Today Ian Cannell and I birded the Rock Point Provincial Park area and the Townsend sewage lagoons and during another nice weather day we found the following birds among others.
Rock Point Provincial Park
Semi-palmated Plovers, 19 Killdeer, 9 Spotted Sandpipers, 1 Ruddy Turnstone, 18 Sanderlings, 50+ Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 10 Least Sandpipers, 1 White-rumped Sandpiper, 2 Red Knots, 1 Dunlin and 1 Pectoral Sandpiper.
We also did a little birding in the park and found 3 Carolina Wrens, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and 12 Warbler species including an adult male Blue-winged Warbler, Northern Parula, Cape May, Blackburnian, Black-throated Green, Black-throated Blue, Blackpoll and Canada Warblers.
We then drove over to Poth Road and on the sod farm there we found an even 100 Black-bellied Plovers, 27 Killdeer and 38 Horned Larks.
From Poth Road we headed to the Townsend sewage lagoons and there we found 2 Baird's Sandpipers, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 8 Least Sandpipers, 19 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, 7 Lesser Yellowlegs, 8 Spotted Sandpipers, 7 Killdeer, 14 Ruddy Ducks, Blue-winged teal, Northern Shovelers, 200+ Swallows of 4 species and a passing Osprey.
Directions:-
ROCK POINT PROVINCIAL PARK - FEE
>From the QEW highway just south of the Burlington Skyway exit at Confederation Parkway (Hwy 20). Drive south down Hwy 20 to Elfrida where it becomes Hwy 56. Continue south Hwy 56 to Hwy 3. Cross Hwy 3 where Hwy 56 becomes County Rd 32. Drive down 32 to the Grand river and turn left on County Rd 17 and drive to Dunnville. (DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE). Drive south 11km on County Rd 3 (Main Street) until you see the sign at Niece / Lakeshore Roads indicating a right hand (west) turn to the park. Drive along Niece Road past Downey Road to the park entrance on the left. Follow the winding road in the park to the lake. You may be able to obtain a map of the park at the entrance that may help you locate the viewing platform.
If the park is closed, then retrace your route to the first road (Downey Road) east of the entrance, turn right and drive to the end of the road. There is a small parking lot here. Walk into the park from here, bearing left to the lake.
POTH ROAD
From Dunnville drive south approx. 9 km on County Rd 3 (Main Street) to Stromness. Just before entering Stomness turn left ( east ) on Canal Bank Road. Drive a few hundred yards and cross the bridge to the north side of the canal. Drive along Canal Road for appox. 5 km to Hutchinson Road. Turn left ( north ) on Hutchinson Road and drive approx. 1 1/2 km to Poth Road. The sod fields are almost immediately on your right and another one at the east end of the road.
TOWNSEND SEWAGE LAGOONS
On the way down to Long Point on Hwy 6 you will pass through Hagersville and drive towards Jarvis. Just as you approach the town of Jarvis you will see a sign indicating "TOWNSEND" at Nanticoke Creek Parkway #69. Turn right here and drive to the intersection with the stop signs, turn left on Keith Richardson Parkway and drive past some park ponds on your right. Drive ahead until you reach County Rd 14. This is just before you reach the abandoned railway line (tracks removed). Turn right here onto County Rd 14 and drive a few hundred yards and you will see a gate and sign indicating that this is a waste treatment area. Park well to the side of the road, do not block the gate. If the gate is open (they are on sometimes) then do not park directly across from the gate as the larger "Honey Trucks" need the area to swing into and out of the entrance road.
These lagoons are accessible each day and on the weekend but if asked to leave or not enter then please be respectful and comply as it seems that for now we are being tolerated.
