[Ontbirds] Harris's Sparrow----Erie Beach / Erieau area/Chatham-Kent

[Irene Woods]

Birders :
A nice diversion from the Redpoll; Grosbeak; etc.reports,  I was pleased to find a winter adult
Harris's Sparrow feeding with a large number of White-Crowned Sparrows at a local compost pile.
I first saw this bird on Thursday, Jan.03.
Yesterday I took another birder to the sight but we were unable to find it.  Trucks were making
delivery of grain strippings to the pile, and a Cooper's Hawk was actively feeding from the flock.
I didn't report to Ontbirds fearing the bird had left .
But , luckily he is still there today, enjoying the easy meal from the grain[s] compost.
There are huge numbers of other small birds as well. Many hawks in near-by areas--but not
bothering the compost pile at the moment-----maybe because of the rain ?

Directions:
Take #3 Highway  [Talbot Trail  ]  out of Blenheim twds Cedar Springs.
Choice 1 :---go 1 road past the Erieau Rd. to Gore Rd. . Turn left twds. Lake Erie.
Travel about 2 km. and you will see the compost pile on your left.
Or,  Choice 2---Take the paved road twds. Erieau.  About 1/2 way to Erieau you will
see Bisnett Sideroad.  Turn right--S--on Bisnett. Travel about 1km. twds. Erie Beach.
Just at the outskirts of Erie Beach you will see a dirt road--N---Gore Road.
The compost pile is about 1/2 km. N on this road.
Dirt shoulders are VERY soft just now,  this is a busy road, but a good width.
Please--please stay in your car to observe.  Birds are very skittish. If you "flush"
the birds, you will have to wait possibly 20 min. for their return !
You do have the choice to drive slowly into the driveway there, and turn off your
engine/ lights.  The birds will adjust to your presence in a few minutes.  But , you will
have to move if a delivery truck arrives.
As a side note----there are Little Gulls at Erieau dock---10 min. from the compost pile.

Irene Woods
irewoods at ciaccess.com
Blenheim, ON
Chatham-Kent Municipality