Ellacott Lookout, Cambridge, ON

Ellacott Lookout

Cambridge, ON

20 July 2013

    After the recent exceptionally heavy rains in Southern Ontario the water level on the Grand River has risen substantially, virtually obliterating all shorebird habitat normally found at several predictable spots. There were a few Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes and Killdeer Charadrius vociferus present at Ellacott Lookout; other than that not much of anything. This location has become reliable in recent years for Great Egret Ardea alba and this individual was present there. Unfortunately it was quite distant and due to shoreline flooding we could not get close enough for good photographs.

    We did see several Bullfrogs Rana catesbeiana and this female (based on the size of the typanum) was oblivious to our presence and did not attempt to escape into the water. Had we been the Great Egret so close to the frog it might have been a different story.