Hello Birders,
I spent a pleasant day today birding the Carden Alvar, It seems that there haven't been much reports from this great birding locale this year, so I thought I'd report for the sake of any new birders out there. UPLAND SANDPIPER - Common throughout, many are paired. BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO - I had three down Wylie Rd, but feels like there should be more...lots of tent caterpillars for them to eat. Perhaps some have yet to arrive. SEDGE WREN - Several individuals vocal at Sedge Wren Marsh on Wylie Road. GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER - Two down Wylie Road, past Sedge Wren Marsh, in full song. CLAY-COLORED SPARROW - It may be just me, but appears to be less numerous than previous times. Three birds, two down Wylie and one near the new Prospect Marsh parking lot. Listening for the song is the best way to locate them. VESPER SPARROW - Present throughout, albeit in low numbers. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - Common throughout. Listen for the song! BOBOLINK - Common throughout. EASTERN MEADOWLARK - Common throughout. VIRGINIA RAIL & SORA were both at Sedge Wren Marsh as well as AMERICAN BITTERN. MARSH WREN were numerous at Prospect Marsh (Sedge Wren Marsh too!), but the Prospect marsh is quite dry near the road this year. COMMON MOORHEN was also present. Lots of BLUE-WINGED TEAL at that locale as well. Numerous WILSON'S SNIPE were doing display flights early in the morning. Other birds observed include EASTERN BLUEBIRD, BROWN THRASHER, GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, EASTERN TOWHEE (many), ALDER FLYCATCHER (on territory) and COMMON RAVEN amongst others. I did not observe any LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES this time around. Directions (Courtesy Ron Pittaway): The Carden Alvar is a 1.5 hour drive (125 km or 75 mi) northeast of Toronto. See small inset map at top left of map. Carden is an easy day trip from the Hamilton to Oshawa corridor. From Toronto, take Highway 401 or Don Valley Parkway to Highway 404 north to Newmarket. Exit to Davis Drive and go right (east) to Highway 48. Turn left (north) on 48 and continue to where it meets Highway 12. Go left (north) on Highway 12 about 12.5 km and exit right (east) to Durham Road 48, which becomes Kawartha Road 48. Go 19 km to Kirkfield. At main intersection, turn left (north) on Kirkfield Road 6 and go 3 km to the Lift Lock where tour begins. A great guide to the area by Ron Pittaway, detailing all the locales mentioned above, is available here: http://www.ofo.ca/reportsandarticles/cardenalvar.php Good Birding! Lev Frid, Maple, ON _______________________________________________ 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/
