August 17 - There appears to be a disruption at the Niagara Falls Great
Egret Colony. Today (between 10:00 AM and 10:40 AM) I again observed the
Great Egret Colony from Three Sisters Island at Goat Island. I observed
four egret on one nest ( based on previous observations one of the four was
probably an adult with three full size nestling). Through the foliage I
observed two adults one of which could be seen feeding a nesting. With other
egrets between thes nesting locations I observed as many as eleven Great
Egrets. (Compared to only six seen on August 1st.)
However, when I observed the colony from the Canadian side I was disturbed
that I did not see any nests where I had observed four nests with a total
12 nestlings on August 1st. The maximum number of egrets observed today
from the Canadian side were three adult Great Egrets. I also observed 14
Common Mergansers and two Peregrine Falcons at Niagara Falls Ontario. It is
strange that the only nest left is the one that had the most mature Great
Egrets. The colony is located above the Canadian (Horseshoe) Falls on the
islands near the sunken barge. Also observed along the river in Niagara Falls
were TWO PLAYFULLY SOARING PEREGRINE FALCONS, seven Black-cr. Night Herons,
and 14 Common Mergansers.
Back in New York along the Niagara River the Osprey nest at Liberty Road
(Wheatfield) had SIX Ospreys on it. In the evening along Feeder Road at
Iroquois Nation Wild Life Refuge there the WILSON'S PHALAROPE with 23 Lesser
Yellowlegs, an adult Common Gallinule with 3 very small chicks, and 139
roosting Great Egrets.
August 16 at Rock Point Provincial Park (on the north shore of Lake Erie
35 km west of Fort Erie) there was the START OF WARBLER MIGRATION with
Nashville Warbler, Black-and-white Warbler, and two Yellow-rumped Warblers, in
addition to the breeding warblers. Also 37 Semipalmated Sandpipers, at least
2 Sanderlings, 3 Semipalmated Plovers, 12 Least Sandpipers, 3 Lesser
Yellowlegs, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo. From Rock Point taking Downy Road
north
2 km and making a left on Rhymer Road to Mosaic Ponds where there were 4
Bald Eagles, 4 Dowitchers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 6 Lesser Yellowlegs, 4 Least
Sandpipers, 17 Caspian Terns, 4 Green-winged Teals, 2 Blue-winged Teals,
and 6 Great Egrets further west just passed the Innophospate plant. There
were also good birds in Fort Erie.
Best Wishes for Great Birding,
Bill Watson
Buffalo Ornithological Society
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