Hi folks, I went out to check on the wetlands this afternoon and there’s good news and bad news.
The GOOD news is that the water level in the main shorebird cell behind the parking area is nearly perfect and there are a good number of shorebirds that have arrived over the past week. Lesser Yellowlegs (40+) Greater Yellowlegs (10+) Killdeer (50+) Common Snipe (2) Stilt Sandpiper (2) Pectoral Sandpiper (5) Least Sandpiper (20+) Semipalmated Plover (3) Semipalmated Sandpiper (2) Solitary Sandpiper (1) The 2 STILT SANDPIPERS were both worn adults ....one still exhibiting some of the heavily barred alternate plumage and providing great looks and the other appeared to be a worn adult in pre-basic molt. I also had a nice young Peregrine Falcon that made a run at the shorebirds (of course JUST as I arrived...LOL)... and they took quite a few minutes to return. A Great Egret also arrived just as I was leaving (not a tagged bird). I also had what might have been a BAIRD SANDPIPER but couldn’t re-find when I went around to get a closer look from the south side berm. The BAD news is that the fenced in cell is totally dry...we don’t control the inflow to that cell.....only the sewage plant does and only for emergency storm water overflow. For now the only birds I’ve seen in there are Killdeer...so we may get some plovers in there as the migration progresses. Good birding! Dave Directions to West Perth Wetlands: >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. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] 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
