Friday, July 2: Kawartha Lakes/Pontypool-ish Area

Yes, it's official, the Bird Drought is now in full swing. 

I stopped off at the Lindsay Lagoons on my way back from the cottage, even the Cedar Waxwings have gone silent now, but their activity (and his 'do in the first photo) caught my eye:

It's so bad that anything that remotely moves now warrants a glance, including this male Widow Skimmer near Bobcaygeon on CR 24:

I decided to check out a birding area west of Highway 35, just north of Pontypool on my way home, so I drove west on Ballyduff Road until I reached Wilmont Road and then headed south (but hit a dead end, so had to back-track to Highway 35 to rejoin Wilmont, grrrrrrrrr). IMHO, it's an area that has great birding potential, but perhaps earlier in the day and season. Despite the numerous fields and meadows, it was a very quiet time. Of particular note were Eastern Bluebirds and Song Sparrows, but I would expect to find both Meadowlarks and Bobolinks here, just not that day. 

Again, dozens of silent Cedar Waxwings were flying around this marshy area full of dead trees, this favourite species of mine was quickly becoming my Trash Bird:

I was now reduced to farm critters (not that there's anything wrong with that, they were such sweeties!):

 

I'll check out this area again for sure. Proposed wind turbines are a looming threat, though, based on signs I saw on several private properties, what a shame if that happens!