Today's outing was OFO's 26th annual field trip to the Carden Alvar. In ideal weather, our group of 37 tallied 90 species by walking Wylie Road in the morning and visiting other birding sites in the afternoon. We saw many of the target birds including superb views of Loggerhead Shrike, Golden-winged Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow and Clay-colored Sparrow. We also found 3 American Bitterns, Least Bittern, Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Virginia Rail, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Brown Thrasher, Northern Mockingbird, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Bluebird, Pileated Woodpecker, and 2 Great Egrets in the former Great Blue heronry on Shrike Road South. Tent Caterpillar nests are a common sight on the cherry trees, and we saw several Black-billed Cuckoos, so it looks like a good year for them. Water Snakes put on a good show in the Sedge Wren Marsh on Wylie Road, and we watched a very young Porcupine. Butterflies were active, including a Monarch. Prairie Smoke, Carden Alvar's signature wildflower, carpeted the alvar meadows. Alvars are globally rare habitats of limestone or dolomite bedrock at the surface (pavement) or covered with thin soils and a sparse vegetation of lichens, mosses, herbs/forbs, shrubs and sometimes trees. Vegetation is restricted by shallow soils and extremes of spring wetness and summer. The Carden Alvar formed near the end of the last Ice Age when huge torrents of glacial meltwater washed away much of the sand and gravel (overburden) covering the bedrock. A large portion of the alvar is now protected by Carden Alvar Provincial Park (includes Cameron and Windmill Ranches) and other protected properties owned by The Nature Conservancy of Canada and the Couchiching Conservancy. Directions: Carden Alvar Birding Site Guide with printable guide/map for use in the field. http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.cardenalvar I thank co-leaders: Ron Pittaway, Ron Tozer, and Eleanor Beagan. In addition Bob Falconer, Justin Peter, Marvin and Janet Medelko, Jim Martin and others also spotted and helped everyone to see and enjoy the birds. Thank you everyone for coming to the Carden Alvar. We had a super day.
Jean Iron 28 May 2017 _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - 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 Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
