Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Brian Bailey on July 28, 2014, 04:09:43 PM
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I visited Rattray Marsh today, because I was in the area. Just an FYI, there are no exposed mudflats. The water level is quite high, and would have been even without last night's rain because there is effectively no barrier beach. The marsh is at lake level.
It's still an interesting place to visit, but don't count on finding shorebirds. The most remarkable thing was the lack of ducks. I saw no ducks of any kind until I was leaving. Two Mallards swam into view on my last look over the marsh.
BB
Sent from my birdroid using Tapatalk.
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I've noticed the same near Lynde Shores. The cooler weather and extra rain during July has kept water levels in marshes higher than usual for this time of year.
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What's bad for shorebirds can be good for others though. On Saturday we had an osprey circling the lagoon, down low; a Great Egret; and a tern feeding its fledglings.
I'm not sure post dredging how much open mudflats will be left at the Rattray even in a drier year. They've been working to deepen it and to scour it out.