Habitat conditions for shorebirds are improving daily in east Elgin County at Aylmer sewage lagoons, Aylmer Wildlife Management area and on the sandy beaches at Port Burwell. At Port Burwell today (August 25), shorebirds were 4 Ruddy Turnstones, 2 Baird's Sandpipers and 3 Semipalmated Plovers along with Spotted Sandpiper and Killdeer. The usual summer gathering of terns and gulls is small this year so far. Bonaparte's Gulls numbered 200+ with about 10 juveniles. There were two adult Little Gulls, up one from 3 weeks ago. Our high count for Little Gulls here in August is 18 birds so more are to be expected. Common Terns numbered 100+ and were accompanied by at least one juvenile Forster's Tern and 2 adult Caspian Terns. There was a small hawk migration on the northerly winds today with 2 hatching year Broad-winged Hawks and 1 Northern Harrier. We only noticed the hawks incidentally so there could have been more. At Aylmer Wildlife Management Area (WMA) today there were 100+ individuals of 9 species including 2 Baird's Sandpipers and 1 Short-billed Dowitcher. There were a dozen plus of each of Semipalmated Plover, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper, Lesser Yellowlegs and Killdeer. Conditions have improved greatly here in the last 10 days now that we are not getting almost daily rain. Visiting every 3 or 4 days since late June, our counts to date have only been 10 to 20 birds. Aylmer sewage ponds also have decent shorebird habitat. Last weekend we counted several dozen shorebirds including 2 juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes and 2 Baird's Sandpipers.The second and third lagoons have good shorebird habitat. The phalaropes were in the first lagoon at the southeast corner when seen. Shorebird habitat at Port Stanley sewage lagoons were not so good last I heard about 10 days ago but are likely improving daily as elsewhere in Elgin County now that the summer downpours have lessened. Directions: Port Burwell is at the Lake Erie terminus of Hwy 21 (Burwell Road) in east Elgin County south of Tillsonburg. There is good habitat on the beach east of Otter Creek. You can also check the beach in Port Burwell PP (entrance fee) by driving into the park and checking the various beach accesses from 4 parking lots. Alternately, you can park for free in the public parking lot along the west side of Otter Creek near the park entrance and walk about 1/2 hour into the park along a boardwalk and then the beach. With all the beach users flushing the birds constantly you may have to walk a considerable distance to find an undisturbed group sitting on the beach. The flushed birds do allow you, though, to quickly pick out the Little Gulls and hopefully other rarities. Sabine's Gull has been found here on two occasions in early September. Aylmer WMA Located northeast of Aylmer beside the Ontario Police College (OPC). From Hwy 401 drive south on Elgin / Imperial Rd / Hwy 73 to College Line. Turn left /east on College Line. Turn right / south on Hacienda Line. Turn left / east into the WMA at the south end of the OPC and drive to the viewing stands. Aylmer sewage ponds Drive south from Hwy 401 to Glencolin Line. Turn right / west and drive to Rogers Road. Turn left / south on Rogers and drive south about 1 km to the sewage ponds on your right. There are 4 lagoons. Dave Martin and Linda Wladarski Harrietsville, Elgin County [EMAIL PROTECTED] No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com Version: 8.0.138 / Virus Database: 270.6.7/1632 - Release Date: 8/25/2008 7:05 AM
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