Kevin Shackleton, Robin Lawson and I led a field trip to the Carden Alvar for the West Humber Naturalists (based in Kleinburg) today. Contrary to forecasts of rain and thunderstorms the early morning cloud cover gave way to superb weather as the day unfolded. We had great views of the "Carden specialties" including a Loggerhead Shrike northeast of nest box 3, Upland Sandpipers, Eastern Bluebirds, Clay-colored, Grasshopper and Vesper Sparrows, a trio of Northern Ravens (being dive-bombed by Baltimore Orioles and Eastern Kingbirds), American Bittern, Virginia Rail, a Brown Thrasher feasting on puddle-visiting skippers, and - as our dearly departed Keith Dunn would have said - "crippling" (i.e. spectacular) looks at a Sedge Wren. We also had Golden-winged Warbler, Marsh Wren, Alder Flycatcher, Wilson's Snipe, Alder Flycatcher and loads of butterflies. We had a good fortune socially too, crossing paths with John Stewart, Doug Lockrey, Fred Bodsworth (a thrill for several of us who loved Last of the Curlews) and their Pickering-area group. We shared anecdotes, birding tips, and some good laughs together before parting ways. Also met a foursome of young bucks doing the Carden Challenge - they were lots of fun to chat with and it was nice to catch a glimpse of the future of birding as they ventured off to far horizons with their spirits high and binos loaded for listing. Along Prospect Road we added Sora, BW Teal, and another American Bittern. A great day out in a great birding area! Would love to have stayed out late to try for the Chuck Will's Widow that Dan Bone and his team found yesterday evening but there were dogs to walk, burgers to flip, and lawns to cut. 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/
