While boating on the Otonabee River just north of the Wallace Point bridge on Thursday 21 August 2008, at 19:30 hrs., I saw four large, long-legged pure white birds roosting in a tree-top. They were approached by a large osprey which sent them into a fuss and they started dive bombing the osprey and chasing it off. After they had successfully driven the osprey off, they went back into the tree top. I think they might be Common Egrets. Is is likely that that is what they were or am I mistaken? Are common egrets known to be in this part of Ontario? (Yes, these egrets – now called Great Egrets – are regular late summer visitors to Peterborough County, especially south of the city. D.M.)
Location: Otonabee River
Observer: Colum Michael Diamond
