BIRDS IN PORT ROWAN/LONG POINT

As usual migration time is always busy at Long Point/Port Rowan.

The spring of 2023 was the 64^th consecutive year that bird migration was monitored at Long Point by the Long Point Bird Observatory (LPBO).

The Sightings Board

LPBO publishes meticulous, easily accessible records on the LPBO Sightings Board.  There is always something notable or unusual to be found.

Case in point is a Black Billed Magpie found on the corner of the 1st Concession and Gore Rd. this past April 14th. In Western Canada the bird is abundant.  But not here This sighting was only the fourth ever in the area.

Well before spring another interesting sighting was documented by Stu Mackenzie, Director of Strategic Assets at Bird Studies Canada. Two Black-backed Woodpeckers - one in the St. Williams Conservation Reserve and another in Backus Woods were observed this past January.  Their sightings represented the first county records in 30 years, according to Mackenzie. These medium sized woodpeckers are typically found in boreal and coniferous forests.

More Recent Sightings

Over July and early August, we have had large numbers of great egrets roosting in the marsh area mere metres from the Port Rowan wetlands.   The species has not previously been seen in anything like these numbers in our location.

Egrets roosting at Port Rowan Wetlands
this summer

The great egret is an interesting bird.  White in colour it stands almost three feet tall with an S-curved neck, a dagger-like yellow bill, and long black legs.  Its breeding plumage is so attractive that the feathers became sought after for fashionable ladies’ hats in the 19^th century.                      

According to the American Bird Conservatory this craze for feathers led to the slaughter of huge numbers of Great Egrets and steep declines in their numbers. Conservationists were alarmed.  Starting in 1897 various states began to outlaw the wild bird feather trade.  This advocacy led to the creation of the National Audubon Society, which has the Great Egret as its symbol.

Checking on e-bird I notice that an experienced local birder counted 179 Great Egrets leaving the wetlands’ roosting location one morning in July headed to the more open location at Big Creek.  Karen Wood and other neighbourhood people check them out when they return in the evening. 

You can keep up with local birding news @LPBObs on Facebook, @LongPointBirdOb on Twitter, or @longpointbirds on Instagram. 

Come see the birds this fall and stay with us at Wood B & B.  https://www.bbcanada.com/13914.html

 

Wood Bed and Breakfast

It is hard to believe that we welcomed our first guests more than six years ago.

We haven’t changed much in those six years with the exception of a small increase in rates that we believe better reflected the cost of us doing business. 

The year 2019 was our busiest year to date.  This ran counter to other attractions in the area who had difficulty due to necessary closures because of high Lake Erie water levels.

Birds and Birders

Many or our guest are birders.  And birder know that Long Point/Port Rowan area is one of the best areas in Ontario to see migrating and nesting birds.  We continue to see warblers, sand hill cranes, tundra swans and more.  There is something interesting every day, it seems.  Just checking today and notice that the Port Rowan Wetlands on Hunter Street North just up the street from us has now reached a total of 219 species seen at the site over the years.

Here is a picture of a Rose Breasted Grosbeak that Graham got earlier this year. 

Much to See

For example, we have always thought that we should get to all the tourist attractions, restaurants etc.  in Norfolk county so that we could offer informed opinion to you our guests.

In fact, this has proved to be an impossible task.  There is just too much to see/do here.

However recently we joined in on the South Coast Wine Spirit of the Season Passport tour.  This program has been going a few years and has kind of flown under the radar as far as we are concerned.

Karen drove the getaway car and I sampled the various wines, ciders and beers of Norfolk County.  There was food pairing at each location that Karen took advantage of.  Here is what the passport program looks like. https://ontariosouthcoastwine.com/spirit-season-passport/


A similar program runs in the spring.

We wonder if our guests would be interested in participating in the Passport program next year.  The idea is that we could offer some sort of package and provide the transportation.  Let us know if this might be of interest to you. 

If you haven’t already found this resource, check out https://www.norfolktourism.ca/ to find out about upcoming events.

Changes in Town

There are, at least three new places to eat in Port Rowan.  Chef Stan, who operated a food truck at the Legion last summer is transforming the Chinese restaurant into something called “Saloon.”

The Gallery Art Bistro https://shaunap.ca/ has been open for a while now and has live music.

And now there is local competition for Godfather’s Pizza.  Pizza Buoys https://pizza-buoys.business.site/, on Front near Highway #59, opened at the end of summer.

Let us know if you have any comments or feedback for us.

And best wishes for the holiday season to you and your loved ones

Karen, Graham and Bob Wood