Good evening birders
Today Stan Bajurny and I returned to our usual haunts south of Hamilton and
glad we did.
Our first stop of note was at the Townsend sewage lagoons despite the gale
force winds, but strong winds are the norm at Townsend.
We started out trying to count Dunlin and A. Pipits in the first lagoon and
we slowly made our way westward along the lagoon when Stan stopped and
checked the gulls in the next lagoon and very quickly announced that he had
a juvenile Sabine's and as I was looking at this bird he again made an
announcement. This time it was an adult Little Gull in the same lagoon. Not
a bad start for the day. These two gulls were with an estimated 500+
Bonaparte's Gulls that were either feeding with these two or passing by
heading west.
Also at the lagoons were 28 Ruddy, Redhead, 250+ Dunlin, Lesser Yellowlegs,
Pectoral and Semipalmated Sandpipers, and of course Killdeer. In the non
shorebird category were 30+ American Pipits, 3 Turkey Vultures and passing
by heading west were 58 Tree swallows.
From here it was off to Turkey Point where we found another 2 adult Little
Gulls, approx. 200 Bonaparte's Gulls and 4 to 6 Forster's terns (hard to
count as they were toing and froing in the wind).
Turkey Point overlook among other things produced 16 Eastern Bluebirds on
the wires etc.15 Turkey Vultures between here and Port Rowan and off Port
Rowan on the Inner Bay was an amazing 2500+ American Wigeons in 1 large and
1 small raft.
Other hi-lites for the Long Point area were a further 14 Turkey Vultures,
110 Bonaparte's Gulls, 31 Dunlin and 67 more Eastern Bluebirds overhead and
again on wires and fences as well as 20 Sandhill Cranes, 16 of them together
in a harvested corn field just west of Port Rowan on Lakeshore Rd.
It was now getting late and we were starting to feel the chill of the
constant wind so we headed home but on the way decided to stop at the Jarvis
sewage lagoons. Another good move as we found Wood, Ring-necked and Ruddy
Ducks, and Northern Shoveler here as well as 1500+ Red-winged Blackbirds
heading SW and another 111 Tree Swallow feeding over the lagoons.
A few other birds we found in the Long Point Area are Red-bellied
Woodpecker, Green-winged Teal, many A. Robins, Rusty Blackbird and mixed
flocks of Blackbirds. These and the waterfowl will increase to large numbers
in the next 2 to 3 weeks with 200,000 plus blackbirds and many thousands of
waterfowl and A. Coots and on the proper days (NW winds best) you should
watch for migrating Raptors.
Now it was time to head home after a very interesting day.
DIRECTIONS
TOWNSEND SEWAGE LAGOONS
On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass through Hagersville and
drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the town of Jarvis you will see a
sign indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek Parkway #69. Turn right here
and drive to the intersection with the stop signs, turn left on Keith
Richardson Parkway and drive past some park ponds on your right. Drive ahead
until you see a small children's shelter (with an air conditioner on it) on
your right at County Rd 14. This is just before you reach the abandoned
railway line (tracks removed). Turn right here onto County Rd 14. and drive
a few hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating that this is
a waste treatment area.. Park well to the side of the road, do not block the
gate. If the gate is open (they are on some weekends) then do not park
directly across from the gate as the larger "Honey Trucks" need the area to
swing into and out of the entrance road.
These lagoons are USUALLY only accessible on the weekend or after 6pm during
the week.
If asked to leave or not enter then please be respectful and comply as it
seems that for now we are being tolerated.
TURKEY POINT
To get to Turkey Point from Brantford, drive straight south down Hwy 24
through Simcoe following Hwy 24 as it curves west towards Long Point. About
8 km you will come to county road 10, turn left (south), (there are signs
here as you approach this road indicating Turkey Point Prov. Park) and drive
straight ahead for about 5 km until you almost run into the lake at Cedar
Road (the C in Cedar is hidden by a sign, so you will read it as Cedar
Road), turn right and drive about 1 ½ km to Reserve Street. Turn left here
and drive to the lake (I could not find a sign naming this street), turn
right here and continue to the marina entrance and watch here for birds
flying past or sitting on the beach, or off to your right on the sometimes
exposed flats or sandy islands. Be sure to check the beach and lake on your
right all along here.
From Hamilton drive south on Hwy 6 through Hagersville to Jarvis. In Jarvis
turn right (west) on Hwy 24 and drive to Simcoe. In Simcoe turn left (south)
on Hwy 24 and follow the directions in double brackets above.
PORT ROWAN OVERLOOK
From Hwy 59 just before the Long Point drive along Lakeshore Road (AKA Front
Street) to Main Street at the south end of the town of Port Rowan (just
south of the CIBC branch) where it makes left hand turn into town. The
overlook and parking area are directly on your right above the marina and
harbour.
P.S. If you continue up Main Street to the traffic light and turn right
(east), this will take to the Turkey Point Marsh overlook and to Turkey
Point itself and a little further on, the Fisher's Glen area.
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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