I visited the lagoons this evening expecting the expected but lots more was
happening than I anticipated. First of all the Indian Runner duck met its
demise and I found its body on the shore of the south most lagoon. Cause of
death unknown but it doesn't look like a predator.
There was lots of activity - nesting, staging, post-breeding dispersal and
migration - a wonderful study of various avian behaviours. All shorebirds
(except Spotted and Killdeer) in bright breeding plumage
43 species - Highlights included:
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) 5 - adult + 3 young
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) 17 2 family groups
American Wigeon (Anas americana) 7
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 1 female - late spring migrant or very
early fall migrant
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 11 2 family groups
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 21
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 22
Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) 1
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 7
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 33
Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) 2
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) 21
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) 1 - calling in daylight - later mobbed
by crows
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) 1
Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) 150 - nice to see - this species recently
listed as Threatened in Ontario under the Endangered Species Act
View complete checklist online at
http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S19091312
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
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