Hi ONTBirders: After searching in vain for the SORA reported at the Bill Mason Centre in Dunrobin, I located a single SORA at the Jack Pine Trail of the Stony Swamp Conservation Area. It was located at the sitting area on the boardwalk northeast of the OFNC feeder. It hung around for about five to ten minutes, hiding in the reeds and making brief appearances here and there. Eventually it took off further into the marsh and I lost sight of it.
Also present at the Jack Pine Trail were four SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and two LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Four VIRGINIA RAILS were heard calling from the southeast boardwalk, following the trail on the right from the parking lot. There were several recently fledged BLUE JAYS making quite a lot of noise at various locations along the trail, and a MALLARD hen with about four juveniles in tow. Later in the day I headed out to the Dunrobin area in an attempt to once again locate the sora that have been reported there. No luck once again, although I did find two juvenile VIRGINIA RAILS and what was likely a newly hatched chick, probably no older than a few days. YELLOW WARBLERS were present in abundance, and I picked out a lone NASHVILLE WARBLER looking rather pathetic in mid-moult plumage. A juvenile YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was on a tree right near the parking area, and last but not least, four WILSON'S SNIPES flushed from the marsh only to turn around and practically dive-bomb me on the boardwalk. ALDER FLYCATCHERS were also present. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: Stony Swamp (Jack Pine Trail) - from 416N, take the Fallowfield Road exit and turn right. At the light, turn right onto Moodie Drive. The entrance to the Jack Pine Trail is on the left, parking lot P9. Bill Mason Centre, Dunrobin - from the Jack Pine Trail, continue on Moodie Drive, straight through the light, to continue onto Moodie. Turn left onto Carling Avenue. Follow Carling to the end, turning right onto March Road. Follow March Road for several kilometers and turn right onto Dunrobin Road. Follow Dunrobin for approximately 10 km, past the blinking light and the centre of the village of Dunrobin. The Bill Mason Centre entrance is on the left, about a kilometer from the centre of town (first entrance for the public school). _________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 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
