Close to 30 brave souls gathered at the Visitors centre by 0800 - having dealt
with very frosty starts to this day, all optimistically hoping for the bright
sun to bring warmth. We drove to South Point Trail and walked the length in
good spirits despite rather slim pickings. Some highlights were several quite
vocal Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher and Red-bellied Woodpecker. A female
Eastern Bluebird, both kinglets, a few gnatcatchers and a 'scope view of an
adult male Merlin in great light being a big hit.
Two ladies went ahead and ran into a Yellow-headed Blackbird and a few
Yellow-rumped Warblers which had disappeared by the time some of us arrived at
the end of the trail, whilst others choose an early start back - several of
whom met an obliging Woodcock.We saw some of the usual waterfowl and gulls
offshore including a Horned Grebe and Common Loon flying over but the east wind
kept our beach forays short.
On returning to the V.C. most of the group had a break for lunch, some walked
Tulip Tree trail, adding Hermit Thrush, Brown Creeper and Winter Wren -
surprisingly few individual birds of any species anywhere. We reassembled and
drove on to Spicebush trail and started to study flowers and listen to
frogs-both indications of a scarcity of birds - we did get an Eastern Phoebe
here. We were disappointed at the Maintenance yard, where a couple of warblers
and a White-eyed Vireo were reported and ~ half the remaining group took their
leave, whilst 5/6 cars followed Donald Pye and myself to the boat launch/pier
where I was able to relocate the Eurasian Widgeon off to the right of the end
of the structure, after we had studied over 30 Forster's Terns on the open
pilings.
A few die-hard birders carried on to Blenheim S.L. via Shrewsbury - Pied-billed
Grebe, Greater Yellowlegs, nesting Great Blue herons and a Killdeer. At the
lagoons we 'dipped' on the Eared Grebe but added Lesser Yellowlegs, Pectoral
and Least Sandpiper, Dunlin a few waterfowl and Savannah Sparrow - even more
windy as all the trees are downed - not a perch for any birds.
Our total count for the day was 79 but the cooperative and helpful participants
were motivating to both leaders and each other and appreciated.
Maris Apse, 10094 Red Pine Rd, Grand Bend, ON N0M 1T0, 519-238-8415
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