Good evening birders
Today Naish McHugh picked me up in Richmond Hill and we motored up to the
Kirkfield area to see what we could see.. All in all we had a very nice day
up there with a total of 78 species seen. Not a big day but a day of nice
birds and birding.
The first real stop up there was at the marshes along Prospect Rd north of
Eldon Station Rd. Here we found (or they found us) 4 Virginia Rails (6 feet
away) a Sora, display flying Snipe plus Snipe sitting on fence posts not 10
feet away, and several Marsh Wrens.
We then continued on to Wylie Rd and the Sedge Wren Marsh. Along the road
and at the marsh we found A. Bitterns, Upland Sandpipers(in the fields and
posing on fence posts), Sedge Wrens, E. Bluebirds, Loggerhead Shrike
(opposite Bluebird Box 10), singing Golden-winged Warbler, N. Waterthrush
and 7 more Warbler species, Scarlet Tanager, Clay-colored Sparrow, Vesper
Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow and 6 more Sparrow species as well as the usual
more common species for this area.
Also found in the general area were Black Tern, Yellow-bellied sapsucker,
singing Veery and Hermit Thrushes, and a pair of Osprey at a nest that
contained 2 chicks and a female Wood Duck being trailed by 16 tiny
ducklings.
Another nice sighting was Don Burton and his wife who we kept meeting all
along the above areas and I had the privilege to bird with him at several
spots. Good to see you Don.
It was a great day to be out birding and now that I have finally retired I
hope to have many more great days out there.
See you all out there more often I hope.
Norm Murr
Richmond Hill, ON
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Directions
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 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.
Norm Murr
PS
You may also want to drive down Rockview Rd just west of Kirkfield on your
right along County Rd 48. Past the dump road (on your right) you will come
to a wet wood lot that straddles the road. This is a great place for N.
Waterthrush. We heard and saw 7 there on May 5/01 and May 4/02. Also along
here you should find Upland Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow.
Continue south to Eldon Station Rd (the next road) turn right (west) and
drive to Prospect Rd. Turn right (north) and drive up to a large marsh. Here
you should find many Marsh Wrens along with Sora and Virginia Rail, A.
Bittern and Green Heron and watch for Osprey, N. Harrier and T. Vulture. If
you continue north on this road you will come upon another small marsh and
pond just short of County Rd 48. Of coarse most of the roads in this and the
Wylie Rd area can be very productive and it is not a stretch saying you
could spend a whole day in the area, I have.
PPS
Wylie Rd south of the Sedge Wren Marsh is good for Upland Sandpiper, Vesper
and Grasshopper Sparrow and lots of E. Bluebirds. North of the marsh are the
same birds and near the north end of the road watch and listen for
Golden-winged Warbler and Clay-colored Sparrow.
NM
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