The Holland Landing sewage lagoons just north of Toronto have some very good
shorebird habitat this year (cells 1, 2 and 4) and there are already numerous
"fall migrants" using them.
For the last three days there have been good numbers of Lesser Yellowlegs
(45+), Least Sandpipers (55+), Solitary Sandpiper (10), Spotted Sandpiper (8),
and Killdeer (30+). On Wednesday evening around dusk there were at least 50
Cedar Waxwings hawking insects over the first pond like big, chunky swallows.
Above them were 20+ Chimney Swifts and an assortment of real swallows (Bank,
Tree & Barn). There are families of Wood Duck, Green- and Blue-winged Teal,
Mallards, and Canada Geese on territory here.
Walking the nicely cut perimeter at midday today I encountered far less
mosquito activity (dusk on Wednesday was brutal) and one Dave Worthington, both
of which were pleasant developments. Dave or I will post if we see anything
interesting at these lagoons over the next several weeks. Please do likewise
if you stop there and find anything out of the ordinary.
For those who dabble in lepidoptery, there were several Large Wood Nymphs,
Canadian Tiger Swallowtails, Monarchs, Clouded Sulphurs, and Cabbage Whites.
I also observed one Mourning Cloak, one White Admiral, and two Common
Ringlets (though there are usually dozens of the latter).
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
The Holland Landing lagoons are just north of Newmarket, which in turn is
about 30 minutes directly north of Toronto. From Davis Drive/Hwy.9, you can
travel straight north on Yonge Street, past all the big box stores in the north
part of Newmarket (which end at Green Lane where Silvercity Cinemas sit on the
east side), to the stoplights beside the Newmarket Inn. Turn right into
Holland Landing and follow the curving descent to the lights at the bridge.
You will be on Old Yonge Street. Keep going north through town. You will go
through a little curve in the road where there are conifer stands on both
sides, then you will pass Doane Rd. on the right. About a km after that you
will see two white wagon wheels and a Maximum 60 sign; this is Cedar St. Turn
right (east) and follow it to the dead end. Park there and perform a fairly
easy gate gymnastic. The four lagoons are along that gravel service road.
Watch for poison ivy, especially on the north side of the road.
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From: "Norm Murr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "ONTBIRDS" <[email protected]>
Date: Sat, 8 Jul 2006 20:04:04 -0400
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Subject: [Ontbirds]
New ?? Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbirds. etc. on Bruce
Peninsula trip
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Good evening folks
Today Frank Pinilla and I spent a quick morning on the Bruce Peninsula =
and despite the short time there and on the way home from the peninsula =
we did manage to find 99 bird species and among them was an accidental =
and pure luck Western Meadowlark. Accidental because we took the wrong =
road and lucky because after stopping at a likely open country type bird =
habitat and not seeing or hearing much we got back into the car and just =
before Frank started the engine we both swivelled our heads after =
hearing a short musical call. We got out and to our surprise a Western =
Meadowlark was singing like mad where moments before all was quiet.
Out came the scope and Frank located the bird and we observed it for =
the next 15 to 20 minutes before moving on.
This bird is a long way from the previously reported Dyers Bay Road =
bird ( that we missed ) so it is a good chance it is a second bird. No =
arguments from me if one feels that it can only be the Dyers Road bird, =
maybe so, maybe not. One way or the other that is moot as Ira Lake Road =
is where this bird is.
On the way to being on the wrong road we found 3 Brewer's Blackbirds on =
East Road just north of Lindsay Road and 3 more on Lindsay Road just =
west of East Road.=20
While out on this excursion we came up with a few other nice birds =
including Common Loons, Black-crowned night-Heron, Osprey, Sharp-shined =
and Broad-winged Hawks, Wild Turkey, 12 Sandhill Cranes with 2 so low =
over our heads I thought we were doomed, Upland Sandpipers, Greater and =
Lesser Yellowlegs, Least Sandpiper, 13 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds =
(almost all on telephone/hydro wires), 5 Woodpecker species including =
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Pileated Woodpecker, all 6 Swallow =
species, Common Ravens, Brown Creeper, 1 constantly singing Sedge Wren =
on Bartley drive at Dyers Bay Road, 8 Eastern Bluebirds, 11 Warbler =
species including 4 Pine Warblers, and Blackburnian Warblers (the most =
common was American Redstart, we had 26 of them), 8 Sparrow species =
including Clay-colored, Field and Grasshopper, 28 ( greatly undercounted =
by us I think ) Eastern Meadowlarks, 12 Purple Finches.
There were also many Red-eyed Vireos, Chipping Sparrows, tons of =
Savannah Sparrows, Eastern Kingbirds, Bobolinks, and House Wrens.
We had another surprise as we stood on Lindsay Road 40 (Gillies Lake =
Road) a large Black Bear came out on the road about 100 feet from us, =
ran away down the road and ducked into the forest again on the opposite =
side of the road. He / it must have been as surprised as we were.
This was my first trip up to the Bruce Peninsula (John Miles never =
drove the short distance from Jarvis to Richmond Hill to take me up =
there :-). and I wish it was closer as it sure was a nice experience =
albeit a short one. I could spend days there birding the many roads on =
the peninsula and this is another place that any serious or not too =
serious birder should experience.
DIRECTIONS
BRUCE PENINSULA=20
From Owen Sound follow Hwy 6 north towards Tobermory and your on the =
peninsula.
DIRECTIONS
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
Ira Lake Road is south of the town of Miller Lake (on Hwy 6).
From the start of Ira Lake Road at Hwy 6 drive 4km south to the large =
open field on your right ( west side ) of the road ( Just past of the =
small green 911 sign number 273.
=
OR
From the junction of Ira Lake Road and Clarke's Road ( at Clarke's =
Corners ) drive north 2.5km to the large open field on your left ( west =
) side of the road
The bird was about 150 yards out from the road on a small bush to the =
right of a large dead ( very white ) birch tree. If singing it is hard =
to miss.
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
=20
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