Hi there. Ian Platt and I just finished our BBS route running west of Strathroy. We had a few good birds. Of primary importance was a singing Dickcissel on Winter, about 500 m west of the intersection with Napier. One of our stops is right beside where a farmer has dumped a pile of what looks like dark soil on the north side of the road. From here look northeast over the crop(winter wheat?) and about 150 metres is a grassy valley with a few hawthorns and a number of other bushes as well as some taller weeds. The bird was singing up on the tall weeds and also on a dead hawthorn. There are bobolinks and other field birds there even though the grassland area is small. It is on private property but you can see and hear the bird from beside the dirt pile. Also as mentioned in the title, we noted a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers, very uncommon in the County. They were investigating telephone poles near the road but also were seen entering the woods nearby. They were near the intersection of Olde Drive and McArthur. Pete Read
Directions. If coming from Strathroy go southwest on Melbourne Road to Calvert Drive at the big curve in the road and go southwest on Calvert, a right turn off Melbourne Road. Several roads southwest take Winter to the west, a right turn. About 500 metres past the intersection with Napier, look for the dirt pile on the north side. If using the 402. Come off at Kerwood Road and head south until you get to Winter, about 7 intersections. Turn right, west, and one road over is Napier. Note. Melbourne Road also comes off the 401 at interchange 157, the Iona Road turnoff and so by going north from there through Melbourne itself, one can come to the area from the south. The woodpeckers are at the intersection of Olde Drive and McArthur which is nearby. McArthur runs southeast off of Calvert between Napier and Kerwood Road intersections with Calvert. Driving south on McArthur watch for Upland Sandpiper in the pasture on the east side south of Walkers Drive but keep going south to the intersection with Olde. Keep a look out in the area of that intersection. Sent from my iPad _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
