Embedded Files
Leaders; Bill Hatten and Susan Weaver
Participants; Andrew Harris, Becky Grieveson, Bill Hatten, Cathy Bailey, Cindy McGregor, Heidi Harris, James Turland, Janet Hatten, Judy Wyatt, Nancy McHardy, Nick Torenvliet, Susan Weaver, Yvonne Bieman
After a few years' break, the club made its return to Hullett Marsh and West Perth Wetlands, both of which are managed wetlands. The nearly 5000 acres at Hullet makes it one of southern Ontario's significant wetlands. Flooding here is frequent enough to make farming impractical, but it provides excellent opportunities for wildlife. Hunting is a --here but doesn't start until later in September. Brush is encouraged to grow along the trails making cover for song birds. Warblers offered brief glimpses, and the Catbirds were easier to identify by their calls. Above the treetops, large flocks of migrating Blue Jays silently passed southward. Some trails run along the berms, offering great panoramas over the wetlands. One of the startling recordings was the number of Pied-billed Grebes. The 17 grebes found on one pond points to a much larger number if the whole wetland complex was surveyed. Great Blue Herons were abundant, with the occasional Great Egret vying for space along the shoreline. We also had great looks at Northern Harriers hunting.
Next we had a picnic at Lion's Park in Mitchell before heading to West Perth Wetlands. Originally created as a sewage lagoon, the site now includes 65 acres with three rehabilitated ponds. The replanted shrubs and trees now offer shade along its 10 kilometers of trails. It’s truly a "build it and they will come" success story, as many bird species live here or stop during migration. Our focus was migrating shorebirds, and we weren’t disappointed, we recorded seven species. The ponds are large, so a scope is recommended for better viewing.
Many thanks to Bill Hatten and Susan Weaver for planning and scouting this route for us. These two birding spots could become a regular destination for the club in the future.
Following is the list of 53 species seen. Here is the link to Bill's ebird trip report for the day https://ebird.org/tripreport/275799
Hullett Marsh and West Perth Wetlands, Ontario, CA
Sep 18, 2024 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
40.0 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: BBC Hike Leaders Bill Hatten and Susan Weaver
53 species
Canada Goose X
Trumpeter Swan X
Wood Duck X
Blue-winged Teal X
Northern Shoveler X
Mallard X
Northern Pintail X
Green-winged Teal X
Pied-billed Grebe X
Mourning Dove X
American Coot X
Sandhill Crane X
Black-bellied Plover X
Killdeer X
Semipalmated Plover X
Solitary Sandpiper X
Lesser Yellowlegs X
Greater Yellowlegs X
Least Sandpiper X
Pectoral Sandpiper X
Ring-billed Gull X
Double-crested Cormorant X
Green Heron X
Great Egret X
Great Blue Heron X
Turkey Vulture X
Northern Harrier X
Cooper's Hawk X
Bald Eagle X
Red-tailed Hawk X
Belted Kingfisher X
Red-bellied Woodpecker X
Downy Woodpecker X
Northern Flicker X
Eastern Wood-Pewee X
Eastern Phoebe X
Blue Jay X
American Crow X
Black-capped Chickadee X
White-breasted Nuthatch X
European Starling X
Gray Catbird X
American Robin X
Cedar Waxwing X
American Goldfinch X
White-throated Sparrow X
Swamp Sparrow X
Eastern Towhee X
Red-winged Blackbird X
Nashville Warbler X
Common Yellowthroat X
Magnolia Warbler X
Northern Cardinal X
Google Sites
Report abuse