Took a drive this afternoon from Aurora to the veg/carrot fields of the Holland Marsh and then along the shoreline of Cook's Bay (Lake Sincoe) to Jackson's Point and back to Aurora. Main highlights: -Total of 4 Ospreys seen at three different nesting platforms. A pair at the Ravenshoe Rd (west of Leslie St.) nest sight. A single at each of 2 other nests- one at the end of the hydro line at Old Yonge and Ravenshoe- mouth of the Holland River. The other at the best at the end of Old Bathurst. -Total of 3 Bald Eagles. 1 Adult over Ravenshoe Rd. and Bruce St. 2 immatures on the lake ice close to where thousands of waterfowl are on the open water of south end of Cook's Bay. -14 Turkey Vultures in 4 widely dispersed groups. Largest single group was 6 over Bathurst Ave. north of John Side Rd. - 3 separate adult Red-tailed hawks in different locals - Female Pileated Woodpecker flew into heron rookery marsh- dead snags at Bruce St. and Ravenshoe. - 2 Black-backed Gulls among the many dozens of mixed groups of Herring and Ring-billed gulls on the lake ice at water's edge in Cook's Bay. - Several thousand waterfowl on the open water of South Cook's Bay: Mostly Redheads, Then Greater Scaup Some Lesser Scaup Small(er) numbers of Common Mergansers, Common Goldeneyes, Buffleheads. Very possible other species were missed in the large rafts of ducks. Most were farther out in the bay. Near the east side shoreline there were small numbers of Canada geese, Mallards, at least one pair of Black ducks. Also larger numbers of Grackles, Red-winged blackbirds and Robins were evident everywhere due to a fresh weekend influx. Several Male Song Sparrows were finally singing on territory.
What was noticeably still absent in today's travels were: Great Blue herons ( none at the rookery at Bruce St. and Ravenshoe Rd.) Killdeer- none seen in the many wet/flooded fields American Kestrel. Good birding, Sigi Bodach Aurora, ON Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ 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
