I visited the Forks of the Crdiet toady with my famil
(See directions below from Terry Osborne
We found many sparrows
Vesper, Song, Swamp, Savannah, Clay Colored . We think we had grasshopper
as well.
Other highlights were a Brown Thrasher near where Terry suggests looking for
the sparrows
AND a Black Billed cuckoo. The cuckoo was about 100 yadrs from the parking
lot . Take the first path RIGHT, and go 100 yrads into the first valley
Kevin Empey
----- Original Message -----
From: "Terry Osborne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Ontbirds" <ontbirds@hwcn.org>
Sent: Friday, May 30, 2003 9:25 AM
Subject: Clay-colored Sparrows in Caledon
> I birded the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park this morning and found a
> small colony of Clay-colored Sparrows. In late summer of 2002 I had
several
> of them at this location but being late summer was never really sure if
> these birds were in a breeding colony or just birds on the move. Today I
> both saw and heard no fewer than 4 singing males and I'll describe the
exact
> location within this park below.
>
> This park is a grassland area of at least 200 acres and is a mecca for
> Sparrows. Though not seen nor heard this morning, I do know that a sizable
> population of Grasshopper Sparrows breed here. Particularly on the hills
> and flat areas immediately to the west of the small lake.
>
> Also seen there this morning were many, many Bobolinks and Eastern
> Meadowlarks, several Least Flycatchers, at least 4 singing Alder
> Flycatchers, a Green Heron, and the usual Sparrow species. (Field, Song,
> Chipping, Swamp, Savannah, Vesper {heard only}, White-throated.
>
> This is a wonderful grassland habitat for birding and being under-birded,
> anything is possible. I've often thought that one of these years I'll
come
> across Henslow's Sparrows here as there assuredly is suitable habitat in
> certain areas of the grasslands.
>
> To get to the Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, go north on Hwy 10 to
the
> Village of Caledon where you turn left. Proceed westerly for a few km
until
> McLaren Road. Go south 1.9 km to the park entrance (No park fees
required).
> There are well marked paths through the fields and the path I usually
follow
> takes you in a circle (perhaps a walk of 1 km) around the small lake low
in
> a hollow. (Not seen from the gravel parking lot.) Follow the path and
keep
> to the left or clockwise and some distance later you will see the small
lake
> below. As the grass path makes a turn to your right at the most southerly
> end of the lake, and about a hundred yards from it, you will see several
10
> to 12 foot high conifers and blossoming shrubs. It was withing this area
> that I found the Clay-coloreds this morning.
>
> Good luck
>
> Terry Osborne
>
>
> "Terry Osborne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving
> and joining the list. As well as general information and content
> guidelines.
>
"The Empey's" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Visit http://www.ofo.ca/ontbirdsguide.htm for information on leaving
and joining the list. As well as general information and content
guidelines.
