Due to some very inclement weather recently, last weekend was more productive than this one for finding new spring arrivals. Last Saturday Kevin Shackleton reported 3 PARULA WARBLERS along Line 10 north of Bradford, prompting me to drive up there the next morning (it's 15 minutes northwest of Newmarket). I found my first BLACK-THROATED BLUE and B&W WARBLERS of the spring among nine warbler species in the woods east of the RR tracks but didn't find a Parula until I hiked through nearby Scanlon Creek Conservation Area. The trees along the southeast end of the reservoir were alive with Ruby-crowned Kinglets and various warblers - two of them adult male Parulas. Also present were GRAY CATBIRD, E. KINGBIRD, BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK and BALTIMORE ORIOLE, all on the early side of expected arrival dates. This Friday Keith Dunn had his first SORA of the year - also along Line 10, where the swampy woods end and the marsh begins well east of the train tracks. This remnant of the true "Holland Marsh" already has American Bitterns on territory and should yield Least Bittern soon. In York region Craig Corcoran had the most notable spring arrival - a HOODED WARBLER in the Happy Valley forest northeast of Nobleton on Friday morning. He also had RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Further south, on his rural property west of King township, BOBOLINKS have been back for over a week. Over the weekend some migrants showed up in suburban yards too: Mike Van den Tillaart (Newmarket) and Keith Dunn (Keswick) both had INDIGO BUNTINGS. Mike also had RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD while Keith had two RB Grosbeaks adding colour to his yard. In SW Newmarket I had my first HOUSE WREN of the spring looking for food in my yard after Saturday's downpours. At Bogart Pond in Newmarket last weekend (May 2) a GREAT EGRET put in a brief appearance as well. Yesterday Keith had the first AMERICAN REDSTART of the season along Holborn Road near Concession 2, northwest of the town of Sharon. Sampling Simcoe County with good success has prompted Kevin, Keith and I to leave York region in favour of Simcoe for our BAILLIE BIRDATHON this spring. If any readers wish to sponsor us or pass on birding info regarding Simcoe County, please get in touch by replying privately. Our big day is May 23rd. Looking forward to it! Ron Fleming, Newmarket York Region and Simcoe County are north of Toronto, generally in the area surrounding Lake Simcoe (south and west, respectively). _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
