The OFO Field trip to the Lake Erie shore began at Rock Point Provincial Park. There were 26 participants.
At Rock Point we had: Killdeer (5), Lesser Yellowlegs (3), Solitary Sandpiper (1), Spotted Sandpiper (15), Sanderling (3), Semipalmated Sandpiper(5) and Least Sandpiper (16). A single meadowlark briefly joined the shorebirds on the beach. A number of Caspian Terns were observed flying beside the beach.
>From Rock Point we went to the large property managed by Mosaic Esterhazy Holdings Limited. Georg Madsen, Operations Superintendent, met us at the gate to the property and opened gates on both the north and south sides of Rymer Road for us. We spent a very profitable time in this area adding Black-bellied Plover(1), Semipalmated Plover (2) Greater Yellowlegs (10) and Pectoral Sandpiper (5) to our shorebird list for the day. About 20 Lesser Yellowlegs, 12 Green Herons, and several Marsh Wrens were also observed. A lone Bald Eagle flew overhead as we were walking out of the area.
We next visited the sod farms at the intersection of Hutchinson and Poth Road where we had 9 Black-bellied Plovers. We then went along the Canal Bank Road to Wainfleet and over to Morgan's Point where there were no shorebirds. After lunch at Morgan's Point we carried on to Harborview Road ( just east of Morgan's Point) where we had 22 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 3 Least Sandpipers and one Lesser Yellowlegs. At 1330 we arrived at the Erie Peat Road entrance to Wainfleet Bog and spent about 90 minutes walking in the bog. No unusual birds but we did have a Smooth green snake and various butterflies. A total of 67 species of birds were seen by the participants.
We would like to thank Georg Madsen and Mosaic Esterhazy Holdings Limited for the opportunity to visit the Mosaic property. The property looks to be an excellent spot for shorebirds and waterbirds in the fall. For permission to enter visit the Mosaic Office at the corner of Canal Bank Road and Rymer Road . Office hours are Monday to Friday from 0800 to 1630 hours. For pre-arrangements of visits or field trips to the area contact George Madsen at 1-905-774-7681 during office hours.( From Rock Point Provincial Park turn right at the entrance to the park and then take the first left on Downy Road . The road intersects Rymer Road. Turn left on Rymer Road and you will come to the mosaic property with evaporation lagoons on the right and an embankment on the left, which hides two large lagoons, before reaching Canal Bank Road. )
John Black and Dan Salisbury.
