Yesterday (Sunday,March 16), I decided to check out the Holland Marsh
area and
vicinity ( from 3pm to 5:30pm). Heading north on Keele St. and across
Hwy.9 I
soon came across 2 small groups of Horned Larks numbering in total
between 12-15.
Continuing north onto Allan Ave. I observed an adult Northern Shrike
fly up from some
farm buildings to the top of the highest tree nearby. I watched him for
about 5 min. and
then tried to get closer. He flew off (north along the road) to the next
set of buildings
and trees. When I got close again he again flew off to the next set of
trees and buildings.
As I approached with the car he finally flew off across the fields
heading west. I continued
heading through the marsh and onto Bathurst St. where I observed a
couple of Juncos
underneath a spruce tree at one house.
I crossed over Yonge St.heading north on Bathurst St. continuing north
of (above) Queensville
Sdrd. Although I observed nothing in the fields there are 2 houses on
the east side of the road
above Queensville Sdrd. each with several bird feeders at the front of
the houses where there
were numerous birds feeding. I pulled over to the side of the road to
observe what birds were
at or coming to the feeders- I even did some pishing- which really drew
in the birds particularly
the BC Chickadees. There were at least 15 to 20 chickadees, 2 Downy
Woodpeckers(male and
female),1 male Hairy Woodpecker, 1 White- breasted Nuthatch, 1 Tree
Sparrow, 2 Cardinals
(1 male 1 female), 3 Blue Jays, numerous Mourning Doves on the ground,
several House Sparrows
as well. What was really noteworthy though was the male Red-bellied
Woodpecker that was at one
of the big feeders when I arrived and then flew to the top of the trunk
of the tree in front of the
house above the feeders. I watched him for half an hr.+ as he gradually
moved to check out several
other nearby larger trees until he finally flew out of my sight into the
nearby woods. This is the furthest
north I have encountered a Red-bellied Woodpecker (and the earliest).
There was also 1 male
Brown- headed Cowbird at the feeders.
On the way home I also went south on Dufferin south of Hwy.9 and also
found the small body of
open water on the east side. There were 3 Trumpeter Swans trumpeting and
several Mallards.
Also saw numerous crows and 1 Red-tailed Hawk on way home.
Other notes for last week: Coming home from work on Friday (beautiful
day) I drove up Leslie St.
and just south of 19th Sdrd. I came across a flock of about 25 Cedar
Waxwings ( No Bohemians)
in the roadside bushes/trees near the farmhouse on the west side of the
road. There were also at
least 4 Robins, several chickadees, 1 Tree Sparrow, 1 Cardinal and 2
Blue Jays nearby and in
the trees in front of the farmhouse.
On Thursday around 7pm I observed my first 2008 Great Blue Heron fly
southeast over our street.
On Wednesday night just after dusk I was stepping out of my inlaws house
on a crescent surrounded
by a ravine and woods (just inside Newmarket) and flushed a very early
A. Woodcock that had parked
itself on the road since that was only snow free. Will he survive????
Good birding,
Sigi Bodach
Aurora, On
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