First off We did NOT look for the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. We did not see
it on the way to our study site but it could easily still be present.
Dave Andrew and myself were doing the CWS Great Egret roost survey tonight.
We had a total of 209 Great Egrets ( 9 wing tagged birds). The birds arrived
late and were still arriving under the light of the full moon at 8:30pm
Other herons seen included 52 Black-crowned Night Herons, 2 Great Blue
Herons 1 Green Heron and 2 American Bitterns.
For the last 2 years while doing the egret roost survey I have noticed up to
300 Bobolinks arriving into the fields adjacent to the Egret roost each
evening. This evening however the Bobolinks came into roost (the field
immediate east of the egret roost) in large numbers. Flock after flock of
Bobolinks arrived in the field. By the time the sun set I can counted at
least 1350 Bobolinks had arrived in the roost location.
Waterfowl
Within the last week the waterfowl numbers have increased dramatically. Most
of the flocks were leaving the Luther lake area in the evening and heading
to the north east to feed. We counted 3200+ Mallards, 135 Black Ducks, 100+
Gadwalls, 63 Green-winged Teals, 48 Blue-winged Teals, 23 Wood Ducks, and 9
Hooded Mergansers. The Monticello cell Trumpeter pair have 6 Cygnets this
year.
Shorebirds
Wilson's Snipe 12, Lesser Yellowlegs 9, Semi-palmated Sandpipers 8, Pectoral
Sandpiper 2, and 1 Spotted Sandpiper
Swallow roost is greatly reduced (<100 birds) species present near dusk
included Barn, Tree, Cliff and Northern Rough-winged
Other Species seen
Osprey 3, Merlin 1, Sandhill Crane 9, Common Nighthawk 1, 4 Bonaparte's
Gulls ( among 100s of Ring-billed Gulls which roost on the lake),
Pied-billed Grebe 6, Sora 1, Common Moorhen 2
Directions: From Grand Valley, go north on Hwy 25 to Concession 8-9,
turn left (west), go to Sideroad 21-22 where the Concession Road makes a
T, go right (north), go past the Main Entrance to Luther Marsh and then
over a small concrete bridge. The first left after this is a small
parking lot for the Marsh area. From here walk about 200-300m to the SW.
You'll see a pond with dead trees and heron nests...this is where the
egrets roost. A day use permit is required if you
choose to use the laneway and walk out to the blind (obtainable at the
main Luther Marsh Conservation Area entrance, 1 km or less south of this
laneway).
