I am posting this with some reluctance as two great birds in two consecutive
visits to the same place falls into the "too good to be true" category, but the
bird was there so I will do my duty as an Ontbirder.
Several hours spent at the Holland Landing Lagoons this morning were
highlighted by a non-breeding American Avocet observed feeding for more than an
hour near the south end of the 4rth pond. The bird was very relaxed, at times
resting on one leg with its bill tucked into its back, and not flying even when
all the nearby Yellowlegs and peeps took off. Female is suspected because of
the very sharp upturn of the outer half of the bill. The bird was still
present when I left just before noon.
Other birds present included 2 Stilt Sandpipers (both juveniles), 5
Shortbilled Dowitchers, 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, many Lesser Yellowlegs, 1
Solitary Sandpiper, numerous Killdeer and Spotted Sandpipers, and about 200
peeps.
Hopefully others will get to see this bird (where are you Ron Fleming?).
Good Briding,
Don Wiens
Richmond Hill, ON
DIRECTIONS: (from Ron Fleming) The Holland Landing lagoons are just north
of Newmarket, which in turn is about 30 minutes directly north of Toronto.
From Davis Drive/Hwy. 9 in mid-Newmarket, turn north at the lights on Yonge
Street (the Upper Canada Mall will be on the NW side of this busy
intersection). Drive past all the "big box" stores in the north part of
Newmarket (past Tim Horton's, Canadian Tire, Home Depot, Future Shop, Costco,
Silvercity Cinemas, etc.) and past the Victory Church to the stoplights beside
Brooklin Concrete and the Newmarket Inn (this is about 2 km north of Green
Lane).
Turn right into Holland Landing and follow the curving descent to the lights
at the bridge (don't take the left near the bottom of the hill). The bridge
crosses the railway tracks, then the East Holland River. Go north past Mount
Albert Rd. You will be on Old Yonge Street. Keep going north through town,
past Beckett Ave. You will go through a little curve in the road where there
are conifer stands on both sides, then you will pass Doane Rd. on the right.
About a km after that you will see two white wagon wheels and a Maximum 60
sign; this is Cedar St. Turn right (east) and follow it to the dead end.
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Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 15:53:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: RON FLEMING <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: OFO Bird Sightings <[email protected]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Holland Landing Avocet
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Don Wiens' bird discoveries are wreaking havoc with my domestic and
professional life. On Saturday I had to abandon post-vacation van-unloading
duties in order to chase Don's Marbled Godwit at the HL lagoons. The godwit
(seen only on Thursday, as it turns out) was not there and either was my dinner
when I returned home.
Today I had to abandon my classroom prep (school resumes next week) when I
read Don's post about an American Avocet at the HL lagoons. Thankfully, the
avocet was still there when I birded the area between 2:00-2:45 p.m. I hope my
job is still there when I return to work tomorrow.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
P.S. Contrary to Don's experience with the avocet exhibiting relaxed
behaviour this morning, I found the bird to be nervous this afternoon, moving
around several times while I was there. I originally found it in the bird-rich
4th cell and had some great looks but it flew to a few different places in that
lagoon and eventually flushed all the way over to the 1st lagoon. When I made
my way back around to that first cell, the bird flushed again in the company of
several skittish Blue-winged Teal. It flew to the 2nd lagoon, stopped briefly,
then made its way back to the 4th lagoon again. It's possible that a passing
bird of prey heightened the avocet's anxiety in the hours between Don's visit
and mine... Or I am scarier looking than Don.
P.P.S. The number (400+ birds) and variety (12 species) of shorebirds present
today was the highest I have observed at HL so far this year. Sharper-eyed
shorebirders might well turn up a few species that I'm missing. Even the ducks
(mallards, both teal, and a few woodies) had company as there were a few N.
Shovelers added to the mix today.
P.P.P.S. Please refer to Don's earlier post for directions.
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Date: Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:52:35 -0400
From: "Mark Peck" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Townsend's Sewage lagoon
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Just a short note to correct an id error I made on Sunday at Townsend's
Sewage Lagoon. With some help from Ron Pittaway we have determined that
the adult Baird's Sandpiper I reported was, in fact, an adult
White-rumped Sandpiper. My apologies.
Directions to Townsend's sewage lagoon - Take 403 Hamilton exiting at 6
south. Follow 6 around Caledonia, through Hagersville turning right at
Nanticoke Creek Parkway. Follow the Parkway into Townsend and turn left
onto Keith Richardson's Parkway. Turn right at Concession 14 Townsend
Rd and the lagoons are on the right between the first and second farms
on the right hand side.
Cheers,
Mark
Mark Peck
Ornithology/Department of Natural History
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queen's Park
Toronto, ON Canada M5S 2C6
416 586 5523
fax 416 586 5553
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Tri-colored Heron - Niagara Falls ON - yes
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Tri-colored Heron Near Dufferin Islands, Niagara Falls ONTARIO
The heron was there today 8/29/06 from about 14:15. I walked away =
and when I returned there was no heron but a Ring-billed Gull on the =
rock where the heron was fishing. A minute or two later the heron =
returned from DOWNRIVER and landed on a rock that was about 10 feet =
further out but it did not look like a very good spot. Again, I =
wandered for a few minutes and when I returned the heron was in its =
former (usual) spot. After a few more minutes I left. I took several =
pictures at each instance and if anyone would like photos of the =
heron or gull please contact me offline. BTW I parked amongst the =
construction workers personal vehicles which was a shorter walk and =
suited my aged body fine.
Kayo Roy's DIRECTIONS:
Once in Niagara Falls drive along the Niagara Parkway above the Falls =
to Dufferin Island. Lots of tourists there at this time of the year =
and parking can be a real problem. Go to the south entrance road to =
Dufferin Island and park here. IT IS FREE. Walk back across the =
Parkway towards the Falls and look for the small GATE HOUSE HYDRO =
building (less than a 5 minute walk). It is just south of the much =
larger old Toronto Hydro Building (sometimes called the =
Engineerium building). There is a little parkette between these two =
buildings....walk along the NORTH side of Gate House building to the =
river edge. =
Look for the park bench closest to this small building, the heron =
was opposite this bench feeding on small fish standing on some very =
close shoreline rocks.
Jerry Lazarczyk
Grand Island NY
716-773-7452
