Hi Everyone, I just returned from walking the dike along the lake side of McGeachy Pond just outside of Erieau in Chatham-Kent. Halfway along the dike, I found a GRAY CATBIRD, presumably the same one that Jim Burk found on January 6th, I believe. As I was walking west towards the car, I noticed a small dark duck diving quite a distance out on the lake. I retrieved my scope from the car and was surprised to see a first year make HARLEQUIN DUCK. They are quite rare in the Rondeau area at any time of year. I attempted phone-scoped photos but my phone battery died and I haven't checked them yet.
Directions: McGeachy Pond is on the south side of the road just before the village of Erieau in Chatham-Kent. To get to the west parking area, turn right off of Cty Rd 12 on Erie Shore Drive. The small parking area is at the lake on the left. There is a break in the bushes just behind the large concrete blocks at the lake where I set up the scope. The harlequin was viewed a bit left of center (11:00 in directional terms). It was feeding in one spot the entire time I watched it and was not associating with any other ducks, although there were goldeneye and red-breasted mergansers further east. Good luck! Steve _______________________________________________ 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
