Hey there,
Ian Platt and I have just returned from a successful Breeding Bird Survey between Strathroy and Glencoe. Among the many common nesting species that we had out there we found two Western Meadowlark, a N. Mockingbird and a Clay-colored Sparrow. Only one Upland Sandpiper this year on the route. Also a number of Grasshopper Sparrow in the usual spots. Directions. In general this area we cover is west of Strathroy. Access from Highway 402, is south at the Kerwood exit, number 56. go south till Calvert and head west to McArthur (first road going south) or Napier (first road going north) depending on which species you want as below. >From London, either take that or come out Oxford St. until it becomes Glendon Drive at Kilworth. Keep heading on that drive, which is Cty Rd 14, through Komoka and Mt. Brydges until you get to McArthur and then head north. The Western Meadowlarks were about a mile apart, on McArthur Drive, one bird north and one south of Inadale. The southerly one was singing in a field that had been recently mowed. The northerly one was in a large field with cattle ranging, south of a power line. Could they be the same bird? Only if the one flew a mile after we heard it singing in the south location, which I guess is possible but may be as unlikely as finding two WEME. We were amazed that the mockingbird was so out there, in the countryside, not really attached to any structures except a field windmill. It was north of Walker along McArthur, about halfway to Calvert Dr. It had a huge repertoire of songs of the birds in the area. It did a great Cardinal, Robin, Kingbird, Catbird mew, oriole, and even bluebird, all species in the area.There were at least two singing Grasshopper Sparrows in that field. Others are in the grasslands near there. The Upland Sandpiper was in a grazed field between Scotchmere and Walker, also along McArthur. Note that Stuart Immonen had a couple of Upland Sandpipers off Calvert, a half km or so to the east of the intersection of McArthur and Calvert. (triangle field in corner of Kerwood and Winter) McArthur seemed to be great for us. (I shall return, there fer sure) Incidentally, as we went along McArthur, we had a Northern Bobwhite, which made us perk up almost every part of our bodies.but turned out someone had caged birds.shoot. Finally, the Clay-colored was in a grassy field with lots of small evergreens about halfway along Napier between Calvert and Winter. There were one or two Grasshopper Sparrows there too. Amazingly all these birds were very near our stops along the BBS. So I have gps co-ordinates for the area. Remember these are only reference numbers that are within say 300-400 m of the spots where the birds are. Western Meadowlark (south) 4441466 4730324 was in the cut field on the west side Western Meadowlark (north) 440823 474096 was in the field with the cows on the west side N. Mockingbird 438818 4743034 was on the west side near the windmill Clay-colored Sparrow 437302 4743954 will be south of that point in field on east side with evergreens Upland Sandpiper (ours) 440325 4741478 will be on east side in field perhaps near the small field pond (bring your scope) Good birding, Pete Read And for Ian Platt _______________________________________________ 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/
