Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: thouc on March 20, 2015, 10:49:41 AM

Title: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: thouc on March 20, 2015, 10:49:41 AM

I finally found the Pileated Woodpeckers at Claireville, a pair. Also a Northern Shrike singing and a pair of Hooded Mergansers flying around, but everything is still frozen.

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: Dinusaur on March 21, 2015, 10:06:42 AM

Lucky you - I went there twice in two weeks and found none except of course the regulars around the feeder at the entrance from Hwy 50. It is a vast place - so one needs a bit of luck to see one.

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: thouc on March 21, 2015, 11:42:52 AM

I found the Pileated Woodpeckers when taking the path around the wetland on the east side of the main road going south from the Queen Street entrance. The Shrike was also in that area and could be seen from the main road.

Approximate location of the Pileated Woodpeckers: https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=43.755543 ... 9&t=h&z=16 (https://maps.google.ca/maps?q=43.755543,-79.661813&hl=en&ll=43.754838,-79.659891&spn=0.011113,0.026157&sll=43.755535,-79.661393&sspn=0.002778,0.006539&t=h&z=16)

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: Dinusaur on March 21, 2015, 11:57:10 PM

Thank you very much for the location info. I went there this afternoon and managed to see and photograph both. While walking around the park I also saw a Long-eared owl harassed by a pair of crow. That was an added bonus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/16863392056/in/photostream/)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/16703129309/in/photostream/)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@ ... otostream/ (https://www.flickr.com/photos/60250038@N02/16701888180/in/photostream/)

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: Rotarran on March 22, 2015, 08:55:05 AM

Hmmm...this isn't far from Humber College Arboretum...I wonder if it's the same Pileated that is often seen there.  When I went to the Arboretum a couple of weeks ago, the Pileated flew straight over my head and in the direction of Claireville.  

Also, Dinu I believe that is a Great Horned Owl not a Long-Eared.

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: lovemypt on March 22, 2015, 10:49:30 AM

Quote from: "Rotarran"

Hmmm...this isn't far from Humber College Arboretum...I wonder if it's the same Pileated that is often seen there.  When I went to the Arboretum a couple of weeks ago, the Pileated flew straight over my head and in the direction of Claireville.  

Also, Dinu I believe that is a Great Horned Owl not a Long-Eared.

I would agree on both points..... (1) same pair as the Pileated have a big territory range and distance between location is not far and (2) owl in pcs is Great Horned

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: Dinusaur on March 22, 2015, 01:28:12 PM

Thank you both very identifying the owl correctly. I went back to compare them in Dr. Bird's bird book and now I know what to look for.

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: JW Mills on March 22, 2015, 03:47:48 PM

We were  this morning and found both the m + f Pileated and the GHO. No sign of the Shrike.

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: cairnstone on March 23, 2015, 02:20:09 PM

Thank you Thomas for the tip. I went this morning and easily found the Pileated Woodpeckers. There was a very vocal male Red-bellied Woodpecker just a few trees away from the Pileated pair and boy was he loud. I did not see the Great Horned Owl(s). I have no idea where to look. I came in through the Gorewood entrance for a change. It's a nice walk.

Title: Re: Claireville - Pileated Woodpecker, Northern Shrike
Post by: cairnstone on March 23, 2015, 03:56:41 PM

For those that believe these could be the same birds from the Humber Arboretum, here's a photo of the male from this morning. Compare to your own photos if you have them.

(http://i62.tinypic.com/r92ams.jpg)