After many visits to the Townsend Sewage Lagoons so far this July, myself, along with my Dad and Girlfriend, had a bird I am quite sure is an Adult Little Stint in the SE cell today. Unfortunately, water levels in the lagoon have risen considerably due to recent rains, and there is little exposed mud. The peeps are spending considerable time in the weeds, along the northern edge of the Lagoon. We viewed the bird roughly 4-5 times, never longer than a few minutes at a time before it would wander back into the weeds and be lost from sight. Twice, while trying for better views late in the evening, the bird would disappear for sometimes over an hour.
It was not a Field Guide "adult male in spring" individual, however it stood out from the rest due to dark legs, considerable redish-orange across the back, and short straight bill. My "gut reaction" on my first views of the bird was that it was simply NOT one of the regular North American species of peep. I'll try to keep this short, and I am planning on going back tomorrow AM and can post if the bird is re-found. No photographs unfortunately, due to distance, weeds, poor light, and short viewing times. Other shorebirds present included a rather early juv. Semipalmated Sandpiper, 1 juv. Least Sandpiper (among the ~100 adults of those species), 1 Greater Yellowlegs among the Lessers, 3 Stilt Sandpipers and 2 Wilson's Phalaropes among the other expected species. When visiting the lagoons, please park AWAY from the gates (either side of the road), to allow the large tanker trucks easy passage. Happy Shorebirding Brandon --___Townsend Lagoons: Directions to Townsend's sewage lagoon - Take 403 Hamilton exiting at 6 south. Follow 6 around Caledonia, through Hagersville turning right at Nanticoke Creek Parkway. Follow the Parkway into Townsend and turn left onto Keith Richardson's Parkway. Turn right at Concession 14 Townsend Rd and the lagoons are on the right between the first and second farms on the right hand side. _______________________________________________ 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/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
