Birders,
On Friday, September 26, an out of town birder pointed out a juvenile Purple
Gallinule to the hawk counter on duty (Bob Pettit) on the Hawk Tower at
Holiday Beach Conservation Area, Essex County. Bob Pettit took four digital
photos through the gentleman's scope, which can be viewed at:
http://hbmo.org/sightings/Purple_Gallinule-20030927/. Thanks to Jason
Sodergren for getting this page up in a hurry!
Today, Saturday, September 27, the bird was watched foraging in the same
general area and was seen on only three occasions during the day, once
feeding in the open for 15 minutes, twice seen in dense vegetation for a
couple minutes, and remaining hidden the remainder of the time. The site is
a patch of cattail, arrowleaf, and American Lotus just a few yards to the
north of the Hawk Tower. The best vantagepoint actually is from the top of
the tower, and it seems possible that birders standing on the shore near the
cattails may make the bird more shy. It seems the bird will likely still be
present tomorrow, and possibly longer.
Directions: Howard Avenue (Essex Co. Rd. 9), intersects Routes 401 and 3
east of Windsor. Take Howard Avenue south to County Road 20 ("T"'s) and turn
right (west) traveling to Malden Centre in the town of Amherstburg. After
about a mile, you will see a restaurant/convenience/gas store (Ure's) on the
left just before County Road 50. Turn left (south) on County Road 50 and go
1.3 miles; the entrance to HBCA on the right. Drive all the way into the
park to the Hawk Tower. Note: you can also take County Road 20 west from
the Pt. Pelee area to where it reaches County Road 50.
Allen Chartier
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI 48141
Website: http://www.amazilia.net
Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet/index.htm
"Allen Chartier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
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