> > Evening of Sept.27 I visited Dundas Marsh and was successful in finding one > > Sharp-tailed Sparrow at the north end of Paradise Pond. The bird was > > very secretive. There are lots of other sparrows here as well and > > several Yellowthroats and Marsh Wrens, so every little brown thingey > > will not be a Sharp-tail! I would suggest that if you walk very slowly > > or better yet just stand still after you flush a bird, you will have a > > much greater likelihood of actually seeing one. This worked for me evening of Sept.27 and has done so in the past as well. It is also much easier on the > > birds. > > > > I also flushed a Sora and was treated to an amazing spectacle near dusk > > as thousands of gulls, geese, Wood Ducks and Mallards, Starlings [yes > > they can be beautiful too] and blackbirds streamed past from south to > > north to roost in the bay or adjacent cattails. It was truly and > > marvelous sight! > > > > Norm's posting of a few days ago did not do justice to the state of > > disrepair of the bridge and trail. They are a mess. This is becoming a > > very challenging walk, with an ill-defined trail, a large tree broken > > off and partially blocking the bridge and an ill and very muddy > > conditions. But it was worth it! > > > > Please note that my email will be disabled from Oct 5th to Nov 15th to > > try to outwit the Spammers. It will resume after that date as > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the interim if you need me, you'll just > > have to phone me at 905-686-6237. > > > > Directions [copied from Norm's posting]: From Toronto drive west on the > > QEW until you come to the Y intersection in Burlington of the QEW and > > Hwy 403. Take Hwy 403 to the Main Street exit in Hamilton and drive > > right to Main Street West. Turn left on Main Street and drive past the > > McMaster University Medical Centre to Cootes Drive on the right. Drive > > down Cootes Drive to the bottom of the hill where the road crosses a > > small bridge, continue on to York Rd (the 1st lights), turn around here > > and drive back towards the bridge and park just short of this bridge on > > the right side. Walk across the road and the beginning of the trail > > begins just before the bridge. This is an extensive marsh and there are > > several trails. If you cross the small bridge just down the trail and go > > to your left after crossing this same small bridge then almost > > immediately right. Go straight ahead and look for the Sparrows out in > > the marsh grasses ahead and beyond the dried up pond on your left and > > beside Paradise Point. > > > > Geoff Carpentier > > Ajax, Ont.
