Hello Ontbirds people, As has been previously reported over the past week or so, the sewage lagoons just east of Casselman, Ontario, have fantastic shorebird habitat, esp. the the easternmost cell. Over the past 2 days, multiple observers have seen / reported at least 17 species of shorebirds - many of the "common ones" in large numbers. This number & diversity of species is quite unusual for a single "shorebird spot" in the Ottawa area! Approx. 300 shorebirds were present here today...and who knows what else will arrive / drop in with the forecast cold front...which is already arriving!
Species (and some numbers) noted on 04 -05 September: Black-bellied Plover (1 ad. on 04 Sep) American Golden Plover (up to 19 ad. on 04 Sep, 1 juv. on 05 Sep) Semipalmated Plover (60 - 70 on 05 Sep) Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs +++ Lesser Yellowlegs ++++ Ruddy Turnstone (1 juv. on 05 Sep) Sanderling (1 reported on 05 Sep) Semipalmated Sandpiper +++ Least Sandpiper +++ White-rumped Sandpiper (4 - 6 ad. on 05 Sep) Baird's Sandpiper (2 juv. on 05 Sep) Pectoral Sandpiper ( at least 10 juv. on 05 Sep) Stilt Sandpiper (1 on 05 Sep) Short-billed Dowitcher ( 1 all week since 28 Aug, still present on 05 Sep) Red-necked Phalarope ( 1 on 04 -05 Sep) A Peregrine Falcon has been keeping the birds "on their toes", and ongoing dredging/ construction work during the weekdays has also kept the birds from getting too settled, but still a great location to view and enjoy shorebirds! DIRECTIONS: >From Ottawa, Hwy 417 east to exit #66 (Casselman). Left (north) on Cty Rd. # 8 >into the town of Casselman then right (east) on Laurier St. at the centre >"National" bldg. (a health -care center). Follow Laurier around the bend north >and proceed past Ste-Euphemie school. Look for the lagoon maintenance shed on >your right. **PLEASE NOTE**: NO "OFFICIAL" ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE RE: ACCESS TO THESE LAGOONS, BUT BIRDWATCHING ACTIVITY HAS BEEN TOLERATED, AS LONG AS WE DO NOT BLOCK ACCESS OR CREATE PROBLEMS FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE "SUPPOSED TO" BE HERE!...PLEASE RESPECT THIS PRIVILEGE!! Chris Lewis Ottawa, ON [email protected] _______________________________________________ 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/
