There was a very good variety of spring migrants at the Cawthra Mulock Reserve in NW Newmarket Saturday morning including 17 warbler species. Notable in the latter group were BLUE-WINGED (1), BLACKBURNIAN (8 or more), NORTHERN PARULA (4 or 5!), and a TENNESSEE. I also had a pair of BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, two "singing" CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS, a pair of EASTERN BLUEBIRDS, three RUFOUS-SIDED TOWHEES, two RUFFED GROUSE drumming, and a single SCARLET TANAGER. Returning today in much nicer weather the birding was good but not nearly as busy as yesterday. Last night's clear weather seems to have prompted many of Saturday's visitors to take advantage of the favourable conditions and depart for points north. The good news is that several local nesters are back on territory throughout the reserve: there were four CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS singing today, three BLACK-BILLED CUCKOOS, two WILD TURKEYS, at least two BROWN THRASHERS, at least one GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (thanks, Bruce Brydon), a WILLOW FLYCATCHER, and a PILEATED WOODPECKER. There are also numerous Bobolinks, Kingbirds, RB Grosbeaks, Great Crested Flycatchers, Nashville Warblers, Field Sparrows, and Baltimore Orioles. Today I found my first Indigo Buntings too. My two visits to the reserve this weekend yielded 72 species. Unfortunately access to the reserve will be compromised over the next month or so as the main house (once owned by Mr. Cawthra Mulock and his family) is being torn down! This will affect access from Bathurst Street but there is a second entrance on Dufferin Avenue. Turn north onto Dufferin from Hwy. 9/ Davis Drive and proceed about 3 kms to Miller Sdrd. (It runs east-west, coming to a T-intersection at Dufferin.) Drive past Miller Sdrd. approx. 1.5 kms and you will see a small, fenced parking area on the east side of the road. Park here and walk east through the wet meadow. When you get to the hydro lines, turn south and start listening for the dry "buzz-buzz" of Clay-colored Sparrows, as well as the "RITZ-bew" of Willow Flycatchers (yes, I think they say Ritz rather than Fitz, but that could be a desire for crackers). The main part of the reserve is directly east of the power lines (which run fairly much north-south through the property). Turn left (east) when you get to the open field on the south side of the hydro line path. Listen for Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Meadowlarks and other field species along the way. Once you get to the square silo, start birding in earnest. You can hike north on a trail that takes you down into the main creek valley and up the other side or turn east along the old maple laneway and beyond. It's a very nice place to visit! If you go, let me know how you fare. Ron Fleming, Newmarket _______________________________________________ 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/
