Fun and games in Barrie...

Well, what a great day to be outside! A chance meeting with a friend saved me from the doldrums of toiling away at the drawing table and instead sent me in the direction of some interesting birds. First stop was a muddy cow field in deepest Durham Co. where a Cattle Egret had been seen the previous day. In spite of valiant efforts to relocate the pallid cow-chaser we couldn't pull it outta the bag...or rather the cow-pat! I did spot a late Clouded Sulphur fluttering across a field though. Of course, we later found out the Egret WAS still there...but in a different field. Oh well, there is always tomorrow I guess.

Next was the shores of Lake Simcoe at wonderful Barrie. Our main target gave itself up rather easily - a brilliant juvenile Pomarine Jaeger (see videograbs). We were able to watch this rare visitor at close range both swimming and in flight...a real treat. There were lots of Bonaparte's Gulls feeding close offshore, amongst which were at least 12 lovely Little Gulls. They were mostly adults with, I think, two first-winter individuals. Fantastic to watch as they dipped and wheeled around at close range. The Franklin's Gull failed to show for us but had been seen shortly before we arrived. We did see a first-winter Iceland Gull a couple of times though. Also present were numerous Common Loons and a couple of Red-necked Grebes. All in all a great time spent in most pleasant company.