I had a quieter outing yesterday to the Lawson Tract where winter feeders abound, amply and regularly stocked by the dedicated Ingersoll Nature Club. Trying to capture pics of darting nuthatches, downies, juncos, tree sparrows etc is always a challenge and despite a racket of crows at the back of the moraine in the tall white pines area, I was unsuccessful at refinding last March’s pair of Horned owls on my quick skiing tour. Today I decided to heed my father’s words and not be so lazy and shed the x-skis in walking the John Lawson Park that starts at my old haunts of the Ingersoll Pipe Band Hall. I was glad I did as walking the old re-treed dump (which he felt was a treasure trove of recycled metals etc for future generations) I had a fine surprise. The unmistakeable chitter of a very active and voluble Belted Kingfisher in the open Thames River just east of where the Park now ends at the west end by the new Bridge. Great for winter listers and seemingly quite comfortable there patrolling up and down the river as it did when I first saw them there in the early 60s. Even managed a few clear shots of it across the river.
When my father came from his retirement place on Vancouver Island for his last return trip to Ontario (1990) we traipsed the 99 steps at Thornton Bales Conservation area in Newmarket here. He waxed about how he would hate such individual commemoration and would now be mortified that a 3rd Lawson Trail is named in Crofton BC from his 9 years there. He would be happy though, with how the planted trees have grown and nature has refound its niche. How to Get There Lawson Tract >From Ingersoll Exit 216 on Hwy 401, go south approximately 4 km on Culloden Road (County Rd 10). Turn left (east) on McBeth Road (3rd S. of the the 401) and drive 1.5 km. Watch for #363685 on the left - signage is easily visible. There is a small parking area adjacent to the gate, and additional parking is allowed along the road. (thx to K Shackleton) John Lawson Park – north end of Wonham Street in Ingersoll where it dead ends at the Thames River is the Pipe Band Hall – proceed on the laneway west past the Mini Golf into the Park. The Bridge is about 1 km west. - Robin Lawson, Newmarket. _______________________________________________ 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/
