(Capitalization of bird names below is for quick scanning.) There have been several early arrival dates this spring, more being added this weekend. Yesterday (May 3), Keith Dunn observed WOOD THRUSH, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, OVENBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER and BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER in Holland Landing. Kevin Shackleton and Keith had an EASTERN TOWHEE north of Pottageville later that morning. On a West Humber Naturalists' hike along the Oak Ridges Trail in King City the same day, Martin Chen and I had 60 species before the rain moved in around noon. Highlights included GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER (1), LEAST FLYCATCHER (2), WARBLING VIREO (1), OSPREY (a nesting pair), WINTER WREN (1), and EASTERN BLUEBIRD (2 pairs). We also had seven warbler species including BLK. THROATED GREEN (8), BLACK & WHITE (2), NASHVILLE (3), N. WATERTHRUSH (6), and OVENBIRD (2). After Martin departed at 11:30, I did a quick walk on the west side of Keele Street and added HOUSE WREN (2), BALTIMORE ORIOLE (1), VEERY (1), BROWN CREEPER (2), and numerous WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS. On 17th Sdrd. east of Keele there were two Lesser Yellowlegs and a male Wood Duck keeping company in a flooded field. This morning along the wooded section of Hochreiter Road northwest of Holland Landing there was another Rose-breasted Grosbeak, a Pileated Woodpecker, a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, several White-Crowned Sparrows, Brown Creepers, RC Kinglets and N. Waterthrush, as well as one BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER and one PALM WARBLER. The wet fields on the south side of the road (farther west) yielded both BW and GW Teal, eight N. SHOVELER drakes, and 16 Lesser Yellowlegs. Just west of Newmarket there were three SOLITARY SANDPIPERS in a wet field beside Dufferin Street 2 kms north of Miller Sdrd. Ron Fleming, Newmarket DIRECTIONS: York Region is just north of Toronto and south of Lake Simcoe. Hochreiter Road and the north end of Bathurst Street are accessed by taking Yonge St. northwest out of Newmarket. About halfway between Newmarket and Bradford there is a stoplight indicating Bathurst St. North. Turn right, then a quick left. Bathurst crosses the RR tracks then runs straight north. Take it to all the way up, continuing past Queensville Sdrd. Hochreiter Rd. is directly west of the road into Albert's Marina but bear in mind that it is a muddy, rutted dirt road. The Oak Ridges trail runs east-west along the moraine after which it is named. Just north of King City the trail crosses Keele Street about 1 km north of 15th Sdrd. There is a stile on the west side of Keele and a trail sign on the east side, as well as a gravel shoulder where you can pull off and park. By walking east you can check out the Mary Lake property and the Millar side trail (which is always a bit wet but can be good for birds). Walking west you will enter the Seneca College property, which has an excellent mix of open fields, a small lake, and a well-marked trail through mixed forest that eventually brings you to the beautiful Eaton estate, now used for receptions and weddings. Birding can be good all along this section of the Oak Ridges trail, as well as the eastern arc of the Millar side trail, which departs from the main trail and leads back to Keele. (The Millar side trail actually describes a circle, one semi-circle situated on the west side of Keele, one on the east.)
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