I visited Nonquon lagoons this afternoon to look for shorebirds but was rewarded with a beautifully plumaged Nelson's Sparrow along the south side of the most easterly lagoon. It was seen near two Marsh Wrens.
Also seen were 2 Barn Swallows, a Green Heron, a P.B. Grebe, 2 Buffleheads, 77 Northern Shovelers, 7 N. Pintails, 14 Lesser and 3 Greater Yellowlegs, 5 Least Sandpipers, 1 Spotted Sandpiper, 1 Osprey and a Rusty Blackbird. Elsewhere in the hinterland, last night was a great thrush flight with 18 Swainson's, 2 Gray-cheeked, 1 Veery and an unidentified thrush going over my house between 5:45 and 6:15 this morning. I'm sure many hundreds must have passed overnight as they were going over at 11 p.m. last night as well. Still several warblers around with about a dozen species noted in the last two days. Permits for the Non quon laggons must be purchased in advance of entering the lagoons. They cost $10.00. The permits may be purchased at the Durham Region Transfer Site located at 1623 Reach Rd, Port Perry during the following business hours .... Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. To get to the transfer station, travel north on Hwy 12 past Port Perry [Hwy 7A] to the next traffic lights [Regional Road 8 Reach Rd.] and travel east to #1623 on the north side of the road. The lagoons are located one road north of the transfer site on Concession Rd. 8 [don't get confused as, despite the fact that these roads are both numbered "8", hey are two different roads - one is a regional paved road, the other a dirt concession road.]. Access to the lagoons is from the east end of Conc. 8 only as the bridge is out west of the lagoons. Geoff Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
