Hi Ontbirders: Yesterday, Sunday, July 20, my wife, Judy, and I birded several sites near Dunrobin west of Ottawa. We started at the Bill Mason Outdoor Center behind West Carleton Secondary School on Dunrobin Road. In the marsh area from the southern boardwalk we were abe to see several Virginia Rail (one crossed over the boardwalk in front of us) as well as a displaying Wilson's Snipe that perched on a large stump just over our head, periodically flying and making the winnowing sound. We then visited several sites along the Thomas Dolan Parkway. First we visited the Osprey nest at Constance Creek where one adult tended a juvenile. While there, a Peregrine Falcon circled not far overhead on a thermal. Heading west on Thomas Dolan, we stopped at the highest point of the road on the Carp Ridge where both Rufous-sided Towhee and Field Sparrow were calling. Further west, where Thomas Dolan crosses Mountain Road, there were a pair of Eastern Bluebirds and a singing Indigo Bunting with Bobolinks in fields nearby. Good birding Peter Hall Directions: (from Neily Birding World) From Highway 417 (The Queensway) take exit 138 (Eagleson/March Roads). If travelling west, the 0.6 km offramp dumps you right or north onto March Road. If driving east, a 0.5 km offramp brings you to Eagleson Road, where you will turn left or north onto it to March Road (its northward extension) and in 0.5 km join the westbound offramp traffic. Both groups will now follow March Road, or Regional 49, north, then northwest, 8.1 km to to a 90 degree lefthand turn and the junction for Dunrobin Road. Take a right onto Dunrobin Road and continue northwest 7.5 km to Thomas Dolan Parkway at Dunrobin _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php
