In response to a few queries regarding birds in York Region, here is an update:
HOLLAND LANDING - Shorebird numbers at the lagoons have dropped off sharply
through September, but sightings of Ruff elsewhere in the province prompted me
to check today. Unfortunately, the only "ruff' involved was the finding of
birds. The usually productive 2nd cell has high water levels at this point and
held no shorebirds whatsoever while the 4th cell, almost completely devoid of
water now, held only 20 shorebirds. These were: PECTORAL SANDPIPER (5),
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (1 juv.), LSR. YELLOWLEGS (6 juv.), LEAST SANDPIPER (5),
KILLDEER (3).
The most interesting birds present at HL today were 15 AMERICAN PIPITS, all
bobbing their tails and shining tawnily in the 4th lagoon. In the 3rd cell
there are still about 50 Bonaparte's Gulls lingering, today accompanied by
almost as many Ring-bills. There were also two PIED-BILLED GREBES in the this
lagoon, plus three NORTHERN SHOVELERS and at least 35 WOOD DUCKS in various
stages of molt. Some of the male Woodies are back into the striking alternate
plumage loved by photographers, but most are only sporting white chin straps
while the females are showing their white eye dots. There are still 100+ Teal
lingering at the lagoons, all of them looking very non-descript in their basic
plumage. Numerous nervous flights reveal mosts of them (i.e. 70%) to be
Blue-wings.
KESWICK AREA - The "best" shorebird seen recently in York was a single
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE observed by Irving Himel Saturday morning in one of three
small ponds that sit on the east side of Varney Road north of Keswick. I looked
for it Sunday to no avail.
Cook's Bay held scores of Caspian Terns, at least three Greater Black-backed
Gulls, and over 1,000 DC Cormorants.
NEWMARKET - On Saturday, Mike Van den Tillaart had two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS at
the Cawthra Mulock Reserve west of Bathurst, then on Sunday he observed several
migrant passerines along the Holland River Trail including RB GROSBEAK and
PURPLE FINCH.
KING CITY - The wooded northern part of the Seneca College property (between
Dufferin and Keele Streets just north of King City proper) held several migrant
passerines on Sunday, especially along the main trail that runs east-west on
the northern property line. Best of these was a CANADA WARBLER (among 8
warbler species), three vireo sp. (Blue-headed, Red-eyed and a bright
Philadelphia), two Brown Creepers, and two Swainson's Thrushes.
(Many thanx to the couple I met who alerted me to the mini-wave along that
Oak Ridges trail.) Also present was a juvenile COOPER'S HAWK that did several
slow circles to allow excellent views near the beautiful Eaton chateau, and a
rich brown female (or juvenile) NORTHERN HARRIER struggling with a large kill
(muskrat? rabbit?) along the north shore of the lake.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
York Region is directly north of Toronto and on the south side of Lake
Simcoe. Because there are several locations listed here, please e-mail me
privately if you require specific directions.
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