In late morning of July 31 at the Sobey pond two of us thoroughly enjoyed the dowitcher-like sewing machine beak action of 3 STILT SANDPIPERS; the birds, staying close together, acted in unison while slowly browsing along the water's edge, unconcerned by the helter-skelter flitting-about actions of a number of Lesser and 3 Greater Yellowlegs. For a while we thought we had a resting Willet--once he started to preen to reveal his beak we realized he was a large Greater Yellowlegs. Strangely his legs did not appear to be yellowish. In the same body of water were many Killdeers and Least Sandpipers, along wth one of each of a Spotted and Semi-palmated Sandpiper.
MNR is sponsoring major Purple Loosestrife removal-- a team of wonderful teens were industriously working away to "deadhead" and bag the proliferation of Lythrum salicaria in front of the south platform in Cranberry Marsh. Take a trip down Hall's Rd. to get a kick out of as many as 6 American Kestrels flying about or in the dead trees a short distance below Victoria St. The Sobey pond can be accessed by turning north off Victoris St. in southwest Whitby on the first street west of the Iroquois sports comples on Victoria and Henry. Turn west along the front of the long warehouse--the pond is on the south side, and you can bird right at your car. CRYSTAL (#37 neck-tagged TRUMPETER) has a youngster--Second Marsh. Doug Lockrey, Whitby,ON "Doug Lockrey" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
