Hi all: The voluminous clarion song of the Western Meadowlark was heard (and seen) this Saturday morning from 8:00 am to 9:30 am, on the south side of Patterson Sideroad between Brawton Drive and Westview.Crescent The bird seems to prefer sitting on top of Pine trees/saplings on a small knoll south of the fence, and on the telephone wires. Occasionally it flies in the grassy field and disappears ( presumed abode = nest !!??)
Other birds of interest in the area: ? Eastern? Bluebirds ( male & female)- in backyards north side of Patterson Sideroad west of Brawton Dr.?(nesting!) ? Eastern Meadowlarks, same field ? Bobolinks ( male and female) same field ? Grasshopper Sparrows- south of fence , 30 m? west of Pine trees/sapling top of knoll, sitting on metal and wood posts ? Pileated Woodpecker, North of side of Patterson road ? Purple Finch, 2 North of side of Patterson road ? Mourning Warbler, singing near?stream, on Duffy's Lane West of Westview Creascent, 200 m south of Patterson Sideroad ? { other warblers: Ovenbird, Pine, Northern Waterthrush, Nashville, Redstart, Chestnut-sided, Yellow, Yellowthroat) ? Turkeys,? Hen with fledged chick- On Humber Station Rd. at the entrance to " garbage dump" west side of road ( South of Patterson Sideroad, further West from Duffy's Lane) ? Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, On Humber Station Rd.? ? Alder Flycatcher, On Humber Station Rd., south of Castlederg sideroad?? ? Am. Bittern,? On Humber Station Rd, south of Castlederg sideroad? ? Green Heron? On Humber Station Rd.,?south of Castlederg sideroad? ? Great-Blue Herons, at heronry ( on nests) adults and chicks,. On Humber Station Rd. , north and east of King ST. ? Plus some 30 more?common birds ?Cheers...? Luc Fazio ?~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Directions from Paul Prior's report: >From downtown Toronto, head north to the end of Hwy 427, turn west on Hwy 7 to Hwy 50, then head north, through Bolton and on toward the village of Palgrave. A couple of miles past Albion Hills Conservation Area, you'll come to Patterson Sideroad, turn west onto this road and drive for perhaps 300 metres. Park alongside the meadow and hopefully the bird will be singing loudly again, in the meadow to the south of the road.? This was opposite the entrance to Brawton Drive. Luc Fazio. Mississauga, Ontario BE at Peace with Nature _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to ONTBIRDS mailing list ONTBIRDS@hwcn.org For instructions to join or leave ONTBIRDS visit http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdssetup.php ONTBIRDS Guidelines may be viewed at http://www.ofo.ca/information/ontbirdsguide.php