For those of you interested in the Painted Bunting, a group of us went down early this morning to see the Painted Bunting. Patiently we waited just over 3 hours and low and behold at 10:00 a.m. it showed up for about 4 minutes at the feeder. At 7:00 a.m. a large Cooper's Hawk flew right past the feeder putting all the birds up from the feeder and the surrounding trees. We suspect that the Painted Bunting was roosting in the maple tree across the road from the feeder at this time and was spooked. The Bunting came out of that tree to the feeder and went back into the same maple across the street from the feeder. There is a large dog tied up and barking at this maple hence the reason we did not search the tree at great lengths.
Cheers, Cheryl Edgecombe Painted Bunting courtesy Ron Ridout: Directions to the Hidden Valley campground are: Highway 24 south through Simcoe, bearing west around the curve at Young's Creek. Travel west on 24 to Regional Rd. 10. Turn south (left from the east, right from the west) towards Turkey Pt. Travel south past 2 concessions and the entrance to Turkey Pt Provincial Park (on the left). Just south of the entrance to the provincial park, turn east (left) on the Front Rd. (I don't think it is signed but I believe there is a sign pointing left to Normandale). Travel 2.2 kms. east as the Front Rd winds through the forest and then down the hill into Normandale. Near the bottom of the hill you will come to Moles Road on the north (left) side that bears diagonally back to the northwest. Turn left on this road and travel to the second driveway on the right (200 metres). This is the well signed entrance to the Hidden Valley campground. Drive down this long driveway to the main office and park in the parking area on the left side of the office. Remember to check in at the office and pay the parking fee. To the left of the office and public parking is the main driveway into the campground itself. After leaving the office, walk around the yellow traffic gate. Walking up this driveway, you will come almost immediately to a brown washroom building on the right. Just past this building, the driveway splits. Bearing right at this split, the bird is coming to the hanging feeder at the first trailer on the right past the washrooms. These feeders are best viewed from the vicintiy of the washrooms.
