Seven keen birders attended Saturday's OFO field trip to the Pakenham area.
A total of 69 species were recorded including Broad-winged and Red-Shouldered Hawks, Barred Owl, Black-billed Cuckoo, Merlin, Alder Flycatcher, Blue-headed Vireo, singing Golden-crowned Kinglet and 12 species of warbler. Three Magnolia Warblers was something of a highlight. Over the 4 years this outing has been going this was the highest number of species we have had. Much of the area is heavily-forested, so many species remained “heard only”.
We start at the 5-span stone bridge in Pakenham, then drive to Conc. 9 in Pakenham. We stop at a few spots along the road and then walk into the Pakenham Mountain area for most of the morning. One of our best stops in a large pasture was a disappointment this year as a large pasture area has been plowed, so we had no Bobolinks this year.
Migrants seemed to have all gone through. All birds seemed to be settled on territory.
The weather was sunny; it was cool for much of the morning which kept the biting insects at bay.
Many thanks to Michel Gauthier who helped as a co-leader this year.
Ken Allison
Almonte
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