not sure what spooked them) and they circled the wetland area. I then heard a distinct godwit flight call and looked up to see two similar sized godwit looking birds. It was dusk and I couldn\t get colour on them but based on the lower raspy flight call I'm thinking it was the Marbled Godwits that've been around this past week. I watched till they dropped into the cell on the east side in behind the hog processing plant. I'm hoping they'll remain overnight as it's been raining on and off this evening. I also noticed that while I was gone, quite a bit of the water in the shorebird cell has evapourated. I'm hoping to get some water pumped back into the cell to keep it optimal for the shorebirds for the next couple of weeks. Of course, we have to try and balance this with some dryer areas that will keep the plovers happy. :) Good birding! Dave Directions to Mitchell (West Perth) Wetlands: >From the East (Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, GTA) - take Hwy 8 thru Stratford heading west to first lights in Mitchell (Wellington St) and turn left (south) and continue till you hit the "T" intersection at the ball diamond. Lagoon cells are straight back behind the ball diamond and soccer fields and the sewage treatment plant. You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park next to the berm. >From the London area....take Hwy 23 into Mitchell from the south and just after you pass the "Welcome to Mitchell" sign...watch for Frank St...go right on Frank St and head down over the bridge till you get to the ball diamond (will be on your right). Again...the cells are behind the ball diamond and soccer fields. You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park next to the berm. >From Southampton area....take Hwy 21, to Goderich and then Hwy 8 to Clinton and down to Mitchell, turn south on Hwy 23 to Frank St. and turn left on Frank St. and head over the bridge to the ball diamonds (which will be on your right). You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park next to the berm. _______________________________________________ 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/
