This morning Ken and I checked out a number of shorebird spots on the way to and from Long Point for the Bird Studies Canada AGM.
First stop was West Perth Wetlands (Mitchel Sewage Lagoons). A great diversity (17 species) and number of shorebirds are still present, including 2 Wilson's Phalaropes. Also present were: Black-bellied Plover 6 adults Semipalmated Plover 10 Killdeer 100 Greater Yellowlegs 20 Lesser Yellowlegs 400+ (459 on Thursday, we didn't do an exact count today) Solitary Sandpiper 2 Spotted Sandpiper 2 Sanderling 1 juv Semipalmated Sandpiper 20 Least Sandpiper 30 White-rumped Sandpiper 1 Baird's Sandpiper 2 Pectoral Sandiper 40 Stilt Sandpiper 12 Short-billed Dowitcher 1 juv Wilson's Snipe 3 We continued on and checked out Wildwood Reservoir, but water levels are just starting to be lowered and there were no shorebirds. We continued to Port Burwell and had a single Red Knot on the beach just east of the piers. Along the canal were 3 Least, 1 Semipalmated Sandpiper and 5 Semipalmated Plovers. After the meeting we checked out Townsend Sewage Lagoons. The first cell has some habitat in the northeast corner that offers great views of shorebirds (better in the morning). The highlight here was a juv Red-necked Phalarope in the northeast cell. Other shorebirds included: Semipalmated Plover 5 Killdeer 12 Lesser Yellowlegs 30 Solitary Sandpiper 2 Semipalmated Sandpiper 15 Least Sandpiper 20 White-rumped Sandpiper 2 Pectoral Sandpiper 20 Stilt Sandpiper 3 Good shorebirding! Mike and Ken Burrell Heidelberg, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] Directions: West Perth Wetlands(courtesy Dave Brown): >From the East (Guelph, Kitchener-Waterloo, GTA) - take Hwy 8 thru Stratford heading west to first lights in Mitchell (Wellington St) and turn left (south) and continue till you hit the "T" intersection at the ball diamond. Lagoon cells are straight back behind the ball diamond and soccer fields and the sewage treatment plant. You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park next to the berm. >From the London area....take Hwy 23 into Mitchell from the south and just after you pass the "Welcome to Mitchell" sign...watch for Frank St...go right on Frank St and head down over the bridge till you get to the ball diamond (will be on your right). Again...the cells are behind the ball diamond and soccer fields. You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park next to the berm. >From Southampton area....take Hwy 21, to Goderich and then Hwy 8 to Clinton and down to Mitchell, turn south on Hwy 23 to Frank St. and turn left on Frank St. and head over the bridge to the ball diamonds (which will be on your right). You can go straight ahead on the gravel and park next to the berm. Wildwood Reservoir: Directions- Take CR 6, north from the 401,(Exit 222) through Embro, to CR 28. Go west through Harrington, turn north on the 31st line and continue north to the bridge. The bird could be anywhere between the two bridges, although the east end has most of the mudflats. Townsend Sewage Lagoons: (courtesy Brandon Holden) When visiting the lagoons, please park AWAY from the gates (either side of the road), to allow the large tanker trucks easy passage. Directions to Townsend's sewage lagoon - Take 403 Hamilton exiting at 6 south. Follow 6 around Caledonia, through Hagersville turning right at Nanticoke Creek Parkway. Follow the Parkway into Townsend and turn left onto Keith Richardson's Parkway. Turn right at Concession 14 Townsend Rd and the lagoons are on the right between the first and second farms on the right hand side. _______________________________________________ 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
