Ha again fellow birders Today Saturday, March 29, 2003 after a trip to the Long Point area Stan Bajurny and I decide to end our day at the Townsend sewage lagoons and a good move it turned out to be for us.
We arrived at the lagoons at 6pm and found several species of waterfowl with the dominant ones being Ring-necked Ducks and Common Mergansers. After checking them out and half freezing as usual at this location we decided to call it a day. We started back to the van and were only 100 feet or so away from it when we both noticed large flocks of geese lifting off of the fields to the south of the lagoons. We turned our binoculars onto the first wave and counted 15 Snow Geese with them, 6 Blue phase and 9 White phase. From this wave until almost dark we counted 3000+ Canada Geese, including a group of 5 Richardson's geese and 5 more Snow Geese. Our total of Snow Geese was 20, 7 Blue and 13 White phase. This show that the geese put on reminded us of a similar show a couple of years ago but with the spectacular addition of Tundra Swans. In a short 15 minute span at dusk until it was too dark to count them we tallied 1174 Tundra Swans coming in to land in the lagoons and they were still coming when we left as were hundreds of ducks. A show not to be forgotten as we probably witnessed 5000+ water fowl on and over the lagoons. As was the case a couple of times before, the best time to witness this show starts about an hour before dark or if you can get there at the crack of dawn (we can't) you may see them as they depart for the surrounding fields. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] TOWNSEND SEWAGE LAGOONS On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass through Hagersville and drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the town you will see a sign indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek Parkway #69. Turn right here and drive to the intersection with the stop signs, turn left on Keith Richardson Parkway and drive past some park ponds on your right. Drive ahead until you see a small children's shelter with an air conditioner on it's side (really). Turn right here on County Rd 14. This is just before you reach the abandoned railway line (tracks removed) and it is on your right. Turn right here and drive a few hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating that this is a waste treatment area.. Park well to the side of the road or across the road and do not block the gate. If the gate is open (they are on some weekends) then do not park directly across from the gate as the larger "Honey Trucks" need the area to swing into and out of the entrance road. These lagoons are only accessible on the weekend. "Norm Murr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
