Today, February 4, Tony Bigg and I went in search of several "good" birds missing from one or both of our winter lists. Directions following
TUFTED DUCK- St. Catherines -yes- 7:45 a.m. Sayer Park, Stoney Creek -KING EIDER -NO- but all 3 SCOTER (YES) were visible-still many of the ducks were too far out to be identified. DesJardin Canal, Dundas- BLUE-WINGED TEAL -NO - but WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN COOT and PIED-BILLED GREBE (YES) were found A man told us that there was a teal at LASALLE MARINA so we headed over and found a GREEN-WINGED TEAL amongst the thousand or so ducks. Maybe the Blue-winged is there but we couldn't find it. (Everything is frozen there except the ducks have created a small hole that gives them some water.) ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK-Kitchener -NO -Hasn't been seen since first posted. Hendrie Valley, Burlington, BROWN THRASHER and GRAY CATBIRD- YES - Both were found just to the west of the boardwalk. (assuming the Valley is running east-west or the end closest to Valley Inn parking area)) The thrasher was coming to the feed put out on the rocks on the north side of the path about 50 yards from the end of the boardwalk and the catbird was in the shrubery between the path and the creek, right at the end of the boardwalk. FOX SPARROW- Bronte -YES HARLEQUIN DUCK-Ben Machree Park, Mississuaga-YES - today the male was to east of the park quite far offshore and then flew in to the other ducks closer in. EARED GREBE-Port Credit River-NO but there were a pair of White-winged Scoters that were very close. Tony had the EASTERN TOWHEE at Prescott/Cambridge on Saturday. Anne Anthony Peterborough DIRECTIONS: TUFTED DUCK: Take QEW to St.Catharines and get off at Niagara St. Head north towards the lake and go to the end. It ends at Lakeshore Rd. Turn Right onto Lakeshore and go to the first light which is signed Bunting Rd. (aka Government Rd.) Turn left and go about 200 meters. The bird is in the open water just below Lock 1. (We stood at the guardrail half way up the hill to get a bit of a vantage point.) ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK from the 401 take Homer Watson exit north and drive to the end of the road. Turn right on Stirling Avenue then turn left (200 m) at the flashing light onto Pleasant Avenue. Turn left onto Perth Road (100 m). The house (75 Perth Road) is down a little lane left off of Perth near the intersection with South. HARLEQUIN DUCK -From the west exit on the QEW, exit at Mississuaga Rd. drive South to Lakeshore Rd., and head West to Maple, and turn LEFT (South) to Ben Machree Park. SAYER PARK, Stoney Creek (KING EIDER and SCOTERS): From QEW take Centennial Parkway to the North Service Rd. Turn Right, and drive east to Drake Rd. turn left (north), and drive to Oceanic Drive, turn RIGHT (east) and follow this road to the Park. HENDRIE VALLEY Burlington, From QEW exit north on Hwy 6 (towards Guelph) exit right (east) at Plains Road which turns south almost immediately. When Plain turns east, go left (west) onto York Blvd. Turn left just after the Rose (or Rock?) Gardens onto Valley Inn Rd. Follow this road down the hill, across the first bridge, turn left again, cross the second bridge to the end and park facing the rail fence. The trail starts here. Bring seed to put on the rock, just before the boardwalk, stand back and wait. Chickadees and Downy Woodpeckers will feed from your hand but the thrasher waited until the person feeding the birds had left, to come in to the food. DESJARDIN CANAL- from Main St (west) in Hamilton go past MacMaster and immediately turn right onto Cootes Drive go to bottom of hill and turn right onto Olympic then left onto King St. and park where they feed the ducks. A scope is good for viewing the duck at the other end of the canal. FOX SPARROW- QEW at Bronte Road and go south to Rebecca and turn right. Proceed west to Mississaga and find a legal place to park. There is a footpath going behind houses from the southeast corner of Mississaga and Rebecca. In the original post "The bird was in the ravine opposite the first house with bird feeders." Today, it was two doors further down and came from the backyard. EASTERN TOWHEE : From the 401 Highway, take Exit #278 -- Hwy 8/King Street through Preston, Cambridge. Continue through the business section until you reach Bishop Street (Zehrs plaza on one corner; Tim Horton's on other). Turn right on Bishop, go two blocks to Hamilton Street (L-shaped intersection). Turn right on Hamilton Street and proceed two blocks along Hamilton to the intersection of Montrose Street. Turn left on Montrose Street, proceed for two blocks (Montrose becomes Rose Street) until you see the playground and open area on the left just beyond the T-intersection with Bernhardt Street. Park and walk to the right-hand end of the swings where you should see a trail that descends the treed slope. At the base of the slope, turn sharply to the left and proceed along the trail at the base of the slope. Locate 2 black compost barrels at the back of one of the properties that abuts the slope. There are a lot of other birds in the immediate area. The towhee has been observed in the brush along this slope. For both Tony (and I, earlier) the towhee came out from under some logs with a little, gentle "pishing." "Anne Anthony" <[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.
