With winter giving way to a belated spring it was most enjoyable to see much free water on Cranberry Marsh today. Firstly let me relay some of the birds that were seen along the paths and overhead-- TUFTED TITMOUSE, COWBIRD, HAIRY & DOWNY WOODPECKERS, male NORTHERN HARRIER, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, MERLIN, several WILD TURKEYS.
On the water of the marsh--male WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEONS, GADWALLS, AM. BLACK DUCK, MALLARDS, NORTHERN PINTAIL, both SCAUPS, COMMON MERGANSER, GREEN-WINGED TEALS, Among the first flowering plants showing growth spurts--motherwort, marsh marigold, coltsfoot. Cranberry Marsh is accessed from Victoria St., onto Hall's Rd., 1 block east of Lakeridge Rd. in southwest Whitby; south down Hall's Rd. toward the lakefront, parking roadside at either the entrance to the north or south pathway. Doug Lockrey, Whitby,ON _______________________________________________ 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
