August 24 2025 (Sunday) Rotary Park

Leader: Dave Milsom, Leo Weiskittel.

Leo Weiskittel and I led a group of 8 keen birders along the Rotary Trail on the morning of August 24 . Best find was an Olive-sided Flycatcher which was watched for over 5 minutes as it sallied for insects from its perch at the top of a dead tree overlooking the Otonabee River. We totalled 47 species altogether, including several migrant warblers, vireos and flycatchers. There were several waterbirds below the dam near the London Street footbridge, including an Osprey bathing in the centre of a stream adjacent to the river. Leo and Don McLeod were able to get some good photos of a number of migrants : Leo even captured a nice shot of an early migrating Broad-winged Hawk overhead as the group was viewing the resident Ospreys in flight.

Dave Milsom

August 10 2025 (Sunday) Durham

Leader: Dave Worthington.

August 10 2025 (Sunday) Durham Marshes Leader: Dave & Mary Beth Worthington

On a hot August day 30 birders met at Cranberry Marsh to visit sites along the lake. We were treated to an adult Bald Eagle harassing an Osprey and four Green Heron flying above us as we gathered in the parking lot. A walk along the beach at Cranberry Marsh was highlighted by close up looks at both Virginia Rail and Sora. We next went to Whitby Harbour which provided an opportunity to study Ring-billed Gull and Herring Gulls in both adult and juvenile plumage along with loafing Caspian Terns. After stopping at the Pringle Creek bridge to see Lesser Yellowlegs, Solitary and Least Sandpiper we headed over to Rotary Park in Ajax. We had our lunch by the lake then scanned the marsh and lake from the bridge over Duffins Creek. Our final stop was at Alex Robertson Park where we walked to the lake and scanned the marsh from the newly constructed boardwalk and viewing platform. Here we had nice views of a family of Wood Ducks, Common Gallinule, a juvenile Great Black-backed Gull and Common Terns out on the lake. Although there was only 1 warbler species and 4 duck species seen we still had a total of 49 bird species and 8 species of butterflies including a Giant Swallowtail and European Common Blue.

Dave Worthington