SORRY FOR MY DELAY OF A WEEK IN
SUBMITTING THIS REPORT
More than 2 dozen members from as far east as Peterborough met at the
Sobey's parking lot in Grand Bend @0830hrs to find a scheduled power shutdown,
which caused a short delay(some birded from the parking lot, seeing - several
loons fly overhead, a few Am. Robins and a Hairy Woodpecker etc.) until those
using the facilities were ready to depart to the beach.
It was quite windy, with heavy breakers and cold but at least dry and
worth the effort with several loose flights of both Common and Red-throated
Loon flying overhead, 2 Bald Eagle and 2 Peregrine Falcon soaring high for long
looks. Some saw a Merlin whilst several Red-breasted Merganser and fewer
White-winged Scoter and other ducks flew by along the beach. About 90 minutes
sated our appetites for the biting wind and we trooped off to Mollard Line to
recover some body heat and bird the 4 lagoons in more comfort. We tallied
over a dozen duck sp. an unexpected Red-necked and Eared Grebe, a dozen
Am.Coot, adult Northern Shrike, both Kinglet sp. a Tree Swallow, Yellow-rumped
Warbler, Red-winged Blackbird, Am Kestrel, Sharp-shinned Hawk and Am.Tree,
Song, Swamp and White-crowned Sparrow.
En route to Pinery P.P. we saw a Red-tailed Hawk, several Horned Lark
and Mourning Dove. Whilst eating lunch at the Visitor Centre we saw some of the
usual feeder birds including 2 Tufted Titmouse and enjoyed some of Penny`s
Pumpkin cupcakes for dessert. We took a short walk down the Ausable river but
the only bird of note was 1 female Common Merganser that quickly blended into
the reeds and on the way back to the cars only a few juncos were seen. We drove
to Burley bridge and were treated to a great spectacle of the 2 adult Bald
Eagles flying around their nesting territory for several minutes - cameras were
a-clicking.
We drove the Port Franks loop by L Lake adding Great-blue Heron and
then via Army Camp Road and on to the beach at West Ipperwash Road where we had
reasonably close looks at all 3 scoter sp. and Horned Grebe, 20+ Mute Swan,
Great Black-backed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant and eventually 4 Pied-billed
Grebe to round off the day. Our total count was 73 species.
My thanks to all the participants and for their usual selfless sharing
of sightings and knowledge with each other and myself and my apologies for the
delay in posting this summary. Cheers! Maris
Maris Apse, 10094 Red Pine Rd, Box 22 BOP, RR 2 Grand Bend ON N0M 1T0
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