>From 6 to 9 p.m. last night Rick and May Snider, Stephanie and I transected Tiny Marsh. We observed 250 Black Terns, 50 Pied-billed Grebes, 40 Wood Ducks, 30 Ring-necked Ducks, two pairs of Sandhill Cranes, two pairs of Whooping Swan, Osprey pair on nest platform. We noted a Common Loon chick under the adult's wing and a family of Hooded Mergansers. We heard two American Bitterns. We did not hear our quarry Least Bittern (past their calling period?) nor see Common Gallinule and American Coot (probably no longer present) nor hear any rails.
We had supper at the picnic table beside three pairs of nesting Piping Plover, Beach One, Wasaga Beach (north end of town). One incubating male fluffed breast feathers to double-size, most photogenic save for the intervening cage wires. Off the beaten track and underbirded, Tiny Marsh (Black Tern heaven) is four square kms of wetland with several access points. Best viewing is from the causeway trail that bisects the marsh. From Elmvale go west two kms. to Usher Road and north three kms. to the small parking lot. Geo. Bryant g.bry...@sympatico.ca _______________________________________________ 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
