Ontbirders,
Today on my way from Minden to Toronto, I spent two hours birding the
Carden Alvar. The 8C temperature with sun and a light breeze made for cool
but not cold birding.
Loggerhead Shrike: After scanning for 20 minutes with binoculars in all
directions from Wylie Road near bluebird box 10, I saw a distant shrike on
the west side of the road. It perched in a small hawthorn shrub and flew to
the ground several times after prey. A scope was needed to get a good view.
Anyone birding Carden should keep a scope handy. In recent years more
birders have seen Loggerhead Shrikes in the cattle pastures along Wylie
Road in Carden than anywhere else in Ontario.
Some other birds seen and/or heard today were a Sandhill Crane calling in
the distance, many singing Vesper Sparrows, one calling Eastern Towhee,
singing Brown Thrashers, singing Field Sparrows, several Wilson's Snipe,
and at the Sedge Wren Marsh a Virginia Rail sang once at noon. It was year
ago today (28 April 2003) that I heard a record early Yellow Rail at the
Sedge Wren Marsh, but it sang later in the day at dusk. Yellow Rails and
Sedge Wrens will be arriving soon.
Directions: The Carden Alvar is a 1.5 hour drive or 125 km northeast of
Toronto via the 404 and Highway 48. From the Kirkfield Lift Lock go 2.5 km
north, turn right on McNamee Road where Kawartha Road 6 turns sharply left.
You'll see the Carden Important Bird Area sign. Just after the sign turn
left (north) on Wylie Road. Watch for shrikes on both sides of the road
between 0.4 and 0.8 km north of the only house on the road. Bluebird box 10
is on a fence post on the left. You'll cause no harm to the birds by
watching from the roadsides as the ranchlands are fenced private property
with grazing cattle. The Sedge Wren Marsh is 2.7 km from the start of Wylie
Road. There's a parking area on the left just before the marsh.
Happy birding,
Ron Pittaway
Minden and Toronto
Jean Iron
President, Ontario Field Ornithologists
9 Lichen place
Toronto ON M3A 1X3
416-445-9297
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
