Happy New Year everyone! For those of you who may be interested, the Spotted Towhee continues to regularly visit the feeders of George and Pat Finney at Long Point. I stopped in this morning and waited about 15 minutes before the bird appeared in the cedar hedge (where I typically see him). This was at 11:00 am.
While I waited I was surprised to see a male Oregon Junco under the feeders with a large flock of Slate-coloreds. I noticed this bird with my naked eye and through binoculars could easily see the convex bib and contrasting dark hood. Be aware that there are lots of very brown female slate-coloreds also present. 2 female Eastern Towhee were also a nice treat while waiting. Thanks to George and Pat for the continuing hospitality to the birding community. On my way in to town I stopped at the grain silos on the west edge of Port Royal to check out the blackbird flock that was feeding in the parking lot. I was impressed at the flock of about 400 Rusty Blackbirds and after some time sorting through them managed to find 1 Brewer's Blackbird (male) and several Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and Common Grackles. Good Birding! Mike Burrell [email protected] Directions: Spotted Towhee: From simcoe take hwy 24 south to hwy 59. Turn left (south) and follow this just past the turn off for Port Rowan (there is an esso gas station here). The house is the second on the left # 1024 with Finney on the mailbox Brewer's Blackbird: Continue west from the Esso station on Front Road. Travel through Port Royal and the grain silos are on your left before you reach Lee Brown's pond. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
