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[Ontbirds] Possible Yellow-headed Blackbird Rattray Marsh, Mississauga

K
Kirsten
Wed, Sep 25, 2019 8:55 PM

My sincere apologies for the lateness of this.  Between 7:00 & 7:30
yesterday (Tuesday) evening, 2 blackbirds were flying around the marsh.
Through binoculars, one was all dark, the other was all black with a
bright yellow head.  The yellow extended beyond the head.  That was all
I saw before it vanished behind the trees.  I saw no yellow or orange on
the back half of the bird.  I noticed no white on the wing.  I couldn't
even say if the yellow extended down the back or the front.  I rushed
around the knoll to the main bridge over Sheridan Creek and the
Waterfront Trail but did not see them again.  I did, however, hear an
unfamiliar bird. The sound came from fairly close, from the lake side of
the trail either in the marsh or in the flooded trees.  I thought at the
times, that it did not sound like the recordings on my Sibley app.
Later, on the internet,  I though perhaps it sounded like the whistled
introductory notes given by some birds before the harsh squeeky,
scraping 'screech'.  It had at the time, reminded me of something,
perhaps an oriole or a mockingbird.  I do not think that the birds seen
were orioles.

Rattray Marsh Conservation Area is south of the QEW, south of Lakeshore
Blvd West, between Erin Mills Parkway/Southdown Road and Mississauga
Road.  There is ample parking at Jack Darling Park.  Follow the
Waterfront Trail to the west.  It skirts the marsh.

Kirsten Burling
Mississauga

My sincere apologies for the lateness of this. Between 7:00 & 7:30 yesterday (Tuesday) evening, 2 blackbirds were flying around the marsh. Through binoculars, one was all dark, the other was all black with a bright yellow head. The yellow extended beyond the head. That was all I saw before it vanished behind the trees. I saw no yellow or orange on the back half of the bird. I noticed no white on the wing. I couldn't even say if the yellow extended down the back or the front. I rushed around the knoll to the main bridge over Sheridan Creek and the Waterfront Trail but did not see them again. I did, however, hear an unfamiliar bird. The sound came from fairly close, from the lake side of the trail either in the marsh or in the flooded trees. I thought at the times, that it did not sound like the recordings on my Sibley app. Later, on the internet, I though perhaps it sounded like the whistled introductory notes given by some birds before the harsh squeeky, scraping 'screech'. It had at the time, reminded me of something, perhaps an oriole or a mockingbird. I do not think that the birds seen were orioles. Rattray Marsh Conservation Area is south of the QEW, south of Lakeshore Blvd West, between Erin Mills Parkway/Southdown Road and Mississauga Road. There is ample parking at Jack Darling Park. Follow the Waterfront Trail to the west. It skirts the marsh. Kirsten Burling Mississauga