Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Shortsighted on February 08, 2024, 05:57:03 PM
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I needed to go to Home Depot this morning, which means driving to Morningside Avenue in Scarborough, so I figured that I might as well take Old Finch and Staines Road and visit Staines pond on the way. Most of the pond was open water supporting a few water fowl: Mallards, a few female Common merganser, and geese, but across the pond I also spotted a juvenile Black-crowned night heron that was asleep while perched in a tree. Staines pond is not that big but the heron was still far enough away (west side) from my position on the east side that a good shot was not to be had. Besides, a sleeping heron with its head down and bill buried within its breast feathers is a bit of a yawn. I haven't off-loaded the image yet because it's not worth the effort. I used my 300mm with a 1.4x TC attached (420 mm) but the image will need significant cropping when I finally get around to processing it. I think I may try again soon.
I checked ebird and discovered that there was a previous report on Feb. 4th of two BCNH at the pond. I wonder where the other heron was located because I'm sure there was only one bird when I was there today. While I was trying to get closer I spotted a skeleton near the water but I was too frustrated by the impediments to progress near the water's edge to give the skeleton much attention, so I don't know what it was. I don't think that it was anyone I know.
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I was in Rouge Beach a couple of days ago. Almost your neck of the woods (or woodlot!). There was a cute bufflehead. I was surprised because I never saw any buffleheads there before.
I did not have enough time to take any interesting photos.
Just a short vidoe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsRSOSqOJaU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsRSOSqOJaU)
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juvenile Black-crowned night heron
Last time I saw juv and adult BCNH was about 8 years ago in Meadowvale (NW Mississauga).
I spotted a skeleton near the water but I was too frustrated by the impediments to progress near the water's edge to give the skeleton much attention, so I don't know what it was. I don't think that it was anyone I know.
:o
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Just a short vidoe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsRSOSqOJaU (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsRSOSqOJaU)
Beautiful! I always enjoy watching your videos. :D
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Yes, Rouge Beach Park is not that far away from me, especially when I'm there. I was planning to drop by there this morning but I visited Petticoat Creek instead. 3 degrees when I got there and 12 degrees when I left. Went from overcast to sunny and then back to overcast and sunny when I left. Didn't see much and didn't expect to. Had to get back to make lunch and continue stripping the finish off of a cabinet door. I usually like to play David Rose's "The Stripper" in the background while I strip but I need to do it in the garage due to the toxic fumes.
Cardinal / Blue jays / lots of Am. Robins / Golden-crowned kinglets / Juncos / Downy / Hairy / Red-bellied / Nuthatch / heard a Pileated / a glimpse of a Winter wren in a woodpile (just a second).
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There were two juvenile BCNHs at the pond today. Once again, they flew off once awake even though I was maybe a quarter of a kilometer away from them. I think that a WT sparrow scared them. Couldn't have been me! Then again, perhaps they are both females.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-TRRnxZm/0/3cdf8b57/M/Sleeping%20heron%2Ccrop-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-TRRnxZm/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-kzM92kh/0/349c780b/M/awake%20heron%2Ccrop-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-kzM92kh/A)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-S7rLQZG/0/4b91b920/M/WT%20sparrow%2CPC-M.jpg) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-S7rLQZG/A)
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Shortsighted ... I like seeing the yellow legs and toes on the juv BCNH. :)
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By golly, if I had known that you are so partial to the yellow leg I would have painted the other one too, but first I got to find it. I can only see one yellow leg! Do you think maybe it dropped the other one?
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Juvenile BCNH
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-VFmQ7HT/0/47007937/M/BCNH%2C%20juvi%2C%20hvy%20crop-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-VFmQ7HT/A)
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Juvenile BCNH
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-VFmQ7HT/0/47007937/M/BCNH%2C%20juvi%2C%20hvy%20crop-M.png) (https://steinphotography.smugmug.com/Outdoor-Ontarioorg/i-VFmQ7HT/A)
Nice! :) BCNH always remind me a bit of American Bittern.