[Ontbirds]cranes,snow geese, ducks and sparrows, eastern Ontario

[PETER HALL]

Hi Ontbirders:
   
  Yesterday, Jeff Harrison and I did a tour of eastern Ontario. We started at Milton Road east of the Mer Bleue at Bear Brook and did a zig zag pattern eastwards ending up at the Alfred Sewage Lagoons. Along the way, we stopped at three sewage lagoons (Embrun, Ste Isidore and Alfred) and we attempted to look for any remaining Snow Geese at the recently drained fllooded areas, including Bear Brook and the South Nation River. 
  The highlights were the following:
  - 2 Sandhill Cranes west off Milton Road, but far back from the road close to the trees ringing the Mer Bleue;
  - 15 species of duck with a remaing few Bufflehead, Goldeneye. Highlight was about 20 Redhead and about 20 Ruddy Duck at the Alfred Lagoon;
  - Only one flock of about 3,000 Snow Geese was seen near Riceville in a large open, muddy field looking south from Riverbank Road along the south side of the South Nation River. The flock flew up once when something disturbed it, but the geese settled again in the same area;
  - A good mix of sparrows in a spruce plantation off of Woorley Road. While this spot is one of the better in eastern Ontario for Clay-coloured Sparrows (still too early for their return), there were Savannahs, one Vesper and several Field Sparows.
   
  Good birding
   
  Peter Hall
   
  Directions: As this was a complicated route, I would refer you to Larry Neily's Birding World website for complete directions to any of these spots. http://ca.geocities.com/larry.neily@rogers.com/se.htm