Hi Ontbirders,
Today, August 12th, high water levels on the Ottawa River continue. As a
result, few shorebirds were found. Warbler migration continues to be
slow, with Yellow Warblers being the most common migrant. Yesterday,
August 11th, in my backyard in Carp, On., I had 5 species of warblers
including 3 Cape May, 2 Northern Waterthrush, 2 Yellow-rumped, 30 Yellow
and 2 American Redstart. On August 10th, at the Corel Centre , I
observed 800 gulls loafing in the empty parking lots. A quick check
revealed 2 adult Lesser Black-backed, 26 Great Black-backed, 32 Herring
in among the Ring-billed. On August 9th, I birded the KFN property at
the east end of Amherst Island. Water levels were high with little
shorebird habitat. Along the shoreline a total of 12 species of
shorebirds were observed including 3 adult Black-bellied Plover, 1 adult
Ruddy Turnstone, 3 adult Sanderling, and 2 Short-billed Dowitcher (1
adult, 1 juv.). A total of 12 species of waterfowl were found including
2 Redhead, 2 Greater Scaup and 1 Red-breasted Merganser. On the walk out
to the point, at least a dozen meadow voles were seen as they scurried
through the grass. This may be a sign of good things to come. In the
afternoon, I checked Amherstview Sewage Lagoon and found no shorebird
habitat, but 275+ Bonaparte's Gulls were seen, 18 of which were
juveniles. I made a brief stop at the Winchester Sewage Lagoon. The
southwestern cell was still low with about 80+ shorebirds including 50
Semipalmated Sandpipers and 3 Semipalmated Plover.
Directions: Amherst Island: Exit off the 401 at exit 593 and drive
south to the very end. Turn right on Hwy. 33 and drive 500 m. till you
see the sign to the ferry. The ferry leaves the mainland on the half
hour and leaves the island on the hour. Cost is $5.00 round trip. There
are no gas stations on the island. The K.F.N. property is at the
easternmost part of the island. The Owl Woods is at the midway point of
the seasonal road located 3.4 km. east from the general store.
Amherstview Sewage Lagoon: To reach the Lagoons take Hwy. 401 exit
(593) travel south ( 8.5 km) on County Road 4 to Taylor-Kidd Blvd.
Turn left (east) and follow Taylor-Kidd Blvd. (6.5 km) to County Road 6.
Continue east on Taylor-Kidd (.8 km), and watch for the second gravel
lane on your right after crossing railway overpass. This is the entrance
to the lagoon.
Winchester is located off highway 31 south of Ottawa, once in town head
north on Ottawa Street, when you get to a T junction turn right, the
lagoons
are easily visible on your right. If you require additional directions
to any of these areas
mentioned, please email me privately.
good birding
Bruce
Bruce Di Labio
400 Donald B. Munro Drive
P.O.Box 538
Carp,Ontario,K0A 1L0
(613)839-4395 Home (613)715-2571 Cell
http://www3.sympatico.ca/bruce.dilabio/
Bruce DiLabio <[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.
