Good Day
Yesterday Ian Cannell and I birded a few of the roads at the Carden Alvar and
just south and west of Kirkfield and though it is late in or past the nesting
season for most birds we did find some nice birds. If you bird the area now you
will notice a large increase in some of the Sparrows as the juveniles have
joined the adults and you will notice that though there are lots of birds there
is very little singing now so you have to rely more on your eyes than your ears.
In the morning Wylie Road in particular, south of the Sedge Wren Marsh had many
Sparrows on the road and at puddles. The area north of Kirkfield seems to have
had a lot more rain than the GTA area lately.
Though it became hot and humid it was a beautiful day up there and a couple
bonuses were the cooling breeze and the fact that I only saw one Mosquito, poor
Ian missed it.
Following are some of the 80 species we found and some totals. Totals are what
I counted and as usual some birds were under counted.
Common Loon, Least Bittern (Canal Lake Marsh), Wood Duck, Blue-winged Teal,
Osprey (8), N. Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Merlin, Virginia Rail (6), Sora,
Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Spotted
Sandpiper, Upland Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Wilson’s Snipe (11),
Caspian Tern, Black-billed Cuckoo, Alder Flycatcher (6), Willow Flycatcher, E.
Kingbird (82), E. Phoebe (8), Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow (50+), (most along
Wylie Road in a couple of flocks), A. Crow, (42), Common Raven, Red-breasted
Nuthatch, House Wren, Sedge Wren, E. Bluebird (8), Swainson’s Thrush, Gray
Catbird, Brown Thrasher (14), Loggerhead Shrike (3), (on Wylie Road west of
Bluebird Box 10 – 2 adults and a begging fledgling being fed), Philadelphia
Vireo, Chestnut-sided, Yellow-rumped and Black-and-white Warblers, Ovenbird, N.
Waterthrush and Common Yellowthroat (6), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, E. Towhee,
Chipping Sparrow (16), Field Sparrow (6), Vesper Sparrow (5), Savannah Sparrow
(33), Song Sparrow (78), Grasshopper Sparrow (5), Bobolink (75+) (already in
winter plumage in 2 large and 1 small flock – all along Wylie Road), Purple
Finch and good numbers of N. Flickers, A. Robins, E. Meadowlarks and A.
Goldfinch.
Note:-
9 of the Wilson’s Snipes and all of the Solitary Sandpipers, Killdeer, Lesser
Yellowlegs, the Greater Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper as well as an adult
Virginia Rail with 4 small chicks were well seen at the shallow ponds at the
intersection of Eldon Station Road and Sandringham Road (just southwest of
Kirkfield).
I do recommend that if you visit these ponds that you stay in your vehicle or
park well back as the birds are all within 10 to 50 feet of the road and I
believe they would flush very easily. be sure to park well off the paved part
of the road.
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Directions:-
CARDEN ALVAR INCLUDING WYLIE ROAD / THE SEDGE WREN MARSH / PROSPECT ROAD ALONG
WITH A FEW AREAS SOUTHWEST OF KIRKFIELD
Wylie Road is north of Kirkfield in Victoria County and Kirkfield itself is
on County Road 48 east of Highway 12 and well north of Whitby and about 130 km
from Toronto if you follow the roads and not a Crow.
From the centre of Kirkfield go north on County Road 6 passing under the Lift
Lock on the Trent Canal and drive about 2 ½ km further north to where the road
curves left or west. On this curve and on your right is McNamee Road, turn
right here onto McNamee and drive east for about 300 yards and you will be at
Wylie Road. This road is about 9 ½ km long ending at Alvar Road (a T
intersection). Birding can be good on Alvar Road as well, either way.
The Sedge Wren Marsh is about 5 ½ km up Wylie Road, you can’t miss it as it has
the only bridge along the road. Park just to the south of and overlooking the
bridge and walk the road. Birding is good all along the road and I find that
the best birding happens when you park and walk both ways a km or two from your
auto.
This is a narrow road with little traffic but be sure to park in such a way as
to not block the road or at the gravelled parking areas that you will find at
several places along the road as you don’t want to rile up the locals. This is
all private property but there really is no need to leave the road, nor should
you. Please respect the property rights of the land owners.
Other roads to check in the area are Shrike, Curl’s, Dalrymple, Eldon Station,
Rockview, Doyle, Palestine, Creek View, and McNamee.
PS
Down Rockview Road just west of Kirkfield on your right along County Road 48.
Past the dump road (on your right) you will come to a wet wood lot that
straddles the road. This is a great place for N. Waterthrush. We heard and saw
7 there on May 5/01 and May 4/02. We continue to find the N. Waterthrushes
here. Also along here you should find Upland Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow.
Prospect Road Marsh
Continue south on Rockview Road to Eldon Station Road (the next road) turn
right (west) and drive to Prospect Rd. Turn right (north) and drive up to a
large marsh. Here you could find many Marsh Wrens along with Sora, Virginia
Rail, Common Moorhen, American Bittern, Least Bittern and Green Heron and
watch for Osprey, Northern Harrier and Turkey Vulture. If you continue north on
this road you will come upon another small marsh and pond just short of County
Road 48. Of coarse most of the roads in this and the Wylie Road area can be
very productive and it is not a stretch saying you could spend a whole day in
the area, I have and do.
PPS
Wylie Rd south of the Sedge Wren Marsh is good for Upland Sandpiper, Vesper and
Grasshopper Sparrows and lots of Eastern. Bluebirds. North of the marsh are the
same birds and near the north end of the road watch and listen for Purple
Finch, Golden-winged Warbler and Clay-colored Sparrow.
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