Greetings all,
While camping in perfect summery weather this past Saturday night/early Sunday morning July 10th at Pinery Provincial Park (Riverside campground, Area 2, site 563), an EASTERN SCREECH OWL was heard calling (from within 30 m of the campsite) intermittently between 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 a.m. (not sure if it continued past that as I fell asleep). Between approximately 5:45 a.m. and 6:15 a.m. Sunday morning, a WHIPPOORWILL repeatedly and enthusiastically called (they're one of my favs!) from somewhere within 50 m (?) of the campsite. It did not call Saturday night from anywhere we could hear it, and we remained at our campsite from 6 p.m. on, and the campgrounds were relatively quiet. I apologize for not being able to provide any behavioural or other related information! Pinery Provincial Park is along Lake Huron, northwest of London and just south of Grand Bend. The place is a must-visit jewel for any of you who have not yet been there! to reach Pinery Provincial Park: >From London, Take Hwy 4 (or Richmond Street) north through Lucan and turn west/left onto County Road 5, called Mount Carmel Drive. After approximately 19 km you will have to turn right at Grand Bend Road to stay on County Road 5; after 1.5 km take your first left onto Greenway Road (follow signs for Greenway Drive); continue 9.4 km and turn left at Lakeshore Road/County Rd 21; the entrance to the Pinery will be 1 km ahead on your right. If you prefer the highway route, (from Toronto/K-W/Guelph etc) Take 401 south just past London and take the exit for Hwy 402 towards Sarnia, drive 68 km. Take the County Road 8/ON-21/Forest Road exit toward Forest Grand Bend; Turn right at Forest Rd/ON-21 N and continue on ON-21 N for 11.5 km Turn right at King St E/ON-21 N to continue on 21 N, go another 25 km, the entrance to Pinery will be on your left. Sarah Richer _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
