This morning between 8:05 and 8:20 Mary Jane Farrer, Peggy Chisholm and I watched a chat feeding low along the creek among fallen tree stumps and dense tangles of wild grape and dogwood about 30 meters south of the bridge closest to the Lakeshore. At times in would briefly fly up to 12 feet or so into trees along the creek and then fly down to near or at ground level to feed. Most of time it kept itself well out of our sight ... so patience is required if you are determined to trying track it down. It was not singing or calling. It was typical male in bright breeding plumage. The only warblers were about dozen Yellows. There were also a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, House Wrens and Warbling Vireos in the area.
Further east in Shell Park, sw Oakville there was a greater variety (ie. 8 species) of warblers, all in very small numbers: American Redstart (4); Magnolia Warbler (1); Palm Warbler (1); Northern Parula (1); Black-and-white Warbler (1); Yellow-rumped Warbler (3); Northern Waterthrush (2); Yellow Warbler (3). There were at least dozen other birders there between 9:00 and 10:00 am. Directions: Palletta Park is located south of Lakeshore Boulevard between Appleby and Walkers Lines; the entrance is clearly marked by large stone gates. Shell Park is locate about an 8 minute drive further east down Lakeshore Blvd. and is a few blocks east of the intersection of Great Lakes Boulevard and Lakeshore. Wayne Renaud _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
