I checked Nonquon this evening - almost no ducks - surprising but the family
of Trumpeter Swans is persisting with four young surviving.
Highlights:
Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) 6
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) 1
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) 1
Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) 1
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 3
Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) 4
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 2
Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) 8
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 4
Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) 14
Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) 39 actual count
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 7
There is lots of habitat on ponds 2 and 3 ...
The Bonies were the first of the fall for me - all were adults as expected
but their moult was variable with some in full alternate (breeding) plumage,
many in transition and one is full basic (winter) plumage
The Black Terns were represented by several adults and many young - looks
like there were several successful breeding pairs. Last year I had over 80
birds here so hopefully more are still to come.
Swallows are another story - not a single swallow at the lagoons and I only
saw one Barn Swallow on my way to the lagoons and back - 29 km. round trip
through perfect habitat - scary!
I found a Rechargeable Playdium card at the lagoons in case anyone lost it -
pls email me privately
btw all the mosquitoes I encountered are fed or dead now ...
How to Obtain a Nonquon Sewage Lagoon Permit
Permits must be purchased in advance of entering the lagoons. Permits can be
obtained from 605 Rossland Rd., Whitby, or at the Scugog Waste Transfer
Station, 1623 Reach Street, Port Perry. An electronic version of the Nonquon
Sewage Lagoon Birder Permit is available in PDF format at
http://www.durham.ca/finance.asp?nr=/departments/finance/financeinside.htm.
Nonquon Sewage Lagoon Birder Permits are available for $10 per permit.
Cheques will only be accepted at Regional Headquarters. Payment by cash only
at the Scugog Waste Transfer Station.
Completed Applications should be forwarded to: Finance Department -
Insurance & Risk Management, 605 Rossland Road E., Whitby, ON L1N 6A3
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.
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