Hi BBC; Judith King led our first hike of 2017 taking us from Saugeen Shores to Wiarton. Starting at the Southampton dock we had great looks at gulls perfectly grandstanded on the north pier. One Glaucous was easy but as we looked more closely 4 more were found, and at least 10 Great Black-backed were scattered in the flock. Long-tails were the most common duck in the river. On route to Wiarton we saw a Shrike taking advantage of the snowmobile trail markers and some got a quick glance of Snow Buntings as they wheeled over a foggy field. At the Wiarton Lagoons some Redheads were found lingering late into the winter The highlight for me was the mixed flock of Waxwings foraging at a distance along the Rankin River. Thanks to Judith for showing us some new roads. Thanks to Margaret for keeping the bird list.
Participants;
Alice Kain, Anne Marie Benedict, Becky Grieveson, Bob Taylor, Bruce Edmunds, Christine McMaster, Doug Pedwell, Judy Duncan, Jim Punnett, Joy Albrecht, Judith Buxton, Judith King, Liz Addison, Margaret Anderton, Mellitta Smole, Norah Toth, Ralph + Mary Anne Knowles, Stewart Nutt, Kerry Jarvis, James Turland
Places Visited;
1. Southampton Dock
2. Sauble River Mouth
3. Wiarton Lagoons
4. On route
30 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 4
Mute Swan 2
Greater/Lesser Scaup 2
Long-tailed Duck 1,2
Bufflehead 1,2,3
Common Goldeneye 1,2,3,4
Common Merganser 1,2
Red-breasted Merganser 2
Wild Turkey 4
Bald Eagle 1,2,4
Red-tailed Hawk 4
Herring Gull 1,4
Glaucous Gull 1
Great Black-backed Gull 1
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) 4
Mourning Dove 4
Downy Woodpecker 4
Hairy Woodpecker 4
Northern Shrike 4
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 2,4
Common Raven 4
Black-capped Chickadee 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch 4
White-breasted Nuthatch 4
European Starling 4
Bohemian Waxwing 4
Cedar Waxwing 4
Snow Bunting 4
Dark-eyed Junco 4
Northern Cardinal 4