Cranberry Marsh- Aug 9

[raypye]

south-west corner: viewing from the beach
Common Moorehen- 5 families: American Coot- 2 families, Blue-wing Teal- 1 family,
Least Bittern- 1 (flying), Green Heron- 4, Black-crowned Night-Heron- 2, Virginia Rail- 1,
Lesser Yellowlegs- 4, Coopers Hawk- 1,
Rayfield Pye

[GStuart]

Is that Least Bittern a resident or are they, too, starting to migrate?

[raypye]

This bird is a resident this year. Least Bittern is an irregular nesting bird at Cranberry, although they were present last year. So they may like the marsh in its present state. The only person I know who has seen the bird on the ground is John Stirrat, all other reports have been of the bird in flight.
The Durham Region Bird Chicklist shows that Least Bitten is present untill mid  October. This is a bird that we need to keep our eyes open for during the first month of the hawk watch.
Rayfield Pye

[Jimbo]

Hi Birders: Early this morning I saw a Least Bittern at Pinafore park in St. Thomas. (Flying across Elm St.)
Later in the morning at the Port Stanley Lagoons I saw a second Least Bittern (Again flying across Scotch Line)
I have not seen a Least Bittern in years so two in one day is incredible. Either I am being more active or Least Bitterns are are
on the move and are more active.
Also at the Port Lagoons
Many broods of Blue winged teal
Many broods Wood Ducks
1 Osprey cruised the Lagoons
3 Northern Harriers mousing a wheat stubble field NW of lagoons
Many shore birds..G & L Yellowlegs; Least Sandpiper; Spotted Sandpiper; Sanderling; Semi Palmated Sandpiper.

Jim Dunn
St. Thomas