This year we had weather that worked well for the Duck Rally. Over 30 people participated and the Tundra Swans were at Aylmer. Everyone got to see the swans swim north when Ron
put out the corn for them. We started out from Aylmer with 5 dabbling ducks and 6 diving ducks, Bluebirds, a Great Blue Heron, Eastern Phoebe and hearing a Meadowlark.
After a social over coffee we headed to Lake Margaret from Pinafore Park. Hear the diving ducks out numbered the dabblers 6 to 1 including 2 Horned Grebe. On the way out a Cooper’s Hawk made itself known to us, above our heads.
Proceeding down Fairview Rd, stopping at 5 locations, we hit them at the wrong time, Doug Tarry pond yielded nothing interesting. The ponds on the west side of Fairview south of Hwy 45 yielded 3 dabblers and 3 diving ducks adding Common Merganser to our duck list.Fruit Ridge flooded field had dried up very recently. Muskrat pond and Sanders pond were busts. Yet at other times of the day would probably yield very different results.
At the harbour in Port Stanley only a lone Common Golden Eye was added
to the duck list.
Twenty-two of us stopped at the Buccaneer for lunch. Everyone expressed great service and food. This is the same as in previous duck rally’s.
After a great lunch we went to our final spot of the day, the cold winds of Port Stanley Sewage Lagoons were true to form. Most of the ducks were on pond two. We added American Black Ducks, Gadwall and Northern Shovelers on cell two. Our lone Coot was on cell 4. On the way out I was pleasantly surprised to find a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers, a fitting way to end our day out birding. Only Ruddy Duck and Blue-winged Teal were missed today.
I would like to thank Eva Hurst for tabulating the birds of the day for this report. Hope the new members enjoyed the day and look forward to our Wednesday evening Spring walks.
