At 6:55 this morning (Feb 20) 2 Fish Crows flew from the woods of Brighton Tract over 6th Line into the Dufferin Aggregates Milton Quarry. They remained at the quarry, foraging with a group of American Crows until I lost sight of them when a snowstorm hit at 3:30pm
Birds are much smaller than American Crows with a slimmer profile. Their calls are nasal, almost twangy. (Probably) same 2 birds have been seen with American Crows at the quarry Tue & Wed of this week also. On Tuesday I saw them flyover 6th Line into the quarry at 6:45am. I suspect they're roosting in the woods of Brighton Tract and, if they're like many of the American Crows which frequent the quarry but roost in those woods they probably leave the quarry and fly back over 6th Line to the woods during the last hour before sunset. Directions: From Hwy 401 take Hwy 25 west (away from Milton, towards Acton). Turn left on 5 Sideroad (aka Campbellville Road) Turn right on 6th Line. Go up the hill passing golf course & gravel pit on your left. Continue along 6th line until long straight stretch ends and road winds slightly as it rises. Before that slightly uphill, mildly curved section there will be wetlands/marsh on your left The forest of Brighton Tract fronts the road as it rises after that long straight section. The birds crossed both times over that winding upgrade. The quarry's north gate is on the right just at the top of that little rise and a small parking lot is just past that on the left (where Brighton Tract trails start) There is room to pull over & park 1, maybe 2 cars by the quarry gate *NOTE* Do NOT enter the quarry by any means! It is an active operation and hazards are numerous and potentially lethal. THE QUARRY IS PRIVATE PROPERTY - NO PUBLIC ADMITTANCE If you go looking for these birds do it from 6th Line or in the woods on the left side (Brighton Tract) While you're there keep your eyes (& ears) open for the resident Pileated Woodpeckers which often fly up & down 6th Line and/or forage the trees along the roadside from the golf course to the small parking lot. My apologies for the lateness of this message, my phone didn't send from the quarry. Happy birding! Gordo http://dewonthenewts.blogspot.com/ _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup
