In York Region north of Toronto, the Seneca College campus in King City was
productive again this morning. The warbler species count climbed to 11 today
with BLACKBURNIAN, CHESTNUT-SIDED, YELLOW, and PALM being added to the weekend
list. Compared to hot spots along the Great Lakes' shorelines (where warbler
counts are steadily climbing to 20 species and beyond) this number pales, of
course, but relative to our location it was another good day for finding spring
migrants. BLACK & WHITE WARBLER was the most widespread species with 12
individuals being counted between Allan Roitner and I.
Apart from the warblers, other "newish" arrivals for York region today
included HOUSE WREN, WARBLING VIREO, LEAST FLYCATCHER, SWAINSON'S THRUSH, and
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
Ron Fleming, Newmarket
Regarding the Seneca College campus in King City, this beautiful 700-acre
property once belonged to the well-known Eaton family of department store fame.
Their Norman-style French chateau still sits prominently on the north side of
the lake there and now functions as a conference and banquet centre. The Oak
Ridges Trail runs though the north part of this property and offers excellent
hiking and birding opportunities. The lake - sometimes referred to as Seneca
Lake but actually named "Jonda Lake" by Lady Eaton after her son, John David -
has Osprey platforms that are used for nesting each year.
York Region is between Barrie and Toronto. Seneca College's King Campus is
north of King Road, accessed by driving north on Dufferin Street, then turning
into the property westward.
There is a parking fee of $4 if you choose to drive right into the campus.
As an alternative, you can drive a km north and look for the hiker's stile on
the west side of the road.
