Hello all, In my failed attempt to see the Pacific Loon, I ended up going to Second Marsh to try and find it, and do some other birding as well.
I did not see the loon, but as I was walking west on the beach, several BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES, perhaps 15, appeared over the water and landed on shore. I heard the distinctive nasally vocalization of a BOREAL CHICKADEE, but thought I was slipping into insanity from being in Algonquin for too long (wouldn't put it past myself), but as I looked deeper into this little flock, there it was - in all it's brown-capped, chestnut-sided glory. I watched it for about 15 seconds before the flock began rapidly moving westwards along the beach. In Second Marsh itself was a great diversity of waterfowl - 2 SNOW GOOSE (1 White, 1 Blue) - Thanks Josh! NORTHERN PINTAIL NORTHERN SHOVELER GADWALL AM. BLACK DUCK GREEN-WINGED TEAL WOOD DUCK MALLARD HOODED MERGANSER RUDDY DUCK AMERICAN WIGEON and several AMERICAN COOTS. FOX SPARROWS were in flocks of TREE and SONG SPARROWS as well. I did not see the loon (though I did see the Red-throated that Richard mentioned earlier, to make 297 for my year) nonetheless it was a great day out birding!! Directions: 401 to Oshawa, exit 419 south on Farewell to the first traffic lights (Wentworth) drive east to the GM parking lot follow trail to the west, and then straight south to Lake Ontario. Good Birding! Lev Frid _______________________________________________ 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/
