Sarah Lamond saw the bird a bit before 9:00 a.m. after being there for over an hour. It then flew upriver an unknown distance and has not been seen since but it could be right there hugging the bank.
For people concerned about no trespassing sign at Brantford G&CC, they can park at Glenhyrst Gardens about 800m to the south along Ava Rd, park by the art gallery building, and then walk south on the main road and then walk the road (currently gated) down to the river. Once you are on rail trail, bird has been a bit to the north (right) but it could be anywhere above dam. Visibility there has been ok so far this morning. Bill ________________________________ From: ONTBIRDS <[email protected]> on behalf of Bill Lamond via ONTBIRDS <[email protected]> Sent: March 2, 2020 7:19 PM To: ontbirds birdalert <[email protected]> Subject: [Ontbirds] Fw: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford ________________________________ From: Bill Lamond Sent: March 2, 2020 7:17 PM To: [email protected] <[email protected]>; hamilton birds <[email protected]> Subject: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford Birding with Eric Lamond on the Grand River behind Glenhyrst Gardens this afternoon (2 March), we heard the call of a male Eurasian Wigeon cut through the fog like a knife. It took us awhile to see the bird, but we eventually did, although the looks were not good but adequate. Eric made a recording of the call (I had to right click and download the attachment to get it to work). We had been birding there since 4:00 p.m. but did not hear the bird until 5:45. It must have flown in as it was not foggy initially and we had good looks at all the ducks here. Also here was a male Wood Duck, an obvious migrant, and the continuing female Long-tailed Duck. We also saw the patch of "wild" Winter Aconite along the river bank which I've known about for years. It is just starting to flower and one plant would have been fully open if it had been sunny. The Eurasian Wigeon is likely a first record for Brant County. It was surprising to get the wigeon and the Wood Duck considering how few waterfowl were on the river. You just never know! I doubt the bird will be there in the morning but if one wants to try the easiest place to look is from the Brantford Golf & Country Club. The entrance is off Ava Ave just to the north of Oakley Rd. Drive straight and then park in the overflow parking lot dead ahead at the top of the river bank and walk down to the overlook. You can ignore the no trespassing signs I suppose. Everybody else does. Bill _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
