Despite the heat, the bugs and the early starting time, about 20 birders showed up to explore some of 10,000 hectare Larose Forest, maintained by the united counties of Prescott-Russell.
We entered the forest from the west on Clarence-Cambridge Road and then turned left (north) and traveled 1.7 km along Indian Creek road (note that it is called Grant road on the south side of Clarence-Cambridge Road). Here a few of us managed to hear the Olive-sided Flycatcher that was found the previous Monday. We traveled south again and among the many birds heard, we managed to get pretty good views of Mourning Warbler, Indigo Bunting and Chestnut-sided Warbler. We returned to Clarence-Cambridge Road and continued east, racking up the warbler species, including two Canada Warblers near the intersection with Bertrand Road (formerly Neuf-mile Road). Other highlights along this stretch included a Fisher and a two Evening Grosbeaks that seemed to like the shade under one of the cars in our group. We turned south onto Bertrand Road and were able locate a number of the Cape May Warblers that breed in the Black Spruce along this road. One male was observed carrying food on a couple of occasions. It was getting hot, so we gave the Olive-sided Flycatcher another try. No luck, but the leader did here a few Red Crossbills (giving the sweeter call), flying overhead. The heat definitely had an impact on the level of song, but despite this we had close to 50 species. In the end, we were able to locate 15 of the 17 species of warbler that breed in the forest, and actually saw eight of these species. Reported by Bernie Ladouceur _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
