A remarkably hot August 1st still allowed for some decent birding this morning at the Holland Landing lagoons north of Toronto. Ron Pittaway and I were there between 9:30 - 11:30 and had two nicely spangled juvenile Greater Yellowlegs; Ron noted that these were the first juvenile Greaters he has seen in this year's "fall" migration of shorebirds. The two molting adult Stilt Sandpipers observed yesterday by Peter Wukasch and Sunday by Glenn Coady et. al. were still in attendance, as were two adult Semipalmated Plovers, one ad. Semipalmated Sandpiper, a mix of about 35 juv. & ad. Least Sandpipers, ditto for Lesser Yellowlegs, one ad. Pectoral Sandpiper, several Spotted Sandpipers and Killdeer, and numerous adult Bonaparte's Gulls recently in from northern breeding grounds showing various stages of molt. There were also at least two juvenile Boney's in the mix. A migrant Caspian Tern also made a cameo appearance before moving on. For butterfly watchers there were numerous Monarchs (a great year for this species by the looks of it) and at least three Black Swallowtails. At short distance northeast of the HL lagoons, we checked for the Sandhill Cranes that Keith Dunn has been seeing and photographing since last Thursday. We did not find them, but they have been showing up on the north side of Holborn Rd. less than a km east of 2nd Concession (which is the northern extension of Main St. in Newmarket). If you happen to try for these birds, a morning visit sounds like it pays greater dividends. You can also check for Wild Turkeys on the south side of Holborn where the green sod meets the woods in the southeast corner of the field; I had four adults and 12 immatures there yesterday. Lastly, if you want to enjoy the diminishing spectacle of hundreds of swallows, check the roadside wires along 2nd Conc. just north of Holborn Rd: today there were approx. 300 swallows decorating the lines. This large group included Barn, Bank, Cliff, Tree and Rough-winged. As Peter Wukasch noted in his post yesterday, the canal that circles the Holland Marsh south of Bradford usually offers good views of Black-crowned Night Herons; I drove Canal Rd. this afternoon and found three of them, as well as a group of eight juvenile Wood Ducks. Ron Fleming, Newmarket Directions: The Holland Landing lagoons are just north of Newmarket, which in turn is about 30 minutes directly north of Toronto. From Davis Drive/Hwy.9, you can travel straight north on Yonge Street, past all the big box stores in the north part of Newmarket (which end at Green Lane where Silvercity Cinemas sit on the east side), to the stoplights beside the Newmarket Inn. Turn right into Holland Landing and follow the curving descent to the lights at the bridge (don't take the left near the bottom of the hill). You will be on Old Yonge Street. Keep going north through town, past Beckett Ave. You will go through a little curve in the road where there are conifer stands on both sides, then you will pass Doane Rd. on the right. About a km after that you will see two white wagon wheels and a Maximum 60 sign; this is Cedar St. Turn right (east) and follow it to the dead end. Park there and perform a fairly easy gate gymnastic. The four lagoons are along that gravel service road. Watch for poison ivy on the north side of the road. To get to 2nd Concession, take Cedar back to Yonge, turn right (north) and go to Queensville Sdrd. Turn right (east) and drive to the traffic light. This is 2nd Con. Turn left (north) and drive to the rural intersection of 2nd con. and Holborn. Turn right (east) on Holborn and start looking for birds. Note that there is very little shoulder on this road.
