Hello everyone: This report comes on behalf of Keith Lee (Tiny).
Well, Sunday. April 6, 2008 - five months and 15 days ago the Brighton Constructed Wetland opened to the public. The sun was shining and it was 10C. The first Osprey appeared! Today, many, many visitors and 98 species later marked the end of the weekly opening at the Constructed Wetland. The sun was shining and it was 18C. The Wetland will continue to be monitored and if anyone would like to enter please feel free to contact Keith (Tiny) Lee or Rod and I. I for one would like to thank Tiny (for giving so selflessly of his time) and Jim Phillips for taking a chance on all unknown entity - birders - by giving his permission for us to enter the Wetland and Sewage Lagoon.
NOW the good stuff. Red-tail Hawk, Blue-winged Teal, Green-winged Teal, Bonaparte's Gulls, Short-billed Dowitcher (Tiny). Oscar (who just happened to be continuing his boisterousness that he started 5 days ago) Tiny and I think he may have decided to pick up a Mute Swan as a companion. YES!!!! Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, Redwing Blackbirds, Belted Kingfisher, Merlin, Red Headed Woodpecker (Tiny) (a first at the Wetland) Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, Mallard, Wood Ducks, Mute Swans, Canada Geese, Pectoral Sandpiper (Maureen Riggs) Wilson's Snipe (Maureen Riggs), Solitary Sandpiper + Semi-palmated Sandpiper + Stilt Sandpiper (Bill Edmunds), Blue Jay, Cedar Waxwings (juveniles), Common Moorhen, Great Blue Heron, Mute family with 5 very, very large cygnets, and Virginia Rail (Bill Gilmour).
My favourite tiny little bird with the very, very large voice - Marsh Wren were not heard today. I really look forward to hearing them next Spring, to see and hear the returning song birds and shore birds and especially to see if Catfish will return with Mom and Dad. Will Brighton's Constructed Wetland be home to another little white fluff ball (June 1) that will grow in two short months into a magnificent fish hunter? I hope so.
Rod and I had the honour of seeing 2 very small Snapping Turtles. One was about 2" in length and other 4½". WOW!! Considering the size of the other Snapping Turtles in the Wetland, it was wonderful to actually be able to hold a teeny, tiny one.
We thank everyone who took the time and interest to come to Brighton's Constructed Wetland. I look forward to reporting the activity from this wonderful little corner of the world next season (with Tiny's permission of course).
Maureen Campeau and Rodney Lee Directions: The Constructed Wetland is located at the SE corner of Brighton. From Hwy 401, take the Brighton exit 509 (Hwy. 30) and follow it south into town. Go south through the two traffic lights, over the railway tracks and follow the main road, now called Prince Edward Street, south. About 1 km south of the tracks, the main road begins to swing to the left and becomes Cty. Rd. 64. As this long turn ends the Constructed Wetlands appear on the right side. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] 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
