June 2 2018, Flamborough, ON. Much as I like doing our regular transect studies, there are other things in life. I did the final transect of spring this morning and having made an early start had the rest of the morning open. I went back to a couple of favourite spring birding spots to make sure that all was right with the world.
First stop was a long trail that leads down from a grassy hilltop into a swampy woodland. On the hilltop were Barn Swallows, Yellow Warblers and, heard but not seen, a Bobolink or two. The swampy valley is a good place for Veerys (none today), Northern Waterthrushes (yes a few) and sometimes Canada Warblers (no,). But there were plenty of mosquitoes, a singing Swamp Sparrow and a distant Pileated Woodpecker. Some nice ferns there too but I found they were where mosquitoes hung thickest so kept my distance.
With the thought of Canada Warblers in mind I made my way to a narrow but far too busy country road that slices through thick Tamarack and maple forest. When first created I think the road must have been a wood-plank track hacked through the forest then subsequently improved as new technologies (gravel and asphalt in this case) and population growth allowed. I think that because in several places bits of wood stick through the thin asphalt, I can’t think why else they would be there.
I was pleased to spot a Purple Finch overseeing his domain from on high, pleased although not completely surprised because I’ve seen them here before. Purple Finches remain in southern Ontario year round although they’re somewhat unusual around here, we don’t have much of the moist coniferous forests they prefer during breeding season.
I caught sight of a Canada Warbler but only briefly, so it scarcely counts, admired a quiet Cedar Waxwing, could hear a White-throated Sparrow singing and a hint of a Veery’s soft veeer whisper-song. All seems to be in order, the birds of summer are back. Among them I think an anxious Northern Waterthrush was Bird of the Day, certainly it was the one that made me think wow! Here it is.
