Hello Ontbirders, The Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area (just east of Sarnia) has been productive for fall migrants over the past two days. This morning, a male BREWER'S BLACKBIRD was spotted in the tall Phragmites grass at the extreme southwest corner of the wetland (there is a sign post here marking the closure of one of the trails). Other birds observed in the wooded southwest corner of the conservation area were ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, NASHVILLE WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, HERMIT THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER and BLUE-HEADED VIREO (these amongst the backdrop of golden-crowned kinglets, ruby-crowned kinglets, and black-capped chickadees, and nearer to the ground, white-throated and white-crowned sparrows).
The restored tallgrass prairie situated where the Suncor Energy trail meets the western border of the conservation area was saturated with YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Another ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a PALM WARBLER were also observed here. Two brightly plumaged RUSTY BLACKBIRDS (1 female and 1 very vocal male) were seen in the vicinity the previous morning, as was a female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT on the eastern side of the wetlands. The water supported RING-NECKED DUCK (8), RUDDY DUCK (4), REDHEAD (3), AMERICAN WIGEON (3), GADWALL (3), NORTHERN SHOVELER (2), AMERICAN COOT (25+), and a few PIED-BILLED GREBES. Raptors seen in the area included AMERICAN KESTREL and COOPER'S HAWK. Good birding! Kevin Kerr, Guelph, ON Directions: >From the 402, exit north onto Modeland Rd (highway 27). Proceed to Michigan Line and turn right (east). Follow Michigan as bends left then right, then turn right (south) onto Blackwell Sideroad. Continue south on Blackwell to the entrance of the conservation area, which is posted on the right. The trail map is posted at the parking lot. Alternatively, you can park off of the east side of Modeland Road, just north of the 402. The parking lot is for the Suncor Energy trail, which runs eastward, ending at the Wawanosh Wetlands. I think it is about a 1 km hike to the conservation area. -- Kevin C.R. Kerr Ph.D. Candidate Department of Integrative Biology University of Guelph Guelph, ON, Canada Tel:(519)824-4120 x56212 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.uoguelph.ca/~kkerr/ _______________________________________________ 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/
