Shortly after noon, William and I refound the adult male KING EIDER reported by John Black at Port Weller on Friday. We tried for it on the lake opposite the entrance to the marina but had no luck. We eventually found it in the canal amongst a group of about 100 mostly Common Mergansers. Unfortunately, it had it's head tucked in for almost the entire 10 - 15 minutes or so we were there. Still a nice looking bird. Also seen along the shore was a Virginia Opossum scampering around. On the way back to our car we also spotted a BALD EAGLE in a dead snag on the east side.
After lunch we went looking for the Red-headed Woodpecker at 3196 Campden Road, just south of Campden. We were unsuccessful. However, while parked along the road waiting for it to show, we saw two Red-bellied Woodpeckers. We were also surprised to hear and then see two (pair?) COMMON RAVENS fly by in a westerly direction to the north. On our drive back towards Hamilton along the smaller, less travelled country roads, we saw remarkably little, save for a single Northern Shrike, 3 American Kestrels and two Red-tailed Hawks. Cheers, Karl and William Konze Guelph, Ontario Directions for King Eider: From the QEW, exit at Niagara St. in St. Catharines. Head north on Niagara St. to Lakeshore Rd. Turn right onto Lakeshore and cross the Welland Canal. Turn left onto Seaway Haulage Rd. Stay on it until the gate at the end. Walk down the closed roadway until you have past the marina on your right. Take a small trail to the left to view the canal. Look across the canal to the west side. Directions for Red-headed Woodpecker as per David Pryor: QEW to Victoria Ave. in Vineland, exit and head south, through the town of Vineland, up the escarpment, turn right (west) at the light at Fly Rd. Continue into the village of Campden, then turn left (south) on Campden Rd. The house is the first one on the right, past the corner of Campden Rd. and Young St. _______________________________________________ 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
