I first saw the bird this morning at 5:10 a.m., as it flew west past the Britannia Yacht Club heading for Andrew Headon Park. At the bottom of Britannia Road (north end), turn left on Cassel and park at the dead end. Here there is a cement dock on the west side of the yacht club that you can watch from. I started here because yesterday morning (Sunday) at also exactly 5:10 a.m., Glenn Coady saw the bird flying west (upriver) at this same location. Both mornings the bird would have been leaving from the roosting island, which is just around the corner to the northeast on the Quebec side of the river.
This morning a Great Egret flew by at 5:05 a.m., then the Little Egret at 5:10 a.m. I did not see the Little Egret until it got behind me, and I actually passed it off as a Great Egret even though I thought I saw yellow feet. But about 5 minutes later I could see both birds feeding over at Andrew Haydon Park, even though the distance might have been up to 3 km or so. Even though both birds appeared to be "big and white", while watching the two birds I noticed that one was feeding in an erratic fashion (running and jumping), so it didn't take long to figure out that I better get over there ASAP! I then raced over to Andrew Heydon and the bird was feeding at its usual spot. Thus the Little Egret today at Andrew Heydon was present from 5:15 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., when it flew off southwards to parts unknown. Anyone searching for the bird should look VERY early in the morning, and perhaps employ the same method as described above. Even if not seen flying past first thing, you are nonetheless very close to the filtration plant (east end of Cassel Road) which can be easily checked thereafter (this would be the mouth of Pinecrest Creek area where the bird has been seen on some days). Alan Wormington, Leamington _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
