The Last Hurrah

School starts tomorrow, so my mom, aunt, grandma, and I have been making one last dash to see some of the lingering rarities.

Yesterday, the plan was to head down to Kingsville in search of the long-staying Purple Gallinule. Of course, we first had to make a stop into Keith McLean Conservation Area, just outside of Rondeau park, to see the Snowy Egret which has been around awhile. It was easily picked out due to its smaller size than the adjacent Great Egrets.

We arrived at the gallinule spot in the late afternoon. It was incredibly hot, making standing around uncomfortable. After about an hour of waiting, we were rewarded with the gallinule coming out into the open!

It did a few short stints out in the open, before coming out and feeding almost in the middle of the channel for close to ten minutes. Certainly a very cool bird to be in Ontario!

Today I got word of a Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron in Caledonia, so we went to see if we could find it. It rained quite heavily on our way there, as well as when we arrived. Finally, after about 20 minutes of waiting in the car, the rain let up slightly. I got out to check the river where it had been seen, and wouldn't you know it, the first bird I looked at was the night-heron!

It was very cooperative. Despite the rain starting to pick up again, it continued with its feeding.

Well, that is it for summer. It sure has been a good one!