Ontbirds subscribers, This morning about 8:10 a.m., while filling my feeders, I discovered a Boreal Chickadee feeding on the empty lot immediately to the west of my house (330 Crystal Beach Boulevard) along the lake south of Thickson's Woods. It was with a movement of 20+ Black-capped Chickadees moving through the pines and cedars in the area, and eventually heading north into the woods. When I went around to the east side of my house, to fill the feeder there, another group of about a dozen Black-capped Chickadees was lining up in the cedar to come to that feeder. While I was filling the feeder I noted the call of another Boreal Chickadee high in the tall cedars on the east side of my house. I barely got a look at it before it flew off to the east. Based on the timing, I am reasonably confident these were two separate birds. There has been a pronounced flight of hundreds of Black-capped Chickadees since last Friday in the area, with most birds staying at my feeders about an hour, at most, before moving on to the west. Neither Boreal Chickadee showed any interest in the feeders, preferring to forage in the cedars. Also notable this morning were large overhead flocks of hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds along with much smaller numbers of Brown-headed Cowbirds. Much like the Black-capped Chickadees, large flocks of American Goldfinches also seem to be moving west through the area. To reach Thickson Woods, take Hwy 401 to exit 412 and turn off at Thickson Rd. S. and follow it south to the lakefront cul-de-sac for the Waterfront Trail. Just north of this the Waterfront Trail proceeds east along the northern perimeter of Thickson's Woods. Crystal Beach Boulevard is the private road along the lake to the south of Thickson's Woods. Glenn Coady Whitby _______________________________________________ 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/
