The breeding-plumaged American Avocet was still actively feeding among a flock of male Mallards in shallow grassy ponds south of Peterborough just after 1pm today, Thursday, June 10th. Probably a female by the strongly upcirved bill - a strikingly beautiful bird.
Copied here are John Geale's directions: >From Peterborough, take Monaghan Road south, under the bypass. It becomes Johnson Dr. when it swings west and follows the bypass. Johnson jogs left, then right and then on the west side opposite house #1111 there are several small ponds in the cow field. The Avocet was in these ponds. >From the south, take County Road 28 north from Port Hope to about 0.5 km north of the Kawartha Downs racetrack. Turn east on Peterborough County Road 11 (also known as Montcrief Line) towards the Peterborough airport. After about 3 km the road bends sharply north to the airport; about 1 km north of the airport (JUST south of highway 115) turn east on Beardsmore Rd. This road bends and twists a bit, but about 3 km along it you will find house #1111 on your right. The bird was in the pond (to your left) nearest the road when I saw it. Margaret Bain Cobourg mjcb...@sympatico.ca _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
