Sunday, July 29, 2012

July 27-28,2012 Eastern Ontario birding

Hi Everyone
Spent the past 2 days birding various sites in eastern Ontario. Overall, lots of activity and migration. Yesterday at the Alfred Lagoon we observed 7 families of Ruddy Duck with 4-9 young, 3 families of Redhead with 3-7 young and numerous families of American Coot and Common Gallinule. Near the Alfred Bog there was a flock of 80+ Bobolink and 3 Upland Sandpiper. We checked a number of the other eastern sewage lagoons and the most productive was the St. Albert Sewage Lagoon with over 200 shorebirds including 2 adult Stilt Sandpiper and 1 White-rumped Sandpiper. There were 150+ Lesser Yellowlegs,1 juvenile Lesser Yellowlegs and 3 Black Tern. All birds were in the south east cell due to low water conditions.
At the Amherstview S.L. west of Kingston 9 adult Stilt Sandpiper, 2 juvenile Wilson's Phalarope, 1 adult Short-billed Dowitcher were observed along with numerous Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper and Semipalmated Sandpiper.
Today at Presqu'ile we observed 1 adult Baird's Sandpiper and a juvenile Peregrine Falcon at Owen Point.
Good Birding, Bruce

Directions: From the town of Alfred go east on Highway 17, then turn south on Peat Moss Road and drive for 2 km. The lagoons are on your left (east side of road). The birds are best observed from the viewing tower. Access to the viewing tower is free and no permit is needed
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Directions: From Ottawa take Hwy. 417 east to exit 66 and go south on St. Albert Road. Proceed around a large corner where the road becomes Cty Rd 7.After passing through St.Albert watch for the sign for the lagoon on the south side of the road, opposite house #1664.

Directions: Courtesy Fred Helleiner: To reach Presqu'ile Provincial Park, follow the signs from Brighton. Locations within the Park are shown on a map at the back of a tabloid that is available at the Park gate. Access to the offshore islands is restricted at this time of year to prevent disturbance to the colonial nesting birds there. Birders are encouraged to record their observations on the bird sightings board provided near the campground.

Directions: Amherstview Sewage Lagoon: From Hwy. 401 take exit 599 (County Rd. 6, Odessa) south on County Rd. 6 to Taylor-Kidd Blvd. Turn left (east) on Taylor-Kidd and drive approx. 1 km watching for a lane on your right after crossing railway overpass. This is the entrance to the lagoon. If you're coming from Amherst Island, drive east on Hwy 33 approx. 9 km. and then turn left on County Rd 6. Continue north about 1.5 km and turn right (east) onto Taylor-Kidd Blvd. MUST be accompanied by a KFN member. For KFN contact information or how to become a member, please visit http://kingstonfieldnaturalists.org/ ."

Chipping Sparrows
Stilt Sandpiper feeding.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher at Owen Point. 
Juvenile Black Tern at St. Albert 
Lots of shorebird activity at St.Albert.

Stilt Sandpiper in flight. 
Great Crested Flycatcher
Adult Pectoral Sandpiper at Amherstview Sewage Lagoon. 
Adult Solitary Sandpiper at Embrun Sewage Lagoon. 
Cedar Waxwing displays. 
A young Gray Catbird.
Killdeer in flight. 

A juvenile Peregrine Falcon was a surprise at Presqu'ile. 
 Yellow Warblers are now migrating south in numbers throughout eastern Ontario. 



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