Less common birds in less common places

[David Moffatt]

This morning I was scouting newly acquired conservation lands along York Road and Old Guelph Road in Dundas.  I found three unexpected species in unexpected places. All of these tracts are part of the Cootes to Escarpment project. PLEASE note that none of the properties I am talking about are open to the public, but all can be observed from the Road.

At the tract acquired a few years ago by the RBG at Valley Rd. and York Rd. I was treated to three male Bobolinks sing, displaying and chasing. I have previously followed a single male who was territorial at the Hopkins tract on Old Guelph (about 1 km East) for a couple of years,  but did not show up last year. It was a pleasant surprise to find what seems like a viable population today.

At the Hopkins tract (acquired by Halton Conservation Authority) on Old Guelph Rd. South of York Road, I found a fairly diverse collection of birds, but was particularly taken by a very active swarm of shallows buzzing around the Sikh temple opposite the Conservation area. I first assumed Barn Swallows, but they had no long tail plumes, and despite the poor light they clearly weren't white underneath. Finally,  one banked to showed a pale buff rump, so Cliff Swallows. By the time I realised their ID, the flock had swollen to more than a dozen birds, and they were regularly darting into the covered portico on the temple. When I found a better angle from the road, I could clearly see at least four mud nests in various stages of construction, with birds going in and out.

As I turned back to the Hopkins Tract, I heard the very unexpected sound of a Sora calling from quite close to the road. Since this is flat dry land with no visible water, I thought this seemed improbable. I tried a playback, and sure enough the bird replied from a slight hollow that couldn't be much more than a large mud puddle most of the time. It did have long enough grass to hide a rail, but it certainly wasn't a place I would have looked for one!

Please remember and respect the fact that none of these properties is open to public use (yet), but light and sound are free for enjoying from the edge!

Dave Moffatt

[darl...@cogeco.ca]

I have an update on Dave Moffat’s posting.

 

I came back from Hamilton past the sites twice today.

 

I heard no Sora, but my recollection is that when the land was being prepared some scrapes were made, so there could be water from recent rains around.

 

On the first occasion there were swallows flying but I did not have binoculars.  This afternoon, armed with bins, my wife and I stopped to check the Sikh temple.  On the south side there were at least two nests.  The larger one had an Eastern Bluebird on it.  There was no bird around the second smaller one.

 

The parking lot was empty. so we drove in.  On the west wall, I counted at least 17 nests with Cliff Swallows flying in and out.  The nests are so close together that 17 is probably an undercounting.  To the west of the parking lot was a pile of what looked like fresh earth with a puddle in front of it.  There was much activity with at least 50 Cave Swallows.

 

I saw no Bobolinks at the bottom of Valley Road either time.

 

Sandy

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