Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: BIGFRANK on March 31, 2008, 10:29:37 AM

Title: Bohemian Waxwings Lawrence and Leslie..Toronto
Post by: BIGFRANK on March 31, 2008, 10:29:37 AM: Hi,just for those who dont check Ont Birds,there are many Bohemian Waxwings and a few Cedar Waxwings near Leslie and Lawrence. They have been there several days,behind a condo building eating crab apples. I saw them Sunday...a friend was there this morning in the rain and they were really chowing down,so they likely wont be there much longer if they empty those trees of food.
Parking on Tottenham Road, the first street (a very short block south of
Lawrence and running east off Leslie) is the closest. U can see them in a large bare tree from there,or walk around the corner going past the condo parking area(so as not to enter private property) to the old railway line(abandonned now..allowed to walk there). This is where U can see them eating the apples/berries for extended periods. Good luck enjoy! A treat to see them right in the city.
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Post by: Kin Lau on March 31, 2008, 10:50:30 AM: We were there approx 4-5:30... an amazing sight. See my pics in the photo corner.

For those driving south on Leslie or west on Lawrence, you're better off parking in Edwards Gardens (south west corner) instead. The turn onto the north end of Tottenham is quite difficult.
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Post by: Kin Lau on March 31, 2008, 05:27:37 PM: I popped by at noon, they're still there, and food is still abundant. It seems like the number of birds is increasing, and there might be several different flocks. The Cedar Waxwings might be getting muscled out by the much larger Bohemians.

It would be a good idea to wear waterproof boots too.
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Post by: angelicque on March 31, 2008, 06:58:32 PM: all the cedar waxwings must be flocking to high park ;)

spotted 17 of them near the smaller pond right next to the queensway last sunday!
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Post by: Ann Brokelman on March 31, 2008, 07:15:05 PM: I stopped in this morning at 8:30 am on my way to work and they were there. On the way home 4:30 pm no sign of them at all. Ann

Leslie and Lawrence
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Post by: Kin Lau on March 31, 2008, 08:28:36 PM: Did you stay long? I notice that they're flushing fairly easily at times, and stay away for up to 5 mins before coming back. They also like to roost in the tall evergreens on both sides.
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Post by: Ann Brokelman on March 31, 2008, 08:33:41 PM: Kin the second time when I arrived they were no where in sight - no singing nothing. I didn't even see them from the road. I walked around to the apt building and stayed for about 10 min then left. I drove up the street and around and nothing. Lots of berries left on the trees.
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Post by: angelicque on March 31, 2008, 08:39:21 PM: Quote from: "Kin Lau"
Did you stay long? I notice that they're flushing fairly easily at times, and stay away for up to 5 mins before coming back. They also like to roost in the tall evergreens on both sides.

I am unsure if you are asking Ann or myself - but for me they stayed roughly 5 minutes in the trees on the hill behind Colbourne Lodge, above the small pond. they allowed me to get 5 crappy shots of them ;)
then they flew to the next tree farther from me and stayed there ;)

but they were SINGING AWAY! even from a long distance i could hear them!
that's what made me notice them :)
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Post by: Kin Lau on March 31, 2008, 10:21:26 PM: Thanks Ann and Angelicque.

I'll probably take a swing by in the morning again tomorrow to Leslie & Lawrence to check.
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Post by: GStuart on April 01, 2008, 04:40:25 PM: At a few minutes after 4:00 this afternoon (Tuesday) there were still about 30 Bohemian waxwings at Leslie and Lawrence. They were most easily viewed from the foot of the driveway for the condos (on Tottenham). They were flying back and forth (when not huddling against the strong winds) between the large deciduous tree with the huge seed pods (probably a locust, but I'm not a tree-guy) and the small evergreens on the east side of the driveway.
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Post by: David the park stroller on April 01, 2008, 05:17:06 PM: In High Park today and yesterday... at least 40 cedar [not bohemian] waxwings near the duck ponds. Still a dleight to watch even if they aren't rare.
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Post by: Ann Brokelman on April 01, 2008, 08:16:06 PM: Hi I also saw them for a few minutes in the trees eating berries today at Leslie and Lawrence. They won't be there much longer - the trees are getting empty. There wer 40+ in the one tree alone. Ann
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Post by: Anonymous on April 02, 2008, 07:58:15 PM: Thanks you all for the information Kin Lau and also thanks to Sam Chung, today i went to Leslie & Edwards and saw first time Waxing i got couple of decent shots will post soon

Regards
Inam
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Post by: angelicque on April 03, 2008, 08:22:30 AM: Quote from: "David the park stroller"
In High Park today and yesterday... at least 40 cedar [not bohemian] waxwings near the duck ponds. Still a dleight to watch even if they aren't rare.

agreed!
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Post by: Kin Lau on April 03, 2008, 12:13:53 PM: Went over to Leslie & Lawrence again this morning, hoping for another look, but it looks like they're gone for good.
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Post by: frozenice7885 on April 03, 2008, 06:08:10 PM: saw a whole bunch at victoria park and dawes road
Title: The waxwings
Post by: Stargazer0310 on April 03, 2008, 10:30:20 PM: I went there after work around 6:00 pm today, and they are still there in their aboundance. I stayed about an hour and got a couple of real close shots. The fruits on the trees were substantially depleted and the waxwings started to look for leftovers on the ground. One of these little things get to a distance as close as 40 cms, well out of the close focusing ability of my lens. The fact that they got down to the ground is a piece of good new for me, as I was able to take some eye level shots without the stress of holding the camera and lens perpendicular all the time.