Port Rowan Sewage Lagoons

Again I have returned to the mainland, this time for the end of my field season. I spent the day staring at a computer screen because just as the field season ends reports must be written. A long day in the office does have it's perks when you work at Bird Studies Canada headquarters though. There were a few birding breaks including my favorite moment of the day where someone on the west facing side called out "Peregrine" and a whole punch of people grabs the binoculars fro their desks and run over. I got my first peregrine of the year just by looking out of my office window. I also saw a fair amount of red tailed hawk and sharpie movement. A ruby throated hummingbird flitted its way up to my window for a brief second before zipping off.

A stilt sandpiper, yellowlegs and Sandpipers

Chris came to visit me after work and we both decided to take a look around the Port Rowan Sewage Lagoons (on Hunters Drive) where a red-necked phalarope had been seen earlier. I didn't share with him that I also kind of hoped the peregrine would be here since this was the direction it was headed and frankly shorebirds must be easy pickings for a peregrine.

Unlike the Blenhiem sewage lagoons the first pond we went to was quite shallow and  VERY empty of all birds. It was only after walking across pins and needles (aka freshly cut thistle) that we got to the second pond. Here we had amazing looks at many lesser yellowlegs and least sandpipers. In among them was a stilt sandpiper which was a first for my year.

As I am scanning the birds one further out in the water catches Chris's eye. It is whiter than the rest and has the plumage characteristic of a juvenile red-necked phalarope. We walk all the way around the pond to get better lighting. 

Red-necked phalarope juvenile

Phalarope taking flight

Chris spots a merlin flying away and while his attention is off in other directions I see a large dark thing try to hit the sandpipers and yellowlegs behind the phalarope. Chris had missed it but the peregrine was there!

PEREGRINE ATTACK!

Flying up after failure

Heading up and then going back for a dive

Apparently shorebirds are harder to catch than I thought and it came back around a few times. Tried to catch my lovely juvenile phalarope which of course ruined any chance I had at better pictures of the phalarope but the peregrine.... What a sight! That bird in action is... I am actually a bit lots for words here. It's a quick and agile killer. Very ninja like! But the peregrine flew off without a meal and scared off most of the shorebirds.

Osprey (Fish Hawk)

As it flew off it was quickly replaced by a pair of larger predators. Two osprey circled the pool a few times.

All in all a very nice evening at the Port Rowan Lagoons.. Nothing too rare but definitely some very amazing birds.