71 Ontario Field Ornithologists BIRD FINDING GUIDE =#=3 A BIRDER'S GUIDE to the CARDEN PLAIN by RON PITTAWAY MINDEN, ONTARIO VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3 72 Introduction lightly populated, with most human Tired of birding the same old places? habitation concentrated in the cottage Looking for somewhere new? The areas around Canal Lake and Lake Dalrymple. Carden Plain is one of the least known birding hot spots in southern Currently there are two large Ontario. Located east of Lake Simcoe limestone quarries operating in and bordering the southern edge of Carden Township, and two others the Canadian Shield, the Carden have recently been granted licences. Plain or Alvar hosts field-inhabiting Additional licence applications are birds such as Upland Sandpiper and expected because of public pressure Eastern Bluebird as abundantly as to reduce mineral aggregate they were throughout much of development on the Niagara southern Ontario half a century ago. Escarpment and Oak Ridges Moraine. The Plain or Alvar takes its name from Carden Township, in northern Season Victoria County, which occupies the The breeding birds and spectacular central part of the area. Only 1 1/2 wildflower meadows are best seen in hours from Toronto, Carden is one of June, but anytime between mid-May the last "lost corners" of the old rural and mid-July will be productive. Ontario landscape. Its remoteness and After mid-July, the heat of summer lack of human sounds offer a desiccates the meadows, and many temporary break from our hectic life birds are more difficult to find. style. This site guide takes you through scenic backroads where the Insects birds, vast meadows of wildflowers, Bring your insect repellant just in butterflies, herptiles, mammals, and case, but biting insects are rarely a night sounds will bring you back problem compared to many other again and again. birding areas. Blackflies are present in small numbers from mid-May to General Information early June. They may be a nuisance Background on humid days, especially just before An alvar is a geomorphological sunset. Fortunately, blackflies are not formation of flat limestone bedrock active at night! Mosquitoes are rarely covered with thin soils and sparse a problem in open areas during the vegetation. The Carden Alvar has a day. They are most active on humid number of plant species that have days near wetlands just after sunset. western or prairie affinities (Catling et al. 1975). See Bowles (1991) for a Poison Ivy checklist of vascular plants. Much of Poison Ivy (Rhus radicans) is the alvar is ranchland. In fact, the abundant along roadsides. Wear long open habitat preferred by Loggerhead pants to avoid direct contact. The Shrikes, Upland Sandpipers, Horned best prevention is to bathe or shower Larks, and Eastern Bluebirds is with lots of soap as soon as possible enhanced and maintained by cattle after your field trip. As well, be sure grazing (Pittaway 1991). The area is to wash your clothing before wearing ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 1991 73 Figure 1: Poison Ivy. Drawing by Chris Kerrigan. it again. Poison Ivy is easy to available at Balsam Lake Provincial identify: learn to recognize its three Park, 12 krn east of Kirkfield off distinctive leaflets, and avoid it. See Highway 48. Excellent motels are Figure 1. available nearby in Lindsay and Orillia. Backroads The backroads are narrow. Birding Ethics Fortunately traffic is usually light, Most of Carden is private property. but be careful not to block roads or Please do not trespass. Luckily, birds laneways. There are some good spots are easily viewed from roads and to pull off or park, but be sure to rights-of-way. Be careful not to block check them on foot first. In spring the narrow roads. Loggerhead Shrikes and after heavy rains, some of the are a rare and declining species. Do roads develop mud holes and not disturb these birds, look for nests, washouts. Drive slowly, find a safe or attempt close-up photography. location to park, then bird the surrounding area. How to Get There The site guide begins at the Kirkfield Food and Accommodation Lift Lock on the Trent-Severn There are restaurants in Kirkfield, at Waterway. See Map # 1. The Lift the Lift Lock, and east of Highway Lock is about a 1 112 hour drive (135 503 at Lake Dalrymple. Camping is krn) northeast of Toronto. From VULUME 9 NUMBER 3 74 Barrie Lake Ontario Map # 1: Location of Carden Plain in Southern Ontario. Map produced by Mike Turner. ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 1991 75 Toronto, take Highway 401 to 2. Concession Road 8 (unsigned): Highway 404 north or Highway 48 Km2.6 north. If you take Highway 404, turn From the Lift Lock drive 2.5 km right (east) at the end of the highway north, turn right (east) onto the (Davis Drive) to connect with sideroad where Highway 503 turns Highway 48. Highway 48 can also be . sharply to the left (west). From the reached from the 401 via Highway 12 sideroad, turn left almost at Whitby. Follow Highway 48 to the immediately on the first road and village of Kirkfield. At the main pull off on the shoulder. This intersection, turn left (north) on unsigned road ends 9.4 km to the Highway 503 and follow the signs to north at a "T" intersection (#4 on the Lift Lock. The seven stops in this the map). You will soon discover guide are marked on Map #2, and why this is one of the most distances between stops are given in interesting birding roads in southern the route descriptions. The route is Ontario. At this stop, you should see approximately 41 km in length, Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Bluebird, ending at Highway 48 about 2 km Horned Lark, Vesper Sparrow, and east of the junction with Highway 46 perhaps a Red-headed Woodpecker. near Bolsover. The route takes you A pair of Brewer's Blackbirds spent through many varied habitats. I several days at this corner in June, recommend that you -relax and go 1991. slowly to enjoy the birdlife at and Drive slowly north on this road, between stops. Bring a picnic lunch stopping frequently to enjoy the and get set to experience an multitude of birds. Watch for abundance of some of Ontario's less Loggerhead Shrikes about 0.5 km common birds. north of the old house on the left. Carefully scan the tops of hawthorns and fence lines (Figure 2). A telescope is very helpful in viewing a Site Guide distant shrike. 1. Lift Lock: Km 0.0 3. Sedge Wren Marsh: Km 5.4 Three km north of Kirkfield on You will see a pull-off on the left Highway 503, you will see a visitors' about 75 m before the bridge, or parking lot on the right just after the carefully park well to the side on the underpass. The Trent-Severn bridge itself to allow traffic to pass. Waterway connects Lakes Ontario This interesting wetland is one of the and Huron by way of the Kawartha most reliable locations to find Sedge Lakes and Lake Simcoe. The facilities Wrens. They are most often found in here include washrooms, a picnic the thick grasses and sedges north of area, and nearby restaurant. Check the bridge. Walk slowly and listen for the swallows here for Cliff and their "tip-tip-tip titititititititititi" song. Northern Rough-winged. Set your They are difficult to see, but being car's odometer at zero before patient often pays off. Before mid­ departing. Distances are cumulative June, this is a good spot at dawn and between stops. dusk to hear and see Common Snipe VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3 76 Map #2: Carden Plain Site Tour, showing numbered stops. Map produced by Mike Turner. ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 1991 77 and American Bittern. You may also with this road in daylight, try birding hear Virginia Rails and Soras. The it in late afternoon and early thick mats of white flowers floating evening! I. on the creek are White Water­ Buttercups IRanunculus longirostris I· 5. liT" to Highway 503: Km 21.0 On warm afternoons, Northern Water Turn left IwestI at the "T" towards Snakes INatrix sipedonl can often be Lake Dalrymple. It is 4.7 km to the seen basking near the bridge. next left turn at the Dalrymple Road. The open wooded area south of This section takes you through a the marsh is a terrific spot at dusk to coniferous forest of pine, spruce, hear and see Common Nighthawks cedar and juniper. Listen for the and Whip-poor-wills. Nighthawks beautiful flute-like song of the Hermit boom immediately overhead, a Thrush. This evergreen forest with its fantastic experience on a quiet Hermit Thrushes, Yellow-rumped evening. Taped calls of the Whip­ Warblers, and White-throated poor-will will bring them right to Sparrows lends a distinctly northern you! flavour to the area. Turn left at the intersection with the Dalrymple 4. Carden liT" Intersection: Km 12.0 Road, and soon you will enter a It is 6.6 km from the Sedge Wren cottage area on the east shore of Lake Marsh to where the road ends at Dalrymple. There is a store here, if what is known in Carden as the "T". you need a drink, snack, or This section goes through a variety of washroom break. Continue dry and wet meadows and scrub southward to the junction with forest rich in birds. Drive slowly and Highway 503, where there is a Purple plan to stop several times. Listen and Martin colony at the house on the watch for Grasshopper Sparrows in left.