Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: mr.sharp-photo on June 03, 2009, 06:32:55 PM

Title: Brickworks and Don Valley update - June 3
Post by: mr.sharp-photo on June 03, 2009, 06:32:55 PM: so.....
Things have been really quiet at the Brickworks. Or perhaps the birds are hiding from me.
No pileated woodpeckers to be heard or seen. Not a lot of songbirds.
Even the number of red-winged blackbirds seemed reduced.
There are a decent # of swallows diving at the ponds. And i saw and heard at least one kingfisher and may have spied a killdeer.
saw one red-tailed hawk (usually there are 3 around the Brickworks). It landed on the upper escarpment and was quickly chased away by a red-winged blackbird (i kid not)
Otherwise...there really hasn't been much to see over the past week (been there 3 times).

i should also add that there hasn't been a sighting lately of great blue herons or black crowned night herons. if i remember correctly, they sometimes come to the Brickworks in June/July once the water gets murkier, but i may be wrong.

The Don River trail is a little more promising. A fair amount of warblers and such. I believe i saw one baltimore oriole (have to doublecheck the pictures when i go home) and heard its partner.
there was another darker songbird that seemed to have a mini-mowhawk. i have to check the photos and figure out what it was.
otherwise, it looks pretty boring out there!
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Post by: Marnie on June 03, 2009, 07:12:29 PM: I'm spotting some good stuff along the Don lately. I often see/hear kingfishers (one being chased by a RW blackbird yesterday) and orioles there -- just took a video clip of two orioles singing and hopping around on a tree. I've been seeing (three times so far) an indigo bunting (two this morning, I think) at Todmorden Mills as I come down Pottery Road about 6 a.m. There's also been a black-crowned night heron hunting by the pond at Beechwood wetland lately.

The oriole video is here if you want a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0iufNW8c-U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0iufNW8c-U)
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Post by: mr.sharp-photo on June 03, 2009, 07:24:52 PM: Quote from: "Marnie"
I'm spotting some good stuff along the Don lately. I often see/hear kingfishers (one being chased by a RW blackbird yesterday) and orioles there -- just took a video clip of two orioles singing and hopping around on a tree. I've been seeing (three times so far) an indigo bunting (two this morning, I think) at Todmorden Mills as I come down Pottery Road about 6 a.m. There's also been a black-crowned night heron hunting by the pond at Beechwood wetland lately.

The oriole video is here if you want a look:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0iufNW8c-U (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0iufNW8c-U)

nice video.
never seen a BCNH in that pond - i've actually never seen a thing in that pond and laugh at the sign that shows pileated woodpeckers near there.

the orioles were hanging out at Beechwood/O'Connor turnoff for the trail. i should have some decent pics at home. they move fast, though.

as an aside, you ever have any luck at Todmorden Mills? i only come back with mosquito bites. never see birds.
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Post by: Marnie on June 03, 2009, 08:24:56 PM: Quote
never seen a BCNH in that pond - i've actually never seen a thing in that pond and laugh at the sign that shows pileated woodpeckers near there.

the orioles were hanging out at Beechwood/O'Connor turnoff for the trail. i should have some decent pics at home. they move fast, though.

as an aside, you ever have any luck at Todmorden Mills? i only come back with mosquito bites. never see birds.

Hey, don't be laughing at our signs! I haven't seen a pileated woodpecker there either, to tell the truth, but have certainly seen my fair share of downies and hairies. (And a good variety of other birds, a big ol' snapping turtle, muskrats, beaver-chewed trees, and, recently, deer. There's lots going on around that pond.)

I gave up on trying to get a still shot of those fidgety orioles, but I'm happy the video worked out instead. Birding is more of a sideline for me, not my main focus, but I always find it interesting. I only pass by Todmorden, not through it, so I don't really see too much there. Rabbits on the lawn, sometimes! The indigo buntings are a happy exception.

Here's a grainy shot of the bcnh at Beechwood pond, taken yesterday morning.

(http://www.fotolog.com/marniem/81706565)
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Post by: Marnie on June 03, 2009, 08:26:07 PM: Sigh, I knew that wasn't going to work. It's been a long time since I posted here ... going away now to think about how to post images ...
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Post by: Marnie on June 03, 2009, 08:45:35 PM: OK, let's try this again:

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/marniem/bcnh4.jpg)
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Post by: mr.sharp-photo on June 03, 2009, 10:00:42 PM: Marnie,
here's two oriole photos from today.
sorry for the crappy quality.

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/atomeyes/oriole2.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/atomeyes/oriole.jpg)
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Post by: Marnie on June 03, 2009, 10:13:23 PM: Good stuff. They're such a great colour.
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Post by: Niloc on June 04, 2009, 09:25:28 AM: The Brickworks is quiet I think because the adults are all with their young nesting and taking them out more local, you can tell when all the Mallards are gone as they to do not nest in the Brickworks, I have figured out besides the RRBW most birds are nesting somewhere else only after their young are old enough will you see the Great Blue and the Night Heron, I have photographed both of them many times also there is a White Egret that frequents the Brickworks...I think in about 2 weeks we will start seeing more of these fellows..the last 2 times I was there the Pileated flew right over my head up towards the ridge then was gone lol...Going to try out High Park today - cheers!
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Post by: egret on June 04, 2009, 11:44:01 AM: Marnie:

I so enjoyed your px here
don't be down on self
as you tried hard
that counts a lot :)
and I just love the colour
of orioles

You can know
that I am most times
in a mango, yellow
shade, my favorite

Egret :)
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Post by: Marnie on June 05, 2009, 10:47:36 PM: There was a flicker at Beechwood today. I'm working my way up the spectrum to a pileated -- I'll keep my fingers crossed! Must justify those interpretive signs ...
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Post by: mr.sharp-photo on June 07, 2009, 01:11:01 AM: heard some orioles and Beechwood Dr and Don trail.
saw a beautiful oriole fly by Pottery Rd towards Bayview as well.
so there are at least 2 orioles nesting in the area, but i assume there are more than that
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Post by: Marnie on June 07, 2009, 10:05:06 AM: Yes, I saw three at once the other day, and I see them up and down the path between Pottery Rd. and Beechwood. The nests start showing up in the fall after the leaves come down, and I realize just how many orioles there were!

Here's a pic from January 2007 at Beechwood:

(http://[img]http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/marniem/oriolenest-1.jpg)[/img]
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Post by: Marnie on June 08, 2009, 11:38:52 AM: Aha!!! I guess sometimes you just have to mention to the universe what you're looking for ... This morning I was walking home on the bike path and was just about at Pottery Road when I heard a funny noise. I kept walking as I thought it over ... "Sounds like a person clapping his hands to summon his dog? Sounds like someone whacking a log? ... Y'know, if I were a pileated woodpecker that's exactly the sound I would make." I backtracked a few steps and soon located this lovely fellow (gal?) just off the path:

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/marniem/pileated1.jpg)

It wasn't concerned about me or the other people going by on the path. I watched for quite a while until it soared across the river to another dead tree. Another fine morning for birding!

(http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i282/marniem/pileated5.jpg)
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Post by: Niloc on June 08, 2009, 11:47:27 AM: LOL hey Marnie this is the same guy I have been trakcing all summer great capture...I see him fly by everytime I am in the Brickworks...I did happen to sneak up on him once see pics...

http://www.colinmarcano.com/photo2198580.html (http://www.colinmarcano.com/photo2198580.html)
http://www.colinmarcano.com/photo2198578.html (http://www.colinmarcano.com/photo2198578.html)
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Post by: Marnie on June 08, 2009, 12:13:12 PM: Damn, Colin, you are one fantastic photographer!!
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Post by: Niloc on June 08, 2009, 12:30:18 PM: LOL thanks for the compliment....when you have a passion for nature you just want to get out there and capture the best pictures you can that is why I enjoy it so much!
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Post by: mr.sharp-photo on June 08, 2009, 01:18:46 PM: Colin, you braggart! :)
was at the 'Works twice this week. haven't heard a 'pecker in over a month.
but i heard one near my house yesterday morning and heard one at lawrence and don mills this week.
thought maybe they went to Montreal for the cafe action.
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Post by: Pat Hodgson on June 08, 2009, 01:30:30 PM: Actually the two sets of pileated photos are definitely not the same bird as the first set is a female and the second set is a male. Together they may well be the only pair in the area.
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Post by: Niloc on June 08, 2009, 01:35:37 PM: Pat you are right from the pics it appears to be 2 different birds which would make sense as there is probably a set living about although I have only seen one never 2 together....LOL Yogi last time I was there , which was last week it was very quiet the White Egret fley over the Brickworks but he was so high and was going quite fast, I snuck up on a Northern Flicker up on the top of the ridge but that's about it...