Birders : A nice diversion from the Redpoll; Grosbeak; etc.reports, I was pleased to find a winter adult Harris's Sparrow feeding with a large number of White-Crowned Sparrows at a local compost pile. I first saw this bird on Thursday, Jan.03. Yesterday I took another birder to the sight but we were unable to find it. Trucks were making delivery of grain strippings to the pile, and a Cooper's Hawk was actively feeding from the flock. I didn't report to Ontbirds fearing the bird had left . But , luckily he is still there today, enjoying the easy meal from the grain[s] compost. There are huge numbers of other small birds as well. Many hawks in near-by areas--but not bothering the compost pile at the moment-----maybe because of the rain ?
Directions: Take #3 Highway [Talbot Trail ] out of Blenheim twds Cedar Springs. Choice 1 :---go 1 road past the Erieau Rd. to Gore Rd. . Turn left twds. Lake Erie. Travel about 2 km. and you will see the compost pile on your left. Or, Choice 2---Take the paved road twds. Erieau. About 1/2 way to Erieau you will see Bisnett Sideroad. Turn right--S--on Bisnett. Travel about 1km. twds. Erie Beach. Just at the outskirts of Erie Beach you will see a dirt road--N---Gore Road. The compost pile is about 1/2 km. N on this road. Dirt shoulders are VERY soft just now, this is a busy road, but a good width. Please--please stay in your car to observe. Birds are very skittish. If you "flush" the birds, you will have to wait possibly 20 min. for their return ! You do have the choice to drive slowly into the driveway there, and turn off your engine/ lights. The birds will adjust to your presence in a few minutes. But , you will have to move if a delivery truck arrives. As a side note----there are Little Gulls at Erieau dock---10 min. from the compost pile. Irene Woods [EMAIL PROTECTED] Blenheim, ON Chatham-Kent Municipality _______________________________________________ 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
