Jerry Ball, Martin and Cathy Parker and myself enjoyed a fine day's birding
despite failing to find a Gyrfalcon or Glossy Ibis.At Presqu'ile Provincial
Park we saw Purple Sandpiper, 2 White-rumped Sandpipers, Sanderling, Dunlin and
Killdeer, as well as all 3 scoters, 4 Harlequin Ducks (fly-by seen by Jerry),
Brant Goose, Horned Grebes, Snow Buntings and Yellow-rumped Warblers.At Gosport
were 2 Hudsonian Godwits, a Pectoral Sandpiper, both Yellowlegs, and Dunlin.At
the foot of Station Rd in Grafton, 5 Cave Swallows (photos available) flew over
the lake just offshore from the river mouth.In Cobourg Harbour were American
Wigeon, Ruddy Ducks, Am. Coots, 3 Cackling Geese and a White-fronted Goose.
Directions : Presqu'ile can be reached from the #401 by driving into Brighton,
turning right at the lights in town, then taking a left after 400 metres and
following the signs to the park.Gosport : From # 401, go south to Brighton on #
30, which becomes George St. At
traffic lights in town, go straight through ( do not turn right towards
Presqu'ile Prov. Pk.). When you reach the Brighton Constructed Wetland,
turn
right onto Harbour St. Then turn left onto Baldwin which goes into
Gosport. One street before the Marina, turn left onto Price St. Near the
end
is the Presqu'ile Yacht Club. Park there and check the bay to your left.
Please note that the Presqu'ile Yacht Club is
private property and should not be entered or used as a viewpoint.
Instead, park 25 m east of their driveway at the dead end and walk
east along the mowed grass area to the point of land. From there look
north and the birds are feeding on the mudflat, which unfortunately is
nearly a kilometre away so a scope is essential here. This is the
only public viewpoint for this area.
Grafton: Take Highway 2 west from Brighton to the Esso station in Grafton,
where you turn left and go south down Station Road to the lake. Go another 250
m. along the road to a second overlook next to a house with a sign with a
directional black and yellow arrow next to it. Another sign there reads Chub
Point. Walk the beach eastwards and check the river mouth and lake. Cobourg
Harbour can be reached by driving further west along Highway 2 into town and
then going south to the lake from the town centre. Dave
[email protected]
_______________________________________________
ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial
birding organization.
Send bird reports to [email protected]
For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
