18 birders spent the day exploring the Happy Valley Reserve and the Palgrave Conservation area on Saturday June 9. With the help of fine weather and low winds we were able for see a total of 61 species. Here are a few highlights.
The day began rather slowly, but picked up as time passed. In the Happy Valley area we were rewarded with great views of scarlet tanager, eastern towhee and chestnut-sided warbler. Hood warbler was more elusive, but a fine male black-throated green warbler put on quite a show. Outside the reserve, we had eastern bluebirds, meadowlark, bobolink and virginia rail. We also had a great look at a cedar waxwing building a nest. Perhaps the highlight of the day was the very cooperative grasshopper sparrow near Palgrave. A real crowd pleaser! Palgrave reserve gave us pine and mourning warbler and the lovely call of white-throated sparrows. A short drive down the road produced alder flycatcher and northern waterthrush. All in all a wonderful day of birding with great companionship! Cheers, John Schmelefske _______________________________________________ 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
