A friend and I saw this well documented bird this morning. The hamlet of Monticello lies at the intersection of Cty. Rd. 15 and Sideroad 21/22, herein referred to as "the intersection". The "Monticello Wetlands" sign is on the S side of 15, about 300m W of "the intersection". The bird was seen on roadside wires 100-500m S of "the intersection" on the E side of 21/22, and on wires 100-300m W of "the intersection", on the S side of 15. It was also seen in distant shrubs and trees. We were in a group of birders/photographers waiting near the sign when we were alerted to the bird's location S of "the intersection" (by Mark Cranford?). We all drove to the location, found it immediately and stopped in a row N of the bird, giving it some space. Within a minute or two of arriving, a photographer asked politely if he could drive past the bird to try to photograph it in better light. I suggested that he wait until everyone got a good look at it, which he did. When he drove by it, it flew further away, and continued to do so as he tried to get closer. Many of us went back to our original location near the sign, hoping it would return, which it did (as did the photographer). This time, he attempted to get closer by walking to it, but again he startled it and it flew further off. This bird doesn't take kindly to close approaches. In the distance, south of the "Monticello Wetlands" sign, there is a Great Egret rookery. David Shilman Toronto, ON "Always wave to the locals!" > DIRECTIONS from Frank Pinilla: > From Orangeville take Cty Rd 109 west to Cty Rd 25, turn right/north > through Grand Valley and continue up to Cty Rd 15, turn left and go > throuigh the hamlets of Colbeck & Monticello (the latter is about 5km > west of Cty Rd 25), just past Monticello start checking wires/trees > etc. Stop near the white sign (small turnoff where 1 car could park), > walk the road back toward Monticello checking all around. > _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
