I found an apparent Yellow Rail late this morning between the north side of the Desjardins Canal and the Ontario Hydro building off Olympic Drive in Dundas. The bird was flushed twice while I was walking east (toward the West Pond) through the sedge and other vegetation bordering the tall phragmites. It initially flushed from nearly at my feet and flew a short distance (~ 5-10yards). I flushed it a second time but was then unable to flush it or relocate it again despite seeing where it landed.
The rail was smallish with a short bill, no noticeable tail and a wingspan I'd estimate at about a foot or so. The key field mark however, was two box-shaped white patches on the bird's secondaries that contrasted quite brightly against what otherwise appeared to be a relatively dark bird as it flew away from me. It did not vocalize. Elsewhere in the Dundas Marsh, I found a single Nelson's Sparrow in the area where they are often found during migration. Cootes Paradise and the Dundas Marsh can be accessed by either the northshore trails of the RBG or via the 403 to the Main Street West exit in Hamilton to Cootes Drive (adjacent to McMaster UNiversity). Olympic Drive is accessed from Olympic Dirve by turning right at the first set of lights after you pass the University. David Pryor Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ 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/
