Hello Birders, After returning from a sojourn into sunny Florida, I went birding in the cold, snowy misery that is Ontario in Winter, in the Kortright Conservation Area, my usual haunt.
Not expecting much, I was surprised to discover that BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS were present in the park, with about an equal number of CEDAR WAXWINGS and lesser numbers of AMERICAN ROBINS. They were feeding on the large berry crop present in the "Shrubs for Wildlife" area - maps are available at the visitor centre. There were about 45 Bohemians. This is the first time I have had either species of waxwing wintering in the park, though a flock of robins does every year. A great wanderer meets other great wanderers! A NORTHERN SHRIKE was at his usual post on the Kortright driveway. Usually there's one that hangs out here each winter - there's a good number of voles in the fields this year and this is apparent by many more wintering RED-TAILED HAWKS and LONG-EARED OWLS than in previous years. A good place to get a Roughleg if one ever shows up here! Another thing to look for here are Pine Grosbeak - I saw many maple seeds that were opened up and eaten by birds (rather than mammals). Pine Grosbeak does not frequent feeders when it shows up here, so I have a hunch that they are around and feeding on the maple seeds as they frequently do when they do show up...keep your eyes peeled!! Directions: The Kortright Centre is located three kilometers west of Highway 400 and one kilometer south of Major Mackenzie Drive at 9550 Pine Valley Drive in Woodbridge. There is an entrance fee. Maps can be obtained at the visitor centre. Happy Holidays and Good Birding! Lev Frid Maple, ON _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
