Sharp tail Grouse on Manitoulin Island

[cabz]

Hello all;

I am heading for a quick trip up to the Island before the ferry stops running the week after Thanksgiving.  Any well known locations of the above around Spring Bay, Providence Bay, Mindemoya area?  I realize finding these birds are a gamble at the best of times and especially at this time of year, but thought I would at least ask.  Hope there are still lots of Sandhill Cranes around.

Good birding

Cabz

[Tyler]

There will be 1000+ Sandhill cranes on the island around thanksgiving. They tend to concentrate in fields along the south end of lake mindemoya. But they can be found in the fields around the island.
As for Sharp-tailed grouse. yes definitely a hit/miss species now. The leck is at the Gore Bay airport so I would look in the area west/southwest of Gore Bay and on barrie island (island just west of the airport).

[cabz]

Tyler, for the info.  Between time and weather, I hope to check the areas out.  I'll let you know if I am successful.

Good birding

Cabz

[Kin Lau]

We had Sharp-tailed grouse along the road btwn Gore Bay and the airport this April. Several times we had them on telephone wire or fence posts along the road in the _early_ morning, shortly after sunrise.

From the Ferry to Gore Bay, is probably a 1hr drive.

Here's a few shots from that trip... I don't have any from the lek uploaded yet. http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Manitoulin

[cabz]

Thanks everyone for the info, but unfortunately did not see a Sharp tail Grouse.  Maybe next time.  Someone up there also gave another location to try, but saw lots of Sandhill Cranes, Pileated WP, Hairy, Down, 1 Snow goose in with Canada's on Mindemoya Lake and all the usual suspects, including YR Warbler.

Good birding

CABZ

[Moira]

I am possessed to see Sandhill Cranes.  I think this will be my goal for next year.  Any recommendations for time of year, place, etc. would be very welcome.  Thanks.

[Kin Lau]

There's Sandhill Cranes at this time of the year near Rama about 45min's north of the GTA. They're usually very visible right from the road.

We have about 50 Sandhill Cranes near Ottawa right now.

[Moira]

Kin:  Do you mean near the Casino?  Can you be more specific?  Rama is not far!!

[Kin Lau]

Sorry, not "Rama", Ramara... but that's the Rama in Casino Rama.

I was looking for the instructions on how to get there, but I actually put it in my Sandhill Crane pics in my gallery.

http://outdoorontario.net/Gallery/Sandh ... hill_Crane

It's on hwy 169 just north of Ramara, south of Concession 10. Just look for the corn fields to the east of the roadway. The shoulders are fairly wide at that point.