Simcoe County Bird and Nature Board.
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May 13 Tiny Marsh Trip Posted on May 15, 2017 at 04:15:09 AM by Don Scanlan
Twelve people enjoyed sunny weather with no wind to take part in our annual Brereton mid May birding trip to Tiny Marsh.
Starting on the marsh causeway at the centre we got good views of Marsh Wrens and a Black crowned Night Heron as it flew away. Caspian, Common and Black Terns foraged over the water.
Just west of the centre we all had a good look at a Green Heron hunting amongst the flooded hardwoods north of the trail. Many Yellow-rumped Warblers were above. We saw a Northern Parula and American Redstart near the canal.
Across the canal we walked north to the lookout stand stopping to look at a male Northern Oriole.
From the lookout Dave Lord spotted a Lincoln's Sparrow below us.
Alex Mills identified late migrating Rusty Blackbirds from the boardwalk.
Further along we spotted Midland Painted Turtles sunning themselves on a half submerged log. A small Watersnake was also catching some rays on the board walk.
We passed a nesting Robin pointed out to us by Ken MacDonald. Ken suggested that we not look at it as we walked just under it on the path. It worked and we didn't flush the bird from it's nest.
A Pileated Woodpecker was seen just at the edge of the marsh as we approached mole mountain.
At mole mountain we were able to have close interaction with Virginia Rail and Common Snipe.
Heading back the way we came we moved onto the boardwalk where I sidestepped ever so slightly and fell over sideways into the water while trying to get a better look at a Blackburnian Warbler.
The water wasn't too cold, but had a lot of green slime in it.
It was close to noon and we headed back to the picnic tables at the centre and had lunch. That was about enough for me and I retreated homeward. All in all a good day.
Thanks Phyllis for helping to list sightings.
The list: This may be incomplete and I welcome any sightings I missed listing.
Common Loon
Pied-Billed Grebe
Great Blue heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night Heron
Trumpeter Swan
Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Hooded Merganser
Turkey Vulture
Merlin
Ruffed Grouse drumming
Virginia Rail
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Black Tern
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Blue Jay
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
White Breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Veery
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Yellow-throated Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Palm Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Oriole
American Goldfinch