Just after 1:00 p.m. today and just as we arrived at Aylmer WMA a flock of
medium-sized brown geese were circling low over the front pond at Aylmer
WMA. We quickly realized they were white-fronts. As they circled, their
gleaming white "fronts" shone like headlights. Their bellies ranged from
almost no speckles to dark blackish patches. Some were calling and at a
distance we thought they sounded rather like a herd of "zebras". They
circled for about 20 minutes but were very reluctant to come down despite
the presence of 100s of Canada Geese and ducks and even a huge pile of corn
put out for the waterfowl. Eventually, they climbed to a great height and
headed southwest without ever touching down.
Also at Aylmer Wildlife Management Area today was the first Northern Shrike
of the fall in our birding area.
In the morning we birded Otter Creek in Port Burwell hoping to find a Cave
Swallow [no luck] but did witness another good hawk flight with 350 +
Red-tailed Hawks and 2 Golden Eagles between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
On their way home Ross and Terry encountered a flock of 50 + Eastern
Bluebirds near Straffordville.
Port Burwell is on Lake Erie at the eastern end of Elgin County and about
20 minutes south on Plank Road from Tillsonburg. Aylmer Wildlife
Management Area is 10 minutes northeast of Aylmer. From Aylmer drive north
on Imperial Road [Hwy 73]. Turn left/east on Glencolin Line. Turn
left/north on Hacienda Road to the first entrance at the south end of the
Ontario Police College. Drive to two viewing stands and the front pond.
Dave Martin, Linda Wladarski, Ross Snider and Terry Ricker
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Harrietsville and Ingersoll
Dave Martin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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