Forays into Simcoe County for the Baillie Birdahon were enjoyable last week but it was good to get back "home" to see what was around in York region. On Saturday I had at least four CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS and the same amount of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on territory at the Cawthra Mulock reserve in Newmarket. Also had great looks at a LINCOLN'S SPARROW along the hydro cut and encountered two ALDER FLYCATCHERS there. Back on territory and singing heartily was a MOURNING WARBLER - my first of the spring. Bruce Brydon and his Birdathon team stayed within the confines of York on Sunday and tallied 140 species (we had only 121 in Simcoe county this year). Highlights for them included 19 warbler species (including HOODED WARBLER), seven flycatcher species, all of the Ontario vireos except White-eyed, four tern species at Lake Simcoe, SANDHILL CRANES, BALD EAGLES, and WHIP-POOR-WILL in Keswick, and an ORCHARD ORIOLE near Ballantrae (compliments of a tip by Stephen Cluff). Ron Fleming, Newmarket York Region is north of Toronto and south of Lake Simcoe. _______________________________________________ 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/
