Detour Lake Mine Road (Hwy. 652) is a 380 km. return drive (no gas or services)proceeding north-east from Cochrane. On June 6, 2003 we observed the following (figures for June 5, 2002 in brackets):
Sharp-tailed Grouse--3 by granite quarry ~15 kms. s. of mine on the east Sandhill Crane--2 Common Nighthawk --1 feeding over Kattawagami River bridge at 4 p.m. Gray Jay--12 (20) American Kestrel--14 (12) Brown Thrasher--out of range--by the reclaimed mine site at road's end Wilson's Warbler--5 in willow scrub near the end of the road(1) Black Bear--8--feeding on roadside sedges (2) Moose--1 Woodland Caribou--none yet but they were reported near the road in the past two weeks Other vehicles up bound--8 We visited some productive sites on other days: Virginiatown Tailings Ponds (west of town on south side of highway)--the best site for ducks--6 species, shorebirds--5 species--Killdeer, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper--25, Semipalmated Plover--1, Dunlin--1 + Sora--1. Kirkland Lake Landfill Site (~5 kms. east of town on the south side)--200 Ravens (my personal high) Sir Harry Oakes Chateau, Kirkland Lake. Here we noted the only Evening Grosbeaks--2 and semi-territorial Bonaparte's Gulls--4. Mt. Cheminis Volcanic Plug (6 kms. east of Virginiatown)-a very dramatic "butte" 200 yards east of Ontario. The Jack Pines here and on Pushkin Hills, Ontario would seem inimical to any stray Bicknell's Thrush. Burlinghof Road, Nellie Lake. At road's end, butterflies were excellent:Green Comma--2, Meadow Fritillary--4, Freija Fritillary--2, Arctic Skipper-1, Dreamy Dusky wing-20. En route, we noted a single Sharp-tailed Grouse picking gravel in a private drive! George Bryant "George Bryant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
