We arrived at Sylvania Lodge shortly after 9 am and by the time we unloaded the canoe and made all the necessary preparations, it was 9:30.
Our first bird sighting was 4 Trumpeter Swans and a dozen or more Mallards. They promptly took off from the water as we took record shots.
After 30 minutes, we spotted the Limpkin on the river left shore. We took many photos and videos, as it did not seem bothered by us at all. It was catching clams and cracking the shells to eat them. We were thrilled with this success.
Limpkin video links. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TbatNEScNlHndG5SdQGbZFVo2eE5_8U-?usp=sharing
After 12 minutes, we started our return journey, arriving back at the launch at 10:30. Because of lack of cell service, we could not contact the rest of our group birding near Almonte.
We drove up the hill to get service and texted our success to our team. It was arranged that we would meet up back at the lodge at 12 noon. This gave us time to check a road along Dalhousie Lake and also to find access to the river off Ferguson’s Sideroad where we hoped to be able to scope for the Limpkin.
After meeting up the rest of the group, Bill led them to the Ferguson’s Sideroad, where we looked in vain for the Limpkin across the river.
