Hi there, My apologies for our tardy notes today, and the again slightly incorrect directions. See below for corrections.
As Sue mentioned, we were the only ones unwary enough to go up for yesterday morning. We missed the storm to get there Friday night and had no problems on Saturday with the weather up there, other than the minus 28 degrees. We stayed in the car while we watched the feeders,which is a good idea anyway, since the feeders are close to the road, and a dog and people going by did cause the birds to scoot at times. We had it a bit slow getting home to London, but not bad. Roads up there range from clear to snow-covered. Drive with care. We saw a few northern specialties, as we drove along.(eg. Raven, gray jay) We even got one Great Gray Owl over near Orillia, hunting during the windy snow, about 3pm. There was no sign of the owners of the home, by the time we left at about 10 am. We had lingered a bit to talk with them, drool over the bird, and let the next birders in on what was going on. But our drool was freezing to our lips and the other things didn't happen, so off we went. But as Bob said, offerings of seeds to the Somersets probably would be good. Although the Pine Grosbeaks and Rosy Finch seemed to be eating sunflower, other birds are there, so bringing up mixed or sunflower would be good. The Rosy Finch seemed to come in with a fairly large group of Pine Grosbeaks each time it appeared. It was completely hidden inside the hanging feeder when we first got there, and yet also fed on the ground. Watch for that large flock of Pine Grosbeaks. I should mention, that besides the things mentioned that were coming to the feeders, there is a very winter weary Savannah Sparrow there. It spent most of its time on the vines under the far right window, right against the house wall(as you face the house) Only once did it come down to feed on the ground under the feeder. Sorry for the confusion with our posting yesterday. While most people going for the bird today will have already left, we would like to amend the corrections that we had given, so that birders leaving later today will have easier access. Yesterday, we were up at the bird, and after a little searching with the incorrect instructions, and tried to phone back to give better ones. Actually Bob Curry had the second set correct, but we hadn't seen his corrections. (The problem originated with Map-art, 2002 version, where it indicates the streets exist where they don't. Probably used aerial photos which show fire roads, logging roads, which aren't streets.) I hope these ones are good. When arriving at Sudbury, coming north on highway 69, take the "new" Trans-Canada Highway 17 Bypass west. >From the Trans-Canada Highway 17 west of Sudbury, just past the Lively turn-off, take Highway 144 north to Chelmsford. Continue through lights (at highway 35) north on County Road 15 and follow it past a big curve until you get to Montee Principale, in a small cluster of homes. Turn left at intersection with Montee Principale and follow to the end, where it curves off to right onto Seguin. The feeders are at the first house, number 374. Name on beautiful mailbox is Somerset.
