Hello Ontbirders: At Second Marsh yesterday (Thursday, March 27), the frozen wetland and snow in the bush may have shivered "winter," but arriving migrants replied "Spring!" As I scanned the marsh from the viewing tower, the surest sign of the season was an early TREE SWALLOW gliding above the marsh. It dipped low over the ice again and again, presumably trying to catch prey, but flying insects were few and far between. Other arrivals included a flock of five pairs of NORTHERN PINTAIL. They circled the marsh repeatedly, but found no open water in which to land. A pair of TRUMPETER SWANS and a flock of 40 CEDAR WAXWINGS were also present. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were singing everywhere among the cattail stubs, and a KILLDEER called loudly over nearby fields. Not to be outdone, eight pairs of CANADA GEESE honked territorial claims to all comers, despite the fact that their chosen nest sites were still under ice. In the trees nearby, AMERICAN ROBINS and NORTHERN CARDINALS sang their vernal ballads. On the lake, a good variety of waterfowl floated offshore. Directions: >From Highway 401, exit at Harmony Road (Exit 419, the easternmost Oshawa >exit), and drive south ~1 km to Colonel Sam Drive, turn left (east) and drive >~2 - 3 km to the McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Area parking lot at the GM building. >It is on the right (south) side. Park and take the trail near the southwest >corner. A short distance in, you will reach a north/south trail. To access >the main viewing tower, proceed north for ~200 m. If you head south, a 15 >minute walk takes you to the lake and good views of the southeast corner of >the marsh. There are map boards, interpretive signage and an extensive trail >network, including a tower at the northeast corner of the marsh, a tower on >the north side of Colonel Sam Drive, and trails through the Ghost Road bush. Good birding! Steve LaForest, Pickering Naturalists _________________________________________________________________ Enter the Hunt & you could win a 2008 Eclipse Spyder! Click here to enter! http://g.msn.ca/ca55/213_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
