The Rock Wren has NOT been seen today, Saturday, May 8. Sorry Mark. Barry Kinch From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sat May 8 20:43:22 2004 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: [email protected] Received: from web20026.mail.yahoo.com (web20026.mail.yahoo.com [216.136.225.37]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with SMTP id DF4904820A for <[email protected]>; Sat, 8 May 2004 20:43:21 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Received: from [66.185.84.81] by web20026.mail.yahoo.com via HTTP; Sun, 09 May 2004 01:45:44 BST Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 01:45:44 +0100 (BST) From: =?iso-8859-1?q?Garth Riley?= <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Subject: [Ontbirds] Yellow Rail, Wye Marsh, Midland May 8 X-BeenThere: [email protected] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 09 May 2004 00:43:22 -0000
During a visit to the Wye Marsh this afternoon I was rewarded with the sighting of a Yellow Rail. It was just before 3:00 p.m. and Nancy (who has very keen eyes for spotting skulkers) discovered a Virginia Rail next to the dike in the marsh. It was cold, 4C, and overcast and both the boys were able to see it, a lifer for them. We turned the corner just passed where a new blind is under construction and started back towards the visitor centre. About 50 ft. along the dike my son and I flushed a small bird, from the left side of the dike. At first I thought it was a large sparrow. As it lifted up into the air (about 3 feet off the ground) I saw that it didn't have much of a tail and that it was dangling two long legs and two big feet. At this point I realized that it was a rail and was thinking that I had never seen one flying before. Also I thought that it would be nice to add Sora to my year list. I noticed (briefly) that there was white on the secondary feathers on the wings close to the stubby tail. I managed to get my binoculars on the head and body of the bird just before it dropped back into the marsh after a flight of about 40 feet. I still was thinking Sora but the head and body were patterned with different shades of brown without the distinctive black and gray pattern on the head that I expected for an adult Sora. It was at this point that I realized that it was a Yellow Rail. Unfortunately it was such a brief glimpse that I couldn't alert Nancy. We tried clicking two keys together no stones on the dike)to see if it would respond but to no avail. The habitat adjacent to this area appears to be suitable for Yellow Rail and it would be worthwhile for other birders in this area to check for their presence for the Breeding Bird Atlas project. Please let me know privately if you are successful (plus I owe Nancy big time!!). Wye Marsh is located at the north end of Midland off of Highway 12. Take Hwy 400 north from Toronto. exit at Hwy 93 to Midland. Turn right onto Hwy 12 and follow it past William St. the entrance to Wye Marsh is on your right. Park and enter the visitors centre (entrance fee if not a member) take the trail to the marsh and follow the boardwalk past the dipnetting area to the dike, turn left until a "T" and turn left the bird was flushed on the left side after walking about 50 ft. Another 50 feet passed where the bird was seen there is a Tree Swallow nest box number 13. ====Garth Riley Etobicoke, Ontario [EMAIL PROTECTED] ____________________________________________________________ Yahoo! Messenger - Communicate instantly..."Ping" your friends today! Download Messenger Now http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/download/index.html From [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sun May 9 07:58:24 2004 Return-Path: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Delivered-To: [email protected] Received: from smtp.wincom.net (smtp.wincom.net [209.216.129.21]) by king.hwcn.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 0B1B547EF0 for <[email protected]>; Sun, 9 May 2004 07:58:24 -0400 (EDT) Received-SPF: fail (Last token {-all} (resúIL)) client-ip!6.254.221.59; envelope-from=<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; Received: from Tanager1 (unverified [216.254.221.59]) by wincom.net (WINCOM Internet Mail Service) with ESMTP id 50769513 for multiple; Sun, 09 May 2004 08:00:50 -0400 From: "Sarah Rupert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Date: Sun, 9 May 2004 08:00:44 -0400 Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook, Build 10.0.2627 Importance: Normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2800.1165 X-SpamDetect: ********: 8.000000 SPF Fail=8.0 X-IP-stats: Incoming Last 1, First 10, inH, out=0, spam=0 X-External-IP: 216.254.221.59 cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Ontbirds] A potential tragedy with a happy ending at Point Pelee National Park X-BeenThere: [email protected] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list X-List-Received-Date: Sun, 09 May 2004 11:58:24 -0000 Hello All! As many of you may have heard, we had a very sad situation happen in the park yesterday. The female Prothonotary Warbler, that had been seen by so many birders over the weekend, was found on the road north of Sanctuary - apparently having been hit by a car. The bird was still alive and was taken to the Visitor Centre by park staff and I am happy to report made a full recovery. However, due to the intense pressure the bird was receiving at Sanctuary (which made have forced it out onto the road in the first place), staff decided to release the bird at a different, undisclosed location. We are of course happy that this endangered species survived, but would also like to remind visitors of a couple things - take it easy when driving in the park, reduce your speed, not only will the birds benefit, but other animals like snakes and frogs will be spared as well. - remember not to pressure birds, rare or otherwise - these guys have travelled a really long distance and are tired and need to refuel - if you are going to areas in the park, like Sanctuary, Sleepy Hollow etc, remember that there is limited parking. If the lot is full, go to the next area north or south and park there, it's usually no more than a five minute walk to where you wanted to be, and heck, you may find some other great birds on your travels. I hope that everyone has been enjoying this great spring and thank you for your cooperation. Good birding! Sarah Sarah Rupert Sr. Park Interpreter, Point Pelee National Park Leamington, Ontario
