On Sunday September 11, 27 visitors, mostly campers from the Toronto area,
joined us at Port Burwell Provincial Park for the 1st of this season's 6
migration watches. There was a small but steady migration of hawks [140
individuals of 7 species] including 115 Sharp-shinned Hawks, 5 Osprey and 7
Merlin. One of the Merlins was seen chasing 4 American Goldfinches and
another made an unsuccessful pass at a Black Saddlebag. Other migrants
included several flocks of Cedar Waxwings totalling70, 12 Ruby-throated
Hummingbirds and 183 Monarchs. On the beach we counted at least 16 Little
Gulls including at least 8 hatch year birds, the most we have ever seen at
this location.
Migration watches will be held on the next 4 Sundays. On Thanksgiving
weekend there will also be a watch on the Saturday. All watches are from
0900 - 1200. There is a park entry fee.
To reach Port Burwell exit Hwy 401 at Hwy 19 [Plank Road], the easternmost
Ingersoll exit and drive south through Tillsonburg to Port Burwell. The
park is on the west side of Big Otter Creek where it empties into Lake
Erie. The migration watch takes place at Parking Lot # 5 in the beach
parking lots.
Dave Martin, Linda Wladarski, Ross Snider
Harrietsville, ON
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
