St. Thomas-Port Stanley waterfowl + migrants

[Jimbo]

Yesterday, I motored the back roads from St. Thomas to Port Stanley and observed the following waterfowl and migrants.
The buffleheads, shovellers and ruddies are in full courting displays.
I also have a robin and a bluejay nesting about six feet apart in a white pine tree in my yard.

11/04/2009

   Driving the back roads
5 Horned Larks
2 Blue-winged teal
2 Black Duck
1 Great blue heron
2 American kestrel
11 Turkey vulture
2 Bald eagle (1 on nest, 1 in nearby tree)

At Hawk Cliff

2 Bufflehead duck (pond @ hawk cliff)
2 Canada goose (pond @ hawk cliff)
1 Red-bellied woodpecker
3 American tree sparrow
1 Fox sparrow
Many Song sparrows
Many Brown headed cowbird
Many Red winged blackbird
3 Eastern bluebird

At Port Stanley Lagoon

4 Northern-shoveler
Many Ruddy duck
Many Bufflehead duck
4 Redhead duck
4 Wood duck
Many Scaup
Many Ring-necked duck
1 Red-tailed hawk
1 Cooper’s hawk
1 Flicker
3 Killdeer
Many Bonaparte’s gulls
6 Tree swallows
4 American coot

Hawk cliff is at end of Fairview Ave/Line south from St. Thomas.
Port lagoons are on Scotch line just north of Lake Line in Port Stanley.

Jim Dunn (jamesedunn@sympatico.ca)

[Turtlebird]

I was at the lagoons today.  There were buffleheads, greater scaup, ruddy duck, blue-winged teal and possibly others.  Also a horned grebe.

[Greg Schneider]

Has anyone tried photography at the lagoons? It sounds like a productive spot.

[Jimbo]

Greg: Photo oportunities are pretty good depending on birder traffic, (which is quite low). The lagoons are real close to Scotch Rd. and there are two excellent covered observation stands with parking for 3 to 4 cars at each stand.
If I ever master posting photos to this forum, I will post a few of the shots I have from the lagoons.

If you visit, another nearby site is the Fingal Wildlife Management Unit located at the west end of Scotch Rd, about 15 KM west of the lagoons. FWMU is an old airforce base with many well maintained walking paths. No waterfowl but great for spring migrants.

Jim Dunn

[Greg Schneider]

If you wouldn't mind posting a few shots of the lagoon and the blinds that would be excellent. It should be easy to tell what the photographic opportunities are like. If I was closer I'd just drive down and look in person.

[MikeIrwin]

FWIW it's been my experience that although you can get some great views from the blinds that getting a good picture is challenging as both blinds are facing south. Here is one shot I took last November:



If you do go down I'd recommend the Aylmer Wildlife Mgmt Area as well (especially later in the day), which could result in some nice shots.