Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: noam markus on March 03, 2015, 02:06:03 PM

Title: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on March 03, 2015, 02:06:03 PM
Behind the Ontario Science Center. Feeders, a pond and forest all with in easy walking distance. Be aware of Frisbee players.
1 White-throated Sparrow, spotted along with House, American Tree Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos.
1 Red-bellied Woodpecker
6 Downy Woodpecker
2 Hairy Woodpecker
2 Blue Jay
1 Red-breasted Nuthatch
1 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 American Robin
15 Black-capped Chickadee - Singing.
12 Northern Cardinal - Singing.
2 House Finch  -  Singing.
10 American Goldfinch
1 Sharp-shinned Hawk  https://www.flickr.com/photos/130432564 ... 519203459/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130432564@N03/16519203459/)
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Rotarran on March 03, 2015, 02:22:43 PM
Thanks for the report Noam.  I go there from time to time and I have even met the nice gentleman who fills the feeders.  Never seen a Red-bellied Woodpecker...that's a great new addition.  This is a good spot to visit in the spring and summer too, some pretty cool things show up there.  Just beware the mosquitos...they're quite vicious at this spot.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on March 13, 2015, 06:57:47 PM
Today:
1 Red-winged Blackbird staking out territory. Looks like this one has a tick on the bottom of his eye.
1 Song Sparrow
1 Budgie that was rescued.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on March 13, 2015, 08:09:39 PM
Budgie was recovered and delivered to a warm and loving home.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Kris Ito on March 18, 2015, 09:11:59 AM
Always happy to hear about a successful Budgie rescue! If you have more details about how it was accomplished, I'd love to hear the story.
Interesting photo of the RWBB with the possible tick. Does this mean we should start worrying about ticks in Toronto? UGH!

Just a little tip for you about photos. If you are happy simply posting the links to your photos, that's completely fine by me! If however you would like them to be displayed here, and because I see that you are using Flickr, you can follow these easy peasy steps:  

1. Open your photo in Flickr
2. Click the "share" arrow button in the lower right corner and copy the provided link for the BBCode (not HTML); I find that the medium 800 x 533 size displays well here.
3. Write your post here on the forums and simply "paste" the link from your photo. No need to use any of the "Img" or "URL" tabs.
4. Click the "Preview" button to see your photo. If you're happy, submit!

p.s. You can also use this method if you post to ebird, however they require the "HTML" code instead.

Since I am personally unfamiliar with the many other photo sharing sites, I can't provide specific instructions for them. However, I suspect that they will have similar features and you should be able to find the appropriate BBCode for use here.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on March 18, 2015, 09:49:33 AM
Thank you!
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: GStuart on March 18, 2015, 11:38:13 AM
Quote from: "Kris Ito"
Does this mean we should start worrying about ticks in Toronto? UGH!

Hi Kris

Wherever you see deer, you will find deer ticks.  Unfortunately, blacklegged ticks are also in Toronto.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/11 ... alley.html (http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2014/11/26/ticks_carrying_lyme_disease_bacteria_found_in_rouge_valley.html)

It shouldn't be as worrying as it sounds.  If an infected tick bites you, it still has to remain attached for at least 18 to 24 hours to be able to start transmitting the bacteria, so check yourself after your walks and you'll be fine.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on March 26, 2015, 08:32:31 AM
White-throated Sparrows, American Tree Sparrows, one Song Sparrow and lots of Juncos, Cardinals and RWBBs.
Canada Geese on the mostly frozen pond, Common Mergansers in the nearby Don River and RTH sitting on its nest.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on March 26, 2015, 01:51:54 PM
This morning in the pond: 1 Hooded Merganser, 3 Wood Ducks, Canada Geese and Mallards.
In the river: 14 Common Mergansers.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7281/16750638700_d5fec31cc9_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rwcpiw)Mallard (top) Canada Goose, Hooded Merganser and Wood Duck (https://flic.kr/p/rwcpiw) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Howieh on March 26, 2015, 03:54:10 PM
Very nice. Where is the closest (free?) parking spot or do I have to park in the Science Center lot?
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Pat Hodgson on March 26, 2015, 04:08:37 PM
go into Sunnybrook Park entrance on west side of Leslie just north of Eglinton, then turn left and go back under Eglinton for parking
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Howieh on March 26, 2015, 05:50:52 PM
Sounds good, thanks.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on April 07, 2015, 04:00:51 PM
Cormorants have arrived along with Ring-necked Ducks and Golden-crowned Kinglets.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7727/16882355178_c7ac8ac756_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rHQu2h)DSCN6368 (https://flic.kr/p/rHQu2h) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on April 09, 2015, 07:14:15 PM
Two Eastern Phoebes in the nearby marsh. The most elusive Pied-billed Grebes and a Belted Kingfisher.

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7713/16470548474_7c07b67ff9_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r6rSeG)Pied-billed Grebe (https://flic.kr/p/r6rSeG) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7654/16470558284_b71c9c6a5c_s.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r6rV9Q)Eastern Phoebe (https://flic.kr/p/r6rV9Q) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Kris Ito on April 10, 2015, 08:22:44 AM
Nice finds! I keep forgetting what a sweet little spot that can be, especially with those feeders.
Glad you figured out how to post your Flickr photos here, but would you like to display them a wee bit larger? You've been using the tiniest Square 75x75 size - maybe try changing the size to Medium 800x534 (just click on the size box in Flickr to see the options).  -kris  :)
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: Rotarran on April 10, 2015, 10:26:21 AM
It is a good spot.  I have seen plenty of great things there including Wood Ducks, Great Egrets, Green Herons, Purple Finch, Fox Sparrow, Blue-headed Vireo...but the sightings are sporadic so you have to be a bit lucky too.  But the Wood Ducks are there year round.  

Also I suspect there are good number of bats in the summer as I have seen bat boxes nearby.  Last year a nearby park (Charles Sauriol) was completely filled with Bats and also fireflies...it was quite the spectacle.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on April 10, 2015, 08:12:20 PM
Thank you again for your guidance. Always seeing/learning something new...Today's surprise after the storm was a Swamp Sparrow, 4 Chipping Sparrows a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 American Woodcocks that I almost stepped on and a pair of Bufflheads in the pond.  

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8686/16483324713_764ea16c1f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r7zmaF)Swamp Sparrow (https://flic.kr/p/r7zmaF) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on April 10, 2015, 09:08:20 PM
Quote from: "noam markus"
Thank you again for your guidance. Always seeing/learning something new...Today's surprise after the storm was a Swamp Sparrow, 4 Chipping Sparrows a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 American Woodcocks that I almost stepped on and a pair of Bufflheads in the pond.  

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8686/16483324713_764ea16c1f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r7zmaF)Swamp Sparrow (https://flic.kr/p/r7zmaF) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr

woodcocks, you say?
i should venture down there, since i live pretty close.
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on April 18, 2015, 10:16:49 PM
Caspian Terns! 2 of them this afternoon, circling and fishing in the pond.

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8794/17190814652_20ae7409dc_m.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/sc6qh5)Caspian Tern (https://flic.kr/p/sc6qh5) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8796/17190801952_8f095f9a92_m.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/sc6mv7)Caspian Tern (https://flic.kr/p/sc6mv7) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr


(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/16572273993_90b3be2e05_m.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rfreFX)Caspian Tern (https://flic.kr/p/rfreFX) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on April 22, 2015, 09:29:31 AM
First warbler yesterday and an Eastern Towhee.

Palm Warbler
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8731/16606882463_498a16839f.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/riuBzH)Palm Warbler (https://flic.kr/p/riuBzH) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr

(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8823/16604631754_840341fe68.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rii5wo)Eastern Towhee (https://flic.kr/p/rii5wo) by noam.markus (https://www.flickr.com/people/130432564@N03/), on Flickr
Title: Re: Behind the Ontario Science Centre
Post by: noam markus on June 01, 2015, 10:41:24 AM
End of season... Mosquitos have taken over.
 So far this year I have seen 104 species in this location. I saw one family of Canada Geese about 2 weeks ago, other than that there are no goslings this year. On the other hand, the RTHs have 4 chicks. Happy Summer Birding.

(https://c4.staticflickr.com/8/7773/17874479050_12e35ba088_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/tevnTh)Red-tailed Hawks. (https://flic.kr/p/tevnTh) by Noam Markus (https://www.flickr.com/photos/130432564@N03/), on Flickr