*Caps are for quick scanning, not drama. The best local spot for migrants this morning was the Seneca College campus in King City. Allan Roitner and I we were pleasantly surprised to find several migrants in the woods north and west of Eaton Hall, including seven warbler species: BLACK-THR. GREEN (10), BLACK & WHITE (6), BLACK-THR. BLUE (3), PINE (7), YELLOW-RUMPED (3), NASHVILLE (5) and N. WATERTHRUSH (3). We also had our first GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER and SPOTTED SANDPIPER of the spring. There were two BLUE-HEADED VIREOs present, several singing BROWN CREEPERs, countless Chipping Sparrows and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a singing WINTER WREN, one GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and a rattling BELTED KINGFISHER crossing over the lake. At the Cawthra Mulock reserve in Newmarket earlier in the morning we had several NASHVILLE WARBLERS, BOBOLINKS, and FIELD SPARROWS. The CLAY-COLOURED SPARROW that arrived last weekend kept a low profile throughout the week but decided to start singing today; his distinctively low "Buzz, buzz, buzz" could be heard easily below Bobolink Ridge. We also had a PILEATED WOODPECKER. Chris Dunn had a migrating BORAD-WINGED HAWK there earlier in the week. On Tuesday, Keith Dunn had the first SORA of the season at the north end of Yonge Street in Holland Landing while Bruce Brydon had the first BALTIMORE ORIOLE of the season in his yard yesterday (also Holland Landing). Regarding the Seneca College campus in King City, this beautiful 700-acre property once belonged to the well-known Eaton family of department store fame. Their Norman-style French chateau still sits prominently on the north side of the lake there and now functions as a conference and banquet centre. The Oak Ridges Trail runs though the north part of this property and offers excellent hiking, mountain biking and birding opportunities. The lake - sometimes referred to as Seneca Lake but actually named "Jonda Lake" by lady Eaton after her son, John David - has Osprey platforms that are used for nesting each year. Ron Fleming, Newmarket York Region is between Barrie and Toronto. Seneca College's King Campus is north of King Road, accessed by driving north on Dufferin Street, then turning into the property westward. Parking is $4, or you can drive a little further north until you see the ORTA stile, which shows where the trail resumes and runs westward along the north end of the property. If you need more info, e-mail privately. .
