[Ontbirds] Possible Yellow-headed Blackbird Rattray Marsh, Mississauga
My sincere apologies for the lateness of this. Between 7:00 & 7:30 yesterday (Tuesday) evening, 2 blackbirds were flying around the marsh. Through binoculars, one was all dark, the other was all black with a bright yellow head. The yellow extended beyond the head. That was all I saw before it vanished behind the trees. I saw no yellow or orange on the back half of the bird. I noticed no white on the wing. I couldn't even say if the yellow extended down the back or the front. I rushed around the knoll to the main bridge over Sheridan Creek and the Waterfront Trail but did not see them again. I did, however, hear an unfamiliar bird. The sound came from fairly close, from the lake side of the trail either in the marsh or in the flooded trees. I thought at the times, that it did not sound like the recordings on my Sibley app. Later, on the internet, I though perhaps it sounded like the whistled introductory notes given by some birds before the harsh squeeky, scraping 'screech'. It had at the time, reminded me of something, perhaps an oriole or a mockingbird. I do not think that the birds seen were orioles. Rattray Marsh Conservation Area is south of the QEW, south of Lakeshore Blvd West, between Erin Mills Parkway/Southdown Road and Mississauga Road. There is ample parking at Jack Darling Park. Follow the Waterfront Trail to the west. It skirts the marsh. Kirsten Burling Mississauga ___ 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
[Ontbirds] Western Tanager, Mississauga, ON - yes
The Western Tanager was seen again today between about 3:00 to 4:00 at about the same location at Rattray Marsh. It flew back and forth across the trail and perched from just above head height to high in the trees up on the hill behind the houses. There are 3 boardwalks. I think it was the middle one. From Lakeshore take Bexhill Drive south to the end and park on street. Walk down the hill to the path intersection at the signs. Take the main trail to the right for about 100m then follow the trail that goes up to the right. Or From Lakeshore Rd go south on Silver Birch trail to the end. Park on adjacent streets at south end of Silver Birch Trail. Enter the conservation area. Take the trail to the left, then the trail to the right to the second boardwalk. Kirsten Burling ___ 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
[Ontbirds] Probable Boreal Chickadee Mississauga
Wednesday April 5th about 4:45 pm a pair of chickadees were flitting about. One was calling a deep, buzzy or raspy 2-syllabled sort of "ge-deep" rising a bit at the end. I did not get a good look at them. The sky was grey and they never stood still long enough. They flew out of Windrush Woods Park, crossed the railway tracks and returned a short while later. There were also Black-capped Chickadees in the park. Later, I checked the Sibley eGuide to the Birds of North America app, listened to all the chickadees and the only one that sounded like it was Boreal. It was similar to "calls #3_AK" except the recording seems to drop at the end, rather than rise. And "calls #4_NY", the 2 calls at the end, after the twittering, were more like it. A sort of pleading sound. I imagined a male chasing a female. Only 1 bird seemed to be calling. Directions - Hwy 401, south on Erin Mills Parkway/Mississauga Road, west (right) on Argentia, left (SW) on Derry Road, right (W) on Millcreek Drive. Pass the first small forest, drive to the 2nd small forest where Millcreek makes a 90 degree turn and becomes Tamar Road. Windrush Woods Park is at the bend. The Boreal Chickadee was at the far west end of the park. The trails are not paved. There is no parking at the end of Millcreek Dr, except between 3 & 6 pm Monday-Friday which allows people to pick up their kids at the school. I don't know about parking on Tamar. There is some parking at the end of Gulfstream Way on the west side of the park which can be accessed via Crosscurrent Drive off Winston Churchill Blvd. Kirsten Burling Mississauga, Ontario ___ 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
