Tired of scanning for the smew I decided to take matters into my own hands this evening and kayak out into Long Point Bay. Between 3 and 5:30pm I paddled out beyond the reedy islands that Josh had the smew fly behind this morning. I even continued out beyond the first marshy point. No smew. I have never looked so carefully at buffleheads though!
Interesting sightings: Snowy owl - flew over me while in middle of bay. Perhaps same bird seen at Port Rowan marina dock at dusk. European Starlings - 6 birds flew by me just above the water, seemingly coming from Turkey Point and headed to the causeway. This was well out into the bay and took me by surprise. Bald eagle, Sandhill crane, shoveler, green-winged teal (all singles). Ring-necked Duck - 50+ mostly hidden along marshy edge American Black Duck - 20+ same habit as ring-necks. Common Merganser - perhaps 40 Red-breasted Merganser - perhaps 10 Bufflehead - 30+ Common goldeneye - 30+ Short-eared owl - crossed rd. while driving north on quarter line rd. from Port Rowan. A very interesting experience seeing the birds this way! Directions to Long Point (Ron's posting) are: Hwy 59 south from the 401 (or Hwy 24 south from the 403 to Hwy 59 and then south) to the shore of Lake Erie. Travel past the flashing yellow light at the intersection of Front Rd. (into Port Rowan) and continue south to Lake Erie. Upon driving down onto the causeway, you enter the Big Creek NWA (marsh on both sides). You will cross the bridge over Big Creek and 1km south of this bridge you will see the parking lot for Big Creek NWA on the right. Park here or in a small parking area on the left 1 km south of this parking lot (on the north end of the Sandboy Marina parking lot. Best viewing of the Inner Bay is between these two lots which requires some walking. Please, please, please be very careful of traffic. Sent from Andrew's iPhone _______________________________________________ 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/
