Hi Ontbirders, Yesterday afternoon, we travelled the above roads in this wonderful wetland area looking for early migrants. Along McKinnon Rd. headed north, just where the blacktop ends, we heard 3-4 Sandhill Cranes calling off to the NW as well as about 40 swans in a field 300-400m to the west. To the north, at the junction with Concession 2 (Sunnidale) was a yellow wing-tagged (M42) Trumpeter Swam and a half dozen Northern Pintails. Concession 2 was flooded and impassable so we back-tracked towards Angus, took Hwy 10 north to Concession 2 and turned right (east) and followed it to the water impass; we flushed several Killdeer along this road as well as a Rough-legged Hawk. Several large flocks of grackles, red-wings and starlings were in the wet fields but no Rusty Blackbirds. We returned to Hwy 10 taking it north to Concession 7 and turned right (east). This road turns left (north) after a km or two and becomes Strongville Rd. Shortly up this road, we noted a large flock of Canada Geese (200 b irds) off to the right in a distant flooded field, just in front of a large wooded area. Off to the left of the geese were about 30 Sandhill Cranes foraging in the field. In the next couple of weeks, this area will be a Mecca for waterbirds of all sorts...and, of course, there is a roosting site for Great Egrets on the north side of Concession 2, just west of McKinnon Road. Good Birding, Chip and Linda Weseloh
Directions >From Barrie, go west on Hwy 90 (which crosses Hwy 400) towards Angus. Just >before you reach Angus, go right (north) on McKinnon Rd, which intersects with >Concession 2 and dead-ends shortly thereafter. Return to Hwy 90 and turn right >(west). As Hwy 90 angles to the left to enter Angus, go off to the right to >follow Hwy 10. Follow Hwy 10 to Concession 2, turn right (east), follow it to >a small bridge, past a small parking lot on your left; venture farther east as >water-over-the-road permits. Return to Hwy 10, turn right (north), follow it >to Concession 7, turn right (east). Concession 7 will eventually turn left >(north) and become Strongville Road...which eventually comes to a T with Hwy >26; go right (east) to return to just north of Barrie. _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide Visit the OFO Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OntarioFieldOrnithologists
