Ancient Murrelet, St.Clair County

[David Stimac]

Today at 3:30pm Erika and I along with Tim Sneider from Sarnia, observed an
Ancient Murrelet at Point Edward, Ontario.

It flew in from the Northeast and landed 200-300 yards to the north of the
parking lot in heavy swells.  Scope vibration was really bad but I thought I
could see a pale bill. My excitement turned into anxiety & frustration as
gulls harassed the bird, resulting in it diving and and us losing it. Then
we found it again in flight heading NE up the shore.  Unbelievably, we found
it again in flight as we piled out of the car on the beach at Canatara Park!
It landed and we had excellent scope views at about 80 yards for twenty
minutes.  It then flew off to the west towards Michigan.  I'm not sure where
the border is but the bird flew way off to the west of the green buoy and
looked to be flying right along the shore north of the lighthouse.  It then
landed in the mouth of the river.  Erika & I raced back over to the Point
Edward parking lot while Tim phoned some Sarnia birders form a nearby
residence.  (The homeowners thought it was some kind of emergency when an
out-of-breath kid on a bike frantically asked if he could use their phone!
Well YEAH, it was an emergency!!!!!!!!!!!!)   A couple other birders showed
up but we couldn't relocate the bird.

Anyway, I know that I won't see another "good bird" at Point Edward for at
least five years.


Other birds seen:

Red-necked Grebe 3
Long-tailed Duck 3
Black Scoter 4
Surf Scoter 7
Snow Goose 25



Dave Stimac