These first few weeks of August have seen an increase in local bird activity around Newmarket, Bradford and Keswick. The canal that demarcates the northern border of the Holland Marsh is now being visited daily by adults and juveniles of three heron species: Black-crowned, Green, and Great Blue. The most productive stretch for these birds has been along Canal Road east of Hwy. 400 (the next exit north of Hwy. 9/Newmarket). A few local kingfishers and wood ducks can often be seen in this area too. A visit to the Holland Landing lagoons yesterday yielded few shorebirds but several visits by sewage trucks impacted on the birding while I was there; most of the Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpipers and Least Sandpipers that I observed were skulking in the vegetation around the perimeter of the second lagoon. The other three cells have high water levels, mainly hosting Bonaparte's Gulls at this point. There were over 200 present on Monday - a mix of black-hooded adults still in alternate plumage, patchy-headed adults molting into basic plumage, and juvenile birds with black tail bands and mainly white heads. There are also numerous Mallards, some Green-winged Teal, and a few Wood Ducks, all in dull basic plumage. In the late afternoon and early evening Chimney Swifts visit this area regularly. Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles, and Starlings are forming ever-expanding groups across the region while flocks of Cedar Waxwings have been joining swallows and swifts to hawk insects at dusk (Holland Landing lagoons being the most consistent location for this activity). Last week Linda Wells had both American Bittern and Marsh Wren at the foot of Yonge St. where it dead ends south of Ravenshoe Rd. in southwest Keswick. Numerous Horned Larks were present in the fields north of Ravenshoe Road, walking the ruts. At the mouth of the Holland River at Cook's Bay there were several Black Terns, as well as Great Blue Herons from the nearby heronry (visible in the trees north of Ravenshoe). Osprey that are dispersing from their breeding areas are being observed near various ponds and rivers around Newmarket, Bradford, Holland Landing, and King City. While cycling through the King's Cross estates in King City (between Jane and Keele Streets) on Friday morning I had great looks at a Broad-winged Hawk perched on a roadside wire, doing its high-pitched "peewee" whistles (which prompted me to stop and turn around since I'd passed right under it). Thanks to a tip from Dan Stuckey, I had a chance to observe my first Black-bellied Plovers of the "fall migration" north of Beeton this afternoon. There were 27 individuals on the north side of 10th Line, just west of the driveway at #5670. The birds were in various stages of molt. Behind them but obscured by heat shimmer were several Killdeer and a few more plovers but - even with a scope - I could not tell if there were any American "Goldies" among them. Horned Larks were present in many of the local fields. Directions: Newmarket, Bradford, and Holland Landing are approx. 50 km north of Toronto. To reach the HL lagoons, take Hwy. 404 to Green Lane (last exit). Go left (west) on Green Lane to Yonge St. Turn right and go about 1 km to the stop lights beside Brooklin Concrete and exit right onto York Rd. 51. Follow the winding road (which is Yonge St.) down the hill and straight through Holland Landing for 5.6 km. Turn right on Cedar St. (look for two wagon wheels by a driveway on the right) and follow it the short distance to the lagoons. Please don't the block locked gate or climb it. Follow the opening left of the main gate, walk about 15 steps to first the orange stake and go right by a large white pine to get back to the gravel lagoon road. Wear long pants because of poison ivy. To get to the Beeton sod fields, take Hwy. 400 past Newmarket, past Canal Road, and up to Hwy. 88. Be sure to take exit 64 B (not 64 A), which is on the north side of the overpass. Follow 88 west to the town of Bond Head and turn north on Hwy. 27. Follow this past Pete's Donuts and the Beeton Rd. up to Line 9, which is about 3 kms north of Bond Head. Turn west and follow it for about 5 kms to 15th Sdrd. Turn north and drive another km or so to Line 10. Although there is a sign that says Road Closed due to Bridge Repairs, carry on westward until you get to #5670 where the plovers are. (This is still a good km before the construction site. NOTE: You cannot reach this field from the town of Beeton or any other points west unless you detour north or south of 10th.) For the record, Dave Milsom is leading an OFO trip on August 24th that will include this destination. Ron Fleming, Newmarket _______________________________________________ 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
