17 people assembled at the entrance to the St. Clair National Wldlife marsh this foggy morning at 7 am. On the walk alone the dike numerous Common Moorhens were seen including at least 1 family group with 5 chicks. Wood Ducks were everywhere and Pied-billed Grebes could be heard out in the marsh. 2 males and a female Ruddy Duck were a special treat. Least Bitterns were calling and a couple perched out in the open or flew around. Both Black Terns and Forster's Terns were skimming over the open pools. Yellow-headed Blackbirds could not be found so we headed towards Anger's Line where they had been seen with regularity this past spring on the lawns. On the way at one stop Black-billed Cuckcoos were heard and seen and the call of a Yellow-billed was heard from dense willows. Needless to say the Yellow-headeds were not home but at the end of Anger's Line were Mute Swans and numerous Forster's Terns. On the return drive back to the highway we stopped for a 4 1/2 foot long Fox Snake to clear the road. We headed for Tilbury and Tim Horton's for a break before checking out the rocks off Wheatly harbour for gulls. A Great Egret was in the creek on the north side of Omstead's fish plant. We headed for Pt. Pelee and stopped for lunch at the Dunes picnic area. Here a very co-operative second year male Summer Tanager was found on the trail from the picnic area to the west beach only a few yards from the picnic area. After lunch the small loop trail on the south side of the parking lot of the Delaurie Trail produced a calling Yellow-breasted Chat which some saw for a brief period. A co-operative Eastern Towhee sang from the top of a tree. Several Orchard Orioles were present here. Goods looks were obtained of a Yellow-billed Cuckcoo. Of note an Osprey flew over heading south. We headed for Rondeau having another look at the Wheatly Great Egret and with a brief detour to Erieaux. Supper was at the Rondeaux Park store where Chimney Swifts were flying over and a Red-headed Woodpecker was observed on a small tree. At the entrance of the Spicebush Trail we stopped to hear the Red-eyed Vireos calling and anything else we could pick out. A Pileated Woopecker flew in and landed on a dead tree trunk 60 feet away where it remained for several minutes before disappearing back into the woods. At the nature centre a Red-bellied Woodpecker flew over the parking lot while a Red-headed Woopecker was on the nature centre's feeder. Near the entrance to the Tulip Tree trail a second year male American Restart was seen and heard. Back in the sloughs from the trail good looks were had of a Prothonotary Warbler which sat for several minutes chipping over a nest box. A great end to a succesful day during which the group saw approximately 84 species..
John Miles Jarvis, On N0A 1J0 1-519-587-5223 "John Miles" <[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.
