This very handsome bird is in the small Lake Street marsh in Port Hope, consorting with a male Blue-winged Teal. It has the bright chestnut body of a Cinnamon Teal with the head of a Blue-winged. The body has no white flank patch; the sides of the body are unmottled and uniformly bright chestnut. The head is dark grayish blue with a broad whitish crescent tinged with chestnut, and the eye is bright red. Neat. It was found this morning, Saturday, April 26, by Farley Mowat and was still there in early afternoon. We did meet a birder from Newcastle who asked us if we had seen the Cinnamon Teal she had noticed on Wednesday, so it may well have been around for a few days. It is often out in the open but also feeds in the cattails on the north side of the marsh where it is more difficult to see, but almost always with the male Blue-winged. Other birds in the marsh included Northern Shoveler, Pied-billed Grebe, Sora (heard), Black-crowned Night-Heron, and American Bittern.
To reach the Lake Street marsh, exit Highway 401 at Hwy.28, Exit 464, and go south to the east side of the harbour where Peter Street (Hwy.2) turns east at the railway viaduct. Go east to the first traffic lights, at Lake Street, and turn south - Lake Street follows the shoreline for a while then turns north and at this bend there is a parking lot for the lakefront trail. Follow the trail eastward for a short distance to see the marsh - the teal was a little bit west of the viewing platform. Margaret Bain [EMAIL PROTECTED] "Margaret Bain" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
