Today Ian Cannell and I did some Durham birding and though it was not as exciting as the storm birds it was still interesting.
Reesor Pond – Cackling and a white phase Snow Goose. Donald Cousens Pkwy and 16th Ave in Markham – 1 white phase Snow Goose in field with Canada Geese. Thickson Woods 50+ Pine Siskins, 12 White-winged Crossbills, N. Mockingbird, 5 Fox Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, Merlin, 2 Northern Goshawks. Cranberry Marsh – 1 Northern Shrike along Halls Rd S –-- Marsh area – 1 White-fronted Goose, 11 other waterfowl species, 2 Northern Goshawks (including 1 adult flying west), 1 Golden Eagle, Common Redpolls, Pine Siskins and 5 Fox Sparrows. There were other raptors flying past at Cranberry Marsh that I imagine the hawk watch people will post later, mostly Red-tailed Hawks and Harriers. Directions:- REESOR POND Reesor Pond is on the northwest corner of Reesor Road and Hwy 407 in Markham. It is bounded by Reesor road on the east, Donald Cousins Parkway ( formerly Markham By-Pass ) on the west, Hwy 407 on the south and Hwy 7 on the north. Exit Hwy 407 at Exit number 96 ( go north ) on Donald Cousins Parkway and you will see the pond on the north side of the highway beside Donald Cousins Parkway. Your best bet is to drive up ( north on ) Donald Cousins Parkway to Hwy 7. Turn right ( east ) on Hwy 7 and drive the very short distance to Ressor Road. Turn right ( south ) on Reesor Road and drive down to the gate on your right and park here ( do not block gate ). THICKSON WOODS IN WHITBY If driving east from Toronto on Hwy 401 then exit at Thickson Road (Exit 412) and turn right (south). Drive along Thickson Road S across Victoria Street E. and Wentworth Street W to the end of the road and at the Waterfront Trail (right side of the road) is a small parking lot. Park there and you could either bird down Corbett Ave. to the lake or you could walk the short distance back up (north) on Thickson Road S (140 meters / 150 yards) to the eastern section of the Waterfront Trail (yellow gate). You can bird your way down to the entrance to Thickson Woods, the entrance to the woods is on the south side of the trail and the entrance to the meadow is on the opposite side or you can bird further down the road to the creek and then return to the wood’s entrance. Be sure to put any valuables out of site or in your trunk. CRANBERRY MARSH IN WHITBY If driving east from Toronto on Hwy 401 then exit at Brock Street (Exit 410), drive south on Brock Street South, cross the bridge over the railway tracks and drive to Victoria Street West, turn right, west on Victoria Street west and drive past the marsh to Halls Road South and turn left, south here and drive to the marked trails that go to the viewing platforms on the west side of the marsh. There are two platforms here (one at the northwest corner of the marsh and one at the southwest corner of the marsh - this is the hawk watching area in the fall). You can also access the lake at the end of this road and from the south platform trail. The Hawk viewing area is at the south western platform at the south end of Halls Road. There is a parking area there at the start of the trail. Norm Murr 303-48 Laverock Ave. Richmond Hill, Ontario L4C 4J5 _______________________________________________ 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/
