I birded both these parks from 6:30 to 10:00 with good results. 18 species
of warblers: Yellow-rumped: 32; American Redstart: 10; Black-throated Blue: 10;
Nashville: 5; Northern Parula 5; Nashville Warbler: 5; Chestnut-sided: 5;
Blackburnian: 4; Black-throated Green: 3; singles of Palm, Ovenbird, Northern
Waterthrush; Common Yellowthroat; Pine; Black-and-White; Blue-winged, Magnolia
and Hooded. A good variety of vireos: Blue-headed, Warblind and Red-eyed.
The female Hooded Warbler was feeding low along Sheridan creek at the base
of the first bridge upstream from the marsh. The male Blue-winged Warbler was
feeding high in large willow on the Meadow trail. Other notable records: 1
Orchard Oriole (Jack Darling Park west parking lot); 1 Green Heron; 1 Virginia
Rail (within 20 feet of south boardwalk look over marsh/seen and heard at 6:45
am); Eastern Screech-Owl (in opening of Wood Duck nest box on edge of upper
marsh). Also one Eastern Wood-Peewee. All the warblers were quite spread out
... I about 80% of the trails. A large log has jammed across the outflow of
Sheridan Creek so the water level in marsh is higher than they have been all
spring, re-flooding most areas of marsh.
I managed to get over Col. Sam. Smith park to find the Canada Warbler found
in the bowl in the morning by several birders.
Directions: Rattray Marsh: park at bottom of Bexhill Road of Lakeshore
Boulevard west between Erin Mills Parkway and Mississauga Road. Jack Darling
Park is located immediately east of the Rattray Marsh C.A. and the entrance is
clearly marked on Lakeshore. Proceed to the parking lot at end of the road.
Wayne Renaud (289-828-0043)
_______________________________________________
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/
