This morning at about 8am, a second-year male Summer Tanager was heard and observed singing persistently in a forest glade near to the junction of Chalk Lake Road and Lake Ridge Road. The bird was still singing in glorious sunshine when Sue Hayes and I left to continue surveying the area.
Apologies for chosing not to give a more precise location but unfortunately the bird was located on private land. Nevertheless, TRCA property in the vicinity (Glen Major tracts) allows opportunities for perhaps relocating the bird. The Glen Major forest tracts provide some of the best summer birding in the Toronto region, and this area - together with the nearby Durham forest - are well worth a visit in search of breeding bird species that are otherwise scarce in the region. As a further FYI, the TRCA's summer surveys have also so far discovered a singing male Hooded Warbler apparently on territory (5th June) in a small forest patch to the south Woodbridge (alongside Hwy 407). Again, unfortunately this bird was on private property. Directions: Glen Major forest tracts can best be reached by driving north out of Ajax on Lake Ridge Road (there is no exit off the 401 for Lake Ridge but this road can be reached via Westney Road and then Taunton Road). A few km north of 9th Concession (aka #5 and Myrtle Road) turn west on Chalk Lake Road and drive for a couple of km to the junction with Concession 7. There is limited parking at this junction (actually in the triangle that forms the centre of the junction!). Alternatively, turn north on Concession 7 and drive a coupe of km until you have the radio tower on your right. There is more parking on the west side of the road here. A short walk to the east takes one into Durham Forest, while the plantations to the east are part of the TRCA's Glen Major property.
