Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: angelicque on April 02, 2008, 11:28:34 AM
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Hello all!
My husband and I went to Humber Bay Park last Saturday and High Park last Sunday. A few things were worth mentioning!
Humber Bay Park proved to be a fantastic day for birding! Many of the usual waterfowl were present, although there were a few surprises.
• The first being 6 trumpeter swans at Mimico Creek. This is the most I have ever seen here. In 2006 there was 1 juvenile (wing tag #984), last year there were two adults (wing tag #799 & untagged mate), and this year a family of four (no wing tags, only foot tags). The 6 we saw were new swans, their wing tags are E22, E21, E27, E28, 122 & A27. I have reported them to the Wye Marsh Research Center. All look healthy :)
• Buffleheads were friendlier then usual at Mimico Creek. One male bufflehead came almost to shore!
• The Harlequin couple is still by the beach, came really close for some good shots :)
• A ring billed was apparently seen by the storm walk, but I did not personally see it. A mink was spotted as well along the rocks. Widgeons seemed friendlier that day as well, came very close to the bridge!
• A kestrel was spotted by the butterfly habitat. He let us come pretty close to him! That was probably the closest I have ever been near one, they usually fly away once they spot me.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7092sized.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_6966sized.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7019sized.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7147sized.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7143sized.jpg)
High Park was a bit quieter. The red winged blackbirds seem to be everywhere all of a sudden!
• A few red tailed hawks were spotted by the small duck ponds, and over Grenedier Pond.
• The mallard/house duck hybrids are still in the ravine, although the female hybrid is either dead or no longer with them.
• 17 cedar waxwings were spotted high in the trees near the small duck ponds.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7251sized.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7229sized.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/angelicque/100_7168sized.jpg)
It seems the giant flocks of scaups, long tails and golden eyes in the Mimico-Lakeshore area have gone elsewhere. I imagine the trumpeters and remaining winter ducks will be gone by mid month.
So if you haven't seen the harlequins, go see them NOW!
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Nice pics... where did you get the RB Nuthatch?
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Nice pics... where did you get the RB Nuthatch?
thank you!
in high park...if you walk along colbourne lodge drive, you'll notice a lot of wooden posts (the metal barrier along the road) with piles of bird seed on them - this is the optimal area for seeing chickadees, RB and WB nuthatches, downy woodpeckers, RW blackbirds, savannah and white crowned sparrows, juncos and cardinals :)
the woodpeckers, chickadees and RB nuthatches are suckers for peanuts, and will gladly eat out of your hand :)
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Was at High Park today. Had a Downy Woodpecker, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee and almost a White Breasted Nuthatch eat from my son's hand in the span of a few minutes. I know they don't want the ducks fed, and I understand there were a few fools baiting the Hawk Owl over the winter. Any thoughts on feeding Chickadees, Nuthatches etc.? Is this generally considered okay to do... is it frowned upon? Just wondering.
Joe
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Was at High Park today. Had a Downy Woodpecker, Red Breasted Nuthatch, Chickadee and almost a White Breasted Nuthatch eat from my son's hand in the span of a few minutes. I know they don't want the ducks fed, and I understand there were a few fools baiting the Hawk Owl over the winter. Any thoughts on feeding Chickadees, Nuthatches etc.? Is this generally considered okay to do... is it frowned upon? Just wondering.
Joe
the high park council has scheduled events regarding feeding the chickadees (either by hand or via seed coated pine cones).
that and the council has various feeders set up throughout the park!
i say as long as it's bird seed/peanuts (a proper diet) - it's okay :)
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Where are the trumpeter swans we see here in Toronto being wing tagged?
Howard Jackman
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Where are the trumpeter swans we see here in Toronto being wing tagged?
Howard Jackman
they can be seen in humber bay west, at mimico creek...although they may be gone by now...
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Hello
Yesterday afternoon at HBE there were 3 Common Terns diving into the pond at the east end of the park, a belted king fisher patrolling, and possibly a yellow-rumped warbler - not sure on the yellow rump.
Mike
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Where are the trumpeter swans we see here in Toronto being wing tagged?
Howard Jackman
they can be seen in humber bay west, at mimico creek...although they may be gone by now...
I think he meant "where is the tagging done". As far as I know, there is a program at the Wye Marsh (http://www.wyemarsh.com/trumpeter.html). Whether these swans are from there, however, I don't know, but if you had the numbers you could contact them and find out.