I spent a very productive morning with Jeff Skevington at Richmond fen. We arrived at 4:15am to a chorus of about 8 AMERICAN WOODCOCKS (one of which refused to land in the same place after its courtship flight, making it frustrating to locate in the dark). On the way into the fen we heard a variety of birds, including 3 GREAT HORNED OWLS, 1 LONG-EARED OWL, 2 WHIP-POOR-WILL, and a drumming RUFFED GROUSE.
The fen itself became alive once dawn broke. Our sightings included 10+ AMERICAN BITTERNS, 2 GREEN-WINGED TEAL, many SWAMP SPARROWS, a NORTHERN HARRIER in a courtship display, and according to Jeff's count approximately 5,250 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS. This species is not known to breed in this location, so it may be a stopover along their migration route. It was not until about an hour after sunrise that we saw/heard our first RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. Leaving the fen we encountered at least 6 VIRGINIA RAILS, 20+ NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES, 3 SOLITARY SANDPIPERS, 2 BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLERS, 3+ NASHVILLE WARBLERS, and singles of GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and PALM WARBLER. Just off of Kettles Road we had a single BROWN THRASHER, and further along Munster Road we had an unusually early MARSH WREN. A PIED-BILLED GREBE could also be heard somewhere in the distance. Returning on Franktown Road we found 2 UPLAND SANDPIPERS in their usual locations. At least 2 FIELD SPARROWS and several SAVANNAH SPARROWS added to the mix. Another male NORTHERN HARRIER was also combing the fields for a snack. At this point Jeff went to work and I headed to Chaffeys Locks. There I located two YELLOW-THROATED VIREOS almost immediately; they were very vocal near the beginning of the trails across from the Skycroft Campgrounds. I later found a single BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER and a very bold and very vocal WINTER WREN that posed for quite awhile for photos. PINE, BLACK-AND-WHITE and BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLERS were present, as we two BELTED KINGFISHERS, an EASTERN KINGBIRD, and a CHIPPING SPARROW. Good birding! Pat DIRECTIONS: Richmond Fen: Follow Fallowfield Drive west, turning left onto Munster Road. Follow Munster Road to the end, turning left onto Kettles Road. Park at the "Marlborough Forest" sign and head out to the fen on foot, following the railway for about 2 kilometers. Be aware that the railway is active and trains can come up on your very quickly without making much noise. Expect mosquitoes in copious amounts once the weather warms up some more. Chaffeys Locks: Follow Hwy 15 south past Portland, turning right onto Chaffeys Lock Road. Follow this road beyond the locks, where it becomes Opinicon Road, and continue to the Skycroft Campground. Anywhere along the roadside is fair game for the species mentioned. _________________________________________________________________ Experience all of the new features, and Reconnect with your life. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9650730_______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
