Sighting reports originating from the ONTBIRDS mail server network are repeated courtesy of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).

An excellent fall-out of warblers occurred this morning at Richmond Hill's Mill Pond Park. Birding for an hour before work (7:45-8:45 am), Allan Roitner of Aurora did not have a spectacular variety, but the ten warbler species that were present showed up in impressive numbers: "conservative estimates" were 30+ BLACKBURNIAN, 30+ BLK-THR. BLUE, 20+ BLACK&WHITE, 20+ CHESTNUT-SIDED, 20+ BLK-THR. GREEN and, for good colour, a NORTHERN PARULA.

Also present were BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ROSE-BR. GROSBEAK, SCARLET TANAGER, BALT. ORIOLE, WHITE-CR. SPARROW, and a lingering CAROLINA WREN (present for a week now). A pair of SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, which has nested near the picnic kiosk for several years running, were enjoying the newly extended menu. All of these sightings were at the northern and northwestern end of the park, between the main pond and the secondary northern pond, not far from the manicured area where the larger, newer homes are located. Mill Pond is accessed most easily by taking Mill Street east from Bathurst Street, one block north of Major McKenzie Drive in the west part of Richmond Hill. Turn north on Trench St. and follow it to Rumble, then turn left (west) and park at the dead end.

Aurora's Case Woodlot was far less active, but did have a few warbler species and a blue-headed vireo. Best birds there today were a WOOD THRUSH and a pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS, the latter species occuring here often and presumably nesting locally. The Case Woodlot is just east of Bathurst Street on the north side of Henderson Road in southwestern Aurora. Best birding is in the northern part of the wood, in the general vicinity of "Salamander Pond".

The Newmarket area has had some interesting raptors over the past few days: an OSPREY above the Holland Marsh vegetable fields near Hwy. 400 and Canal Road, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK near Hwy. 404 and Vandorf Road, a female NORTHERN HARRIER hunting over the fields just south of the Holland River Trail west of Main Street, and two BROAD-WINGED HAWKS (observed by Kevin Shackleton and Keith Dunn) in the River Drive Park area on the north side of Queensville Road (north Holland Landing).

York Region birders are encouraged to post unusual sightings or contact me if you want them rolled into a summary.

Ron Fleming, Newmarket
ronaldj..fleming@sympatico.ca

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