Yesterday I birded the Kortright Centre for Conservation. The riparian areas around the Humber River as well as the open field harbor many interesting breeders.
Taking the middle of the three entrances located near "The Sugar Bush Shop". you go through a stand of hardwoods and reach an open meadow. On the big, prominent snag near the end of the meadow, I observed a female *PILEATED WOODPECKER *and along the trail several *CATBIRDS. * Once you go down, past a closed off area, along the Humber river, you will encounter an opening in which you can access the riverbank. The trail at this opening all the way to the beginning of the marsh boardwalk is where at least one pair of *MOURNING WARBLERS *breed. I located a male by using recordings (very sparingly, of course) , which are highly recommended at this time to view this elusive species. Near the start of the boardwalk, watch for the resident *YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS*. I did not see one yesterday but had luck several times in the past. The birds breed somewhere along the river. Once you go through the boardwalk and reach the end, there will be to your left a plastic bin. To your right is a very large willow tree. Somewhere close to this area, a pair of *BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS *are breeding. One can usually see one of the birds on the said willow, I saw both birds in that location yesterday. Also observed yesterday on the willow were *BALTIMORE ORIOLES, YELLOW WARBLERS, AMERICAN REDSTARTS and ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS. In *the field adjacent to the sugar bush shop, one can find, if looked for carefully, a pair of *EASTERN BLUEBIRDS *and their four fledglings. *COMMON YELLOWTHROATS *and *SAVANNAH SPARROWS *often frequent this area also. Pictures can be seen here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2618812366/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2620942341/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/levfrid/2618970696/ *Directions to Kortright:* The Kortright Centre is located three kilometers west of Highway 400 and one kilometer south of Major Mackenzie Drive at 9550 Pine Valley Drive in Woodbridge. Lev Frid, Maple, Ontario _______________________________________________ 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
