Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Trillian Flummox on November 02, 2013, 11:15:51 PM
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Had a wet and windy visit to Col. Sam's today with my son, enjoying the many winter ducks and a lone Snow Bunting. Another birder alerted us to the Harlequin Duck that had been reported yesterday, but it was heading east and too far out to really see it well. We were able to get some very good looks by driving over to Rotary Park, and I'm sure could have continued to follow it over to Cliff Lumsden if we'd had a mind to (this was about 4 pm today). This is a beautiful mature male in all his tiny glory, hanging out with a small group of Buffleheads. One can't help but wonder if he could be the very same Harlequin that lingered in the same area last year while still an immature??? Hopefully he'll stick around for awhile!
-kris
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Monday Nov 4, Harlequin was at the eastern edge of Col. Sam's, moving eventually down to Rotary Pk. Always with Buffleheads.
I saw a beautiful Snow Bunting, apparently adult male, in Col. Sam's. He was on the paths and rocks at Whimbrel Pt. That is the lakeside point with what looks like a telephone pole on the high part of the point.
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It was there again this morning and I viewed it from Rotary Park. It came "relatively" close a couple of times and I say relative because it was still too far away for me to get a photo. It looked like it was heading towards Col Sam so I went over there but by the time I arrived it had gone back to Rotary. I birded Col sam for a couple of hours and when I went back I couldn't spot it but it was probably just beyond what I am capable of seeing.
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I found the Harlequin this afternoon about 2:30 off the Western edge of Rotary Park with a big raft of Scaup and a few Bufflehead. It kept to the edge of the group
and was preening and spectacular! 1/2 an hour earlier none of the flock was there at all, only geese and Mallards.
From there I went to Col. Sam and saw a Northern Shrike out on the Western edge moving from tree to tree - perhaps the same one that comes yearly?
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The Harlequin was still there today just after noon. It was between Rotary Park (where I saw it from) and Sam Smith (I didn't see it from there). Other birds of note from Sam Smith were Horned Grebe and Common Loon. Didn't see the Northern Shrike or Snow Bunting.
-Thomas
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Better late than never, I hope. The Harlequin was still present yesterday afternoon. Closer to Rotary Park but easily scoped from the eastern edge and point of Colonel Sam. It was associating with the Buffleheads and a few Common Goldeneye and not too far from shore.
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It was still there today with bufflehead. Closer to rotary but can still be seen from colonel sams. I also saw a purple sandpiper there this morning at whimbrel point on the rocks.
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While not impossible, seeing a Purple Sandpiper in Toronto is quite rare. Did you get photographic proof or at least make detailed notes on its appearance?
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yes..not common but 1-2 usually show up around this time or even into Early Dec along Lake Ontario shorelines......Presquille is usually the best spot to see one
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Saw the Harlequin Duck today at Rotary.
It was still associating with buffleheads and got close enough for decent pictures with a so-so lens.
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While not impossible, seeing a Purple Sandpiper in Toronto is quite rare. Did you get photographic proof or at least make detailed notes on its appearance?
ill post some photos in the Ontario bird photo section.
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There's a nice write up with photos of one last December at Bronte, too, at
http://joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca/201 ... hotos.html (http://joshvandermeulen.blogspot.ca/2012/12/purple-sandpiper-lots-of-photos.html)
cheers,
Bet.
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Today I saw it (if it is the same) at CSSP; picture is in Ontario Birds section.
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Great finds guys!
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The Harlequin was still there, close to shore on the east side of Rotary Park at about 1:30 today. It can be elusive. I had it in plain view, but 5 minutes later I couldn't find him again.
BB
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