One final bash at finding some new birds didn’t
start well down at the tip despite a change in the weather with much calmer
conditions than we’ve had for many days. So we left after a short visit and
drove up to the DeLaurier Trail which was also quiet before heading to the Route
33 wader pools as a Greater
White-fronted Goose had been seen there and sure enough it was still
present when we arrived. This is a late migrating bird and very scarce at this
time of the year. There was also a pair of Solitary
Sandpipers present as well.
 |
| Greater White-fronted Goose |
From here we drove to Hillman Marsh and spent a
pleasant hour checking out the wildfowl and waders. I’m not a fan of ducks
generally but there was a nice assortment with Blue-winged and Green-winged
Teals, American Black Duck, Greater Scaup, Redhead, Bufflehead and Canvasback all present. However the
shorebirds provided the best excitement with a pair of smart Wilson’s Phalaropes on the far side
looking rather sexy in the scope.
 |
| Ruff - digiscoped by Lee Collins |
Then a Ruff
flew in and landed opposite the hide and caused a lot of excitement as it’s a
real rarity here and proved to be our last trip tick, and also the rarest
species we had seen on the tour! A Pectoral
Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitchers,
Ruddy Turnstone, Dunlin and Grey Plovers completed the cast and so we left at 10.30am for a
short drive to the motel to pack and get ready for the 3.5 hour drive back to
Toronto for our flights back to the UK and end of a thoroughly enjoyable tour.
No comments:
Post a Comment