Hello Birders,
Today at the Willows in Hamilton (old Dundas) my father and I had an Adult
MARBLED GODWIT at the end of the trail, overlooking
the mudflats. The whole area was good for birding with many warbler species
seen along the trail, along with many ducks, Herons
(including 6+ Great Egrets) and shorebirds once you reached the main mudflat.
To top it all off, a bit of a Hawk Migration was
taking place overhead (including Osprey and Bald Eagle). Unfortunately, the
trail is in very poor shape, and you have to go over and
under many trees to reach the area.
Good Birding!
Brandon and Eric Holden
Directions:
Dundas Marsh (The Willows) - Take Main St. (in Hamilton) West to Cootes Drive
(at McMaster University), down hill (north) to a
bridge over the creek. Watch the parking regulations - the best way is to
continue 200 m. to Olympic Drive, then u-turn back to the
bridge on the south side of Cootes Drive. Take the trail on the side of the
bridge away from McMaster and follow it (the creek
should be on your RIGHT side) for 250 m. to the foot bridge. If you turn sharp
left after crossing the bridge, there is a trail
along the creek which goes out to what is called the Willows. If you follow
this trail the creek is now on your LEFT side. Part way
down the trail there is a pond on the right when this end of the marsh is wet.
At the end of the Willows is where there is extensive
mudflats and where the Godwit was seen. Note: this trail can be wet and muddy,
there are holes in the ground made by animals, and
there are fallen trees which require agility to circumvent.
