To say I was excited to get up at 4:45 am would be an exaggeration but I thought it would be a good idea to hear the dawn chorus. After breakfast in the dark (need my energy) I slipped out to the backyard to be greeted by all the eager early birds. To my disappointment the dawn chorus was a dud. Only the usual suspects were singing and even that was thin. This was a fore-shadowing of my whole day. I cannot remember the last time I had to work so hard for so few birds.
I could always count on Robins. They had been singing since 4:00 am. And the Grackles had already claimed their territory by the feeders making the Chickadees, Nuthatches, Mourning Doves and Red-winged Blackbirds wait their turn. I didn’t spend long in the yard but made my way along the ridge north of the Dufferin Marsh. I was greeted by a plethora of Yellow Warblers and Catbirds. A Swamp Sparrow was singing in the same place it does every year and I was lucky to see it up close, head tilted back and “chipping” with abandon. My husband Gary used to say it sounds like a Singer Sewing Machine. Does anyone remember what that sounds like? There were lots of Swallows diving over the marsh and one of them was a Roughed-winged Swallow. That was a satisfying bird.
I made my way over to the trail behind the homes on Roselena. I had seen a number of Warblers there last year and was hopeful. Rounding the bend at the west end I stop dead in my tracks because the call of a Wood Thrush was echoing through the woodlot. It only called for a minute or two so I was lucky to hear it. The Wood Thrush has this haunting call that sounds like a reed instrument. When you hear it you will never forget it. There were a couple of Warblers singing in the tree tops at the same location. One was a Blackpoll Warbler and the other was a Northern Parula Warbler. My ability to distinguish Warblers by their call is limited to just a handful so it took some neck-crinking time to find them but I had a good look at both. I may remember the Parula’s call next time. It is very distinctive (however I am getting older and who knows when I will see one again).
Next stop was the Trisan Centre pond. Were the Swans still there? What about the Barnacle Goose? No such luck. But I did visit the storm pond to the south of the parking lot and saw Barn Swallows, a Red-tailed Hawk and 3 Least Sandpipers.
It was time to look for field birds. My favourite place for that is just east of Kettleby on the Kettleby Road, mostly because I know there is a chance to see Bluebirds there. Sure enough I identified Meadowlark, Bobolink, and Savanah Sparrow and I was just thinking that I should see a Bluebird when one came over to check me out. A productive meeting.
I don’t know if you have ever been to the wetland where the Oak Ridges Trail crosses the 10th Concession? It is on the Groombridge property. It is a fabulous spot any time of the year. That was where my adventure took me next. I was hoping for a few different ducks – maybe a Wood Duck or a Hooded Merganser but what I was greeted by was a lively woodland chorus. I identified Least Flycatcher, Red-eyed Vireo and Chestnut-sided Warbler.
The late afternoon brought me to Happy Valley. It always seems quiet to me there and this time was no exception. There were a couple of tree-top Warblers but I could not identify them. There was one though that played hide-and–seek with me for about ½ hour. I would get it in my sights and it would move into the path of the sun. This is not great for your eyes. I decided to try to call it down but as soon as I did it stopped calling. Resigned, I started walking away down the path. Next thing I know it is calling from the other side of the path right in front of me – a Black-throated Blue Warbler. I am not sure who won that game.
After dinner I decided to re-visit a few sights in Schomberg. I was really hoping for a Woodcock. I didn’t find a Woodcock but the Dufferin Marsh delivered a Great Blue Heron, a Green Heron and 2 pair of courting Wood Ducks.
During the late afternoon I went to Grackle Coffee for a coffee and a bit of a rest. Someone there asked me what my favourite birds was. Without hesitation I said it was the one I was looking at.
Here is my bird list in order of sighting. I identified 58 species.
American Robin
Northern Cardinal
Black-capped Chickadee
Mourning Dove
Canada Goose
White-breasted Nuthatch
Common Grackle
European Starling
American Goldfinch
Red-winged Blackbird
Chipping Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
Yellow Warbler
Blue Jay
Gray Catbird
Northern Flicker
Rock Dove
Tree Swallow
House Sparrow
Common Yellowthroat
Mallard
Rough-winged Swallow
Killdeer
Swamp Sparrow
Chimney Swift
Downy Woodpecker
Warbling Vireo
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Baltimore Oriole
House Wren
Common Crow
Cedar Waxwing
Field Sparrow
Wood Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Great-crested Flycatcher
Hairy Woodpecker
Blackpoll Warbler
Northern Parula Warbler
Spotted Sandpiper
Barn Swallow
Red-tailed Hawk
Least Sandpiper
Turkey Vulture
Bobolink
Savanah Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Eastern Bluebird
Lest Flycatcher
Red-eyed Vireo
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Belted Kingfisher
Pileated Woodpecker
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Great Blue Heron
Wood Duck
Green Heron
2 comments on “2018 Birdathon”
I didn’t see hummingbird on your list. We have many visting in my yard here in Lloydtown as our yard has been transformed into a flower garden oasis to attract birds and pollinators of many sorts.
Wow! That’ s wonderful. It is funny about Birdathons. Sometimes you miss the most common species. However you also sometimes see a real rarity. That is what makes the day so exciting. I have Hummingbirds in my garden now.