I spent the evening at the Jack Pine Trail, hoping to get another chance to photograph the sora that has been hanging around there recently. No such luck tonight, but there were plenty of other surprises there. Near the middle boardwalk (with the benches) was a single OVENBIRD that hung around for a few minutes before disappearing into the forest. A load of juvenile BLUE JAYS were harassing a single adult for food. EASTERN WOOD-PEWEES were very vocal; I counted at least seven different birds before losing count of the calls. There were about five SPOTTED SANDPIPERS and at least eight GREATER YELLOWLEGS were busy foraging between different parts of the marsh.
BLUE-WINGED TEALS have taken over the marsh. There were foraging groups of up to six individuals, males and females and juveniles, all mixed together. They are easy to ID due to their smaller size and black beaks. Two female HOODED MERGANSERS were also present. The big surprise of the day were two adult COMMON MOORHENS with a single juvenile in tow. They were well hidden just on the edge of the reeds on the north end of the first pond with the "L" shaped boardwalk (follow the path from the right side of the parking lot). Only the juvenile was actively feeding while the adults groomed and looked on. After about fifteen minutes of observation, the moorhens moved on into the reeds and I lost sight of them. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS (courtesy NeilyWorld): From Highway 416 take exit 72 (West Hunt Club Road). If southbound, a 0.4 km offramp dumps onto West Hunt Club Road, where you will turn right or southwest. If northbound, the 0.2 km offramp brings you to Cedarview Road, where you will turn right or SSE onto it and in 0.2 km come to West Hunt Club Road. Turn right or southwest onto it and in 0.4 km join the southbound traffic. Both groups will now follow West Hunt Club southwest for an additional 2.1 km to reach Moodie Drive. Turn left or SSE onto it and drive 1.4 km to reach a parking area on the left for the Jack Pine Trail. _________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________ 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
