The Carden Alvar is southern Ontario's birding hotspot in late spring
and early summer for grassland and scrubland specialties. Today, 44
OFO birders tallied a respectable 84 species in ideal weather (no
rain, light breeze, no bugs) with pleasant temperatures. Best birds
were a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes behind bluebird box 10, several
Upland Sandpipers, Sedge Wrens, six Grasshopper Sparrows, but only
one Vesper Sparrow, singing Alder and Willow Flycatchers, and a
singing Golden-winged Warbler. The alvar meadows along Wylie Road
were colourful with Prairie Smoke, Balsam Ragwort, Indian Paintbrush
and Field Chickweed. We lunched at the Kirkfield Lift Lock. After
lunch we birded the wetlands along Prospect Road where we had a pair
of Green Herons, Marsh Wrens, Virginia Rail, Sora (a rail) and a
Common Moorhen (also a rail), and a Clay-colored Sparrow.
Mammals: The group saw a close Porcupine in a tree along Wylie Road
spotted by Jen Lyon. As I was putting together this post, Bob Healey
emailed me to say that, "Shortly after leaving the OFO outing to the
Carden Alvar today, a large Black Bear crossed the road. It was quite
large and in excellent condition with a thick, black, glossy coat."
I thank co-leaders Ron Tozer and Jean Iron whose presence always
guarantees that OFO field trips are a big success. Ron and I led our
first OFO trip to the Carden Alvar in June 1991.
Directions: Carden Alvar birding guide and map
http://www.ofo.ca/CardenAlvar/
Carden photos
http://www.jeaniron.ca/2007/cardenalvar.htm
Ron Pittaway
Ontario Field Ornithologists
Minden and Toronto ON
