Over the past two days, hundreds of bird lovers have flocked to the lagoon in Tedford, Ont. to see a bird never seen before in Canada.
“I’m here because of the swamp sandbox,” said Sue Deadman, who travels nearly 400 miles from Orilia, Ontario, to see him.
A few feet away was Brian Maureen, a bird lover who had left his home in Cornwall, Ont. at 2 in the morning to get there. But the 700-kilometer journey was worth the wait.
“This is the first record for Canada,” says Maureen.
“It’s a coastal bird that may not look very different from other birds around, but when you get something like that, it’s one of a kind. “Most people have never seen this unless you’ve traveled the world.”
Brian Maureen drove nearly 700 km from Cornwall, Ont. to Tedford, Ont. to catch a glimpse of the swamp sandstone. This is the first time the bird has been registered in Canada. (Brent Tulip / CTV News)
Local birdman James Holdsworth was the first to spot the sandstone from the road near the lagoons. He often stopped at this place and could not believe his eyes on Saturday.
“It’s a mind-boggling rarity,” Holdsworth said. “I wouldn’t be able to choose something rare if I tried terms like a fantasy board.”
He says he knew immediately that it was something special because he looked like other yellow-legged people in the area, but he could tell by the pale color of his head and neck that it was sandstone.
“When it flies, it has a big white V on the back, which is very distinctive, and it has long green legs, unlike anything in North America,” says Holdsworth.
Swamp sandstone differs from smaller yellow-legged sandpipers in that it has a very pale head and neck, a long slender beak, long green legs and a white wedge up the back. (Source: Matt Parsons) “When I saw this, my heart was pounding, my hands were shaking, and I just couldn’t believe it was really here. This Asian bird rarely appears on the west coast of North America and Alaska from time to time, but is even a rare bird on the Atlantic coast of the British side. He was born in Central Asia, “he added.
When it became known that Holdsworth had spotted the marsh sandstone, the bird watchers wanted their own observations. Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) President Jeff Skevington immediately contacted Lambton Shores Mayor Bill Weber and arranged for access to Tedford Lagoons, which are privately owned by the municipality.
After receiving approval, more than 500 people showed up on Sunday and Monday.
Hundreds of bird enthusiasts from across the province and Michigan flock to Tedford, Ont. in the last two days to catch a glimpse of the marsh sandstone. This is the first time the bird has been registered in Canada. (Brent Lale / CTV News) “OFO has just launched the Rare Bird Ambassadors Program in Ontario,” said Susan Nagy, director of the OFO board.
“This is especially true for situations where this rare bird comes to private property or areas where we do not have access, and we work with landowners or municipalities to try to gain access. This is to keep everything organized and safe for birds and humans. This is the first and you can’t get a better bird to start the program, “says Nagy.
Most of the birders couldn’t take a good picture with their camera because the sandpit was on the other side of the lagoon. But Brian Putok of Burlington and others used surveillance scope.
“He’s just a beautiful little bird,” says Putok. “I’ve seen him once in Australia, so this is his normal habitat on the other side of the world. So for him to come here, it’s amazing to think about how he came here.”
Holdsworth, who returned on Monday for another brief look, became a celebrity in the bird-watching community this weekend.
James Holdsworth discovers swamp sandstone in Tedford, Ont. Holdsworth says this is the first recorded bird sighting in Canada. (Brent Lale / CTV News) Even two days after his first sighting, he is still shocked that the swamp sandstone landed five minutes from his home.
“It’s a dream come true and I don’t think you could choose anything crazier,” Holdsworth said. “Birds always fantasize about what they want to see and see in European field guides or Asian field guides, and I think that would be a great thing to see. This is one of those birds where it would be like hitting the Powerball lottery. ”
For most of these birders, just like winning the lottery, it happens once in a lifetime.
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