Carden Alvar Birds!

June 13th was spent at the Carden Alvar. The property became a Provincial Park in 2014. An Alvar is characterized by thin soils and sparse vegetation on top of limestone bedrock, with poor drainage. It is a harsh environment that supports provincially and nationally rare species. 

https://www.ontarioparks.ca/parksblog/carden-alvar-provincial-park-and-iba/

Although we didn't see any Sandhill Cranes on the property, 32 flew overhead as we traveled to Carden Alvar Provincial Park.

A highlight of the day was finding a family of Virginia Rails with a total of 5 chicks! We could hear the loud clucks of a Rail but were not able to see it through the dense vegetation, despite the sound being only a few feet away.

We continued walking along the interior road until we arrived at a flooded area then turned around, walking just beyond where we had heard the Rail. After stopping to scan the wetland, we watched 7 Virginia Rails run across the road! 

The chicks crossed the road one at a time. The long toes are already visible on this youngster. When they hatch, they are covered in black down and their eyes are open. Rails have strong legs and long toes that help them walk and run on floating mats of vegetation. Food includes beetles, snails, spiders, flies, small fish, slugs, crayfish and even frogs. They spend more time walking than flying and have forehead feathers adapted to withstand wear and tear from pushing through dense marsh vegetation.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Virginia_Rail/overview

Upland Sandpiper on a wire! Unlike most other North American shorebirds, Upland Sandpipers avoid wetlands, instead hunting grasshoppers and other insects in grasslands and pasture with jerky steps and quick jabs at prey. Male Upland Sandpipers often perch on fence posts early in the breeding season.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Upland_Sandpiper/overview

Wilson's Snipe can be tough to see thanks partly to their secretive nature. But in the summer they often stand on fence posts or take to the sky with a fast, zigzagging flight and "winnowing" sound that is made with the tail. 

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wilsons_Snipe/overview

Their winnowing sound often caused us to look skyward. Sometimes were lucky to see the aerial flight of the Wilson's Snipe!

Tree Swallow checking out the fence line.

A Great Blue Heron flew in from a distance and landed at the tip top of a Spruce Tree. It was still perched in the lofty location 10 minutes later.