Well, ospreys never cease to amaze me in their selection of nest
locations. Ending an afternoon walk along the Thames River by the Ball
fields at the east end of Windemere Road we were surprised to find a
pair of ospreys constructing a nest atop the 'staduim' lighting
fixture just left of center field. It's a good broad supportive
structure for sure, and the Thames can't be more than 80 yards behind
them. Judging by the little nest material that's in place, the pair
just began building today. It will be interesting as the season kicks
off whether the baseball games, or the intense lighting below the
nest, will cause them to relocate... if the city does not remove the
nest first.
Birding was nill otherwise being mid-afternoon, with 4-5 nashville
warblers, 2 warbling vireos, and 1 hermit thrush to speak of, but a
spotted sandpiper only 15 feet away working the shoreline provided us
the bird of the day. We got our first spotted yesterday (1/05) along
with
Black-throated green warbler and singing winter wren and creepers at
the Westminster Ponds Conservation Area off of Commissioners
Road behind the Tourist Info Center. Plenty of Red-bellied woodpeckers
in this week.
To locate this developing urban osprey nest, take Adelaide Street
north or south to Windemere road and take Windemere to the parking lot
at its' east end. The ball field is on your right.
Good birding to all,
Ethan Huner
Shannon Queen.
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Subject: [Ontbirds]Carder Alvar Sightings.
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I drove Shrike Rd, Wylie Rd and Alvar RRd this morning from 8:00 to 12:00
a.m. It was a cool morning. No Turkey Vultures were up until I was
leaving.
There were lots of Brown Thrashers, Bluebirds, Field Sparrows, & Eastern
Towhees. Saw only 4 Upland Sandpipers but also had an Am Bittern, and two
Northern Water thrush. A female Robin was setting or laying on a nest. A
female bluebird was carrying food. A Loggerhead Shrike was on site at
Bluebird box #10. A pair of Kestrels were perched together about 100 meters
north on the east side of Wylie Rd. I understand that they harassed the
shrikes last year. This looks as if they have moved away a bit. A first
year Red-shouldered Hawk was hunting low in the woods just west of Victoria
Rd and north of Alvar Rd. Last years nest appeared deserted.
P.S. Wylie Rd was graded while I was there!
The roads are found on good maps just north of Kirkfield, ON. From
Kirkfield take county road 6 north to the first bend (left), turn right and
you are immediately at Wylie RD. Be careful if you vehicle has low
clearance!
Bob Hartley
