________________________________
From: Bill Lamond
Sent: March 2, 2020 7:17 PM
To: brantbi...@googlegroups.com <brantbi...@googlegroups.com>; hamilton birds
<hamiltonbi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Male Eurasian Wigeon on Grand River, Brantford
Birding with Eric Lamond on the Grand River behind Glenhyrst Gardens this
afternoon (2 March), we heard the call of a male Eurasian Wigeon cut through
the fog like a knife. It took us awhile to see the bird, but we eventually did,
although the looks were not good but adequate. Eric made a recording of the
call (I had to right click and download the attachment to get it to work). We
had been birding there since 4:00 p.m. but did not hear the bird until 5:45. It
must have flown in as it was not foggy initially and we had good looks at all
the ducks here. Also here was a male Wood Duck, an obvious migrant, and the
continuing female Long-tailed Duck. We also saw the patch of "wild" Winter
Aconite along the river bank which I've known about for years. It is just
starting to flower and one plant would have been fully open if it had been
sunny.
The Eurasian Wigeon is likely a first record for Brant County.
It was surprising to get the wigeon and the Wood Duck considering how few
waterfowl were on the river. You just never know!
I doubt the bird will be there in the morning but if one wants to try the
easiest place to look is from the Brantford Golf & Country Club. The entrance
is off Ava Ave just to the north of Oakley Rd. Drive straight and then park in
the overflow parking lot dead ahead at the top of the river bank and walk down
to the overlook. You can ignore the no trespassing signs I suppose. Everybody
else does.
Bill
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