This afternoon I spent four hours birding three areas of the waterfront from Arkendo Park/Joshua Creek in sw Oakville to Rattray Marsh sw of Clarkson, Mississauga. Highlights included Harlequin Duck (adult male in winter plumage with a large flock of Redheads), Carolina and Winter Wrens (one each) and Red-throated Loon (1) off or in Arkendo Park; Northern Shrike (1), Purple Finch (2) and Wilson's Snipe near Lakeside Park just sw of the St. Lawrence Cement Plant on Lakeshore; and Winter and Marsh Wrens (one each) along the lower Rattray Marsh boardwalk. The snipe was flushed from the unnamed creek that flows along west side of Lakeside Park; it was feeding under dense dogwood about 50 meters from where the creek passes under lakeshore. I also saw a Peregrine Falcons harassing Rock Pigeons over the Petro-Canada process plant adjacent to 'leash-free' Lakeside Park. Remember these locations with when you push yourself off the starting block for your winter bird list!
All these locations are located relative close together along a 10-km strip of lakefront and all can accessed off Lakeshore between just west of Winston Churchill boulevard (Arkendo Park off Arkendo St.), Lakeside Park of Lakeshore about 600 meters west of Winstone Churchill Boulevard, and Rattray Marsh (the closest parking access to the marsh, exit south at Bexhill off Lakeshore about 1 km west Erin Mills Parkway, drive south to the end, park, walk down the hill and you're there). Wayne Renaud
