OFO's 27th annual field trip to the Carden Alvar was on Sunday, 27 May 2018. Our group of 42 tallied 84 species and one rare hybrid warbler 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, Blue-winged Warbler, Lawrence's Warbler (rare Blue-winged x Golden-winged hybrid), Grasshopper Sparrow and Clay-colored Sparrow. We also found American Bittern, Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Virginia Rail, Sora, Alder Flycatcher, Willow Flycatcher, Sedge Wren, Marsh Wren, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Bluebird, Field Sparrow. We saw and heard several Black-billed Cuckoos probably attracted to the outbreak of Eastern Tent Caterpillars. Water Snakes put on a good show in the Sedge Wren Marsh on Wylie Road and at Prospect Road Marsh, and we saw a Porcupine in a tree. Prairie Smoke, Carden Alvar's signature wildflower, carpeted the alvar meadows. 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 Marvin and Janet Medelko, David Brewer, Eva Schorer and others shared their scopes, spotted and helped everyone to see and enjoy the birds. Thank you all for coming to the Carden Alvar. We had a super day. Jean Iron Toronto ON _______________________________________________ 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
