Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11, 2023
Today, we will enjoy a day of exploration at one of the premier summer birding locations in southern Ontario - the Carden Alvar. Located around 90 minutes north of Toronto, the Carden Alvar Natural Area is a medley of habitat communities that includes forests, grasslands, wetlands and alvars. Sitting at a the crossroads of southern Ontario and the Canadian Shield, an interesting mix of flora and fauna species with both southern and northern affinities can be found in the area. Alvar ecosystems are scarce globally, and the Carden Alvar is the one of the most extensive examples in the world.
An alvar is a type of grassland ecosystem that forms when only a shallow layer of soil covers a limestone or dolostone base. Often, alvars are flooded during the spring, and during some summers they experience drought-like conditions. These unique environmental qualities allow an unusual assemblage of plants with prairie affinities to grow. Many unique wildlife species can also be found, and Carden Alvar is particularly famous among birdwatchers for the high numbers and diversity of breeding bird species. The flagship bird at Carden Alvar is the Endangered Loggerhead Shrike, but many other open country species are widespread in the area including Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Northern Harrier, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Brown Thrasher, and Grasshopper, Vesper and Clay-coloured Sparrows. Sedge Wrens can often be located, along with a nice variety of marsh birds including Virginia Rail, Sora, Least Bittern and American Bittern. The different forested areas have their own bird species, and warblers are well represented with over 20 breeding species.
For those who are interested in butterflies or dragonflies, Carden is full of surprises and is equally excellent for a wide diversity of species. I am always keeping an eye out for interesting insects and I am sure we will turn up a few things!
The meeting location and time will be the same on both days. We will meet at 7:30 AM at the intersection of Wylie Road and McNamee Road, north of Kirkfield ON. During the morning we will slowly make our way north along Wylie Road, stopping at various locations and walking certain stretches, but generally remaining close to our vehicles. They say that Wylie Road is one of the best early summer birding roads in Ontario, and we will seek out many of Carden's specialty species along here. There will be at least one opportunity to leave the roadside and explore a trail, and we will also bird around the well-named Sedge Wren Marsh. After lunch, we may continue birding along Wylie Road, or perhaps explore some different habitats along Alvar Road, which intersects Wylie Road. We may also drive to some other nearby roads in case we are missing certain species, or we may visit a very productive marsh that is located just west of the town of Kirkfield. The tour will wrap up around 3:30 PM.
We will be exploring the Carden Alvar during the peak of the breeding bird season and I am excited for the prospects of what we will discover!
What to bring: Camera, optics, spotting scope (if you have one - I will have mine with us as well), sunscreen, bug spray, lunch, snacks, water, face covering/hand sanitizer.
Washrooms/lunch: There are no washrooms in much of the sites where we will be visiting for the morning, and so you are welcome to use the great outdoors! Portable outhouses are sometimes available at one or two locations. Dining options are limited in the area and we will be trying to maximize our time in the field, so please pack your own lunch.
Meet up time and location: We will meet at 7:30 AM at the intersection of Wylie Road and McNamee Rd, Kirfield, ON. The co-ordinates for the meet-up spot are 44.610730, -78.998645.
Vehicles/parking: We will have to take our vehicles separately. We will be close to our vehicles for most of the day, and all locations where we will stop have free parking.
Duration: Full days of birding from 7:30 AM until 3:30 PM.
Cost: A day tour will cost $140 per person (inclusive). Maximum 8 people. Payment can be sent via e-transfer ([email protected]), or by cheque or cash in person at the start of the tour.
If interested, please send me an email: [email protected]
Today, we will enjoy a day of exploration at one of the premier summer birding locations in southern Ontario - the Carden Alvar. Located around 90 minutes north of Toronto, the Carden Alvar Natural Area is a medley of habitat communities that includes forests, grasslands, wetlands and alvars. Sitting at a the crossroads of southern Ontario and the Canadian Shield, an interesting mix of flora and fauna species with both southern and northern affinities can be found in the area. Alvar ecosystems are scarce globally, and the Carden Alvar is the one of the most extensive examples in the world.
An alvar is a type of grassland ecosystem that forms when only a shallow layer of soil covers a limestone or dolostone base. Often, alvars are flooded during the spring, and during some summers they experience drought-like conditions. These unique environmental qualities allow an unusual assemblage of plants with prairie affinities to grow. Many unique wildlife species can also be found, and Carden Alvar is particularly famous among birdwatchers for the high numbers and diversity of breeding bird species. The flagship bird at Carden Alvar is the Endangered Loggerhead Shrike, but many other open country species are widespread in the area including Upland Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe, Northern Harrier, Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Meadowlark, Bobolink, Brown Thrasher, and Grasshopper, Vesper and Clay-coloured Sparrows. Sedge Wrens can often be located, along with a nice variety of marsh birds including Virginia Rail, Sora, Least Bittern and American Bittern. The different forested areas have their own bird species, and warblers are well represented with over 20 breeding species.
For those who are interested in butterflies or dragonflies, Carden is full of surprises and is equally excellent for a wide diversity of species. I am always keeping an eye out for interesting insects and I am sure we will turn up a few things!
The meeting location and time will be the same on both days. We will meet at 7:30 AM at the intersection of Wylie Road and McNamee Road, north of Kirkfield ON. During the morning we will slowly make our way north along Wylie Road, stopping at various locations and walking certain stretches, but generally remaining close to our vehicles. They say that Wylie Road is one of the best early summer birding roads in Ontario, and we will seek out many of Carden's specialty species along here. There will be at least one opportunity to leave the roadside and explore a trail, and we will also bird around the well-named Sedge Wren Marsh. After lunch, we may continue birding along Wylie Road, or perhaps explore some different habitats along Alvar Road, which intersects Wylie Road. We may also drive to some other nearby roads in case we are missing certain species, or we may visit a very productive marsh that is located just west of the town of Kirkfield. The tour will wrap up around 3:30 PM.
We will be exploring the Carden Alvar during the peak of the breeding bird season and I am excited for the prospects of what we will discover!
What to bring: Camera, optics, spotting scope (if you have one - I will have mine with us as well), sunscreen, bug spray, lunch, snacks, water, face covering/hand sanitizer.
Washrooms/lunch: There are no washrooms in much of the sites where we will be visiting for the morning, and so you are welcome to use the great outdoors! Portable outhouses are sometimes available at one or two locations. Dining options are limited in the area and we will be trying to maximize our time in the field, so please pack your own lunch.
Meet up time and location: We will meet at 7:30 AM at the intersection of Wylie Road and McNamee Rd, Kirfield, ON. The co-ordinates for the meet-up spot are 44.610730, -78.998645.
Vehicles/parking: We will have to take our vehicles separately. We will be close to our vehicles for most of the day, and all locations where we will stop have free parking.
Duration: Full days of birding from 7:30 AM until 3:30 PM.
Cost: A day tour will cost $140 per person (inclusive). Maximum 8 people. Payment can be sent via e-transfer ([email protected]), or by cheque or cash in person at the start of the tour.
If interested, please send me an email: [email protected]