Hey Folks,
As expected the variety of shorebirds has picked up and the following species
were observed by myself and others with a small group from Waterloo with David
Gascoigne:
- 2 Short-billed Dowitcher
- 4 Black Bellied Plover
- 4 Wilson’s Snipe
- 70+ Killdeer
- 120+ Lesser Yellowlegs
- 2 Greater Yellowlegs
- 4 Semipalmated Sandpiper
- 15 Least Sandpiper
- 6 Pectoral Sandpiper
- 3 Solitary Sandpiper
- 5 Spotted Sandpiper
- 6 or 7 possible White-rumped Sandpiper photographed in flight – not sure
if they landed but worth looking for
Curiously absent so far are the Semipalmated Plovers .... we’ve seen just one
so far this season.
Other birds noted today:
- 1 American Bittern (SE corner of the shorebird cell)
- 3 Green Heron
- 2 Great Blue Heron
- 2 Sora
- 4 Wood Duck
- 4 Green-winged Teal
- Mallard (lots)
- Canada Goose (lots)
- 3 Redtails (2 adults flying along with a single youngster who was
screaming quite a bit)
- 1 Merlin (perhaps from our family group in town here)
- 1 Osprey (sitting in large tree on south side of the shorebird cell)
- 1 Bald Eagle (likely one of the adults from the nest to the south of the
wetlands)
- 1 Baltimore Oriole
Good luck and good birding to those who venture out.
Dave
Directions to West Perth Wetlands:
>From the East (Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, GTA) - take Hwy 8 thru
Stratford heading west to first lights in Mitchell (Wellington St) and
turn left (south) and continue till you hit the "T" intersection at the
ball diamond. Lagoon cells are straight back behind the ball diamond
and soccer fields and the sewage treatment plant. You can go straight ahead
on the gravel and park next to the berm.
>From the London area....take Hwy 23 into Mitchell from the south and
just after you pass the "Welcome to Mitchell" sign...watch for Frank
St...go right on Frank St and head down over the bridge till you get to
the ball diamond (will be on your right). Again...the cells are behind
the ball diamond and soccer fields. You can go straight ahead
on the gravel and park next to the berm.
>From Southampton area....take Hwy 21, to Goderich and then Hwy 8 to
Clinton and down to Mitchell, turn south on Hwy 23 to Frank St. and turn
left on Frank St. and head over the bridge to the ball diamonds (which
will be on your right). You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park
next to the berm.
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