Yarmouth Heritage Area

[Steve Hood]

Just in case some missed the other thread, here are few from yesterday at the Yarmouth Heritage Area near Aylmer, Ontario.  It was as great chance to see up close some lifers.


Yellow-throated Vireo


Blue-winged Warbler


Mourning Warbler


Prothonotary Warbler

[Ally]

Wow and wow some more! It's just like watching a documentary.

[Steve Hood]

Ally, up until a week ago I had never even heard of the place.  Usually i am struggling to find different types of birds to photograph at this time of year, so it was great to see some unique birds up close in one area.  It was definitely worth the drive.

[Shortsighted]

Excellent captures indeed. Must be quite the place. I don't even recall where
Aylmer is located. What's so special about the place that it should have such
an interesting variety?

[Steve Hood]

Excellent captures indeed. Must be quite the place. I don't even recall where
Aylmer is located. What's so special about the place that it should have such
an interesting variety?

I can only comment on what I know and what I saw when I was there.  The Area is one of the few remaining larger Carolinian (leafed trees) forest that has a large creek flowing through it.  If you are familiar with the habitat of the Prothonotary Warber (larger water areas in a forest) then you would see this here as well.   A good portion of the forest near the creek is slopped which seems to attract the nesting Mourning Warblers as there were at least a couple pairs near the trail next to these slopes.  The Yellow-throated Vireo was near the Prothotary Warbler so they may be attracted to the environment as well.  The Blue-winged warbler was further through the forest next to a small opening.  There are many others here as well such as the Cerulean Warbler, Bluebird, Orioles. many flycatchers, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpecker, etc.   I noticed when walking through the forest that many areas were very sandy like at beach which I normally don't see in a forest.  I don't know if this is normal but there were very few mosquitoes which I found very surprising considering the amount of water.

I suspect the southern location and bio-diversity attracts a variety of nesting birds and plants that are not that common to Ontario.

[Shortsighted]

A good answer to complement the good thinking that produced those good photos.
Carolinian forest, large body of water, sloping sandy topography, warmer micro-
climate ... got it. It sounds all so wonderful. Thanks for the detailed reply. Would
expect nothing less from the Olympian.