Good Afternoon This morning Ian Cannell and I did an early morning drive down to Campbellville to hopefully find the Prairie Warbler and in this quest we were successful. We arrived at the right tower early (before 7am ) but did not know we had as the tower had the number N580M on it and the angle we approached the tower from blocked the view of the ladder and the seat. We then went on to the next tower but found no number or ladder there at all. Back tracking to the previous tower we decided to try that area anyway and Ian walked to the tower and spotted the ladder and tree. So we were right the first time. We were lucky enough to spot and watch the Prairie Warbler within 5 minutes.
We then continued birding and on the way back to the car we did find some nice birds including Pileated Woodpecker, Ruffed Grouse, E. Kingbirds, E. Phoebe, E. Wood-Pewees, House Wrens, Gray Catbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Indigo Buntings, Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Wood Thrushes, Veerys, R-T Hummingbird, Yellow, Prairie, 7 Blue-winged, ( + 2 Brewster's ), 7 Mourning, Pine, Chestnut-sided and Magnolia Warblers, A. Redstarts, Ovenbird, E. Towhees, Song, Chipping and Field Sparrows, Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireos, many Baltimore Orioles and Cedar Waxwings, and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. One more good thing was that the mosquitos were not a big problem but that was today. If you go, go with the thought that they may be a problem. CURRIE TRACT Exit Hwy 401 at Guelph Line ( Exit 312 ) ( at Campbellville ) and drive north just past the second entrance into the Mohawk Raceway and you will see a small road on your right, turn in here and you will come to a small parking lot about 200 yards from the entrance. This is the start of the trail system. PRAIRIE WARBLER DIRECTIONS per Frank Pinilla Walk in along the main gated trail and follow this for a while (1km??), it will take you under the hydro wires where there is a small wet area and stream, follow the trail part way up the hill just passed this and take the trail to the right which takes you back over to the hydro line. Follow this "hydro trail" that you've just joined, it takes you under the wires 3 times before you begin paralleling the hydro lines on the south side (700m - 1km). Along this stretch you will see the sign Hugh referred to (Green rectangle with white squiggles), stay on the main path. i.e. straight, then about 200m beyond there will be a clearing on the north/left side, there are a couple of small "trails" through the grass here (I first heard the Prairie and a Blue-winged from the trail here), head north to the line of Sumachs and cross through them, this is the aforementioned Hydro Tower N580M ( not N480M ), ( a good tip that lets you know that you are in the right place ) and the white chair with ladder (deer-hunting stand??). Finally, you are at the spot! Norm Murr Richmond Hill, ON "Sils mordent, mords les" _______________________________________________ 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/
