Credit Valley Conservation Area (located off of Old Derry Road, just west of the Credit River)

We have sighted a pair of Great Crested Flycatchers three times in the past three days. They seem to keep to the tops of the taller trees. Since the leaves are not yet full we were able to get short but mostly clear views with binoculars.

Follow the trail from the parking lot. After passing the east side of the administration building heading north you come to a wooded area of the trail that runs about 300 meters. Our sightings were about half way along on the east side of the trail. We were first alerted by their Great Crested Flycatchers call, and then eventually spotted movement. At that point it was fairly easy to track them as they moved back and forth back amongst the tree tops. Binoculars are a must. Other birds we have been sighting regularly in the same area are Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (m/f) and Northern Orioles. We are still seeing many Chestnut Sided Warblers, Yellow Warblers and American Redstarts.

Last year by mid summer I lost count of the number of Yellow Rumped Warblers I sighted. Easily well over 150. My sightings were in various areas of the province. I have traveled and hiked in most of the same areas again this year and have sighted less than ten. Most of those were all at the same time on May 17. Last year we spotted many in the Perry Sound area in late April.

This year it is rare that I don’t see a Chestnut-sided Warbler. The number of Redstarts we are seeing is also unusually high (for us anyway). Yellow Warblers are a close third.

K. B. Warburton
Mississauga On.
jaymark@sympatico.ca

Sunday May 18, 2003

Today’s hike at the CVC was much like yesterday’s regarding Warbler sightings, though we did see far more Canada Warblers this time. The highlight of today’s hike was seeing a Scarlet Tanager. He hung around for a good five minute flitting from trees on one side of the trail to the other, offering us an excellent view from almost all angles. We also had several very good sightings of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. No binoculars required!

K.B. Warburton
Mississauga Ont.
jaymark@sympatico.ca

Warbler Overload 05/17/03
Place- Credit Valley Conservation Area. (CVC)

The trail runs north behind the administration building about 11/2 kilometre on the west side of the Credit River.

We went to the CVC late in the afternoon to walk the dog. We were armed and ready with binoculars and field guides just in case we got lucky and sighted a bird or two. In fact we were overwhelmed with warbler sightings.

It was quiet at the start of the trail. We only saw the occasional red winged black bird. Further along, we came to a small bog on the west side of the trail. Deb spied movement in the brush on the far side. As we zeroed in with the Bushnells, we notice a few more flits and flutters then more and more. Over the next hour we didn't move. Warblers appeared all around us often close enough to spit on. We identified 13 different Species, all in impressive numbers. Some like black-throated blue warblers, black-and-whites and chestnut-sided, we saw well over 20.

Talk about being in the right place at the right time. I can't believe our luck. We intend to get out early in the AM tomorrow and see if we can add to this list. We may even leave the dog at home.

Here's today's list.

Blackburian, Black-and-white, Canada, Yellow, Black-throated Green Warblers, Magnolia, Chestnut-sided, Wilson Warblers, Yellow-rumps, Tennessee, Black-throated Blue Warblers, Nashville Warblers and American Redstarts.

The entrance to the CVC administration building parking area can be accessed from Old Derry Road in Mississauga, just west of the Credit River. The main trail starts on the North West corner of the parking lot.

K.B. Warburton
Mississauga Ontario
jaymark@sympatico.ca

May 15 2003

Today on the Caledon Trail (east from Hwy 10) we were fortunate to see several different Warblers. The most noteworthy for me was a pair of Northern Parulas. I had never seen one before today. We also sighted a few Common Yellow throats, many Chestnut Sided Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Yellow-Rumped Warblers

K.B. Warburton
Mississauga Ontario
jaymark@sympatico.ca

May 13 2003

Today on the Caledon Trail (east from Hwy 10) we came across an American Redstart. It was flitting from branch to branch along the edge of the trail just a meter or two ahead of us and about a meter off the ground. It didn't seem concerned about us or our dog. The Redstart kept pace with us (or us with him) for several minutes before changing direction and heading back into the thicket. Also along the same stretch we sighted a Black-and-White Warbler, a pair of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, several Goldfinches and a Belted King Fisher.

K.B. Warburton
Mississauga Ontario
jaymark@sympatico.ca

May 10, 2003

While walking along the Caledon Trail (West from Gore Road) yesterday we saw a few Bobolinks in the open fields. Further along a pair of wild turkeys darted across the trail ahead of us then disappeared into the woods. We were also fortunate to spy a nesting pair of wood ducks, and in that same marshy area observed several large painted turtles sunning themselves on a log. A small flock of cedar waxwings swooped down and perched in a leafless tree for a few minutes. We didn't see any beavers during this hike but we did see an awful lot of evidence of their activities. Many, many small tees freshly chewed down. We did see a muskrat zigzagging along a creek

K.B. Warburton
Mississauga Ontario
jaymark@sympatico.ca