Hello everyone, I spent this morning birding a small portion of the Ganaraska forest after an employee told me he saw an unknown species of bird entering a nest this week. It ended up being a red crossbill nest and appeared as though the female is still lining the nest. There were many red crossbills around including males singing from the tops of oak trees at the edge of a red pine plantation that is full of cone (red pine cone and some white pine cone is fairly widespread in the Ganaraska this year). There were also a lot of Pine Siskins, many appeared to be moving around in pairs and "singing". A few common redpolls were in a patch of birches. Most of the activity was north of the beaver ponds in the central forest on the "A" loop although there were red crossbills in the parking lot as well. Red-shouldered Hawks were also calling near the beaver ponds. The trails are still snow covered and icy in areas and do not make for an easy walk.
To get to the Ganaraska Forest from the west take highway 35/115 north from the 401. Follow to Durham Concession 7/Regional Road 9 (Ganaraska Rd.) at Kirby. Follow east to Cold Springs Camp Road. Follow this to the end of the paved section where you will arrive at the Ganaraska Forest Centre. Pay your entrance fee here before entering the trails at this parking lot. >From the east take highway 28 from Port Hope. Turn left at county road 9 (Ganaraska Road) and follow to Cold Springs Camp Road. Follow this to the end of the paved section where you will arrive at the Ganaraska Forest Centre. Pay your entrance fee here before entering the trails at this parking lot. The Ganaraska Forest requires a day use pass and even if no staff are around there is a self-serve system (cash only) and is also where the Ontario Nature AGM is being held this year. Ben Walters _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to birdalert@ontbirds.ca For information about ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/
