A very obliging male Dickcissel greeted me this morning when I arrived on Conc 4 about 11:00 a.m. It was singing from a fence post just north of a red maple, on the east side of the road. Due to the purple sky and the roar of thunder, I waited 10 mins. before I got out my scope.
The bird was very predictable, in that it sang from the fence post, flew east towards the silo and dropped into the grass just below the low ridge. It would then return and sing from the hydro wire on the west side, across from the same fence post. At times, it would fly west towards the fence in front of the barn on the southwest side, dropped into the grass, and then repeat the same routine ten minutes later. I stayed in the same spot, and the bird repeated his circuitous route. I got the impression that it flew toward any other birds that dared to call in his area. He was chasing blackbirds, house sparrows and several other sparrow-like birds. I stayed for two hours, hoping to see a female, but I didn't. The "Peterborough storm" interrupted my viewing several times. I think it also put the bird off, since its singing sessions were sometimes twenty mins. apart. Margaret Bain's directions were spot on, so I will repeat them. However, since I was coming from Toronto, I will add a few other thoughts. BTW, the spot is 72Km from Don Mills and Elglinton Ave. Directions: Uxbridge is north of Ajax and can be reached by Brock Road, Exit 399 from Hwy.401. Brock Road is Durham Region Rd. 1 - go north on it to Hwy.47 which then runs northeast into Uxbridge. Follow Hwy.47 through town to turn left (north) on Main Street (once again Durham Region Rd.1). After 7.5 km, turn left (west) on Ashworth Road, then north on the 4th Conc.Rd. for 2.3km to #11099. I traveled across Mount Albert Rd, at the top of the 404 and Sharon. Eleanor Beagan OFO Membership Secretary [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.ofo.ca [EMAIL PROTECTED]
