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Ontario Field Ornithologists BIRD FINDING GUIDE =#=3

A BIRDER'S GUIDE to the CARDEN PLAIN

by RON PITTAWAY MINDEN, ONTARIO

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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 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 , 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

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Figure 1: Poison Ivy. Drawing by Chris Kerrigan. it again. Poison Ivy is easy to available at Provincial identify: learn to recognize its three Park, 12 krn east of 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

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Barrie

Lake Ontario

Map # 1: Location of Carden Plain in Southern Ontario. Map produced by Mike Turner.

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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

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Map #2: Carden Plain Site Tour, showing numbered stops. Map produced by Mike Turner.

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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. the dry short grass meadows. Rufous­ sided Towhees and Field Sparrows are frequent in the scrubby areas, 6. : Km 29.4 and occasionally a Golden-winged Turn left onto Highway 503. The Warbler or Clay-colored Sparrow can Dalrymple General Store on the left be found. Watch for patches of 10.5 krnl has refreshments, and there Prairie Smoke or Long-plumed Purple are washrooms at the side. Turn right Avens, a characteristic alvar one km south of the store and wildflower IFigure 31. The abundance proceed 1.7 km to where the road of wildflowers attracts a variety of forks. Loggerhead Shrikes have butterflies to the area. At night along frequented this area in recent years. this section of road, watch for the Continue stright ahead lIeft I at the bright eyeshine of Common forks. As you proceed you will see Nighthawks and Whip-poor-wills on the Miller quarry on the left. About the road in your headlights. Listen for 0.6 km south of the quarry entrance, coyotes or brush wolves, and if you the road crosses a creek. Sometimes do not hear them, try giving long, this is a worthwhile stop. About 1.7 throaty wolf-like howls to get a km ahead, the road turns sharply to response. (Tip: Once you are familiar the right. Proceed a very short

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/i

Figure 2: Typical alvar scene, with a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes in a hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), and an Upland Sandpiper on a fence post. Drawing by Chris Kerrigan.

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Figure 3: Carden alvar, showing Prairie Smoke (Geum trif/.orumJ on left, coyote (Canis latransJ in centre, and Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccineaJ at right. Drawing by Chris Kerrigan. distance (0.2 km), and take the first marsh. The Gormley quarry is on the very narrow road on your left. right as you proceed another 1.5 km Cranberry Lake is visible in the to the next intersection. A new distance. Go approximately 1.5 km to quarry was licenced in 1991 for the a point where the lake can be viewed area to your left (east J. It may not from the top of a wooden-framed begin operations for several years. rock crib along the fence line. The The route goes left (east J from tree immediately to the right of the here to Canal Lake. However, if you rock crib is marked with two large have not seen a Loggerhead Shrike spots of blue paint. Be careful, but yet, it is worth spending a little time standing on the crib allows a good checking the surrounding area before view of the marsh and lake. You continuing. First, from the should see Black Terns flying over intersection go straight (southJ for 1.3 the lake. Listen for Marsh Wrens. km. Scan the tops of distant trees on Least Bitterns breed here and are the left for shrikes, which nested in occasionally seen flying over the this area in 1991. Second, return to

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Figure 4: Loggerhead Shrike in a hawthorn on the Carden Plain. Photo by Ron Pittaway. the intersection and go left (west) one Loons. Continue 3.0 km to Highway km to the sharp corner. Again, scan 48, where the trip ends. I hope that for shrikes. Brewer's Blackbirds you enjoyed the birds and will come nested near this location in 1989. back again. Western Meadowlark is also a possibility in this area. Now, return to the intersection to continue your Postscript tour. Another side trip to see more of the Carden Plain, or perhaps find that 7. Canal Lake Causeway: Km 38.7 Loggerhead Shrike (Figure 4) which Proceed left (east) at the intersection, may have eluded you so far, involves going 5.7 km to where the road ends turning left (east) on Highway 48 at at a liT". Turn right (south) going 2.3 the end of the tour described above. km to the Osprey's nest on top of the Proceed through Kirkfield to the hydro pole at the middle of the junction of Highways 48 and 505. causeway across Canal Lake. You can Turn left (north) on Highway 50S, obtain excellent close-up views of and bird northward to where 505 adult and young Ospreys on the nest, meets Highway 503 at Uphill. Then right from your car. Common Terns you can turn around and proceed nest on the lake and can often be southward again on 50S, to retrace seen from the causeway. Also watch your route (and watch for birds for Caspian Terns and Common which you may have missed the first

ONTARIO BIRDS DECEMBER 1991 81 time). You should see many Upland Christine Kerrigan for her marvelous Sandpipers, Eastern Bluebirds, illustrations, and to Mike Turner for Horned Larks, Turkey Vultures, producing the maps. Vesper Sparrows, Bobolinks, and Eastern Kingbirds, with a good Literature cited chance for Red-headed Woodpecker Bowles, B. 1991. Flora of the Carden Plains Alvar. and Loggerhead Shrike, as well. Unpublished checklist prepared for the 1991 Annual Conference of the Federation of Acknowledgements Ontario Naturalists. The following birders provided me Catling, P.M., J.E. Cruise, K.L. McIntosh and S.M. McKay. 1975. Alvar vegetation in with much valuable advice and Southern Ontario. Ontario Field Biologist 29 assistance in the preparation of this (2): 1-25. site guide: Dave Calvert, Bill Crins, Pittaway, R. 1991. Status of the Loggerhead Christine Kerrigan, Chris Lemieux, Shrike on the Carden Plains. Ministry of Peter Nevin, Doug Tozer, Ron Tozer, Natural Resources, Minden, Ontario. and Mike Turner. I am grateful to 40 pp. + maps.

Ron Pittaway, Box 619, Minden, Ontario KOM 2KO

FIELD NOTES

VOLUME 9 NUMBER 3