Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Rotarran on January 03, 2016, 05:23:30 PM
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The old thread got kinda stale so I've created a new one and will do so every once in a while.
As mentioned in my last post in the previous thread, I saw Ivy (79AN) at Downsview. Here's a picture with its leg-band clearly visible and showing the 79AN ID marker.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1720/24074322621_e697464a03_c.jpg)
As per Rob'in'To's link -- http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/ ... ne-falcon/ (http://www.conservewildlifenj.org/blog/tag/peregrine-falcon/) -- this bird was born in New Jersey and made her way to Toronto some time in the fall. She's also been spotted downtown apparently.
While the prospect of having a Peregrine Falcon on site is exciting, I also fear for many of the other birds at the park. She was harassing 3 Red-tailed Hawks all morning and I'm afraid she may hunted down the little local Kestrels. I hope not, but I was looking for the Kestrels all day and didn't see them. The last time a Kestrel was seen at DV (as far as I know) was December 23 and the first time the Peregrine was spotted at DV was on December 13.
Please advise if you've seen Kestrels at Downsview since Dec. 23.
Here's a short video of Ivy harassing a RTH (sound may be loud due to wind buffeting):
https://youtu.be/tx1Xsv1zMUQ (https://youtu.be/tx1Xsv1zMUQ)
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Lovely photo and the video of the peregrine. When I was there this afternoon I didn't see it.
Rest assured - the Kestrels were there this afternoon - two were hovering close to the railway track.
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Thanks Dinu. That's good news. :)
I guess I was a bit paranoid but then I haven't really heard or read much about Peregrine / Kestrel interactions. No doubt that's in part due to the fact that they inhabit such different habitats and probably rarely come into contact with one another...other than during migrations.
In any case, this should be an interesting bird to keep an eye on in the coming weeks and months.
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So beautiful, great photo! I saw her a week ago! thanks for identifying her
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Nice
I thought I spotted Peregrine's last year at Downsview but... they were moving soo fast I could not positively identify them..
As for activity at the airfield, last week it was very bleak, a few Red Tailed Hawks and nothing else except a few Rock Pigeon's that have moved indoors(hangers) .
NO Snowy's so far this year :(
Napper :)
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Had a hefty helping of Downvsview birding today. It was an interesting day with the most species I've seen since the fall. Here are some highlights from today:
- Saw a Coyote near the traintracks ...didn't get a picture but I talked to some fellow birders who said he's there often and may have an injured leg.
- I saw a Peregrine Falcon flyby ...might have been Ivy the same New Jersey Peregrine that was seen in late December and early January. It flew westwards towards Jane.
- Out of the 7 birds of prey I saw today (1 Peregrine Falcon, 3 Red-tailed Hawks and 3 Kestrels), 4 of them had prey...3 mice and 1 squirrel (RTH). Never seen such hunting success in one visit.
- I wandered over to the William Baker trail today which is across the street from Sheppard (connected via a small bridge) and part of the Downsview Park complex. This trail took me through some nice wooded areas which is where I found a Cardinal, a Chickadee as well as 2 Downy Woodpeckers. It is also a favourite hunting and hang-out place for the Hawks...now I know where they go when not circling over the fields and grasslands. I remember there was talk about extending Downsview Park to this area but had forgotten about it until I checked it out today. This is great news, it gives us a habitat that is kinda lacking before at Downsview...I'll be sure to bird this woodlot often. A word of caution though, the trail is currently very icy in some places.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1609/24365708061_1fd42b9d27_c.jpg)
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Just wondering whether to create a separate hotspot for the William Baker Trails or include them under Downsview Park?
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Just wondering whether to create a separate hotspot for the William Baker Trails or include them under Downsview Park?
Personally I prefer to keep it all Downsview because it is an extension of a Downsview Park initiative. And if you look at a map (below), you'll see it's really not that big (circled in red). If it were its own hotspot, it would be one of the smallest. From the map you can appreciate how it once was all one big wildlife area but with the weird way Sheppard is shaped it kinda cut it off very abruptly.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1542/23821127154_bd024f149a_b.jpg)
Plus in a way what we lost to development in the south end of the park, we gained with William Baker trail so it kinda evens out. That's my 2 cents.
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But I will say this, I'll always submit reports (both here and on ebird) noting if I only saw a bird on that trail (such as the Chickadee) that way there's no confusion. Especially when it is concerning a rarity...but then we're always quite precise with rarities.
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Fair enough, let's keep it as part of Downsview Park
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Saw this magnificent animal in the park this afternoon together with a pair of Mocking bird, three Red tailed Hawk, a pair of Kestrels and a dozen or so American Tree Sparrow. Initially I thought it was one of those leash free dogs that the park is inundated with. luckily for this Coyote none was around at that time.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1633/23963781363_ddfa6d0423_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/CvADjc)
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That's a gorgeous shot Dinu! Yeah I saw a Coyote last week but didn't get a pic. I passed by today after visiting Rosetta McClain Gardens in the morning to see that Tufted Titmouse. At Downsview, the birds of prey were quite active again. Kestrels with prey and the Hawks interacting quite a bit. I didn't see it but I'm certain I heard a Peregrine harassing a Red-tailed Hawk in the W. Baker trail. Didn't have that much time, was hoping to see the Rough-legged Hawk that's been reported at the Downsview Airport but no luck.
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Fantastic photo - very healthy looking coyote! 8)
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I haven't seen the peregrine in a while, but today I did see a cooper's hawk in William Baker!
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I haven't seen the peregrine in a while, but today I did see a cooper's hawk in William Baker!
Not sure how similar Coopers sound to Peregrines but I heard one or the other last time I was there. Didn't see because the bird was on the other side of Baker but it was interacting with a Red-tailed Hawk...that call is unmistakable.
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This afternoon I went to the park right after 3 PM and met up with a couple who were leaving the park. They mentioned of a dead hawk and later took me to where they found a dead juvenile Red Tailed Hawk. It was on the west side of the path that divides the two foresty areas and goes towards the pond. The hawk was lying on its back; I found no visible injuries and no blood anywhere on its body. Most likely it hit a tree or something and broke its neck. It looked healthy and the feathers seemed to indicate that it died no so long ago. Sad at the demise of this beautiful hawk.
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I was there today between about 11 to 2 and did not see this hawk. I saw quite a few Red-tails including a juvenile. Hopefully it's not poison or anything like that.
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That is kinda sad..
One of my Co-workers spotted a Snowy Owl this morning along Transit Rd near Wilson on his way to work.
I won't use his words but it was really big as it flew over his vehicle.
I have everyone on the lookout.
Napper @ Downsview airport
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One of my Co-workers spotted a Snowy Owl this morning along Transit Rd near Wilson on his way to work.
I won't use his words but it was really big as it flew over his vehicle.
It was reported at the same location a few days ago. The latest report increases the possibility. I was at the park this afternoon - saw a Kestrel, a Cooper's hawk, a Northern Harrier (female or juvenile can't tell) and a juvenile Red Tailed Hawk. Nice to see another juvenile RTH taking over after the passing of the other.
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I was in Downsview Park on Monday (Feb 08) very briefly. I chanced upon Ivy the Peregrine roadside. She was attacking 4 Canada Geese in the west field area. I did a blog about here, see the attached link. It's mostly photos. I saw a lot of things with Ivy in the short amount of time with her, so glad I had the camera with me as birding was not my main focus that morning. http://robandtheanimals.blogspot.ca/201 ... h-ivy.html (http://robandtheanimals.blogspot.ca/2016/02/a-moment-with-ivy.html)
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/ivy3_zpsojazuiso.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/ivy3_zpsojazuiso.jpg.html)
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Wow, that must have been a thrill to watch.
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Wow cool story and pictures. I like what you said about the park, sometimes it's a bit slow, but sometimes it can really blow you away. It's exactly how I feel and that's why I like going there, you never know what you're going to see. It's part of the mystery and excitement.
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On my way back from work I dropped by the park this afternoon. It was very quiet apart from a couple of Red Tailed Hawks and a Northern Harrier. I saw the Harrier from a distance and took photos of him as she flew over a hilly section of the park searching for food. At home, when I cropped the picture I noticed that it has one its legs protruding out and not tucked in its body as is usually the case when they fly. I hope it is nothing serious.
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Thanks for the update Dinu. Yeah it's remarkably quiet at the moment at Downsview but I'm sure it'll pick up soon...March is around the corner and we'll see the much awaited Red-winged Blackbirds soon enough :lol:
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Just wanted to provide a brief update. Swung by today for a few hours and while there wasn't anything insane, it was still a decent outing. Most of the regulars could be seen...it was good to see a bit of life back in the park. It had been so bleak the last few visits.
Of particular interest was a murder of Crows harassing pidgeons and gulls. They were really asserting their dominance although at times their numbers didn't match the other species. Fascinating how Crows like to bug other birds.
Also Canada Geese found a bit of open water in the pond and bathed like they hadn't seen water all winter (might be true if they didn't fly down to Lake Ontario)
Can't be long until Red-winged Blackbirds and Killdeers are back.
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Good day today at Downsview. Very nice temps, although a bit windy. I guess the highlight is the return of the Red-winged Blackbirds...well one of them anyway. Also saw a Peregrine Falcon and as many as 7 Red-tails. The pond is starting to open up more...if that trend continues, it'll hopefully start to attract different species of ducks soon.
Sections of the park is very muddy so just be mindful if you get off the main paths.
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Today at noon I could hear quite a few Red Winged Blackbirds at the ponds across the tracks from our facility at Downsview.
At home in Milton this evening there were Grackles calling.
I was busy with a project was in and out of house a few times.
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This afternoon I saw four killdeer, a dozen or so Blackbird, two song sparrows, a pair of grackles, a Hooded merganser pair besides the other regulars.
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Nice sightings everyone! I've been a bit out of commission due to a procedure I had to get done but I'll be out there soon enough. Ducks, Geese and Swans are moving up north so keep eye on both ponds, you never know who might drop in for a visit. :D
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Swung by today for a couple of hours but it was a bit quiet. The pond was quite empty. But the woodlot did reveal an Eastern Phoebe. And on my way out I briefly saw a Coopers Hawk circling over the park.
Met Dinu too and he saw what must've been either a Snipe or Woodcock. Lots of people at the park now and many off-leash dogs.
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And let's not forget that 'White-tailed' Grackle.
[attachment=0:16jjqs8b]D17_5733b_5982.JPG[/attachment:16jjqs8b]
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Seems like the sudden cold has put the breaks on migration. Saw the Eastern Phoebe again but the Fox Sparrow seems to have left. Only new birds were the Golden-crowned Kinglets.
I didn't see any Grackles and very few Red-winged Blackbirds. Reverse migration seems likely.