Birders:
With apologies to Jean Irons because I told her that the next
rare bird I had at Monarch Landing, "I would phone her first" .(I don't have
her phone number).
It seemed somehow more appropriate to call George and Pat Finney in Port Rowan,
to confirm they still had their Spotted -towhee in residence.
George confirmed about 3:00 p.m. he had seen his spotted Towhee about an hour
before.
Well, by gosh I had another male here!
The location of the bird is east of my main building here at Monarch
Landing(where the black-throated sparrow was in 2009). It is about 500 meters
to the east. There is a hanging hexagram feeder, and a suet basket at the
location. (More details below).
The Towhees feed below or under the large logs, by the stream.There
can be up to 5 Towhees feeding here including one male spotted towhee.
Other interesting winter birds include up to 7 Rusty Blackbirds, an
occasional Red-bellied , or Pileated woodpecker,Red Polls , Siskins and other
common winter birds.
There is a weedy small meadow past the small plowed field just to the
east of the Towhees. Tree sparrows and Juncos can be abundant here. There are
often field sparrows and song sparrows. (21 field sparrows have been recorded
in the last few weeks- so they are around locally.)A few immature white-crowned
sparrows have been spotted here as well.
There has been a very tiny savannah sparrow feeding on the ground in
front of my main building, daily since last sunday, however I failed to spot
her today, so keep your eyes peeled for her. . . if you come.
Directions: Monarch Landing is located 1 mile east of Port Burwell on the old
lake Rd.(#142). Port Burwell is at the southern terminus of hiway 19(Vienna
Rd.) take the Ingersol, Tillsonburg exit at 401, south to Tillsonburg., and
south to Port Burwell, Proceed east on old lakeshore road(#142). Go past
Monarch Landing,(Road sign on the right of the road) about 1000 feet, to the
yellow caution tape. A small stream goes under the road.
The yellow caution tape is on the south side of the road between two young
sumacs, about 5 feet off the ground.
Please park beside the road, It is not well travelled, and stay beside the
road to view the birds , don't go down into the stream valley. Thank you.
Good luck.
Aaron Allensen
Monarch Landing, 55751, Lakeshore line , Port Burwell, On.
(519) 874-1343
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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/
