Hi All, Headed down to the Long Point area today, stopping in at LaSalle Marina/Park in Burlington. At the "Window to the Bay" which is an overlook just east of LaSalle there was a winter plumaged Red-throated Loon. At LaSalle there were many of the regular diving ducks (Canvasback, Redhead, Greater & Lesser Scaup, Common & Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye, acouple of White-winged Scoter) as well as 5 American Coots, but I could not find the male Barrow's Goldeneye also more than 60 Mute Swans.
Brantford airport area (no luck with Gray Partridge) A small flock of about 5 to 10 Wild Turkeys on the east side of Hwy 24 just north of the airport and south of Hwy 403, small corn field. Stopped in at Townsend SL looking for the Eurasian Wigeon, with no luck, 85 Tundra Swans and many Northern Pintail & American Wigeon here but the ponds are mostly frozen over with the cold in the last couple of days. On the drive down to the Long Pt area we had 1 Turkey Vulture. Around Long Point were 6 Sandhill Cranes (along CR 42 and Conc A west of Hwy 59), many hundreds of Tundra Swans on L.P. Bay and in the Big Creek & Turkey Point marshes. Also on the bay were 1000's of ducks, most numerous were Canvasback & Greater Scaup, with many American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Redhead and a few Coot, Gadwall & Ruddy Duck, all three Merganser species. A few Rusty Blackbirds were around both Old Cut banding station and along Big Creek at Concession A, there was a Red-bellied Woodpecker along Conc. A as well. An adult Bald Eagle flew over the marshes out from Long Point P.P. At the Fisherville Raptor Preserve were at least 25 Short-eared Owls, easily seen from Conc. 6, at least 20 of them were lined up in a row on the fenceposts bordering the east side of the field which is the raptor preserve, quite a sight in the evening sun (at 6:00pm or so), they began hunting shortly after this and could be seen all around with at least 7 Norhtern Harriers around as well. In the general area (along Conc 6) were also 2 dark phased Rough-legged Hawks and at least 5 Red-tailed Hawks. Cheers & good birding, Frank Pinilla Thornhill, ON DIRECTIONS: LaSalle & "Window to the Bay" can be found along the North Shore Blvd in Burlington, exit west from the QEW. LaSalle Park is south on LaSalle Rd from North Shore Blvd. Townsend SL Turn west of Hwy 6 just north of Jarvis on Haldimand CR 69, the lagoons are on the north side of Conc 14 just southwest of town. Long Point area Old Cut & the Provincial Park are at the very south end of Hwy 59 on Long Point, turn left on Old Cut Blvd, just before the P.P. and park at the banding station or just across the road, you can walk the woods behind the banding station and out along Hwy 59 and into the park (not much in there today), Rusties were in front of the banding station parking lot with other blackbirds. Big Creek Marsh & Long Point Bay can be viewed from the parking area about halfway along the causeway onto Long Pt, on Hwy 59. CR 42 & Conc A running west from Hwy 59 are good for finding Sandhill Cranes and Lee Brown's Pond (still mostly frozen) is on CR42 just west of the village of Port Royal. Conc A at Big Creek is a wet area with "Triple Bridges" and there were a few Rusties here, there have been Tufted Titmouse in here as well (not seen by me today). Fisherville Raptor Preserve along south side of Haldimand Conc 6, southeast of Hwy 6, west of Fisherville Rd (CR12) & east of CR53. Frank Pinilla <[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.
