Hello other birders Today Sunday April 27, 2003 stan Bajurny and I stopped off at the Carden Alvar near Kirkfield on our way home after one of the most productive trips to Algonquin Prov. Park that I have been on. More about that later.
We like others that visited the Alvar saw the Loggerhead Shrikes, Upland Sandpipers, Bluebirds, etc but we also added a couple of Rails. I was ready to call it a day and not wait 3 hours until dusk but Stan said lets just walk down to the "Sedge Wren Marsh" and check for Rails anyway. As we walked along towards the bridge and I was bitching about something Stan said there it is and to my complete surprise the ticking of a Yellow Rail was happening. This Rail called (ticked) intensely from 5:27pm for about 3 solid minutes and after that (I think it became aware of us) quite often from 5:30pm to just after 6pm at which time we left Don Barnett on the bridge and headed home. While standing on the bridge we also heard a Sora calling. The Yellow rail was on the west side of the marsh just a hair north of the bridge and seemed to be about 25 yards out. WYLIE RD / SEDGE WREN MARSH 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 (Rough-winged Swallows there today) 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 Rd, 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 Rd (a T intersection). Birding can be good on this 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 2 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 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 and Do Not Park On The Bridge. Norm Murr "Norm Murr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving and joining the list. As well as general information and content guidelines.
