Hello Birders, I had a great outing in the Long Point area today, despite waking up to thundershowers in Maple, once at Spooky Hollow it had cleared up and there was a fair bit of sun and conditions remained as such for the duration of my stay. It was most pleasant!
At Spooky Hollow on the Hemlock Loop, it was quaint watching a CANADA WARBLER whilst BLUE-WINGED WARBLERS sung not too far away. Other "northern-affinity" birds present included WINTER WREN and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER. The best bird here was a co-operative ACADIAN FLYCATCHER, who was calling vigorously and perching low in the hemlocks for good, long views. You will hear one before you see it! At the Wilson Tract, there were half a dozen HOODED WARBLERS, a couple of PINE WARBLERS, and many of the typical southern hardwoods residents we all know and love, including SCARLET TANAGER, many GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, INDIGO BUNTING and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. Mosquitoes were bad, but not horrifying. A quick jaunt into Backus Woods produced a CERULEAN WARBLER (right in the parking lot from HW 24!) and another handful of HOODED WARBLERS amongst the common hardwood birds mentioned above. A great day with great birds! Directions (Courtesy Angie & Ken Williams & Ron Ridout): Spooky Holow road is closer to Turkey Point: from Simcoe, take road 24 south and go left on Charlotte West Quarter line road, go right at the big cure onto Charlotte Road 2, then immediately left onto Spooky Hollow Rd. Access is just across the stream at the bottom of the hill on the right. Wilson Tract: From the intersection of Highways 59 and 24, drive 3.7 km west on County Rd. 60 to West 1/4 Line. Turn south (left) and drive 1.4 km to the stop sign at the Fourth Concession Rd. Turn west (right) and drive 900 m to the gated entrance on the north (right) side of the road. Access to Backus Woods is an entrance on Road 24 (to the south) halfway between Road 59 and East Quarter line road (southwest of Simcoe going west from the St. Williams Forestry Station). 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/
