Good day
This morning Ian Cannell and I went up to Palgrave to see if we too could find the Western Meadowlark. The bird did not even give Ian time to stop the car on Patterson Sideroad at Brawton Drive as it sang right above us on the hydro wires at 5:35 am. We had great almost arms length looks at the bird as it sang loudly for us.
We decided to walk further west along Patterson and as we walked along we counted 4 Grasshopper Sparrow and 6 Turkey Vultures glided low over the field to land together on an old fence. We also heard a Wild Turkey. All of these and several more common bird species were on the south side of Patterson Sideroad in an approx. 500 yard stretch of road.
From here we continued west along Patterson to Duffys Lane and along Duffys we found Wood Duck, 3 singing Mourning Warblers as well as Pine, Nashville, Black-and-white, and Black-throated green Warblers and also Northern Waterthrush and Ovenbird, Great Crested and Alder Flycatchers, 3 Purple Finches, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Indigo Bunting, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.
At Finnerty Sideroad north of Patterson Sideroad and west of Duffys Lane for about 350 yards or so we had great views of a male Golden-winged Warbler as it sang continuously. We also noted Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, and Black-and white, Nashville,and Black-and-white Warblers, 2 more Purple Finches, Willow, Alder and Great Crested Flycatchers, and a singing Veery.
We then went over to Gore Road, drove back down to Patterson Sideroad and headed east to Humber Station Road and at small lake on the south side of Patterson we found another two singing male Golden-winged Warblers and overhead a Cooper's Hawk.
At Humber Station Road we headed south and near a pond at King Street we heard a Field Sparrow and Willow Flycatcher and overhead we spotted a Northern Goshawk motoring through carrying prey.
Not a bad short outing.
Directions:-
Take Hwy 427 north to Claireville and then continue north on County Road 50 through to Palgrave and Patterson Sideroad. The bird is usually just a short distance west on Patterson across from either Westview Cres. or Brawton Dr. and if singing it is hard to miss. Be aware that if it is not singing there are several Eastern Meadowlarks in the same field(s).
You can also take King Road from either Yonge Street north of Richmond Hill or Hwy 400 ( Exit 43 ) west to County Road 50 and then north to Palgrave.
