Ontbirders: On Sat. Feb. 16, John Stirrat led an excellent outing for the Pickering Naturalists. Our group of ten keen birders visited a number of sites along the waterfront in Burlington and Hamilton. There were large flocks of GREATER SCAUP and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS at all locations with many SURF SCOTERS, some Redheads and good numbers of all the usual waterfowl. Other good birds included one each of Iceland and Glaucous Gulls. Highlights: Shell Park at Travel Lodge – Black Scoter (1) LaSalle Park – American Wigeon (2 M, 1 F) Eastport Lift Bridge – PEREGRINE FALCON (pair), BALD EAGLE (1) on ice Windermere Basin – RUDDY DUCK (many), NORTHERN SHOVELER (15+), AMERICAN COOT (1), DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (several) Outlet to Windermere Basin – NORTHERN PINTAIL (2 M), RED-TAILED HAWK (1) dark morph Tenth Road East off Ridge Road – NORTHERN HAWK OWL (1) Desjardins Canal – PIED BILLED GREBE (1), HORNED GREBE (1), TRUMPETER SWAN (2) with wing tags Sorry for the late posting. Directions: Shell Park (at Travel Lodge) in Burlington may be accessed from Lakeshore Rd N in Bronte, just east of Burloak Drive. LaSalle Park is in Burlington south of Plains Road at Waterdown Road. Eastport Lift bridge is directly below the Burlington Skyway, and may be accessed from Eastport Drive immediately east of the lift bridge. Windermere basin is at pier 25, off of Eastport Drive. To reach the site for the Northern Hawk Owl, exit the QEW at Fifty Road, go south to Ridge Road, go west to 10 th Road East, go south just past RR tracks to trail, walk west. Desjardins Canal is in Hamilton near McMaster University. From Main St., take Cootes Drive north and west to Olympic Dr. Park just north of the canal. Swans are to the east, and rest of waterfowl and grebes are to the west of the road. Steve LaForest, Oshawa Steve LaForest (AT) hotmail.com _________________________________________________________________
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