At approximately 6:00 p.m., Barb Charlton, Rob Dobos and myself viewed an American White Pelican off of Princess Point at the end of Longwood Road in Hamilton. The bird was found earlier in the day by Kevin McLaughlin, Ken & Angie Williams and Jeff Gilbreath while looking for a Franklin's Gull at the Dundas Marsh.
The Pelican was last seen tucked in behind Rat Island on the RBG property and can best be viewed from the high level bridge on York Road in Hamilton. This bird has perhaps tucked in for the night so early risers may have success. The Franklin's Gull made a brief stop at the Dundas Marsh and was seen at about 10:30 a.m. and photographed amongst Ring-billed Gulls on the mudflats at the end. Unfortunately the bird was not seen an hour later and has not been seen since. Other birds in the Dundas Marsh today were American Golden Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Dunlin, Lesser Yellowlegs and Bonaparte's Gull. Directions for viewing of the Pelican, Going west along Plains Road in Burlington which turns into York Blvd as you enter Hamilton, there is a pull off on York Blvd. on the east side just before the high level bridge. If you park here, there is a parkette with a lookout into Cootes Paradise and the Dundas Marsh. The bird flew around a bit and then tucked in here on the north side of Rat Island. A scope is extremely helpful. 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 closest to McMaster, as the old bridge has been removed. Walk along the creek which goes out to what is called the Willows. If you follow this trail, the creek is on your LEFT side. Half way down the trail, there is a dried up pond on the right, continue on the trail and at the end of the Willows, there are extensive mudflats. Please take caution as there is poison ivy along the trail, stumps/trees to step over and the mud may be a bit sticky in places out on the mudflat. Good birding, Cheryl Edgecombe [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdshow.htm ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm
