Sept. 6 2025

BBC Hike Shallow Lake Sept. 3 2025

Leader: Lynn Beaton 

Participants:  Anne-Marie Benedict, Becky Grieveson, Bill Hatten, Bob Droine, Bob Taylor, Bruce Edmunds, Carole Lupton, Cathy Bailey, Connie Plante, Eloise Jantzi, Heather Drane, James Turland, John Dickson, Judy Duncan, Judy Wyatt, Linda Droine, Linda Nielsen-jones, Liz Addison, Lynn Beaton, Margaret Anderton, Milo Mack,  Norah Toth, Norma Nanni, Rob Wray, Simon Turland, Scott Taylor, Yvonne Bieman

Birdy Bunch

The Badlands Crew

The Bruce Birding Club (BBC) started the season with a hike at Shallow Lake., This location is a novel experience even when bird sightings are scarce. Some 20 members gathered for the 8:00 a.m. start, and with little preamble, the group set out across the "Badlands”.  The weather was near perfect, with temperatures in the low 20s and a gentle breeze. The openness of the site allows for differing hiking speeds; even as the group got split into smaller parties, everyone remained visible across the landscape. Being spread out gives improved bird coverage.This year’s  water levels at Shallow Lake were low. Despite possible disturbance from weekend ATV activity, the group was quickly rewarded with sightings of Great Egrets, These tall, snow-white birds are becoming more common on the Bruce Peninsula thanks to a rookery on Chantry Island. Their whiteness, long legs and necks make them unmistakable as they waded through Shallow Lake’s green and brown backdrop.Seeing the one perched in a tree remains an unusual sight.

Other species spotted included a cormorant, both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Caspian Tern. The rarest bird of the hike was the Olive-sided Flycatcher. True to its nature it repeatedly darted out to catch prey and return to the same perch, giving us an opportunity to get scoped views.

At the Wiarton Sewage Lagoons, a well-known birding hotspot, there is great opportunity to see ducks, Today,Redhead,Scaup,Wood Ducks and Hooded Mergansers were seen, The drab eclipse Wood Ducks  are a sharp contrast to males in striking breeding colors. A surprise highlight at the lagoons was a Bullfrog with a bright yellow-chin —a rare sight given their decline in the region.

Next we stopped at Bluewater Park to enjoy a picnic lunch on the shores of Colpoys Bay. Bird activity was light, but Mergansers, Canada Geese, and Mallards dotted the shoreline.

The next stop was Isaac Lake, a popular birding destination that offers excellent car viewing. On basically a one lane road you are immersed in habitats such as marsh, grassland ,forest and lake. A distant Common Loon was spotted and had good views of Cedar Waxwings. From there, we did a drive-by of Sky Lake, one of the few locations in Bruce County where Black Terns nest. Unfortunately, by this time of year, the terns have left.

Our next destination was North Oliphant Beach. From the cars, we could see a number of shorebirds far out on the sand flats, revealed by this year’s low water levels. Because of the gentle grade of the beaches along this side of the peninsula, reaching the active shoreline required some walking. When the lake level drops a tiny bit a lot more shoreline is revealed. We began by crossing a marshy, grass-covered area, which gave way to soft, mushy sand, and finally to dry sand that was much easier to walk on. This was where the shorebirds had gathered. One of the wonderful things about shorebirds is their lack of fear of humans. As we set up our spotting scopes closer to the flocks, the birds quickly grew accustomed to our presence, some approaching within just a few meters. Even at such close range, identifying them remained a challenge—the small “peeps,” in particular, vary only slightly in size and plumage and are notoriously difficult to tell apart, even for experienced birders.

Among the birds on the beach were Semipalmated Plovers and Black-bellied Plovers. True to plover behavior, they dashed a few short steps, paused to look around, pecked briefly, and then repeated the process as they worked their way along the shoreline. Several flocks of shorebirds also flew past, offering opportunities to look for species like the White-rumped Sandpiper, which can  be easier to identify in flight. This outing provided a fantastic opportunity for the club to enjoy close-up views of a variety of shorebirds. North Oliphant Beach was our final stop of the day.

Many thanks to our trip leader, Lynn Beaton, and co-leaders Rob Wray and Eloise Jantzi for their guidance, and to everyone who came out to enjoy this birding adventure. We’re looking forward to another great season ahead. Overall, the first BBC hike of the year offered a fine mix of species, scenic locations, and perfect  September weather—a promising start. Following is the bird list and a few photos from the day. To see more photos from Rob, Eloise and Bruce; visit the BBC facebook page.

Facebook Link;   https://www.facebook.com/groups/6417401591670778/