Dear Ontbirders, While most of the lakes in south Parry Sound district are still frozen, and a great deal of snow cover still remains in the forested areas, the open marshlands and moving waterways have shed their cover of ice and snow and now serve as attractions to fair numbers of migratory waterbirds.
On Saturday afternoon (April 12) from 1 to 7pm, I followed the open water stretches of the Magnetawan River in south Parry Sound district from Kearney to Magnetawan and then along Hwy 124 to Parry Sound. In Kearney, there is a large patch of open water stretching south from the bridge 1-2kms. From the riverside boardwalk, I sighted 5 RING-NECKED DUCKs, 2 AMERICAN BLACK DUCKs, 8 COMMON MERGANSERs and small numbers of CANADA GEESE and RING-BILLED GULLs. At the mouth of the Distress River a few kms east of Magnetawan there were 2 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 6 COMMON MERGANSERs and 12 MALLARDs. On the north side of the Distress River bridge was a pair of HOODED MERGANSERs. Further west, in an open bay of Ahmic Lake, approximately 10kms west of Magnetawan, a pair of BUFFLEHEAD were feeding. Other sightings along Hwy 124 were as follows: 1 HOODED MERGANSER (male) in pond on south side near Fairholme 2 AMERICAN KESTRELs (pair) on telephone wires in Sunny Slope single TURKEY VULTURES in Magnetawan and McKellar On a sad note, I can also report that I accidentally flushed an AMERICAN WOODCOCK from the shrubs bordering my front lawn. Tragically, this beautiful and apparently quite healthy bird flew into my neighbours sliding glass doors to its death. If you know of anyone who can make good scientific use of this perfect Woodcock specimen please contact me privately. Kip Daynard Emsdale, ON (705) 636-9452 "Kip Daynard" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
