Oshawa Second Marsh and vicinity birding report, for the MAY 13 - 20, 2004 period. The Oshawa Second Marsh water level is currently low due to a deliberate drawdown . The majority of the Marsh is now exposed mud/sand/rock, which has allowed shorebirds to scatter throughout the Marsh while foraging.
SHOREBIRDS: Wader numbers continue to grow. This morning there were 1000+ shorebirds present consisting primarily of LEAST SANDPIPERS, SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, and DUNLIN as well as 3 WHIMBREL present. The PIPING PLOVER has not been seen since last reported on Monday afternoon. On Tuesday, there were 16 species of shorebirds present, including the following notable species: 2 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, 1 SANDERLING, 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE, 12 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERS, 1 SOLITARY SANDPIPER and 12 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. Wednesday evening, 85 WHIMBREL were reported. WATERFOWL: Small numbers of waterfowl still remain primarily in the southeast corner of the Marsh. Species seen this week include: NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, BLACK DUCK, and GREEN-WINGED TEAL. HERONS: Four species of herons were reported from the Second Marsh this week. The GREAT EGRETS were last reported on Monday with just one individual bird. GULLS and TERNS: Gull and tern numbers are quite low in the area now. Small numbers of immature BONAPARTE'S GULLS and 1-2 immature LITTLE GULLS can be seen daily. SONGBIRDS: Small numbers of warblers were seen this week primarily in Ghost Road Woods and the Cool Hollow area of the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. Species of note included: CAPE MAY, BLACKPOLL, and CANADA WARBLER. A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was reported on the 14th. BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, ORCHARD ORIOLES and NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS were all reported this week in the process of nest building. Our thanks to contributors: Anne Anthony, Brian Brasier, Durham Rare Bird Line, Tyler Hoar, Dan Kaczynski, Rayfield Pye, Jim Richards and Dave Worthington for their sightings reports. Please send sightings reports to the attention of Tyler Hoar, (e-mail) to [EMAIL PROTECTED] no later than Thursday morning each week. For a trail map of Second Marsh visit com (http://www.secondmarsh.com). There is a link on that site that will take you to a trail map for McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve. Directions: Exit from the 401 at the Harmony Rd. Exit (419) in Oshawa. Go south on Farewell St. to Colonel Sam Drive. Go east on Colonel Sam Drive to the parking lot at the GM Headquarters. Park in the west parking lot close to the marsh. The east platform is located here. To see the Lake Ontario waterbirds proceed along the path from the parking lot south to the lakeshore.
