[Ontbirds] Red Phalarope - Keith McLean CA - YES

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

The Red Phalarope reported previously by Steve Charbonneau was present today 
(Wednesday) at Noon at Keith McLean Conservation Area.  It was actively feeding 
on the wet mud and swimming in the water at the end of the trail from the 
parking lot. The best directions are provided in Steve's post from a couple of 
days ago.

Steve Thorpe
Stratford, ON

Keith McLean CA is just outside Rondeau Prov. Park.  It is 4 km south of Talbot 
Line (Hwy 3) on Kent Bridge Road (CR 17).  The parking lot is on the left side 
of the road just north of Rondeau Road.
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[Ontbirds] Northern Gannet - Point Edward, Sarnia

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

Amazing ! I got on this bird well out in the lake and watched it come towards 
me, pass beside the Bluewater Bridge and then south along the St Clair river. 
Large and white with fast wing beat, bold black wing tips, long thin tail, long 
gray bill. 10.35 this morning.

Steve Thorpe

Point Edward lighthouse parking area is on the north side of Point Edward. Come 
off the 402 at exit 2 or 3.
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[Ontbirds] Buff-breasted Sandpiper - West Perth Wetlands

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

The Buff-breasted Sandpiper reported by Garth Riley was still in cell 3 this 
(Wednesday) morning.  This is probably the same bird found by Eric Jeffrey last 
Friday and seen again on Monday.  Conditions at West Perth are excellent with 
shallow water, wet mud, dry mud, cattails, reedbeds available for shorebirds.  
This morning there were large numbers of Killdeer, Greater and Lesser 
Yellowlegs, Pectoral Sandpiper, and smaller numbers of Wilson's Snipe, Least 
Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Dunlin and Semipalmated 
Plover.  Other notable sights were several American Pipit and a  Rusty 
Blackbird.

Steve Thorpe

West Perth Wetlands are on the south side of Mitchell.  From Ontario St (Hwy 8) 
travel south on Wellington St to Frank St. Cross over and follow the road past 
the ball field to the parking lot.  The cell beside the parking lot is cell 2, 
and cell 3 is the cell in the North East, south of the Sofina Plant.
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[Ontbirds] Gray Catbird - Stratford

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

There was a single Gray Catbird in the TJ Dolan Natural Area this morning.  
Very surprising but unmistakeable.  The bird was feeding on the now scarce 
buckthorn berries near the upper feeders on the north side of the river.

Steve Thorpe

The TJ Dolan Area is in SW Stratford.  The best parking lot is on John Street 
at Centre Street.  From the parking lot head west along the river, cross the 
pedestrian bridge then head west again along the north side of the river.  Near 
a large sewer manhole the trail heads up a hill and the "Buckthorn feeders " 
are in the bushy area about 100m up the hill.
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[Ontbirds] Iceland and Glaucous Gulls - Stratford

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

This morning I found 2 first-winter Iceland Gulls at Lake Downie.  They were 
together on the ice with dozens of Herring gulls in the largest stormwater 
pond.  The adult Glaucous Gull was on the ice at Lake Victoria, also with many 
Herring and a few Ring-billed Gulls.
Lake Downie is at the south side of Lorne Avenue just west of Romeo Street.
Lake Victoria is in central Stratford with access along Lakeside Drive and 
William Streets east of the Waterloo Street bridge (Hutt Bridge).

Steve Thorpe
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[Ontbirds] Lesser Black-backed Gulls - Stratford

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

There were 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls in among the scores of Herring and 
smaller numbers of Ring-billed Gulls at 'Lake Downie' this morning.  Lake 
Downie is a storm-water complex on the south side of Stratford.  From Ontario 
Street (Hwy 7/8) drive south on Romeo Street.  Turn right on Lorne Avenue and 
the storm-water ponds are on your left.

Steve Thorpe
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[Ontbirds] Snow Geese - Stratford

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

There were 2 Snow Geese in with a flock of 30 Canada Geese near Tom Patterson 
Island on Lake Victoria this morning.

Steve Thorpe


Lake Victoria is in the middle of Stratford. From Ontario Street (Hwy 7,8) head 
north on Waterloo Street.  Just before the first bridge turn right on Lakeside 
Drive and follow the south shore of the lake.

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[Ontbirds] Little Blue Heron - Harrington , Oxford County still present Wednesday 7 PM

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

The Little Blue Heron was still present this evening at the same location in 
the containment pond near Harrington.

It moved around and wasn't in view all the time but it did eventually come 
fairly close to the berm and gave everyone good looks.

Steve  Thorpe


Directions:  From Hwy 401 turn north on Oxford County Rd. # 6 towards 
Stratford.  About halfway between Embro and Stratford, turn West onto Oxford Rd 
28. You will then pass through the small community of Harrington. Just through 
the community turn right onto 31st Line.  Travel exactly 1 km north.  On the 
east side of the road there is a berm dividing the lake from a containment 
pond.  The Little Blue Heron is actively feeding in the containment pond along 
with Great Egrets, shorebirds and other waterfowl.  A scope would come in handy 
as it is fairly distant at times.
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[Ontbirds] Ross's Goose - Stratford

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

There was a single Ross's Goose flying with 5 mallards along the Avon River 
beside Devon Park this morning.  At a distance it looked like a domestic duck, 
being the same size as the mallards. As the flock moved closer I saw the black 
wingtips and then the short stubby bill.


Steve Thorpe


Directions:  From Hwy 7/8 on the east side of Stratford head north on Road 111. 
 At the first bridge (0.5 km) take the trail west along the south side of the 
Avon River.  The trail leads into Devon Park where you have good views along 
the river.  The golf course on the north side of the river is posted No 
Trespassing.
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[Ontbirds] Wilson's Phalarope, Stilt Sandpiper - West Perth Wetlands

[Steve Thorpe via ONTBIRDS]

The Bruce Birding Club and a few Stratford Field Naturalists birded the 
wetlands this morning.  A total of 10 shorebird species were seen.  Two 
Wilson`s Phalarope (likely a worn adult and a juvenile) as well as a Stilt 
Sandpiper were well seen in the fenced cell.  Other shorebirds seen were 
Greater Yellowlegs (1), Lesser Yellowlegs (30+), Pectoral Sandpiper (10+), 
Semipalmated Sandpiper (5+), Least Sandpiper (2+), Solitary Sandpiper (1+), 
Spotted Sandpiper (3+), and Wilson`s Snipe (4) .  In the first cell we had 
great looks at 3 Sora , 2 Green Heron, and a Great Egret.
 
Conditions were good for shorebirds and may get better as the drier weather 
should produce more beach area in the fenced cell.
 
West Perth Wetlands are on the south side of Mitchell,  which is 20 km NW of 
Stratford.  From Ontario St (Hwy 8) travel south on Wellington St to Frank St.  
Cross over onto the gravel and follow it to the parking lot .  No permits, no 
hassle, just good birding.
 
Steve Thorpe
Stratford
  
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