After taking in the final day of the Bateman exhibit in Kleinburg last weekend, I took a drive out to Reesor pond in Markham for a reported Ross’s Goose. I eventually spotted the bird wandering in and out of view near an island of six Snow Geese in a sea of several hundred Canadas.

Reports of Sandhill Cranes, Evening Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings sent me on a last-minute trip up the Bruce this weekend. I found numerous flocks of Bohemians, but no sign of grosbeaks or cranes. Checking the rarity lists after I got home, I was notified of a flock of over 250 Sandhills just south of Hepworth — birds I would have found if only I hadn’t taken a detour around this specific part of Hwy 6 to check the back roads for cranes! I have such rotten luck with Sandhills.