20 OFO members and friends met at 7 am at the Hepworth Tim Horton's on Saturday morning June 21st. We proceeded to go east to Shallow Lake and NE towards MacNabb Lake stopping at various spots to check out the extensive swamp. Numerous birds were seen and heard including a Blue-winged Warbler. A"local" coming by stopped and said there was a Snowy Egret close to the road 2 minutes behind her so we headed that way. The Snowy was a Great Egret and close to the road. As we were headed back to MacNabb Lake side road a second Great Egret was spotted coming in high up from the SE. The walk in the side road to the lake produced several species of warblers including a calling Mourning Warbler which kept well hidden in the dense under growth. Several species of ferns including Hart's Tongue were found. . By the time we left MacNabb Lake 2 hours had elapsed and a pit stop was in order so back to Hepworth and Tim Horton's. Upon leading Hepworth we proceeded east and when north on the 1st road at the edge of the village. Great views of a co-operative Indigo Bunting were obtained while a Vesper Sparrow was calling in the distance. A couple of distance calls of a Clay Colored Sparrow were heard by some. We went to the end of the road and turned east and took the first road going east from the Zion Church Rd. Along this road a large rock was near the road and had a good covering of Walking Fern. In one of the swampy valleys along this road we had a pair of Red-shouldered Hawks circling overhead. We did the senic tour through back roads of Keppel township stopping occasionally. At one stop a Black-and-white Warbler put on a close display. Back on the Zion Church Road we proceeded to the Oxeden Creek bridge where a Virgina Rail came within 5 feet of the group. Lunch was at the Lake Charles Conservation area where a Common Raven greeted our arrival and a Purple Finch bid us goodby. Through good fortune the entire group managed to make it through Wiarton without anyone getting lost and we headed west. At the Rankin River a pair of Ospreys are house keeping with the female on the nest. The male was perched below on the hydro wires. The west shoreline was not productive. We were too early at the fen boardwalk for any orchids but Butterwort was out in bloom. The local Opsrey made a fly over fairly close. It was a little breezy at Sky Lake for too much but a few Black Terns were over the reeds. Issac Lake was a little quiet as it was mid afternoon but a Marsh Wren was calling. A single Sora call was heard. At the Goose impoundment an American Bittern stood out in the open for all to see. At the back parking lot by the lake the Ospreys were home on the nesting platform behind the privy. Both an American Bittern and an Adult Black-crowned Night Heron did fly bys low right over the parking lot. We continued north along #6 and had a Brewer's Balkbird alone the shoulder of the highway just north of Mar. We turned west off NO. 6 and did a country block at the south end of the Ferndale flats finding another adult Black-crowned Night Heron in a ditch. Once back to No. 6 along the Pike Bay road we broke for the day. The group accumative total was up to 104 species with 14 species of warblers found.
At 7 am Sunday Morning 14 OFO members reasembled at the Tobermorary Airport. We proceeded with several stops up to Sunset Park at Cape Hurd. Here the highlight was a Merlin that was observed flying a long ways out into the lake, catch a prey and then return back to land. We headed back to #6 and proceeded to the Cameron Lake Road where a pit stop was taken. The highlight here was a Luna Moth on the building beside the door into the restuarant. A quick stop was made at the Crane River Picnic grounds to look at the fern wall and check out the Nodding Trillium. There was quick stampede back to the cars with a swam of black flies in pursuit. We proceeded down to the Dyers Rd. and headed east to the Crane Lake Rd. Along the road we stopped a couple of times and had good looks at male Purple Finches on the road side. Further north the road through the swamp was a series of islands but still passible. While trying for rails 4 Sandhill Cranes came by calling and heading towards Crane Lake. We continued up the road to the old farm gate on the west side of the road where we stopped for lunch. Near the road about 175 metres from us were 4 Sandhill Cranes that walked around the field and still were doing this when we left. We retraced our steps and turned east stopping to check out the leatherwood in the hardwoods. Just west of Lark Whistle a Clay-colored Sparrow was vocal and good views were had as it sat out in the open for several minutes. We stopped at Lark Whistle to admire the foral display. While getting out of the cars a single Sandhill flew low over the parked cars. Several clear wing (hummingbird) moths were found on the flowers. Since it was mid afternoon several peeled off to head home but the diehards wanted to go out the the Cabot Head lighthouse so off we went. Not much was seen although a few Common Mergansers were on the rocks beside the road. At the lighthouse the trees in flower were litterally covered with clear wing moths, unbelievable numbers for this rarely seen species. The group offically broke up at 3 pm and we headed our separate ways. The group total for the weekend including those seen on side excursions Saturday night was around 120 species. John Miles Jarvis, On. 1-519-587-5223 [EMAIL PROTECTED] "John Miles" <[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.
