The lagoons were crowded with waterfowl today – mostly divers and few puddle ducks – nothing rare but a nice mix. What was suspiring was there was not a single teal, swallow, warbler (in the woods) or shorebird. The Osprey was back on the nest, a latish Fox Sparrow was singing, two Trumpeter Swans returned to nest, a single Bonaparte’s was foraging, two Broad-wings soared overhead and a Caspian Tern loafed on the road. I was surprised to see a late Northern Shrike near the entrance to the lagoons. A bit west of the lagoons, 9 Greater and 5 Lesser Yellowlegs were foraging in a flooded field.
Permits must be purchased in advance of entering the lagoons. They cost $10.00 annually. 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", they 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. Geoffrey Carpentier www.avocetnatureservices.com _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
