Shortly after 7 this evening I was sitting outside enjoying the beautiful spring weather. Off in the distance I heard a strange, regular, guttural call. It came closer and eventually a large, long-legged, long-necked bird flew slowly over the south pasture. It finally disappeared out of sight behind the barn but continued its regular calling all the while. Possibly stopped at Fairchild Creek at 5th Concession West. Came inside to the computer, launched Peterson's North American Birds and quickly learned what I'd seen and heard was a Sandhill Crane. No other sounds even came close. Sorry if this is not unusual for this area but, it's a definite first for me. And, if I understand Peterson, a lone individual is not normal. At the very Westernmost edge of the City of Hamilton, just south of the junction of Sager Rd. and 5th Concession West.
Ross Reid, RR # 2 Branchton, Ontario. 43º 17' 26.75" North 80º 13' 29.46" West ======= Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. (Email Guard: 7.0.0.21, Virus/Spyware Database: 6.17410) http://www.pctools.com/ ======= _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
