Good morning Ontbirders Yesterday, Sat. Oct. 4, 2003 Stan Bajurny and I made one of our frequent trips South of Hamilton and on the way we stopped at Cootes Paradise and were rewarded for the second weekend in a row with Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows. Between us we saw 3 of the sparrows yesterday. Also of note were an American Bittern, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin, 6 Cliff swallows flying west and the usual Marsh Wrens and Swamp sparrows. The same area last weekend produced 2 Sedge Wrens and 5 species of Woodpecker along with a good mix of Waterfowl and Passerines.
From here it was on to Long Point area and driving down Hwy 6 between Caledonia and Hagersville we counted 20 Turkey Vultures and at a pond along 14th Concession Rd west of Townsend/Jarvis we saw 53 Canada Geese and as most of them lifted off we found a Richardson's Goose with them. (A little aside:- last Sunday, Sept. 28 at Townsend sewage lagoons, on 14th Concession Rd were between 7 and 8,000 Tree Swallows, they looked like gnats when they all rose above the horizon). We next stopped at the Inner Bay overlook in Port Rowan and counted 22 Pied-billed Grebes and 47 Tree Swallows. Next stop was Big Creek Marsh and from the viewing platform at the very start of the marsh trail we saw 3 Sandhill Cranes and passing overhead in migration were 167 Turkey Vultures, some of them (it seemed) within touching distance above us. Now it was on to Old Cut Woods and here we found 18 N. Flickers, 30+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, both Kinglets various other Passerines, 7 more Turkey Vultures, and 1 adult Clay-colored Sparrow. We continued our walk through Old Cut Woods and on into Long Point Provincial Park and then we found the mother lode. Some of the highlights are as follows. Northern Pintail overhead and flying in from out on Long Point we spotted 5 Snow Geese low overhead (4 White and 1 Blue Phase) and they were beautiful in the sun, 1 Bald eagle, 68 more Turkey Vultures, a close encounter with a N. Goshawk, 1 Peregrine Falcon, W. Snipe, 2 Caspian T erns, 1 juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker, 42 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 108 N. Flickers (we probably undercounted the previous 2 birds), a big surprise was a good look at a Least Flycatcher, 4 E. Phoebes, 2 Brown Creepers, Winter Wrens, 2 House Wrens, 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, 2 Orange-crowned Warblers, 200+ Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1 Ovenbird (total of 10 Warbler species), 8 Sparrow species including 7 D.-E. Juncos and another adult Clay-colored Sparrow. White-throated Sparrows were common in the underbrush and mixed in with them were White-crowned Sparrows and both Kinglets were common. We had a total of 82 species without shorebirds and a low number of Duck species. Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON [EMAIL PROTECTED] DIRECTIONS:- COOTES PARADISE IN DUNDAS >From Toronto drive west on the QEW until you come to the Y intersection in Burlington of the QEW and Hwy 403. Take Hwy 403 to the Main Street exit in Hamilton and drive right to Main Street West. Turn left on Main Street and drive past the McMaster University Medical Centre to Cootes Drive on the right. Drive down Cootes Drive to the bottom of the hill where the road crosses a small bridge, continue on to York Rd (the 1st lights), turn around here and drive back towards the bridge and park just short of this bridge. The beginning of the trail is across Cootes Drive This is an extensive marsh and there are several trails. If you cross the small bridge just down the trail and go to your left after crossing this same small bridge you will come to a disused viewing tower. Go straight ahead and look for the Sparrows out in the marsh grasses ahead. BIG CREEK MARSH Big Creek Marsh at Long Point is southwest of Hamilton, directly south of Port Rowan. To reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of town) turn left, south on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 8 km and past the golf coarse and you will be on the causeway. Drive on across the bridge and continue along the road until you see a graveled parking lot on your right. Park here and go up onto the dyke and the marsh is right in front of you. A viewing platform is to your left and if the gate on your right is open then you may want to walk the whole loop watching and listening. If this gate is closed then do not, I repeat do not go over or around it as you will be seen and fined ($100.00 +) the wildlife people take any trespassing very serious and you can be seen from their offices. The closure is for the good of the waterfowl. There is no hunting involved. Of course you will notice a brand new viewing platform right in front of the parking area and this gives a good overview of the marsh and you may choose to go no further. OLD CUT WOODS AT LONG POINT Old Cut Woods at Long Point is southwest of Hamilton, directly south of Port Rowan. To reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of town) turn left, south on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 8 km and past the golf coarse and you will be on the causeway. Drive on across the bridge and continue past the marina on your left. The road comes to Lake Erie where it curves to the left through the cottage / retail business area. Continue driving until you come to Old Cut Road. Turn left and drive a couple of hundred yards down this road (you will see the entrance to the banding area on your right) this is the entrance to Old Cut Woods. Drive another 100 feet or so and you will see a parking area on your left. Park here and walk across the road to the woods. OLD CUT WOODS AT LONG POINT Old Cut Woods at Long Point is southwest of Hamilton, directly south of Port Rowan. To reach it you can drive south on Hwy 6 from Hamilton, passing through Hagersville and turning right, west in Jarvis onto Hwy 3, drive to Simcoe and turn left, south on Hwy 24 and follow this to Hwy 59, ( it curves to the west south of town) turn left, south on Hwy 59 and drive right down about 8 km and past the golf coarse and you will be on the causeway. Drive on across the bridge and continue past the marina on your left. The road comes to Lake Erie where it curves to the left through the cottage / retail business area. Continue driving until you come to Old Cut Road. Turn left and drive a couple of hundred yards down this road (you will see the entrance to the banding area on your right) this is the entrance to Old Cut Woods. Drive another 100 feet or so and you will see a parking area on your left. Park here and walk across the road to the woods. NOTE: Be sure to lock your car and put your valuables out of sight at all of the above locations. "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.
