Hello birders: 25 participants enjoyed an enjoyable, albeit windy (!), day birding at Cobourg Harbour, Chubs Point and Presqu'ile Provincial Park where a seasonally productive 42 bird species were encountered.
A COMMON LOON at extremely close range greeted the group first-thing in the morning at Cobourg Harbour. RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, NORTHERN SHOVELER and AMERICAN WIGEON were some of the more notable ducks seen in the harbour, along with a lone BONAPARTE'S GULL and a skittish group of 5 DUNLIN. Chubs Point south from the Grafton exit on the 401 was exceedingly windy and thus warranted a short visit. Regardless, wave-bouncing SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS were observed. The highlight of the day was the SNOW GOOSE at Presqu'ile's Beach 2 that has been present for several days. A barely-alive Giant Water Bug feeding on a dead LONG-TAILED DUCK on the beach marked the most interesting find of the day! It was one of two moribund insects seen -- the other being a Monarch near the Lighthouse. The shelter of Bayshore Road allowed for steadier views of both previously seen scoters, a HORNED GREBE, REDHEADS and GREATER SCAUP in Brighton Bay. The resident RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER at 186 Bayshore Road made for a good finale. Many thanks go to Maureen Riggs for her pre-scouting, Doug McRae for his tip on the Snow Goose and the Helleiner and Gilmour families for generously allowing group members to bird on their properties. Cobourg Harbour is located due south off the Division Street exit on the 401; Chubs Point is located south from the Grafton exit on the 401 and Presqu'ile Provincial Park is well-signed south off 401 exit 509 (Brighton/Campbellford). Good birding! Ian Shanahan Toronto _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
