In addition to Bob Scranton's post on the egret roost (62 birds) in Cornwall yesterday, we/I'd like to report that over the last 4 days Linda McLaren, Fraser Dane, Clive Hodder, Claude Radley and I have made evening counts at the three above roosts. Last night, counting from the Hawk Watch Tower at Holiday Beach Conservation Area (Amhurstburg), we recorded 721 Great Egrets going to roost in the woodlot just to the SW of the Tower between 6:20 and 8:30 PM (we also noticed that the immature Little Blue Heron was still among them). On the way back to Toronto, we tallied 22 egrets at the Wheatley roost (9:30 PM). On 5 August, 254 egrets were counted flying into the roost in the south Monticello Cell at Luther Marsh C.A. between 7:00 and 8:40 PM. Two days later, 269 egrets were counted at the same place and at a similar time period.
There were no wing-tagged egrets observed at either the Amhurstburg or Wheatley roosts but 11 were seen at Luther Marsh; approximately half of those had been banded earlier this year at each of the Collingwood (Nottawasaga Island)and Southampton (Chantry Island) breeding colonies. Ontbirders are reminded to be watchful now for both wing-tagged Great Egrets and Great Blue Herons (green or orange tags) and to report them...and their associated number/letter combination, if possible, to me personally. Please also be watchful for evening roosting sites of egrets and report these and the n umber of egrets using the site (at dusk) as well. Previously reported roosting sites in Ontario, for which we have little or no data for 2012, include the following (I can provide directions for these): Metcalf Bath Niagara Falls Oshawa Scarborough (3 sites) Ajax Hamilton (3 sites) Hespeler Shallow Lake Pitlock Lake Wildwood Lake Hullett London Pain Court Many thanks, Chip Directions: Holiday Beach C.A.: From Malden Centre, SW of Amhurstburg, Ontario, go south on Hwy 50 for about 1 km and enter the CA and follow the signs to the Hawk Watch Tower. Wheatley: From the main intersection in Wheatley, Ontario, go south on Hwy 1, turn right on the last road before the fish plant, 100 m onward there is a pond with a woodlot immediately adjacent to it. The egrets roost in the woodlot on the north side of the pond, opposite Wheatley harbour. Luther Marsh Conservation Area: From Grand Valley, Ontario, go north on Hwy 25 and follow the signs to the Main entrance to the Conservation Area. From that entrance continue north a km or so, cross over a small marked bridge, the next left leads to a small parking area for 3 vehicles (so marked). Hike along a rough mowed trail here, past the Monticello Cairn to a birm going between two ponds. The egrets roost in the south pond. Please remember there are entrance fees for using the Conservation Areas. _______________________________________________ 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/
